I wonder who, if anyone, would be liable for an injury occurring during the serial back flips and other crazy routines cheerleaders do. I daresay they are more dangerous than an unsuccessful dunk attempt.

 

Great point. Those usually happen during a dead ball also.

Great point. Those usually happen during a dead ball also.

 

The officials are for the basketball game....cheerleaders....yet another thread...

Ok, I spoke to my own Guru regarding rules and he says:

 

"The rule is in place for player safety. Officials assume responsibility for dead ball activity on the floor. Dunking during the game is live ball. Officials could be held "liable" for player injury during their dead ball supervision."

 

 

First of all, I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY, but I wanted to offer some personal thoughts/opinions for discussion:

 

I'm not really buying the goal/safety arguments. If a breakaway rim isn't sturdy enough to handle dunks, it probably shouldn't be used by players who could be dunking the ball during the game just the same as it would be in warm-ups. I can see from a wear and tear standpoint, but in the grand scheme of things, I doubt it makes that much of a difference really. Either way, it seems like it would most likely be a maintenance issue or one where there was a huge deviation from common sense (i.e., an adult allowing young neighborhood kids who are to jump off of a trampoline or run and step up out of a chair to dunk).

 

I've read a few Torts cases, but I have never read one where the official or their governing body (of officials) is successfully sued for an activity that is allowed during part of the session and occurs regularly in the event itself to the extent. Mainly, there's the issue of voluntary participation in a risky activity, and common sense would tell you that most people with the faculties to be a part of a scholastic basketball team and dunk a basketball would knowingly assume some of the risk.

 

The most likely person to be sued would probably be the manufacturer of the goal itself (if it were defective) or the organizational body responsible for upkeep of the goal (if the goal wasn't properly maintained and proper maintenance would have prevented the injury)."