The USASF recently released the rules that will be used during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Spirit Post decided to list every change and give some insight into the impact each change will have. This article discusses the changes made to Level 5.

Restricted 1

Tumbling skills are allowed up to 1 flipping and 1 twisting rotations. In tumbling, twisting skills may ONLY be performed if immediately preceded by a back handspring(s) or round off. During a full-twisting tumbling skill, no trick other than the twist is allowed (including but not limited to: split fulls, hitch kick fulls, X-Fulls, Full-Xouts) and both feet must land and finish on the performing surface (i.e. no full twisting tumbling to seat, prone body landings or similar).

Clarification: All skills up to a full twist are also allowed. (example: half twists and Arabians) Additional tumbling skills may be performed prior to the round-off and/or back handspring.

This rule should have a small impact on Restricted. A back handspring or round off is now required immediately preceding a twisting skill, meaning no more standing fulls.

Restricted 2

No tumbling is allowed after the twisting skill. (Exception: A forward or backward roll is allowed after a twisting skill; however, no tumbling is allowed after the roll.)

Clarification: If any tumbling follows a forward or backward roll or forward or backward twisting skill, at least one step into the next tumbling skill must be included to separate the two passes. Stepping out of a twisting skill (i.e. Arabian) or forward roll is considered a continuation of the same tumbling pass. An athlete must take an additional step out of a twisting skill step out or a forward roll step out. However, if the athlete finishes the twisting skill or stands the forward roll with both feet together, then one step is all that is needed to create a new tumbling pass.

This rule should have small impact on Restricted. It bans immediately tumbling out of a twisting skill, making it so you cannot tumbling out of an arabian.

Restricted 3

Tosses may not exceed three tricks (i.e. hitch kick full, switch kick full, kick double)

This rule should have a small impact on Restricted. It separated Level 4, Restricted, and Level 5 tosses.

General Tumbling A

All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface.

Exception: Tumbler may [without hip-over-head rotation] rebound from his/her feet into a stunt transition. Rebounding to a prone position in a stunt is allowed.

Example: Round off handspring and then a bump or contact from a base or bracer straight into a back flip would break this rule for levels 1-5. A clear separation from the tumbling to the stunt is needed to make this legal. Catching the rebound and then dipping to create the throw for the rotation is legal. This would also be true if coming from just a standing back handspring without the round off.

This rule change should have little impact because the actual rule didn’t change, but the example was added to further point out there needs to be a clear separation between tumbling and stunting, unless going into a stunt transition without head over hip rotation.

General Tumbling D

Assisted or connected tumbling is not allowed. Clarification: Double cartwheels and double forward rolls are allowed because they will be interpreted as stunts, not assisted tumbling. The USASF Rules no longer restrict assisted tumbling. However, assisted tumbling may negatively affect your score at the Event Producer’s discretion. For Legality Judges, when an athlete supports another athlete above the performing surface, it is considered a stunt and ruled according to the appropriate level stunt rules.

Example: If an athlete in L2 receives a spot on a back handspring, this would be considered illegal under L2 Stunt – Inversions L. 1.

Example 2: In L5 if 6 athletes did standing fulls, and 3 of them were spotted by other athletes, the judges should score only the 3 standing fulls and really give bad scores for 3 really bad inverted stunt.

This rule change should have some impact in Level 5. I don’t think this was done to encourage spotted back handsprings, tucks, and fulls, but instead to allow more stunt entries, transitions, and set outs, including some swing dance style moves and chorus line flips.

General Tumbling F

Jumps are not considered a tumbling skill from a legalities point of view. Therefore, if a jump skill is included in a tumbling pass, the jump will break up the pass.

This rule should have little impact in Level 5, since their aren’t any skills allowed in running tumbling that aren’t allowed in standing tumbling.

Stunts H

L5 Stunts-Release Moves

1. Release moves are allowed but must not exceed more than eighteen inches above extended arm level. Example: tic-tocks are allowed.

2. Release moves may not land in a prone or inverted position. When performing a release move from an inverted position to a non-inverted position, the bottom of the dip will be used to determine if the initial position was inverted.

3. Release moves must return to original bases. Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface without assistance.

