Dear Cheer Coach,
Congratulations on your school's boys/girls basketball team's sectional championship! This is an exciting time for your school and community as you prepare for the Boys/Girls State Basketball Tournament. Be sure to enjoy this memorable opportunity.
The Minnesota State High School League has asked several rules clinicians to serve as supervisors of cheer teams at the tournament. The supervisors will rotate between the venues to greet you and your cheer team and to answer any questions that may arise during the tournament. Additionally, we will be ensuring cheerleaders adhere to the cheerleading safety rules.
We want this to be a safe and positive experience for you and your cheer team. The following information should be helpful:
1. Team size - All members of the varsity cheer team, in uniform, that have cheered the regular season, (1) mascot, and cheer coach(s) whose names appear on the pass list at the pass gate will be allowed in to the event. However, only 12 cheerleaders will be able to stand courtside to lead cheers during the game and only 12 will be introduced prior to the games. The cheerleaders may be rotated and those not cheering must be in the student section. Coaches will need to directly supervise their cheer teams through the pass gate, meeting with us prior to your game, and through out your warm-ups. Coaches must be with their cheerleaders in the locker room/non-spectator areas. When your team plays, you can be near your team at court level or close by in the stands if your team does not stunt, just keep us apprised of your location. If you are not able to attend, another adult must be appointed by your school to accompany your cheer team during their time at the game sites. Remember that your team cannot stunt unless the supervisor has the MSHSL required certifications.
2. Minnesota high school cheer teams are required to follow the rules found in the current edition of the National Federation Spirit Rules Book. This rulebook and the corrections were discussed at the rules meeting that you attended sponsored by the MSHSL. If you are not familiar with the rulebook or the meetings, ask your athletic director. As a brief reminder here are some of the most frequently violated general safety rules that are contained in pages 13-15of the 2013-14 rule book.
a. Cheerleaders will be required to remove ALL jewelry. (Page 13, rule 2-3-1) Putting tape over piercing is not allowed. (Page 14, jewelry/hair/fingernails situation A & B).
b. Fingernails (natural or artificial) can b a safety hazard. Nails must be kept at an appropriate length (which is short, near the end of the fingers) to minimize risk for the participants. (Page 13, rule 2-3-2) This rule applies to all cheerleaders whether they stunt or not.
c. Hair must be worn in a manner to minimize risk to the participant. The MSHSL interpretation of this rule is, "to minimize risk during stunting or tumbling, hair must be tied back from the face and off the shoulders by all members of a stunting team.” Even if a team is not stunting or tumbling, hair must be secured of the face so vision is not obstructed. (Page 13, 2-3-3 and page 14, Situation A & B)
d.Apparel and accessories must be appropriate for the activity involved to minimize risk to the participants. Cheer team members must wear athletic shoes(not gymnastics slippers. (Page 13, rule 2-3-4).
e. Glitter that does not readily adhere ... is illegal. (Page 14, 2-3-7, and page 15, Situation A)
3. There will be a trainer on site for all games. We will direct you there if needed.
4. Cheer coaches should be familiar with other rules specific to the MSHSL state tournaments that affect their student fan section, such as noisemakers, signs, and shirts. Your athletic director should have this information. Also, the MSHSL does not want cheer teams to throw 'give-away' items to the spectators.
5. If your cheerleaders want to do any type of a performance at half time, it needs to be coordinated by your AD through the Tournament Director.
We are looking forward to meeting you and your cheer team and hope you have a great tournament experience.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CHEER TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN
STATE BOYS’/GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The following policies will apply to your cheerleader squad during the MSHSL State Boys’/Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
1.SIZE OF TEAM:The size of the cheer team should be the same that who cheered during the Varsity Boys’/Girls' Basketball regular season. All cheerleaders, one (1) mascot and the cheer coach(s) whose names appear on the pass list that must be faxed to the League Office prior to each Tournament (March 10for Boys and March 17 for Girls) will be admitted through the Pass Gate. To be admitted to the cheerleading locker room and warm up areas, the team must be accompanied by a coach or a designated supervisor that can be with them their entire time in the non spectator areas. To be admitted through the pass gate at either site they must be with a supervisor or coach.
- ENTRANCE AT THE TARGETCENTER: Cheer teams may be dropped off in the TargetCenter “Backstage Area”, same procedure as teams and bands. They must be in uniform and accompanied by a coach/designated supervisor.
OR Cheerleaders may enter through the lower level pass gate located on 2nd Avenue. It is best to enter the TargetCenter at the skyway level. Proceed to the stairs that lead to the lower level. The pass gate will be on your left when you reach the lower level.
ENTRANCE AT WILLIAMS ARENA: Vans/Buses may stop to unload cheer teams from the bus drive through in front of the University Ave ramp, south side of Williams Arena.
- ARRIVAL TIME: Cheer Teams should be checked by the supervisor and ready to cheer not later than one hour prior to the start of their game. All must arrive at the same time. There will be NO EXCEPTION to this policy. Cheerleaders and their coaches will not be issued passes.
- UPON ARRIVAL: Cheerleaders and their coach will be met and escorted by the Cheerleading Supervisor. The coach or adult supervisor must arrive with the cheerleaders. Cheerleaders without coaches may not be admitted and will not be allowed to be in the cheerleading room or warm up areas.
5.CHEERLEADERS ON PLAYING FLOOR: Twelve (12) Cheerleaders in uniform and one (1) mascot may lead cheers from the court sidelines. Be aware that this is sometimes a very small area and positioning 12 cheerleaders will be difficult. Additional cheerleaders may be active in the student sections. Do not interfere with progress of game.
6.SEATING: During the games in which your team is NOT playing, cheerleaders may be seated in the player section.
7.GENERAL POLICIES:
A.Cheerleaders must be in uniform approved by their school.
- Cheerleaders in uniform and on the pass list will be admitted free of charge for any session in which their team plays.
C.No students below grade 7 will be permitted as team members.
D.No drums, noisemakers, thundersticks, cow bells, air horns etc. are allowed.
E. No posters or banners except to designate cheers. No large banners or flags are allowed.
F. Only cheer team members can use megaphones and they must be directed toward their fans not the court.
G. Non participating cheerleaders (ineligible, injured) will not be allowed courtside, they are expected to remain in the stands.
H. Other team personnel are not allowed to wait in the cheerleading room/warm up area such as student trainers, managers, staticians, etc. Coaches/cheerleaders can not have their children, spouses, or friends accompany them in the restricted off court areas.
I. Ensure the mascot knows the how the rules apply to mascots. All mascots on the floor or in the aisles must be school approved students grades 7 to 12. If sending a mascot only and no cheerleaders, there must be a person who is the supervisor for the mascot.
J. Check your cheerleaders for jewelry and finger nail length prior to coming to the venue. Artificial nails and some piercing require tools to remove that are not available at the venue. A cheerleader with long nails or some piercing will not be eligible to cheer and will be asked to cover or change from her uniform and join the spectators in the stands.
8. INTRODUCTIONS:Cheerleaders will be introduced prior to all games (except for 3rd Place). Please line up on the playing surface facing your fans. The entire roster of your basketball team will be announce prior to the first game televised game and only the starting line up at the remaining games.
NOTE: All bags will be checked upon entrance to the TargetCenter or Williams Arena.