3.5
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
3.5.1
Cheerleading - Cheerleading is an activity that comes under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association in two areas – eligibility and health and safety guidelines (including Return to Play form,
etc.). Head Cheerleading coaches are required to attend the annual rules meeting.
(a)
All information pertaining to cheerleading should be found in this section of the Handbook or online.
(b)
All NCHSAA member schools that sponsor cheerleading are required to follow NFHS Spirit Rules.
(c)
NFHS Spirit rulebooks are sent to athletic directors.
(d)
The head cheerleading coach is required to maintain safety certification through the NFHS and USA
Cheer's "Cheer and Dance Safety Certification” course once every four years. Fundamentals of Coaching is
not required.
(e)
Cheerleaders, both junior varsity and varsity, must have their eligibility certified in the same manner
as other interscholastic student-athletes.
(f)
The Head Coach must attend one of the NCHSAA clinics [See Rule 3.3.6(d)(2)].
(g)
It is strongly recommended that, before a cheerleading squad uses NFHS spirit rules, that the coach
or advisor for the cheerleaders consider their application with the training, experience and athletic
ability of the student-athletes under supervision.
(h)
Please be aware that the membership entities may have more restrictive guidelines and regulations.
(i)
Philosophy of Cheerleading - Cheerleaders serve as a support group for the different interscholastic
athletic teams within their schools.
(1)
Cheerleaders should always strive to improve student morale, boost team spirit, and help a
school achieve the most worthwhile objectives in its interscholastic program.
(2)
Positive crowd and student body involvement, directed by the cheerleading squad in support
of the school team, should be a major goal.
3.5.2
Cheerleading Invitational
(a)
Date - Decemeber 6, 2025
(b)
Site - Raleigh Convention Center
(c)
Team Registration - Registration and other additional information is available at www.nchsaa.org.
3.5.3
Scholar-Athlete Awards
(a) Team Awards - A team is composed of the student-athletes in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 noted on the NCH
SAA Master Eligibility List and certified for game/meet/match participation. The student-athletes must par
ticipate on the team at the high school Varsity level. The student-athlete must remain a member of the ath
letic team for the full/total designated sport season. Teams must meet the following mininum participation
requirements: Swimming and Diving – 6, Women’s Golf – 3, Men’s Golf – 4, Women’s Wrestling – 7, Men’s
Wrestling – 8, Track and Field – 2, Cross Country – 5 and Tennis – 4.
(1)
Any varsity team with an UNWEIGHTED 3.100 or higher composite grade average for the
designated semester would be eligible to receive a team academic award.
(2)
A team certificate will be awarded to each eligible school (for each of its eligible teams) and a
team recognition certificate will be awarded to each member of an eligible team.
(3)
In each sport approved by the NCHSAA, a team plaque will be awarded to the team (from
those applications that are turned into the NCHSAA) in the state which has the highest team
grade point average for the designated semester.
(4)
Cheerleading, although not officially recognized as a “sport,” is eligible for this program since
eligibility must be certified and other requirements met. Cheerleaders will be part of the
FALL semester and submitted for grades earned during that semester.
(5)
For each team (men’s and women’s are considered separate teams) nomination, a separate
team application form must be filled out. If four different teams from a school are nominated,
then four different forms must be filled out. (The team GPA must be listed on the application.)
(6)
All members of the team must be listed and their grade point average indicated, carried to
three places, to be considered. Numerical grades (95.177, for example may not be used.)
(7)
Please note the deadlines: Fall/Winter- March 15 and Spring- July 15. Applications for team
awards which come in after the deadline will not be considered.
(8)
Fall and winter sports awards will be based on grades earned for the first semester of the
school year. Spring sports awards will be based on grades earned for the second semester of
the school year. Examples: fall and winter include football, volleyball, and women’s tennis,
women’s golf, cross country, men’s soccer, basketball, indoor track, swimming, wrestling, and
cheerleading. Spring includes baseball, softball, women’s soccer, men’s golf, men’s and wom-
en’s track, and men’s tennis.
(b) Individual Awards - A student-athlete, participating as an individual representing their school.
(1)
Individuals who are members of athletic teams and who obtain a 3.500 or higher grade
point average for the designated semester may receive an individual scholar athlete certifi
73