NFHS
Spirit Rules for Iowa Cheerleaders
(plus additions from ICCA and IHSAA)
If you need a current rule book, please contact Elisa Kahler at
ekahler@iahsaa.org
Click here for the NF Spirit Rules 09-10 PowerPoint
(videos are below)
Suspended Roll | Split Pyramid
- illegal | Transitional Stunts | Inverted Stunt | Inverted Stunt #2
- illegal | Inverted Stunt #3 -
illegal
Click here for the calendar of
rules meetings for the current year
2009 – 2010 National Federation Rules Changes
2009
– 2010 NF/ ICCA
/IHSAA Rules
Rules
Pertaining to Number of Cheerleaders
Points of Emphasis
Clarifying the Hair
Rule
Rules
Most Frequently Violated
Interpreting The
Legality Of Stunts
2009-2010 NF
SPIRIT RULES CHANGES
There are very few new spirit rules for the
2009-2010 school year. Along with the new rules, clarifications were
also made throughout the book. As always, it’s VERY important that
cheer coaches read the rule book to know the information it contains,
and then follow the rules in the intent in which they were written!
New exception 2-4-7h:
A triple base Swedish fall provided all three bases face the
flyer.
The rationale for this change is that when all
three bases are facing the flyer, the front base is in a better position
of safety to protect the flyer if assistance is needed.
New Rule 2-6-2b:
For all cradle dismounts, the flyer must not hold props (signs, etc.)
that are made of solid material, and have corners or sharp edges.
Holding
hard objects while performing cradle dismounts can interfere with the
safe execution of the cradle.
New Rule 2-6-7:
A twist to a cradle involving more than one rotation is permitted only
on appropriate mats, grass, rubberized and soft-yielding surfaces.
This change reflects the skill level in high
school cheerleading and is consistent with the NFHS focus on risk
minimization. NOTE: Non-twisting or single twist cradles are permitted
on any appropriate surface.
2-10-5:
Toe/leg pitches to a jump or tumbling skill are illegal.
This clarifies the intent of last year’s rule
change permitting a forward suspended roll from the performing surface.
National
Federation/ICCA/IHSAA Spirit Rules
For the 2009-2010 school year the Iowa Cheerleading Coaches’ Association
and the Iowa High School Athletic Association have chosen to strengthen some of
the NFHS Spirit Rules for cheerleaders in Iowa. This has been done with the
approval of all three organizations.
·
NFHS Spirit Rule 2-2-2:
“Fingernails, including artificial nails, must be kept at an appropriate length
(short, near the end of the fingers) to minimize risk for the participants.”
ICCA/IHSAA addition: “All nails, including artificial nails, must be cut
to a length so that the nail is not visible when the cheerleader holds up
her/his hands from the palm side. This is what is considered safe.”
·
NFHS Spirit Rule 2-2-3: “The hair
must be worn in a manner to minimize risk for the participant. Hair devices, if
worn, must be secure and appropriate for the activity.” ICCA/IHSAA addition:
“All cheerleaders’ hair must be pulled away from the face and off the
shoulders: i.e. ponytail. This would be for both stunting and non-stunting
squads.”
·
NFHS Spirit Rule 2-2-7: “Glitter
that does not readily adhere on the hair, face, uniform, costume, or the body is
illegal. Glitter may be used on signs, props, or backdrops if laminated or
sealed.” ICCA/IHSAA addition: “No spray on/roll on glitter. Glitter
in eye shadow should be minimal.”
·
Rule Suggestion – Insulin Packs:
“Insulin packs must be placed strategically, covered with a pad, and secured so
they won’t dislodge during activity. A written evaluation needs to be received
from the doctor before a cheerleader with an insulin pack may cheer and/or
stunt.”
NOTE:
These rules will be in effect for ALL Iowa school (grades 7-12) events,
including practices, games, meets, tournaments, competitions, and all other
events in which school cheerleaders participate.
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State Rules Pertaining to Number of Cheerleaders
The following rules
for cheerleaders are in effect at playoff events. During the season,
the number of high school cheerleaders at an event may be higher IF
space is available, and IF the school and/or conference allow it.
