nca competition rule book for school teams - National Cheerleaders ...

NCA GAME TIME DIVISIONS
NCA reserves the right to be the arbitrator and interpreter of all rules covered in this document.
GAME TIME ROUTINE REQUIREMENTS
A. Each team will perform a routine not to exceed 1 minute and 15 seconds.
B. Teams may not set up props in advance of any category.
C. See specific Category for details on the start and stop for each type of routine.
D. All introductions (entrances, chants, spell-outs, etc.) are considered part of the routine and are timed as part of the
performance.
E. There should not be any organized exits or other activities after the official ending of the routine.
TIME OUT CHEER REQUIREMENTS
A. Each team will perform a routine not to exceed 1 minute and 15 seconds.
B. In most locations, Time Out Cheer will begin and end with a buzzer sound similar to a time-out at a game.
C. No music may be used during the performance. Live drummer and/or drum track is allowed. All specialty skills (i.e. jumps,
stunts, tumbling) must be performed within a safe distance of all Drummers. Drummers cannot be involved in any type of
specialty skill.
D. Each team’s presentation must include at least two components required from the following: cheers, chants, traditional yells,
and/or drum cadences.
E. Teams should utilize all areas of their squad’s crowd-leading strengths. The use of poms, signs, flags, megaphones and/or
banners is encouraged.
F. Judging will be based on the following criteria:
1. Crowd communication, including: crowd effective material, spacing and formations, voice and pace, crowd leading
skills and use of poms, signs, flags, megaphones and/or banners.
2. Placement, synchronization and strength of motions.
3. Overall impression and crowd appeal.
4. Emphasis on crowd involvement and practicality. All material should be suitable for a game or pep rally.
SPECIFIC SKILL RESTRICTIONS
A. No baskets, sponge, elevator, or similar type tosses permitted.
B. No inversions and/or twisting into or out of stunts regardless of contact with bases.
C. No single leg extended stunts.
D. No running tumbling or flips allowed.
E. Maximum difficulty in tumbling is limited to a single back handspring.
RULE BOOK • 18