The association was founded in 1992 by a few concerned coaches

 CHEER RULES AND REGULATIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. Teams must have at least 5 members. There is no maximum limit (except where stated under the description of the NKCCA Divisions).
  2. All teams will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 30 seconds to complete their routine. All stunt participants will have a maximum of 1 minute and 30 seconds to complete their routine. There are no minimum time requirements on any type of routine. Timing and judging of routines will begin with the first organized movement or the first note of music. Timing will end with a last note of music or the ending motion or pose is held. Introductions, spell-outs and/or organized entrances are considered part of the routine and are timed as part of the performance. All participants should walk/spirit onto the floor and immediately start their routine after placement of any props.
  3. All routines will be judged using a 100-point. (See scoresheet for details.) The decisions of the judges are FINAL!
  4. Mascots are welcome to perform as members of their squad, but must adhere to all rules and regulations expected of team members.
  5. The main performance mat will be approximately 42 feet deep by 42 feet wide. For safety purposes we require everyone to perform their routine on the performance mat. However, there will be no deductions for stepping off the mat.
  6. The only props that will be allowed in ALL divisions will be poms, megaphones, flags, banners and signs.
  7. All routines must be suitable for viewing by audiences of all ages. Vulgar or suggestive material is restricted!
  8. Participants MAY compete in more than one division as long as they abide by the grade restrictions in all divisions in which they compete and pay in each division.
  9. SUBSTITUTIONS may be made in the event of an injury or other serious circumstance. However, all substitutions must be pre-approved by the NKCCA and listed on the team’s roster.
  10. Please bring TWO HIGH-QUALITY copies of your music to the NKCCA. You may use compact discs (CD) or tapes.
  11. In the event a routine is interrupted because of failure of NKCCA equipment, facilities, etc., then the participant(s) affected will be permitted to restart the routine from the beginning. In the event a routine is interrupted because of failure of the participants' equipment, music or supplies, then the participant(s) may either continue or withdraw from the competition. In the event an injury occurs during a performance, then the participant(s) may either continue or withdraw from the competition. Competition officials reserve the right to stop a performance due to an injury.
  12. One (1) representative of your group/individual will be responsible for running the music during the competition. In the event a routine is delayed due to operator error, timing of your routine will continue. This person must remain at the sound area throughout the entire performance. No unnecessary team members, parents etc. are allowed at the music table.
  13. All participants must submit a signed waiver form prior to performing. NO EXCEPTIONS!
  14. The grade restrictions mentioned under the information describing each division offered by the NKCCA indicate status for the current school year. Each participant must be currently receiving credit for their work from an accredited school at the time of the competition. Any team proven to be in violation of the age, grade or school restrictions will be automatically disqualified from the event.  
  15. Current National Federation Rules for stunts & tumbling must be followed by all member schools.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  1. All routines (excluding stunt routines) must have at least one cheer, chant or sideline and a musical segment (including dance) with no time restrictions on any segment. NOTE: A cheer must have at least two lines; chants and sidelines must be repeated at least once. This can be performed over music without stopping.
  2. Pyramid building, partner stunts and basket tosses are permitted and encouraged in all team divisions (excluding non-mount divisions). NFHSA rules apply.
  3. Gymnastics and jump incorporations are permitted and encouraged in all divisions.
  4. All stunt routines will be judged for stunting skills only. Please choreograph these routines to music with minimal breaks and no motions, dance, tumbling or cheers as those skills will not be scored. Each routine must contain at least 5 extended stunts (ex. liberty, extension, basket toss, etc.).
  5. All pyramids and partner stunts are limited to two persons high. "Two high" is defined as the bases (supporting persons) having both feet in contact with the ground at all times. All-Star squads must perform within their gym’s guidlelines. All pyramids and stunts MUST be performed on the provided performance mat.
  6. Mini-tramps, springboards or any height increasing apparatuses are restricted.

 TUMBLING/AERIAL FLIPS

  1. Knee, front, seat and split drops (without first breaking the drop with the feet or hands) are restricted. Also handsprings/flips to a seat drop ("suicide", "flippy") are restricted.
  2. Tumbling with any prop is restricted.
  3. Spotted or assisted aerial flips/tumbling is strictly prohibited.
  4. Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop is not permitted. A forward roll over a prop is an exception and is permitted.
  5. Dive rolls and double cartwheels are not permitted.  

