Cheer Rules

Cheer Guide

  1. League Cheerleading Coordinator
    1. Each league will appoint a Cheerleading Coordinator who will convey rules and information to the leagues’ coaching staff and board.
    2. League Cheerleading Coordinator or designee will wear a white hat on game day.
    3. League Cheerleading Coordinator or board member will sign off on hard cards at Roster Sign.
    4. Each Cheer Coordinator will present the minutes of the Cheer Coordinator’s Meeting to the board of their local league.
    5. In the event a Cheer Coordinator is unable to attend an event or meeting, they must appoint a designee to take their place. All decisions will be binding on every league even if they do not have a representative at the meeting.
  2. Coordinator Meetings / Failure to Attend Meetings
    1. The PAL Executive Director and Cheer Coordinator will set the schedule of Cheerleading Coordinator meetings. League Cheerleading Coordinators will be given ample notice of meetings scheduled and must advise their local league board of directors of said meeting.
    2. Attendance at League Cheer Coordinators’ meetings is mandatory.
  3. Coaches
    1. Unless there are no other options, the league Coordinator should not be rostered as a head coach.
    2. All coaches should remember that the safety of their squads is their primary concern. No one under the age of 21 may be a Head Coach. No participant may be left with anyone under the age of 18. Assistant Coaches must be 18 or older. Cheer Junior Coaches are optional and may be younger than 18, but at least 2 years older than the oldest age of the group they are working with.
    3. Head coaches should recognize their squad’s abilities and talents, and structure their routines accordingly.

League Cheer Coordinators and all coaches must take the mandatory concussion course, and attend the PAL designated coaches clinic or complete the PPAL designated online certification process

Mandatory concussion course http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/Training/index.html

Gulf Coast annual Coaches clinic

  1. Saturday, July 16, 2016, 8am – 4pm @ Stars Athletics 4543 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33614- This needs to be updated by PAL
  2. NYSCA online certification
  3. NYCC online certification

Hosting Organization Field Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the home team to ensure all equipment for play is available and the field is marked according to NFHS rules. Additionally, each organization shall create an 18 ft. buffer zone between the sidelines and the spectators. The buffer zone shall be the entire length of the field, be on the home and visiting team’s sidelines, and be identified as being roped off. The following individuals are allowed in the buffer zone: PAL executive board members; white hats of the team’s organization; coaches, team parents, and play counter of the team that is playing; reporters, videographers, and photographers are at the discretion of the head coach.

Line-to-gain crews are the responsibility of the home team and will be established per NFHS rules. The NFHS rules cover general instructions, pregame duties, and game procedures.

It is the responsibility of the home team to insure payment of the officiating crew per the contract signed by the PAL executive board. Payment shall be made by check to the officiating parent company or business after the last game of the day

Check-In Procedures

The home team will designate check-in area. Rosters will be in numerical order for each division. Each player’s official file must be available at the check-in and also for the entire game day for the opposing director or a PAL executive board member. Directors or a designee are responsible for the official records. Each team will give a roster to opposing team’s director and to the announcer.

Players are required to be present for check-in 1 hour before the start of their game or during the halftime of the preceding game, whichever is sooner. Each player will be lined up in numerical order as listed on the roster and must be in possession of their official game jersey at the time of check-in. Each director or designee will initial in each assigned block as follows: if the player is available for play – director or designee’s Initials; Injured – I; Absent – A; Sick – S; Disciplinary – D; Quit – Q; Vacation – V, and Present but Injured – PI. Players must be at roster check-in in order to play. The team’s informational file will be made available immediately for the directors or any PAL executive board member for the entire day.

