Open Letter to the Cheer Community from Bill Seely

 

OPEN LETTER FROM BILL SEELY TO THE CHEER COMMUNITY

To the Spirit Community,

In light of recent reporting, I want to take this moment to remind you all as valued members of our community – a community that I personally love and have been honored to be a part of for over 35 years – of what we truly stand for and what is core to our values.   

At the heart of everything we do at Varsity Spirit is the well-being and growth of every student we serve. For over five decades, Varsity Spirit has been a leader in transforming cheerleading into the dynamic, high-energy sport we know and love today. Our commitment to athlete safety has always been – and remains – at the forefront of what we do.  We have made – and continue to make – significant investment of resources into creating the safest possible environment for our athletes.   

These athletes are the future of our great country.  We do not take lightly our responsibility to not only teach them and to provide them with excellent experiences – but above all – to protect them.  

Varsity Spirit has long prioritized safety initiatives, beginning with the creation of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (“AACCA”) and the first risk management manual for cheer in 1987. Over the years, we’ve implemented stringent safety standards, and we continue to evaluate and update them to ensure we remain at the forefront of athlete protection. These efforts have had a meaningful impact and our leadership in safety has earned us recognition and invitations to contribute to national conversations on sports safety. 

I am pleased to say that the cumulative effects of Varsity Spirit’s actions, partnerships, and investments have resulted in a significant decline in injuries over time, including concussions, among cheer participants. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, in 2023, there were fewer emergency room visits for girls aged 12-18 for cheerleading than for girls’ basketball, soccer, volleyball, and softball.  

Additionally, Varsity Spirit continues to uphold the highest standards of safety through various initiatives, such as:  

• Requiring Varsity Spirit employees to complete comprehensive training and education programs focused on abuse prevention, cyberbullying, and injury awareness trainings – and how to identify and report signs of misconduct and abuse.  

• Requiring annual background checks for Varsity Spirit staff and volunteers.   

• Establishing clear policies designed to protect participants at Varsity Spirit events and camps.  

• Requiring background checks for coaches attending Varsity Spirit events: 

• Requiring USA Cheer Membership for all school coaches and adults registered with a team wishing to attend camp or access the warmup area, backstage, or coaches’ box at school competitions.  

• Requiring USASF membership for all star gym owners, coaches or adults wishing to gain access to the warmup area at all star competitions. 

• Providing reporting information on our website and encouraging anyone with a concern to come forward.   

You can learn more about all of our safety resources here.

We also have a committee to advance safety initiatives and we have received accreditation from the leading organization in abuse risk management. By achieving this accreditation, we’ve demonstrated that our safety standards are among the highest in the industry.    

These are in addition to many other safety and security advancements, including appointing a 20+ year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service, as our Chief Security Officer, and a former child abuse and neglect prosecutor as our Associate General Counsel of Compliance. We’ve also brought in former senior law enforcement experts to help guide our efforts.  

Even with all of that, we would never presume to rest on our laurels. Athlete safety is not just a goal—it’s a daily responsibility. We remain fully dedicated to creating an environment free from abuse and misconduct and continue to prioritize working closely with the cheer community to ensure every athlete has a safe and supportive experience. 

Any attempt to discredit or downplay our safety efforts is both false and unfounded. Varsity Spirit’s commitment to safety has always – and continues to be – unwavering.  We will continue to lead the way, each and every day, to create a safe environment for athletes in our sport. I challenge everyone in the cheer community to join us on this important journey to improve the sport we all love – not just for the years our kids participate, but for the lifetime of benefits that follow.  

Thank you all for your continued dedication to supporting Varsity Spirit on our mission to elevate the student experience. I’m incredibly proud of the work we do and remain more confident today than ever in our ability to protect and inspire the next generation of athletes.

Bill Seely
PRESIDENT, VARSITY SPIRIT