2008-2009 College Safety Rules
2008-2009 College Safety Rules
1. Cheerleading squads should be placed under the direction of a qualified and knowledgeable advisor or coach.
2.
All
practice sessions should be supervised by the advisor/coach and held in
a location suitable for the activities of cheerleaders (e.g., use of
appropriate matting, away from excessive noise and distractions, etc.)
3.
Prior to the performance of any skill, the immediate environment for
the activity should be taken into consideration including, but not
limited to proximity of non-squad personnel, performance surface,
lighting and/or precipitation. Technical skills should not be performed
on concrete, asphalt, wet or uneven surfaces or surfaces with
obstructions.
4. Advisors/coaches should recognize
the particular ability level of all participants and should limit the
squad's activities accordingly. Participants should not be pressed to
perform activities until they are safely prepared.
5. Skills that have not been mastered should be performed
only in a supervised practice environment.
6. Thorough training in proper spotting techniques should be mandatory for all squads.
7.
All cheerleaders should receive proper training before attempting any
form of cheerleading gymnastics (tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids and
jumps).
8. All cheerleading squads should adopt a comprehensive conditioning and strength building program.
9. A structured stretching exercise and flexibility routine should precede and follow all cheerleading activities.
10.
All programs should qualify cheerleaders according to accepted teaching
progressions. Appropriate spotting should be used until all performers
demonstrate mastery of the skill, and when spotting is required by
specific rule.
11. In environments where there is close
proximity to the athletic event and out of bounds plays pose a
significant risk of injury to the participant,
no technical skills should be performed while the ball is in play.
12. All partner stunts, pyramids, and tosses should be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution.
1.
The use of any height-increasing apparatus (e.g. mini-trampoline, etc.)
other than a spring floor is prohibited for performance.
2.
The top person in a partner stunt, pyramid or transition cannot be
released from bases with the intent to land or be caught in an inverted
body position.
3. An individual may not jump, flip
or dive over, under, or through partner stunts, pyramids or individuals
from basket tosses, similar tosses, partner stunts or other tosses from
hands.
4. Drops (knee, seat, thigh, front, back and
split) from a jump, stand or inverted position are prohibited unless
the majority of the weight is first borne on the hands/feet which
breaks the impact of the drop.
5. Jewelry of any
kind is prohibited (e.g., navel jewelry, tongue jewelry, earrings,
necklaces, etc.) Medical bracelets are allowed provided they are taped
to the body.
6. Soft-soled athletic shoes must be
worn while cheering or competing. Gymnastics shoes, jazz shoes and/or
boots are prohibited.
7. Basket and Elevator/Sponge Tosses are prohibited on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial) or a mat.
8.
Flipping skills into or from stunts, tosses or pyramids are prohibited
on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial) or a mat.
9. Two and one half high pyramids are prohibited on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial) or a mat.
1. Twisting dismounts with more than a 360 degree rotation require an additional spotter that assists on the cradle.
2. Stunts in which the base uses only one arm for support require a spotter when:
a.
the stunt is anything other than a cupie/awesome or basic liberty. All
other one-arm stunts require a spotter (e.g., heel stretch, arabesque,
high torch, scorpion, bow and arrow, etc.).
b. the load-in
or dismount involves a twist. The spotter must be in place during the
twist and assist on the cradle during twisting dismounts.
c. the top person is popped from one arm to the other.
3. Single based split catches are prohibited.
4.
Flips into or from partner stunts are prohibited, with the following
exceptions (These exceptions are limited to one flip and require an
additional spotter who assists with the cradle.):
a. Rewinds (no twisting allowed.)
b. Front flip dismounts from shoulder height or below to a cradle.
c. Back flip dismounts from shoulder height double based stunts to a cradle.
5. Leg pitch, toe pitch, walk-in, sponge, and straddle catch front and back flips are prohibited.
6.
Twisting dismounts greater than two rotations are prohibited.
Exception: side facing stunts - i.e. Arabesque, Scorpion, double full
twisting cradles to the front are legal.
7. Front, back and side tension drops are prohibited.
1.
Pyramids higher than 2 ½ body lengths are prohibited. Pyramid height is
measured by body lengths as follows: chairs, thigh stands and shoulder
straddles are 1 ½ body lengths; shoulder stands are 2 body lengths;
extended stunts (i.e. extension, liberty, etc.) are 2 ½ body lengths.
Exception: an extended stunt on top of a thigh stand is allowed.
2.
In all pyramids, there must be at least two spotters designated for
each person who is above two persons high and whose primary support
does not have at least one foot on the ground. One of the spotters must
be in the back and the other must be at the side or in front of the
pyramid to spot the front. Once the pyramid shows adequate stability
and just prior to the dismount, this spotter can move to the back to
catch the cradle.
