2017-18 NFHS SPIRIT
RULES POWERPOINT
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL
ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS)
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
 NFHS (located in Indianapolis, IN – Est. 1920):
• National leadership organization for high school
sports and fine arts activities;
• National authority on interscholastic
activity programs.
• Conducts national meetings;
• Sanctions interstate events;
• Produces national publication for
high school administrators;
• National source for interscholastic coach
training and national information center.
www.nfhs.org
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
 Membership = 50 member state associations and D.C.
 NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 12
million participants in high school activity programs,
including more than 7.8 million in high school sports.
www.nfhs.org
NFHS RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE
The NFHS Rules Review Committee is chaired by the chief
operating officer and composed of all rules editors. After
each committee concludes its deliberations and has
adopted its recommended changes for the subsequent
year, such revisions will be evaluated by the Rules Review
Committee.
Davis Whitfield
Chief Operating
Officer
Bob Colgate
Football and Sports
Medicine
Sandy Searcy
Softball and
Swimming & Diving
Elliot Hopkins
Baseball and
Wrestling
Mark Koski
Field Hockey
Julie Cochran
Cross Country,
Gymnastics,
Volleyball and
Track & Field
James Weaver
Boys and Girls
Lacrosse and Spirit
Theresia Wynns
Basketball and
Soccer
Dan Schuster
Ice Hockey
www.nfhs.org
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
 The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports
for boys and girls at the high school level.
• Publishes 4 million pieces of materials
annually.
www.nfhs.org
NFHS RULES BOOK AS E-BOOKS
 E-books features:
• Searchable
• Highlight areas of
interest
• Make notes
• Easy navigation
• Adjustable viewing size
• Immediate availability
www.nfhs.org
NEW NFHS RULES APP
 Rules App features:
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Searchable
Highlight notes
Bookmarks
Quizzes for all sports
Easy navigation
Immediate availability
Free to paid members of
the NFHS Coaches and
Officials Associations
• www.nfhs.org/erules for
more information
www.nfhs.org
NFHS SPIRIT RULES COMMITTEE
www.nfhs.org
2017-2018 NFHS
SPIRIT RULES CHANGES
RULE 1 - DEFINITIONS
Rule Change
RULE 1 - DEFINITIONS
 Deletes definitions for downward inversion, front
drop, knee/seat/thigh drop, split drop, sponge and
swan dive.
 Adds definitions for braced flip, braced inversion,
braced roll, prep level and swing roll down (teddy
bear roll down).
 Revises definition for switch liberty.
www.nfhs.org
2017-2018 NFHS Spirit Rules
Changes
RULE 2 – GENERAL RISK MANAGEMENT
RULE 3 – CHEER
RULE 4 – DANCE/DRILL/POM
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 2-1-10 AND 2-1-12
ART. 10 . . . Spirit participants shall remain outside of
the playing area during a 30-second or less time-out
during a basketball game.
ART. 12 . . . Spirit participants shall stand outside the
free-throw lane lines extended toward the sidelines
throughout a basketball game.
 Revised language to match basketball rules book
on cheer squad location during basketball games.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-2-7 AND 4-2-7
ART. 7 . . . A spotter is required for extended stunts or
transitions that stop in an extended position except for
the following:
 Adds the words "extended stunts that stop" to allow
for show-and-go and up-and-over stunts without a
spotter.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-2 AND 4-3-2
ART. 2 . . . An inverted top person may pass through an
extended position but must not begin, end, pause or stop
in an extended inverted position.
 Removes the word static and clarifies article 2.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-3 AND 4-3-3
ART. 3 . . . Braced inversions in a pyramid that do not flip or roll are permitted
provided the following conditions are met:
a. The inverted top person shall have at least two bases or a base and a spotter.
b. If the inverted top person is released the following conditions shall be met:
1. The skills/stunts before and after the release are permitted.
2. Each bracer is at prep level or below. If in a prep or shoulder stand, the
bracer(s) shall have two bases or a base and a spotter.
3. The bracers do not provide primary support for the top person.
4. The top person and base(s) make no more than a ¼ turn around the
bracer in a continuous movement.
5. The top person is caught by original base(s).
6. The top person does not land in an inverted position.
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Reorganizes and clarifies braced inversions in a pyramid.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-3 AND 4-3-3
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-4 AND 4-3-4
ART. 4 . . . Braced rolls in a pyramid are permitted
provided the following conditions are met:
a. The inverted top person has at least two bases or a
base and a spotter.
b. The bracer(s) have two bases or a base and a
spotter.
 Reorganizes and clarifies braced rolls in a pyramid.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-5B-D
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.
c. If the flip ends in a cradle, the bracers may release
the top person once he/ she begins to descend
and is no longer inverted.
d. The top person ends in a non-inverted position.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-6A, B AND 4-3-6A, B
ART. 6 . . . In all other inversions:
a. Inversions may release to the following provided there is a
spotter:
1. Dismounts with no more than a ½ turn.
2. Loading position with no more than ½ turn.
3. A stunt at prep level or below.
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'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 shall be sufficient to stabilize/control the
top person's position.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-6C AND 4-3-6C
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. At least two people on the performing surface must 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 to 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.