STUNTS/PYRAMIDS

  1. Single or double-based stunts higher than shoulder stand level must have a continuous spotter for each person over shoulder stand level. The spotter must be positioned to protect the head and shoulders of the flyer and must be behind or beside the stunt, and may help support the stunt, but may not be underneath, or be a primary support for the stunt.
  2. Pyramids or partner stunts utilizing a person (not standing on the ground) as a BALANCE OR BRACE, must CLEARLY NOT be supporting 50% OR MORE of the top person's weight. This can be shown by the top person of the pyramid/stunt having her leg in a bent, stretched or heel stretch position.
  3. No extended stunt may brace other extended stunts except for awesomes and extensions.
  4. All roll-ups originating from the ground level into partner stunts or pyramids are permitted.
  5. Hanging pyramids are allowed as long as they are upright. Each shoulder stand must have a continuous spotter and the bases must brace the hanging person(s).
  6. In transitional stunts, physical contact must be maintained between the flyer and a separate bracer  and not the base(s) (including Tick-Tocks). When it involves changing bases, the person moving the stunt shall maintain continuous visual contact with the new base(s). Refer to NFHS for more specifics.  
  7. Pendulums are permitted as long as they are performed from shoulder height or below and there are at least 3 catchers on each side.
  8. A base shall not assume a back bend or handstand position.
  9. Vaults involving head-over-heel rotation are restricted. Vaults over or through pyramids or stunts are restricted. Bases in vaults must be in direct contact with the floor.
  10. A flyer may hold or pass through an inverted position during dismounts or stunts only with direct weight bearing support from a base(s) that is in direct contact with the floor. Suspended basket toss flips are restricted.

 TOSSES

  1. All basket-tosses must be performed from ground level bases and must be cradled by at least two of the original bases plus an additional spotter for the head and shoulders.
  2. Flyers must land in a “face up” cradle position. Re-grabs are not permitted!
  3. Tosses shall not involve more than four (4) bases and one (1) flyer. The flyer shall be directed vertically and caught by the original bases of the toss. No traveling basket tosses!
  4. No tosses are allowed to be thrown through/over props, people, stunts or pyramids.
  5. Flyers may not be tossed to another set of bases.
  6. Tosses to any split position are not permitted.
  7. Log rolls are permitted as long as they land “face up.” In a single-base log roll, the flyer must rotate toward the base.
  8. Flipping basket tosses are restricted in all divisions (excluding Elite All-Star team divisions and Group Stunt divisions).
  9. In the above mentioned Elite All-Star divisions basket tosses may not exceed more than two (2) twisting rotations or more than one flipping rotation (i.e. double backs, double fronts, triple fulls). The above mentioned divisions are the ONLY divisions which may flip in basket tosses!!

 DISMOUNTS

  1. Dismounts by the top person directly to the ground from single or double-based stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level are permitted as long as the top person is assisted by the original base(s) plus a spotter at the shoulders.
  2. No additional skills may be performed during dismounts by the top person directly to the ground (ex. toe-touch, twist, etc.)
  3. Cradle dismounts from double-based partner stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level must use three catchers (either the bases plus a spotter, or three spotters). Cradle dismounts from single-based partner stunts or pyramids over shoulder stand level must use a spotter (at the side or shoulders) on the cradle.
  4. Cradle dismounts from single or double-based partner stunts or pyramids at or below shoulder stand level and without an extra skill (ex. twist or toe-touch) on the cradle does NOT require an additional spotter.
  5. Cradle dismounts from single or double-based partner stunts or pyramids at or below shoulder stand level and with an extra skill (ex. twist or toe-touch) on the cradle DOES require an additional spotter at the shoulders.
  6. Forward suspended roll dismounts from a shoulder stand level or lower are allowed. However, to be considered legal, the top person must have constant hands-to-hands or arms-to-arms contact with the base(s) throughout the full rotation of the flip and dismount and the base(s) must have both feet on the ground at all times.
  7. Suspended rolls from single-based stunts are NOT permitted.
  8. Free-falling flips from any stunt or pyramid (including toe, leg and thigh pitches) are restricted.
  9. Swan dives (to the stomach cradle only) from any type of toss, stunt or pyramid are restricted.
  10. All cradle dismounts must land in a face-up position.
  11. Double twists of any kind must have 3 catchers.
  12. Front, back and side tension rolls/drops are restricted. Backward suspended rolls, including shoulder sit roll-offs are restricted. Suspended roll dismounts from higher than shoulder level are restricted.
  13. Single-based split catches are restricted.
  14. Vault dismounts are restricted.

 

SAFETY & SPOTTING

The NKCCA will be spotted by some of the most highly qualified cheerleading trainers in the country (spotters will be provided for ALL cheer team routines)! There will not be anyone allowed on the mat during team routines (excluding Partner and Group Stunt Divisions which will be required to provide their own spotter). The rules, regulations and restrictions mentioned here are to assist in providing a safe event for all of our participants. Coaches, please keep safety in mind when planning your NKCCA routine by allowing your squad to perform ONLY the skills that they are capable of safely and consistently performing! 

RULE INTERPRETATION

It is the policy of The NKCCA not to give specific rule interpretations over the phone, mail or email. All official rule interpretations must be submitted on a full size VHS videotape by January 15. All videos must contain:

  1. A front, side and back view of the skill/section in question.
  2. A letter stating the question/request.
  3. School/Team Name and Event/Division entering.
  4. Coaches Name, address, phone and fax numbers and email address.

Send to:

NKCCA

Please keep a copy of what you send us as well as any correspondence you receive from us for your records. Only official rule interpretations from the NKCCA office will be permissible at any event. Sorry no exceptions!