4. Helicopters are allowed up to a 180 degree rotation and must be caught by at least 3 catchers, one of which is positioned at head and shoulder area of the top person.

5. Release moves may not intentionally travel.

6. Release moves may not pass over, under or through other stunts, pyramids or individuals.

This rule should have little impact on Level 5. The only change is release moves are now allowed to land in prone positions, opening the door to more visual dismounts.

Stunts I

L5 Stunts-Inversions

1. Extended inverted stunts allowed. Also, see “Stunts” and “Pyramids.”

2. Downward inversions are allowed from prep level and above and must be assisted by at least three bases, at least two of which are positioned to protect the head and shoulder area. Contact must be initiated at the shoulder level (or above) of the bases.

Clarification: Catchers must make contact with the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area.

Exception: A controlled power pressing of an extended inverted stunt (example: needle or handstand) to shoulder level is allowed.

3. Downward inversions must maintain contact with an original base.

Exception: In side rotating downward inversions, the original base may lose contact with the top person when it becomes necessary to do so (example: cartwheel-style transition dismounts).

4. Downward inversions from above prep level: may not be caught and/or land in an inverted position.

Clarification: Top person may not be caught or land with their shoulders below their hips.

a. May not stop in an inverted position. (example: a cartwheel roll off would be legal because the top person is landing on their feet)

b. May not land on or touch the ground while inverted.

Clarification: Prone or supine landings from an extended stunt must visibly stop in a non-inverted position and be held before any inversion to the ground.

This rule should have some impact on Level 5. Part 2 clarifies where a catcher must make contact with the inverted top person and add a handstand to the list of body positions that may be held during a controlled power press. Part 4 appears to be trying to stop some of the poorly executed pancakes performed last season, that stopped with the top person still being inverted.

Pyramids E

L5 Pyramids-Release moves w/ braced inversions

1. Pyramid transitions may involve braced inversions (including braced flips) while released from the bases if contact is maintained with at least 1 person at prep level or below. Contact must be maintained throughout entire transition with either the top person(s) or the base(s).

Clarification: Top person(s) bracing the inversion must show a concerted effort to maintain contact with the inverted top person until they are safely caught by the bases.

2. Braced inversions (including braced flips) are allowed up to 1-1⁄4 flipping rotations and 1⁄2 twisting rotations.

3. Braced inversions (including braced flips) that exceed 1⁄2 twisting rotations are only allowed up to a 3⁄4 flipping rotation provided release is initiated from an upright, non-inverted position, doesn’t transition past a horizontal position (i.e. cradle, flatback, prone) and doesn’t exceed one twisting rotation.

Clarification: LEGAL – An athlete tossed from an upright, non-inverted position (i.e. basket toss or sponge) performing a full twist and a backward 3⁄4 rotation to a prone position while in contact with one bracer.

4. Inverted transitional pyramids may involve changing bases.

5. Braced inversions (including braced flips) must be in continuous movement.

6. All braced inversions (including braced flips) must be caught by at least 3 catchers.

Exception: Brace flips that land in an extended upright position.

a. The 3 catchers must be stationary.

b. The 3 catchers must maintain visual contact with the top person throughout the entire transition.

c. The 3 catchers may not be involved with any other skill or choreography when the transition is initiated.

7. All braced inversions (including braced flips) that land in an extended upright position require at least one base and 2 additional spotters.

a. The base(s) and spotter(s) must be stationary.

b. The base(s) and spotter(s) must maintain visual contact with the top person throughout the entire transition.

c. The base(s) and spotter(s) may not be involved with any other skill or choreography when the transition is initiated.

8. Braced inversions (including braced flips) may not travel downward while inverted.

This rule should have a significant impact. Part 2 makes twisting 180 degrees while flipping with only 1 brace legal, when last season any twisting while flipping required 2 braces. Parts 6 and 7 make it so rewind liberty, stretch, and cupie pyramids are legal with one catcher as long as there are 2 spotters. This allows coed teams to do real rewind pyramids.

Part 3 confuses me and the more I try to figure it out, the more confused I get. I’ll update this once I understand what it is saying.

