2009-2010 AACCA College Safety Rules

2009-10 AACCA College Safety Rules

1. Cheerleading squads should be placed under the direction of a qualified and knowledgeable advisor or coach.

2. All practice sessions should be supervised by the advisor/coach and held in a location suitable for the activities of

cheerleaders (e.g., use of appropriate matting, away from excessive noise and distractions, etc.)

3. Prior to the performance of any skill, the immediate environment for the activity should be taken into consideration

including, but not limited to proximity of non-squad personnel, performance surface, lighting and/or precipitation.

Technical skills should not be performed on concrete, asphalt, wet or uneven surfaces or surfaces with

obstructions.

4. Advisors/coaches should recognize the particular ability level of all participants and should limit the squad's

activities accordingly. Participants should not be pressed to perform activities until they are safely prepared.

5. Skills that have not been mastered should be performed only in a supervised practice environment.

6. Thorough training in proper spotting techniques should be mandatory for all squads.

7. All cheerleaders should receive proper training before attempting any form of cheerleading gymnastics (tumbling,

partner stunts, pyramids and jumps).

8. All cheerleading squads should adopt a comprehensive conditioning and strength building program.

9. An appropriate warmup exercise should precede all cheerleading activities.

10. All programs should qualify cheerleaders according to accepted teaching progressions. Appropriate spotting

should be used until all performers demonstrate mastery of the skill, and when spotting is required by specific

rule.

11. In environments where there is close proximity to the athletic event and out of bounds plays pose a significant risk

of injury to the participant, no technical skills should be performed while the ball is in play.

12. All partner stunts, pyramids, and tosses should be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution.

1. The use of any height-increasing apparatus (e.g. mini-trampoline, etc.) other than a spring floor is prohibited for

performance.

2. The top person in a partner stunt, pyramid or transition cannot be released from bases with the intent to land or

be caught in an inverted body position.

3. An individual may not jump, flip or dive over, under, or through partner stunts, pyramids or individuals from basket

tosses, similar tosses, partner stunts or other tosses from hands.

4. Drops (knee, seat, thigh, front, back and split) from a jump, stand or inverted position are prohibited unless the

majority of the weight is first borne on the hands/feet which breaks the impact of the drop.

5. Jewelry of any kind is prohibited (e.g., navel jewelry, tongue jewelry, earrings, necklaces, etc.) Medical bracelets

are allowed provided they are taped to the body.

6. Soft-soled athletic shoes must be worn while cheering or competing. Gymnastics shoes, jazz shoes and/or boots

are prohibited.

7. Basket and Elevator/Sponge Tosses are prohibited on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial) or a mat.

8. Flipping skills into or from stunts, tosses or pyramids are prohibited on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial)

or a mat.

9. Two and one half high pyramids are prohibited on surfaces other than grass (real or artificial) or a mat.

1. Twisting dismounts with more than a 360 degree rotation require an additional spotter that assists on the cradle.

2. Stunts in which the base uses only one arm for support require a spotter when:

a. the stunt is anything other than a cupie/awesome or basic liberty. All other one-arm stunts require a spotter

(e.g., heel stretch, arabesque, high torch, scorpion, bow and arrow, etc.).

b. the load-in or dismount involves a twist. The spotter must be in place during the twist and assist on the cradle

during twisting dismounts.

c. the top person is popped from one arm to the other.

3. Single based split catches are prohibited.