Article VI – Cheerleading Rules

Section 1: Management

The Antelope Valley Youth Football Association (AVYFA) cheerleading program is managed by a combination of AVYFA officials and officials from each local area with the following chain of command:

A.     Cheer Commissioner: The Cheer Commissioner is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the program developed by the Cheerleading Committee (Article III, Section 2). The Cheer Commissioner answers to the AVYFA Board of Directors and the AVYFA Commissioner.

B.     Deputy Cheer Commissioner (s):

1.   A Deputy Cheer Commissioner acts as the Cheer Commissioner in the absence of the Cheer Commissioner.

2.   Each Deputy Cheer Commissioner is assigned a specific Local Area or group of Local Areas with the AVYFA and duties include:

a.   Enforce all AVYFA Cheerleading Rules, and directives of the Cheer Commissioner.

b.   Oversee all assigned games and activities pertaining to AVYFA Cheerleading.

c.   Assist the Cheer Commissioner in the physical and organizational operation of all Cheer Competitions, not to be involved in judging, guidelines, nor rules.

C.     The local area Cheer Director is elected by each local area and is responsible to the local area President and local area Board of Directors. They are both charged with responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the area cheerleading program.

D.     The Team Coach: Each cheerleading squad must have an adult coach (18 years or older), responsible to the local area Cheer Director. The local area determines the selection method for coaches. All Head Coaches shall be CERTIFIED in CPR and first aid. Copies of first aid certification must accompany team rosters. A CPR/First Aid Certified adult must be present for cheerleaders to practice and or perform. PENALTY: Will be suspended from coaching until presentation of CPR/First Aid certificates.

E.     Complaints must be handled as specified in Article IV, Section 11 of this document. The AVYFA officials will not interfere with the management or complaint resolution of a local area. However, AVYFA officials may listen to local problems and offer advice. The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner and/or the AVYFA Commissioner will enforce the cheerleading rules as outlined in this Article.

F.     Local Areas represented at monthly meetings will be awarded one point for each meeting attended.  Points acquired will be used for placement of squad performances at competition.  The more points acquired, the later the area’s squads will perform.  In the event of a tie, numbers will be drawn.  Points will be awarded January through October.  Effective May 2005. Cheer Directors who are not present at scheduled meetings do not have a vote on business conducted at that meeting.

G.     Article V –  Coaching, Sections 1-4 in their entirety, and Article V – Coaching, Section 5, A thru D are incorporated into this section.            

Section 2: Participation

A.     Application: Each cheerleader and mascot must fill out an AVYFA Contract that includes the parents’ permission and signature. These contracts, copies of proof of age (as defined in Section 3: Squad Certification of this Article) along with rosters, are to be present at all practices, performances and games. When the squad is gathered as a whole (example . . . parades, cheering for the school, etc.), Cheer Director and Cheer Coaches must have copies of everything present at all times. Copies of everything must be presented to the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner at the September AVYFA Board of Directors meeting.

B.     Physical exams are required for all cheerleaders and mascots.

C.     Roster Placement: refer to 2009 Cheerleading Age Point System.

 

 

NOTES: 

1.   Minimum age (except mascots) is 7 years old or more as of July 31 of the season. 

2.   Maximum age is no more than 14 as of July 31 of the season. May turn 15 in August through December.

3.   All cheerleaders must present acceptable proof of their age each season.  Acceptable proof is an original document as listed in Article VI, Section 3. NOTE: The names on the proof of age must correspond with the names on the certification paperwork.  If an adoption or legal name change has occurred, appropriate legal paperwork must be available to ensure both names are the same person.

4.   Ninth graders may not participate in AVYFA Cheerleading regardless of point placement.

5.   Cheerleaders must complete an AVYFA Contract including a physical exam by an appropriate health care provider. 

6.   There will be no exceptions to these rules.

Figure 3 - 2009 Cheerleading Age Point System Figure  Figure  

Figure  

D.     A four point rule has been established and should be used only in special situations for girls who fall within 4 points either direction and would benefit more by being placed in either the higher or lower squad position. This will also help an area Cheer Director even out squads. These changes must, however, be brought to the attention of the other area Cheer Directors at the AVYFA meeting prior to certification and be agreed to.

E.     Maximum age: An applicant who has reached 15 years of age on or before July 31 of the current season will NOT be eligible to participate in the program.

F.     High School: An applicant who is in the ninth grade will not be permitted to participate in the program regardless of point placement. There are no exceptions to this rule.