Dismounts A

Cradles from single based stunts must have a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts B

Cradles from multi-based stunts must have two catchers and a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts C

Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted by an original base. Bases may not intentionally pop, move or toss an athlete to the performance surface. Straight drops or small hop offs, with no additional skills, from waist level or below are the only dismounts allowed to the performing surface that do not require assistance.

Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface from above waist level without assistance.

This rule change should have a significant impact. Teams were often called for not assisting the top person to the ground after doing a smoosh down from a stunt, but letting the top person go after getting them to the smoosh. It seemed this was done so the bases could get to their next spot quicker, but was called because the top wasn’t assisted to the ground. Teams were also often called on this in dances in which they performed a thigh stand and the top person jumped off or they performed a minor lift and let the top person go. This does not allow you to toss a person out of a cradle or allow a top person to take a big jump off a stunt.

Dismounts E

No stunt, pyramid, individual, or, prop may move over or under a dismount, and a dismount may not be thrown over, under, or through stunts, pyramids, individuals, or prop.

This rule should have little impact. I haven’t seen many dismounts of this type.

Tosses F

Top persons in separate basket tosses may not come in contact with each other.

This rule should have little impact, but will stop high five baskets. This rule does not include the word “intentional” so please space your tosses properly.

Tosses G

Only a single top person is allowed during a basket toss.

This rule should have little impact and is self explanatory.

The USASF recently released the rules that will be used during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Spirit Post decided to list every change and give some insight into the impact each change will have. This article discusses the changes made to Level 4.

General Tumbling A

All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface. Exception: Tumbler may (without hip-over-head rotation) rebound from his/her feet into a stunt transition. Rebounding to a prone position in a stunt is allowed.

Example: Round off handspring and then a bump or contact from a base or bracer straight into a back flip would break this rule for levels 1-5. A clear separation from the tumbling to the stunt is needed to make this legal. Catching the rebound and then dipping to create the throw for the rotation is legal. This would also be true if coming from just a standing back handspring without the round off.

This rule change should have little impact because the actual rule didn’t change, but the example was added to further point out there needs to be a clear separation between tumbling and stunting, unless going into a stunt transition without head over hip rotation.

General Tumbling D

Assisted or connected tumbling is not allowed.

Clarification: Double cartwheels and double forward rolls are allowed because they will be interpreted as stunts, not assisted tumbling. The USASF Rules no longer restrict assisted tumbling. However, assisted tumbling may negatively affect your score at the Event Producer’s discretion. For Legality Judges, when an athlete supports another athlete above the performing surface, it is considered a stunt and ruled according to the appropriate level stunt rules.

Example: If an athlete in L4 receives a spot on a back tuck, this would be considered legal under L4 Stunt – Inversions.

Example 2: In L5 if 6 athletes did standing fulls, and 3 of them were spotted by other athletes, the judges should score only the 3 standing fulls and really give bad scores for 3 really bad inverted stunt.

This rule change should have some impact in Level 4. I don’t think this was done to encourage spotted back handsprings, tucks, and fulls, but instead to allow more stunt entries, transitions, and set outs, including some swing dance style moves and chorus line flips.

General Tumbling F

Jumps are not considered a tumbling skill from a legalities point of view. Therefore, if a jump skill is included in a tumbling pass, the jump will break up the pass.

Example: If an athlete in L4 were to do a round off – toe touch – back handspring – whip – layout, this would be considered illegal since consecutive a flip-flip combination is not allowed in Standing Tumbling for L4.

This rule should have some impact in Level 4. The example given explains it pretty well.

Standing Tumbling D

Jump skills are not allowed in immediate combination with a standing flip.

Example: toe touch back tucks, back tuck toe touches, pike jump front flips

Clarification: Jumps connected to 3⁄4 front flips are also not allowed.

Clarification: Toe touch back handspring back tucks are allowed because the flip skill is not connected immediately after the jump skill.

This rule should have some impact in Level 4. The way to define running tumbling versus standing tumbling was once the direction the person was moving when they started, forward being running and backward being standing, leaving a hole in the rules for jumps to front flips in Levels 3 and 4. This rule closes that hole by clearly banning jumps to front tucks in Levels 3 and 4.