Squads

  1. League age is determined by the age of the child on July 31st for Mascots, Junior Flyweight, Flyweight and Mighty Mite. January 1st for Junior Varsity
    • Mascots (Optional): Ages 3, 4 & 5 DOB: 8/1/10 - 7/31/13 Age 5 (either Mascots or Jr Flyweight) per league discretion
    • Junior Flyweights: Ages 5, 6 & 7 DOB: 8/1/08 – 7/31/11
    • Flyweights: Ages 8 & 9 DOB: 8/1/06 – 7/31/08
    • Mighty Mites: Ages 10 & 11 DOB: 8/1/04 – 7/31/06
    • Junior Varsity (Cheer): 12, 13 & 14 DOB: 1/1/01 – 7/31/04 
  2. Rosters in all divisions are limited to (40) participants. No additions may be made to the roster after the roster freeze date (August 31st). By 11:59 p.m. on August 31st, each league must scan and send their rosters to the Executive Director of PAL for dissemination to all leagues via email.
  3. There is no cheering / practicing permitted across divisions during the PPAL Season. You may cross cheer on your own field as a means of instruction or demo only. NO stunting is allowed.
    • If a specific division does not have any cheerleaders the child may move up (1) division. If a specific division does not have any football players to cheer for, the squad will split the next divisions’ game (that first division will cheer the first half of the game and the next division will cheer the second half of the game). PAL Cheer Coordinator must be notified. This is relegated to game day cheer only.
  4. Any cheerleader that is on an All-Star Cheer squad or High School Varsity squad during the PPAL season in not eligible to cheer on a PAL squad.

Stunts

  1. All stunts must have proper spotting as outlined in the NFHS Spirit Guide and PAL Cheer Guide.
  2. Mascots may not be involved in a moving stunt. They may only be involved in stunts up to a prep (half-extension) level. No Basket Tosses, Fulls or one legged stunts are allowed etc. Back spotter must have constant hands on contact. (Exception to the rule is the back spotter may release with a dismount). They may cradle out of stunts but no twisting is permitted. Spotters and bases must have constant eye contact at all times. Front spotters are recommended.
  3. Junior Flyweights may with two legs be involved in a moving stunt. They may only be involved in stunts up to a prep (half-extension) level. No Fulls are allowed. Back spotter must have constant hands on contact. (Exception to the rule is the back spotter may release with a dismount). They may cradle out of stunts but no twisting is permitted. Spotters and bases must have constant eye contact at all times. Front spotters are recommended but are at the discretion of the Coach and League Cheer Coordinator.
  4. Flyweights may twist up but may not twist down. They may cradle out of a stunt up to an extension. Flyweights can do a full. Spotters and bases should have constant eye contact.
  5. Mighty Mites and Junior Varsity will follow NFHS Spirit Guide unless stated otherwise in PAL Cheer Guide.
  6. Stunting / tumbling are not permitted when it is raining, on a slippery surface, uneven surface, or where there is not enough space per the Spirit Guide. There will be NO Stunting / Tumbling on asphalt, concrete, or any other hard surface without a protective mat.

Practice, Clinics, Safety Equipment & Attire

  1. The PAL Board of Directors will determine the first day of practice.
  2. Squad practice schedules will be determined by the local league.
  3. Squads may practice no more than (10) hours per week before school begins and no more than (6) hours per week after school begins.
    • Exceptions to this rule (Mascots & Special Needs. TBD with local leagues who have mascots and / or special needs.
      1. The school start date will be determined by the first day of school in Pasco County.
      2. Cheerleaders may not cheer at a game until their file has been certified and they have completed the required (10) hours of conditioning.
      3. Squads cheering at playoff games, PPAL Cheer-Off and / or any entered outside competition will be allowed to practice (2) additional hours for (2) weeks prior to the game or cheer competition.
  4. For safety purposes, each league will provide at least 1 3/8” carpet bonded mats for stunting and tumbling.
  5. Practice attire will be determined by the local league and approved by the PAL Cheerleading Coordinator. For practice and games, hair must be off face and neck, behind ears, and bangs above the eyebrows. Each league must provide a backup uniform, provide a practice uniform, or have practice uniforms available to purchase.
  6. Game and Event Uniforms - as a minimum the cheer uniform will consist of a top, skirt / skort, bloomers and shoes matching the color of the league football program. This uniform will be required at all PAL functions. Disregard to this rule will result in disqualification and fines, specifically for playoff games and all future PAL events following playoff games.

