NCAA Cheerleading Safety Regulations: A Comprehensive Guide

Cheerleading, an activity often associated with school spirit and sideline support, encompasses a wide range of athletic disciplines. While the traditional image of cheerleading involves cheering for other sports teams, competitive cheerleading has emerged as a distinct and demanding athletic pursuit. Regardless of the specific type, safety remains a paramount concern in cheerleading, particularly at the collegiate level where the complexity and intensity of routines can lead to a higher risk of injury.

The Dual Nature of Cheerleading: Spirit Squad vs. Competitive Cheer

It's important to differentiate between the two primary forms of cheerleading:

Spirit Squad: This is the traditional form, where cheerleaders support school teams by leading crowds at games and pep rallies. While physically demanding, spirit squads generally focus on crowd engagement and school spirit rather than high-level competitive stunts. Their main purpose is to support others.
Competitive Cheer (STUNT): This form combines elements of gymnastics, cheer, and dance into a rigorous team event. Competitive cheer teams engage in year-round training and participate in regional, state, and national competitions. In the 2021-22 school year, over 100,000 high school students participated in competitive cheer. Competitive cheer may be considered a sport for Title IX purposes.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not currently sanction or oversee cheerleading. College program governance varies among their institutions, from being overseen by their activities office, sports department, to even their marketing department, depending on where they have the most support and resources.

The Need for Safety Regulations

Despite the increased focus on cheerleading safety in recent years, cheerleading remains a dangerous sport. From fall 1982 through spring 2017, cheerleaders incurred a higher rate of direct catastrophic injuries than any other type of high school athlete. This underscores the critical need for comprehensive safety regulations and guidelines.

Key Safety Regulations and Guidelines

Several organizations and institutions have implemented regulations and guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with cheerleading. These include:

Performance Surface and Boundaries

All cheer teams competing in the Chick-fil-A Cheer & Dance Collegiate Championship will perform on a 42' deep x 54' wide carpeted, gymnastics floor mat.
The mat will be placed over a concrete or wooden surface.
Only soft-soled tennis shoes will be allowed on the performance surface.
It is important that your routine be choreographed not to exceed these measurements, because penalty points will be assessed for going outside the performance area. This is particularly important in planning tumbling passes. This rule is designed for the safety of the participants due to over rotation of tumbling and uneven surfaces. The judges will score only what occurs within the boundaries.
Boundary rules are in effect from the time teams enter the mat for their 45-second crowd segment and remain in effect until they leave the mat after their 2:15 performance. They CANNOT go out of bounds between the 45-second crowd segment and the 2:15 performance. Stepping on or touching the edge of the mat does not constitute a violation. They must noticeably touch out of bounds with an entire foot, hand or other body part for a violation to occur. Props may be partly touching out of bounds without penalty. A team member may touch a prop that is partially out of bounds as long as that person does not reach or touch out of bounds to retrieve or discard the prop. Doing so would result in a penalty. After the 45-second segment, members MAY only reach or touch out of bounds to discard props, but still may not step out of bounds. Only mascots may enter the floor for the 45-second segment, then leave the floor before the 2:15 performance. Any others doing so would result in a .5 rules violation. Any member participating in the 45-second segment must remain on the performance surface during the 2:15 performance as well to prevent a rules or boundary violation. They may not participate in the 45-second segment while off the performance surface. Throwing items from the performance surface into the stands will result in a .5 legality violation. There will be a .05 deduction for each boundary violation. Participating team members may enter the performance area immediately following the previous teams performance to set up props. This may not create any delay in the flow of the competition.
EACH boundary violation will result in a .05 deduction per occurrence (exception: dance teams do not have boundary violations). Deductions for boundary violations are given for stepping off (the entire foot) or touching (the entire hand or other body part) outside the performance area or an object outside the performance area. Stepping on or touching the edge of the mat does not constitute a violation. Props may be partly touching out of bounds without penalty. A team member may pick up or set down a prop that is completely outside the performance area.

Routine Guidelines

Music is allowed for all or part of each routine.
Organized, formal entrances that involve organized cheers or run-ons with jumps, tumbling, or stunts are not permitted.
Timing will end with the last organized word, movement, or note of music by the team or individual.
Routines must be appropriate for family viewing. Any vulgar or suggestive movements (hip thrusting, inappropriate touching/slapping/positioning to one another, etc.), words, costuming or music will result in a .5 score deduction.
Preliminary competition will be held indoors. Final competition will be held outdoors, so wind and/or sun could be a factor.

Prop Usage

Only the following props are allowed for cheer teams: flags, banners, megaphones, pom pons, and signs.

Crowd Participation Segment

Each team will be required to perform 45 seconds of "crowd involvement" material when they enter the mat for preliminaries. During this time, the team should display modern and/or traditional methods of getting the crowd to stand, clap, cheer and/or make noise.
Technical skills should be kept to a minimum and will NOT be judged during this time. No basket tosses, 2 1/2 high pyramids, running tumbling passes or extended stunts will be allowed. The use of signs, flags, banners or other spirit related props are highly recommended.
Due to safety concerns, items (T-shirts, towels, Frisbees, etc.) may not be thrown, tossed or released from the performance area into the crowd.
Music may not be used during this segment.
The actual crowd response will not be factored into the judges' scores. Only the material being presented will be judged.
The 45 seconds will NOT count toward the 2 minutes and 15 seconds of the routine time. Timing will begin once the first person has stepped onto the performance area. Teams will be notified when their 45-second segment is over, and must immediately move into formation to start their routine performance. Teams should NOT huddle up together or convene following the 45-second segment. This could result in a .5 deduction. Each judge will score the crowd segment on a scale of 1-10. This will be its own judging category. This 45- second performance will be performed ONLY during preliminaries and NOT during finals.

