The NFHS Spirit Rules Committee made several changes to the 2023-24 season rules. These changes primarily consisted of clarifying and consolidating existing rules and making two changes that allow for additional skills.
Summary of Changes:
- โHanging pyramidโ has been changed to โhanging stuntโ to more accurately reflect the skills being performed.
- 3.3.5: Clarified that bracers of a braced flip who are only in contact with a foot will follow the same requirements as other release bracers, i.e. two bases without a spot or one base with a spot. Bracers who are connected to the hand/arm of the top person are still required to be in double based preps with a spotter.
- 3.3.6.a: Inversion releases to dismounts, loading positions or stunts, which had different twisting limitations, have been consolidated to one rule that will allow for up to one twist.
- 3.5.4: Tosses may now land in horizontal stunts in addition to landing in vertical stunts. The existing height restriction that the toss cannot go significantly higher than the basesโ hands on the catch is still in place.
- 3.5.6: A half-twisting helicopter can now use three bases/catchers instead of four. The requirement for someone at the head/shoulder area for the release and catch is still in place.
- 3.5.7: The log roll rule has been deleted. The rules regarding horizontal releases in rule 3.4.5 has been modified over recent years, which makes the log roll rules no longer necessary.
NFHS Spirit Rules books are available through your state high school activities or athletics association or through your state cheer coaches association. Books may also be ordered through USA Cheer. Pre-orders will be available soon, and books are usually available for shipping in early June.
USA Cheer adopted the NFHS Spirit Rules for high school cheerleading beginning in the 2020-21 school year . USA Cheer has one additional rule restriction for junior high and middle schools prohibiting basket tosses or similar tosses.ย USA Cheer has one vote on the nine-member committee.
Click here for the full press release from the NFHS
Order Your 2023-24 NFHS/USA Cheer Spirit Rules Book! โ USA Cheer