OCYFL 2019 Cheer Rules

OVERVIEW: With Cheerleading being the demanding physical activity it is, players are expected to

follow the rules of the team, town, and OCYFL league at all times. The OCYFL rules are primary. Towns

may increase the strength of enforcement, but MAY NOT decrease in any way.

AGE: All Cheerleaders must be 6 years old but not older than 14 by December 1 st and entering 1 st grade

but not the 9 th grade of the current season. Cheerleaders will be placed on teams according to their

grade level. If 6 by 12/1 & in Kindergarten that is OK. ** It is at the discretion of the Cheer Director and

Town Board to allow Mighty Mites younger that 6 to be on the team. Mighty Mites younger than 6

years old must be 5 years old on the 1 st day of school. *Moving divisions must be approved by OCYFL

Board.

Mighty Mites: 1 st & 2 nd Grade. (unless approved by Cheer Director and Town Board).

Division 1: 3 rd & 4 th Grade. Division 2: 5 th & 6 th Grade. Division 3: 7 th & 8 th Grade.

MASCOTS: Mascots are not allowed to participate in the OCYFL league. Only registered players and

coaches and Junior Coaches may be on the practice and playing fields.

ORGANZATION:

A. The Head Coach of each team must be at least 21 years of age.

B. ALL coaches MUST be certified by NAYS.

C. A junior coach may be used to teach cheer and dance. They may assist in teaching stunts

alongside the direction and supervision of the Head Coach and Assistant Coaches.

D. Each town shall have a Board Member Called Director of Cheerleading, who is an equal voting

member of the town’s board and to whom all cheerleading coaches and teams report to.

E. Junior Coaches must be in 9 th grade or higher.

MANDATORY CUTS:

Mandatory cuts can occur for the following reasons: under the discretion of the town cheer director.

A. Cheerleader cannot fulfill registration requirements (see your town registration policy and

rules).

B. Absences: A minimum of 75% of practices must be attended during the pre-season (month of

August) and/or prior to 1 st game. From the start of the school year through the remainder of the

season, the number of allowed absences will be at the discretion of the individual town.

C. Cheerleader refuses to abide by league rules (OCYFL/Town Rules).

D. Once a cheerleader quits, she may not return for that season, for that town or any other town.

E. A transfer of a family moving from one town league will need OCYFL Board Approval.

REGISTRATION:

A. Registration Form-signed by parent/guardian.

B. Medical Release Form-signed by physician that cheerleader is fit to participate.

C. Proof of Age-a copy of birth certificate.

D. Parents Code of Conduct-signed by parent/guardian.

E. Proof of residence, i.e. utility bill or school issued ID (per town by-laws).

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APPEARANCE:

A. All cheerleaders must wear the required uniform as determined by each town in order to cheer

in that week’s game. The uniform is to be worn only at OCYFL organized functions.

B. All hair must be pulled back off the face, neck, and shoulders in a neat high ponytail or tight bun

(if hair is past shoulder length then should be put in a bun).

C. Nails should be kept short and NO nail polish at all while in uniform.

D. NO JEWELRY IS ALLOWED. (With the exception of medical ID or religious medals.) **ALL

PIERCINGS MUST BE REMOVED. CANNOT BE TAPED OR BAND-AID OVER. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NO EARRINGS MEANS NO EARRINGS INCLUDING CLEAR SPORTS

EARRINGS.

E. Makeup is not allowed for all youth functions other than Cheerfest and at the time should be

kept at a tasteful minimum.

F. Megaphones, poms, and small signs are the only props allowed at any time.

SAFETY AND STUNTING:

A. No stunt or pyramids shall be higher than 2 persons.

B. No Tucks or flips of any kind with the exception of self-propelled tumbling.

C. No seat, knee or body drops directly onto floor/ground.

D. Back spotters are required for all stunts. Must be hands on at all time.

E. Front spotters are required for all stunts higher than a thigh stand but can be removed at the

discretion of the Head Coach. Spotters must remain in position until the dismount is complete.

F.

Mighty Mites:

Thigh/Waist Level Stand. Single leg stunts allowed at thigh/waist level. Back spotter and basers

must always have hands on flyer.

