The Cheer News

The Cheer News is for sale!

kenkilg — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:48:13 +0000

As you have seen. I have not been updating this site for some time now. Things have changed in my life and I will no longer be maintaining this site.

If you are any one you know would be interested in taking over the rains please contact me at editor@thecheernews.com. This offer includes purchasing the full rights to thecheernews.com.

If you’re interested please send email to editor@thecheernews.com

Cheerleading Dangers Prompt Experts to Call for Congressional Hearing on Injuries

kenkilg — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:55:28 +0000

IRVINE, CA, June 30, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ — The National Cheer Safety Foundation (NCSF) panel of experts, a collaborative effort of the nation’s top sports medicine and safety leaders are calling on Congress to review injury study findings in cheerleading and youth sports.

A new study released by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina explains that what all cheerleading organizations should do is realize that cheerleading has had injury related problems, and strict safety measures should be adopted to remedy the situation. While 54 million female athletes participated in high school sports between 1982 and 2008 sustaining 39 catastrophic injuries, during that same period cheerleading had 73.

According to Frederick O. Mueller Ph.D. lead author of the study “the most important statistic is that high school cheerleading accounts for 65.2% of all the catastrophic injuries to female athletes which emphasizes the importance of safety regulations.” He further adds, “The National Federation of State High School Associations and the NCAA should classify cheerleading as a sport which would place cheerleading under the same restrictions and safety rules as all other sports.”

Recently released for 2008, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System survey by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, emergency room visits among cheerleaders of all ages increased from 26,786 to 29,148, an 8.8% increase. Even more alarming are the emergency room visits for young cheerleaders thirteen years of age and under which have risen 110% since last year while listing injuries like a four year old with a cervical sprain, an injury you would normally see from a car accident.

“Our data has shown that forces involved in youth cheerleading falls from stunts can be greater than a hit in the NFL which can ultimately lead to the same type of catastrophic injuries,” Cynthia Bir Ph.D., Wayne State University Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Research, Orthopaedic Surgery.

Currently there are no funds for athlete safety programs from the Federal to the State governments. Funding by the Federal Government to State Governments for the following is key to insure athlete safety and prevention of athlete endangerment and abuse.

• State Agencies for Health and Family Services and Health Departments must intervene for youth athletes by collecting athlete injury and athlete endangerment data, setting policies, initiating athlete prevention, awareness and education campaigns. Federal laws affecting state proceedings must be enacted and funding must be designated to states for implementation by Health and Family Services and Health Departments
• Athletes must be educated to report their endangerment and abuses to parents and authorities
• Coaches must be educated to stop mistreating athletes and provide adequate supervision and utilize standard and duty of care.
• Doctors must be educated to report suspected serious athlete endangerment, abuse and injury after recognition during the treatment of an athlete.
• Parents and athletes who sign a sports participation waiver must be educated to modify the sports participation waiver with their signature “provided there is adequate coaching supervision” or state governments must modify the sports participation waiver with new law.

Further compelling evidence of the need for Congressional intervention are the high profile wrongful death lawsuits of football player Max Gilpin and cheerleader Ashley Burns in which both cases allege athlete abuse.

Youth sport safety advocate and founder of CAPPAA, Michael B. Minix Sr. M.D. adds, “athletes do not forfeit their human rights once they step within the boundary lines of the court, field or any coached sports environment. Any direct or indirect endangerment of a child athlete by a coach resulting in serious injury is unlawful and doctors are required by law to report suspected abuse to the proper authorities.”

To learn more about athlete abuse and a physician duty to report suspected abuse www.nationalcheersafety.com/physiciansduty.pdf and for more information on the NCSF Cheering for Safety Summer Campaign go to www.nationalcheersafety.com/summer.pdf. The NCSF panel of experts will be busy all summer implementing the new programs, researching critical height and promoting cheer safety awareness.

“While some cheer the study and proclaim some sort of victory in cheer safety, cheerleading is still the number one cause of catastrophic injury to female athletes. Parents who have lived the nightmare of death, paralysis and traumatic brain injury will not rest until Congress steps in,” proclaims Kimberly Archie, executive director of the National Cheer Safety Foundation (NCSF).

About the National Cheer Safety Foundation

The National Cheer Safety Foundation (NCSF) is dedicated to injecting science into cheer safety to reduce injury, disability and death from cheer injuries through research and education of parents, cheerleaders, coaches and administrators. For more information visit www.nationalcheersafety.com or contact us at 800-596-7860. To report cheer injuries go to www.cheerinjuryreport.com.

