Answered by Stephania Lemeshko & Kate Grieve, WSCJA Co-Presidents and Judges
Pam Headridge, WSCCA President and WSCJA Judge
Cindy Adsit, WIAA Assistant Executive Director
(updated 1/5/10)
Please send questions to
Stephania - LemeshkoS@issaquah.wednet.edu
Pam - head@whidbey.net
Kate - grievek@skitsap.wednet.edu
2009-2010 Season
SCHOOL
I have a rule clarification. I know it has been stated that hair must be out of the face and off the shoulders. I am noticing alot of other squads pushing the envelope and I am curious what "out of the face" means. Does that mean all hair? We saw a lot of top bangs put up in a clip but are seeing a ton of flyers with longer hair not putting all hair up. We call it a side bang. That is the only way I can explain it. They leave small section from the temple down out of the clip or pony. Some girls that do this, idoes not matter because there hair is short and it falls out but we have seen it with girls that these side bangs go past their ears and into their face while flying. I just would like clarification so my girls know what the rules are. Would also like to know if this is a deduct at competitions because the last one we were at there was alot of this.
Pam answers: Out of the face means all hair out of the face. Yes, the side bangs are not legal. If the hair can go over the eyes, it is illegal. The shorter bangs are ok as long as they do not go over the eyes. Yes, it should be deducted at competitions.
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SCHOOL
Is it legal for a flyer to load into a stunt with poms in her hands?
Stephania answers: Yes.
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SCHOOL
Is it legal for a prep/elevator to NOT have a back spot when in a pyramid? I will give you our situation. We have 10 girls on our team so in our pyramid we have a middle group doing a tick-tock and a prep/elevator on either side bracing the middle stunt. However, we do not have a back spotter on the two prep/elevators. Is that going to be a problem?
Pam answers: Because it is a transitional stunt (tick tock in the middle), the 2 supporting preps do have to have a back spot. Rule 2-12-d, page 22. As Stephania said below in her answer, if the 2 supporting bracers are in a shoulder sit, no spotter is required. Also the bracers could be in a thigh stand with no spotters needed.
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SCHOOL
Can a team sponge a flyer and release her into the air and flyer lands on her stomach? Legal or illegal? What if she has 4 catchers?
Stephania answers:
It is illegal because it seems to be a swan dive. A swan dive is defined as "an Ariel stunt where the flier is caught in a prone (face down) position
(p. 12). " Then under release stunts on p. 21 2-11 Article 6 it states that "A swan dive is illegal." The only exception to that is in a multi-base log roll with four catchers.
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SCHOOL
If a pom or sign is in your way during a portion of your routine, can you move it with your foot or hand or is it that a violation?
Pam answers:
You can move it out of the way with your foot or hand with no violation. Just make sure it does not go airborne.
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SCHOOL
Can a school compete 2 teams in the same category/division? I interpret the rules that they cannot.
Cindy answers: I agree with you. Maybe we need to add the word "different" between the words "three" and "categories" below for future clarification.
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SCHOOL
I have 2 cheerleaders who currently tumble and would like to continue to work on their skills. I don't have a tumbling background and I know very little about it. Someone from our community with a gymnastic background has offered to work with the squad. Is there a certification (like the one for stunting) that she needs to get in order to teach tumbling skills?
Pam answers: No, there is no needed certification currently from WIAA for tumbling.
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SCHOOL
Can bases move 1/4 turn during a 1 and 1/4 turn basket or toss?
Stephania answers:
I said yes, they could turn 1/4 because it is a 1-1/4 which is less than the allowable 2 and 1/4 and it's still
a side facing stunt! Squaring to the front on a side facing stunt or toss is commonly taught around the country.
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SCHOOL
Varsity non-tumbling category
I know that it says, "This non-tumbling division prohibits all tumbling except inversions into a load-in positions into stunts and pyramids.
Tumbling is defined as any skill with the feet over head rotation." Does that mean they cannot load into a stunt from a round off? If they "tumble" into a load in position, is that okay?
