Junior High Cheer
School Cheer is a discipline of cheer that involves athletes in a scholastic setting who cheer in support of other sports, most often football and basketball. School cheerleaders’ primary role is supporting the other athletic programs through leading the crowd at games and pep rallies as well as promoting school spirit overall. School cheer teams may also participate in competitions, performing a 2 1/2 minute routine composed of tumbling, stunting, pyramids, dance, and cheer segments.
Junior High and Middle School cheer teams are most often governed at the district level. Many follow the rules of their state high school associations, with additional rules for junior high/middle school. The NFHS Spirit Rules are produced by the National Federation of State High School Associations, and are written with high school cheerleading in mind. USA Cheer recommends that Elementary, Junior High and Middle School cheerleaders follow the NFHS Spirit Rules with the additional restrictions below:
The following additional rules changes for Elementary, Middle School, and Junior High are in effect for the 2026-27 school year.
Rule 2.5.10 (USA Cheer Add-on): All tosses (basket, sponge, and J-toss) to cradles are prohibited for Elementary School cheerleading teams.
Rule 2.5.11 (USA Cheer Add-on): Tosses (basket, sponge, and J-toss) to cradles for Middle and Junior High School cheerleading teams are permitted provided all the following conditions are met:
a. The toss is a straight-ride toss.
b. Twisting is prohibited.
c. No additional body positions are allowed (i.e., kick, pretty girl, arch, straddle, etc.).
Note – Legal tosses to skills found in Rule 2.5.4 are still legal for Elementary, Middle School, and Junior High cheerleading teams.
In 2010, the AACCA rules (now USA Cheer) prohibited elementary, middle, and junior high school cheerleading teams from performing basket tosses and double downs. As part of an ongoing review of skill progressions at all levels, USA Cheer’s advisory committee has determined that allowing middle and junior high school cheerleading programs to perform a straight ride toss will be a beneficial step in progressing to the skill tosses allowed at the high school level. Tosses to cradles are still prohibited for elementary school teams.
It is essential that middle and junior high teams wishing to perform these straight ride tosses follow skill progressions.
USA Cheer will continue to review and evaluate whether any additional basic skills can be added in the future.
Recommended general progression for straight ride tosses:
Note that at each step involving a cradle, bases must demonstrate catching high, maintaining a close stance, and absorbing with their legs. Flyers must be caught safely without being directed off-center or folding on the catch. The cradle must be caught properly before progressing to the next skill.
- Sponge hang drill demonstrating weight in the flyer’s arms.
- Elevator to Prep with a cradle dismount.
- Elevator to Extension with a cradle dismount.
- Sponge mini toss to cradle.
- Sponge toss to cradle.
- Basket grip hang drill demonstrating weight in the flyer’s arms.
- Basket Extend Drill – load, stand with bases hands extending, back to load.
- Basket mini toss to cradle.
- Basket medium toss to cradle.
- Basket full toss to cradle.
2026-27 NFHS/USA Cheer Rules Changes
Definitions
- Revised definition of loading position/load.
- Revised definition of tumbling.
Clarifying Changes
- 2-4-2c and 3-4-3c: New language added to clarify that new catchers cannot be involved in another skill during non-release transitions from a vertical to horizontal position.
- 2-5-5g (new): New language added to codify that a top person is prohibited from passing over another top person or bracer during stunts.
- 2-5-6e: New language added to clarify that two catchers are required for releases from a vertical to a horizontal position.
New Rules Changes
- 2-3-5a and (new) k: New language added to allow a flip inversion when the top person and bracer have a hand-to-foot connection. Additionally, when a hand-to-foot connection is the only connection, new restrictions have been added.
- 2-3-5d: New language added to allow a bracer to release the top person or move to a load position during a flip inversion when the top person is descending and goes to a cradle, a horizontal position or the performance surface if one of the braced connections is hand to hand/arm.
- 2-5-6c: New language added to allow a single twist during a vertical release from an extended position to an extended position.
- 2-7-8d and 3-7-8d: New language added to allow a ¼ twist during a cradle dismount to new catchers.
The full press release is available here.
NFHS/USA Cheer Rules Course
The Comprehensive Course for coaches covers the entire cheer section of the NFHS/USA Cheer Rules Book (Rules 1, 2, and 3) including the new rules changes for the current year. This course is ideal for new coaches or for coaches who want a refresher course for all rules. The course is $20 for non-members, $15 for members.
2026-27 Comprehensive Course – Coming Soon!
The “Rules Changes Only” course for coaches covers the major rules changes for the current year. This course is ideal for veteran coaches who are already familiar with the current rules. The course is $20 for non-members, $15 for members.
2026-27 Rules Changes Course – Available Now!
The Rules Interpreters course covers the entire book including the new rules changes, with an additional training session on methods and techniques to help interpret rules as well as video testing on rules interpretations.
Pre-Order the 2026-27 NFHS Rules Book
If you normally receive your NFHS Rules Book through your school or state association, you will still receive your book through the same process. If you are unsure of whether you will receive a book through your association, check with your athletics director. The 26-27 book will be available for shipping in June. If you would like to pre-order a book, you may do so below soon!
Rule Interpretations
Rule interpretations are the responsibility of each state association or event producer. USA Cheer provides a video library of rules interpretations below. These videos are reviewed by USA Cheer and by members of the NFHS Spirit Rules committee, but they are not binding in every state. They are provided to help educate coaches and rules interpreters about the rules. Please use your state or event’s rules process to confirm legality.