I. Regular Season Schedules.

A. Regular Season. Each year the Association shall conduct a regular schedule of games for each division.

1. The schedule shall provide for games by teams fielded by participating Areas only. Non sanctioned PYFA games and competitions are prohibited during the season.

2. Practice will not begin prior to 20 July of the current year. The official start of the PYFA season is the first day of practice. Cheer competitions, outside of the PYFA Cheer Off, during the season are prohibited for cheerleaders participating in the Cheer Off. The season is considered over the day after the PYFA Cheer Off. Conditioning is permitted during the summer.

3. Squads must have a minimum of three (3) practice days of physical conditioning before starting stunting drills.

II. Area and Team.

A. Organization.

1. Team Coaching Requirements: All cheer coaches are encouraged to take the NFHS Cheer Safety Course prior to the official league start date. All coaches will have PYFA badges prior to the first game and can be purchased for $10 from the PYFA. All football AND cheer Head Coaches and assistants must have background checks for the current year completed and on file with their Area Board. If a current background check is not provided, that coach will not be eligible to coach until it is provided to the Area Board. Each Area is responsible for determining how to fund background checks for their coaches.

2. Participation Requirements: Areas must provide Cheerleader ID cards and birth certificates. All ID cards must be signed and stamped at designated card signing date by PYFA. Cheerleaders will not be allowed to participate in games or Cheer Off without an approved Cheer ID card. Area must pay PYFA Cheer Off Dues of $100 per cheer team at time of card signing Which shall include 1 head coach badge per team registered for Cheer Off.

3. Meeting Etiquette: Any Director that raises their voice in an aggressive manner at any other meeting attendee will immediately be asked to leave. This will result in a Strike against that specific Directors organization. Any organization with 2 strikes in the same season will be BANNED from competition and ineligible for refund of any pre-paid PYFA dues.

III. Season Sideline Rules. All sideline squads shall abide by the USA Cheer Youth Rec Sideline Rules, found at usacheer.org, during rec league games. These rules do not apply when performing competition-style routines. USA Cheer has recommended ages for levels; however, individual areas are allowed to decide which level best fits their squads. Regardless of the upper age on a squad, coaches should always be mindful of the ability, maturity, and preparedness level of each individual and what skills they are performing. Level specific rules can be found in the rules grid of the USA Cheer Youth Rec Sideline Rules. All sideline squads shall declare their level as defined by these rules. General rules for all levels are as follows: 1. All skills legal for sideline cheering can be performed on artificial/live grass, rubberized track, or matted surface. No skills are allowed on asphalt, concrete, or any other similar surface. 2. Uniforms must be appropriate for youth rec cheerleading. When standing at attention, apparel must cover the midriff. 3. Fingernails, including artificial nails, must be kept short, near the end of the fingers. 4. Hair must be worn in a manner that is appropriate for the activity involved. Hair devices and accessories must be secure. In general, hair should be pulled back away from the face and secured. 5. Supports, braces, soft casts, etc., that are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production do not require any additional padding. Supports/braces that have been altered from the manufacturer’s original design/production must be padded with a closed cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than one-half inch thick if the participant is involved in partner stunts, pyramids, or tosses. A participant wearing a plaster cast or a walking boot must not be involved in partner stunts, pyramids, tosses, jumps, or tumbling.

6. Jewelry of any kind is prohibited except for the following: a religious medal without a chain is allowed but must be taped and worn under the uniform. A medical-alert medal must be taped and may be visible. 7. Use of mini-tramps, springboards, spring-assisted floors, or any height increasing apparatus is not permitted for use at any time other than practices under the direct supervision of someone trained in their use. 8. Participants must not chew gum or have candy in their mouths during practice or performance. 9. Cheerleaders must remain outside of the playing area during a 30 second or less time out. 10. The only props allowed to be used are megaphones, poms, signs, and flags. The only props allowed to be used while in stunts or pyramids are poms or signs in use by the top person only. A top can hand a sign to a base or spotter with the intent of immediately releasing it to the ground as long as the top person is not extended. 11. Participants must not stunt or tumble when the ball is in play. 12. All cheer squads must cheer from the designated sideline area during games. While squads may take breaks under the team tent as needed, active cheering must take place on the sideline. Cheerleaders are not permitted to cheer from the stands.