2. In a single-base suspended roll, there must be continuous hands-to-hands
contact between the base and top person.
3. The top person must not go directly to an inverted position on the performing
surface from prep level or higher.
4. If caught in a cradle, load or stunt by catchers who are not original bases, the
new catchers are in place and are not involved with any other skill when the
transition is initiated.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-3-8 AND 4-3-8
ART. 8 . . . A Swing Roll Down stunt is not permitted.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-4-3 AND 4-4-11
ART. 3 . . . In pyramids where one extended stunt braces
another extended stunt, the connection must not be
hand/arm to foot/leg.
ART. 11 . . . In pyramids where one extended stunt
braces another extended stunt, the connection must not
be hand/arm to foot/leg.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-4-3 AND 4-4-11
Illegal
Legal
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-5-5C
ART. 5 . . . Release transitions are permitted provided all
of the following conditions are met throughout the
transition:
c. Each bracer is at prep level or below. If at prep level,
the bracer(s) shall have two bases or a base
and a spotter.
 Removes the requirement for spotter a in a doublebased prep.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-6-2 AND 4-6-2
ART. 2 . . . Non-braced suspended splits that originate from or
pass through prep level or above are permitted provided all
the following conditions are met:
a. At least three bases slow the momentum of the top
person.
b. The top person has both hands in contact with a base(s)
once she reaches the full split position.
EXCEPTION: Top person may release one hand to grasp the
hand of another base to adjust his/her position.
 Adds an exception to allow the top to release to grab
another base to adjust position.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-6-2 AND 4-6-2
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 3-8-2 AND 4-8-2
ART. 2 . . . Tumbling while holding props is not permitted
except for the following:
a. a forward roll, backward roll.
b. holding pom(s) during airborne tumbling skills in
which the hand(s) are not being used for support.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 4-4-2
ART. 2 . . . Stunts/lifts in which base(s) support(s) an
extended top person under the foot/feet and stop in an
extended position are not permitted in Dance/Drill/Pom.
Removes the word static.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
RULE 4-7-7 AND 4-7-8
ART. 7 . . . A skill (e.g., toe touch, twist, etc.) must not be
performed to a cradle in dance/drill/pom.
ART. 8 . . . A twist to the performing surface must not
involve more than 1¼ rotations.
 Prohibits skills to a cradle.
www.nfhs.org
Rule Change
4-10-14
ART. 14 . . . When transitioning from a prop to a
stunt/lift, the new bases must be in contact with the top
person before he/she leaves the prop.
 Requires bases to be in contact with the top person
when transitioning from a prop.
www.nfhs.org
NFHS OFFICIALS EDUCATION
NFHS OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
CENTRAL HUB
https://nfhs-fieldhockey.arbitersports.com/front/105408/Site
 Contains:
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Sport information
Rules information
Rules library
Searchable rules book
Video content on
officiating sport,
competition situations
and interpretations
www.nfhs.org
NFHS OFFICIALS EDUCATION
COURSE AND VIDEOS
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Ideal for new officials or those in first
few years of officiating
30-45 minutes to complete
Topics include: Basics of Becoming
and Staying an Official, Science of
Officiating, Art of Officiating
Course is FREE to NFHS Officials
Association members, non-members
fee is $20
NFHSLearn.com
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Sports such as soccer, basketball and
baseball offer direct illustrations of
the rules book, including rules
references and officials signals
Animated mechanics videos for
softball, and baseball umpires
Video interpretation of the NFHS
Basketball Rules Book created
through a partnership with the
International Association of
Approved Basketball Officials
www.nfhs.org
NFHS OFFICIALS EDUCATION
COURSE AND VIDEOS
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Additional courses available in…
• Officiating Basketball
• Officiating Volleyball: Ball
Handling
• Umpiring Softball
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Courses Coming Soon…
• Officiating Swimming and
Diving
• Officiating Soccer: Fouls and
Misconduct
www.nfhs.org
NFHS LEARNING CENTER
NFHS LEARNING CENTER
WWW.NFHSLEARN.COM
Professional Development For ALL
 Coaches
 Officials
 Administrators
 Parents
 Students
 Performing Arts
www.nfhs.org
NFHS LEARNING CENTER
WWW.NFHSLEARN.COM
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Over 1.2 Million courses delivered in 2016
Over 5 Million courses since 2007 launch
Over 50 courses available
Over 20 at No Cost!
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FREE COURSES | OVER 20 AVAILABLE!
WWW.NFHSLEARN.COM
Examples of FREE courses include:
 Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors
 Social Media
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 Concussion in Sports
 Heat Illness Prevention
 Sudden Cardiac Arrest
 Sportsmanship
 Sports Nutrition
 Coaching Unified Sports
 Positive Sport Parenting
 NCAA Eligibility
www.nfhs.org
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National Federation of State High School Associations
PO Box 690 | Indianapolis, IN 46206
Phone: 317-972-6900 | Fax: 317.822.5700
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