Cheerleading Rules and Procedures

_(2011-2012)

GENERAL INFORMATION - SUPPORT/SPIRIT AND COMPETITIVE:

A. Schools may have only one (1) varsity competitive team. Schools may choose to have any number of support/spirit squad(s) that do(es) not compete.

B. All cheerleaders (competitive and non-competitive) must be eligible according to academic standards and the transfer rule and must be declared eligible by the GHSA office on the proper eligibility forms.

C. All cheerleaders (competitive and non-competitive) must have a physical examination on file in the school office before they may try out, practice, or perform.

D. All cheerleading coaches (support/spirit and competitive) must complete a GHSA Rules Clinic or the school will be fined.

E. At basketball games, support/spirit squads may perform stunts and/or tumbling that are allowed by NFHS Spirit rules without mats. NOTE: National Federation rules dealing with safety are to be followed in any cheerleading practice or performance.

F. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

1. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.

2. Cheerleading teams are allowed to attend camps after the last day of school until August 1st.

3. Spirit Cheerleading season ends after the last day of school.

4. Out-of-season practices may be held in preparation for tryouts only. Once tryouts are complete, no practices may be held until school is out. Practices for tryouts are limited to a maximum of ten (10) consecutive school days per school between February 1 and the last day students are in school.

5. Eligibility for try-outs:

(a) Students must be enrolled at a school in order to try out for that school's cheerleading team. A student may be enrolled in only one school at a time.

EXCEPTION: See By-Law #1.45 (g)

(b) Enrolled migrant students may try out for a cheerleading team, but may not represent the school at the varsity level during the school year until the migratory sit-out period has ended.

(c) An academically ineligible student may try out if passing ALL courses at the time of the tryout.

COMPETITION RULES:

A. Cheerleading is a state championship sport in each classification for non coed teams and schools are aligned on a regional basis. There is also an open division (all classifications together) for coed competition, but schools are allowed only one varsity competitive team. NOTE: The term "non coed" refers to all-female teams throughout this section.

B. All cheerleading competitions must be conducted according to the rules of the "National Federation Spirit Rules Book" and the "GHSA Competitive Cheerleading Manual." The GHSA cheerleading manuals are posted on the GHSA web site.

C. The maximum number of competitions for varsity cheerleading is six (6), plus region and state competitions.

1. All competitions must be sanctioned by the GHSA by May 5.

2. GHSA sanctioned Cheerleading competitions may include member schools only or schools from other states who are members of their state association. This excludes non-member high schools and all middle schools.

3. Cheerleading exhibitions are not allowed at any GHSA sanctioned invitational tournament.

4. No competition may lead to a national championship.

5. Cheerleading coaches, certified teachers and Community Coaches may not be involved in any way during the school year with a competition not sanctioned by GHSA that involves cheerleaders on their school's team.

6. Only coaches who meet the criteria of By-Law 2.50 are eligible to assist teams in the competitive setting. Any others assisting a team in any manner at a GHSA competition will be guilty of illegal coaching.

7. Groups that are not members of the GHSA may NOT perform at any time before, during, or after the competition without approval from the GHSA office.

D. Deadlines for the competitive season are as follows:

1. Request Sanction of Regular Season Invitational Tournament - May 5

2. Declaration of Coed competitive team - June 1

3. Register to enter Regular Season Invitational Tournaments - August 5

4. Submit "Notification of Entry" and rosters to Region Secretary electronically - October 1

E. A competitive cheerleading team is comprised of a maximum of sixteen performers.

1. A team mascot (if used) is included as one of the sixteen performers.

2. A school may have a roster greater than sixteen performers, and may use any combination of eligible cheerleaders in any competition in each specific division.

3. All team members must be dressed in the adopted school uniform that displays the school identification (i.e., letter, monogram, mascot symbol, etc.) EXCEPTION: The mascot is exempt from this rule.

F. The competitive area is a 42'x42' blue cheerleading mat, and the routine must be performed within the boundaries of the competitive area.

1. A full set of cheerleading mats (42'x42') must be used in all competitions including invitationals, regional, and state competitions.

