by
Sandi Hoffman, MSHSL Rules Clinician
Recently,
the Minnesota State High School League released a policy statement regarding
stunting and midriff uniforms that will have a direct impact on cheerleading
programs across Minnesota. I assume
that many of you may have questions. With
that in mind, I have tried to anticipate those questions and provide answers to
them. Below you will find the MSHSL statement followed by questions and answers.
If there is something that isn’t answered in this column, please
contact me by email: bs4467@iw.net or the
MSHSL (contact information below).
LEAGUE
STATEMENT:
This is to inform you that on February 10, 2005, the Minnesota State High School
League Board of Directors voted to adopt the Activity Advisory Proposal
requiring all cheer coaches directly responsible for the supervision of a
stunting cheer squad to be AACCA Safety and Stunt Progression Certified.
This requirement will be in
effect for the fall of 2005.
As cheerleading stunts become
increasingly more difficult and complex, the need for properly trained coaches
has become crucial. Requiring these classes will assure properly trained coaches
and a safer environment with less chance of injury for participating students.
Schools
and/or coaches that choose not to become certified in AACCA Safety and
Stunting Progressions may still offer and coach sideline cheerleading,
however, these squads will not be allowed to perform any stunting activities.
Certification locations, dates and times will be posted to the cheer page
on the mshsl.org website and will be communicated through the Cheer Coaches
Association.
The
Board of Directors also adopted the Cheer Coaches Association proposal to ban
bare midriff uniforms. Schools who currently own bare midriff uniforms may cover
the exposed skin with a body suit. This
brings cheerleading in line with all other MSHSL sponsored activities in regards
to uniform guidelines. This requirement will be in effect for the fall of 2005.
We
realize that these rule changes may pose challenges for member schools. Please
contact me if I can be of help in any way by emailing me (Jody Redman) at jredman@mshsl.org
or by phone at 763-560-2262.
Now
for some questions and answers………………
Question: What is the exact
date that the stunting rule goes into effect?
Answer: The policy will be
effective when cheer teams begin fall practice.
Question: Does this mean
cheerleaders won’t be able to stunt at away events without the coach present?
Answer: This policy applies to all practices, games and
performances by your school’s cheerleaders.
In other words, if the person supervising the cheerleaders is not
certified in the required classes, the cheerleaders cannot stunt.
So if a school has been sending cheerleaders to football games under the
supervision of the football coach, for example, those cheerleaders CANNOT stunt.
Question:
What is AACCA and what will the class involve?
Answer: AACCA is the acronym
for the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors.
This risk management course focuses on performer readiness, skill
progression and the medical and legal responsibilities in cheerleading.
The class is taught in a classroom setting and is approximately four
hours in length including a test.
Question:
What is the stunting progression class?
Answer: The partner stunt
progression course, developed by Universal Cheerleaders Association, focuses on
teaching beginning to advanced stunts in a safe, progressive manner. Lead-up
skills, stunt biomechanics and spotting specifics are also covered in both
classroom and “hand-on” settings. The
class is approximately three hours in length including a test.
Question: Where can I take
these classes?
Answer: The
stunting progression class will be offered at all Minnesota UCA resident camps
and on the first day of all UCA commuter camps.
Cost for the class is $35. You
may attend the class even if your students are not attending the camp but you
must be registered two weeks in advance. For more information on UCA camps go to
www.varsity.com. You can register for
classes at UCA camps by contacting Lee Trudell at ltrudell@uca.com.
Both
AACCA and stunting progression will be offered both days of the MCCA
Coaches Conference in St. Cloud on August 7-8, 2005. Cost for the classes taken together will be $90. In
addition, MCCA is working with Lee Trudell from UCA to set up another session in
September. Watch for registration and conference information on the MCCA website
www.mccacheer.com and the newsletter.
Question: Who will keep
track of coaches’ certification?
Answer: Certificates are issued to
individuals after the coursework is successfully completed. Then
it will be the school’s responsibility to keep a record of which coaches are
certified.
Question:
If a cheer squad comes to my school to cheer, accompanied by their coach, and
based on the poor stunting I see I suspect the coach has not taken the
coursework, do I have the right to ask that coach is she/he has? And, if they
haven't, what is my recourse?
Answer: It is and will continue to be each schools
responsibility to "police" their own. It is not the responsibility of
a coach to confront another coach regarding their certification. A question can
and should be raised to the League and they will contact the school's
administrator to determine certification and safety concerns.
Question: A cheer team
comes to my school, without a coach, and begins stunting.
What should I do?
Answer: This
is a direct violation of the policy. You
or your athletic director should remind the cheerleaders of the policy and tell
them they cannot stunt without their coach.
Question: Our cheerleaders
don’t have midriff uniforms but on one girl the uniform looks like it is
midriff because she is very tall, she pulls her skirt down and her top is too
short. Is this OK?
Answer: The intent of the policy is that the
midriff/stomach area is supposed to be covered by the uniform.
If the cheerleader is very tall and uniform isn’t long enough, she must
wear a bodysuit. (She could also
pull the skirt up to the waist where it belongs!)
I
hope this Q and A section has helped to clarify these policies and has answered
some of your questions. I believe we have taken a huge step forward for cheer
coaches education in Minnesota! Please
don’t hesitate to contact the League or me there is something else you would
like clarified.