For practical purposes, it is usually a good idea to have the same
number of cheerleaders throughout the season as the number allowed at
playoffs. This way you won’t have to decide which cheerleader(s) sit
out during a playoff game/meet.
Cheerleaders at
both boys and girls events may use signs (to lead cheers), poms, and
megaphones. Fans may not have signs in the crowd or poms with sticks
for handles. No one may have artificial noisemakers and laser pens.
This includes items that clap
together to make noise and synchronized ringing of cell phones.
FOOTBALL
Eight cheerleaders (all in
uniform) will be admitted free to football playoff games, but any
number may cheer. They just need to pay their own admission.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
& SWIMMING
Six cheerleaders plus a
mascot (all in uniform) may cheer at boys’ basketball and swimming
sectionals, districts, regionals, and state. These cheerleaders must
cheer the entire game/meet without substitutions.
WRESTLING
Six cheerleaders (all in
uniform) may cheer at wrestling sectionals, districts, regionals, and
state. No mascots are allowed. These cheerleaders must cheer
the entire meet without substitutions. Cheerleaders must not have pins
on their uniforms, on the side of the mat, or on pillows.
Cheerleaders should also be conscious of space limitations when
bringing pillows to the side of the mat (especially at tournaments).
GIRLS’
BASKETBALL & SWIMMING
Six cheerleaders (all in
uniform), which includes the mascot, may cheer at girls’
basketball sectionals, districts, regionals,
and state. These cheerleaders must cheer the entire game/meet without
substitutions. Cheerleaders are not allowed at girls’ state swimming
because of the lack of space
GIRLS’
VOLLEYBALL
Six cheerleaders (all in
uniform), which includes the mascot, may cheer at girls’
volleyball sectionals, districts, regionals,
and state. These cheerleaders must cheer the entire meet without
substitutions. Cheerleaders may be on the floor during the regular
season, IF a gym has ample space so that cheerleaders are not in a
playable area. Volleyball players are allowed to play a ball until it
hits the wall or enters the bleachers, so it’s recommended that
cheerleaders remain in the bleachers until a time out or between games
to avoid being in a playable area. Cheerleaders at the state meet
would not be allowed anywhere on the playing floor during play.
CONFERENCE RULES
Some conferences may have
their own rules, so be sure to ask your athletic director if you have
any questions. For example, in the CIML Conference, hoops and signs
for players to run through are not allowed because of the chance of
injury.
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Why Rules Matter – The purpose of the NFHS
Spirit Rules is to minimize risk to the spirit participants. For this
reason, coaches must recognize why these rules were written and
understand rule specifics. In order to continue the promotion of
participant safety, coaches have a responsibility to read the rules
book, including the situation rulings, to fully comprehend all rules in
order in order to safely and correctly teach skills to athletes. To
help athletes progress, coaches should be transferring their knowledge
of the rules to participants to help build a foundation of rule
awareness and safety. As role models, coaches are expected to follow
all of the rules in the intent that they were written. Ignoring or
interpreting rules to suit individual needs is not in the best interest
of ensuring athletes’ safety or minimizing their risk.
Progressions – As with any athletic
activity, the coach is responsible for enforcing general risk management
rules, recognizing a teams’ particular ability level, and ensuring that
team members follow progressions. Only those skills mastered in
practice by being consistently executed safely and correctly should be
performed in public. Coaches are accountable for approving and
documenting mastery of skills before allowing participants to progress
to the next level or to perform skills in public. If trends continue in
poor execution of skills, especially elite stunts such as double downs
and basket tosses, the NFHS will be forced to review these stunts and
minimize risk. Elite level stunts can be performed safely when
appropriate progressions are followed and team members are properly
trained and prepared.
