Divisions & Rules

To support safe and proper progressions of skills, cheer and performance cheer teams must compete in a division appropriate to the age and skill level of their athletes. Coaches must be certified through the ACA Coach Certification program (scholastic), ACA Performance Cheer program, or the ICU Credentialing program (all-star) to the level of the team(s) they are coaching and hold all required supplemental certifications. 

All teams must have a certified coach who is not also an athlete on the team.

Coaches must be familiar with ACA and Cheer Canada policies, rules, and regulations.

Should you have questions regarding divisions, rules, or legalities, please contact the ACA legality Consultant at judging@albertacheerleading.ca

Scholastic Cheer

The ACA adheres to the Canadian Scholastic ICU Rules and Regulations and Cheer Canada's Age Grids for scholastic cheer and performance cheer.

Note:

  • To align with ASAA policies, the ACA does NOT offer the following high school divisions:

    • Advanced All Gender Non-tumbling

    • Senior High Median

    • Grades 7-12 combined division

  • High school teams are limited to the following:

    • All Gender Intermediate

    • All Girl Advanced

    • All Gender Advanced

    • Game Day

All-Star Cheer

The ACA adheres to the IASF Rules and Cheer Canada Age Grid & Divisions for all-star cheer and performance cheer. This includes Cheer Canada’s division-specific rules for Novice, Prep and Cheer Abilities.

Specialty Divisions

Individuals, Duo & Trio

  • Routines that do not include stunts.

  • Divisions must align with those outlined in the Cheer Canada Age Grid.

Partner Stunt and Group Stunt

  • Partner Stunt can be all gender and may include a spotter.

  • Group stunt is all girl and may include up to 5 athletes.

  • Divisions must align with those outlined in the Cheer Canada Age Grid.

Please note:

  • All Specialty Divisions follow the Scholastic and All-Star deduction systems.

Scholastic Game Day

To ensure that the Scholastic Game Day Division is consistent at all ACA-sanctioned events, the following procedures will be followed:

  • The total run time limit of 3 minutes must include the announcer’s cues.

  • School: Timing will begin with the first movement, voice, or note of music, whichever comes first. Timing will end with the last movement, last voice or note of music, whichever comes last.

  • High school routines will always follow the order outlined in the rules: Band Chant/Dance, Situational Sideline, Crowd Leading Cheer (Time Out) and Fight Song

  • Teams will not be informed in advance of which Situational Sideline cheer they will be required to perform. The team must listen to the cue and select an offensive or defensive cheer based on the line provided.

  • Collegiate: Timing will begin after the announcer cues the team to start their first component and will end with the last movement, last voice or note of music, whichever comes last.

  • Post secondary routines will include a Situational Sideline, Time Out Cheer and Fight Song in random order.

  • At the beginning of each section of the routine, the announcer will signal the team to start by giving them a one line cue.

  • Teams will not be informed in advance of which Situational Sideline cheer they will be required to perform. The team must listen to the cue and select an offensive or defensive cheer based on the line provided.

Video examples can be found under the “Game Day Competition - Video Tips” tab: https://www.varsity.com/uca/school/competitions/game-day/.

Scoring Systems

The ACA has adopted Cheer Canada's Scoring Systems.

Should you have any questions please contact the ACA at judging@albertacheerleading.ca