One Man's Goal: Make the Cheer Industry Safe (and how he's doing it)

BREAKING NEWS: In keeping with the principle of “Safety First,” industry leader and entrepreneur Patrick Cowherd, is bringing low-cost athletic insurance to competitive cheer.

The two-year long project began when Patrick was paying $18,000 for a different insurance product but found another company that saved him significantly. Then he initiated a conversation with them about how to help athletes and their families.

After taking time to understand the industry’s needs, they offered coverage that went beyond medical insurance at unheard of prices.

“I'm just a spearhead. I don't own the company, but I worked with the insurance company for two years after discovering it for myself and our gym, Hollywood Allstars (Carmel, Indiana).”

“This was athlete centric first but I know the need for insurance for owners, choreographers and coaches and thought 'Why not help them too and we kept working through it?' It’s a huge shift.”

For instance, most coaches and gym owners assume they are covered by the gym’s insurance policy but if an athlete is taking privates and clinics being paid directly to the instructor they are not covered.

“It also helps them in a way of when it comes to some legal things as well and that's going to be the second phase of this,” he says.

The medical part of this insurance comes first but they are also planning for mental health and legal coverage-two very underserved components of competitive cheer, especially after the sexual-assault cases of recent years.

Industry leader and entrepreneur, Patrick Cowherd, is bringing low-cost athletic insurance to competitive cheer.

In doing so, Patrick not only has helped create a policy that everyone can afford, it’s a concrete way to stand by the oath he’s made publicly many times: to make the industry safe.

“I feel like this is one of the many contributions that I'm giving back to the industry in a very, very good way,” Patrick said on the day of launch.

He says the intention was to release this news April 1 but there was a concern that people would think it was an April Fool’s joke because “these rates are this crazy.”

“From my perspective, there wouldn’t be a cheer industry if it weren’t for the athletes, so we are focusing on them first but ultimately we're focusing on the industry to be able to get this insurance because, really the thing is we are making the industry safe.”

Patrick has several projects he is involved in, all with a focus on improving the status-quo of cheer.

“I've always said that I'm going to leave this industry better than what I came into it or try.”

ATHLETIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE

Comprehensive Medical Insurance Solutions for Cheer, Dance, Acrobatics & Tumbling, Gymnastics, Coaches and Choreographers.

CDAGCC Care is your dedicated medical insurance agency that safeguards athletes and professionals in cheer, dance, acrobatics & tumbling, gymnastics, coaching, choreography, and event producing.

“Our mission is to provide comprehensive protection and support to every cheerleader, dancer, gymnast, coach, choreographer, club/gym/studio owner, and event producer we serve.​

Participant Accident Medical Costs Reimbursement

Provides reimbursement excess of any other underlying insurance policy for medical expenses arising from accidents incurred during an organization’s supervised and sponsored activities.

“Injuries are common and purchasing a reimbursement can help everyone,” Patrick explained.

“Kids with no insurance will be covered now but kids with insurance will also benefit because there are some things in there that will cover them that otherwise wouldn’t be including hospital visits outside their “home state” where a competition would be held. Depending on which policy they choose.”

According to Patrick, some parents have told him that “my daughter's been injured twice this year I've got to go out of pocket' because my insurance company won't cover it."

There are three plans and can cover up to five participants, including cheer parents (on cheer parent teams), depending on which policy you choose. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a certificate of enrollment and your plan’s documents will be emailed to you within 72 hours or before.  

$2,500 costs $25*

$5,000 costs $45*

$10,000 costs $85*

(*plus $3 processing fee)

For more information and to register go to CDAGCC-CARE.com