GENERAL CHEER SAFETY RULES/GUIDELINES

The Franchise Cheer Coach (“FCC”) and Head Cheer Coaches, of any squad, must be a minimum of 21 years of age. All Assistant Cheer Coaches, of any squad, must be a minimum of 18 years of age and must have graduated from high school or hold a GED certificate. All cheer franchises may be allowed to have a Coach in Training (“CIT”) or Student Demonstrator (“SD”) program that consists of 13- to 18-year-olds who, and may only, carry out the instructions of the Head or Assistant Coach. 

1. All TCYFL Cheer Staff must wear their badges visibly at all TCYFL activities, events, practices, and games. 

2. All Cheer Coaches and Cheer Staff must follow the guidelines set forth by the Franchise Cheer Coach.

3. All cheer coaches must take certification classes including Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion Awareness classes.  Cheer coaches are subject to the same registration policy as football coaches (see registration policy).

4. If a team is going to stunt, it is recommended that at least one (1) coach has taken TCYFL Stunt Safety Training through V.P. of Cheerleading or WIAA.

   1. Coaches must require proficiency before skill progression. Coaches must consider the individual, group, and team skill levels when performing either on the sideline or in a routine performance. An attendance log shall be taken at each practice/game.  A skills progression chart/recording is recommended be recorded at each practice.

5. Apparel must cover the midriff when the participant is standing at attention. Safety pins may not be used on uniforms as they present a safety hazard. Apparel and accessories must be appropriate for the activity involved to minimize the risk for the participants. This can include tops, shorts, leggings, socks, bows, etc.

   1. Apparel/Uniform fittings may not be held at a private residence (i.e. coach’s home or participant’s home).

6. Athletic shoes must be worn while participating in any TCYFL cheer activity. TCYFL cheer activities include practices, games, special events, and competitions. No dance shoes or boots, gymnastics slippers (or similar) are allowed. Shoes should have no accessories or adornments. Shoes must have a solid sole. If you can roll it up and put it in your pocket, it’s illegal.

7. A participant must not chew gum or have candy or food in their mouths while performing during any TCYFL activity, event, practice, or game.

8. Jewelry of any kind, including but not limited to ear, nose, tongue, belly button, and facial rings, transparent plastic jewelry, anklets, bracelets, necklaces, ropes, hair elastics on wrists, and pins on uniforms are prohibited. Jewelry must be removed and may not be band-aid/taped over. 

   1. An exception to this rule is rhinestones that are adhered to a uniform. 

   2. Rhinestones are illegal when adhered to the skin. 

   3. Religious medals cannot be attached to a chain; it must be taped and worn underneath the uniform. 

   4. Medical alert bracelets and anklets need to be covered with a neoprene sleeve or thick covering. 

   5. Medical alert shoe tags need to be covered with clear tape or material that covers the entire tag and corners.

   6.  A medical alert medal must be off the chain and taped and it may be visible.

9. Artificial or natural fingernails must be kept short, near the ends of the fingers, to minimize risks to the participants. Acrylic nails are strongly discouraged in the TCYFL.

   1.  Nail polish and/or color is at the discretion of the Franchise Cheer Coach.

10. Hair must be worn back and off the shoulders during any TCYFL cheer activity, event, game, or practice. 

    1. Hair must be secured away from the face and not interfere with the cheerleader’s ability to stunt safely or obstruct vision. 

    2. Hair control devices, accessories, and other adornments in the hair that are securely fastened, appropriate to the activity, and do not present an increased risk to any of the participants are allowed. 

    3. Head coverings worn for religious reasons so as not to expose one's uncovered head may be worn and must be attached in such a way that it is unlikely to come off during a performance. It must be made of non-abrasive, soft materials; must fit securely and not pose a danger to any other participant. 

11. Any height-increasing apparatus, stool or box used to increase height or stand on is prohibited.

12. Flags, banners, signs, poms, and non-electric megaphones are the only props allowed. 

    1. Hiding or hidden type props are prohibited as well as items that may damage the performance surface. 

    2. The use of lighted signs with bulbs and batteries is prohibited. 

    3. The top person may obtain and use poms or props when secure in a stunt.

    4. Use of poms and/or props is prohibited during tumbling, stunt load-ins, stunt dismounts, and during stunt transitions.

       1. Exception: A base and top person may share a pom during a dismount from a thigh stand, shoulder sit/straddle, or prep.

