Iowa Cheerleading Coaches

1
Iowa Cheerleading Coaches Association NFHS
Spirit Rules Meeting
2009-2010
2
PLEASE NOTE!

• This PowerPoint DOES NOT take the place of
  coaches reading and knowing the rules!
• This presentation should only be used as a
  reference.
• It is the coachs responsibility to make sure
  stunts are legal. Dont rely on your
  choreographer to know the rules.

3
IMPORTANT

• These rules are for ALL Iowa cheerleaders (grades
  7-12), not just ICCA members cheerleaders!

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Following the NF Spirit Rules

• Rule 2-1-1 A coach must not permit a team
  member to participate if in the judgment of the
  coach, the participant does not conform to the
  NFHS rules.
• The purpose of the NFHS Spirit Rules is to
  minimize risk to the participants. For this
  reason, coaches need to make sure the rules are
  followed even if the cheerleaders and/or their
  parents dont agree with them.
• The NF rule book is legally defendable as long as
  youre following the rules, which includes
  participant readiness.

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Awareness of Individual and Team Limitations

• 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.
• Elite level stunts can be performed safely when
  appropriate progressions are followed and team
  members are properly trained and prepared.

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Cheerleaders as Athletes

• Cheerleading is an athletic activity. Its up to
  coaches to make sure that this image of
  cheerleading is upheld.
• Coaches should remain cognizant of this image
  when choosing cheerleading uniforms and approving
  cheer/dance movements and words for their
  cheerleaders to perform.

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Rules Book Layout

• Rule Changes with Rationale
• Points of Emphasis
• Table of Contents
• Index (p. 7)
• Philosophy (p. 9)
• Rule 1 Definitions (p. 10)
• Rule 2 General Risk Management (p. 14)
• Situations (p. 23) help clarify the rules
• Rule 3 Dance/Drill/Pom Risk Management (p. 34)
• Pictures (p. 42) help clarify the rules
• NF Mission Statement (p. 69)
• Coaches Code of Ethics (p. 74)
• NFHS Coach Education (p. 84)
• NFHS Publications/Order Blank (p. 87/88)

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Rule Section Organization

• Each Rule has sections and
• articles.
• New/revised rules are shaded.
• Rule 2 3 sections and articles
• typically have a situational
• ruling (look for by a rule).
• The back of the book has
• photographs covering some
• rules/sections/articles (look for P by a
• rule).

9
NFHS Philosophy

• Philosophy
• Maintain sound traditions
• Encourage sportsmanship
• Minimize risk
• Education-based
• Reasonable rules

10
NFHS Rules Process

• Rule writing process
• Rule changes are submitted to NFHS from state
  offices in November
• Spirit Rules Committee reviews recommendations
  for changes in January
• NFHS administrative staff reviews changes
• NFHS Board of Directors approves changes
• NFHS rules books are reviewed and edited for
  publication in April
• Rules are in place for the start of the school
  season

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2009-2010 NFHS Rules Changes

• 2-4-7h p. 16 Swedish Fall Spotting
• 2-6-2b p. 17 Cradle Dismounts
• 2-6-7 p. 22 Twist Cradle Dismounts
• 2-10-5 p. 23 Toe/Leg Pitch Tosses

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Rule 2-4-7h Swedish Fall Spotting

• New Exception
• A Triple-Base Swedish Fall was added to the list
  of exceptions in rule 2-4-7 which requires a
  spotter for all stunts in which the supporting
  arm(s) of the base(s) is/are fully extended above
  the head.

13
Rule 2-4-7h Rationale

• When all three
• bases face the
• flyer, the front
• base is in a better
• position of safety
• to protect the
• flyer if assistance
• is needed.

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Rule 2-6-2b Cradle Dismounts

• New Rule
• For all cradle
• dismounts, the
• flyer must not
• hold props (signs,
• etc.) that are made
• of solid material
• and have corners
• or sharp edges.