Stunts C

Twisting mounts and transitions:

1. To prep level and below are allowed up to 1-1⁄2 twisting rotations by the top person in relation to the performing surface.

Clarification: A twist performed with an additional turn by the bases performed in the same skill set, would be illegal if the resulting cumulative rotation of the top person exceeds 1-1⁄2 rotations.

2. To an extended position are allowed up to 1 twist and must meet the following conditions:

a. Extended skills up to 1⁄2 twist are allowed.

Clarification: Any additional turn performed by the bases in the same skill set would be illegal if the resulting cumulative rotation of the top person exceeds 1 rotation. (example: 1⁄2 up to liberty is legal)

b. Extended skills exceeding 1⁄2 and up to 1 twist must land in a two leg stunt.

Exception: Landing in a platform position is permitted. Platform position must be visibly held prior to hitting a single leg stunt.

Clarification: Any additional turn performed by the bases in the same skill set would be illegal if the resulting cumulative rotation of the top person exceeds 1 rotation. (example: full up to immediate liberty is illegal, full up to extension is legal)

This rule should have a major impact on Level 4. It makes it so you can 540 up to prep level only, unlike the 2010-11 season in which you could 540 up to extended level. It also makes it so full ups to extended position must be to 2 feet. 180 up to extended single leg stunts is still allowed.

Stunts F

No stunt, pyramid, or individual may move over or under another, separate stunt, pyramid or individual.

Example: shoulder sits walking under prep.

Exception 1: An individual may jump over another individual.

Exception 2: An individual may move under a stunt.

This rule change should have little impact on Level 4. It clarifies the only time a stunt, pyramid, or individual may pass over a separate stunt, pyramid, or individual is if an individual jumps over another individual. An individual may not push off the individual they are jumping over as they would if playing leap frog.

Stunts J

L4 Stunts-Release Moves

1. Release moves are allowed but must not exceed extended arm level. Exception: Cradles are allowed.

2. Release moves may not land in an prone or inverted position. When performing a release move from an inverted position to a non-inverted position, the bottom of the dip will be used to determine if the initial position was inverted.

3. Release moves must return to original bases. Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface without assistance.

4. Release moves that land in extended position must originate from ground-level and may not involve any twisting or flipping.

5. Helicopters are allowed up to a 180 degree rotation and zero twisting and must be caught by at least 3 catchers, one of which is positioned at head and shoulder area of the top.

6. Release moves may not intentionally travel.

7. Release moves may not pass over, under or through other stunts, pyramids or individuals.

This rule should have a very significant impact on Level 4 and created more separation between what is allowed in Level 4 versus Level 5. It makes it so low to high and high to high tick tocks are not allowed, but keeps switch ups legal. Twisting switch up are now only allowed to below extended position. It also allows release moves to prone position and helicopters.

Stunts K

L4 Stunts-Inversions

1. Extended inverted stunts allowed. Also, see “Stunts” and “Pyramids.”

2. Downward inversions are allowed at prep level or below and must be assisted by at least three bases, at least two of which are positioned to protect the head and shoulder area.

Clarification 1: The stunt may not pass above prep level and then become inverted at prep level. (The momentum of the top person coming down is the primary safety concern.)

Clarification 2: Catchers must make contact with the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area.

3. Downward inversions must maintain contact with an original base. Exception: In side rotating downward inversions Example: cartwheel-style transition dismounts, the original base may lose contact with the top person when it becomes necessary to do so.

This rule should have little impact as it just clarifies where the catchers must catch the top person.

Pyramids D

No stunt or pyramid may move over or under another separate stunt or pyramid.

Example: shoulder sits walking under prep

Exception 1: An individual may jump over another individual.

Exception 2: An individual may move under a stunt.

This rule change should have little impact on Level 4 and is almost the same as Stunts F. I’m not sure why this rule was also placed in pyramids since Pyramid A starts with “Pyramids must follow Level 4 “Stunts” and “Dismounts” rules”. I’m worried having this rule will cause confusion since it doesn’t say the exact same thing as Stunts F.

