2007 Cheerleading Guidelines

River Region Youth Football and Cheerleading League

ARTICLE V

CHEERLEADING

The following general rules shall be used for Cheerleading and to conduct Cheer Competition:

1. No cheerleader may participate without the written permission of his/her parent or legal guardian.

2. No cheerleader may participate in another Youth Football and Cheerleading league while participating in the River Region Youth Football and Cheerleading League as an official member during a League’s season which begins on August 1^st and ends when the League’s season has been completed.

3. When cheering at regular season games, playoffs and Championship games, the visiting squad(s) will perform at halftime facing the home side audience.

4. Cheerleaders are prohibited from wearing jewelry of any kind. This includes ear, nose and tongue earrings, belly button rings, necklaces, rings, bells on shoes, pins on uniforms or in hair bows, etc. Medical alert tags must be taped to the body. Hair must be fashioned so that it is out of each participants face and does not cause a potential stunting hazard. Cheerleaders are prohibited from having glitter on their faces and finger nail polish on the finger nails. Cheerleaders must wear Cheerleading attire (including bloomers) and soft-soled tennis shoes or cheerleading shoes at all times. Wearing socks and/or tights only is prohibited. These rules apply to all cheerleaders at all times.

5. Ages will be as follows as of August 1st

MIDGETS 5, 6 and 7 Years of Age

CRICKETS 8 and 9 Years of Age

TERMITES 10 and 11 Years of Age

JUNIORS 12 and 13 Years of Age

6. Cheerleaders can cheer up but not cheer down. EXAMPLE: A 9 year old may cheer as a Termite but a 10 year old can not cheer as a Cricket.

7. There is no minimum or maximum number of participants allowed per squad.

ARTICLE VI

CHEERLEADING COMPETITION

1. All of the rules from ARTICLE V apply to Cheerleading Competition in addition to the rules outlined below.

2. Each participant must have a current League issued ID card. The ID will be used in the event of a challenge. All challenges are to be done according to the same rules of protest as listed in the RRYFCL By-Laws. IDs will be checked prior to the start of their respective age group. Once IDs are checked no one will be allowed to enter the field. The only people allowed on the field with their respective squads will be three (3) League Personnel (i.e.: Coaches, Team Moms) and Cheer Coordinator. Mascots will be allowed on mats as long as they do not have on an official cheerleading uniform. Each league will be responsible for bringing mats, blankets, etc.

3. Cost of admission to Cheer Competition will be $2.00 for Adults and $1.00 for K-12 students. Football players will get in free as long as they have on a current football jersey from their respective league. All Coaches and League personnel must have their ID card in order to get in free; otherwise they will pay the admission to get in.

4. A League will only be allowed one (1) squad per age group as required by (RRYFCL) By-Laws.

5. Each squad will be limited to five (5) minutes for their routine. Participants must enter and exit the performance area in a timely fashion. All competitors ~~should~~ MUST spirit on the floor as quickly as possible and immediately begin their routine. Officials will make sure that no one exceeds the five-minute limit. A squad going over the will be penalized 5 points. A squad does not have to use the full 5 minutes and will not be penalized if they do not. Time starts when first team member enters the competition area (approved by RRYFCL Board meeting 9/12/07).

6. The area allowed for competition will be 30 yards x 30 yards and shall so be marked from the center point of the 50 yard line with cones or flags visible for all involved.

7. The FIRST CHEER shall be a "HELLO" cheer. The rest of the allowed time will be used to show the judges ONE other Cheer, ONE stunt with a Chant and a Dance Routine. The Dance routine must be LAST. Each team will perform a "Hello" cheer, a cheer of choice, a chant and a dance routine. The "Hello" cheer must be first and the dance must be last. There are no stipulations as to where a squad may incorporate tumbling and stunts. (Approved at RRYFCL Board meeting 9/12/07).

8. The music will be selected and distributed by the RRYFL Board.

9. Each squad will compete in order of a draw that will be conducted at an organizational meeting (on August ₆th) before the competition that will include a member from the President’s/Representative Board and all Cheer Coordinators from their respective leagues.

10. Competition will be conducted in the following order:

1. Midgets

2. Crickets

3. Termites

4. Juniors

11. Awards will be given as follows:

1. First Place

2. Second Place

3. Third Place (decided at May 16, 2007 RRYFCL Board meeting)

34. All cheerleaders participating in Cheer Competition will receive some type of memorabilia from the event.

12. Judging of the Competition will be conducted as follows:

A. Judges for Cheer Competition will be hired from an unbiased source from outside the RRYFCL area and shall not be affiliated with any leagues in the RRYFCL.

B. Judges shall use a score sheet approved by the RRYFCL that uses a 100 point scoring system. (Approved at RRYFCL Board meeting 9/12/07).

C. Scores will be added up and any violations will be deducted from the final scores.

14. Violations/Deductions of Points

A. Any squad going over the five minute limit —5 points

B. Any squad not following the routine order — 10 points

C. Any league that has instructional signs or recites cheers, does the dance routine along with a squad, from the stands, etc. (This includes parents) — 10 points.

D. Out of bounds —5 points

E. Out of bounds the entire routine — 10 points

F. Drops made during a routine will be reflected in the scoring of a squad by the judges.

G. NO ONE, including coaches is allowed to aid competing participant(s) in any way. This includes doing the motions with them, counting for them or lining participants up in the proper positions(s). This includes coaches on an off the fields of competition — 15 points

H. No glitter, face paint or tattoos are allowed. (Or any items listed in Article 5, d.)

I. Any squad not using the entire music on Dance Routines —5 points.

J. There shall be no minimum or maximum number of participants on any team.

15. No signs will be allowed in the audience except those that cheer the squad on. (No instruction signs. Smile, Louder, Etc.. Wull will be allowed. Any League who participates in this practice will be given a deduction of 10 points for their squad.

16. ALL COACHES must remain on the mats BEHIND the Girls. Coaches will not be allowed to assist the Cheerleaders in any way (No help with formation on the field, or with props).

17. Profanity, Vulgar or Offensive Language will not be tolerated. Use of such will be ground for disqualification of the squad. (This includes all Coaches and Cheer Representation for the Perspective League). Good Sportsmanship will be used while on and off the field or May DISQUALIFY the Squad as well.

18. Cheerleaders will cheer for their respective team and not against another. No team names will be used in cheers other than the team the squad cheers for. (EXAMPLE:

The Colts may cheer using Colts in the cheer but may not use the name of the Trojans, an opposing team that is also in the league. The Colts may however use the name Wildcats in their cheer since there is not a team named Wildcats in the league.)

18. Basic Rules for Cheerleaders and Coaches.

A. When entering the competition area, please enter and exit quickly as possible. Placement of props should take place immediately after the previous performance is concluded, so as not to hold up the competition. Please do not wait until you are announced to go out and place your props. Timing of each performance will begin with the first word or movement by a participant. Timing will end with the last note of the music or movement by a participant. Cheerleaders may use on the following props:

1. Flags

2. Banners

3. Signs

4. Megaphones

5. Pom-Poms

(Flags, Banners, Signs, with Poles or similar apparatus may not be used in any part of the dance routine. Use of mini-tramps, springboards or any apparatus used to propel a participant is not permitted.)

19. Cheer Competition will be on at rotating basis using the Rotation Chart at the end of the Constitution/By-Laws. Should a League not have the adequate facilities (i.e. seating, restroom facilities parking, etc...) to hold an even or doesn’t feel that they wish to take on such an undertaking the RRYFCL will decide the location of this event.