1

Using the NFHS Spirit Rules Book

Rule Reference Format2-1-3: 2 = Rule # 1 = Section # 3 = Article #

(Situation/Rulings format: 2.1.3)

REMEMBERALL provisions

of the NHFS rules book

apply to ALL spirit activities

– practices, performances,

games, competition.

CONTENTSRules Changes for 2014-15Table of Contents Philosophy of Spirit RULE 1 – Definitions RULE 2 – Cheerleading RULE 3 – Dance/Drill/Pom Situation Rulings follow each

section of Rules 2 & 3. Pictures Points of EmphasisComments Comments on the Rules Appendices Index

Thank you to Diane Wolf and the Idaho Association for permission to use this information.

2

Using the NFHS Spirit Rules Book

Rule 2 – General Risk Management Pg. 10

RULE 3 applies primarily to dance/drill & pom teams and to cheer teams who stand/perform on props (e.g. boxes). Section 1-Apparel/Accessories applies only to dance/drill/pom teams. Section 6-Assisted Inverted Floor Skills applies to ALL spirit teams.

Rule 3 – Dance/Drill/Pom Risk Management Pg. 30

RULE 2 applies primarily to cheer teams and to dance/drill & pom teams who perform partner stunts, tosses and tumbling. Sections 1-General and 2-Sportsmanship apply to ALL spirit teams. Section 3-Apparel/Accessories applies only to cheer teams.

RULE 1 contains terms that are specifically defined for use elsewhere in the rules book. If you don’t know what a term is in “NFHS-speak”, how can you understand the rule? Don’t overlook Rule 1!

Rule 1 – Definitions Pg. 7

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Book Corrections

4

2014-15 Major Editorial Changes

RULE 1 – NEW & REVISED DEFINITIONS

Foldover Stunt: (New) “Inverted stunt in which top person bends at the waist and is caught on her/his back by multiple catchers while both of the top person’s ankles/feet remain in the grip of the base(s).” (e.g. yo-yo, pancake”, etc.)

Lift: (New) Dance term added to Stunt/Partner Stunt.

Roll: (Old Forward/Backward Roll) Now “hip over head”.

Suspended Roll: (Narrows the definition) Adds “upright base(s) or post(s)”.

Tumbling: (Narrows the definition) Adds “begins and ends on the performing surface”.

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2014-15 Major Editorial Changes

RULE 2

2-4-5; 2-4-6 SPOTTING Added “In stunts that require a spotter, a spotter must:” (Clarifies that spotting rules don’t apply to stunts that don’t require a spotter.)

SEC 5 INVERSIONS Revised Article 2; Suspended Rolls incorporated into Article 2; Braced Flips are now in Article 3.

2-7-4 HELICOPTERS; 2-7-5 LOG ROLLS Removed NOTES that stated these stunts were exceptions to other rules. (No longer necessary)

2-7-5 LOG ROLLS Added “and the top person is not in contact with another released top person”. (Clarifies that a top person in a log roll can be in contact with a bracer.)

2-9-1 DISMOUNTS Exception added to clarify that bases can make a quarter turn to catch a cradle; 2-9-8 clarifies that 1 ¼ twists to cradle are allowed, no matter which direction they begin.