OCJAAF Cheer Rules and By-Laws

1. a. Scholastic Requirements - Every cheerleader shall be encouraged to maintain a sound scholastic record.
b. Physical Requirements - No player shall be registered or certified if she/he has not attained and does not sustain a sound physical condition. The attainment of a sound physical condition shall be attested to by a duly qualified physician on the contract (form no.200) which shall remain on file with OCJAAF. No player is permitted to entertain to any type of physical training without first obtaining health certification.

2. Age Requirement - Participants shall not be less than seven (7), nor more than fourteen (14) years of age.
a. Minimum Age - Participants must have reached their seventh birthday by August 1st of the current season,
b. Maximum Age - Participants must not be more than fourteen years of age on July 31 of current season.
c. Mascots - Maximum age of six (6). Minimum age to be determined by each Chapter.

3. Cheerleaders will not be subject to tryouts and or any kind of cut process SECTION B - TEAM REQUIREMENTS
1. Rosters - Five copies of a completed Cheer-leader Team roster (form no. 403) must be submitted to OCJAAF Conference on the established Certification date.
2. Contracts - Each participant must complete a cheerleader season contract (form no. 200). One copy of the contract must be submitted to Conference on established Certification date. Cheerleaders that have been certified on a prior year’s roster indicating proof of age, which was approved by a Conference Cheer Coordinator, Cheer Agent or Player Agent, need not show proof of age in subsequent years (birth certificate already approved).
3. General a. Replacements or additions to a team roster will be accepted through September 30th. b. Only those cheerleaders registered and on the team roster (form no. 403) are eligible to cheer on that particular team.
4. Certification - Certification procedures and the date for certification shall be established by the Conference.

SECTION C - TEAM OFFICIALS
1. Coaching Ethics - A cheer coach must be 21 years of age in order to be the head cheer coach. An assistant cheer coach may be eighteen (18) years of age or older. A trainer must be 14 years of age or older. They are considered in an official capacity and may be barred from further participation in the conference by violation of any of the following:
a. Cheer coaches shall refrain from smoking during games and practice.
b. Cheer coaches will not criticize cheerleaders in front of spectators, but reserve constructive criticism until in private or in the presence of the team.
c. Cheer coaches will not criticize the opposing team, the coaches, the officials or fans by word of mouth or gesture.
d. Cheer coaches will refrain from using any abusive and profane language before anyone connected with the game.
e. Cheer coaches will set an example in personal appearance at all times.
f. Cheer coaches will not participate in any OCJAAF functions while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

2. Cheer Coaches Responsibilities: a. Cheer Coaches shall administer disciplinary action in accordance with Chapter By-Laws b All Cheer Coaches, assistants and team trainers shall have on display, an OCJAAF ID card at all games and functions 3. Staff members will be on a volunteer basis, No cheer coach, assistant, or trainer will be paid for their time or services in performing their duties.

SECTION D - GENERAL
1. It is not the intention of the Conference, by having the Cheer-leader rules stated separately, to have the Cheerleaders operate outside of the official rules. a. Incorporated into the Cheerleader rules by this reference are the official rules.

2. Practice Sessions a. Practice sessions shall start no earlier than the Monday closest to the first of August Daily sessions shall not exceed two (2) hours in duration, and total practice shall not exceed twelve (1 Z) hours per week. b. Commencing the Monday following Labor Day, practices shall be limited to two (2) hours per day and six (6) hours per week . c. No practices shall be permitted prior to games, only stretching and warm-up exercises.

3. Cheerleader Rules:
1. Cheerleaders will not be allowed to wear jewelry, with the exception of post stud earrings religious medals that cannot be removed or medical emergency bracelets.
a. Girls shall maintain standards of conduct in keeping with the spirit of OCJAAF Conference. Cheerleader coordinators have the authority to demand complete cooperation from each cheer coach, team trainer and cheerleaders.
b. No cheer derogatory to the opposing team or Chapter may be used. This to include any cheers which have as a part of their Lyrics, profanity or such language as to reflect unfavorably upon the Opposition or the stated objectives of the Conference.
c. Cheerleaders must remain in the designated roped off area for cheering during all games. The designated area is between the 45 yard line and goal line (when both teams are cheering on the same side of the field). Cheerleaders will alternate their cheers.
d. Cheerleaders and cheer coaches shall not be in the area of the players bench at any time during games.
e. Cheerleaders must be in matching uniforms to participate in cheers in the cheering area.
f. A single cheer shall not exceed three (3) minutes in duration.
g. Food shall not be allowed on the field during games except during half time.
h. All complaints and/or protest must be submitted through the Chapter Cheerleader coordinator to the OCJAAF Cheerleader Agent or Cheerleader coordinator in writing within seventy- two (72) hours of said complaint or protest.
i. No stacks, climbs, pyramids, assisted jumps, death drops or supportive moves, will be permitted at games .
j. It is mandatory that all cheer squads must cheer at all games.
k. Cheer squads must be the same squad cheering at the games as competing in competition.

4. Cheer Agents - The OCJAAF Cheerleader coordinator shall have Cheer Agents that will be responsible for distributing all OCJAAF cheerleader forms. Will maintain complete and accurate files. Will conduct cheerleader certification. Will monitor all Chapters as to compliance with the Rules and advise Commissioner. The OCJAAF Cheerleader Coordinator will appoint District Cheer Agents to assist in her duties.