Participant Attendance

  1. Participant may miss (1) practice and remain eligible for that week’s game. Coming to practice and watching does not constitute attendance of practice unless permission is granted by either the League Director or Cheer Coordinator (Example: homework).
  2. Coaches will keep written attendance reports for practice and turn them into the League Cheer Coordinator on a weekly basis and they will be retained for the remainder of the season. The reports will be made available to the opposing teams Cheer Coordinator, Directors or any Executive Board Member.
  3. Participation in (6) out of the (10) regular season games is mandatory to be eligible for Cheer-Off & outside competitions. If a participant misses more than 4 games due to a legitimate medical condition and a detailed doctor’s note is provided, the PAL Executive Director may elect to deem that participant eligible for postseason.
    • League Directors wishing to have postseason eligibility granted to any participant missing more than (4) games, due to the legitimate medical condition must put that request in writing, along with the supporting documents provided by a physician, to include a copy of the hard card roster proving game attendance, and deliver such request to the PAL Executive Director (4) days prior to the scheduled event.
    • The PAL Executive Director will determine player eligibility on a case by case basis, based on the written documentation provided.
    • Special request received on the day of the event will not be considered. In order for a participant to be eligible for acceptance consideration, all games missed must have been the result of a legitimate documented medical problem.
  4. No stunting or tumbling during the first (10) hours of practice / conditioning.
  5. Individual teams may not conduct pre-season practice or conditioning of any kind.
  6. Clinics require prior PAL approval. Clinics may be sponsored by a local league, but must be open to all PAL leagues. The details of the clinic should be submitted to PAL for review and distribution to the other leagues. 

Games / PAL Competition

  1. Any squad to no show a mandatory PAL event (jamboree, regular season game, and playoff game, Cheer Off, Pro Bowl or Superbowl) will not be eligible to participate in outside competitions or Cheer Off. In the event the forfeit follows the current year Cheer Off the participants of that squad will not be eligible to participate in the next years scheduled outside competitions or Cheer Off. Example – entire squad choosing a non PAL event over a PAL event or an entire squad absent due to weather.
  2. PAL Cheerleading is governed by the NFHS Spirit Guide and the PAL Cheer Rules / Cheer off Rules.
  3. Check-In Procedure – The home team will designate the check-in area. Each squad member’s official file must be available at check-in and also for the entire game day to the opposing director and executive board member. Directors or a designee are responsible for the official records. An extra roster will be given to the announcer for each game. Squad members are required to be present for check-in 1 hour before the start of their game time or during the half-time of the preceding game, whichever is sooner. Each squad member will be lined up in roster order at the time of check-in. Each director or designee will initial in each assigned block as follows: if the squad member is available for play – director or designees Initials; Injured – I; Absent – A; Sick – S; Disciplinary – D; Quit – Q, Vacation – V; and Present but Injured – PI. Any squad member unavailable at roster check-in is not eligible for play that day. The teams’ informational file will be made available immediately for the directors or any executive board member.
  4. Cheerleaders will stay in areas designated by the home team. If both squads are on the same side of the field, each squad will stay on its appointed side of the (50) yard line.
  5. During 4th quarter, non-aggressive inter-league cheer interaction is permitted.
  6. Mascots will cheer for a portion of the Junior Flyweight game.
  7. Half-Time
    1. Mascots and Jr Flyweights will perform a routine not to exceed (1.5) minutes at half-time.
      • Mascots will perform a half-time routine following the Junior Flyweight half-time routine of their team.
    2. Flyweight, Mighty Mite and Junior Varsity will perform a routine not to exceed (2) minutes at half-time.
    3. The routine may not be aggressive (Be courteous to the opposing team, cheer for them). There will be a white hat from each league on the field during half-time.
    4. There will be no more than (3) home greeters to the visiting side.
    5. Visiting squad will go to the home side, crossing the (50) yard line and perform first.
    6. Visiting squad and home squad will return to the visitor’s side of the field, crossing the (50) yard line and the home squad will perform for the visitors.
  8. End of Game
    1. Home and visitor squads will meet at the (50) yard line for a squad handshake.
    2. White hats and coaches must be present on the field during handshakes.
    3. Cheerleaders are not allowed near the (50) yard line when the football players are crossing.
    4. Any unsportsmanlike conduct will result in suspension of a minimum of (1) game. Continued unsportsmanlike conduct will result in dismissal from PAL.
  9. Cheer-Off
    1. An annual Cheer-Off will be conducted requiring all PAL leagues to compete.
    2. Cheerleaders must participate in (6) out the (10) regular season games in order to be eligible for Cheer-Off.
    3. Rules for Cheer-Off are contained in the section titled “PAL Cheer-Off Rules”.
  10. Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Cheer Off
    1. Participation in Cheer Off, Pro-Bowl & Super Bowl is mandatory.

