USASF Professional Responsibility Code 2019-2020 9.0 | Page 43

Coaches must be discretionary with minor athletes to meet age appropriateness.
CHEER TEAMS MAKEUP
Judges reserve the right to assess warnings and/or deductions
when a team’s overall presentation does not meet the standards
of ‘appropriate’ as described in this policy. Overall presentation
includes, but is not limited to choreography, uniform, make up, hair,
and bows. If worn, makeup should be uniform and appropriate for both the
performance and the age of the athletes utilizing neutral colors
for eyes and skin. Face/Eyelid Rhinestones are not allowed. False
eyelashes are allowed but may not be decorated in rhinestones or
additional jewelry.
COVER UP GUIDELINES HAIR
Athletes with non-full top uniforms must wear a t-shirt or other
suitable cover up over their uniforms unless they are in the warm-up
area, traveling as a group directly to or from the warm up area, or on
the performance stage. Hair must be secured off of the face with a simple and unexaggerated
style that is adaptable to all diversities.
APPROPRIATE CHOREOGRAPHY
All facets of a performance/routine, including both choreography and
music selection, should be appropriate and suitable for family viewing and
listening.
Examples of inappropriate choreography may include, but are not limited
to, movements such as hip thrusting and inappropriate touching, gestures,
hand/arm movements and signals, slapping, positioning of body parts and
positioning to one another. Music or words unsuitable for family listening,
which includes, but is not limited to swear words and connotations of any
type of sexual act or behavior, drugs, explicit mention of specific parts
of the body torso, and/or violent acts or behavior are other examples of
inappropriate choreography. Removing improper language or words from
a song and replacing with sound effects or other words may still constitute
‘inappropriate.’
Music or movement in which the appropriateness is questionable or with
which uncertainty exists should be assumed by the coach to be inappropriate
and removed as to not put their team in an unfortunate situation.
BOWS
Bows should not be excessive in size and shouldn’t be a distraction to
the performance. Bows should be worn in a manner to minimize risk
for the participants, should be adequately secured and should not fall
over the forehead into the participants’ eyes or block the view of the
participant while performing.
APPROPRIATE UNIFORM: GENERAL
UNIFORM GUIDELINES
No risqué, sexually provocative or lingerie looking inspired uniform
or garments allowed. All uniform pieces should adequately cover
athlete and must be secured to eliminate any possible wardrobe
malfunction. Appropriate undergarments must be worn.
APPENDIX H - ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
In addition to the below specific guidelines, coaches must also
consider that a combination of uniform pieces may also deem a
uniform appropriate or inappropriate. ALL garments must properly
cover the athlete and the athlete’s undergarments during the routine.
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