Rules & Scoring

July 21, 2020

USA Cheer recommends following federal, state, and local guidelines, as well as those of your governing athletics/activities association.

The CDC has recommended taking everyday preventive actions, using physical distancing, and wearing face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Click here to visit the USA Cheer “Return to Cheer & STUNT” Guidelines homepage

USA Cheer supports the return of cheer and STUNT activities while keeping the health and safety of the athletes as the priority.

The website linked above provides guidance and recommendations for resuming athletic activity in cheer.

This is a living document, which may be updated as new information and recommendations become available.

Spirit.Info.Packet.Cover

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Dance.Info.Packet.Cover

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Rec.Info.Packet.Cover copy

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JR.Info.Packet.Cover

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USA One-Day Competition Required Forms

USA Spirit Competitions Rules & Scoring

View our 2020-21 USA Spirit Competition Information Packet

View our 2020-2021 Show Cheer Scoresheets and Scoring Range Documents

Division Limitations

Song/Pom, Song/Jazz, Pep/Short Flag Safety Rules & Glossary

Questions on Tumbling, Stunt and Safety Rules?

Routines at all USA competitions must follow the 2020-2021 NFHS Rules Book, 2020-2021 USA High School Teams Show Cheer and Group Stunt Division Limitations, 2020-2021 USA Song/Pom/Pep Flag Safety Rules and/or  the 2020-2021 USA Song/Pom Division Limitations. To order a copy of the current NFHS Rules book please visit https://www.usacheer.org/high-school-cheer#_order.

Submitting a video is the only way to review a routine for potential safety violations.

For all legality, division limitations, or questions regarding specific performance elements, you may email a video that contains the skill in question.

All emailed videos must include the following:

  1. Name of the School and Division Level in the Subject Line of the email
  2. Videos should be in either Windows Media Player or Quicktime formats
  3. Clear, close up view of skill in question
  4. Do not send the entire routine, only the SKILL(S) in question
  5. Include your name, team name, division level, and phone number in the body of the email

Cheerleading videos can be emailed to Cmoon@varsity.com.

Song/Pom and Pep Flag videos can be emailed to Cclendenin@varsity.com.

Note that submission of a routine and/or its elements does not preclude a team from being assessed a penalty while at a specific USA competition, as performances from the video submission may differ from those executed on the competition floor. Submission of a routine does not guarantee that it can be reviewed.

All division limitations can be found in the 2020-21 USA Spirit Competition Information Packet which you may download above.

The 2020-2021 NFHS Rules Book can be purchased by visiting https://www.usacheer.org/high-school-cheer#_order.

For specific cheerleading stunt and safety questions that pertain to the 2020-2021 NFHS Rules Book, or to the 2020-2021  High School Teams Show Cheer and Group Stunt Division Limitations please call 1-800-88604872 ext. 2039.

For specific song/pom or pep flag/short flag safety questions that only pertain to the USA Song/Pom/Pep Flag Safety Rules, or to the 2020-2021 Song/Pom Division Limitations please call 1-800-886-4872 ext. 2023.

 Music

Note music guidelines are being followed at all USA and Varsity Brands events.  Competition music must be properly licensed and a team must be able to provide a printed copy of proof of licensing during registration at the event they are attending.  This proof will be reviewed at registration. For further details visit www.varsity.com/music.

USA Dance Competitions Rules & Scoring

Dance Division Sizing & Description
Dance Scoresheets (Alphabetical by Division)
Dance Safety Rules & Guidelines
2020-21 USA Dance Competition Information Packet

Music

Note music guidelines are being followed at all USA and Varsity Brands events.  Competition music must be properly licensed and a team must be able to provide a printed copy of proof of licensing during registration at the event they are attending.  This proof will be reviewed at registration. For further details visit www.varsity.com/music.

For Dance Program related questions, please contact:
Melanie Krieger
Dance Program Director
mkrieger@varsity.com
1-800-886-4USA ext. 2038

To register for USA Dance Competitions or Camps, please contact:
Nicole Cestone
USA State Director
ncestone@varsity.com
949-324-1973

USA Jr. High Competitions Rules & Scoring

2020-2021 Junior Competition Information Packet

Division Limitations

Song/Pom Safety Rules & Glossary

Questions on Tumbling, Stunt and Safety Rules?

Routines at all USA competitions must follow the 2020-2021 & USA Cheer/NFHS Spirt Rules Book, 2020-2021 USA High School Teams Show Cheer and Group Stunt Division Limitations, 2020-2021 USA Song/Pom/Pep Flag Safety Rules and/or the 2020-2021 USA Song/Pom Division Limitations.

Submitting a video is the only way to review a routine for potential safety violations.

For all legality, division limitations, or questions regarding specific performance elements, you may email a video that contains the skill in question.

All emailed videos must include the following:

  1. Name of the School and Division Level in the Subject Line of the email
  2. Videos should be in either Windows Media Player or Quicktime formats
  3. Clear, close up view of skill in question
  4. Do not send the entire routine, only the SKILL(S) in question
  5. Include your name, team name, division level, and phone number in the body of the email

Cheerleading videos can be emailed to Cmoon@varsity.com.

Song/Pom videos can be emailed to Cclendenin@varsity.com.

Note that submission of a routine and/or its elements does not preclude a team from being assessed a penalty while at a specific USA competition, as performances from the video submission may differ from those executed on the competition floor. Submission of a routine does not guarantee that it can be reviewed.

All rules and division limitations may be downloaded above.

For specific cheerleading stunt and safety questions that pertain to the USA Cheer/NFHS Spirt Rules Book, or to the 2020-2021 Jr. High/Middle School/Elementary Teams Show Cheer and Group Stunt Division Limitations please call 1-800-886-4872 ext 2039.

For specific song/pom or pep flag/short flag safety questions that only pertain to the USA Song/Pom, Song/Jazz & Pep/Short Flag

Safety Rules, please call 1-800-886-4872 ext. 2023.

Music

Note music guidelines are being followed at all USA and Varsity Brands events.  Competition music must be properly licensed and a team must be able to provide a printed copy of proof of licensing during registration at the event they are attending.  This proof will be reviewed at registration. For further details visit www.varsity.com/music.

USA Recreation (Youth) Teams Rules & Scoring

NEW 2020-2021 USA Youth/Rec Competition Division Age Grid (Click to View)

Music

Note music guidelines are being followed at all USA and Varsity Brands events.  Competition music must be properly licensed and a team must be able to provide a printed copy of proof of licensing during registration at the event they are attending.  This proof will be reviewed at registration. For further details visit www.varsity.com/music.

USA Game Day Competitions Rules & Scoring

2020-21 USA Spirit (including Game Day) Competition Information Packet

High School & Junior High Game Day

College Game Day