Indiana Cheerleading Competition Rules
2007 Competition Rules:
CONTEST RULES / INFORMATION
Rules/Information new to the 2007 competition are italicized.
All coaches entering a squad MUST attend a Rules Interpretation meeting prior to the competition.
Those entering the All-State Individual category will submit their routine on a DVD/VHS to the IASP office. The DVD/VHS must be labeled with the entrant’s name and school and received no later than September 29th. A judging team will meet at the IASP office and judge all entries. Review All-State Individual entry parameters below. All stated contest rules apply. The 12 top scoring entries will be named as the All-State Cheer team. Participants may perform their routine as many times as desired to achieve their best effort, however, only one DVD/VHS will be accepted for judging. You may not send a DVD/VHS, then send a second DVD/VHS and ask that the first entry be discarded. Although a professionally filmed DVD/VHS is not expected (only one wide-angle camera should be used) please remember to send a DVD/VHS with clear audio and visual quality. Score sheets will be mailed to coach.
No bobby pins will be allowed.
For team participation, video tapes/DVD are not permitted as a means to enter the
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cheer competition. If there is a same-day scheduling conflict that is school related, the coach may contact the IASP office and make them aware of this conflict by faxing a request from the principal stating such conflict. The IASP will try to accommodate the school through scheduling.
A junior high/middle level Cheer Coach of the Year will be recognized at the Junior High Cheer Championship on Saturday, October 20th. A high school Cheer Coach of the Year will be recognized at the High School Cheer Championships on Saturday, November 3rd.
The High School Preliminaries will consist of two sites. Schools will compete at a site determined by their size.
Coed squads will compete in one of two categories: Coed Small or Coed Large. A Small Coed Squad will have 1, 2, or 3 males on the squad. A Large Coed Squad will have 4 or more males on the squad.
Nine mats will compose the competition floor. A squad may use the whole performance area although it is not required they use all mats. Out of bounds will be considered stepping off the mat.
Individual student Medical Release Forms will not be required by IASP. However, IASP will require a Physical Sign-Off Form to be signed by the school principal, athletic director and cheer coach stating that all registered team members have a current IHSAA Physical form on file at the school.
Referencing Rule 2-2-8 in the 2007-08 Spirit Rules Handbook: Supports, braces, etc., which are hard and unyielding or have rough edges or surfaces, must be appropriately covered. A participant wearing a cast (excluding a properly covered air cast) must not be involved in a stunt.
Indiana
rules interpret “appropriately covered” as to mean an Ace bandage wrap or Neoprene sleeve. Tape is not acceptable.
The maximum music portion of a routine is 1:30 (one minute, 30 seconds). The total performance time remains at 2:30. A portion of the routine must be performed without music.
Stickers applied to the body are illegal. Applied tattoos are acceptable.
The coach will register each team member through an online registration form to be posted on September 3, 2007 at www.iasp.org/dspcheerleading.aspx.. Registration must be completed online by October 5, 2007 (Junior High teams) and October 12, 2007 (High School teams). Register ALL squad members that might compete, including alternates. If a change needs to be made after submitting registration, DO NOT submit registration again – please email Diane Abel at dabel@iasp.org with your change.
In all categories, no restarting of time will be allowed; however, any repeat or recovery will be permitted, but the squad may be assessed an overtime penalty if the time limit is exceeded.
NO SUBSTITUTIONS OF SQUAD MEMBERS IS PERMITTED. Any squad found to be in violation will be disqualified immediately and will forfeit all titles and awards. An individual may only compete on one squad. However, an individual may compete on their squad, as an Individual, and as a member of one Partner Stunt Group.
Glitter and wire-edged (monofilament) ribbons will not be allowed. Hair or ribbons must not touch the shoulder.
A coach/adult designee must accompany each school. It is the responsibility of that person to immediately check the squad in at the registration table upon arrival. Please be advised, due to liability issues, coaches will NOT be allowed to bring the Physical Sign-Off Form to the preliminary site, rather they must be on file in the DSP office by Sept. 22, 2007.
Squads may be combined; however, squads who combine must compete in the higher division. For example, a squad of 7th and 8th graders must compete in the 8th grade division; a squad of freshmen and J.V. must compete in the J.V. division.
All team and individual routines must comply with the 2007 - 2008 National Federation Guidelines.
