University of Florida grounds cheerleaders from acrobatics, tumbling

FILE 2009: Florida Gators cheerleaders practice jumps in a parking lot. (Reuters)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida cheerleaders have been grounded.

UF officials told cheerleaders on Nov. 16 they could no longer perform acrobatic stunts and tumble during games. The decision came days after an Orlando Magic cheerleader was injured during a performance at a basketball game.

The Gainesville Sun reports university officials said they took a proactive stance "to protect the cheerleaders" instead of waiting for a tragedy to occur.

Cheerleaders disappointed that they couldn't tumble at their last home game of the season took their protest to social media, tweeting under the hashtag (hash)Unground UFCheer.

Athletic association spokesman Steve McClain told The Sun that the danger associated with acrobatic stunts is "simply not worth the risk to the cheerleaders or to the University of Florida."