15
Rule 2-6-2b Rationale
Holding hard objects while performing cradle
dismounts can interfere with the safe execution
of the cradle.
16
Rule 2-6-7 Twist Cradle Dismounts

• New Rule
• A twist to a cradle involving more than one
  rotation is permitted only on appropriate mats,
  grass, rubberized, and soft-yielding surfaces.

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Rule 2-6-7 Interpretation
As with basket tosses, the double twist to a
cradle cannot be done on a basketball court,
unless the stunt is performed on an appropriate
mat. There is not enough space on the sidelines
for tosses on mats at basketball games.
18
Rule 2-6-7 Rationale
This change reflects the skill level in high
school cheerleading and is consistent with the
NFHS focus on risk management. NOTE
Non-twisting or single-twist cradles are
permitted on any appropriate surface. Side
facing stunts are only permitted to have 1 ¼
twists on appropriate surfaces since they
involved twists over one rotation.
19
Rule 2-10-5 Toe/Leg Pitch Tosses

• New Rule
• Toe/leg pitches to a jump or tumbling skill are
  illegal.

20
Rule 2-10-5 Interpretation
Foot/thigh assisted forward suspended rolls are
allowed provided all of the conditions of the
forward suspended roll are met.
Video Clip
21
Rule 2-10-5 Rationale

• This new rule clarifies the intent of last years
  rule change permitting a forward suspended roll
  from the performing surface.

22
NFHS Spirit Rules Book Points of Emphasis

• Coaches
• Responsibilities
• Event Security
• Spring Floors

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Coaches Responsibilities

• Professionalism
• NFHS Spirit Rules
• Book
• Sportsmanship
• Minimize Risk

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Professionalism

• Read the rule book and situations, including the
  
• notes and comments
• ALWAYS follow the rules and their intent
• Comprehend rules to safely and correctly teach
• appropriate skills
• Ensure your participants are
• following the rules
• Be a role model
• Take classes to increase your
• cheer coaching knowledge
• Be an advocate for sportsmanship

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NFHS Coach Education
www.nfhslearn.com

• Fundamentals of Coaching
• First Aid for Coaches
• Sport Specific Courses

Take Part. Get Set For Life!
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Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship begins with the coaches. Coaches
not only model respect of self and others, but
teach these skills to their cheerleaders.
Cheerleaders follow officials requests, and they
are examples of appropriate behavior during the
national anthem.
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Security

• Practice plan
• Event plan
• School policies
• Administration crisis plan
• Plans are in place for
• emergencies, weather alerts,
• fire, power outages, hostile
• crowds, transportation, evacuation, accidents,
  etc.

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Spring Floors
School teams are reminded that they are not ever
allowed to compete on spring floors. Coaches
should know prior to an event what type of
performance surface is available.
29
Concussion Safety

• Practice correct and safe
• catching and spotting
• techniques.
• Have consequences for
• dropping flyers.
• Take any hit to the head
• very seriously and err
• on the side of caution.
• Good website for information
• http//www.nfhs.org/web/2006/08/sports_medicine.as
  px

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Heat and Hydration

• Coaches need to educate athletes
• on the dangers of energy drinks
• (like Red Bull), which are not the
• same as sports drinks (such as Gatorade).
  Athletes should be
• encouraged to drink water to re-
• hydrate. Athletes who consume
• too many energy drinks could
• suffer from dehydration, tremors,
• heatstroke, or heart attacks.
• (USA Today July 2, 2009)
• Coaches must be aware of the
• heat index during the warmer
• months and plan accordingly.