IV. PYFA CHEER OFF

I. General. A. Rules. 1. All squads will abide by the 2026 PYFA Cheer Off Rules and Rubric unless a rule is specifically superseded by a rule in these by-laws. 2. All members of the cheer squad must be current members of the Panhandle Youth Football Association (PYFA) as defined by the PYFA bylaws. 3. Cheer Off Rosters and Player Cards must be submitted to the PYFA no later than October 6th by using the link found Below and in the PYFA Link Tree. Failure to submit prior to the deadline will disqualify the squad(s) from competing at the PYFA Cheer Off. Link: https://forms.gle/4L6gCNwTuT1TXR5T9 4. Age Requirement: Age as of July 1st. . Each individual league will abide by PYFA age requirements for the Cheer Off and: A. Each cheerleader will stay in the age division of that squad. UNLESS a. Squads must be combined to ensure at least ten cheerleaders are on a squad to compete. Squads may compete with as few as five cheerleaders at the organizations discretion. If squads combine to compete, they will compete in the age division of the average age of the cheerleaders on the squad. OR b. Organizations that have more than 32 cheerleaders registered within their PYFA designated age division must move the oldest of that division to the next division. To compete under the average age rule. If this causes the squad to compete against a squad within the same organization, the organization

may choose to move the squad of oldest cheerleaders up to the next division. B. Organizations may submit a waiver to the PYFA in the event that their organization has needs outside of those listed above. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Cheer Coordinator, Assistant Cheer Coordinator, and the PYFA President.

*Average age is found by adding all ages of the cheerleaders on the squad then dividing by the number of cheerleaders. If the age is above the .1 mark the age shall be rounded up to compete in the appropriate age division. EXAMPLE : the average age of a combined squad that is 8.1 shall compete in the 9 year old age division. 5. Each individual league will be responsible to inform parents of this rule prior to placing a cheerleader on the roster. 6. Practices for cheerleaders will NOT exceed eight (8) hours per week prior to the first game. After the first game of the season, practices will NOT exceed six (6) hours per week. Two (2) weeks prior to Cheer Off, practice can be extended to eight (8) hours per week. 7. Each squad’s routine will be two minutes and 30 seconds (2:30) in length. Music will be one minute and 30 seconds (1:30) maximum. Routines will include: a) One (1) Dance (max 1:30) b) One (1) Cheer/Chant 8. Coaches may set up signs, props, etc. but must exit to the sideline. The coaches may remain squatting down in front of the squad off the mat in a designated area, during the performance. Coaches of the Junior/Senior age divisions may not perform the full routine from the coach box during the competition. a) Coaches may step on the performance area as spotters only. b) Coaches are allowed two (2) minutes to set up props. A five (5) point deduction by each judge will be assessed if over the two (2) minute time limit. c) Timing of all routines will begin with a signal from the coach or designee within the squad. 9. Each squad will be responsible for their music selection/mixes. Music per division/squad must be provided to the designated sound personnel a minimum of one (1) hour prior to the competition time. Each League Cheer Coordinator should check in with the hosting facility on time to ensure the music is compatible with the equipment being used at the competition. Any music that contains profanity or inappropriate content, at the discretion of the PYFA, will automatically disqualify the squad.

10. Participation Guidelines for 4-Year-Old Cheerleaders Leagues that register 4-year-old athletes may choose for these participants to perform an exhibition routine rather than compete in the formal competition. However, if a league determines that its 4-year-old cheerleaders are prepared and capable of participating competitively, they may opt to include them in the competition. Exhibition squads composed solely of 4-year-olds will not be required to pay the $100 competition registration fee.

II. Performance. A. Scoring. 1. Each squad participating shall abide by the 2026 PYFA Cheer Off Rules and Rubric. 2. Each squad should compile a routine using the guidance of the 2026 PYFA Cheer Off Rules and Rubric. 3. Squads may register to compete within their age division and will be judged based on the scoring rubric for that level. However, only one grand divisional champion will be recognized per division regardless of level performed. B. Appearance. 1. Full uniform – must be neat and clean with athletic shoes only. 2. Props may be used in accordance with the rules set forth in this document. 3. NO jewelry. This is a safety hazard. 4. Make-up and glitter may be used. 5. Hair – must be neat and out of the face. 6. Face tattoos/stickers may be worn. C. Interruption of Performance. 1. If the routine is interrupted because of failure of the official equipment, facilities, or other factors attributable to the competition rather than the squad, the squad affected should immediately stop their routine. The squad will be afforded the opportunity to present its routine from the beginning. 2. In the event a squad’s routine is interrupted because of failure of the squad’s own equipment, the squad must either continue the routine or withdraw from the competition. 3. In the event that an injury causes the squad’s routine to be interrupted, the squad must either continue with the routine or withdraw from the competition. The PYFA Cheer Director