Transitional Stunts with Loss of Contact -
Bracers are becoming more active participants in transitional stunts,
especially when the flyer loses contact with the bases. For this
reason, coaches must be aware and teach bracer responsibilities for
these stunts. In released transition stunts at least one bracer must
maintain hand-to-hand/arm contact with the flyer during the entire loss
of contact sequence. Holding onto a flyer’s foot or uniform, for
example, does not constitute contact in this situation. At the same
time, bracers may not ever provide primary support for a flyer or
intentionally increase a flyer’s height. The intent of the bracers is
to instead help guide the flyer. When performed correctly, the
transitional stunt with loss of contact rule allows teams to execute
visually exciting stunts while still maintaining the safety of the
individuals involved.
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Official Rulings by the
Iowa Cheerleading Coaches’ Association
Pulling hair away from the face situations:
1. Hair in a
ponytail and bangs (which would have been in the eyes) secured away from
the face –
legal
2. Hair in a high
ponytail that is long and goes down the back – legal
3. Hair in pigtails
or side ponytail that does NOT touch the shoulders – legal
4. Hair in a low
back ponytail at the base of the nape of the neck – legal
5. Short hair
with hair that could be in face secured away – legal
6. Hair in a side
ponytail that goes onto or touches the shoulders – illegal
7. Hair in pigtails
that touches the shoulders – illegal
Bangs
pulled across forehead, wispies, & chunks of hair beside face:
1. The above - out of
eyes and if necessary soundly secured away from the face – legal
2. Hair that falls
into the face while cheering, stunting, or tumbling – illegal
3. How do you know
if it is legal?
If you have
to:
A. Move your head to move it away from your face – illegal
B. Use your hand to move it away from your face – illegal
C. Tuck it behind your ears – illegal
NOTE:
"Bumpits" are illegal.
Stunting:
1.
Any time the hair gets in the way of a stunt, it is illegal. The
hair should be off the shoulders for stunting.
GOAL:
Fix your hair before the
meet or game so you don't have to worry about it. Look like an
All-American cheerleader all the time; not just at tournament time.
In
Summary:
If you have to move your
head to get hair out of your eyes, use your hands to tuck hair behind
your ear, or move hair off your shoulders – your hair is probably
ILLEGAL.
Why risk a rules
violation or being removed from cheering?
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RULES MOST FREQUENTLY VIOLATED
2-1-2
Only members of the school’s actual spirit team
may participate in games/contests. No little cheerleaders, honorary
cheerleaders, OR fans out of the stands! Also, only the
cheerleaders actually cheering at that game/meet may be on the floor
NOT cheerleaders from other seasons/sports.
2-1-8 Stunts are not permitted during basketball and
volleyball games when the ball is in play, including all free throw
situations. Tumbling is considered stunting. Be sure to follow
rules for warming up when an alternative gym is not available. It is
not legal to stunt in the dark (such as darkened gyms during
introductions).
2-1-10
Cheerleaders can’t be on the floor during 20 or 30-second
timeouts in basketball and volleyball.
2-1-12
Participants are not permitted to have gum or candy in their mouths
while cheering.
2-1-13
Cheerleaders must not stand behind the free throw lane extended (picture
on page 41).
2-2-1 Wearing any jewelry is prohibited AT
ALL TIMES (including practices) except religious or medical medals
which shall be taped to the body under the apparel. Items should not
be draped around the neck even if they are taped to the body. All
silicon bracelets, hair ties, belly button rings, spacers,
tongue studs, upper ear cartilage rings, safety pins, corsages,
friendship bracelets, spirit pins, etc. are considered jewelry and must
be removed. Jewelry cannot be taped over; and fishing line, etc.
cannot be put through the pierced holes. Wrestling cheerleaders
may not have pins on their uniforms, pillows, or on the floor near them.
Coaches also need to remove jewelry when participating.
Ø
If a cheerleader
must wear jewelry for religious reasons, his/her coach should contact
the Ethics Director (Donna McKay). A letter needs to be written by the
parents of the cheerleader stating the jewelry’s religious significance
plus the reason why it can’t be removed. This letter also needs to be
signed by the school’s athletic director and cheerleading coach. The
coach should send the letter to the Ethics Director.