Grammy(R)-Nominated Music Artist & Actress Christina Milian Headlines an All-New Chapter in the Mega-Hit Movie Franchise Bring It On: Fight to the Finish

kenkilg — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:41:40 +0000

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 23/PRNewswire/ — The all-new installment of the global hit cheerleading , Bring It On: Fight to the Finish comes exclusively to Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def and DVD on September 1, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions and Beacon Communications. Showcasing daring athletics, fierce competition and hot young stars, including Grammy(R)-nominated recording star and actress Christina Milian, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish sets the bar higher than ever with the story of an East Los Angelesteen who reinvigorates a lackluster Malibu cheer squad with her scorching Latina style.

For the first time, the signature acrobatic moves that have won the Bring It On films worldwide acclaim will be presented in pristine high definition. And, with Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def’s pure digital sound, fans can enjoy the film’s music from Lady GaGa, Christina Milian, Kat DeLuna and The Veronicas. In the director’s chair isBille Woodruff, one of the industry’s most sought after film and music video directors. Having directed Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah and Honey starring Jessica Alba, as well as music videos for artists including Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Prima J, Paula Deanda, Lil Wayne and Usher, Woodruff brings a fresh perspective to the franchise.

The film is executive produced by longtime Beacon partners Charlie Lyons (The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, The Guardian) and Armyan Bernstein (The Hurricane, Air Force One) and produced by David Buelow (Into The Blue 2, Legally Blondes), David Brookwell (Raise Your Voice, “That’s So Raven”) and Sean McNamara (Bratz, Raise Your Voice). Tony Gonzalez, choreographer of Bring It On: All or Nothing and Bring It On: In It to Win It returns as associate producer and choreographer to create the franchise’s most astounding dance sequences yet.

A thrilling combination of high energy fun, rivalry and heartwarming romance have made the Bring It Onfranchise a runaway hit in home entertainment, racking up sales of almost 12 million units in North America alone, representing nearly $300 million in consumer spending. The series continues to be a marquee property in Universal’s DVD Originals(TM) line of high-quality feature films created especially for the growing made-for-DVD market. Since their introduction in 2005, Universal DVD Originals(TM) have been an unprecedented success, responsible for four of the top five best-selling live-action, non-family DVD premieres of all time, including Bring It On Again and Bring It On: All or Nothing.

Christina Milian, who was recently seen in the film The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, opposite Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey, leads a talented squad of newcomers in Bring It On: Fight to the Finish. In addition to Milian, the film stars Rachele Brooke Smith (Center Stage), Cody Longo (Fame, High School), Holland Roden (“Cold Case,” “Lost”), Nikki SooHoo (Stick It, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”), Meagan Holder (“90210″), Vanessa Born (“CSI: New York,” “Hannah Montana”) and Gabrielle Dennis(“The Game,” “My Name is Earl”), as well as Janelle and Jessica Martinez (Bratz), also known as the red-hot musical duo Prima J.

For the ultimate fan, the Bring It On All-Star Pack, containing the hugely popular films Bring It On, Bring It On: All or Nothing and Bring It On: Fight to the Finish will also be available on September 1stfor $39.98 SRP. In these films, some of Hollywood’s young hottest stars – including Christina Milian, Kirsten Dunst (the Spiderman films), Gabrielle Union (Deliver Us From Eva), Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse”),Hayden Panettiere (“Heroes”), Solange Knowles-Smith (Johnson Family Vacation) and recording star Rihanna – show they’ve got all the right moves in their spirited quests for victory.

BONUS FEATURES

Bring It On: Fight to the Finish on Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def and DVD comes with bonus features including:

DELETED SCENES
PRACTICE ROUND: Join choreographer Tony G as he teaches cheer routines to the cast of Bring It On: Fight to the Finish.
BACK STAGE PASS: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, from cheer camp through production.
ON SET WITH CHRISTINA MILIAN: An interactive video diary shows viewers what it was like forChristina Milian to make Bring It On: Fight to the Finish from her own perspective, using footage shot by Christina herself.
MUN2: THE CHICAS PROJECT: “Flip This”: Watch an episode of “The Chicas Project” in which the Chicas go to cheer camp in Texas.

Exclusive-to-Blu-ray(TM) Hi-def bonus features include:

BD-LIVE(TM): Access the BD-Live(TM) Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!