2. Only coaches, competitors, and officials are allowed in the competitive area.

3. Only team members may act as spotters.

4. Non-competitors may not assist during the routine.

5. All mats should be placed on the floor horizontally facing the judges. Center of the mat should be marked with tape. The floor will be considered out-of-bounds.

6. It is recommended, but not mandatory, that cheerleaders practice stunting on one or more 6'x42' cheerleading mats prior to performing stunts in a team routine.

G. The competitive routine must include both cheer and dance.

1. Tumbling skills are permitted only within the body of the routine.

2. Tumbling skills may not be performed as a part of the entrance to or exit from the competitive area.

3. Pom-poms are the only props allowed in a competitive routine.

H. The length of the routine shall be a maximum of two minutes and thirty seconds (2:30), timed by an official timer.

1. The routine must begin within thirty (30) seconds of the head judge's signal. Failure to do so shall result in a five-point deduction for delay of the meet.

2. Teams may begin from any position inbounds, and the time of the routine will begin with the first word, musical sound, or movement of any team member.

3. The routine ends on the last word, musical sound, or movement of any team member.

4. If the routine ends with a pyramid, the final dismount is not timed.

5. There is no minimum/maximum time limit for music in the routine.

6. If the routine is longer than the allotted time, a deduction of five (5) points for every fifteen (15) second period or portion thereof will be assessed.

I. Each school is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the music in its routine.

1. The principal must review the music to be used in the school's routine, and must stipulate that the music is in good taste for high school students and acceptable for the morals of their community.

2. Each school must furnish a high-quality tape/CD of their music.

NOTE: It is recommended that each school bring an identical back-up tape/CD.

3. The coach or team representative is responsible for starting and stopping the music during the competition.

4. Schools are responsible for furnishing their own equipment and music for use in the practice/warm-up area.

J. Competitive routines shall be judged according to the following criteria:

1. Judging Categories

(a) Jumps

Degree of Difficulty - 6 points

Execution - 8 points

(b) Standing Tumbling

Degree of Difficulty - 6 points

Execution - 8 points

(c) Running Tumbling

Degree of Difficulty - 6 points

Execution - 8 points

(d) Partner Stunts/Tosses

Degree of Difficulty - 8 points

Execution - 10 points

(e) Pyramids

Degree of Difficulty - 8 points

Execution - 10 points

(f) Dance - 8 points

(g) Cheer/Chant - 5 points

(h) Creativity - 3 points

(i) Formations/Transitions - 3 points

(j) Showmanship - 3 points

2. Deductions will be made for the following:

(a) NFHS Rules Violations (minor) - -5 points

(b) NFHS Rules Violations (major) - -10 points

(c) Sportsmanship - -10 points

(d) Improper uniforms - -5 points

(e) Falls - -5 points

(f) Tumbling outside of the Routine - -5 points

(g) Boundary violations - -5 points

(h) Delay of meet - -5 points

(i) Time infractions (overtime) - -5 points for each 15 seconds or portion thereof

3. Disqualifications will be made for the following:

(a) Illegal substitution (ineligible member or non-team member)

(c) Too many members on a competitive squad

(d) Unauthorized props

K. Winners in the competitions will be determined by the highest point total from the judges after the highest score and the lowest score have been dropped.

1. In case of a tie, all judges' scores will be totaled.

2. If a tie still remains after all scores have been totaled, all judges will determine the ranking of the tied teams to break the tie.

L. Prior to any disqualification for a rules violation, the Head Judge must call a conference at the conclusion of competition, and the majority of the judges must agree the violation occurred.

M. Judges' decisions are final. The GHSA does not allow protests in any activity.

N. In all competitions, all judges must be registered with the GHSA and must have completed the GHSA training program.

1. A minimum of five judges and two safety judges will be used at all competitions, plus scorers and timer.

2. Judges must be secured by certified school personnel by contacting the assigning officer of a local judges' association.

