School / High School Cheer
School & High School cheerleading
School cheer is affiliated with a middle or high school and governed by NFHS rules in partnership with USA Cheer. Teams cheer at school events (game-day) and may also compete at invitational and state championship events.
PRIMARY RULEBOOK
NFHS Spirit Rules Book
GOVERNING BODY
NFHS + USA Cheer
SEASON
Fall (football) + Winter/Spring (competition)
ROUTINE LENGTH
Up to 3 min (varies by event)
TOP EVENTS
UCA Nationals, NCA Nationals, State Championships
RULES UPDATED
Annually by NFHS
SKILLS & RULES REFERENCE
How legality works (school)
School cheer does NOT use a 1–7 level system. It runs on a risk-minimization rulebook that applies to all school teams, with skills further restricted by setting (game/sideline vs. competition) and surface. Governing bodies: NFHS Spirit Rules Book (most states adopt it; some, like Texas/UIL, write their own — check your state association first), and USA Cheer. At a Varsity school championship the event rules layer on top of NFHS; if a school competes "all-star style" at a USASF event, USASF rules apply there instead.
Core school skill rules
- Stunts: building allowed; pyramids limited to 2-high. Extended stunts require specific spotter/catcher configurations.
- Inversions: strictly limited — inverted stunts/pyramids must meet connection and catch requirements.
- Tosses: permitted with restrictions; a top person may NOT be inverted during a toss to a cradle.
- Tumbling: allowed — hip-over-head skills without base support that begin and end on the performing surface.
⚠️ Coach legality check
School legality depends heavily on WHERE the skill is performed (competition floor vs. sideline vs. elevated stage/track) and the surface. The same stunt can be legal in one setting and illegal in another. Confirm against the NFHS Spirit Rules Book (or your state's rules) for the specific setting.
Competition divisions (typical at Varsity school events)
- Grade levels: Junior High/Middle School, JV/Freshman, Varsity, Coed Varsity.
- Style divisions: Game Day (crowd-leading emphasis), Performance/Show Cheer, Non-Building, Non-Tumbling.
🆕 2026–27 NFHS Spirit Rules (approved)
Eight changes + two updated definitions. Highlights: braced flips may use hand-to-hand/arm OR hand-to-foot/feet (if only hand-to-foot, the top may not twist, bracer must be double-based with a spotter, flipper caught by original bases); a single twist is now allowed in a vertical release from extended to extended; a quarter twist is now allowed in all dismounts to catchers who are not the original bases; single-based stunts going vertical→horizontal need at least two catchers. Updated definitions for "Loading Position/Load" and "Tumbling." Always confirm against the current NFHS book or your state's rules.
GAME-DAY VS. COMPETITION CHEER
Game-Day / Sideline Cheer
- Performed at football, basketball, and other school games
- Focus: crowd engagement, spirit, leading cheers
- No judges — not scored
- Governed by NFHS safety rules
- All school cheer teams do this; competition is optional
Competition Cheer
- 2–3 minute routine performed for judges
- Scored on stunts, tumbling, jumps, dance, performance, safety
- UCA, NCA, and state associations run events
- State champions determined by state athletic association
- Top teams can qualify for national events (UCA, NCA)
NFHS SPIRIT RULES — KEY FACTS
How NFHS Rules Work
Who it governs
All 50 states' high school cheer programs that are NFHS members (the vast majority). Middle school programs often follow NFHS rules as well.
Rule layers
NFHS sets the national baseline. Each state athletic association adds its own supplement (additional restrictions or permissions). Your state's rules = NFHS + your state's overlay.
Annual updates
Published each spring for the following school year. 2025-26 had major reorganization: Rule 1 definitions moved into Rules 2 (cheer) and 3 (dance), and dance was fully separated.
Safety focus
NFHS prioritizes safety over difficulty. Inversions, basket tosses, and certain pyramid heights are restricted compared to all-star. Coach certification (USA Cheer) is strongly encouraged.
MAJOR SCHOOL CHEER EVENTS
UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship
One of the most televised school cheer events. Thousands of teams. Broadcast nationally.
NCA High School National Championship
Major school cheer event run concurrently with NCA All-Star Nationals.
State Championships
Determined by your state's athletic association (NJSIAA, GHSA, etc.). The most important competition for school teams in most states.
Regional / Invitational Events
Local and regional competitions run by independent event producers. Entry point for most school teams. Qualifying events for state may count here.
Also see: School Scoring & Rules Docs · All-Star Tier · Scoring Glossary