Cheer safety

One safety guide for every Cheer Ambassadors site: Cheer Map, TryCheer, Cheer Calendar, Cheer Showcase and Athlete of the Month.

In an emergency, or if a child is in danger right now, call 911.

Cheerleading is an athletic sport with a real risk of injury. Cheer Ambassadors points families to programs, but every gym, team and event is independent, and we don't inspect, certify or endorse any of them. Choosing well is up to you, and these questions help.

Choosing a gym or program

Visit, meet the coaches, and ask:

• Are your coaches background-checked, and have they had abuse-prevention and safety training?
• What credentials do your coaches hold, including any required by your program's governing or sanctioning body?
• Can I stay and watch practice or a trial class?
• Are classes in groups, with spotters and proper mats for any tumbling or stunting?
• How do coaches communicate with athletes? Messages to a minor should include or go through a parent.
• What insurance do you carry, and what's your injury and concussion policy?
• What waiver and medical or emergency information do you need from me?
• What does it cost, what's included, and is there time to decide?

A good gym will be glad you asked. Trust your instincts: if anything doesn't feel right, it's fine to say no or try another program.

At practice

• Tumbling, stunts and other skills only under the supervision of trained, qualified coaches, with proper spotting and matting.
• Skills learned step by step, at the athlete's level. No skipping progressions.
• Never practice skills at home or unsupervised.
• Check with a doctor before starting, and after any injury before returning. A suspected head injury means stopping for the day and seeing a doctor.

Many organizations publish cheerleading safety guidelines and skill progressions; review the ones that apply to your program.

Protecting athletes

Good programs make it easy to keep kids safe:

• Adults aren't alone one-on-one with an athlete out of sight of others.
• Coaches don't message minors privately, give special gifts, or ask an athlete to keep secrets.
• Parents are welcome to watch, and policies are written down and shared.

If you suspect abuse or misconduct, report it to local law enforcement or your state's child protective services. Abuse in sport can also be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453.

Report a problem to us

• An accident or incident at a TryCheer gym: report it here. It's sent to our team right away and kept as a permanent record. This doesn't replace emergency care or any report the law requires.
• Something wrong with a Cheer Map listing: use Report a problem on the program's page.
• An event or live stream: use the Report link on the Cheer Calendar event or Cheer Showcase channel.
• Anything else: contact us.

What we do on our own sites

• Our forms are designed for adults (parents, guardians, coaches and program staff), not minors, and every form asks you to confirm you're 18 or older.
• We don't publish an athlete's full name, school, schedule or exact location. Athletes under 18 are featured only with a parent or guardian's permission, by first name and last initial.
• Photos, events and live-stream channels are reviewed by our team before they appear.
• We count visits without cookies or IP addresses. Our privacy policy has the details.

Updated November 5, 2026 · Cheer Ambassadors, LLC · See also our terms of use.