MAC has recently been informed from a cheerleading parent that the St. James-Assiniboia School Division (SJ-ASD) will not be allowing cheerleading at the middle years level for the 2009-2010 school year due to school safety guidelines set forth by the Province of Manitoba.

MAC has been in contact with the division on several occasions and has not yet received confirmation of this decision. We have made our position abundantly clear, recommending against any restrictions put on Middle Years teams, however in the end, it will be up to the division themselves to make that decision. In the event that this is the case, we will continue to offer the GroundBound category to ensure that cheerleading continues regardless. At present there have been no other divisions expressing any concerns, therefore any issues you may have should be directed to your school principal or the division themselves.

MAC feels that schools operating under MAC safety guidelines offer a safe athletic program for students and view this decision as a major setback for a popular, growing youth sport in Manitoba.

As a coach, you will have many roles to play, as well as many responsibilities. The most important responsibility is to instill a lifetime of sportsmanship and fair play in your athlethes.

As a coach, remember:

• stay alert
• always expect the unexpected
• keep close physical contact during each phase of stunt building
• always provide spotters until the stunt is mastered and the athletes feel comfortable