GENERAL First Date for Practice ....................................July 31 First Date for Competition..............................September 1 Number of Contests Permitted ......................Eight (8) per school (6 JV) Deadline for Notification of Entry ..................October 23 Required minimum number of contests.........Two Qualifying.......................................................November 9-12 State Competition ..........................................November 21 Eligibility Due..................................................7 days before first competition Spring Practice/Team Selection ....................15 days permitted (April 5 -May 31) 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. The National Federation Spirit Rule Book and the High School League Competitive Cheerleading Manual will be used for all High School League competitions. The High School League strongly recommends that all competitive cheer coaches take the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors safety certification course. SQUAD RESTRICTIONS The maximum number of participating squad members are as follows: AAAA -24 AAA -24 AA -20 A -20 COMPETITIVE AREA 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 SCHSL pass holding coaches, competitors, and officials are permitted in the competitive area. UNIFORMS All team members must be dressed in the adopted school uniform. Mascots will not be a part of the judged routine. 5 points will be deducted per uniform violation (10 point maximum). INJURY The host school is responsible for the availability of medical services. First aid and medical supplies should be made available in case of injury. The tournament director is responsible for emergency medical telephone numbers such as paramedics. Ideally, a physician should be present or on call. If an injury occurs during the routine, the head judge shall stop the competition until the injured person is removed from the competitive area. A team with an injured person will be given the opportunity to perform the entire routine at the end of their classification competition. Using the professional judgment of the medical personnel at the site, the head judge will not allow an unconscious or apparently unconscious player to return to competition without written authorization from a physician. Contestants, who are bleeding, have an open wound, or an excessive amount of blood on the uniform may not participate in any event until appropriate treatment has been administered. PROCEDURES Teams will be called to the competitive area by the announcer prior to their performance. Three teams will be announced each time - "Performing", "On-Deck", and "In the Hole." A practice/warm-up area should be made available. Schools should furnish their own equipment and music for use in the practice/warm-up area. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please see the SCHSL handbook for the important information on the following: .. Academic Eligibility of Athletes .. Scouting .. Sportsmanship .. Mandatory Competitive Cheer Clinics for Coaches .. Scholar Athletes for Competitive Cheerleaders .. Out of Season Practice STATE QUALIFYING All Classes Qualifying Regulations Twelve schools will qualify for the state championship competition. The number of schools that qualify from the upper and the lower state competition will be proportional to the number of schools who compete in the upper and the lower state competition. NOTE: For example, if 15 schools enter the upper state qualifier and 5 schools enter the lower state qualifier, then 15/20 or 9 slots will be given to the upper state and 3 slots to the lower state. The High School League will adjust the number of qualifiers from the upper and lower state if the proportional relationships do not clearly determine the number of qualifiers. This will be done with the best interest of the student athletes in mind. NOTE: For example, if 10 schools enter from the upper state qualifier and 12 schools enter the lower state qualifier, the 10/22 or 5.5 slots will have been earned by the upper state and 12/22 or 6.5 slots will have been earned by the lower state. In this situation, the HSL will be empowered to award 6 to the upper state and 7 to the lower state. ORDER OF COMPETITION The High School League will determine the order of competition for the qualifiers and the state finals. TEAMS Each school may enter one team. Members of the competitive team must have been a member of a support cheerleading squad during the year. All participants must be listed and properly certified on an eligibility report to the High School League. The performing cheerleaders may be anyone certified on the eligibility report. 