NCA COMPETITION RULE BOOK FOR SCHOOL TEAMS

1 Coaches,This Rulebook has been updated to include minor clarifications and grammatical errors. A summary is included below. 1. TIME OUT CHEER AND FIGHT SONG: No twisting dismounts from stunts. Twisting into stunts is allowed. (pg. 15)2. FIGHT SONG: Performances can incorporate up to three (3) eight counts of skills (stunts, tumbling, and/or jumps). The three (3) eight counts must be consecutive. During the Fight Song, the three (3) 8 counts may be repeated if performed identically. The three 8 counts of skills includes loading and dismounting from stunts (unless routine finishes in stunt/pyramid). ( )3. PERFORMANCE DIVISION JUDGING RANGES: jump combinations are defined as continuous movement between jumps. Jump combinations do not necessarily require a whip approach. (pg.)

2 4) If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to email me at CarrierVice PresidentNCA & NDAV arsity Spirit BrandsOffice: : COMPETITION RULE BOOKFOR SCHOOL TEAMSNCA SENIOR & JUNIOR high SCHOOLNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPD allas, TexasJanuary 23-24, 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTSNCA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE THE ARBITRATOR AND INTERPRETER OF ALL rules COVERED IN THIS Scoring Process 2015 - 2016 NCA SCHOOL Judging RangesEligibility Policy Division Violations Inappropriate Choreography, Music and Outfitting Interruption of PerformancePerformance Area Legality VerificationHow to Qualify: NCA Senior & Junior high SCHOOL National Championship 2015 - 2016 high SCHOOL & Junior high Division Guidelines New This Season Music InformationJudging PanelsCode of Conduct2015 - 2016 NCA SCHOOL Performance and Game Time Divisions 2015 - 2016 NCA SCHOOL rules and RestrictionsPerformance Routine RequirementsPerformance Game Day Divisions Game Time General RulesCompetition AreaGame Time Routine Requirements and Skill RestrictionsNCA Game Time ScoringGame Time National Champion Awards NCA Best Cheerleader NCA Group Stunt24555667899101010111213131414151717 18182015 - 2016 AACCA SAFETY RULESFor the most up-to-date AACCA Safety rules for the 2015 - 2016 championship season.

3 Please visit SCHOOL CHEER RULE book 1 REVISED SCHOOL COMPETITION rules SCHOOL CHEER RULE book 2 NCA fervently encourages and supports sportsmanship, integrity and fairness among participants and coaches in all facets of cheerleading including, but not limited to, team/squad practice and performance. We strive to uphold the highest standards and promote this to the best of our abilities, and believe that coaches are instrumental in promoting and instilling this among their respective team SCORING PROCESSThe scoring process for NCA Championships will be on a 100 point scale. Scores for each category will range from 0-10, including tenths of points (example: , , etc.). These scores will be entered into a computer that will add the scores.

4 All point deductions and/or penalties will be deducted from the subtotal to get the FINAL SCORE. Your Day 1 score will count as 25% of your final score. Your Day 2 score will account for the other 75%. TEAMS will compete in reverse order from how they placed in prelims ( squads with the highest score after prelims in a particular division will compete last in that division on finals).DEDUCTION SYSTEMBUILDING BOBBLE - .25 Examples: Stunts and Pyramids that almost drop/fall, but are saved Blatant incomplete twisting cradles (landing on stomach, etc.) Knee or hand of base touching ground during cradle or dismountBUILDING FALL - .50 Examples: Cradling, dismounting, or bringing down a stunt or pyramid early (not timing issues) Base falling to the floor during a cradle or dismountATHLETE FALL.

5 25 Examples: Hands down in tumbling or jumps Knees down in tumbling or jumps Blatant incomplete tumbling twist(s) Multiple body parts touch the floor in tumbling or jumps Drops to the floor during individual skills (tumbling, jumps, etc.)MAJOR BUILDING FALL - .75 Examples: Falls from individual stunt, pyramid or tosses to the ground (top person lands on ground or multiple bases land on ground)MAXIMUM - multiple deductions should be assessed during an individual stunt or toss (by a single group), or during a pyramid collapse, then the sum of those deductions will not be greater than RESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE THE ARBITRATOR AND INTERPRETER OF ALL rules COVERED IN THIS SCHOOL COMPETITION RULESTIME LIMIT VIOLATIONST eams that exceed 2:30 will be subject to the following deduction: 1 - 5 seconds over time will result in a.