2-2-2 Fingernails, including acrylic nails, need to be
cut. If you can see the nails while looking at the palm of the hand,
the nails should be cut (ICCA/IHSAA rule). All participants need to
have their nails cut at all times, not just stunting squads.
Participating coaches need to cut nails, also.
2-2-3
Hair devices shall be safe and secure. The hair shall be
worn in a manner to ensure safety while performing. All members of a
squad shall wear their hair pulled away from the face and off the
shoulders (ICCA/IHSAA rule). Metal barrettes that are small
and flat are legal – banana clips and large floppy bows with streamers
are not legal. It is not legal to tuck hair behind the ears –
hair needs to be SECURED away from the face – this includes bangs
falling into the eyes. “Bumpit” hair inserts are not legal.
Section 2-4
Inattentive persons are not considered spotters. A spotter must be in
the proper position (with arms extended toward the flyer’s
head/shoulders) to prevent injuries (close enough to the stunt and
in proper area). A spotter’s torso may not be under a stunt. A
person is not a spotter if he/she grabs the sole of the top person’s
foot or grabs the hands of the base(s) beneath the top person’s foot.
2-5-3
A bracer shall not provide primary support. The stunt should be solid
without the bracer. Top people in a stunt should have their weight
directly above their bases and not leaning toward the bracer.
2-10-3
Basket tosses must not involve more than four tossers, including
the person who may set or “load” the top person.
If you attend a
competition and the National Federation Spirit Rules are not being
followed (some competitions say they are following them but don’t), you
are also liable if your cheerleaders participate, don’t follow the
rules, and get hurt
(wet mats, illegal stunts, unsafe performance area, etc.). Be aware
that not all stunts shown on television at cheerleading competitions are
legal.
The only activities where cheerleaders are
covered by the IHSAA catastrophic insurance are IHSAA sponsored events
(which includes the ICCA events) as long as cheerleaders are following
the National Federation Spirit Rules. Cheerleaders are not covered at
other competitions!
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Braced Dismounts
(2-6-11)
Checklist – all answers should be “yes” in order
for a braced dismount to be legal.
-
Does at least one bracer maintain
hand/arm contact with the flyer during loss of contact?
-
Do the flyer and bracers
always remain non-inverted?
-
Are there two bases?
-
Is there a separate spotter for
the flyer and each bracer?
-
Is the loss of contact a
continuous up & down movement without a pause?
-
Does the flyer remain directly
over the base(s)?
-
Does the flyer return to the
original base(s)?
-
Do all bracers assist/guide, but
do not intentionally increase the height of the flyer?
Inverted Stunts
(2-8-2-b)
Checklist – all answers should be “yes” in order
for an inverted stunt to be legal.
-
Is the flyer clearly in a
weight-bearing inverted position on the floor before the base(s) take
her/his weight?
-
Is the flyer moved directly
into a non-inverted position shoulder height or below?
-
Is there a base or spotter who is
in a position to protect the flyer’s head/neck?
-
Does that base/spotter maintain
physical contact with the flyer until flyer is no longer inverted?
Loss of Contact
Transitions (2-12-1)
Checklist – all answers should be “yes” in order
for a l.o.c transition to be legal.
-
Is the flyer constantly braced
(hand/arm contact) during loss of contact?
-
Do the flyer and bracer(s)
always remain non-inverted?
-
Does the flyer have at least two
bases (except if it’s a single-base tick tock)?
-
Is there a separate spotter for
the flyer and each bracer?
-
Is the bracer’s spotter focused on
the bracer and not the flyer?
-
Are the spotters paying attention
to the correct flyer?
-
Do all bracers assist/guide, but
do not take primary weight of the flyer?
-
Is the loss of contact a
continuous up & down movement without a pause?
-
Does the flyer remain directly
over the base(s)?
-
Does the flyer return to the
original base(s)?
-
Is the flyer released only to
other stunts, but not to a toss?
-
Do all bracers assist/guide, but
do not intentionally increase the height of the flyer?
-
Are all the stunts in the transition performed legally according to that
specific stunt's rules?
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