National Federation of State High School Associations

[email protected]

803-446-6513 cell 803-798-0120 office www.nfhs.org

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

National Federation of State High School Associations 100-year celebration

http://www.schsl.org/2013/rememberingwhen.html

Required courses –

concussion management & heat acclimatization www.nfhslearn.com

Concussion bill Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

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COMPETITIVE CHEER 2013-14

June 1 - July 27, 2013 ..................................

 Can practice  Can participate in 10 days of school competition & team camps (days spent at camp count toward the 10 days)  Nothing mandatory July 28 - August 1, 2013 ..............................

– dead week  Cannot practice and/or attend team camp(s)  Can continue to condition and strength train August 2, 2013 .............................................

September 2, 2013.......................................

October 25, 2013 .........................................

Qualifiers November 11, 2013......................................

– AAAA upper November 12, 2013......................................

November 13, 2013......................................

November 14, 2013...................................... – AAA lower River Bluff HS – Statewide AA Last Competition Closed Season – Dec. 8, 2013 .................. 

Cannot practice – cannot do any skill training

Can continue to condition and strength train   Can coach an outside team (75% rule must apply) Can use school facilities and/or equipment if coaching an outside team December 9 - February 2, 2014 ...................  Can practice as much as you like    Nothing mandatory No outside scrimmages or competition No tryouts February 3 - March 9, 2014 .......................... 

Cannot practice – cannot do any skill training

   Can continue to condition and strength train Can coach an outside team (75% rule must apply) Can use school facilities and/or equipment if coaching an outside team March 10 – April 4, 2014 ..............................  Can practice as much as you like    Nothing mandatory No outside scrimmages or competition No tryouts April 5 – May 31, 2014 .................................

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COMPETITIVE CHEER

1. The League will sponsor a championship in each classification that has at least twelve of its schools participating. If this requirement is not met, schools may enter the tournament of the next higher classification. 2. The head coach must attend a League sponsored rules clinic. All coaches must verify with their principal completion of the online concussion and head acclimatization courses found at www.nfhslearn.com.

3.

IMPORTANT DATES:

First Date for Practice .......................................... August 2 First Date for Competition ................................... September 2 Number of Contests Permitted ............................ Eight (8) per school (6 Sub-varsity) Deadline for Notification of Entry ........................ October 25 Required minimum number of contests .............. Two Qualifying ............................................................. November 11 - 14 State Competition ................................................ November 23 at USC Colonial Life Arena Eligibility Due ....................................................... 7 days before first competition Spring Practice and/or team selection ................ 15 days permitted (April 5 - May 31) 4. Competitive season ends when a team is eliminated from a qualifier or the state competition. The High School League Executive Committee must approve any exceptions. 5. The National Federation Spirit Rule Book and the South Carolina High School League Competitive Cheer Manual will be used for all South Carolina High School League competitions. Please visit www.schsl.org and click on Competitive Cheer for the cheer manual. 6. The South Carolina High School League strongly recommends that all competitive cheer coaches take the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors safety certification course. 7. Each school may enter one team. Members of the competitive team must be a member of a support cheerleading squad during the school year. All participants must be submitted on an eligibility report to the High School League. Substitutions may be made at any time. Spotters that help within the confines of the routine must be team members. Safety spotters will be provided. Any team having more than one male will be considered a coed team. A state championship for coed cheer will be provided if 16 or more schools enter state competition.

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STATE COMPETITION REGULATIONS

a. Competitive Area: b. Order of Competition: A matted surface with a 38' x 38' minimum will serve as the competitive area. The routine must be performed within the boundaries of the competitive area. Only coaches, competitors, and officials are permitted in the competitive area. The order of competition for the state finals will be determined by the South Carolina High School League. Upon the judge's signal, the routine must begin within thirty seconds. There will be a five-point deduction for delay of the meet. c. Procedures: The announcer prior to their performance will call teams to the competitive area. Three teams will be announced each time - "Performing", "On-Deck", and "In the Hole". 9. Ticket Prices: $6.00 $10.00 Qualifiers State Finals

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State Laws

 Home School Participation –

must have been home schooled at least one year sometime in the student’s life prior to participation

 Charter School Participation  Governor’s School Participation

BACKGROUND: Long Day / Short Day

National Federation of State

(Endorsed by SCATA, Ad Hoc SCHSL Preseason Acclimatization Committee)

In the summer of 2009 the Inter-association Task Force for Preseason Secondary School Athletics* recommended preseason heat-acclimatization guidelines for secondary school athletic programs to minimize the risk of heat illness during preseason football practice.