SYNOPSIS

In the all-new movie Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, East Los Angeles high school cheer squad captainLina Cruz (Christina Milian) and her best friends Gloria (Vanessa Born) and Treyvonetta (Gabrielle Dennis) have high hopes of winning the Spirit Championships with the team’s fiery fusion of Latin and hip-hop moves. Instead, Lina’s world is turned upside down when her mother remarries and her family relocates to Malibu where she is forced to adjust to a new home, a new stepsister (Holland Roden) and a new school with a less-than-stellar cheer squad. Always ready for a challenge, Lina takes on the daunting task on transforming the Malibu Vista High Sea Lions cheer squad into a championship team, but she will have to get past the award-winning Jaguar cheer squad and their captain, Avery (Rachele Smith). Lina’s budding romance with Avery’s brother Evan (Cody Longo) only intensifies the rivalry. With the stakes higher than ever before, Lina devises a bold plan that could blow the Jaguars right off of the competition floor and lead the Sea Lions to victory!

The Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions banner, which includes Universal Animation Studios, develops and produces live-action and animated family productions directly for the home entertainment and television markets. Among the group’s portfolio of prized properties is The Land Before Time, the most successful feature-length children’s home entertainment franchise of all time, having earned more than one billion dollars worldwide to date. Since its formation in 2005, the group has built an exceptional slate of family fare, including the all new DVD Original release Bring It On: In It to Win It, the latest winning installment in the hugely successful Bring It On film franchise; the highly popular action-adventure epic Scorpion King 2: Rise of A Warrior; the Daytime Emmy(R)-winning “Curious George“ television series on PBS KIDS; a string of Barbie movies, based on the world-renowned Mattel-branded doll; and Beethoven’s Big Break, based on the beloved family franchise. Universal Studios Family Productions is part of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS Directed By: Bille Woodruff Written By: Elena Song and Alyson Fouse Produced By: David Buelow, David Brookwell, Sean McNamara Executive Produced By: Charlie Lyons and Armyan Bernstein Director of Photography: David Claessen Production Designer: Mark Zuelzke Costumes By: Ruth E. Carter Music By: Andrew Gross Cast: Christina Milian, Rachele Brooke Smith, Nikki SooHoo, Cody Longo, Holland Roden, Meagan Holder, Vanessa Born, Gabrielle Dennis, Prima J

TECHNICAL INFORMATION Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def Street Date: September 1, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Selection Number: 63106476 Price: $39.98 SRP Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes Layers: BD-50 Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (1.78:1) Rating: PG-13 for language/innuendo Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish and French DTS Surround 5.1; English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD Street Date: September 1, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Selection Number: 63106372 Price: $29.98 SRP Running time: 1 hour 43 minutes Layers: Dual Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) Rating: PG-13 for language/innuendo Technical Info: English, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1; English SDH; Spanish and French Subtitles

CONTACTS: Universal Studios Home Entertainment Michelle Slavich Vice President, Publicity (818) 777-5344 Michelle.Slavich@nbcuni.com

We Cheer 2: Full Song List

kenkilg — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:36:03 +0000

The full song list for We Cheer 2 includes:

Get Ready For This” – 2 Unlimited
Mickey” – Toni Basil
Pump It (Clean Version)” – Black Eyed Peas
Run It Back Again” – Corbin Bleu
Song 2” – Blur
Tubthumping” – Chumbawumba
GNO (Girls Night Out)” – Miley Cyrus
Real Wild Child” – Everlife
Beat It (Feat. John Mayer)” – Fall Out Boy
Glamorous (Clean Version)” – Fergie
Imani Coppola” – Get Down With This
Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” – Selena Gomez
Homecoming” – Hey Monday
Let’s Dance” – Vanessa Hudgens
Just Dance” – Lady GaGa
Girlfriend” – Avril Lavigne
La La Land” – Demi Lovato
Leavin’ (Radio Edit Remix)” – Jesse McCartney
Closer” – Ne-Yo
Whoa” – Paramore
Higher Ground” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
Walk This Way” – Run DMC
Push It” – Salt N Pepa
All Star” – Smash Mouth
The Power” – Snap!
So Bring It On” – The Cheetah Girls
Doing It Right” – The Go! Team
Popular” – The Veronicas
Headstrong” – Ashley Tisdale

Wearside’s champion cheerleaders

kenkilg — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:03:09 +0000

From an article in the Sunderland Echo.

IT’S taken blood, sweat and tears.” When you hear Gary Mort talk about the cheerleading squad he founded a year ago, you can believe he’s telling the absolute truth.

Gary has successfully taken his brainchild from a basic gymnasium in Boldon to winning their first major league cup.

After starting out with a handful of enthusiasts, an Echo appeal bought in six new members last September and Skyline took off.