G.     A participant will be permitted to participate in cheer programs outside AVYFA jurisdiction. The practice hours and game times must not conflict with participation in the AVYFA.

H.     Mascots are left to the discretion of the local area Cheer Director/President. Mascots do not compete in the competition, but may perform in special, non-judged routines at competition. Mascots minimum age: none. Maximum age is 7 years old as of December 31st of the current season. If the mascots are disrupting the cheerleaders, the parent must keep them under control. Mascot parents shall be present at all practices, performances and games.

I.      Squad size: A squad shall consist of four or more cheerleaders. In the instance that an area has only three cheerleaders on a squad, that cheerleader shall be moved up to a higher squad if their birthday is before August 1st, and down to a lower squad if their birthday is on or after August 1st.  No cheerleader may be moved more than one division in either direction.  Local areas reserve the right to have less than four cheerleaders on a squad.

J.     LIST ON CONTRACT EVERY KIND OF MEDICATION THE CHILD IS TAKING.

Section 3: Squad Certification

A.     No cheer squad may compete in AVYFA competition unless it has a certified cheerleader squad roster which includes all cheerleaders who will participate in that competition.

B.     No cheerleader may compete in AVYFA competition unless the cheerleader has been certified and the cheer squad’s certified roster includes that cheerleader.

C.     Cheerleader squad rosters must be certified prior to the third football game. Each squad shall have its cheerleader roster and each of its cheerleaders certified by the Certification Team assigned by the AVYFA Certification Committee on the date for squad certification set by the AVYFA Commissioner and Certification Team.

D.     At the time of Certification, the Local Area must provide an indoor facility for purposes of certification. NO parents, coaches or anyone other than the Local Area President will be permitted in the certification area. The Local Area President must provide a complete set of Certification paperwork to the Certification Committee.

        For Each Cheerleader this will consist of:

1.   A completed, signed AVYFA contract

2.   Clear evidence of a physical examination by a Medical Doctor or a Chiropractor certified to do sports physicals in the State of California. The Local Area must be able to produce this certification. Physicals by Physician Assistants will not be accepted.

3.   Verification of date of birth: Each cheerleader must present to the Local Area an ORIGINAL of either a Certified Birth Certificate, military ID, passport, letter from the player’s school on school letterhead signed by a school official, or other proof approved by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner.

a.   Copies will not be acceptable.  The Local Area must keep the ORIGINAL document until certification has been completed. The Local Area MUST present the ORIGINAL document to the Certification Team on Certification day. No Exceptions to this policy will be allowed.  Cheerleaders without an ORIGINAL proof of age document available AT Certification will be disqualified and not allowed to cheer. 

b.   Any attempt by anyone to falsify a cheerleader’s date of birth will result in disciplinary action by the AVYFA Commissioner or AVYFA Board of Directors.

c.   Prior year’s rosters or other prior year’s proof of age documents will NOT be accepted as proof of age for the current season.

d.   Any questions regarding the acceptability of a proof of age document MUST be resolved with the AVYFA Commissioner or Certification Committee BEFORE the date of certification.

4.   Photos are not required for Cheerleaders.

 

          For Each Squad this will consist of:

1.   Two (2) completed roster forms with required information. The forms must be typed or filled out neatly and legibly in ink. The forms are available for download from the FORMS section of the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org

E.     It is recommended that Local Areas utilize the Certification checklist available in the FORMS section on the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org to make sure that all documents and information needed at the Certification meeting are complete.

F.     After the Squad Certification detailed in paragraph D, additional cheerleaders may be certified and added to the certified squad roster in the following manner.

1.   Additional cheerleaders must be certified by the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner, AVYFA Commissioner, AVYFA Deputy Cheer Commissioners or AVYFA Deputy Commissioners.

2.   Additions: No cheerleaders may be added less than 30 days prior to competition. There will be NO changing/additions of cheerleaders (girls and/or boys) to make up Competition squads.

3.   The squad certified roster must be updated in accordance with paragraph L before a newly certified cheerleader may participate.

G.     Removals: No cheerleader may be removed from a certified roster within 30 days of the cheer competition without permission of the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner and assigned AVYFA Deputy Cheer Commissioner. A cheerleader may not be removed because he/she is not good enough for the competition. Exception: Parent’s request for grades, etc. The squad certified roster must be updated in accordance with paragraph L prior to participating in competition.

H.     Cheerleader certification shall be determined by the Cheerleading Age Point System established by the Rules and Alignment Committee.