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Weather Lightning Disturbances

• Assign a staff
• member to monitor
• Develop an
• evacuation plan
• 30/30/30 criteria
• See page 71 in
• rules book

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Frequently Asked Spirit Rules Questions

• Three high stunts
• (Height Limitations)
• Bracers
• (Base/Bracer)
• Inverted stunts
• (Partner Stunts/Pyramids)
• Tumbling with props
• (Rolls/Tumbling)
• Loss of contact
• (Transitional Stunts)

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Height Limitations
Q - Is this pyramid legal? A No All stunts
and pyramids are limited to two high. This
pyramid is three high. Page 16, Rule 2, Section 3
34
Base/Bracer
Q Why isnt this stunt legal? A The bracers
are bearing the flyers weight. Page 17, Rule 2,
Section 5, Article 3
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Partner Stunts/Pyramids
Q - Is this stunt legal? A - No The flyer did
not begin the stunt in an inverted position. She
also wasnt weight-bearing when she was in the
inverted position. Page 18, Rule 2, Section 8,
Article 2b
Video Clip
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Partner Stunts/Pyramids
Q - Is this stunt legal? A Yes The flyer
begins her inverted position on the performing
surface, and the spotter is protecting the
flyers head/neck/shoulder area with hands-on
support until the flyer is no longer inverted.
Page 18, Rule 2, Section 8, Article 2b
Video Clip
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Partner Stunts/Pyramids
Q - Why did our team receive a deduction for this
stunt? A - The flyers did not begin the stunt in
a weight-bearing, inverted position on the
performing surface. Page 18, Rule 2, Section
8, Article 2b
Video Clip
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Partner Stunts/Pyramids

• Q - Why is this stunt
• illegal?
• A - The flyer must have both
• hands in constant contact
• with bases not bracers during
• the suspended splits. All
• stunts in a transition must
• still follow their specific rules.
• Page 19, Rule 2,
• Section 8, Article 12b

Video Clip
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Rolls/Tumbling

• Q - Can teams perform cartwheels with poms in
• their hands?
• A - No Tumbling over a prop is ILLEGAL.
• Exception A forward roll over a prop is legal.
• Page 20, Rule 2, Section 9, Article 3
• Situation Ruling on Page 31, 2.9.3B

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Base/Bracer and Transitional Stunts
Q Why is this stunt illegal? A The bracers
are bearing the flyers weight. Page 17, Rule
2, Section 5, Article 3 The flyers centers of
gravity are not over the bases. Page 21, Rule
2, Section 11, Article 1a
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Transitional Stunts
Q - Is this stunt legal? A Yes However, when
the extension preps have their backs to the
audience, they could receive a penalty for
significantly increasing the height of the
flyers. Page 22, Rule 2, Section 12, Article 1i
Video Clip
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Rules Most Frequently Violated This information
is on the ICCA website - www.iowacheercoaches.org

• 2-1-2 Only members of the schools spirit team
  may participate in games/contests. No little
  cheerleaders, honorary/guest 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 cant 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 p. 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
  (without a chain) under the apparel. 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.

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Rules Most Frequently Violated Cont.

• 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
  flyers head/shoulders) to prevent injuries
  (close enough to the stunt and in proper area).
  A spotters torso may not be under a stunt. A
  person is not a spotter if he/she grabs the sole
  of the top persons foot or grabs the hands of
  the base(s) beneath the top persons 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.

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Rules Most Frequently Violated Cont.
2-8-2b All inverted stunts must begin from a
weight-bearing position on the performing
surface. A base or spotter must protect the
head/neck/ shoulder area of the flyer and must
maintain contact with the flyer until the flyer
is no longer inverted. Use the checklist for
Inverted Stunts to make sure all inverted stunts
are legal. 2-10-3 Basket tosses must not
involve more than four tossers, including the
person who may set or load the top
person. 2-12-1 When performing transitional
stunts, ALL conditions must be met to be legal.
Every stunt executed during the transition, must
be performed legally according to the rules of
that particular stunt. Use the checklist for
Interpreting Loss of Contact Transitions to make
sure all transitional stunts are legal.
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Competitions

• If you attend a competition and the National
  Federation Spirit Rules are not being followed
  (some competitions say theyre following them but
  they really dont), you may be found liable if
  your cheerleaders dont follow the rules while
  participating and get hurt (illegal stunts,
  spring floors, etc.).
• Coaches are reminded that not all stunts you see
  on television, online at cheer company sites,
  and/or YouTube are legal including stunts in
  routines at national competitions. This is why
  its important for all coaches to know,
  understand, and follow the NF rules.
• 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 by the IHSAA at other
  competitions!