3. Cradles from pyramids over two high must use at least two catchers.
4. Toe touch and twisting dismounts off of pyramids two high or above must use three catchers.
5.
All flips into or from pyramids are prohibited, with the exception of a
forward flip dismount to a cradle and legal rewinds (see definitions).
6. Front, back and side tension drops are prohibited.
1.
Basket tosses or similar tosses may only be performed from ground
level, can use no more than four bases, and must be cradled by three of
the original bases, one of which must catch in a scoop under the head
and shoulders.
2. Basket and elevator/sponge tosses may not be directed so that the bases must move to catch the top person.
3. Basket and elevator/sponge tosses cannot exceed one flipping and two twisting rotations.
4.
In flipping basket or elevator/sponge tosses (tuck, layout, or pike
position) only two additional skills are allowed. One twisting rotation
is considered to be one skill.
Examples:| Legal (two skills) | Illegal (three
skills) |
| Tuck flip, X-out, Full Twist | Tuck flip, X-out,
Double Full Twist |
| Double Full-twisting Layout | Kick, Double Full-twisting Layout |
| Kick, Full-twisting Layout | Kick, Full-twisting Layout, Kick |
| Pike, Open, Double Full Twist | Pike, Split, Double Full Twist |
| Arabian Front, Full twist | Full-twisting Layout, Split, Full Twist |
| Note: An Arabian Front followed by a 1 ½ twist is considered to be a legal skill. |
5.
Basket and elevator/sponge load-ins can land in a stunt or pyramid
provided that the toss does not significantly exceed the height of the
intended skill. Flips into stunts or pyramids from a basket or
elevator/sponge load-in are prohibited.
1. Tumbling skills performed over, under or through partner stunts, pyramids or individuals are prohibited.
2. Tumbling skills that exceed one flipping rotation are prohibited.
3. Tumbling skills with two or more twisting rotations are prohibited.
4. Dive rolls are prohibited.
1. The following skills are prohibited at basketball and other athletic contests conducted on courts:
a. Basket tosses, elevator/sponge tosses and other similar multibased tosses.
b. Partner stunts in which the base uses only one arm to support the top person.
c. Flips or released twists into or from partner stunts.
d. Two and one half person high pyramids.
e. Inversions in partner stunts and pyramids.
f. Twisting tumbling skills.
The
only exception to the above rule is during halftime or postgame
performances where the area is free of obstructions and non-cheer
personnel, and all skills are performed on a matted surface. Pregame
and timeouts are not exceptions to this rule and are subject to the
listed restrictions.
Base - A person who is in direct contact with the performing surface and is supporting another person’s weight.
Top
- A person who is either being supported by another while off of the
performing surface or who has been tossed into the air by another
person.
Middle - A person who is being supported by a base while also supporting a top person.
Toss
- A movement by one or a group of participant that propels a person
into the air so that the person is airborne (i.e., free of contact with
the performing surface).
Stunt - A skill in which a top person is supported by a base or bases.
Pyramid - A skill in which a top person is being supported by a middle layer person.
Flip - When a person is airborne while the feet pass over the head.
Dive Roll - A forward roll wherein the performer is airborne prior to the beginning of the forward roll.
Cradle - Dismount from a stunt/pyramid/toss in which the top person lands in a face-up, semi-piked position.
Helicopter Toss -
A stunt in which the top person is tossed into the air with the body
parallel to the ground and completes a 360 degree horizontal rotation
(like the blades of a helicopter.)
Rewind - Skill
in which the top person starts with BOTH FEET on the ground, is tossed
into the air and performs a backward or side rotation into a stunt,
pyramid or loading position (this would include a cradle). Flips are
limited to one rotation into a pyramid, stunt or loading position and
one and one quarter rotations into a flatback or cradle and cannot
twist.
Loading Position -Any intermediate position
below shoulder level that uses continuous motion to put a top person in
a stunt or pyramid. Examples: Elevator/sponge load, basket load,
smoosh, scoop from the back, etc.
Flatback - A stunt in which the top person is in a face-up, straight-body position parallel to the performing surface.
Height-increasing Apparatus- Any type of equipment that increases the height of a skill
The
above safety rules are general in nature and are not intended to cover
all circumstances. All cheerleading gymnastics, including tumbling,
partner stunts, pyramids, jumps and tosses should be carefully reviewed
and supervised by a qualified and knowledgeable advisor or coach. The
American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators makes
no warranties or representations, either expressed or implied, that the
above guidelines will prevent injuries to individual participants.
For the most recent safety rules and information, visit http://www.aacca.org.