Rules of RDS Cheerleading Tournament

• All teams will perform on a mat. All stunting and tumbling elements must be restricted to the mat area.
• A coach or responsible adult must be designated to remain at the DJ’s table throughout your team’s entire performance. Please bring a back-up tape or CD and do make sure it is labeled with your team’s name.
• PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH THE JUDGES OR THE JUDGES TABLE AT ANY TIME DURING THE COMPETITION. Questions are to be directed to the Competition Director. No more than two coaches are permitted to sit next to (or in front of, if necessary) the judges table during the performance. It is only courteous, but it is to your benefit that the judges are not distracted during your team’s performance
• Interruption of your routine due to injury or technical musical failure, will present an option of finishing your routine or performing again at a later time in the competition. Please notify the Competition Director immediately of your intentions.
• If you have any questions regarding a stunt’s legality, please videotape the stunt and submit it RDS no later than two weeks prior to the event. Due to differences in interpretation, we cannot answer questions regarding legality without videotape. Tapes will not be returned.
• No team member may be over the age of 19 or a high school graduate/GED holder.
• Timing begins with the first word, motion or beat of music and includes organized entrances, chant & cheer introductions, or spell outs (teams will be penalized for going over the time) *Please see penalty sheet.*
• Props are permitted in all cheer routines.
• Teams may quickly set up props immediately prior to their performance without being timed.
• The decision of the judges is final.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS
1. Cheerleading and pep clubs, or supporting groups, are not permitted use of musical instruments or noise making devices.
2. The cheerleaders participating in the contest are not permitted to practice at the site of the contest.
3. One round of competition.
4. Absolutely no markings are permitted on the floor of the site.
5. The squad will present the cheer alone, without pep club participation.
6. The participating squads will consist of a minimum of eight (8) cheerleaders; there will be no maximum of cheerleaders for the round of competition.
7. Squads may be co-ed. Cheerleaders participating in any division must be an active member of the squad at time of competition.
8. There will be a time limit of three (3) minutes of music. Time will start with the first word or motion on the floor and will end with the last word or motion on the floor. Running on and off the floor will not be included in the time. Cheers will be timed during practice round. Any squad over time will be eliminated. Music must be on separate marked tapes.
9. Each school must provide a minimum of two (2) spotters for their school, in addition to spotters incorporated in cheer. Spotter is only to assist, not enhance, and cheer.
10. Good Sportsmanship is requested of all schools.

INTERRUPTION OF PERFORMANCE
1. In the event the presentation of any squad must be interrupted because of failure of the tournament's equipment, facilities, etc. the squad affected will be permitted to repeat the routine from the beginning.
2. In the event the presentation of any squad must be interrupted because of failure of the team's own equipment or supplies, the squad must either continue the presentation or withdraw from the competition.
3. In the event that an injury causes the presentation of a team to be interrupted, the squad must either continue the presentation or withdraw from the competition.

JUDGES
1. A minimum of two (2) and a maximum of five (5) judges will serve each contest, with no reference to gender.
2. Judges will be placed in the auditorium.
3. Judges' evaluation sheets will remain constant.
4. There will be one scoring sheet per school per round for each judge.
5. A judge may not be a graduate of any participating school.
6. Instructions for judges will remain constant.
7. In the event that a tie should occur for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place during the end of the round, a tie-breaking round will be held between schools that are tied. This round will be judged on total effect.
8. No more than three (3) persons currently from the same University of Cheerleading Association may judge the same contest.
9. No university student will be able to judge the contest without prior experience instructing cheerleaders.
10. A judge must have at least two (2) years experience in cheerleading instruction.

TEAM CRITERIA
RDS DETERMINES A YOUTH SQUAD USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
1. The team is sanctioned by Recreational Council, Boys and Girls Club, CYO, league or like organization and is currently under the jurisdiction of such organization.
2. Team must be able to provide proof of sanction from the club, council, league or organization president.
3. Team members cheer at athletic contests for a least one sport.
4. Competition team MAY be a combination of more than one sport cheerleading squad. (Football, basketball, or other sport cheer team) as long as every squad member cheers a full season for at least one sport during the year.
5. Tryouts are conducted pursuant to your club, council, league or organization rules.

RDS DETERMINES AN ALL STAR SQUAD USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
1. The team is based out of a gym.
2. The primary purpose of the team is for Cheer and Dance competitions.
3. Team is not sanctioned by Recreation Council, Boys and Girls club, CYO, league, or like organization.

TEAM ROUTINE GUIDELINES
Cheer – Youth and School
Limited to three minutes. May be a combination of cheer and music.

Cheer – All Star
Limited to three minutes. May be a combination of cheer and music.

SAFETY RULES & PROCEDURES
COACHES SHOULD PLACE THEIR TEAMS IN THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION THAT ALLOWS THEIR TEAM TO PERFORM UP TO THEIR MAXIMUM SKILL LEVEL.
Cheer – Youth and School
Please follow the National Federation rules for Recreation & School teams.

Participants may cheer or dance for more than one team (Flip Flop) as long as the participant meets age or grade requirements.

We reserve the right to combine, split, or delete divisions or move your team to the appropriate division based on registration. All such changes will be announced at the coaches meeting.

ALL PARTICIPANTS AND OBSERVERS agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.

***THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RULES ARE FOR THE SAFETY AND THE WELL BEING OF EACH CHEERLEADING PARTICIPANT.***