Spirit Comments on the Rules - 2025-26

2025-26 NFHS Spirit Rules Book Redesign:  New format accommodates unique nature of dance, separate from cheer, and contents will now include:
Rule 1: General Risk Management
Rule 2: Cheer
Rule 3: Dance

Rule 1 Definitions:  All definitions that were previously found in Rule 1 have been removed and are now incorporated into their respective rules for Cheer (Rule 2) and Dance (Rule 3).  Additional cheer-specific definitions including assisted walkover, kip up, and nugget have been added for clarification.  Additional dance-specific definitions, such as executing dancer and supporting dancer, have been added for clarification.

2-2-7: New language added to allow an extended single-based stunt supported at the waist as an exception for requiring a spotter.

2-3-5d: New language added to clarify a bracer may release the top person or move to a load position during a flip inversion when the top is descending and goes to a cradle or the performance surface.

2-3-7: Clarified exceptions for when a participant can hold props in hands.

2-3-9: New language added to prohibit a participant from landing or being caught in an inverted position in a stunt or pyramid from an unassisted airborne position.

2-5-3e: New language added to clarify restrictions on use of props during tosses to a cradle.

2-5-3f: New language added to clarify a top person must not be inverted during tosses to cradles.

2-5-6d/e: New language added to clarify release from extended vertical position and to permit a release from a vertical position at prep level to land in a vertical or horizontal position.

Rule 3 – Dance rewrite of entire rule:  This rule has been rewritten to provide dance/drill-specific language, rather than adapting dance rules from cheer rules.  Dance-specific definitions have been added and/or modified and those definitions are applied throughout this new rule.