Pam answers:
No, they cannot do a roundoff into a stunt. Technically the flyer has finished a tumbling element before she loads into the stunt so that is tumbling. No tumbling into a stunt except an inverted load-in.
The inversion load-in is where the flyer places her hands on the floor and then loads in.
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SCHOOL
Are cheerleadeers allowed to stunt in the rain?
Pam answers:
No. NFHS situation ruling, Page 23, Rule 2-1-5
"Participants are stunting ....(c) on a wet track..." COMMENT: Stunting must be perfromed only on appropriate surface and where there is adequate space and lighting. ..."
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SCHOOL (updated 11-23-09)
According to the NFHS rule is that we can't quarter turn in a basket. Does that apply to arabesque doubles as well because they are both considered tossed stunts?
Pam answers:
The NFHS rule states that "... the tosses/catchers and spotters must remain in their original location..." Tosses - Page 20, Rule 2-10-1c
Same rule apples to dismounts - Page 17, Rule 2-6-3
Same rule applies to release stunts - Page 21, Rule 2-11-1c
EXCEPTION - Section 2-13-2 ,
" A twist performed to a cradle must not involve more than 2 complete rotations except, when dismounting to a cradle from a side-facing stunt or toss,
2-1/4 rotations are permitted. The bases may make a 1/4 turn to catch the cradle. "
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SCHOOL
Our school needs a rule clarification. We were told that we needed a mat for Basket Tosses. I have recently heard that we need a mat for cradles. Can you clear this up for me?
Cindy Adsit answers:
The mat specifications are meant to clarify NFHS spirit rule 2-section 10-article 2 ‘ “basket tosses and other similar multi-base tosses are permitted only on appropriate mats,
grass, rubberized and soft-yielding surfaces.”
Based upon the recommendation of the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association, the WIAA Executive Board approved the following additions to the NFHS Spirit Rules.
As is the case with all NFHS spirit rules, these additions must be followed during any practice, performance or competition.
54.3.01 NFHS Spirit Rule 2-2-3 Addition: Members of a cheer squad involved in stunting, including bases, fliers and spotters, shall wear their hair away from the face
and off the shoulders.
54.3.02 NFHS Spirit Rule 2-10-2 Addition: 12' x 12' nonskid surface mats are required for performing basket tosses and other similar multi-base tosses on a hard surface.
(Folding panel mats and yoga mats are not acceptable nor appropriate.)
Unless the 12’ x 12’ area is one continuous surface (which is possible by cutting a section of a wrestling mat), any mats that are meant to be hooked together
(typically with Velcro) are appropriate provided the total area is at least 12’ x 12’.
Pam adds:
A cradle is a dismount not a toss.The mat is not needed for cradles. Exception NFHS new rule: 2-6-7 - " 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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SCHOOL
For the WIAA rule does that include a cradle? Since it is tossing the girl in the air, and there are 3 bases?
54.3.02 NFHS Spirit Rule 2-10-2 Addition: 12' x 12' nonskid surface mats are required for performing basket tosses and other similar multi-base tosses on a hard surface. (Folding panel mats and yoga mats are not acceptable nor appropriate.)
Pam answers:
If you use the term toss in your descrition then the answer will be yes. Bottom line, know your terms. A cradle is a dismount not a toss.The mat is not needed for cradles. Exception NFHS new rule: 2-6-7 - " 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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2008-2009 Season
ALL STAR
In a pyramid, we have a middle flyer in a single-legged extended arabesque braced on both sides (one side flyer has her foot, the other side flyer has her arms). For the dismount of the extended flyer, we have her get a little pop from her bases and with help from her side braces, the flyer turns 180 degrees so that she ends in a cradle position (she pretty much does a 180 degree log roll to cradle). The flyer doesn't become inverted, and the stunt itself doesn't turn, but the flyer just turns so she ends in a cradle.
Kate answers:This is taken directly from the Level rules. I would say what you are describing is illegal because it twists more than 1⁄4. This is from Level 2 dismounts letter E.