Pyramids G

L4 Pyramids-Release Moves w/ Braced Inversions

1. Pyramid transitions may involve braced inversions (including braced flips) while released from the bases if contact is maintained with at least 2 persons at prep level or below. Contact must be maintained throughout entire transition with either the top person(s) or the base(s).

Clarification: The bracers of the inverted top person must show a concerted effort to maintain contact throughout the entire transition until they are safely caught by the bases. Braced flips must be braced on two separate sides (i.e. right side-left side, left side -back side, etc…) by two separate bracers.

Clarification: Two Points of contact may not be on same appendage. (Example: two bracers on the same arm will no longer be permitted)

2. Braced inversions (including braced flips) are allowed up to 1-1⁄4 flipping rotations, 0 twisting rotations.

3. Braced inversions (including braced flips) may not involve changing bases.

4. Braced inversions (including braced flips) must be in continuous movement.

5. All braced inversions (including braced flips) must be caught by at least 3 catchers.

a. All 3 catchers must be stationary

b. All 3 catchers must maintain visual contact with the top person throughout the entire transition.

c. The 3 catchers may not be involved with any other skill or choreography when the transition is initiated.

6. Braced inversions (including braced flips) may not travel downward while inverted.

This rule should have a significant impact on Level 4. Flips must now be braced by people on separate sides holding onto different appendages. There were several Level 4 pyramids during the 2010-11 season that had flips braced by 2 people that were on the same side and holding on to the same arm of the top person. These are no longer allowed.

Dismounts A

Cradles from single based stunts must have a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts B

Cradles from multi-based stunts must have two catchers and a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts C

Dismounts to the performing surface must be assisted by an original base. Bases may not intentionally pop, move or toss an athlete to the performance surface. Straight drops or small hop offs, with no additional skills, from waist level or below are the only dismounts allowed to the performing surface that do not require assistance.

Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface from above waist level without assistance.

This rule change should have a significant impact. Teams were often called for not assisting the top person to the ground after doing a smoosh down from a stunt, but letting the top person go after getting them to the smoosh. It seemed this was done so the bases could get to their next spot quicker, but was called because the top wasn’t assisted to the ground. Teams were also often called on this in dances in which they performed a thigh stand and the top person jumped off or they performed a minor lift and let the top person go. This does not allow you to toss a person out of a cradle or allow a top person to take a big jump off a stunt.

Dismounts D

Up to a 2-1⁄4 twisting rotations allowed from all two leg stunts.

Exception: Twisting from a platform position may not exceed 1-1⁄4 rotation.

This rule should have a small impact. It treats platform position as a single leg stunt and limit the amount of twisting.

Dismounts F

No stunt, pyramid, individual, or, prop may move over or under a dismount, and a dismount may not be thrown over, under, or through stunts, pyramids, individuals, or prop.

This rule should have little impact. I haven’t seen many dismounts of this type.

Tosses H

Top persons in separate tosses may not come in contact with each other.

This rule should have little impact, but will stop high five baskets. This rule does not include the word “intentional” so please space your tosses properly.

Tosses I

Only a single top person is allowed during a toss.

This rule should have little impact and is self explanatory.

The USASF recently released the rules that will be used during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Spirit Post decided to list every change and give some insight into the impact each change will have. This article discusses the changes made to Level 3.

General Tumbling A

All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface. Exception: Tumbler may (without hip-over-head rotation) rebound from his/her feet into a stunt transition. Rebounding to a prone position in a stunt is allowed.

Example: Round off handspring and then a bump or contact from a base or bracer straight into a back flip would break this rule for levels 1-5. A clear separation from the tumbling to the stunt is needed to make this legal. Catching the rebound and then dipping to create the throw for the rotation is legal. This would also be true if coming from just a standing back handspring without the round off.

This rule change should have little impact because the actual rule didn’t change, but the example was added to further point out there needs to be a clear separation between tumbling and stunting, unless going into a stunt transition without head over hip rotation.

General Tumbling D

Assisted or connected tumbling is not allowed.

