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Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches

Rule Interpretation

RULE INTERPRETATION

Contact Julie Jacobson or Jessica Pankow with any questions or concerns related to NFHS and USASF regulations.  Please note the new emails listed below and disregard previously used email.

Cheer questions email cheerrules@wacpc.com

Dance questions email dancerules@wacpc.com

Skills and Music Submissions

Is This Legal?
How to get a FAST ruling on skills! 

If you are a WACPC member and have a question as to whether a skill is legal or not, you may submit a video for our Tech Judges to determine legality.  You may also submit a copy of your music for our Tech Judges to determine appropriateness. 

Here are important tips to help us get your results back to you as quickly as possible.

1. To get a reply your email must follow the guidelines listed on the right. 

2. Coaches are encouraged to review videos and audio files prior to sending them to ensure they are clear and may be utilized for review.

Please allow 4-7 business days for a reply.  Response time is likely to increase leading up to major events due to the volume of inquiries, so please be patient and plan accordingly.

Replies will be based on the 2022-2023 NFHS Spirit Rules and WACPC Competition Handbook.

WACPC MUSIC APPROVAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

In order for the most accurate decision to be made regarding music, it is requested that:

  • a complete recording of the piece, as it will be used, be sent to music@wacpc.com 
  • a lyrics sheet also be sent with the music submission. (Often it is easier to make the determination if the entire piece can be analyzed rather than take parts out of context.)
  • the full name of the school is included on the submission.
  • Every email must contain your name, the name of your team, and the division/category for which you are requesting a ruling.
  • Audio files should consist of the cut you intend on using. We will not rule on a portion of a song.
  • Our ruling is only valid if the music used is the same in the audio file as at an event. If called on music we said was legal, then the tech judge at the event should point out the difference.
  • If you have questions regarding multiple audio files they should be sent in separate emails.
  • It is your responsibility to have the original email containing the ruling with you at events. This specifically means the email directly from music@wacpc.com, not a forwarded version of the email.
  • Audio files submitted are subject to be used for educational purposes. If you want your music excluded, please indicate that when sending the audio file. 

Any submission which is incomplete will be returned without a decision and will need to be resubmitted.

The decision will be archived for use by rules judges. This process may require up to 5-7 days.

WACPC SKILL APPROVAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

  • Every email must contain your name, the name of your team, and the division/category for which you are requesting a ruling.
  • We cannot rule on written descriptions of a skill, you must submit video.
  • Every email must include a video of the skill for which you are seeking a ruling. Videos must be of exactly what you want a ruling on. We will not rule on a portion of a video, or a skill based on a video with a description of a difference.
  • Videos should be filmed specifically for the purpose of getting a ruling.
  • Videos must be of your athletes in a practice environment.
  • Videos must be of a single skill or sequence.
  • Videos from competitions, of more than one skill or sequence, or believed to be of other groups/teams will not receive a reply.
  • If you have questions regarding multiple skills they should be sent in separate emails. Sending multiple angles of the same skill in a single email is allowed, but a separate email is required for each different skill.
  • We can only tell you a skill is LEGAL or ILLEGAL for a specific division/category along with citing the rule violated. We will not assist with changing choreography.
  • We only rule on the legality of the skill in the video, not the participants.
  • Our ruling is only valid if the skill is performed the same way in the video as at an event. If called on a skill we said was legal, then the tech judge at the event should point out the difference.
  • Please watch the video before sending it in to make sure it’s clear. Videos must display in an upright manner when viewed from a computer.
  • Please ensure there are no extra people in the video that could impact the ruling, such as someone that is in view that could incorrectly be considered a spotter.
  • It is your responsibility to have the original email containing the ruling with you at events. This specifically means the email directly from cheerrules@wacpc.com or dancerules@wacpc.com, not a forwarded version of the email.
  • Videos submitted are subject to be used for educational purposes. If you want your video excluded, please indicate that when sending the video.

Any submission which is incomplete will be returned without a decision and will need to be resubmitted.

The decision will be archived for use by rules judges. This process may require up to 4-7 days.