I.      Each Cheer Director will turn in a list of their squad colors and total number of cheerleaders on each squad to the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner at the September meeting.

J.     Residency requirements: To be eligible, cheerleaders must live within the boundaries defined in Article III, Section 7 of the Area for which they cheer. The Local Area President and his/her Area Board of Directors are responsible for complying with this requirement. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in severe penalties including expulsion of the Local Area from the AVYFA. In the event of a question, the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner shall resolve the question and may require documentation in the form of a school or other document acceptable to the Cheer Commissioner.

K.     The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner may grant a cheerleader permission to cheer for a squad in an Area other than the Local Area in which the cheerleader resides upon receipt of a written request from the parent or guardian of the cheerleader. Permission will be considered when at least one of the following conditions is met:

1.   To cheer for a squad in the same AVYFA Local Area that the cheerleader cheered for in the previous year as junior or senior;

2.   To cheer for a squad where the Head Coach is the parent of the cheerleader;

3.   To cheer in the same Local Area as a sibling;

4.   When there is no Local Area division in which the cheerleader qualifies within the AVYFA.

5.   The cheerleader has written permission from both Local Area Presidents.

6.   The cheerleader has moved out of the AVYFA Local Area in which the cheerleader lived when the cheerleader’s squad roster was certified. The cheerleader may continue to cheer for the cheerleader’s original squad if the cheerleader meets all the practice, attendance and other participation requirements of that squad. In addition the parent must supply the AVYFA with a letter from the cheerleader’s school verifying the change of address. Out of Area Cheerleaders are described as those cheerleaders who are found to be cheering for an AVYFA Local Area other than the one in which they reside.

L.     Changes to Certified Rosters - Any proposed changes to certified rosters must be approved by the Cheer Commissioner or a Deputy Cheer Commissioner in writing. Execution via fax or electronic transmission is acceptable for the purpose of updating. The updated roster must be immediately forwarded to the Cheer Commissioner or AVYFA Secretary. It is the responsibility of each Local Area President to ensure that the most updated version of their Area rosters is filed with the AVYFA.

1.   Additions to Certified Rosters clearly marked as additions with date

2.   Deletions – Single line strike out only

3.   No white-out permitted

4.   No reproductive/retype of certified rosters will be permitted with the exception of photocopying for distribution at competition.

M.    The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner, in consultation with the affected parties, may grant exceptions to this Section on a case-by-case basis.

Section 4: Appearance

A.     JEWELRY: NOT ALLOWED except medical bracelets or chains. These will be pre-wrapped and taped. NO EARRINGS, BRACELETS, WATCHES, RINGS OR NECKLACES OR BODY PIERCINGS OF ANY TYPE.

B.     MAKEUP: May be used in moderation and with local area Cheer Director’s discretion.

C.     HAIR: Must be pulled out of the eyes, and bangs above the eyes.

D.     There must be uniformity among the squads. Shoes must be white athletic shoes.

E.     NO GLITTER of any kind on persons or signs.

Section 5: Stunt Routine Guidelines

A.     AVYFA will follow AACCA High School Safety Rules with changes as listed in this Section.

B.     Score sheets used for competition judging may be downloaded from the FORMS area of the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org.

C.     Stunting

1.   Lift: Freshman will be waist high, Sophomore chest high. Juniors and Seniors may extend above the head, mandatory two base structure with one spotter. Shoulder Stands and Twist Downs shall be allowed by Junior and Senior squads. Basket tosses will be allowed by Senior squads only whose coaches have received proper technical training for this stunt.

2.   BASKET TOSSES (for Freshman, Sophomore and Junior squads). LAY-OUT POP-UPS and AERIAL FLIPS are prohibited. See AACCA Rule Book for definitions.

3.   In addition to the above limitations, the AACCA rules list certain stunts as prohibited. A document named “AVYFA PROHIBITED STUNTS, PYRAMIDS AND TOSSES” is available from the FORMS and CHEER areas of the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org to aid in understanding what is prohibited.

4.   AVYFA Rules and Procedures shall supersede all other organization rules.

D.     SPOTTERS: A squad of 5 or less may have an adult spotter for all stunts. Squads consisting of 6 or more shall use a squad member as spotter. Spotters must be present at stunt and hands on until the squad member is on the ground. Single and double base Thigh Stands require spotter on Freshman squads only.

