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Upper Elementary School cheerleading programs are beginning to increase in numbers around the country. The drive for competitive cheerleading is driving this change, but everyone wants to give student athletes something that they can do besides just attending schools. It is important to note though that competitive cheerleading stunts and dangerous activities do take a long time to master so that they can be done safely. During the upper elementary school years, cheerleaders and cheer coaches must be adamant about safety first. Cheerleading injuries are very common and it is actually considered by many to be the most dangerous sport to play. It is important for coaches to teach the younger cheerleaders how to properly lift, mount, and dismount without hurting anyone. These are the years when the fundamentals of cheerleading must be mastered. The framework of the more difficult moves must be established to insure safety and greatness in the future. Without the fundamental understanding of the movements, cheerleading will not continue to grow as much as it has recently. The uniforms for these young cheerleaders should also be dignified and respectable. Many older cheerleading programs have some scandalous looking uniforms, so always make your cheerleaders are appropriately dressed.