Orange County Youth Football and Cheerleading League

Cheer Rules

Overview

All personnel decisions that involve cheerleading will be made by each town's Cheer Director.  Cheering is a sport, players are under the direction and supervision of their coaches.  During the season cheerleaders shall follow the rules of the team, town and league.  Any Cheerleader who doesn't follow the rules will be subject to disciplinary actions.

Age

All cheerleaders must be at least 6 years old by December 1st., and entering 1st grade but not 9th grade of the current season.  Cheerleaders will be placed on teams according to their grade level.

Mighty Mites       1st & 2nd grade

Division I                    3rd & 4th

Division II                   5th & 6th

Division III                   7th & 8th

Division IV                   7th & 8th

Mascots

The use of mascots is at the discretion of the individual town's Cheer Director.  However should a town permit mascots the following shall apply.

A.  A mascot must be at least 5 years old and entering kindergarten of the current season.

B.  A fee will be instituted for insurance purpose

C.  Must wear a different uniform then that of the league

D.  Limited to sidelines only

E.   Parent/Guardian must be present at all times at games and practices in which the mascot participates

Organization

Team Level

A.  The cheerleading head coach of each team must be at least 21 years old.

B.  A high school demonstrator may be used to teach cheers, stunts etc. However, this individual shall be under the direction and supervision of the head coach.

Town Level

A.  Each town shall have a board member called Director of Cheerleading who is an equal voting member of the town's board and responsible to that board, and to whom all cheerleading teams report to.

Appearance

A.  All cheerleaders must wear the required uniform as determined by each town in order to cheer that week's game.

B.  All hair must be pulled back in a neat like fashion (safety)

C.  No jewelry or long or false nails (safety)

Mandatory Cuts

Mandatory cuts can occur for the following reasons

A.  Cheerleader cannot fulfill registration requirements (see registration)

C.  Extreme disciplinary problems

C.  Cheerleader is cheering in another league or on a school team

D.  Cheerleader refuses to abide by league rules

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

Registration

Each cheerleader shall furnish the following in order to be placed on a team

A.  Registration Form - signed by either parent/guardian

B.  Medical examination - signed medical form or statement from an examining physician that the cheerleader is physically fit to participate in cheerleading.  Must be dated in the current year.

C.  Proof of Age - A copy of Birth Certificate

D.  Parents Code of Conduct signed by parent or guardian

Safety

A.  No pyramid shall be higher than 2 people.

B.  No tucks or flips shall be used when dismounting

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

D.  Spotters are required when engaging in a partner stunt.  Spotters are required for all stunts.  Spotters must remain in position until the dismount is completed.  Stunting is at the discretion of the coach and cheer dirfor her team.

E.  Coaches, trainers or helpers are not to assist in stunting.  They may however be used as extra spotters

F.  No Jewelry. long or false nails, glitter, or nail polish.

G.  Hair must be pulled back

Practices

A.   Pre-season practice shall not begin before August 1st.

B.  At least 10 minutes of warm up exercise (to stretch and to limber-up) shall be included prior to practices, games and competitions

C.  Practices shall not exceed the number of hours per week permitted for football practice.

1.  No cheer team may schedule more than 10 hours per week during pre-season

2.. After pre-season practices are limited to a maximum of 6 hours per week

3.  No more then 2 hours of practice may be scheduled on any one day.

4.  Frequent water breaks are to be given during practices

D.  No practice, stunting or participation at games shall be permitted without the head coach or pre-approved adult being present..

Camps

A.  All cheerleaders associated with the OCYFL may attend camp as an individuals, groups, or teams and may attend with or without their coach.

B.  Camp is defined as meaning one or more training sessions provided by an outside organization

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

Competitions

Any Town may develop a competition team after season ends, the following guidelines to be followed:

1.  Must be a current season cheerleader for that particular town

2.  Each town will hold try-outs for a competition team, giving all the opportunity to try out.

3.  Teams must be grouped according to competition divisions.

4.  Each town/team will be responsible for their individual fees

5.  League uniforms may be used for all competitions

Games

Each town will provide a safe, convenient area to cheer.  This area shall be free of fan interference and near the bleachers if possible.

1.  The home team will do the "Hello Cheer" first

2.  A coach from each team will travel with the team during the "Hello Cheer"

3.  Each team will cheer on their own side of the field

4.  Half time is comprised of an 8 minute break, to be shared by both cheer teams

5.  At half time the visiting team will use the field first for their routine

6.  Each teams performance will not exceed 3 minutes

7.  Each team will watch each other's routine, cheer and support each other

8.  Remaining time is to be spent with coach regrouping for the next half of the game

9.  During an injury all cheerleaders will stop while the player is being administered to

10. No trips to concession stand or wandering the field during the game or half time

11. A cheerleaders job in not only to cheer, it's to observe the game, get involved, know where their team stands

12.  Mighty Mites will also have allotted time for a half time cheer

13.  No relay cheers.

14.  Cheer teams will form seperate lines from the boys to shake hands.

Coaches

A.  All coaches must be approved by the Board of Directors each season, a coaches application must be completed and filed with the Board of Directors prior to attending any practices or games.

B.  The coaching staff is under the direction of the head coach who will assume responsibility for actions of any and all assistant coaches and cheerleaders.  Each team must have one adult coach at all practices an games.  Each team may also be helped by "trainers" who must be in at least the ninth grade.

C.  Coaches are responsible for all cheers their team perform.  No negative or inappropriate cheers

D.  Coaches are responsible for completing accident report forms for every injury that occurs during practice or games

E.  If a teams head coach cannot attend a game then they are to notify town Cheer Director

F.  Football coaches/Cheer Director/Cheer Coach to be notified if a change in schedule occurs.

G.  No coaches or trainers may participate in any type of stunting

H.  Every coach must sign the official OCYFL  Coaches Code of Conduct.

Cheerleader Code of Conduct

1.  Be respectful to one another, coaches and opposing teams

2.  Follow league rules, town rules, team rules

3.  Positive attitudes at all times

4.  When in uniform remember you are representing your town

5.  Hand shake after all games with opposing team

6.  Watch and applaude opposing team after their "Hello Cheer" and "Half-Time" routine.

Coaches Code of Conduct

1.  No Smoking allowed on school grounds, around players or at any league activity

2.  No criticizing in front of spectators

3.  Emphasize that good athletes strive to be good students

4.  Strive to make every cheering activity serve as a training ground for life and good mental and physical health

5.  Refrain from excessive sideline coaching

6.  Together with game officials, be responsible for the conduct and control of fans and spectators

7.   Abusive and profane language is prohibited

8.  Do not allow an ineligble cheerleader to cheer

9.  Coaches do not receive any monetary payment for coaching

10. Do not allow unsportsmanlike bahavior to occur

11. Alcohol is prohibited on playing or practice fields or at any league activity

12. Remove from the game or practice any player if you are in doubt about her health

13. Coaches are expected to uphold all league rules and regulations

Cheerfest

A.  Is a league wide cheer gathering, which gives the participants a chance to gather and share

B.  It is not a competition

C.  Cheefest rules are additional to League rules

D.  Each town will be responsible for their own cost (certificates, pins, awards, etc)

E.  Cheerfest is for all current season cheerleaders only

F.  All participating cheerleaders will receive an award

G.  Site determined by cheer vote (one vote per town)

Mandatory Cheer Director Meetings

There will be scheduled meetings, failure to have a representative will result in a $50.00 fine to your town.