SAFETY

HIGHLIGHTS
FOR 2016-2017
C

Please click on the video clips to watch

Disclaimer
This presentation does not address every possible violation of NFHS Spirit Rules:
Penalties which have been the dominant issues for the last few years are key components
of the presentation
New rules are being accentuated

The coach is responsible for reading the Spirit Rules book:

actual rules
situational explanations.
In addition, they may use the pictures in the book for further clarification

Major
Change

When the stunt requires the foot/feet of the top person to be in the hands of the bases

DANCE TEAMS MAY

NOT EXECUTE
EXTENDED STUNTS
C

 Extending the flyer before setting

into a prep

Dancers may not

execute extended
stunts where the
feet of the top
person are in the
hands of the bases

The standard
extension is
illegal for
dance no
matter what
technique is
used to hit the
extension

Any form of an extended stunt in which the foot/feet of the top person are in the hands of the bases is illegal for dance
team members

The two bottom pictures are one legged stunts

dance team can execute because they are at
prep level. Shoes must be a full sole shoe.

All forms of an
extended stunt
requiring the
feet/foot of the top
person to be held
in the hands of the
bases are illegal
for dance

Arabesque
Scorpion

Transitional
Stunts

Transitional stunts
which include an
extended level at
some point in the
execution are
illegal

Show and Go

Up and Over

Illegal

Legal

Tosses

Quick Toss
Toss Cradle

Basket tosses are illegal

Basket Toss

 ART. Single base stunts in which the base uses only one arm
tosupport an extended top person.

Other Stunts
and Pyramids
which are
prohibited for
dance teams

 ART. Braced flips

Braced release stunts and braced release

transitions

Also Illegal

ART. Single base stunts

in which the base is the
only primary support for
two extended top
persons

ADDITIONAL STUNT
RESTRICTIONS
NEW FOR 20162017
C

The tabletop is legal as long as the top person steps up onto

the back of the base. The top person may not jump or execute a skill
to get onto the back of the base

Tabletop
Flat backs

LEGAL EXTENDED
STUNTS
C

Still needs
spotter- as
executed it is
illegal

Still needs spotter- as executed it is illegal

These three lifts will need a spotter or a better solution I s a post in front keeping
the top person forward. As executed both are illegal

Extended
stunts that
are legal if a
post, another
base, or
spotter is
added

Extended
stunts that
do not need
a spotter

Beginning 2016-2017, a spotter is no

longer required for a horizontal lift
bases by 3 or more persons

INVERSIONS
C

Inversions
must begin
at prep level
or below

Legal
Inversions

Legal
Inversion

Both are illegal because there is

not spotter assisting at the waist
or higher in video 1, or spotting
the head and shoulder area in
Picture 2

Video 1

Picture 2
Suspended forward rolls require hand to
hand contact between to bases, a base
and post, or a base/post with a spotter/.
See 4-3-3

Inversions
illegal as
performed

Illegal

AERIALS
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Tumbling and Flipping

Prohibited from
tumbling over
or under a
stunt, person,
prop

A dancer may
not execute an
aerial/tumbling
move with prop
in hand except
with a forward or
backward roll.
This includes any
inverted move in
which all weight
is in the hands
such as mule
kicks, hand
stands . . .

Diving forward
rolls are illegal

Forward and Backward rolls are legal

 Illegal execution

Kip Ups and

Rubberband

Proper execution

SPOTTING
C

With inversion

New for this

year

A person in the capacity

of a spotter is not
needed for lifts with 3 or
more bases.

There needs to
be a spotted
standing in a
position to
protect the head
and shoulder of
the top person

Legal spot is
at the waist

Illegal
because
there is no
spotter

The thigh base is

a proper spot for
the inverted
cartwheel top

For inversions at prep

level, the spotter does
not have to be touching
the stunt. For all other
inverted stunts, the
spotter must be holding
the waist or arms of the
top person

APPAREL
C

Costuming, Hair, Shoes, Nails

3
2
All of these gloves are legal
apparel but not for stunting and
airborne tumbling. One and four
are legal for tumbling and
stunting.

How to make your own

Unsafe for
tumbling
and stunting

Hair

Legal for all

dance situations

Hair that is simply

pulled away from the
face is not suitable for
airborne tumbling or
stunting

When airborne tumbling

and stunting hair must
be secured- away from
the face, and up off the
shoulders. The hair of
one dancer may not
interfere with the vision
of another dancer.

Misc.
Reminders

Legal

In Chorus Line flips the

spotters must have direct
and continuous contact with
the top person until the top
person is no longer inverted

Illegal

Misc.
reminders