5. Chapters participating in All Conference are required to select four (4) cheerleaders (method of selection to be determined by chapter coordinator) per squad for each football team participating, to cheer at the All Conference game Alternate names may be submitted in the event that a selected cheerleader is unable to participate.

6. A Head coach and/or Assistant coach on that squad s certified roster must be present at all practices and on the field with Cheerleaders at all games.

7. All Cheer coaches and Assistant coaches shall attend a mandatory Cheer coaches clinic. The date and time to be determined by OCJAAF.

8. The OCJAAF Cheerleader Coordinators and\or Conference Cheer Agent shall check cheer books and rosters prior to the start of the game or at half-time.

SECTION E - COMPETITION PROGRAM
1. Applications - Application forms or competition notebook must be submitted to the Cheerleader Coordinator of the hosting chapter on or before October 1st.
2. Competition notebook - Competition notebook to include (1) Certified roster, (2) 5x7 team picture (without mascots), (mascots team picture to be taken separately), (3) choice of category i.e. dance or cheer, or a combined cheer/dance and the number of girls in each category.
3. Entry Fee - An entry fee (amount to be determined by a vote of the Executive Council yearly) must be submitted along with the competition form.
4. Awards a. First, second and third place Division winners shall receive trophies. An award shall be given to each place in the League. Mascots shall receive a participation award.
5. Judging - Judges consisting of one (1 ) per organization (i.e., NCA, USA) shall meet prior to competition with all coordinators to discuss what will be judged at competition.
6. Check-in times for competition day will be drawn one (1) week prior to competition. Chapters will be placed in stands upon the discretion of the hosting chapter. All teams from the chapter must be present to enter the stadium.
7. Each squad will be allowed to choose from one of the three categories of performance, dance, cheer. Cheer is a routine performed without music- Dance is a routine performed with continuous music and movement throughout its entirety with no break in the music, i.e.- squad may not stop the routine or music in order to perform a cheer then pick up and continue the dance routine. The dance category may not have any speaking during the performance.
8. There will be no additions, substitutions or late entries of Cheerleaders or Cheer squads after deadline. The deadline as established in the OCJAAF rule book is October 1st.
9. Cheer/Cheerleaders will not be allowed to leave their designated area (cheerleader seats, restrooms or snack area) except to an emergency. a. A maximum of six and a minimum of two team staff members (Cheer coaches, trainers, etc.) will be allowed in the Cheerleaders designated area. An must be listed on that team s certified roster. b. Parents of Cheerleaders win will not be allowed in the Cheerleader area unless there is an emergency. In case of an emergency the parent should notify security or a Competition Official.
10. Cheerleaders shall not cheer In the stands while other cheer squads are performing.
a. Any ream displaying poor sportsmanship or other inappropriate-ate behavior will be subject to disqualify/cation from Competition.
b. All Cheerleaders must remain until all awards have been pre-sented and they are dismissed by the competition coordinator-
11. An routines will be judged by the following criteria: Degree of difficulty/, perfection, personality, technique, precision, appearance, movements, eye contact, Jumps and polse. In addition, dance routines will be judged on music and originality/ of music.
a. Cheerleaders will not be judged on their entrance or exit.
b. Cheerleaders will make no vocal physical gestures of any kind upon entering or exiting the field.
c. The CHEERLEADER SPIRIT AWARD will be judged by an anonymous judge (chosen by OCJAAF) who will be using the following criteria: sportsmanship, enthusiasm, discipline, overall participation/on and respect of others.
d The CITY SPIRIT A WARD will be judged by an anonymous judge/s (chosen by OCJAAF) based on the following criteria: Sportsmanship, enthusiasm responding to cheers, representation of Chapter i.e.. colors, banners, etc.
12. Music chosen for the dance routine shall not be offensive.
13. Mascots must be escorted by a Cheer coach at an times, except while performing. a. Mascots perform together an exhibition and are not Judged.
14. Cheerleaders may hold up signs and/or posters for spirit.
15. Each Chapter may bring one (1) banner, not to exceed 4 x 8 for display on Competition day. Banners are to be taken at the end of Competition.
16. Cheerleaders and their staff will be allowed to bring refreshments and Ice chests Into the stadium, but ABSOLUTELY NO GLASS CONTAINERS. All Ice chests win be checked upon enter/nag the stadium. There will be a $25 (twenty five dollar) f/ne If any glass is found.
17. OCJAAF football players wearing their jersey will be allowed to enter free of charge.
18. A timing device supplied by OCJAAF will be present and monitored by Judges. The timing device should sound after three (3) minutes.
19. Points shall be deducted if routine exceeds three (3) minutes, two (2) points for every second. a. Uniforms worn at the games shall be the same uniforms worn at competition. (with the exception of gloves, hair bows and socks)
b. Squad score sheets in their entirety (not totals of the score sheets) will be given to the cheer coordinators at the meeting following competition.
20. Any Chapter found guilty of practicing Cheerleader competition routines for the sole purpose of competition only and disbands the cheer squads after competition will be assessed a $300.00 fine for each game missed until the end of the season.