Rules and Regulations for High School Cheerleading
Over 3 million people participate and compete in cheerleading every year, moving it from activity status to a sport in its own right. Cheerleaders are strong and agile athletes, and as in other sports, certain rules and regulations have been adopted to protect the participants from injury.
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Supervision
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A cheerleading squad must have a coach who is familiar with the rules and with necessary safety regulations. The coach should attend all practices and is required to tailor routines and stunts to the ability of the team.
Practice and Training
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Mats must be used during practice sessions, and spotting must be used when any new stunt is being learned. In addition to practicing routines, cheerleading squads are mandated to participate in conditioning and strength training.
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Apparel and Props
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Jewelry is prohibited during both cheerleading practice, performance and competition, and athletic shoes are required at all times. If a squad members suffers an injury, any hard edged braces must be covered with soft padding or material. Anyone wearing a cast cannot participate in stunts or pyramids. If props with hard edges are being used and then set aside, the cheerleader must remain in control of the prop until it touches the ground.
Stunts
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Stunts can only be two people high. Free falling flips and swan dives are prohibited as are twists or flips from inverted positions at the top of a pyramid. Stunts may not pass over, under or through other stunts, and the use of trampolines or anything else that increases the height of jumps or dismounts is prohibited.
Tumbling
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All flips and twists must not exceed one full rotation. Furthermore, a forward flip that lands on the knees is prohibited. Cheerleaders cannot tumble over, under or through stunts, pyramids or other individuals.
Special Restrictions for Basketball Courts
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Because they can be slippery, basketball courts and gym floors present extra risk, resulting in additional regulations, including bans on twisting tumbling skills, inverted body positions in stunts, any lift that requires the base to stand on one foot and basket tosses.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Royalty free photo by Julie Elliott-Abshire