O. Five percent (5%) of the gross receipts from all invitational competitions shall be paid to the GHSA office.

REGION COMPETITION:

A. Each school is allowed to enter one team in the region competition for the non coed division. There are no region competitions for the coed division.

1. Entry notification and roster must be sent to the Region Secretary (or GHSA Office for Coed) according to deadline dates. All rosters must be submitted to the GHSA office electronically.

NOTE: Substitutions may be made at any time after the roster has been submitted.

2. The principal must approve the music being used.

B. Teams from each region competition will advance to the state competition as follows:

1. First place team from each Region in all classifications, will advance directly to the State competition.

2. The second, third, and fourth place teams from each Region in all classifications will complete in a Sectional Tournament with eight (8) teams from each classification advancing to State competition.

C. A panel of judges to be used at invitationals, region, sectional, and state competitions will consist of five judges and two safety judges. More than one panel of judges may be used if necessary.

D. Five percent (5%) of the gross receipts from the region competition must be paid to the GHSA office.

E. Region competitions will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011. The region secretaries involved with each area shall determine the procedures for finances, awards, number of judges, etc.

GHSA has determined the sites as follows:

Southwest Georgia (at Columbus State) Host: Carrollton HS 1-AAAA 6-AAA 5-AA 1-A 4-A COED SECTIONAL

South Georgia (at Colquitt County HS) 1-AAAAA 1-AAA 1-AA 2-AA 2-A

Southeast Georgia (at Washington Co. HS) 3-AAAAA 2-AAAA 3-AAA 3-A 7-A

Northeast Georgia (at Oconee County HS) 7-AAAAA 8-AAAAA 8-AAAA 8-AAA 8-AA 8-A

South Metro (at Woodland-Stock. HS) 2-AAAAA 3-AAAA 4-AAAA 6-AAAA 4-AAA 5-AAA 5-A

North Metro (at Roswell HS) 4-AAAAA 5-AAAAA 6-AAAAA 7-AAAA 6-AA

Middle Georgia (at Mercer University) Host: Mary Persons HS 2-AAA 3-AA 4-AA

Northwest Georgia (at Dalton HS) 5-AAAA 7-AAA 7-AA 6-A

COED COMPETITION:

A. There will be a separate Open Meet competition (all classifications) for coed teams.

1. Schools must declare entry into the Coed Open Meet Division prior to June 1 each year.

2. Having one or more males constitutes a coed team.

3. Once a team has declared their division of competition, they will not be able to switch to the other. NOTE: When a coed team consists of only one male, and loses that one male, the team will still be required to compete in the coed division, unless a waiver is granted by the GHSA for a hardship reason.

4. Coed teams and non coed teams may not compete against one another in the regular season (except in the situation listed in #2).

5. The Coed Sectionals will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Columbus State University. The top sixteen (16) teams will advance to the State Championship.

6. The Coed State Championship will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at the Columbus Civic Center.

NOTE: The GHSA office has the authority to make adjustments in the coed format depending on the number of teams declared coed.

STATE COMPETITION:

A. SECTIONALS: Friday, November 11, 2011, Columbus Civic Center

1. First Session: Classes A, AA and AAA will begin at 9:00 a.m.

2. Second Session: Classes AAAA and AAAAA will begin at 2:00 p.m.

In each competitive session, the routines will alternate classifications.

Example: In the First Session, Class AAAA leads off, a Class AAAAA team will perform second, and the two classifications would continue to alternate. The top eight (8) teams from each Class advance to the State Finals.

(Intermission)

C. FINALS: Saturday, November 12, 2011, Columbus Civic Center

1. First Session: Classes AAA, AA and A will begin at 9:00 a.m.

2. Second Session: Classes Coed, AAAAA and AAAA will begin at 2:00 p.m.

3. In each competitive session, the routines will alternate classifications.

D. Flash cameras will not be allowed during the competition.

E. A panel consisting of five judges and two safety judges each (selected by the GHSA) per classification, shall judge the state competition.

F. Finances:

1. Admission cost will be $10.00 per day.

2. Net receipts (after expenses have been paid) will be divided with the GHSA receiving 40% and 60% divided among the participating schools.