High school cheerleading is an exciting sport that has the potential to become dangerous. Guidelines have been put in place by organizations like the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators to protect young athletes from injury. These guidelines emphasize supervision, training, a safe environment and restricting the performance of dangerous stunts, tosses, tumbles and jumps.
Supervision
All cheerleading squads must be led by a qualified coach that supervises all practice sessions. Advisers and coaches should realistically assess the squad's skill level and limit activities accordingly. No skill can be performed without back-up spotting until mastery has been achieved by all the cheerleaders involved.
Training and Environment
All cheerleaders are trained not only in the skills they perform but also in proper spotting and warm-up procedures. Squads must have a comprehensive conditioning program to build the strength of their athletes. Cheerleaders are not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind while participating in cheerleading activities. Proper athletic shoes are a requirement for participation. The environment for cheerleading should include even, unobstructed surfaces, mats and proper lighting.
Stunts and Tosses
All pyramids and partner stunts cannot be more than two cheerleaders high. The top cheerleader in such a stunt cannot be in an inverted position. Any stunt performed higher than shoulder level must have a continuous spotter for each cheerleader over shoulder level. Released transition stunts must be braced on at least one side. Tosses are limited to no more than four tossers and must be dismounted to a cradle position by two of the original bases, in addition to an additional spotter. Swan dives from any type of toss are not allowed. A minimum of three catchers are needed when the top cheerleader from a stunt falls from a vertical to a horizontal level.
Tumbling and Jumps
Flips great than one rotation, dive rolls, twists greater than one rotation and forward three-quarter flips are all prohibited. Cheerleaders cannot tumble over or under partner stunts, props or pyramids. When landing from a jump, one foot must bear weight. Any position with both feet back is prohibited, with the exception of a Z-sit.
Indoor Courts
Several skills cannot be performed on basketball courts or other indoor courts unless a matted, unobstructed surface is present. These skills include basket tosses, elevator and sponge tosses, and other multi-based tosses. In addition, partner stunts in which the base supports the top person with one arm are prohibited on indoor courts. Released twists into or from stunts or pyramids and twisting tumbling skills are also prohibited.
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