Twisting dismounts exceeding 1/4 turn are not allowed. All other positions (e.g. toe touch, pike, tuck, etc) are not allowed.
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SCHOOL
Can cheerleaders "exhibition", not compete, on a Spring Floor?
In NFHS rule book on page 19, Rule 2-1-7
"Use of mini-tramps, springboards, spring-assisted floors or any height-increasing apparatus is illegal for use during performances/competitions."
Pam answers: No because it is a performance.
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SCHOOL
Is a cartwheel into a 1-foot load in and the other foot tap down legal?
Kate answers: Yes
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SCHOOL
Is it legal to....do a forward roll without hands? (sometimes called an "egg roll" in gymnastics) with one hand?
Kate answers: Yes
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SCHOOL
Is it okay that we're doing "shot guns" with no mat? The kids' load in (bases hands are just like an elevator would start) and go right to a pop cradle.
Pam answers: No, because this is a multi-base toss.
The NFHS rule on page 25 (2-10-2) states
"Basket tosses and other similar multi-base tosses are permitted only on appropriate mats, grass, rubberized and soft yielding surfaces."
Because the bases are tossing her into the air from a load-in, I would call it a toss; therefore, I would say you cannot do them on a basketball court without a mat. With the addition of “other similar multi-base tosses” in the rule, this would include the stunt that you are describing.
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SCHOOL
Can a flyer do a forward suspended roll if the bracers are in an elevator or prep?
Pam answers: No, because the flyer must maintain hand to hand contact with someone on the floor.
In the NFHS rules book on page 23, Rule 2-9-1b, it states
" A forward suspended roll is legal provided all the following conditions are met.... In multi-base stunts, the flyer maintains continuous hand-to-hand contact with two bases or two posts".
A base is defined as (1-2-1), page 13, NFHS Rule Book, " Base - A person in direct weight-bearing contact with the performing surface who provides primary support f another person". A post is defined as (1-2-2), page 13, NFHS Rule Book, "Post- A person in direct weight-bearing contact with the performing surface, generally standing in front of a base(s), who supports a flyer's weight during the execution of a stunt".
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ALL STAR
I saw a Senior Level 2 team do this (on You Tube), and I just want to make sure it's legal. This is what it is:
Flyer is in single leg stunt at prep level. Backspot moves to the side, the flyer starts to arch back and leans back as backspot starts to support flyers back. The flyer pretty much back-walkovers out of the stunt, but it is controlled by the backspot and bases.
Pam answers: No, because this is an assisted flipping dismount.
According to the dismount rule under Level 2 Dismounts
"No free flipping or assisted flipping dismounts allowed."
Also from the rules ...... L2 Stunts - Inversions
"All inversions must maintain contact with the performance surface.
Exception: Transitions from ground level inversions to non-inverted positions are allowed.
Clarifications:
Legal: Going from a handstand on the ground to a non-inverted stunt such as a shoulder sit.
Illegal: Going from a cradle to a handstand or from a prone position to a forward roll."
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SCHOOL
Are cradles included in the "tosses" on the building score sheets?
Pam answers: No. Cradles are not considered tosses. Cradles are dismounts.
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SCHOOL
Can you tumble over a prop?
Kate answers: Yes, but only a forward roll.
In the NFHS rules book on page 25, Rule 9-4, it states
"Tumbling over or under a stunt, person or prop is illegal.
Exception: Forward roll over a prop."
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SCHOOL
Does a prep/elevator/half need to have a back spotter?
Pam answers: No because the base(s) arm(s) are not extended above his head. Be sure to check out the need for a back spotter for prep/elevator/half and shoulder sits for transitional stunting. (2-12-d)
In the NFHS rules book on page 21, Rule 2-4-7, states
"...A spotter is required for stunts in which the supporting arm(s) of the base(s) is (are) fully extended above the head , except for the following:
chair, russian lift, torch, double base split catch, triple base deadman lift, triple base extended suspended splits, double base vertical T-lift."