PURPOSE:

The intent of the following “exposure-based proposal” is to promote an acclimatization and recovery model for SCHSL Fall sports consistent with the Inter-association Task Force guidelines that also allows coaches to appropriately prepare their teams and fits into the current SCHSL’s schedule.

PRACTICE TIMELINE:



Days 1-5:

3 hours of Practice 

Day 6-14:

Must alternate days

Long Practice Day

and

Short Practice Day

o

Long Day

   : 5 hours of practice permitted Divide the time to best benefit your program Practices must be separated by 2-hours of continuous rest

Long Day

can follow a

Rest Day

(even if the day before the Rest Day was Long o Day)

Short Day

: 3 hours of practice permitted  Divide the time to best benefit your program 

Day 15+: No restrictions on Practice NOTES:



First practice permitted: Friday, August 2, 2013.

 Practice times (including warm-up, stretching, cool-down time, conditioning) shall not exceed 3 hours.   All practices occurring Days 1-14 must be documented to show compliance. All athletes must complete Days 1-5 of the practice timeline before being allowed to participate in more than 3 hours of practice in a day.  Weight room activities do not count as practice time, but must be separated from practice by at least 2 hours of continuous rest to allow for recovery. o Exception: No continuous rest period is required if weight room activities are counted as a part of the day’s allotted practice time.  A Walk-through is allowed and does not count against practice time. Walk-through is defined as a teaching opportunity with athletes: o not wearing protective equipment     o o not using sports-related equipment participating in an indoor, climate-controlled environment. Must have a

Rest Day

after 6 consecutive practice days. Scrimmages permitted on either a Long Day or Short Day. A scrimmage will count as 3 hours. All athletes must have a pre-participation physical exam before athletic participation. If weather/lightning postpones practice in progress, the practice may resume after a warm-up (20 minute maximum) and the remainder of allotted practice time may be completed.

*Inter-association Task Force includes – Gatorade Sports Science, Amer. College of Sports Med., NATA, NSCA, US Army Research institute, Amer.Orthopaedic Society for Sports Med., Amer. Medical Society for Sports Med., Amer. Academy of Pediatrics*

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

National Federation of State High School Associations Major Rules Changes Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-4-1

ART. 1 . . . A base must not: b. Hold objects in a hand that is supporting a top person.

Rule 2-4-3

A bracer must not provide primary support for a top person.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-4-7

 A spotter is required for stunts in which the supporting hand(s) of the base(s) is (are) above the head, except for the following: i. Extended triple-base straddle sit provided the top person has both hands in contact with a post.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-4-7 Legal

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Rule 2-5-2 a

 ART. 2 . . . A top person may be inverted in partner stunts in which the base of support remains below an extended position provided that: a. In a downward inversion:

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

2. These bases must maintain contact with the top person’s upper body (waist or above, including arms) until the top person is no longer inverted or his/her hands are on the performance surface. 3. The top person cannot go to an inverted position on the performance surface from a prep position or higher.

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

1 Rule 2-5-2 a 2

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Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-5-2 b

ART 2 . . . A top person may be inverted in partner stunts in which the base of support remains below an extended position provided that: b. When a top person is inverted at or passing through shoulder level: 1. At least one base must be in a position to protect the head/neck/shoulder area of the top person. 2. This base must maintain contact with the top person’s upper body (waist or above, including arms) until the top person is no longer inverted. 3. An additional spotter must be in a position to protect the head/neck/shoulder area of the top person. This person may assist but is not required to maintain constant contact.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-2 b

Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-5-2 c

 ART. 2 . . . A top person may be inverted in partner stunts in which the base of support remains below an extended position provided that: c. In all other inversions, including those coming from the performing surface: 1. At least one base or spotter is in a position to protect the head/neck/shoulder area of the top person. 2. This base or spotter must maintain contact with the top person’s upper body (waist or above, including arms) until the top person is no longer inverted.

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-2 c

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Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-2 c

1 2 3 | 18 |

Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-2 c

1 2

Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-2 c

1 2 3

Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-5-3

 ART. 3 . . . Suspended forward and backward rolls/flips are permitted provided the following conditions are met: a. The top person begins on the performing surface or in a stunt shoulder height or below.

b. Two bases or two posts control the top person in suspended forward or backward rolls with continuous hand-to-hand/arm contact to a stunt, two-person cradle, loading position or the performing surface. Exception: One base or post may control the top person in a suspended forward roll/flip with continuous hands-to-hands contact to a two person cradle.

c. During the roll/flip, the feet of the top person must be released.

