Cheer Rules
2024-25 NKCCA CHEER COMPETITION
RULES & REGULATIONS
2024-25 rules will be updated soon
Cheer & Dance Rules Website
Provides Photos and Video interpretations of skills that are both legal & illegal. This is an awesome website that is constantly updated by AACCA & NFHS. This link can help Cheer & Dance Coaches understand rules, using pictures & videos. The NKCCA follows UCA rules and division sizes, but reserves the right to waive some requirements. For example, the USA cheer membership requirement as long as the head coach is a NKCCA/KAPOS/NFHS member in good standing. We also reserve the right to not offer or combine UCA divisions.
NFHS Spirit Rule changes for 22-23
School/Rec/Game Day Cheer Divisions (Middle School Division follows KAPOS Division)
.FEES–
Squad fee -A non-refundable fee per participant per squad along with all roster and liability release forms are required. All late payments and forms may be assessed a late fee.
Stunt fee -An additional non-refundable entry fee per group along with roster and liability release forms are required. All late payments and forms may be assessed a late fee.
ROSTER– Only cheerleaders listed on the roster sheet are eligible to participate. High School squad cheerleaders must be KHSAA, OHSAA, or IHSAA eligible and members of their school’s squad participating in all facets ( unless sidelined due to illness or injury). All other cheerleaders must also meet their school’s minimum academic requirements. Cheerleaders should be listed by squad and are allowed to participate with only the squad that has listed them on their roster for the competition. They can, however, be listed on more than one roster for that school (i.e. Varsity & JV).
WAIVER FORMS– All cheerleaders must have a waiver & release form completed before the competition begins. Waiver forms should be submitted with the roster and entry fee.
SCHOOL REPRESENTATION AND TEAM PARTICIPATION
1. All members of the cheer squad must be current members of the official school spirit squad and must attend the school they are representing. (Exception: this will not preclude participation from sister schools for same-gender schools as long as they are official members of the squad.)
2. Individuals are permitted to compete on two School Teams, and AllStar Teams at the same event(unless they are participating in the coinciding KHSAA/KAPOS event. In this case individuals may only participate on one school team, but can participate on an All Star team. 7th and 8th graders can participate on their KAPOS team and also a KHSAA team)
4. The team and each participating member/coach should constantly display good sportsmanship throughout the entire performance in regards to respect for themselves, other teams and the viewing audience of all ages. Teams should refrain from any taunting, bragging, or suggestive expressions or gestures as well as discrimination of any nature.
5. We recommend that the team and each of its members display an overall appearance conducive to serving as public representatives and ambassadors of their school in regards to grooming, traditional and appropriate attire, conservative make-up, uniformity, etc.
INTERRUPTION OF PERFORMANCE
A. UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
1. If, in the opinion of the competition officials, a team’s routine is interrupted because of failure of the competition equipment, facilities, or other factors attributable to the competition rather than the team, the team affected should STOP the routine.
2. The team will perform the routine again in its entirety, but will be evaluated ONLY from the point where the interruption occurred. The degree and effect of the interruption will be determined by the competition officials.
B. FAULT OF TEAM
1. In the event a team’s routine is interrupted because of failure of the team’s own equipment, the team must either continue the routine or withdraw from the competition.
2. The competition officials will determine if the team will be allowed to perform at a later time. If decided by officials, the team will perform the routine again in its entirety, but will be evaluated ONLY from the point where theinterruption occurred.
C. INJURY
1. The only persons that may stop a routine for injury are: a) competition officials, b) the coach from the team performing or c) an injured individual.
2. The competition officials will determine if the team will be allowed to perform at a later time. If the competition officials allow a routine to be performed at a later time, the spot in the schedule where the re-performance is to take place is at the sole discretion of competition officials. The
team must perform the routine again in its entirety, but will be evaluated ONLY from the point where the interruption occurred.
3. The injured participant that wishes to perform may not return to the competition floor unless:
a. The competition officials receive clearance from, first, the medical personnel attending to that participant, the parent (if present) AND THEN the head coach of the competing team.
b. If the medical personnel do not clear the participant, the participant can only return to the competition if a parent or legal guardian in attendance signs a return to participation waiver.
c. Any athlete who exhibits signs or symptoms consistent with concussion should be removed from the activity at that time and should not be allowed to return to activity that day. The athlete should not return to activity on a subsequent day until evaluated by and receives written clearance for such participation from a qualified physician (MD or DO specifically trained in concussion management).
HOW TO HANDLE PROCEDURAL QUESTIONS
RULES & PROCEDURES
Any questions concerning the rules or procedures of the competition will be handled exclusively by the coach of the team and will be directed to the Competition Director. Such questions should be made prior to the team’s competition performance.
PERFORMANCE
Any questions concerning the team’s performance should be made to the Competition Director immediately after the team’s performance and/or following the outcome of the competition.
MUSIC
Any questions concerning a specific violation in music compliance must be submitted in writing to the Competition Director
immediately following the team’s performance.
INTERPRETATIONS AND / OR RULINGS
Any interpretation of these Rules and Regulations or any decision involving any other aspect of the competition will be rendered by the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee will render a judgment in an effort to ensure that the competition proceeds in a manner consistent with the general spirit and goals of the competition. The Rules Committee will consist of the Competition Director, Head Judge, and a designated competition
official.
SPORTSMANSHIP
All participants agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship throughout the competition with positive presentation upon entry and exit from the performance area as well as throughout the routine. The coach of each team is responsible for seeing that team members, coaches, parents and other persons affiliated with the team conduct themselves accordingly. Severe cases of unsportsmanlike conduct are grounds for disqualification.
SAFETY VIOLATIONS
Any team in violation of these Rules and Regulations or any of the above mentioned guidelines will be assessed a ten point (10) deduction for each violation. This deduction does not apply to violations mentioned above that are designated a lesser point value.
DISQUALIFICATION
Any team that does not adhere to the terms and procedures of these “Rules and Regulations” will be subject to disqualification from the competition, will automatically forfeit any right to any prizes or awards presented by the competition.
FINALITY OF DECISIONS
By participating in this competition, each team agrees that the decisions by the judges will be final and results may ONLY be reviewed for clarification. Each team acknowledges the necessity for the judges to make prompt and fair decisions in this competition and each team therefore expressly waives any legal, equitable, administrative or procedural review of such decisions.
SCORES AND RANKINGS
Individual score sheets are for the exclusive use of each particular judge. Each judge has the responsibility and authority to review and submit his or her final scores and rankings prior to the final tally of the scores for all teams. Scores and rankings will be available only to coaches or captains at the conclusion of the competition.
TIE-BREAKER POLICY
Ties will not be broken except for first place. First place ties will be broken in the following manner:
1. The team with the fewest deductions wins.
2. If both teams have the same deductions, the team with the highest performance score will win.
3. If both teams have the same performance score, the winner will be declared by the judges’ choice.
SAFETY RULES
Rules subject to change by NKCCA Go to www.CHEERRULES.com for the most updated rules.