I want to start by saying there are legal ways to do all of these “illegal” skills and transitions. A simple hand grip or change in timing/momentum, an additional spotter and pretty much anything called illegal can be adjusted to be legal. There are some transitions that this doesn’t apply to, but for this post we are diving deeper into the skills that are usually in the gray area! Videos were curated randomly from YouTube. Feel free to reach out if you’d like any of them removed/replaced! Rules are consistently changing! Some of the videos may have been legal 10 years ago and are not now! This post could be outdated within the next year depending on changes made. This post is for USASF allstar cheer elite teams competing under the United Scoring System.
Level 1
– Prep level one leg stunts need a bracer, a spotter, and a base. Video Shows base on the left with a spotter’s grip.
– Letting go of arm connections in extensions and 1 legs *before* flyers are back into a prep stunt/both flyers feet are held again. Bracer is letting go too early!
– Starting an extended stunt or 1 leg stunt before the grab connection is made. These connections cannot be made on the way up!
Level 2
– Letting go of arm connections in extended 1 legs *before* flyers are back into a prep lib/both flyers feet are held again. Flyer is letting go too early!
– Backhandspring step outs turning, after landing, to clean. This rule is super literal. Any turning before feet together is a legality!
– Inverted stunts staying inverted too long when lifting up. (skills that look like flips) For this skills, think flip first, then/and lift to the top for a legal ruling! This video shows the groups lifting all the way up, and the flip happening at the top. Which could be called illegal!
Level 3
– Downward inversions/flips from prep level not having two athletes making contact with core/torso. This first transition could be legal if it stayed below prep level, and/or at least two bases made contact with the torso!
– Downward inversions/flips from prep level not having two athletes making contact with core/torso. This second transition could be legal if it started below prep level, and/or at least two bases made contact with the torso!
– Handhands and inversions’ hand connections being lifted above chin level during transitions. The hand connection must stay below eye level throughout this transition! Chin level is a safe way to coach it! This video shows the hand being lifted too high.
Level 4
– Prep bracers going above eye level in transitions where center flyer flips and bracers change positions at the same time. (Middle flips and outsides twist) . This video shows the feet going slightly above eye level.
– Bracers losing contact during twisting skills at extended level (video attached is a legal correct way to perform.) This video shows a maintained connection throughout!
– At least two bases must be stationary in non inverted released skills during pyramid This video shows two bases minimally moving during a non inverted release skill.
Level 5 & 6
– Bases making contact too early in backhandspring ups. Legal version of bases grabbing after flyer touches ground.
– Tumbling or rebounding into or through an inverted position. Legal on left, illegal on right.
Multiple Levels
– Dropping from extension to shoulder sit without a spotter. This video shows required spotters behind the groups!
– Bearing weight in flipping skills/stalling too long. Judges are looking for momentum from the initial toss. Applies to ankle braced cradles in level 2 as well.
– Flips not keeping contact with bracers through to the finish of the catch in pyramids (Levels 3 through 6, Leapfrogs and release moves for 1 & 2). Left side has a questionable release.
– Non stationary bases during transitions. Fully released skills can not have traveling catchers.
– Any released catch or flip that lands inverted. Here is a legal example!
– Any stunt where the needed spotter is under the torso and no longer considered a spotter! Extended stunts need a spotter, even on worlds teams!
– Tumbling over or under another stunt or person.
– Tumbling over or under another stunt or person. Higher level legal version of tumbler running under. If they were starting their roundoff under, it would be illegal.
Dream Choreo 