2008-09 Spirit Rules Changes

1-3-1                Inverted - One in which a participant’s shoulders are below his/her waist.  (Examples:  Chorus line flip, back handspring, needle scale, arch back)

 

RATIONALE:  Defining an inverted position as “shoulders below waist” instead of “head below waist” more accurately reflects the intent of the inverted flyer rule and now allows a variety of low-risk stunts that have previously been illegal.

 

2-1-14              A participant who is bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, shall be directed to leave the activity until the bleeding is stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or uniform is changed before returning to participation. 

 

RATIONALE:  This rule is consistent with all other NFHS sports and is for the safety of all athletes.

 

2-8-2 b.                        A flyer must not be in an inverted position except for the following:

a.      During a forward suspended roll;

b.      When beginning a stunt from an inverted position on the performing surface, that goes directly to a non-inverted position shoulder height or below.  This stunt must include a base or spotter who protects the head/neck/shoulder area of the flyer.  This base or spotter must maintain contact with the flyer from the inverted position until the flyer is no longer inverted.

 

RATIONALE:  Requiring a base or spotter to maintain physical contact with a flyer while she/he is inverted stabilizes the stunt and reduces risk of injury to the flyer.

 

2-9-1 a.            A forward suspended roll is legal provided all the following conditions are met:

and d.              a.    The flyer begins from the performing surface or from a stunt shoulder height or below.

d.    In suspended rolls from the performing surface, the flyer maintains continuous hand-to-hand

       contact with two bases.

 

RATIONALE:  Allowing a forward suspended roll from the performance surface does not present more risk (and possibly less) than forward suspended rolls from stunts, provided two bases are used.

 

2-12-1i & 2       Article 1 - In transitional stunts, physical contact must be maintained between the flyer and the base(s) except when ALL of the following conditions are met:

a.      The flyer maintains hand-to-hand/arm contact with at least one bracer during the entire loss   of contact with his/her base(s).

b.      The flyer does not become inverted.

c.      The flyer has at least two bases EXCEPT THAT a single-base tick tock is permitted when the flyer remains upright (vertical) throughout the stunt.

d.      Each flyer and bracer has a separate spotter.

e.      The loss of contact is a continuous up-and-down movement.

f.       The flyer’s center of gravity remains directly over the bases.

g.      The flyer’s weight is not supported by the bracer(s).

h.      The flyer is not released to a toss.

i.       The bracers do not intentionally increase the height of the flyer.

 

Article 2 - Transitional stunt without loss of contact – When a transitional stunt involves changing bases:

a.      The new base(s) must be to the side or front of the person moving the stunt EXCEPT WHEN the flyer remains upright (vertical) throughout the transition to new base(s).

b.      The person moving the stunt makes no more than a half turn to face the new base(s).

RATIONALE:  The rule is designed in checklist format to make the rules book more user-friendly.  Requiring at least one bracer to have hand-to-hand/arm contact with the flyer during a transition increases the safety and stability of the transition(s).

 

3-1-6                           Pedini-style dance shoes and others with heels of sufficient height to raise the bottom of the foot

Add                 off the floor.

Exception         RATIONALE:  The purpose of requiring that the bottom of the foot be covered is to prevent injury and

disease.  The pedini-style shoe’s heel raises the bottom of the foot off the floor which minimizes that risk.