Qualified judges covering a wide range of cheering styles will be selected. Deductions for contest rules and safety infractions will be taken from the total score. The decision of the judges is final. All ties within categories will be reviewed and broken by all of the judges.
Each cheerleader must be a member in good standing of the school he/she represents, and be a full season 2007-08 cheerleader for a school sports team (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.) When the cheer coach and the principal sign the entry form, they are each verifying this requirement. One game does not constitute a full season.
Squads who qualify for the State Finals may compete with fewer cheerleaders than were used at the Preliminaries, but no more than the original number. No squad substitutions will be permitted for any individual for State Finals. Medical situations might allow for an injured cheerleader to perform for finals without having performed at Preliminaries, however, such a circumstance MUST be approved by the DSP office BEFORE performing at the Preliminary competition. A doctor’s release form will be required.
A cheer team member who is deemed academically ineligible to perform at Preliminaries, but is declared academically eligible to participate at the State Competition, may do so as long as he/she is registered on the team roster sheet submitted before Preliminaries and submits a letter signed by the principal stating he/she is academically eligible to compete.
Junior High Division – 2 ½ Minute Routine: Total performance time shall not exceed two and one-half minutes. No organized entrances will be allowed. Squads will move onto the mat immediately after being called to the floor. Time begins with the first movement of a squad or the first sound of music/tape, and ends with a wave or a signal to the judges. Music may be used but is not required. If used, music may not exceed 1:30 minutes of the routine. A verbal cheer portion is required; the routine may not consist wholly of music. Squads may tumble and stunt during the music portion. Proper use of poms and signs are the only props allowed.
High School Divisions - 2 ½ Minute Routine: Total performance time shall not exceed two and one-half minutes. No organized entrances will be allowed. Squads will move onto the mat immediately after being called to the floor. Time begins with the first movement of a squad or the first sound of music/tape, and ends with a wave or a signal to the judges. Music may not exceed 1:30 minutes of the routine. A verbal cheer portion is required; the routine may not consist wholly of music. Squads may tumble and stunt during the music portion. Proper use of poms and signs are the only props allowed.
Coed Division – 2 ½ Minute Routine: There are two categories for Coed squads. Small Coed will be 1, 2 or 3 males. Large Coed squad will be 4 or more males. Total performance time shall not exceed two and one-half minutes. No organized entrances will be allowed. Squads will move onto the mat immediately after being called to the floor. Time begins with the first movement of a squad or the first sound of music/tape, and ends with a wave or a signal to the judges. Music may not exceed 1:30 minutes of the routine. A verbal cheer portion is required; the routine may not consist wholly of music. Squads may tumble and stunt during the music portion. Poms, megaphones, signs, and flags are the only props allowed. Coed squads may perform at Preliminaries, if so desired, but it is not required; there will be no trophies awarded at Preliminaries. All registered Coed squads will perform at Finals. A coed squad is defined as having 1 or more males.
All-Girl Group Partner Stunt Groups (Maximum of 5 Individuals) Competition – 1 Minute Routine: Any high school group of five or less girls may compete, with no limit to the number of groups from each school. Entrants do not have to be on a squad that is competing. Individuals may only compete on one Partner Stunt Group. Music is required. Words may be used. Registration cost is $30 per group. The top 6 teams from across the state qualify to compete at State Finals. Those spots will be allocated based on percentage of entries received.
.Individual Competition - 1 Minute Routine: Individual competition will be limited to members of the 2008 graduating class, but there is no limit to the number of seniors who may compete from each school. Entrants in the individual competition do not have to be on a squad that is competing. Each individual will submit a performance DVD/VHS with a total performance time not to exceed one minute. Music may be used, but may not exceed 30 seconds of the performance. Music is not required. A verbal cheer portion is required; the routine may not consist wholly of music. Proper use of poms and signs are allowed. Cost for individuals is $20. A judging team will judge all submitted entries from which the top 12 scoring entries will be designated as the All-State Cheer team. Each of those individuals will be awarded a $250 scholarship. Each of the 12 individuals will receive a DVD/VHS at the preliminary competition that will include a routine they will perform as a team at the State Finals. Members of the team will have a short rehearsal on the day of the State Competition. An All-State team patch will also be presented to the 12 individuals.