Restrictions on Tumbling

Jewelry of any kind is prohibited.
Tumbling skills that exceed one flipping rotation and/or two twisting rotations are prohibited.
Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop is not permitted.
Tumbling with a prop is prohibited.

Stunt Regulations

Dismounts from basket/sponge tosses may be cradled by different bases other than those initiating the toss. The additional catchers (new bases) of such a toss, whether flipping or not, may not be participating in any other skill at the time the toss is initiated.
All flips from non-extended stunts MUST BE CRADLED ONLY. The spotter MUST assist the base in catching the cradle.
Dismounts or transitional stunts moving in a downward direction may not land in an inverted position (head down) and/or change direction while in an inverted position.
Any dismount from a "one-arm" stunt other than a regular cradle or straight dismount to the ground requires a spotter in addition to the base.

Pyramid Regulations

Pyramids over 2 1/2 persons high are prohibited.
Dismounts or transitional pyramids moving in a downward direction may not land in an inverted position (head down) and or change direction while in an inverted position.
All 2 1/2 high pyramids must have a qualified spotter in front and back for each person on the third level, and must be in position the entire time the top person(s) is at the 2 ? high level. Spotters may stand slightly to the side but must remain in a position to adequately spot the top person. Spotters may not be a primary support of the pyramid.

Judging Criteria for Technical Skills

Total points received per category will be based on overall quality and quantity of technical moves (both variety of skills and number of members performing skill) throughout routine. Specific skills performed that are not listed in one of the following skill categories will be placed in one of those categories at the discretion of the judges.
5-7 points Beginning-Intermediate partner stunt skills (examples: shoulder stands, extensions, chairs) performed by the team with a high level of perfection, or Intermediate- Advanced partner stunt skills performed with substandard technique and perfection.
7-9 points Intermediate-Advanced partner stunt skills (examples: liberty variations, one-arm stunts, full twisting dismounts) performed by the majority of the team with a high level of perfection, or Advanced-Elite partner stunt skills performed with sub-standard technique and perfection.
9-10 points Advanced-Elite partner stunt skills (examples: tossing with twisting, flipping and/or unique mounting techniques into liberty variations, one-arm stunts and/or multiple stunt sequences, flipping or double twisting dismounts) performed by the majority of the team with a high level of perfection.
7-9 points Intermediate-Advanced pyramid skills (examples: 2 ?
9-10 points Advanced-Elite pyramid skills (examples: multiple 2 ?

Partner Stunt Guidelines

Participants must be official members of the school and cheerleading team they are representing and meet all of their school's eligibility requirements.
Length of routine can be NO LONGER THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) SECONDS.
Each participating couple should provide one spotter. Only one spotter may be on the mat as needed to make the stunt legal. Spotter may not assist with performance. Spotter may not touch or assist any stunts.

All Girl Partner Stunt Guidelines

Participants must be official members of the school and cheerleading team they are representing and meet all of their school's eligibility requirements.
Length of routine can be NO LONGER THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) SECONDS.
Participants MUST be ALL female.

Varsity Spirit Judging

NEW! Have no direct affiliation with any team/gym who will be attending (or potentially will be attending) in a division they will judge. Must be of the highest ethical and moral values. Due to the size of our National Championships, judgeâs with conflicts may be selected. Coming SoonThank you for your interest in becoming a judge for Varsity Spirit. At this time, applications for the 25-26 season are closed.

Reducing Injuries and Potential Liability

To reduce injuries and potential liability, the following steps should be taken:

Allocate the appropriate resources similarly to other sports.
Implement new rules.
To create a safer environment, the NFHS revises cheer team rules annually.
Create an emergency action plan.
Include concussion management plans.
For more information on creating an emergency action plan, read Athletics Emergency Action Plans.
Develop a return-to-play protocol.
Cheerleaders are at a high risk for concussions due to the sportâs height, inversion, and physical contact.
Implement waivers.
Create waivers tailored to the sport with a list of the specific injuries that may occur.
Conduct preparticipation medical examinations.
Train cheerleaders to follow safety guidelines.
Require safety certification of cheerleading coaches.
Use safety equipment and personnel.
Ensure the use of adequate matting and spotters at all practices and events.
Supervise all practices and events.

Cheerleading Division Types

These divisions offer the best of both worlds! Crowd Leading divisions emphasizes crowd leading ability with crowd effective material. Routines in these divisions will still include transitional stunts and pyramids but the cheer section will encourage a crowd response as if you were leading the fans at an actual game! Does your team excel in skills and performance environments? NCA Performance divisions showcase the athleticism of cheerleading with a focus on visual elements. Teams competing in these divisions have routines that consist of transitional stunts, pyramids and a cheer. Bring your sidelines to the spotlight in an NCA Game Day Division! Teams combine their Band Chant, Game Day Cheer, and Fight Song along with a Game Day situational response to showcase in one 3:00 minute performance. Game Day divisions are the perfect way to transition material you already have and practice on the sidelines for the national floor. Cheer teams also have the option to bring their dancers, mascots and band members to compete in the Game Day Rally division (previously called Spirit Program Division).

Purdue Cheerleaders: A Case Study

The Purdue cheerleaders are recognized as one of the top squads in the country by the National Cheerleaders Association and compete each year at the NCA Collegiate competition in Daytona Beach, Florida. All teams will be required to compete in divisions according to NCAA Football classifications.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

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