Clarification: Double cartwheels and double forward rolls are allowed because they will be interpreted as stunts, not assisted tumbling. CLARIFICATION: The USASF Rules no longer restrict assisted tumbling. However, assisted tumbling may negatively affect your score at the Event Producer’s discretion. For Legality Judges, when an athlete supports another athlete above the performing surface, it is considered a stunt and ruled according to the appropriate level stunt rules.

Example: If an athlete in L3 receives a spot on a back handspring, this would be considered legal under L3 Stunt – Inversions. Change to illegal example – if coming out of a round off-this would break letter A.

Example 2: In L5 if 6 athletes did standing fulls, and 3 of them were spotted by other athletes, the judges should score only the 3 standing fulls and really give bad scores for 3 really bad inverted stunt.

This rule change should have some impact in Level 3. I don’t think this was done to encourage spotted back handsprings, tucks, and fulls, but instead to allow more stunt entries, transitions, and set outs, including some chorus line flip variations.

General Tumbling F

Jumps are not considered a tumbling skill from a legalities point of view. Therefore, if a jump skill is included in a tumbling pass, the jump will break up the pass.

Example: If an athlete in L3 were to do a round off – toe touch – back handspring-back tuck, this would be considered illegal since a back tuck is not allowed in Standing Tumbling for L3.

This rule will have some impact in Level 3. The example given explains it pretty well.

Standing Tumbling A

Flips are not allowed. Clarification: Jumps connected to 3⁄4 front flips are also not allowed.

This rule will have some impact in Level 3. The way to define running tumbling versus standing tumbling was once the direction the person was moving when they started, forward being running and backward being standing, leaving a hole in the rules for jumps to front flips in Level 3. This rule closes that hole by clearly banning jumps to front tucks in Level 3.

Running Tumbling A

Flips:

1. Back Flips may ONLY be performed in tuck position only from a round off or round off back handspring(s). Exception: Aerial cartwheels, running tuck fronts, and 3⁄4 front flips are allowed. The following tumbling skills are examples of skills not allowed: X-outs, layouts, layout step outs, whips, pikes, aerial walkovers, and arabians.

Clarification: A front handspring (or any other tumbling skill) into a front tuck is illegal.

2. Other skills with hand support prior to the round off or round off back handspring are allowed. Example: Front handsprings and front walkover through to round off back handspring back tucks are legal.

3. Cartwheel tucked flips are not allowed.

This rule should have little impact. Part 1 formerly started with “Flips” instead of “Back Flips” and Parts 2 and 3 remain the same.

Stunts F

No stunt, pyramid, or individual may move over or under another separate stunt, pyramid or individual.

Example: shoulder sits walking under prep.

Exception: An individual may jump over another individual.

This rule change should have little impact on Level 3. It clarifies the only time a stunt, pyramid, or individual may pass over a separate stunt, pyramid, or individual is if an individual jumps over another individual. An individual may not push off the individual they are jumping over as they would if playing leap frog.

Stunts J – L3 Stunts-Release Moves

1. Release moves are allowed but must not pass above extended arm level. Exception: Cradles are allowed.

2. Release moves may not land in an prone or inverted position. Releasing from inverted to non-inverted is not allowed.

3. Release moves must start below prep level and must be caught at prep level or below. Release moves may not pass above extended arm level.

4. Release moves are restricted to a single skill/trick.

5. Release moves must return to original bases.

Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface without assistance.

6. Helicopters are not allowed.

7. A single full twisting log/barrel roll is allowed as long as it starts and ends in a cradle position.

Clarification: The log roll may not be assisted by another top person.

Clarification: Log/Barrel roll must return to original bases and may not include any skill other than the twist. (example: no kick full twists)

8. Release moves may not intentionally travel.

9. Release moves may not pass over, under or through other stunts, pyramids or individuals.

This rule should have a significant impact. It makes switch and ball ups to prep level legal, but does not make prep level tick tocks legal. It also makes release moves to prone position legal.

Stunts K – L3 Stunts-Inversion

1. No inverted stunts above shoulder level. The connection and support of the top person with the base(s) must be at shoulder level or below.

Exception: Multi base suspended forward roll dismounts to a cradle or the performing surface are allowed. Multi base suspended forward rolls must be supported by two hands. Both hands of the top person must be connected to a separate hand of the base(s).

