Cheerleading (Spirit/Dance)

• Determine that all equipment is safe for use (for example, no sharp edges, sharp corners, cracks, or splinters). Students must be encouraged to report equipment problems to the intramural supervisor.

Refer to the First Aid section for first aid equipment requirements.

• Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn.

• Students must not participate when the length of fingernails poses a safety risk to themselves or others.

• Determine that all facilities are safe for use. Students must be encouraged to report facility problems to the intramural supervisor.

• Playing surface and surrounding area must be free of all obstacles and must provide safe footing and traction.

• There must be adequate space for all participants.

• Spectators must be in a designated area away from activity.

• Walls, stages, equipment, trees, and posts must not be used as turning points, finish lines, end zones, or boundaries. Establish a clearly delineated boundary line away from the hazards, using visual markers (for example, lines, pylons), to prevent contact/collision.

• Consult General Safety Standards for Facilities for the opening and closing of gymnasium divider doors/curtains.

• All doors into, and out of, the indoor playing area must be closed.

• When running takes place off school site for a warm up:
  • Teachers must do a safety check ‘walk through’ in order to identify potential problems prior to initial use of route or course.
  • Teachers must outline to the students the route or course (for example, notice of areas to approach with caution) before the start of the run.
  • Teachers must determine that students are not crossing busy intersections unless directly supervised.

• Be aware of students whose medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion, orthopaedic device) may affect participation. Consult Medical Conditions.

• Students must not participate in the activity until they receive information on concussion prevention specific to the activity, inherent risks of the activity (for example, outline possible risks and ways to minimize the risks), and procedures and rules for safe play. Students must receive instruction on the importance of reporting symptoms related to a suspected concussion.

• Refer to school board policies and procedures (i.e., transportation, excursion/field trip) for communication with parents/guardians, the location of an off-site activity, means of transportation, supervision ratios, and parent/guardian permission.

• A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.

• While moving, students must not be required to close their eyes or be blind-folded.

• Emphasize controlled movement when requiring students to walk or run backwards. Backward-running races are not permitted.

• Students must be made aware of the rules of the activity or game.

• Establish a procedure to stop activity (for example, whistle blowing).

• Adequate liquid replacement (personal water bottles, water fountains) must be accessible for students before, during, and after physical activity to prevent dehydration.

• Previous training, fitness level, and the length of time and intensity of physical activity must be taken into consideration.

• Skills must be taught in proper progression.

• Activities must be based on skills that are taught.

• All activities must be supervised.

• The level of supervision must be commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk is related to the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, the type of equipment used, and environmental conditions.

• Students must be informed that the use of equipment and the gymnasium are prohibited without supervision. In addition to verbal communication, the doors must be locked or signs must be posted indicating that students are not allowed to use the gym unless appropriately supervised.

• A teacher who is providing instruction and is unfamiliar with the activity (for example, no recent experience) must refrain from teaching the activity until assistance is provided by an appropriately trained staff or training is received.

• A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. (Consult Sample First Aid Kit)

• A working communication device (for example, cell phone) must be accessible.

• Follow the school's first aid emergency response (consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response) and the school board’s concussion protocol (consult Concussions).
• An emergency action plan and response to deal with evacuations and lock downs must be followed and communicated to students.

• Constant Visual Supervision:
  • Constant visual supervision means that the teacher is physically present, watching the activity in question. Only one activity requiring “Constant visual” supervision may take place while other activities are going on.
  • Curricular example: During a track and field session, some students are involved in high jump, some are practising relay passing on the track while a third group is distance running around the school. For high jump, the teacher is at the high jump area and is observing the activity.
  • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For parachute, the intramural supervisor is at the event and is observing activity.

• In-charge Person:
  • Some activities refer to an “In-Charge” person. While the teacher is in-charge and responsible for the overall safety and well-being of students under their care, sometimes there are other personnel who must be identified as “In-Charge” related to specific situations (for example, a pool lifeguard). In activities where an “In-Charge” person is designated, that person, in consultation with the teacher, must make final decisions regarding safety of the students

• In-the-area Supervision:
  • In-the-area supervision means that the teacher could be in the gymnasium while another activity is taking place in an area adjacent to the gymnasium. In-the-area supervision requires the teacher to be readily accessible.
  • In-the-area supervision occurs:
    • in activities in which students may be out of sight for periods of time and the location of the teacher is not nearby (for example, alpine skiing, cross-country running). At least one of the following criteria must be in place:
      • The teacher is circulating
      • The location of teacher has been communicated to students and volunteers
    • in single activities and those that may be combined (for example, other in- the- area activities such as badminton, table tennis, handball – wall) with the following criteria in place:
      • The teacher must be circulating between the activities and readily accessible
      • The teacher informs students of the location of the activities
  • Curricular example: During a track and field session, some students are involved in high jump, some are practising relay passing on the track while a third group is distance running around the school. For distance running, the students are running around the school and at times may be out of sight.
  • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For a scavenger hunt, the students are running around the school grounds and at times may be out of sight.

• Supervision:
  • The vigilant overseeing of an activity for regulation or direction. Activities, facilities, and equipment have inherent risks, but the more effectively they are supervised, the safer they become.
  • The Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education designate three categories of supervision, Constant visual supervision, On-site supervision, and In-the-area supervision. The categories take into consideration the risk level of the activity, the participants’ skill level and the participants’ maturity. The three levels of supervision described are not hierarchical but represent the type of supervision that an activity requires and the type of supervision that is inherently possible.

• Supervisor:
  • A supervisor is defined as a teacher, vice-principal or principal with a current certification from the Ontario College of Teachers and under contract by the school/school board. The supervisor is legally responsible for the students.