In order for Kern County public high school students to participate in school sports the student AND the parent must attend a meeting that discusses the potential dangers that are associated with those sports.  The video they present at these meetings clearly includes cheer leading in the category of potentially dangerous activities. Among the packet of documents I am required to sign each sports season BEFORE my child may participate is a release of liability.  One would think that similar meetings and warnings were provided at most American high schools. Cheerleaders need to be properly trained and they should be advised to only practice new routines  in a safe environment. These links have more information about this topic.  Cheer leading Injuries   ABC News: Cheer leading Injuries on the Rise  Unless there was GROSS negligence like an intoxicated coach or  a willful failure to attempt catching the girl I don't see how the parents justified their lawsuit.

Off topic, but what right minded parent (especially you fathers out there) would allow their daughter to be a cheerleader with all the negative connotations that goes along with basically being a sex symbol?  I am assuming most straight guys are like me - viewing cheerleading with a twisted thought.   Most guys I know (and you could accuse me and my friends of being sexist - but there are lots of people that fit this category) view cheer leaders with a one track mind.  So, why let your daughter be subjected to that stereotype?  Just curious.

Beofre you go thinking, let me answer.  I don't care for guy cheerleading - that's why you don't see them in professional sports yet (hope never).

When I was in h.s. (during the Civil War, according to my kid) guys stereotyped cheerleaders as dumb girls, flashing for attention. Of late, I notice cheer leading isn't simply waving pom-poms and jumping up and down. Their are some pretty strenuous, exact acrobatic stunts; some of it I think too complicated for kids. It's accident waiting to happen.

Last I heard, BHS no longer has "Danny Driller" for a mascot cheerleader. Guys didn't want the job. Danny Driller was (still is?) replaced by some sort of costume, complete with cartoon head.

About the questions of why parents would let their daughters do cheer leading..... I was thinking possibly they were hoping for scholarships to pay for college.   ESPN  covers cheerleading contests.   

Centennial High School's cheerleaders are not dumb or stuck up.  I've gone to their games and led cheers with the CHS cheerleaders since my sophomore year in the 1998-1999 school year.  I was best friends with some of the cheerleaders (and knew all of the cheerleaders-frosh/soph, JV, and varsity-my senior year) when I was in high school.  I wasn't an actual cheerleader myself.  Even today, the current frosh/soph, JV, and varsity cheerleaders and the cheer coach at CHS really enjoy me leading cheers with them, and they're some of the nicest girls I've ever met, especially since I graduated 8 years ago.

I believe Centennial's cheerleading squad used to compete in competitions when I was in school, but not anymore, which I would think would cut the risk of injuries down rather considerably.  As far as I can see, they build most of their pyramids outdoors on the dirt track and not in the gym (hardwood floor).  But, they still do backflips both indoors and outdoors.

I'm with you Bryan - cheer leaders are not dumb! The ones I knew in HS (BHS-'63) went on to get their masters, phd's and a couple of them their doctorates., and that was a time when most of us just wanted to get married and me mommys!!! Like you, I was not a cheer leader but I was always front and center at every game getting things going - I was part of the pep club! Lord what fun!

My daughter was a cheer leader at South for 3 years and maintained a 3.0 or higher and now has 3 degrees. As parents we told her if she did not maintain at least a 3.0 we would pull her out of cheer leading and softball. Oh yes, she played softball for 3 seasons for South as well as being ASB-VP her senior year. Cheap for us..........nope, but good for her and total involvement for us :-) My husband built the cheer boxes for the girls (in our driveway!) and repaired the South High Truck so they could drive it.  Most parents who have kids in sports are usually also involved in some way or another and that is not a bad thing given the climate of toady's world.

>>As parents we told her if she did not maintain at least a 3.0 we would pull her out of cheer leading and softball.

I'm not a parent, but I do think that's a good rule.  If a student can't maintain good grades, pull them out of sports.

BRYAN: we invoked the same rule when she transferred to long beach state and wanted to get in a sorority - 3.0 or you are coming home. She got in the sorority and worked and kept a 3.0