Legality of Stunts

[Flipn4OHS]

HaHa Grad! Thanks Trojan!

[lakinre]

I have looked at the TSSAA regulations and found nothing that says that "flipping basket tosses" are illegal to perform at games. I am aware that in competition they are illegal, but the only thing I found in the general cheerleading regulations for football and basketball games about stunting was that pyramids can be no more than 2 people high. If flipping baskets are legal...here is another question.. if some guys from a cheerleading gym that coach me were to come to a basketball game and during a timeout or in between a quarter or something throw me in a basket is that okay? Or is there a rule against that, since they are not on the cheerleading squad. That might sound like a stupid question, but I really have no idea. Our student section just really gets into our tumbling and stunting between quarters and timeouts, and I thought it'd be cool if they came and we could put up some really cool baskets to get everyone excited. Let me know if you know anything PLEASE!!!

 

Twisting/Flipping stunts or baskets are illegal on a gym floor UNLESS your coach is certified, in which case twisting is okay, but not flipping. Flips in tumbling up to layouts are allowed without certification, however once you start doing fulls/doubles, they are illegal without being certified as well. All flipping baskets are illegal at the high school level.

 

As for bringing other people in, I know you can, my boyfriend used to come on the floor to stunt with me during halftime so I didn't have to tumble. However, it is NOT advised. We only did that because my team was all-girl and we wished to co-ed stunt. If you are bringing guys on to do something with you that your normal base group should be able to do though, such as basket tosses or stunts requiring more than one base, it looks bad on your entire team, along with the fact that it may make your team feel like you want to show off as an individual in a team sport. Just something to keep in mind...

[PianoGirl]

Actually, basket tosses of any kind are "illegal" according to TSSAA rules UNLESS you have the proper type of mat. The only types of basket tosses allowed even with the proper mats are those in which the flyer remains in an upright position - toe touch, pike, etc. Her head is not allowed to be inverted below her waist. TSSAA follows the safety guidelines of AACCA, the American Association of Cheer Coaches and Advisors. Remember the college girl a few years ago who was shown over and over on tv leaving the gym on a stretcher with her neck in a brace, but still cheering? After that very public injury, there was a "knee-jerk" reaction to all the bad press. As a result, TSSAA and AACCA really pushed hard for enforcement of better safety precautions. A certified coach is actually not a requirement, since most cheer coaches are usually drafted by the administration because no one else wants the job. However, it should be a requirement due to the possible injuries involved. As someone stated, any pyramid over two people high is not allowed on the high school level. The base(s) of every flyer must be touching the ground. A high school cheerleader is not allowed to be inverted (head lower than her waist) if she is more than shoulder-level high. For example, you could do a forward inverted roll from say a thigh stand, but not from an elevator.

 

As for bringing other people in, there's no ruling on that whatsover. What you do need to consider is the legality, however. IF something were to happen, your school and/or coach would still be held responsible. If I were your coach and/or administrator, I wouldn't be willing to take that chance unless I knew the ones involved and was aware of their skills. I've had some former cheerleaders who stunted at games when they came in from college, but I was well aware of their capabilities. When we had college squads come in, I would only allow my squad members to stunt with them if their parents had been told ahead of time. Even then, I wouldn't have been covered legally if something had happened, but I always watched to see what the college kids were doing and made sure their abilities worked with what I knew my squad could do.

 

I retired from coaching after nearly 15 years, but if you have rule questions, you should always look in the TSSAA rulebook, or contact AACCA.org. Your coach should have a copy of the rulebook. They are required to attend rules meetings or a certified camp each year where the rules are explained.

 

 

Twisting/Flipping stunts or baskets are illegal on a gym floor UNLESS your coach is certified, in which case twisting is okay, but not flipping. Flips in tumbling up to layouts are allowed without certification, however once you start doing fulls/doubles, they are illegal without being certified as well. All flipping baskets are illegal at the high school level.

 

As for bringing other people in, I know you can, my boyfriend used to come on the floor to stunt with me during halftime so I didn't have to tumble. However, it is NOT advised. We only did that because my team was all-girl and we wished to co-ed stunt. If you are bringing guys on to do something with you that your normal base group should be able to do though, such as basket tosses or stunts requiring more than one base, it looks bad on your entire team, along with the fact that it may make your team feel like you want to show off as an individual in a team sport. Just something to keep in mind...