Rules and Regulations

*Each team must perform a routine consisting of at least a crowd cheer, chant and dance.
• It must not exceed 5 minutes, but be at least 2 minutes in length.
• FOAM FLOOR will be provided for the event.
• Timing will begin with the first note of music or organized word by the team after taking the floor. You can spirit out onto the floor.
• There will be a deduction for going over the allotted time of 5 minutes.
• The order of the competition will be determined three days prior to the competition and a schedule will be emailed to the contact person for each team.
• No jewelry or loose glitter of any kind (including on signs)
• No one is permitted to stand directly in front of or behind the judging table. No one is permitted to approach the judges. All communication must be done through the competition directors.
• Judges decisions are final. If the judges see a rule broken, they will deduct points. No coach or parent input will be given or taken into consideration.
• One coach or designated person must bring the music to the sound table. It is the responsibility of the individual teams to play the music. If there is an error in the music due to the technology, your team will be allowed to perform the routine again. If it is an error due to the coach/designated person, the team will not be allowed to perform again. Please bring a backup of your music.
• Video cameras are permitted, but no tripods.
• No refunds will be made once payment is received. 

Prohibited stunts:
Teams must follow UCA rules (link posted below).

For all Elementary teams:
1st grade – 3rd grade:
• Coach may place poms and signs on the floor prior to the start of the routine. Anything carried onto the floor, must be carried off by the same team.
4th grade – 6th grade:
• Cheerleaders must place their own poms and signs. This may be done before the start of the routine. Anything carried onto the floor, must be carried off by the same team. 

• Each team must perform a routine consisting of at least a crowd cheer, chant and dance.
• It must not exceed 5 minutes, but be at least 2 minutes in length.
• A FOAM FLOOR will be provided for the event.
• Timing will begin with the first note of music or organized word by the team after taking the floor. You can spirit out onto the floor.
• There will be a deduction for going over the allotted time of 5 minutes.
• The order of the competition will be determined three days prior to the competition and a schedule will be emailed to the contact person for each team.
• No jewelry or loose glitter of any kind (including on signs)
• No one is permitted to stand directly behind the judging table. No one is permitted to approach the judges. All communication must be done through the competition directors.
• Judges decisions are final. If the judges see a rule broken, they will deduct points. No coach or parent input will be given or taken into consideration.
• One coach or designated person must bring the music to the sound table. It is the responsibility of the individual teams to play the music. If there is an error in the music due to the technology, your team will be allowed to perform the routine again. If it is an error due to the coach/designated person, the team will not be allowed to perform again.
• Video cameras are permitted, but no tripods. 
• No refunds will be made once payment is received.

Prohibited stunts:
• Teams must follow UCA rules (link posted below)
• No builds higher than bases plus one person.
• No spotters will be provided by Harrison Cheerleading. You must fill out a Spotter Liability Form and turn it in prior to the competition. *If a prohibited stunt is performed, deductions will be made by the technical judge.

For all Elementary teams:
1st grade – 3rd grade:
• Coach may place poms and signs on the floor prior to the start of the routine. Anything carried onto the floor, must be carried off by the same team.
4th grade – 6th grade:
• Cheerleaders must place their own poms and signs. This may be done before the start of the routine. Anything carried onto the floor, must be carried off by the same team. 

Harrison Cheer Classic will follow the NFHS Rules for School Teams. Rules can be found at http://www.nfhs.org/Spirit/. They also can be found in the NFHS Spirit Rules Handbook. 

Additional information: 
• Performed on a FOAM FLOOR.
• Timing will begin with the first note of music or organized word/motion by the team after taking the floor. You can spirit out onto the floor and this is not considered organized movement.
• There will be a deduction for going over the allotted time of 2 min 30 secs.
• The order of the competition will be determined three days prior to the competition and a schedule will be emailed to the contact person for each team.
• No jewelry or loose glitter of any kind (including on signs)
• No one is permitted to stand directly behind the judging table. No one is permitted to approach the judges. All communication must be done through the competition directors.
• Judges decisions are final. If the judges see a rule broken, they will deduct points. No coach or parent input will be given or taken into consideration.
• One coach or designated person must bring the music to the sound table. It is the responsibility of the individual teams to play the music. If the music messes up due to technology issues, your team will be allowed to perform the routine again. If it is an error due to the coach/designated person, the team will not be allowed to perform again.
• Video cameras are permitted, but no tripods.
• No animals or pets permitted of any kind, unless it's a service animal.
• No refunds will be made once payment is received. 

Harrison High School will be following the rules of UCA.

The Game Day performance cannot exceed a 3 minute time limit. All skill restrictions below will be enforced.

BAND CHANT: The Band Chant will be consistent with the summer camp format. Teams should demonstrate spirit and enthusiasm while entering the performance floor and before the music begins. A cue will not be given to start the Band Chant. Once the music begins, the teams cannot incorporate any skills other than kicks and jumps, just like summer camp. Squads should utilize spirit raising props and focus on creative movements such as level changes or ripples, execution of the material and encouraging the crowd to participate.

CROWD LEADING: Following the Band Chant, the announcer will give squads a game scenario indicating an offense or defense situation. Teams should show their definitive understanding of the situation with an offensive or defensive sideline. After the Situational Sideline, teams will move into their Cheer which can include one reflective of a timeout, general sideline/spell-out or other cheer material that incites a response and encourages the crowd to yell along. Teams will be evaluated on their ability to lead the crowd, crowd effectiveness, proper use of motions/crowd leading tools and execution of stunts/tumbling relevant to a game day environment. NOTE: It is a requirement to incorporate skills (stunts and/or tumbling, if the division allows) into the Crowd Leading section. Please see skill restrictions below.

FIGHT SONG: The final element should reflect your school’s traditional Fight Song. Teams should incorporate crowd effective skills (stunts and/or tumbling, if the division allows) and can include spirit raising props to enhance the overall effect. Fight Song incorporation is limited to three (3) consecutive 8-counts of stunts and/or tumbling. Counting will begin with the initiation of a skill and continue until either the incorporation is complete or the end of the 3rd 8-count. Building skills must remain be stationary prior to the end of the 3rd 8-count and remain stationary until the end of the routine. (If the Fight Song repeats, the incorporation will only be permitted both times if the skills are repeated exactly the same.) For teams that do not have an official Fight Song, it is recommended to use a second selection of band chant music. Music guidelines are available at varsity.com/music.

Game Day Skill Restrictions:

•  Basket and waist level tosses are NOT allowed. Examples of toss skills allowed are quick toss stunts, toss coed skills, and toss toe touches.

•  Inversions are NOT allowed.

•  Twisting Released Dismounts are NOT allowed.

•  Single leg stunts are limited to liberties and liberty hitches.

•  Running Tumbling is NOT allowed.

•  Single standing tumbling is allowed and cannot be connected. A single tumbling skill can only be connected to a single jump. The only standing tumbling skills that are allowed include back handspring, back tuck, forward roll, front walkover, cartwheel, standing aerial, jump back handspring, and jump tuck.

• Teams should take the floor immediately with spirit and enthusiasm, but without excessive gestures. Stunts are not allowed during the team’s entry to the floor or any time prior to starting the performance.

• During the Band Chant, only kicks and jumps are permitted.

www.varsity.com