2025 University Cheer Rules & Scoring Comprehensive Notes

2025 University Cheer Rules & Scoring

University Cheer Team Composition

• 1.1 Team Composition: Teams must consist of 100% current university student athletes from the same institution.
• 1.2 Student ID Verification: Athletes must provide their University Student ID on the entry form and present the card for verification.
• 1.3 Crossovers: Crossovers from University and All Star teams are allowed.
• 1.4 Restriction: Athletes cannot compete twice in the same university cheer level.
• 1.5 All Star Divisions: Universities can compete in All Star divisions with teams composed of current students, alumni, and external athletes, following All Star rules. Crossovers into All Star teams are NOT permitted
• 1.6 Rules and Requirements: Refer to the Division Grid for specific rules, score sheets, and cheer/chant requirements.
• 1.7 Skill Guidelines: Refer to IASF/UWCC rules for allowed skills. Exceptions include level 1/2 NT allowing any IASF level-appropriate tumbling and prop usage during the chant section.
  • 1.7.1 IASF: International All Star Federation rules can be found at: https://www.iasfworlds.net/cheer/
  • 1.7.2 UWCC: University World Cup Cheerleading rules (General Guidelines and Specific Safety Guidelines sections) can be found at: https://cheerunion.org/championships/university/

University Cheer Divisions

The following table outlines the different university cheer divisions, including the number of athletes, level, rules, score sheet used, chant requirement, and time limit:

FISU Divisions

• Elite & Premier University & FISU divisions will be combined unless there are 9 or more teams in the division and there are at least 3 teams in each split.

University Cheer Score Sheets

• 2.1 Level 1/2 Non Tumble: Judged on the All Girl University score sheet but split into Coed and AG divisions. Requires a chant.
• 2.2 Level 3/4: Judged on the Coed or AG University score sheet and divided into Coed and AG divisions. Requires a chant.
• 2.3 ELITE & PREMIER: Judged on the Coed or AG University score sheet and divided into Coed and AG divisions. Require a chant.

University Cheer Score Sheet Breakdown

• 3.1 Six Score Sheets:
  • Crowd Leading
  • Building Difficulty
  • Building Execution
  • Non-Tumble Overall (1/2)/Overall Tumble (3/4, Elite & Premier)
  • Deductions
  • Legalities
• 3.2 Detailed Elements: Each score sheet contains detailed elements relevant to the style being judged.
• 3.3 Separate Panel Judges: All score sheets are judged by separate panel judges.
• 3.4 Crowd Leading: Crowd Leading judges only assess the CHANT component; skills in the chant do not transfer to other score sheets.

University Level 1/2 Non-Tumble Division

• 4.1 Tumbling: Level-appropriate tumbling is permitted, but there is no dedicated tumbling scoring section. Tumbling will be subject to routine and rule infractions/deductions.

Cheer Routine Time Limits

• 5.1 Time Limits:
  • Level 1/2 NT, 3/4, Elite & Premier: 2.30 minutes total.
  • Music: Maximum of 1.45 minutes for the Cheer Routine element.
  • Chant and Transitions: 45 seconds, including transitions from Cheer Routine to Chant, not exceeding the 2.30 minutes.
  • Timing: Begins with the first movement, voice, or note of music.
  • Penalties: Applied if the routine exceeds 2.30 minutes.

Penalties for Cheer Rule Infractions and Deductions

• 6.1 Deduction System: All University divisions follow the same deduction system as All Star Routines (AASCF Cheer Deduction System).
• International Competition Note: Teams competing internationally (e.g., University World Cup Cheerleading Competition) should refer to that competition’s deduction system, as time limit and boundary violation deductions may be greater.

University Crowd Leading Cheer Score Sheet Explanation

Crowd Leading (9-15 points)

• 7.1 Crowd Leading Ability/Ability to Lead the Crowd, Voice, Pace, Flow (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Ability to encourage crowd involvement with clear and loud volume, suitable pace, and seamless flow while maintaining crowd engagement.
• 7.2 Crowd Leading Ability with Proper Use of Signs, Poms, Megaphones & Motion Technique (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Effective use of signs, poms, megaphones, and motions to encourage crowd involvement with sharpness, precision, superior motion control, synchronization, and sharpness.
• 7.3 Ability and Energy to Lead the Crowd (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Genuine use of projection and energy to encourage crowd involvement and effectively direct the crowd.

Skills Incorporations (9-15 points)

• 8.1 Proper Use of Skills to Lead the Crowd (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Suitable use of skills like stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, tumbling, and jumps to direct the crowd. Skills should enhance and complement crowd leading quality.
• 8.2 Difficulty of Practical Skills (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: The difficulty of practical skills (does not reflect execution). Effective incorporation of challenging skills that are practical and suitable. Only skills performed in the cheer/sideline count.
• 8.3 Performance - Proper Technique, Synchronization, Spacing (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper execution of skills. How well the team performs together, maintains uniformity, accuracy, and control. Ability to position themselves with correct distances between each other.

Overall Cheer Impression (3-5 points)

• 9.1 Credited for: Appropriateness of cheer/sideline and choreography. Did the cheer/sideline leave a memorable and lasting impression?