E.     Timing: Cheer routines for competition shall be a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 3 minutes. Music may be used to emphasize cheers. Music shall be limited to a maximum 1 minute 30 seconds of total routine. A penalty of 10 points will be assessed when these time limitations are exceeded by the routine. Each competing team shall have a designated cheerleader to signal when their competition routine is to start and when it is completed. Competition will begin at the wave of a hand and shall end at the wave of a hand. Infractions will be signaled by a flag.  No timers shall be cleared until the local area Cheer Director and the Cheer Commissioner resolve the matter.  Any disputes over the time infraction shall be handled immediately following the performance and prior to any other performance.

F.     Props: The only props allowed will be hoops, pom poms, signs, and/or megaphones. Props are to be taken off the field by the Cheerleaders only (NO COACHES). After competing the squads will go to the designated areas with the exception of the mascots. Coaches can be with the mascots at all times.

G.     No squad shall pay for a routine to be prepared by any professional organization including, but not limited to, USA Cheer.

H.     A 10 point deduction will be assessed for any infractions of the AVYFA and AACCA rules. In the case where a prohibited stunt is performed, that penalty is increased to a 15 point deduction.

Section 6: Practice/Games

A.     During the first two weeks of practice, the maximum total practice time per week is 12 1/2 hours (2 1/2 hours each day, Monday through Friday).  The third week of practice is limited to 10 hours (2 1/2 hours each day, on any four days during the third week). Starting the fourth week of practice there will be a maximum of 6 hours of practice per week with a 2-hour daily maximum unless there is no game.  If there is no game there will be 8 hours of practice allowed for that week.

B.     Preparation for Competition: There shall be NO increase in the maximum practice hours when preparing for Competition.

C.     Location and schedule shall be distributed in time for parents to adjust their schedules.

D.     Participants will meet in locations clearly covered by current insurance certificates only.

E.     Mandatory 15-minute warm-up at all games and practices.

F.     Routines shall be in accordance with Section 5 of this Article.

G.     Areas with Cheer Squads wishing to participate in events outside of the AVYFA season will be permitted to do so as long as those events fall within the current insurance coverage period and all practice guidelines are followed.

H.     Mandatory Attendance: Attendance at Kick Off Bowls, regular season games, and play off games is mandatory for all cheer squads. Any area having a cheer squad that fails to attend an event scheduled for that squad could be suspended for the next scheduled game and/or the rest of the season in addition to placing their participation in competition in jeopardy. At the first Board of Directors meeting after the incident, a discussion will take place. All involved parties will be heard from and then a closed discussion/vote will take place. The area that represents the team/squad does not have a voting right in the suspension.

I.      Squads who have a football team playing in a playoff game WILL cheer for that team. They are not to use that as a practice day for the competition. Squads not complying could be disqualified from competition.

J.     It will not be mandatory to field a squad at games after playoff competition or Super Bowl competition as the girls will have competed that morning, fulfilling the maximum time restrictions for participation that week. It will be at the Area’s discretion whether or not a cheerleader remains at these events.

K.     All local area Cheer Directors and local area Head Cheer Coaches MUST attend the AVYFA Cheer Coaches Clinic for technical training.

Section 7: Sportsmanship

A.     Objective: The main objective of the Cheer Directors will be to promote goodwill within the Association, setting a good example for their teams/squads. It is most important that we teach the meaning of real friendship and the ability to be a good sportsman.

B.     Cheers: There shall be no cross cheers allowed. No cheers showing any distaste or derogatory remarks will be tolerated. Violation of this rule can result in the suspension of the offending squad for the rest of the season.

C.     Refer to Article IV, Section 10, paragraphs A through G for additional Sportsmanship rules.

Section 8: Mini-Competition

A.          There shall be a judged competition between the two cheer squads in each Division during the halftime of each regular season football game. This “mini-competition” shall determine squad placement in the Super Bowl Competition.

1.     All squads are required to field the entire squad as listed on the squad’s certified roster.

a.     A certified roster must be given to each opposing Cheer Director before competition begins.

b.    A 5 point deduction will be applied to the score if 51% of the squad is not present.

2.     All AVYFA and AACCA Cheer Rules and Guidelines must be followed.

3.     Each squad’s performance shall not be timed.

a.   Music is the responsibility of the squad. Not all local areas have systems to play music so coaches must be prepared to provide their own sound equipment.

4.     The home team Cheer Director shall arrange to have three judges for each halftime performance.

a.   Judges can be any coach from a different squad than the squad being judged, can be a Cheer Director from either area or a High School Cheerleader. Judges should preferably be selected from both local areas.

b.   Judges are to sit in front of the squads on the field.

c.   Judging must be done in a professional manner.