Non-PAL Competitions

  1. PAL events take precedence over all non PPAL activities. No squad may attend a non-PAL event over a PAL event.
  2. There will be no squad mixing at anytime.
  3. PPAL must be informed of all outside competitions or PAL insurance will not be in effect for these events.
  4. No competitions under PAL may be entered into after December 31st.

PAL Cheer-Off Rules

  1. Length of Routine
    1. Competition routine must include music. The routine must be at least (1.5) minutes but no more than (3) minutes long.
  2. Routine Components
    1. Cheer, chant, squad jumps, stunts, pyramids and dance must be done in no specific order but must include ALL components. (Entire squad jump, tumbling pass, 1 chant and short cheer. All components must be done - (1) point deduction per each component not completed.
    2. Any illegal skill performed during the competition will result in a (1) point deduction for each infraction.
  3. Squad Entry & Exit
    1. Cheerleaders will enter the floor quickly, place their props, if any, and move immediately to their starting positions.
    2. Cheerleaders may use a spirit entrance and exit.
    3. No organized cheer run-on, jumps, tumbling on entrances or exits. This will result in a (1) point deduction.
    4. Teams must exit the performance area immediately following the routine. No parading past judges. This will result in a (1) point deduction.
    5. Squads may not pre-build any stunts or pyramids before timing starts. At least one foot of every cheerleader must be on the floor. This will result in a (1) point deduction.
    6. Coaches may NOT enter the mat for any reason. (Exception: one Mascot and Junior Flyweight coach may kneel or sit in front of the mat). This will result in a (1) point deduction
  4. Timing of Routine
    1. Time will begin with the first word, movement or note of music by the team when they are announced after taking the floor. NOTE: Squads are announced twice - once to take the floor then again when the judges are ready to proceed.
    2. Time will end with the last word, movement or note of music by the team.
  5. Crowd Participation
    1. Audience response cheers are permitted.
  6. Props / Floor Mats
    1. Signs, flags, pom poms and megaphones only are allowed.
    2. No glitter per PAL/NFHS rules unless laminated.
    3. All focal points (i.e. teddy bears, stuffed animals) must be off mat.
    4. Practices are only permitted in the designated warm up areas.
  7. Music
    1. No voice over’s or words may be recorded to make the team’s own vocal projection sound louder. This will result in a (1) point deduction
    2. Music must be appropriate for kids and family audience. No suggestive or inappropriate lyrics and words. All music must be approved by the PAL Executive Director and Cheer Coordinator. All music must be presented for approval at the September Cheerleading Coordinator Meeting.
    3. Coaches are strongly advised to create routines and music portions that finish at least (5) seconds before the maximum time limits in order to avoid penalties.
  8. Make-up, Hair, Nails, Glitter
    1. Light, tasteful makeup is permitted.
    2. Face decoration and cheerleading glitter cosmetics are permitted.
    3. Hair must be away from face, pulled behind ears, bangs must be above eyebrows.
    4. Nails - short per NFHS rules and no polish.
    5. NO LOOSE GLITTER.
  9. Scoring
    1. Each judge’s score sheet is tallied.
    2. The totals are added together (raw score).
    3. In the case of a tie, best overall will win. In case of a tie in best overall, best execution will win.