Source: http://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource-content/spirit-rules-changes-2018-19/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 05:55:45+00:00

Document:
1-Definitions (NEW): Head Spring - A tumbling skill in which a person places both hands and their head on the performing surface, pushes off with the hands while flipping the legs overhead and landing on their feet.
Rationale: A rule regarding head springs was added.
1-Definitions (NEW): Head Spin - A skill in which a person balances on their head while rotating on the performing surface.
Rationale: A rule regarding head spins was added.
1-Definitions (NEW): Headstand - A skill in which a person balances on their head on the performing surface.
Rationale: A rule regarding headstands was added.
1-Definitions: Non-release Stunt – A stunt in which contact is maintained between a top person and base(s).a person on the performing surface.
Rationale: Contact can be maintained by a base, spotter, or post. The revised definition more accurately describes the skill.
1-Definitions: Swedish Fall – An extended stunt in which the top person in a prone position supports her own upper body by placing her hands on the shoulders of a base while her lower body is supported by another base's extended arms.
Rationale: The revised definition more accurately describes the stunt.
1-Definitions: Suspended Roll: A stunt in which upright base(s) or post(s) hold a top person's hand(s)/arm(s) while the top person performs continuous hip-over-head rotation.
Rationale: Eliminating “upright” allows more skills to be used without increasing risk.
1-Definitions: Assisted Inverted Floor Skill - An inverted participant on the performing surface that is partially supported by non-inverted participant(s) who is/are also on the performing surface.
Rationale: There are no rules or situations that use this definition. Remove excess content.
1-Definitions: Tension Drop - A partner stunt (e.g. shoulder stand) in which the base leans forward until the top person dismounts to the performing surface without assistance. 3.7.11 Tension drops are not permitted.
1-Definitions (NEW): Shoulder stand - A top person stands on a base's shoulders.
Rationale: Definition needed to interpret skill.
1-Definitions: Release Transition/Release Pyramid Transition – A top person changes from one stunt to another (including loading positions) during a temporary loss of physical contact with his/her base(s). all personnel on the performing surface.
3-1-11 (NEW); 4-1-11 (NEW): Apparel / Accessories: ART. 11 … For religious reasons, in the event there is documented evidence provided to the state association that a participant may not expose his/her uncovered head, the state association may approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other participant and which is attached in such a way it is unlikely to come off during performance.
Rationale: This language is aligned with other NFHS rule books. Religious head covering, wrap, or other required religious garments that are not dangerous or likely to come off during participation are not a risk.
3-2-8 and 4-2-8: Stunting Personnel: (p)ART. 8 … A spotter is required for tosses to single base shoulder stands and single base prep-level stunts in which the foot/feet of the top person are in the hands of the base.
Rationale: Often when performing this skill, the top person's feet get caught on the front of the shoulders of the base and the momentum takes the top person off the back of the stunt with their head toward the ground. The spotting requirement will help decrease safety risk to the top person's head and neck area.
3-3-5b (NEW); 3-3-5g (NEW): ART. 5… Braced flips in a pyramid are permitted provided all the following conditions are met: … b. The top person shall have at least three people involved who were the original bases or spotters. There must be three people involved in the toss and catch of the top person either as a base or spotter. g. When the catchers are not the original bases, the new catchers are in place when the flip is initiated, remain close to the original bases and are not part of any other skill.
Rationale: Allowing three new catchers to catch the top person during a braced flip does not increase the safety risk to the top person.
3-3-6a: (1) ART. 6… In all other inversions: a. Inversions may release to the following provided there is a spotter: 1. Non-inverted dismounts with no more than a ½ turn.
Rationale: Releases from inversion to the performing surface or a cradle should not end in an inverted position for the safety of the top person.
3-3-6b (1) and 4-3-6b(1): ART. 6… In all other inversions: … b. In inversions where the base of support begins and remains below prep level at least one person shall be in a position to protect the head/neck of the top person and shall maintain contact with the top person upper body (waist and above, which may include arms/hands) until the top person is no longer inverted or his/her hands are on the performing surface. The contact shall be sufficient to stabilize/control the top person's position.
Rationale: This will allow additional inversions below prep level while maintaining contact with a base. The risk is limited due to the fact that the top person’s base of support is below prep level and the base will have contact with the top person until they are no longer inverted or have their hands on the performance surface.
3-3-6c and 4-3-6c; 3-3-6c(2) Exceptions 1,2: ART. 6… In all other inversions: … c. Inversions where the base of support begins at or passes through prep level: 1. Require two bases or a base and a spotter. 2. Requires at least two people on the performing surface must be to be in a position to protect the head/neck of the top person, one of whom must maintain contact with the top person's upper body (waist and above, which may include arms/hands) until the top person is no longer inverted or his/her hands are on the performing surface. The contact must be sufficient to stabilize/control the top person's position.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. A foldover that begins at or below prep level and does not stop in an extended position is allowed. When the catchers are not the original bases, the new catchers shall be in place when the inversion is initiated, remain close to the original bases and are not part of any other skill. 2. In a single-base suspended roll, there must be continuous hands-to-hands contact between the base and the top person.
Rationale: Combining c1 and 2 clarifies and simplifies the rule. Exception 1- Allowing new catchers to catch the top person during a foldover does not increase the safety risk of the top person. Exception 2- Eliminating the criteria for continuous hands-to-hands contact does not increase the safety risk. The safety of the top person in a single base suspended roll is covered in the rule and does not require an exception to address the safety of the skill.
3-5-5f: ART. 5 … Release transitions are permitted provided all of the following conditions are met throughout the transition: … f. The top person is caught by original base(s). When the catchers are not the original bases, the new catchers are in place when the transition is initiated, remain close to the original bases and are not part of any other skill.
Rationale: Allowing new catchers to catch the top person during a release does not increase the safety risk for the top person because the new catchers have to remain close to the original bases and must be in place prior to the initiation of the release.
3-7-2 and 4-7-2; 3-7-3 and 4-7-3; 3-7-2 and 4-7-2 (NEW): ART. 2 . . . Dismounts to the performing surface from prep level or above require assistance from a base or spotter. This assistance must be sufficient to slow the momentum of the top person. ART. 3 . . . Dismounts to the performing surface from prep level or above that involve a skill (e.g., toe touch, twist, etc.) require two bases or a base and a spotter. Assistance is required from at least one base or spotter. This assistance must be sufficient to slow the momentum of the top person. ART. 2 … Dismounts to the performing surface from prep level or above are permitted provided the following conditions are met: a. Assistance from a base or spotter is required and the assistance must be sufficient to slow the momentum of the top person. b. If the dismount involves a skill (e.g., toe touch, twist, etc) two bases or a base and a spotter is required, and the assistance must be sufficient to slow the momentum of the top person.
Rationale: This does not change the criteria or rule for dismounts to the performing surface. This change is for formatting purposes, which makes the rule easier to understand and interpret.
4-8-2b: (p) ART. 2 … Tumbling while holding props is not permitted except for the following: … b. holding pom(s) or props during airborne or non-airborne tumbling skills in which hand(s) are not being used for support. The props shall not be made of hard material, have corners, or sharp edges.
Rationale: Allowing soft props for dance for interpretive purposes conforms to the current trends of the sport.
4-8-8 (NEW): Tumbling: … ART. 8 … Headstands, head spins and head springs in which the hands are not used for support are prohibited.

References: ART. 11
 ART. 5
 ART. 6
 ART. 6
 ART. 6
 ART. 5
 ART. 2
 ART. 3
 ART. 2
 ART. 2
 ART. 8