University All Girl Cheer Score Sheet Explanation

Stunts (8-15 points)

• 10.1 Execution of Skills - Proper Technique, Synchronization, Spacing (5-10 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in stunts, form and flexibility of top, appearance of stunts, completion of skills and minimal movement of bases. Team performance and uniformity.
• 10.2 Difficulty – Level of Skill, Number of Bases, Number of Stunt Groups, Transitions, Variety (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Difficulty of stunts, incorporation of level-appropriate skills, number of bases (fewer = more difficult), number of stunts (higher = more difficult), transitions, variety, and pace.

Pyramids (8-15 points)

• 11.1 Execution of Skills – Proper Technique, Synchronization, Spacing (5-10 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in pyramids, form and flexibility of top, appearance of pyramids, completion of skills and minimal movement of bases. Team performance and uniformity.
• 11.2 Difficulty – Level of Skill, Number of Bases, Number of Structures, Transitions, Creativity (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Difficulty of pyramids, incorporation of level-appropriate skills, number of bases (fewer = more difficult), number of structures (more = more difficult), formation changes, transitions, variety, creativity, and pace.

Basket Tosses (3-5 points)

• 12.1 Execution of Skills, Synchronization & Variety (When Applicable), Performance (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in tosses, height, form and flexibility of top, appearance of toss, completion of skills and minimal unintentional traveling of tosses. Team performance, timing, uniformity, accuracy, control, variety, and excitement.

Group Tumbling (3-5 points) - not included in Level 1/2 Non-Tumbling division

• 13.1 Group Tumbling, Execution of Skills, Difficulty, Proper Technique, and Synchronization (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of GROUP tumbling with proper technique, form, appearance, and completion of skills. Difficulty, number of tumblers, specialty passes, synchronized tumbling, timing, and uniformity. Individual passes are not credited. Standing or running tumbling or both.

Dance (3-5 points)

• 14.1 Technique, Motions, Sharpness, Spacing, Levels, Timing, Choreography, Placement, Visual Appeal (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Proper execution of dance elements, perfection, synchronization, sharpness, strength, placement of motions and dance moves, spacing, innovative choreography, multiple visual elements, variety of levels, ability to perform visual ideas to enhance overall appeal.

Overall Presentation (3-5 points)

• 15.1 Overall Choreography, Creativity, Flow, Formations & Transitions, Pace, Showmanship (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Appropriateness of choreography, incorporation of innovative and creative ideas, flow, seamlessness of routine, formations/transitions, visual impact, spacing, pace, energy, enthusiasm, showmanship, and crowd appeal. Did the performance leave a memorable and lasting impression?

University Coed Cheer Score Sheet Explanation

Stunts (11-20 points)

• 16.1 Execution of Skills – Proper Technique, Synchronization, Spacing (5-10 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in stunts, form and flexibility of top, appearance of stunts, completion of skills and minimal movement of bases. Team performance and uniformity.
• 16.2 Difficulty – Level of Skill, Number of Bases, Number of Stunt Groups, Transitions, Variety (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Difficulty of stunts, incorporation of level-appropriate skills, number of bases (fewer = more difficult), number of stunts (higher = more difficult), transitions, variety, and pace.
• 16.3 Use of Coed Skills/Partner Stunts Throughout Routine (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Use of assisted and/or unassisted coed skills/partner stunts. Demonstration of proper technique, form, flexibility, appearance, completion, and minimal base movement.

Pyramids (8-15 points)

• 17.1 Execution of Skills – Proper Technique, Synchronization, Spacing (5-10 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in pyramids, form and flexibility of top, appearance of pyramids, completion of skills and minimal movement of bases. Team performance and uniformity.
• 17.2 Difficulty – Level of Skill, Number of Bases, Number of Structures, Transitions, Creativity (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Difficulty of pyramids, incorporation of level-appropriate skills, number of bases (fewer = more difficult), number of structures (more = more difficult), formation changes, transitions, variety, creativity, and pace.

Basket Tosses (3-5 points)

• 18.1 Execution of Skills, Synchronization & Variety (When Applicable), Performance (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of proper technique in tosses, height, form and flexibility of top, appearance of toss, completion of skills and minimal unintentional traveling of tosses. Team performance, timing, uniformity, accuracy, control, variety, and excitement.

Group Tumbling (3-5 points)

• 19.1 Group Tumbling, Execution of Skills, Difficulty, Proper Technique, and Synchronization (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Demonstration of GROUP tumbling with proper technique, form, appearance, and completion of skills. Difficulty, number of tumblers, specialty passes, synchronized tumbling, timing, and uniformity. Individual passes are not credited. Standing or running tumbling or both.

Overall Presentation (3-5 points)

• 20.1 Overall Choreography, Creativity, Flow, Formations & Transitions, Pace, Showmanship (3-5 pts)
  • Credited for: Appropriateness of choreography, incorporation of innovative and creative ideas, flow, seamlessness of routine, formations/transitions, visual impact, spacing, pace, energy, enthusiasm, showmanship, and crowd appeal. Did the performance leave a memorable and lasting impression?