SCHOOL AND REC. CHEER DIVISIONS AND RULES
SCHOOL TEAMS AND RECREATIONAL LEAGUES
CAN ENTER 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEER DIVISIONS:
"CHEER ONLY" DIVISION
OR
"2 1/2 MIN. ROUTINE" DIVISION
CHEER ONLY:
CONSISTS OF A CHEER INCLUDING, TUMBLING, JUMPS, AND OR MOUNTS. NO MUSIC IS ALLOWED IN THIS DIVISION. TIME LIMIT CANNOT EXCEED 2 1/2 MIN.
2 1/2 MINUTE ROUTINE:
MAY CONSIST OF A CHEER, TUMBLING, JUMPS, MOUNTS/STUNTS AND DANCE. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON THE MUSIC, BUT THE TOTAL ROUTINE CANNOT EXCEED 2 1/2 MIN.
CHEERS! Inc. reserves the right to open, close, or combine divisions prior to the competition
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
1. All teams will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 30 seconds to complete their routine. There are no minimum time requirements on any type of routine. Timing and judging of routines will begin with the first organized movement or the first note of music. Timing will end with a last note of music or the ending motion or pose is held. Introductions, spell-outs and/or organized entrances are considered part of the routine and are timed as part of the performance. All participants should walk onto the floor and immediately start their routine after placement of any props.
2. All cheerleading team members must stay on the competition floor during tumbling, stunts, and mounts. There will be no deduction if you transition off the competition floor.
3. Poms, megaphones, flags, banners and signs are the only props allowed in the cheer division.
4. All school teams must consist of official members governed by their school and school district. SUBSTITUTIONS may be made in the event of an injury or other serious circumstance. However, all substitutions must be pre-approved by CHEERS! Inc.
5. One representative from your group will be responsible for running your music during the competition. This person is required to stay at the sound table for the team’s entire performance. Bring two CDs of your music. In the event that your routine is interrupted due to failure of the Cheers! Inc. equipment, you may restart your routine. If the interruption is the result of your equipment, supplies, personnel or injury, you may either continue the routine from the interruption or withdraw from the competition.
6. Routines and music must be appropriate for family viewing. Any vulgar or suggestive movements, words, or music may result in a deduction.
7. Poor sportsmanship will NOT be tolerated from performers, coaches, or parents. This can result in not only a deduction, but a complete withdrawal from the competition with no fees returned. Please discuss the importance of good sportsmanship with your participants and your parents before the competition. LET’S HAVE FUN AND NOT RUIN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT!!!!
8. All participants must submit a signed waiver form prior to performing, NO EXCEPTIONS!
SAFETY GUIDELINES
TUMBLING:
1. Twists exceeding more than two (2) rotations or flips exceeding one head-over-heels rotation (i.e. double backs, double fronts, triple fulls, triple log rolls, etc.) are restricted.
2. Knee, front, seat and split drops (without first breaking the drop with the feet or hands) are restricted. Also handsprings/flips to a seat drop ("suicide"/"flippy") are restricted.
3. Tumbling with any prop is restricted.
4. Spotted or assisted aerial flips/tumbling is strictly prohibited.
5. Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop is not permitted. A forward roll over a prop is an exception and is permitted.
6. Dive rolls and double cartwheels are not permitted.
STUNTS/PYRAMIDS:
1. Single or double-based stunts higher than shoulder stand level must have a continuous spotter for each person over shoulder stand level. The spotter must be positioned to protect the head and shoulders of the flyer and must be behind or beside the stunt, and may help support the stunt, but may not be underneath, or be a primary support for the stunt.
2. Pyramids or partner stunts utilizing a person (not standing on the ground) as a BALANCE OR BRACE, must CLEARLY NOT be supporting 50% OR MORE of the top person's weight. This can be shown by the top person of the pyramid/stunt having her leg in a bent, stretched or heel stretch position.
3. No extended stunt may brace other extended stunts except for cupie/awesome and extensions.
4. All roll-ups originating from the ground level into partner stunts or pyramids are permitted.
5. Hanging pyramids are allowed as long as they are upright. Each shoulder stand must have a continuous spotter and the bases must brace the hanging person(s).
6. In transitional stunts, physical contact must be maintained between the flyer and the base(s) (excluding Tick-Tocks). When it involves changing bases, the person moving the stunt shall maintain continuous visual contact with the new base(s).
7. Pendulums are permitted as long as they are performed from shoulder height or below and there are at least 3 catchers on each side.
8. A base shall not assume a back bend or handstand position.
9. Vaults involving head-over-heel rotation are restricted. Vaults over or through pyramids or stunts are restricted.
10. A flyer may hold or pass through an inverted position during dismounts or stunts only with direct weight bearing support from a base(s) that is in direct contact with the floor. Suspended basket toss flips are restricted.
BASKET TOSSES:
(MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO BASKET TOSSES)
1. All basket-tosses must be performed from ground level bases and must be cradled by at least two of the original bases plus an additional spotter for the head and shoulders.
2. Flyers must land in a "face up" cradle position. Re-grabs are not permitted!
3. Tosses shall not involve more than four (4) bases and one (1) flyer. The flyer shall be directed vertically and the bases shall remain in place throughout the toss and cradle.
4. No tosses are allowed to be thrown through/over props, people, stunts or pyramids.
5. Flyers may not be tossed to another set of bases.
6. Tosses to any split position are not permitted.
7. Log rolls are permitted as long as they land "face up". In a single-base log roll, the flyer must rotate toward the base.
8. Flipping basket tosses are restricted.
DISMOUNTS:
1. Dismounts by the top person directly to the ground from single or double-based stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level are permitted as long as the top person is assisted by the original base(s) plus a spotter at the shoulders.
2. No additional skills may be performed during dismounts by the top person directly to the ground (ex. toe-touch, twist, etc.)
3. Cradle dismounts from double-based partner stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level must use three catchers (either the bases plus a spotter, or three spotters). Cradle dismounts from single-based partner stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level must use a spotter (at the side or shoulders) on the cradle.
4. Cradle dismounts from single or double-based partner stunts or pyramids at or below shoulder stand level and without an extra skill (ex. twist or toe-touch) on the cradle does NOT require an additional spotter.
5. Cradle dismounts from single or double-based partner stunts or pyramids at or below shoulder stand level and with an extra skill (ex. twist or toe-touch) on the cradle DOES require an additional spotter at the shoulders.
6. Forward suspended roll dismounts from a shoulder stand level or lower are allowed. However, to be considered legal, the top person must have constant hands-to-hands or arms-to-arms contact with the base(s) throughout the full rotation of the flip and dismount and the base(s) must have both feet on the ground at all times.
7. Suspended rolls from single-based stunts are NOT permitted.
8. Free-falling flips from any stunt or pyramid (including toe, leg and thigh pitches) are restricted.
9. Swan dives (to the stomach cradle only) from any type of toss, stunt or pyramid are restricted.
10. All cradle dismounts must land in a face-up position.
11. Double twists of any kind must have 3 catchers.
12. Front, back and side tension rolls/drops are restricted. Backward suspended rolls, including shoulder sit roll-offs are restricted. Suspended roll dismounts from higher than shoulder level are restricted.
13. Single-based split catches are restricted.
14. Vault dismounts are restricted.
CHEERS! Inc. reserves the right to open, close, or combine divisions prior to the competition