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. AWARDS Region Each region will determine the awards to be given. State Trophies -1st and 2nd place team trophies will be awarded in each classification in the state finals. Medals -Individual medals will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd place team members and coach in each classification. JUDGES REQUIREMENTS Judges must be registered and certified with the S. C. High School League. Judges will use the National Federation Spirit Rule Book as the official rules of competitive cheering. The High School League Office will assign Judges for Qualifying and the State Finals. All decisions of the judges are final. Regular Season: A minimum of three judges is recommended for regular season and invitational tournaments. State Finals: Five judges will evaluate performances at the state finals. High & low scores will be dropped. Fees: Judges 1 to 15 teams ..................... $50.00 per judge plus mileage 16 -above .......................... $75.00 per judge plus mileage Mileage is 45 cents per mile. REMINDER ALL CLASSES Notification of Entry form is due OCTOBER 23, 2009 This form can be found on the League website under AD Notebook. www.schsl.org AACCA Safety Workshops and Test April 25, 2009 League Office, 10:00 am -3:00 pm May 16, 2009 League Office, 10:00 am -3:00 pm June 13, 2009 League Office, 10:00 am -3:00 pm July 28, 2009 SCACA Convention, 1:00 pm -5:30 pm Sept. 13, 2009 League Office, 1:30 pm -6:00 pm Register on line www.aacca.org Contact: Elaine Elliott 803-359-9488 or elainelliott@aol.com CHEER JUDGE TRAINING August 15, 2009 10:00 am League Office ROUTINE EVALUATION TIME The length of the routine shall be a maximum of two minutes-thirty seconds (2:30). Teams may begin from any position on the mat and the time of the routine will begin with the first word, musical sound, or movement of any team member and will stop with the last word or movement of any team member. If the routine concludes with a pyramid, the final dismount is not timed. There will be a maximum of one minute-thirty seconds (1:30) of music allowed in the routine. MUSIC CD’s of the music must be furnished by the participating schools, be production-quality, be well labeled, and be presented to the sound technician at the competition. Schools must have backup music available. Working with the sound technician, the coach/representative for the team is responsible for starting and stopping the music during the routine. In the event your routine is interrupted due to failure of host equipment, facilities, etc., you may restart your routine from the beginning of the routine. (SCHSL officials reserve the right to stop a performance due to injury). TIME INFRACTIONS Time infractions occur for overtime of competition and violation of length of music. A one-time five points deduction will be assessed for each time infraction. ROUTINE REQUIREMENTS The routine must include cheer and dance. There will be a maximum of one minute-thirty seconds (1:30) of music allowed in the routine. The length of the routine shall be a maximum of two minutes-thirty seconds (2:30). Tumbling skills are only permitted within the body of the routine. Tumbling cannot be performed beyond the competitive area. Props are not allowed with the exception of poms, sign, flags, and megaphones. A prop is an object that can be manipulated or used as a base (except an unfolded flat mat). Non-team members may place poms on the competitive area before routine begins, but may not assist during the routine. SCORING Deductions will be made for the following: Safety violations .............................................10 points each occurrence (per judge) Boundary violation.......................................... 5 points for each occurrence (10 pt. max.) Improper uniforms.......................................... 5 points for each occurrence (10 pt. max.) Time infractions -overtime of routine............. 5 points -length of music.................. 5 points Unsportsmanlike conduct by any team member/coach minimum 5 points per judge TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE 1. Using Five Judges a) If a tie occurs, all judges’ scores are totaled. b) If a tie still remains, the head judge will determine the ranking of the tied teams. South Carolina High School League PO Box 211575 Columbia, SC 29221-6575 803-798-0120 Fax: 803-731-9679 www.schsl.org NOTIFICATION OF ENTRY FOR COMPETITIVE CHEER (Due on or before OCTOBER 23, 2009) SCHOOL Please indicate below whether or not you will be competing for the State Competitive Cheer Championship. We will compete for the State Competitive Cheer Championship. Name of Cheer Coach: Cheer Coach E-mail: Person completing this report: Date: This form can be found on the League web site, www.schsl.org, under AD Notebook. COMPETITIVE CHEER 2009-2010 YEAR OUTLINE April 5 -May 31 .........................Spring Practice/Team Selection (15 days for total program) June 1 -July 25.........................Can practice or attend camp as much as you like. July 26 -30................................DEAD PERIOD Cannot practice or attend team camp. Cannot practice during the dead period for a camp beginning on/or after July 26. July 31.......................................First Practice September 1..............................First Competition October 23 ................................Deadline for Notification of Entry (All Classes) Qualifiers November 9...............................Class AAAA Upper -Northwestern High School 6:00 pm November 10.............................Class AAAA Lower -White Knoll High School 6:00 pm November 11.............................Class AAA Upper -Dorman High School 7:30 pm November 11.............................Class AA Upper -Dorman High School 6:00 pm November 12.............................Classes AAA Lower -Airport High School 6:00 pm November 12.............................Classes AA Lower -Airport High School 7:30 pm Season is over if you do not qualify for State. November 21.............................State Finals -Carolina Coliseum Time: 11:00 am (Class AA) November 22 -April 4, 2010 .....No competitive cheer practice