6 5 deduction 6 or more seconds over time will result in a deductionThe routine time limit is 2:30. Routines that exceed this time limit run a risk of being assessed a deduction. Judges will usea stop watch or similar device to measure the official time. Acknowledging the potential variance caused by human reactionspeed and sound system time variations, judges will not issue a deduction until their stopwatch/clock shows a time thatexceeds 2 VIOLATIONS Building skills performed out of level will be issued a deduction. Tumbling skills performed out of level and violation of any other General Safety Guidelines will be issued a . CONDUCT DEDUCTIONWhen a coach is in discussion with an official, other coaches, athletes and parents/spectators they must maintain proper professional conduct.

7 Failing to do so may result in a deduction, removal of coach, or VIOLATIONSThe performance surface is defined as the 42 x 54 COMPETITION floor. The COMPETITION boundary is defined as the performance surface and any immediate adjacent safety border. A .25 deduction will be assessed per occurrence for an athlete that makes contact with both feet outside the COMPETITION boundary. Stepping on, or just past the white tape is not a boundary NUMBER OF ATHLETEST eams that compete with fewer than the minimum number of athletes required for that division may receive a deduction or be MIDRIFF DEDUCTIONNCA has adopted the NFHS ruling that states: when standing at attention, apparel must cover the midriff. If a SCHOOL or recreational team is found to be in violation of this rule, the team will receive a deduction off of their final score.

8 SCHOOL CHEER RULE book 3 NCA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE THE ARBITRATOR AND INTERPRETER OF ALL rules COVERED IN THIS NCA SCHOOL JUDGING RANGESThe following grid outlines the point ranges for specific skill sets performed by MOST of the team. Skills performed by LESS than most of the team will move the score into a lower range. In each category, most of the team must master each listed skill unless the skills are separated by the word or. MOST is defined as approximately 75% of the = Back HandspringJUMP COMBINATIONS = Defined as continuous movement between jumps. Jump combinations do not necessarily require a whip approachNOTE: Elementary & Junior high /Middle SCHOOL TEAMS must follow the additional AACCA Restrictions located in the NCA Rule DIFFICULTYPYRAMID DIFFICULTYTUMBLING DIFFICULTY5 - 65 - 65 - 6 Extension Preps orOne Leg Variations Below Prep LevelPyramids involvingExtended Two Leg Stuntsand/or One Leg Stunts at Prep LevelCartwheels orRound-offs orForward/Backward Rolls6 - 76 - 76 - 7 Extensions orOne Leg Variations at Prep LevelPyramids involvingExtended One Leg StuntsRound-off BHS orStanding BHS7 - 87 - 87 - 8 Extended One Leg StuntsRequired Dismount.

9 Single Twist from Two Leg StuntsPyramids involving Extended One Leg Stunts with Multiple Transitional Sequences, at leastone of which is a release pyramid transitionand Multiple Extended StructuresRound-off BHS Back Tucks orRound-off Tucks orStanding BHS Series orJump/BHS Combinations8 - 98 - 98 - 9 Elite SkillsSingle Twist from One Leg Stunts orExtended Stunt Sequence performedby a Single Base, UnassistedPyramids involving Extended One Leg Stunts with Multiple Transitional Sequences, at least one of which is a Braced flip Transition and Multiple Extended StructuresLayouts orStanding Back Tucks orStanding BHS Back TucksADVANCED MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE MAX SCORE Stunt Skills* include (but are not limited to): Full up to extended position Release moves that land in an extended position Tick tock variations Toss extended stunts Other unique mounts and transitions of similar difficulty level*Advanced Divisions onlyJUMP DIFFICULTYT eams will be scored in the following ranges:Novice.

10 / / Single jumps / / Double jump combinations / / Triple jump combinations with no variety / / Triple jump combinations with variety / / Quad jump combinations or triple jumpcombinations and a single jump, no variety / / Quad jump combinations or triple jumpcombinations and a single jump, must include varietyTOSSEST osses are not required, but may be rewarded in the Pyramid DANCEThis category will be judged based on a team s ability to incorporate transitions, level changes, footwork and floorwork, with a variety of visual movement in their dance with a high level of technique throughout the routine will also be : : : SCHOOL COMPETITION RULESNCA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE THE ARBITRATOR AND INTERPRETER OF ALL rules COVERED IN THIS POLICYIn fairness to all, NCA strictly enforces its age/grade requirements for each division.