In May the squad beat off stiff competition to win at the Future Cheer Superhero Spirit Challenge in Edinburgh.

Read the full story…

VARSITY CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT

kenkilg — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:38:59 +0000

[USPRwire, Fri Jun 05 2009] The 2009 season marks the 15th year that the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and the Universal Dance Association (UDA) have held their National Championships at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Between them, the Universal Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Dance Association host four premier, large events, bringing a total of 12,000 cheerleading and dance teams to the event venues, including Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex and the Indiana Jones Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studio.

All four National Championships are televised on ESPN and ESPN2, as part of a partnership with Varsity, the parent company of Universal Cheerleading Association and Universal Dance Association. The events include:

The National High School Cheerleading Championship is the single largest gathering of high school cheerleaders in the country. Teams have to qualify at a regional competition for a bid to attend the event, ensuring a high level of completion among this years 400 competing teams.

Two hundred squads from 43 states and 152 colleges and universities attended the 2009 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships, now in its 29th year, which showcases the most advanced cheerleaders and dance team members in the country

The National Dance Team Championships hosts 300 dance teams in pom, hip hop, jazz and high kick categories . All teams in attendance, from middle school, junior high and high school dance teams, along with all star dance teams, had to qualify regionally for the privilege of competing at the National Championship.

Three hundred all star cheerleading teams competed at this years National All Star Cheerleading Championship, in its 17th year as an all star-only event.
“We know that hosting our events at a premier location such as the Walt Disney World® Resorts is a big draw for the teams that attend them,” says Melanie Berry, Vice President of Special Events for Varsity, the parent company of UCA and UDA. “The access to the Walt Disney World theme parks plays a strong part in bringing cheerleaders and their families back each year.”

ABOUT VARSITY
Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit industry brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity is based in Memphis, Tenn. and employs more than 3,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

ABOUT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT:
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’’s Animal Kingdom); two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon); 33 resort hotels (23 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes six Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 81 holes of golf on five courses; two full-service spas; Disney’’s Wedding Pavilion; Disney’’s Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex encompassing the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side. Walt Disney World Resort is also included in vacation packages of Disney Cruise Line. For information about the Walt Disney World® Resorts and Parks, visit http://www.disneyworld.com.

ABOUT DISNEY”S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS® COMPLEX
A 220-acre complex designed to accommodate professional-caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and vacation-fitness activities in more than 30 individual and team sports. The complex includes a 7,500-seat baseball stadium and 5,500-seat fieldhouse. Annual events include Atlanta Braves spring training.For information about the Walt Disney World® Resorts and Parks, visit http://www.disneyworld.com.

Gym Owner of the Year Award….

kenkilg — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:01:00 +0000

From a post on Inside Cheerleading.com:

Each April during the Cheerleading and Dance Worlds, the USASF recognizes the achievements and contributions of leaders within the industry. This Friday, honorees will be unveiled at the VIP Awards Ceremony in Orlando, Florida.Inside Cheerleading magazine has partnered with the USASF to present the Gym Owner of the Year Award.

Read full article…

kenkilg — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:45:04 +0000

From an article in The Vista Online:

University of Central Oklahoma has added to their list of championship titles this season by winning the NCA and NDA Collegiate National Championship for Coed Intermediate.

UCO beat 13 other teams on April 10, including some bigger schools from around the nation. UCO beat Georgia State, Michigan, West Point, Lindenwood, and North Texas. Also entered into the same competition were two other Oklahoma colleges. Eastern Oklahoma State finished 13th, and Oral Roberts University finished 9th.

Read the full article…

FSU cheer squad takes second at nationals

kenkilg — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:16:09 +0000

From an article in TimesWV.com:

In the same year that Fairmont State University fielded a cheerleading team as a sport rather than as a club, the group had a chance to “Bring It On” when the group took second place in a national competition last week in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Only the team from Hawaii Pacific University scored higher among the 10 teams that competed in the All-Girl Division II section of the National Cheerleading Association’s Collegiate Cheer Championships. The Fairmont State team competed April 9 and 10.

Read the full story…

infinity All Stars WIN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

kenkilg — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:14:10 +0000

From an article in PR-USA.net:

The infinity All Stars took home first place and the title of Regional Champions at the West Cost Regional Championships held at Six Flags Magic Mountain March 15th, which featured more than 75 teams from across Southern California. The team won the title against all odds, beating out programs more than twice their size that have been around three times as long. Entering their second season this June, infinity All Stars is ready for this up coming competition season.

Read the full article…