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-3 1 2 3

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Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-3 1 2 3 Legal

Majo r Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-3 1 2 3

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Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-4 a & b

 ART. 4 . . . Braced forward or backward flips in a pyramid are allowed provided all the following conditions are met: a. The top person begins in a multi-base loading position, stunt, cradle or on the performing surface. b. The top person maintains continuous hand-to-hand/arm contact with a bracer on each side. The bracers are in preps with a spotter (no shoulder stand, shoulder-sit or thigh-stand bracers). The top person is between or in front of bracers.

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-5-4 c & d

 ART. 4 . . . Braced forward or backward flips in a pyramid are allowed provided all the following conditions are met: c. At least three catchers (one base and two spotters or two bases and one spotter) who were the original bases/spotters catch the top person in a loading position, stunt or cradle, or assist the top person to the performing surface. If the flip ends in a cradle, the bracers may release the top person once she/he begins to descend and is no longer inverted.

d. The top person ends in a non-inverted position.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-4 e & f

 ART. 4 . . . Braced forward or backward flips in a pyramid are allowed provided all the following conditions are met: e. The top person does not perform more than one and one quarter (1¼) flipping rotations and does not twist.

f. The bases/catchers remain stationary except as necessary for safety adjustments.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-4 1 2 3 Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-5-4 1 2 3 Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-6-4

A top person may be moved from a vertical position to face-up or face-down horizontal position (straight body or cradle) provided all the following conditions are met: a. The top person maintains contact with at least one original base or spotter.

b. At least two catchers and/or bases catch the upper body of the top person.

c. The catchers must be to the side or front of the person(s) moving the top person.

d. When the catchers are not the original bases, they remain close to the original bases and are in place prior to the movement to the horizontal position.

e. When the catchers are not the original bases and the top person begins or passes through an extended overhead position, three catchers are required.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-6-4 1 2 Legal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-6-4 1 2 Illegal

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-6-4 1 2 3 Legal

Major Spirit Rules Revisions

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Rule 2-7-1 a NEW

ART. 1 . . . In all release stunts and tosses: a. The top person must be braced or cradled except in a quick toss, helicopter or log roll or when a top person in a cradle or horizontal position is at shoulder level or below.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-7-6 b & c

b. In a multi-base log roll, the top person may begin and end in a face-up or face-down position.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-7-7 b

ART. 7 . . . Release transitions are legal provided all of the following conditions are met throughout the transition: b. The top person maintains hand-to-hand/arm contact with at least one bracer. Exception: A multi-base non braced (free standing) tick tock that begins at shoulder level is permitted.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-7-10 New

 The previous rule 2-7-10 was deleted as it is no longer necessary. The following was added as the new rule 2-7-10: ART. 10 . . . A top person in a horizontal position shoulder height or below or in a cradle may be released to a loading position or stunt shoulder height or below.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-9-3

 Dismounts to the performing surface from shoulder height or above that involve a skill (e.g. toe touch, twist, etc.) require assistance from two bases or a base and spotter. This assistance must be sufficient to slow the momentum of the top person.

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Major Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-10-2

 Tumbling while holding props is illegal except for a forward roll, backward roll or holding pom(s) in the free hand during a one-hand cartwheel.

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Major Editorial Spirit Rules Revisions

Rule 2-1-15

 ART 15 . . . Each state association may, in keeping with applicable laws, authorize exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual participants with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as those individuals with unique and extenuating circumstances. The accommodations should not fundamentally alter the sport, heighten risk to the athlete/others or place opponents at a disadvantage.

National Federation of State High School Associations Points of Emphasis Pages 69 & 70 Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

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2013-14 Points of Emphasis

Concussions – The understanding of sports related concussions has evolved dramatically in recent years. We have learned that young athletes are particularly vulnerable to the effects of concussion. An athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from participation and shall not resume participation until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. Look to your state high school association and the NFHS for education regarding prevention and treatment of concussions.

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2013-14 Points of Emphasis

Overuse Injuries

– Overuse injuries are a common problem characterized by irritation to a body part. Cutting back on the intensity, duration and frequency of specific activities/skills will help to minimize the potential for overuse injuries to athletes. Headstands, headspring flips, back handsprings, or jumps are examples of skills that have the potential for injury due to overuse.

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