13. When using props that are made of hard materials or have sharp corners or edges:

    1. A top person may not release the props to the ground

    2. A person on the ground must gently toss or place the prop

    3. Squad members must gently hand off or place the props so that they are under control (e.g., throwing a hard sign across the mat from a stunt would be illegal).

14. The placement of props or poms should be a safe distance away from skills being performed to eliminate any safety hazards. 

    1. The cheerleader must not step on, throw, or kick poms or other props. 

    2. Any uniform piece purposefully removed from the body and used for visual effect is prohibited.

15. Required spotters for all levels must be your own team members. 

    1. Coaches are allowed to be backup spotters on the sidelines but not in competition. 

    2. All participants assigned as spotters in a stunt group must remain in the ready position during the entire stunt. 

    3. Ready position means eyes are always focused on the top person at all times. All participants assigned as bases are required to keep their eyes on their top person. 

    4. A glance when transitioning is allowed but the remainder of the time, bases need to be focused on their stunt group and not looking around.

16. All jumps must always land with both feet together when performing on a practice surface.

17. All loose glitter in hair, on hair accessories, on signs, or on the body, excluding glitter/shimmer eye shadow, is prohibited. The only exceptions are laminated signs where glitter is sealed inside and hair pieces with attached glitter strands from the manufacturer.  

18. A participant in full head and/or body costume (i.e. mascot) must not spot/stunt/tumble.

    1. This rule also applies to participants wearing hooded sweatshirts, any type of warm-ups, and any form of gloves/mittens that aren’t legal stunting gloves. 

    2. Long socks or leggings may not be worn by a top person when in any type of stunt.

19. When the area where the cheer squad is participating whether it is an activity/event/game/practice is considered damp and/or wet, either from rain or other unknown influence(s), then stunting will be prohibited until the area is deemed dry and safe for stunting. All Cheer Coaches should take caution in deciding if the wet area is safe for jumping.

20. Any participant who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behavior consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the activity/practice/event/game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional with a doctor’s note.

21. A participant who is bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, shall be directed to leave the activity until the bleeding has stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or uniform is changed before returning to participation.

22. All TCYFL Cheerleading Staff will adhere to all safety and public health guidelines created by the TCYFL Board of Directors including but not limited to air quality, disease/virus, facility/field situations, and personal/participant injuries.

23. Due to the risk of injury, organized cheerleading from the spectators stand is prohibited.

24. Throwing items from the sideline to the stands is prohibited.

25. Throwing items from the stands to the sidelines is also prohibited.

1. The ONLY tumbling allowed are (provided the athlete can perform them safely):

   1. Cartwheels

   2. Roundoffs 

   3. Front Walkovers

   4. Back Walkovers

2. Tumbling into and within any stunt is prohibited.

3. Running tumbling is also prohibited

4. Tumbling while holding or in contact with any prop is prohibited.

5. Spotted, assisted, or connected tumbling is prohibited. 

   1. (Example: Double person cartwheels and chorus line flips are illegal.)

6. All dive rolls are illegal.

7. Flips, tucks, aerials, and dive rolls are, without exception, strictly prohibited.

1. Casts: 

   1. Participants may participate in a limited capacity while wearing supports, braces, soft casts, etc. if such items have not been altered from the manufacturer’s original design.

   2. Cheerleaders wearing casts may not stunt in any capacity.

2. Braces: 

   1. Hard braces with metal hinges are prohibited. 

   2. Braces may be made of fabric with covered hinges. 

   3. Any covering may not restrict the movement of hinges.

3. Velcro: 

   1. All Velcro closures must be completely covered with either medical/athletic tape or a neoprene or similar sleeve.

4. Glasses:

   1.  Glasses may be worn but must be secure. 

   2. If they fall off, they must be quickly retrieved, a sports strap for all participants wearing eyeglasses is highly recommended.

5. Medical Equipment: 

   1. Any participant requiring a medical device shall be allowed to participate if medical documentation is available. 

   2. The extent of the participation (e.g., stunting, etc.) should consider the safety of all participants involved.

1. Cradles from single-based stunts at a prep-level must have two spotters with at least one hand/arm supporting the head and shoulder area through the cradle.
2. Cradles from multi-based stunts at prep level or above must have two catchers and a separate spotter positioned at the head and shoulder area through the cradle.
3. Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted by an original base.
4. Free flipping and assisted flipping dismounts are prohibited.
5. Tension drops and tension rolls, of any kind, are prohibited.
6. Only straight pop-downs and basic straight cradles are allowed.
7. 1/4 turns are prohibited.
8. Cradles from extended stunts are prohibited.