Cheerleading is more than just chanting cheers, shaking pom-poms and getting the crowd excited, and cheerleaders perform their skills in more venues than sporting events. Competitive cheerleading is a popular activity and many of the same rules apply to in-game and competitive cheerleading.
Routine Time Requirements
According to the United States All-Star Federation (USASF), a national competitive cheerleading organization, competitive cheerleading routines can last no longer than two minutes and 30 seconds. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules for competition state that routines can last no longer than two minutes and 15 seconds. The NCAA rules state that music can be played for the entire time of the routine, and the time starts at the first organized motion or note of music.
Performance Surface
USASF rules state that practices and performances must be performed on an appropriate surface that is safe. Approved surfaces consist of a floor that's matted with a minimum of 1 3/8-inch carpet-bonded foam with panels joined by 4-inch tape. Grass also is an acceptable surface for performing stunts. The rules are explicit in that no stunts, pyramids, tosses or tumbles can be performed or practiced on concrete, asphalt, uneven surfaces, wet surfaces or surfaces that have obstructions. The NCAA does not specifically address the performance or practice surface.
Props
NCAA and USASF rules permit the use of props during competition, including flags, banners, megaphones, pom-poms and signage, but no props that use a support, like a flag with a pole, can be used while doing a stunt. Props should be moved in an appropriate manner before performing stunts. For example, a hard sign or flag with a pole may not be thrown across the mat prior to performing a stunt. Also, tumbling with props is not allowed, according to the NCAA. No prop that is used to propel a person, such as a mini-trampoline or springboard, is permitted.
Attire
Both the NCAA and USASF require cheerleaders to wear only soft-, solid-soled tennis shoes. Both prohibit the use of jazz or dancing shoes, gymnastic slippers and boots. Also, cheerleaders are not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind, including earrings. The NCAA, USASF and the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) do not list specific uniform requirements in any of their rulebooks, such as skirt length, for example.
During Sporting Events
According to the AACCA, when a cheerleading team is in close proximity to a game or event and there is a risk of injury when the ball leaves the playing surface, no technical skills or stunts are allowed. Also, according to the AACCA, the following stunts are not allowed during basketball games or any other athletic contest that's not performed on grass: basket tosses, elevator/sponge tosses, multibased tosses, partner stunts for which the person who's the base only uses one arm to support the top person, flips, released twists, two-and-a-half person pyramids, inversions and twisting tumbling stunts.
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