South Dakota Changes – Competitive Cheer

2023 South Dakota Changes, Clarifications & Reminders

  • There will be a five-minute maximum time limit for warm-up on the competitive floor for each team with the option for host schools to schedule the time or not.

  • Tweak the Pyramid category in the five-point difficulty to say three advanced entries or release transitions.

  • Co-ed Revision: If a team has one or less male competitors on the squad, they will compete in the Stunting/Tumbling category. If a team has more than one male competitor, they must compete in Co-ed Stunting/Tumbling. Cheer would then have two categories: Stunting/Tumbling and Co-ed Stunting/Tumbling. For Co-ed
    Stunting/Tumbling to compete for the Overall Co-ed Grand Champion, there must be a minimum of four Co-ed teams
    entered. Awards will be based on the number of teams competing in that category. The Co-ed category will be one class only.
    • Note: Stunting/Tumbling teams during the regular season (both Stunting/Tumbling and Co-ed Stunting/Tumbling) will compete in one category with the team placements in one category.

  • Number of judges: three performance and two safety judges will be used at the State Competition (local decision for regular season).

  • Inquiry Process: Upon completion of each routine, the safety judge will meet with a designated coach in front of the judges table to inform the coach of any safety violations. A brief explanation will be shared with the coach. If the
    conference becomes confrontational, an unsporting deduction may be assessed.

South Dakota Modifications to NFHS Rules

  • No glitter hairspray is allowed.

  • Head judge will be designated for both cheer and dance. Judges scores from low to high be no more than 10 points.