5.     Squads will be scored on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest) on voice projection, expression/appearance, jump/motions, flow of routine and stunting using the Mini-Competition Score Sheet available in the forms area of the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org.

a.   5 point deduction if 51% of the squad is not present.

B.          Score Reporting  

1.     All Score Sheets shall be collected by the home area Cheer Director and consolidated to determine the score for each squad.

2.     The home area Cheer Director shall report the scores for each squad to the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner via e-mail or telephone no later than 9:00 pm the Saturday of the competition.  A $25 fine will be assessed to the home area for failure to meet this deadline.

3.     The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner shall compile a Score Record showing each squad’s scores and e-mail it to the AVYFA webmaster for posting on the AVYFA website and distribution to all Cheer Directors.

4.     The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner shall resolve all disputes in a timely manner.  The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner’s determination is absolute and not subject to appeal.

C.          It is intended that all squads have the same number of judging score sheets at the end of the regular season. If a squad does not have a corresponding Division football game on any game day and therefore does not have a halftime to perform in, then arrangements will be made by the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner before the last regular season game to make up the missing scores.

 

D.          For 2009 this is a new competition work in progress and kinks in the operation are expected and will be worked out during the season. Address all problems to the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner for resolution.

Section 9: Competition

A.     Scheduling: Cheerleading Competitions at playoff and Super Bowl games will be scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and end no later than 12:00 noon, preceding the football games. Check-in no earlier than 7 AM.

B.     Competition shall be held indoors with approved cheer floor.  Boundary lines shall be marked at 48’ x 48’.  Stepping out of boundaries will be an infraction.

C.     The first of October, before the Super Bowl, a typed roster will be given to the President of the Area that is hosting the Super Bowl to be used for a program to be printed up with the team’s names and colors of all Football, Cheerleaders, and Coaches participating. It is recommended that this program to be sold at Competition and the Super Bowl game.

D.     Judges: Judges for both rounds of competition shall preferably be USA judges.  If USA judges are unavailable we will recruit from a college. AVYFA shall follow AACCA Cheer rules for judging, adjusted to incorporate Section 5 – Stunt Routine Guidelines of this Article. The Cheer Commissioner shall make sure that the judges have been made aware of the information in Section 5.

E.     Score Sheets: Copies of competition score sheets must be provided to local area cheer coaches in a timely manner either for information or to assist them in preparing for the next level of competition. The Cheer Commissioner will keep the originals for two years for information only.

1.   Upon completion of a playoff Cheer Competition the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner shall provide copies of the Competition score sheets to every local area Cheer Director regardless of placement in the competition results.  This shall be accomplished no later than 24 hours after completion of Competition.

a.   Local area Cheer Directors shall provide copies of the playoff Competition score sheets to all of their local area Head Cheer Coaches. This shall be accomplished no later than 24 hours after receiving the score sheets from the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner for squads that will participate in the Super Bowl Competition and no later than one week after receiving the score sheets for non-advancing squads.

b.   The AVYFA Cheer Commissioner is responsible for making sure that the playoff Cheer Competition score sheets are distributed to local area Cheer Directors in accordance with this rule.

2.   Upon completion of the Super Bowl Cheer Competition the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner shall provide copies of the Super Bowl Competition score sheets to all local area Cheer Directors, including non-competing areas, regardless of placement in the competition results.  This shall be accomplished no later than the next regularly scheduled AVYFA Board of Directors meeting.

a.   Local area Cheer Directors shall provide copies of the Super Bowl Competition score sheets to all of their local area Head Cheer Coaches. This shall be accomplished no later than one week after receiving the score sheets.

3.   Copies of the blank Score Sheets may be downloaded from the FORMS section of the AVYFA website at www.avyfa.org

F.     No squad shall pay for a routine to be prepared by any professional organization including, but not limited to, USA Cheer.

G.     Coaching, in any form, by spectators or coaches during a cheer competition routine is not permitted.  Any persons observed coaching a squad during a routine may be removed from the competition site or facility; however, the performing squad will not be penalized.

H.     Reporting Competition Results: At playoff Competition and Super Bowl Competition the results must be reported to the designated AVYFA Scorekeeper no later than 9:00 p.m. the Saturday of the competition by the AVYFA Cheer Commissioner or assigned Deputy Cheer Commissioner.

Section 10: Insurance

A.     AVYFA Insurance must be in place for all practice.  Insurance information and instructions for filing claims is in Article II, Section 6 of this document.