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NF/ICCA/IHSAA SPIRIT RULESThis information is
on the ICCA website - www.iowacheercoaches.orgIt
was also included in the fall mailing.

• 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.
• NFHS Spirit Rule 2-11-2 A helicopter is legal
  provided all the following conditions are met
  ICCA/IHSAA addition Helicopters will be
  considered legal provided that theyre performed
  on appropriate mats, grass, rubberized and
  soft-yielding surfaces. This is the same ruling
  as for other multi-based tosses.
• Rule Suggestion Insulin Packs Insulin packs
  must be placed strategically, covered with a pad,
  and secured so they wont 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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Clarifying the Hair Rule This information is on
the ICCA website - www.iowacheercoaches.org

• 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 hair situations - 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 its illegal? 
• 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

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Clarifying the Hair Rule Cont.

• Stunting
• Any time the hair gets in the way of a stunt, it
  is illegal. The hair should be off the shoulders
  for stunting.
• Goals 
• Fix your hair before practices, games/meets, and
  performances so you don't have to worry about it.
• Look like an All-American cheerleader all the
  time, not just at competition or tournament time.
•  

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STATE RULES REGARDING NUMBER OF
CHEERLEADERSThis information is on the ICCA
website - www.iowacheercoaches.org
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. 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. 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 its 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 will not be
allowed anywhere on the playing floor during
play.
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STATE RULES REGARDING NUMBER OF CHEERLEADERS CONT.
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 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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Preventing Rules Violations
Be proactive to help prevent rule violations at
your school. Coaches and cheerleaders should
welcome visitors to their school and remind them
of the rules before they begin cheering. Our
intent isnt to catch cheerleaders not
following the rules Coaches must talk to the
cheerleading coach and/or appropriate
administrator of the school in violation of the
rules in a courteous manner before contacting
Jeanne Ehn or Nancy Huether. Rule violations
will not be dealt with unless this is done!
52
If You See a Rule Violation

• Ask cheerleaders if their coach is present and,
  if not
• present, who is responsible for them.
• Be sure YOU see the violation and its not one
  just
• reported to you by your cheerleaders.
• Let the coach know that following the NF rules
  is
• important for the safety of the cheerleaders
  and the
• liability of the coach and school. All
  schools in Iowa
• must follow these rules because theyve been
• adopted by the IHSAA and ICCA for the safety
  of
• Iowa cheerleaders.
• Remember to be calm, positive, and tactful when
• addressing rule violations with cheerleaders
  and
• coaches.

53
Reporting Rule Violations
Report violations to Jeanne Ehn
(jehn_at_heartofiowa.net) or Nancy Huether
(nhuether_at_huxcomm.net) right away so violations
are handled in a timely manner. Their emails are
also available on the ICCA website. Only
coaches who have attended a rules meeting may
report violations.
54
Rule Interp Contact Information
Donna McKay 842 7th St. SE Mason City, IA
50401 jdmckay4_at_mchsi.com (on the ICCA
website) All rule questions should be directed
to Donna McKay ONLY AFTER you have tried to find
the answers in the rules book and/or the
Interpreting the Legality of Stunts
sheet. Please send a video or DVD for
interpretation of the legality of a specific
stunt(s). Entire routines will not be
reviewed. The deadline for rules interpretations
for the State Competition is Saturday, October
24.
55
Questions?
56
Final Information

• The fall mailing was sent out to all Iowa high
  schools in
• late July/early August. It contains the NF
  Rules Book,
• ICCA event paperwork, and other information.
• Paperwork deadline for State, Honor Squad,
  All-State Postmarked by Monday, September 28
• ICCA Coaches Conference
• Friday, April 9 Saturday, April 10
• ICCA Website
• www.iowacheercoaches.org
• Extra rules books may be obtained from Elisa
  Kahler at
• the IHSAA for 7.20 each.

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Thank You For Your Attendance!
We hope you have a great year! We look forward
to seeing you at the ICCA events!