Competition Rules
SCHOOL CHEER
(Elem, MS, HS, Private/ Charter)
SCHOOL DIVISION: Must follow all USA/ NFHS
GUIDELINES along with the performance rules provided below.
School Division Breakdowns:
Crowd Leading Divisions
Routine Length: 2:30 minutes (Music up to 1:45 minutes)
- Levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Grade Levels: Elem., Junior High/Middle School, Junior Varsity/Freshmen, Varsity, Coed Varsity, Non-Building, Non-Tumbling,
- These divisions offer the best of both worlds! Crowd Leading divisions emphasizes crowd leading ability with crowd effective material. Routines in these divisions will still include transitional stunts and pyramids but the cheer section will encourage a crowd response as if you were leading the fans at an actual game! Teams can use all sideline appropriate props such as signs, poms and megaphones in their routines.
Performance Divisions
Routine Length: 2:30 minutes (Music up to 1:45 minutes)
- Levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
- Grade Levels: Elem., Junior High/Middle School, JV/Freshmen, Varsity, Coed Varsity
Does your team excel in skills and performance environments? Performance divisions showcase the athleticism of cheerleading with a focus on visual elements. Teams competing in these divisions have routines that consist of transitional stunts, pyramids and a cheer. The cheer does not have to encourage crowd participation.
Game Day Divisions
Routine Length: 3:00 minutes
- Grade Levels: Elem., Junior High/Middle School, Junior Varsity/Freshmen, Varsity
- Bring your sidelines to the spotlight in a Game Day Division! Teams combine their Band Chant, Game Day Cheer, and Fight Song along with a Game Day situational response to showcase in one 3:00 minute performance. Game Day divisions are the perfect way to transition material you already have and practice on the sidelines for the national floor.
- The following rules/skill restrictions below will also apply to all crowd leading & performance routines that fall under the novice, intermediate, or advanced divisions.
- **Note: Game Day routines have separate rules that fall under UIL. Please see the game day section of the document for rules.
School Coaches, please refer to the following progression breakdowns to help you identify what
skills/ levels apply to your crowd-leading or performance routines.
Gameday
(School/ Recreational )
NEW THIS YEAR: RECREATIONAL GAMEDAY DIVISION
- Teams (including Recreational) will follow the same performance rules and
guidelines as UIL with the exceptions listed below.
(** Recreational teams will not be separated into Coed and Non-Coed)
- Routine length must not exceed 3 minutes.
- Includes: Band Chant, Situational Response (offense or defense), Crowd -leading
cheer, Fight Song (Must be performed in this order). - There will not be a cue for the situational response. You can pick an offense or
- There will not be a buzzer to indicate moving on to the next session.
- Click below for UIL Game Day Rules and Guidelines:
UIL Game Day Rules and Guidelines
Recreational Cheer
YCADA Guidelines
- Recreation Show Cheer teams will follow YCADA skill rules that apply to your level.
- Levels offered: Level 1, 2, 3, & 4
- UCCC Battle of the Bow only offers Rec. Show Divisions. All Non- Affiliated/ Youth-
Affiliated teams can compete in the Show Cheer division. - Time Limit: 2:30 minutes
- Music is required for all levels. Music may be incorporated for a segment, half, or the entire performance. (Cheer is optional)
- See rules and skills guidelines: YCADA 25-26 RULES
All- Star Cheer
- All-Star teams must follow USASF rules/ age grid. See usasf.net for details.
- Please refer to the United Scoring website for level appropriate skills:
https://www.unitedscoringpartners.com/ - UCCC Battle of the Bow offers a Cheer-Abilities division in the All- Star division.
This division will be combined and not separated by levels. All teams will be
recognized and not placed or scored.
