AMERICAN YOUTH CHEER

2012Cheer Divisions and Age Waiver Regulations

AYC encourages all regions and leagues to entertain the age waiver process. This process is for the inclusion of all cheerleaders who wish to participate in American Youth Cheer. An association may not field all levels of cheer. Age waivers are to be used with the goal of all cheerleaders to participate in the association to which they belong/live without the inconvenience of needing to join “a different” association to participate.

Age waivers will need additional proof that a division of cheer is not possible for the participant to join in an association but an attempt is made to provide a team for which she can cheer. Ie: rosters

  1. Division 16-18 is for all cheerleaders who turn 16, 17 and 18 by July 31st of that same year. 15 year olds may be waivered up if an association does not warrant enough participants to have a Division 15 team. Example: Two 15yo register and 11yo, 12yo and a small percent of 13yo. They can request an age waiver to go up to Division 18.This division is not offered in San Diego.
  2. Registered 14 and 15 year olds must be placed on a Division 15 team. Age waivers will only be entertained if there are minimal amount of registrants of that age.
  3. Age waivers must be submitted to Region Cheer Director for approval via email or fax, before participant can begin practice. The Region Cheer Director will submit age waiver via email or fax to the AYC National Technical Cheer Advisor for approval, as well. So get your age waivers to Pam Cronauer ASAP.
  4. Age waivers are primarily used to waive “up” a participant in a division, not waive “down” in an age division, as per our 2012 rule book. We will entertain special circumstances. Those special circumstances will need to be explained along with accompanying paperwork to see how teams were formulated in order to approve request.

Example A:

TEAMRED

Five 11yo

Four 12yo

Ten 13yo

One 14yo

This association does not have any additional 14 or 15 year olds.

This team is suited for the Division 13 placement. However, there is one 14yo. This association can request the 14yo be waived “down” to Division 13. It’s only one.

Example B:

TEAM BLUE

Two 12yo

Sixteen 13yo

Five 14yo

Four 15yo

This association does not offer a Division 12. This is a Division 15 team. This association can entertain an age waiver for the two 12 yo to compete “up”.