Closer Look: Cheer Team Focuses on Safety

Mary Richards reportingInjuries are increasing as cheerleaders fly higher and do riskier stunts. One Utah team is focus in on safety while still trying to remain the best in the nation.

Members of the Utah Elite Cheer Academy have been practicing their award winning routine. When the flier stumbles, the girls below her hit the deck to stop the fall.

Karli Nielsen: "You have to put your life in front of hers. If she comes down, you get on the ground before she does."

Karli Nielsen is a base, one of many girls on the ground for stunts. Bia Bardin is a flier.

Bia Bardin: "You can't do anything without your bases and it's scary sometimes but not really because if you trust your bases you're fine."

Jennifer Keyes: "Safety is my highest priority and we maybe go to far even on that end."

Utah Elite owner and head coach Jennifer Keyes says her team just competes and doesn't cheer. She says some high school cheerleading coaches can be underpaid and under-trained.

Jennifer Keyes: "So they don't necessarily have the proper training or the proper equipment and then you have kids that are attempting to do things they see on television or elsewhere and so you do have injuries."

One report shows cheerleading injuries have almost doubled in ten years. Keyes says cheerleading organizations are now enforced new competition rules that should help.

Jennifer Keyes: "You have injury in every sport. Sometimes this isn't considered a sport, so when there is an injury, it's a bigger story."

The Utah Elite Cheer Academy placed first in the nation last month. Bardin says they love being the best but have to still focus on being safe.

Bia Bardin: "If you fall, you have to get back up because it's just an accident and it happens and your bases will catch you no matter what."

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