Division 1:

Prep Level Stunts. Single leg stunts at prep level braced. Cradle dismount at the discretion of the

Cheer Director.

Division 2:

Extension level stunts. Single leg stunts at prep level. Floor level inversions.

Division 3:

Extension level stunts. Single leg stunts at prep level. Single leg stunts at extension level braced.

Prep level inversions.

G. ALL BASKET TOSSES, ELEVATOR TOSSES, AND SIMILAR MULTI-BASED TOSSES ARE PROHIBITED.

H. All release moves other than a straight ride cradle and leapfrog are prohibited. (A flyer must

always remain in contact with at least 2 of the original stunt group. A tic toc within a pyramid is

allowed provided it is braced on both sides by complete preps.

I. The total number of twists in a dismount from a stunt cannot be greater than one rotation and

is limited to Division 3.

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J. NO stunting of tumbling during rain or on muddy ground. No stunting on hard surfaces.

K. Coaches or Junior coaches are not allowed to participate in stunting at any time.

L. All Tumbling must be self-propelled, hand to floor contact with the highest element being a back

tuck. There is no tumbling after a back tuck. In general, all tumbling is at the discretion of the

Cheer Director but may not exceed the above levels.

PRACTICES:

A. Pre-season practice shall not begin until the designated start date of the OCYFL on August 1 st .

B. At least 15 minutes of warm-up exercise shall be included prior to practice and games including

Cheerfest.

C. Practices shall not exceed the following: No more than 10 hours per week during pre-season.

After pre-season practices are limited to 6 hours a week. No more than 2 hours of practice may

be scheduled on any one day.

D. No practice, stunting or participation at practice/games without a Head Coach or Certified

Coached in attendance.

E. Water and bathroom breaks will be given during practices as a squad.

GAMES:

Each town will provide a safe, convenient area to cheer, free from fan interference. All teams must be

ready to go within 15 minutes of the start of the game and must be on the field prior to coin toss.

A. The home team will welcome the visiting team with a Hello Cheer first. Then the visiting team

will do their Hello Cheer.

B. A coach, not a junior coach, will travel with the team during the Hello Cheer.

C. Half time shall be shared by both cheer teams. The visiting team will use the field first for their

routine. Each team’s performance should not exceed 2:30 minutes. Each team will watch each

other’s performance, cheer and support each other.

D. Remaining time at half time will be spent with coach regrouping for the next half of the game.

E. No trips to the concession stand or wandering the field during the game or half-time. Eating in

uniform is highly discouraged by OCYFL but will remain under the discretion of the individual

town Cheer Director.

F. During an injury of a player of either team all cheerleaders will stop and take a knee while the

player is administered to.

G. A cheerleader’s job is not only to cheer, it’s to observe the game, get involved, and know where

their team stands.

H. Rain or shine, all squads cheer at all games.

I. At the completion of the game congratulatory handshakes will be done Prior to any traditional

spiriting.

CAMPS:

All cheerleaders associated with OCYFL may attend camp as an individual, group, team with or without

their coach. Camp is defined as a meeting of one or more training sessions provided by an outside

organization. Camps are optional and not a requirement to be part of OCYFL.

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CHEERFEST:

All regular season rules will apply in addition to those set by the Cheerfest Committee, This is an

Exhibition ONLY. Cheerfest is held in early November.

COMPETIONS:

The OCYFL will not sponsor any competition team. There are NO competitions allowed within the

regular season. Towns may attend competitions AFTER the full regular season including playoffs, super

bowl and Cheerfest as a private league and must provide their own insurance from the OCYFL. The

OCYFL rules should be the base rules all follow with careful attention to the completion’s host ‘s rules.

INFRACTIONS:

At the town level:

At the 1 st infraction, Cheer Coaches will be given a verbal warning.

At the 2 nd infraction, Cheer Coach will be given a written warning and a one game suspension.

At the 3 rd infraction, the situation will be referred to OCYFL Board.

CHEERFEST:

At Cheerfest, any Coach and team that does not abide by the 2019 Cheer & Stunt Rules, will be referred

to the OCYFL Board for suspension from coaching.

Revised August, 2019