USA Cheer and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) have released the high school rules changes for the 2022-23 school year.

Following the NFHS Spirit rules meeting, of which USA Cheer is a voting member, several changes were made to increase safety while allowing new skills to be performed in a safe manner.

Summary of Changes:

2-1-5 Situation A and B: In an effort to be inclusive of all students from varying cultural backgrounds, these situations have been updated to clarify that beads worn in the hair are legal if they are worn in a manner that does not interfere with the safe execution of stunting or tumbling.

2-1-11: Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or upper arm must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than one-half-inch thick if the participant is involved in partner stunts, pyramids or tosses.

3-2-1: A base and top person may share a pom during a mount or dismount from a thigh stand, shoulder sit/straddle, shoulder stand, or prep.

3-3-5: Braced flip connections may now use a single arm of the top person and bracer for the connection.

3-3-5: The bases of braced flip bracers must remain stationary (other than turning with the top person during movement around the bracer)

3-5-4: A toss technique can now be used to load to upright stunts as long as the top does not go significantly higher than the intended skill. Note that the “significantly higher” is in reference to where contact is made between the top and bases.

3-5-5: A non-braced top person in a cradle position or horizontal position at prep level or below may be released to the original bases in a loading position or stunt at any level with no more than a 1-1/4 turn. The number of twists was previously limited to 1/4 turn.

The 2022-22 NFHS/USA Cheer Spirit Rule Book is available for pre-order from USA Cheer and will ship in early June. Rule books may also be available through your state or local association. Pre-order your rule book here.

Look for the 2022-23 High School Rules Course to be available soon at https://usacheer.org/high-school-cheer, with course options for all rules, changes only, and rule interpreters!