ARIZONA STATE
CHEER/POM TOURNAMENT
SAFETY AND NF RULES
Safety and National Federation Rules
2009-2010 National Federation of High School Association Spirit Rules and AACCA guidelines including stunts, pyramids, tumbling, jewelry, hair devices and props, will be enforced. Check with your Athletic Director for a copy of this rulebook or you can order one at www.nfhs.org. No glitter is allowed! All Stars are required to follow the USASF Safety rules and general guidelines as outlined in this handbook and online.
Penalties issued are FINAL and decisions will NOT be reversed. The Penalty Judges will be available for a short time after the competition to answer brief questions. Please be courteous of other coaches. When your squad is on deck, they will be checked for violations in the jewelry, hair, nail, glitter category. It is suggested that you bring your NF/USASF rulebook to the competition. If you have questions about a penalty, you will be able to look up the violation with the judges. State 2010 penalties are outlined below and will assessed as needed by a (one) judge during the competition for all teams.
A one (1) point penalty per infraction for any vulgar or suggestive movements (hip thrusting, inappropriate touching/slapping/positioning to one another, costuming or music.
A one (1) point penalty per major mistake. Major error during a technical skill such as a fall from an individual stunt, fall during a tumbling skill, fall to floor during a dance maneuver.
A two (2) point penalty per major fall. Major fall during a technical skill such as multiple falls in a single sequence/series by a single group or pyramids that fall or that are severely missed.
A half (.05) penalty per minor bobble/mistake. Minor error during a technical skill such as hands down on a tumbling skill, shaky stunts/pyramids, incomplete twisting cradles or obvious errors during a dance maneuver (high school only)
A five (5) point per team penalty will be applied to any team going over routine time allowed and for a cheer squad having a dance routine under the required 20 seconds.
A five (5) point per team penalty will be applied to any pom squad not using their poms for 50% of the routine.
A two (2) point penalty will be assessed to any team having more than the allotted four coaches/non participating members in uniform down on the performance floor.
A ten (10) point per team penalty (taken from total score) will be assessed for any National Federation/USASF violation pertaining to stunts, pyramids and tumbling. A maximum of thirty (30) points will be levied against any one squad.
A one (1) point penalty per infraction will be assessed for each violation of jewelry, fingernails, hair devices, glitter, or prop rules.