reserves the right to stop the routine if any injury occurs. At that time the squad should stop their routine immediately and will be afforded the opportunity to start from the beginning. D. Disqualifications. 1. Any squad that does not adhere to the terms and procedures of the PYFA Cheer Off rules will be subject to disqualification from the Cheer Off and will automatically forfeit any right to any prizes, refunds, or awards presented by the PYFA. E. Procedural Questions. 1. Any questions concerning the rules or procedures of the Cheer Off will be handled by the League Cheer Coordinator or designee of the squad in conjunction with the PYFA Cheer Director Such questions should be made prior to the competition and the squad’s performance. 2. Questions concerning the final scores or squad ranking must be handled exclusively by the League Cheer Coordinator and directed to the PYFA Cheer Director. This must be done within five (5) days of the competition. F. Sportsmanship. All participants agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship throughout the Cheer Off. The League Cheer Coordinator or designee for each squad is responsible for seeing that squad members, coaches, parents, and any other persons affiliated with the squad conduct themselves accordingly. Severe cases of unsportsmanlike conduct are grounds for disqualification. G. Scores, Ranking, and Judging Criteria. 1. There will be a minimum of three (3) judges, age 21 or older, that are not affiliated with the PYFA. The judges are chosen by the PYFA President and will be trained on scoring rubrics. 2. Individual judges score sheets are for the exclusive use of each particular judge and will be available to the League Cheer Coordinator or designee. Each judge has the responsibility and authority to review and submit his/her final scores and ranking of each squad prior to the final tally of the scores for all areas. All scores are final upon submission by the judges to the PYFA Cheer Director Scoring will be based on the 2026 PYFA Cheer Off Rules and Rubric 3. Deductions will follow the 2026 PYFA Cheer Off Rules and Rubric. H. Interruptions and/or Rulings. Any interruption of any aspect of the PYFA Cheer Off rules or involving any other aspect of the Cheer Off will be rendered by the PYFA Cheer Off Committee and judges. The PYFA Cheer Director will render a judgment in an effort to ensure that the Cheer Off proceeds in a manner consistent with the general spirit and goals of the Cheer Off. Examples: Injury, safety issues, etc.

I. Awards. 1. Each League will compete for an Overall Spirit Stick Award. Each league will receive individual scores per squad. The total of the individual scores will be tallied for an overall league score. The league with the highest score will be the Grand Champion. 2. Each league will compete individual for a Grand Divisional Squad Winner as follows: a) Boomer Divisional Winner b) Peewee Divisional Winner c) Junior Divisional Winner d) Senior Divisional Winner J. Hosting the PYFA Cheer Off. 1. The Cheer Off is hosted by the PYFA and organized by the PYFA Event Coordinator. 2. The PYFA Committee is responsible for: a) Securing a location to host the Cheer Off. ***The location may vary and must be large enough to accommodate a large number of people. b) Acquiring judges that are not affiliated with the PYFA as set forth in the PYFA Cheer Bylaws. Judges must be 21 years of age or older. c) Acquiring a sound technician for the Cheer Off. d) Securing 9 (6 x 42) cheer mats for the competition floor. Floor size shall meet standard competition requirements and be 42 x 54 in dimension. e) Contacting each area/league coordinator with registration forms, team fees, judge score sheets, etc. f) Purchasing all awards to be given out at the Cheer Off as follows: • One (1) Overall Spirit Stick • One (1) Boomer Divisional Trophy, Banner, and Rings • One (1) Boomer Runner Up 2nd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Boomer 3rd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Peewee Divisional Trophy, Banner, & Rings • One (1) Peewee Runner Up 2nd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Peewee 3rd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Junior Divisional Trophy, Banner, & Rings • One (1) Junior Runner up 2nd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Junior 3rd Place Trophy & Banner • One (1) Senior Divisional Trophy, Banner, & Rings

• One (1) Senior Runner up Trophy & Banner • One (1) Senior 3rd Place Trophy & Banner

3. An admission fee of $5.00 per person may be charged. Children under age 5 are free. Players wearing their PYFA jerseys are allowed in for free. All proceeds will go toward the cost of the Cheer Off with any excess being reserved for the following years Cheer Off expenses. 4. Registration for Cheer Off will be $100 per squad this includes 1 head coach badge for each team. All proceeds will go toward the cost of the Cheer Off with any excess being reserved for the following years Cheer Off expenses. 5. The PYFA Cheer Director is responsible for designing a Cheer Off T-shirt, ordering, and selling at the Cheer Off. All proceeds will go toward the cost of the Cheer Off with any excess being reserved for the following years Cheer Off expenses.