2. Inversions are limited to a 1⁄2 twisting rotation. Exception: Multi base suspended forward roll may twist up to a full twisting rotation.

3. Downward inversions are only allowed below prep level and must be assisted by at least two bases positioned at the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area. Top person must maintain contact with an original base.

Clarification 1: The stunt may not pass through prep level and then become inverted below prep level (the momentum of the top person coming down is the primary safety concern).

Clarification 2: Catchers must physically catch the top person at the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area.

This rule should have little impact. It prevents twisting inversion of more than 180 degrees, with the exception of full twisting suspended forward rolls. This rule also makes spotting standing fulls illegal in Level 3.

Pyramids E – L3 Pyramids-Release Moves

Clarification: Anytime a top person is released by the bases during a pyramid transition and does not adhere to the following four rules, the top person must land in a cradle or dismount to the performing surface and must follow the L3 dismount rules.

1. During a pyramid transition, a top person may pass above 2 persons high while in direct physical contact with at least two persons at prep level or below.

Clarification: Level 3 Pyramid Release Moves may now incorporate release moves that maintain contact with one other top person provided the Release move meet the criteria established under Stunt Release Moves. L3 Pyramid Release moves, must maintain contact with two other top persons if the release move begins at prep level or above, passes above extended arm level, includes more than one skill, or is caught in an extended position.

2. Top person must remain in direct arm-to-arm contact with at least two different top persons at prep level or below.

Clarification 1: Being braced on one side with both arms and the other side by hand-foot connection is NOT allowed.

Clarification 2: If top person is braced on each side with arm-to-arm connection and a third bracer with hand-foot connection, the skill would be legal.

3. These release transitions may not involve changing bases.

4. These transitions must be caught by at least 2 catchers.

a. Both catchers must be stationary.

b. Both catchers must maintain visual contact with the top person throughout the entire transition.

This rule will have little impact other than what is cause by release moves being allowed in Level 3. The only changes to this rule are the clarifications, which limit pyramid release moves to what is listed here and in stunt release moves. It also clearly states any release move allowed under stunts can also be performed with 1 brace.

Dismounts A

Cradles from single based stunts must have a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts B

Cradles from multi-based stunts must have two catchers and a separate spotter with at least one hand/arm supporting the waist to shoulder region to protect the head and shoulder area through the cradle.

This rule should have little impact because it just further defines the region the spotter must catch when cradling.

Dismounts C

Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted by an original base. Bases may not intentionally pop, move or toss an athlete to the performance surface. Straight drops or small hop offs, with no additional skills, from waist level or below are the only dismounts allowed to the performing surface that do not require assistance.

Clarification: An individual may not land on the performing surface from above waist level without assistance.

This rule change should have a significant impact. Teams were often called for not assisting the top person to the ground after doing a smoosh down from a stunt, but letting the top person go after getting them to the smoosh. It seemed this was done so the bases could get to their next spot quicker, but was called because the top wasn’t assisted to the ground. Teams were also often called on this in dances in which they performed a thigh stand and the top person jumped off or they performed a minor lift and let the top person go. This does not allow you to toss a person out of a cradle or allow a top person to take a big jump off a stunt.

Dismounts E

Up to 1-1⁄4 twists are allowed from any two leg stunts. Twisting out of a platform position is not allowed.

This rule will have some impact, but partially depends on the definition of “platform position”. I believe this rule was put in place prevent teams from performing single leg stunt and passing through a two leg stunt as they full down.

Dismounts F

No stunt, pyramid, individual, or, prop may move over or under a dismount, and a dismount may not be thrown over, under, or through stunts, pyramids, individuals, or props.

This rule should have little impact. I haven’t seen many dismounts of this type.

Dismounts H

Any dismount from prep level and above involving a skill/trick (i.e. twist, toe touch) must be caught in a cradle.

This rule should have little impact and is self explanatory.

Tosses G

Top persons in separate tosses may not come in contact with each other.

This rule should have little impact, but will stop high five baskets. This rule does not include the word “intentional” so please space your tosses properly.

Tosses H

Only a single top person is allowed during a toss.

This rule should have little impact and is self explanatory.