Athlete's Guide to AASCF All Star Cheerleading Ages 4+ 2026

Most divisions allow 5 to 38 members per team. University divisions are 6 to 38, and IASF Summit divisions are 16 to 30 members. Where applicable, divisions are split by team size: Extra Small 5 to 15 athletes, Small 16 to 24, Large 25 to 30, Extra Large 31 to 38.

Gym size is set by the number of competition athletes in the program, not the number entered at one event:

• Extra Small gym: one physical address and 75 or fewer athletes registered in its competitive cheer program.
• Small gym: one physical address and 76 to 125 athletes.
• Large gym: 126 or more athletes.

Exhibition, crossover, CheerABILITY, non-competing and dance athletes do not count. Once set, a gym cannot move down to a smaller size during the season, but can move up. A gym that shares an ABN and uniforms, logo, coaches, athletes or marketing with a larger gym counts as the larger size.

From the 2026 AASCF Age Grid and Crossover Rules (cheer):

• AASCF has a 2 level crossover rule and a maximum of 3 cheer routines for all athletes. The 2 levels are counted from the athlete's lowest to highest level.
• Novice: 50% of Novice team athletes may cross over into a Level 1 and Level 1NT team, but not into any other cheer team at Level 2 or above.
• Adult 1NT: 1 level crossovers only (Adult 2NT, Open 1NT, Open 2NT, Levels 1 and 2).
• Levels 4 to 7: crossovers allowed.
• An athlete cannot compete in 2 teams in the same division (for example, Junior Novice Cheer is one division regardless of team size).
• Crossovers between 2 different All Star clubs are not permitted, including team and stunt routines. Crossovers between All Star and Scholastic or University are permitted (in Scholastic or University divisions), and an athlete may cross over between dance and cheer with different All Star clubs, paying 2 separate entry fees.
• Stunt: no level crossover restrictions, but no more than 2 stunt routines (1 partner and 1 group, or 2 group stunts).
• A higher-level athlete who drops down below the 2 level crossover due to injury needs a medical certificate.

AASCF says it places athlete safety before anything else. All levels are as defined by the IASF rules, and the IASF Cheer Legality Rules outline the rules for All Star Cheer Levels 1 to 7. University Elite and Premier follow the ICU (International Cheer Union) rules, and other University divisions follow the IASF legality rules. Novice divisions follow the AASCF Novice Cheer Rules.

In scoring and judging:

• Tumbling passes must land on both feet to be level appropriate and receive difficulty credit.
• A skill that does not show control through to the landing, dismount or transition may not be rewarded.
• A building safety violation (an illegal skill that appears inherently dangerous or unsafe, or one missing the required number of athletes, such as catchers for a cradle) is a 1.0 deduction. Tumbling out of level is 0.25 and building out of level is 0.50.

Novice is a modified version of Level 1 for beginner teams, offered to all ages except Open and Adult. It is optional for new teams and has a 2 minute 30 second routine limit. From the 2026 AASCF Novice Cheer Rules:

• Tumbling: no dive rolls, no tumbling over, under or through a stunt, individual or prop, and no walkovers with continuous momentum through the bridge. Cartwheels, rolls, blocked cartwheels and round offs are allowed. Tiny divisions have no bridge or backbend skills.
• Stunts: no single based stunts (except waist level stunts and shoulder sits), no leapfrogs, no inversions, no release moves other than dismounts, and no twisting to, from or at prep level. Stunt height is waist level single leg or prep level two leg.
• Pyramids: up to 2 high, with no two leg extended stunts.
• Dismounts: straight pop downs and basic straight cradles only. Multi-based cradles need 2 catchers and a spotter.
• Tosses: not allowed.

Coaches are responsible for making sure any skill in a routine complies with the IASF Cheer Legality Rules. The AASCF Skill List gives examples of level-appropriate skills but is not a comprehensive list of what can be performed.

Legality rulings by email:

• Level 1 to 7 All Star cheer: the IASF Legality team gives all rulings (cheer.rules@IASFworlds.com).
• Novice and University Elite and Premier: rules@aascf.com.au.
• Attach a video of your team in a practice environment showing a single skill or sequence. Do not send links or competition videos. Replies are one word, LEGAL or ILLEGAL, and take 7 to 10 business days.
• Keep the original ruling email with you at events, because it is your responsibility to have it. If a skill differs from the video, the safety judge or official at the event should point out the difference.

From the 2026 AASCF Cheer Deduction System:

• Athlete fall: 0.25 (drops to the floor during tumbling or jumps, including hand, hands, head, knee or knees down).
• Building bobble: 0.40 (stunt or pyramid skills that almost drop but are saved).
• Building fall: 0.75 (drops from a building skill or transition to a cradle, load in or prone position).
• Major building fall: 1.25 (drops to the performance surface from a stunt, pyramid or toss by the top person and/or the bases or spotter).
• Legality infractions: tumbling out of level 0.25, building out of level 0.50, building safety violation 1.0.
• AASCF Handbook (and general safety): 1.0.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct: 1.0, with removal of the coach or disqualification.

A building safety violation includes a skill that is performed illegally and appears inherently dangerous or unsafe, or one missing the number of athletes required to perform it legally (for example, not having the required catchers for a cradle).

Novice teams receive warnings instead of deductions for athlete falls, or where a rule violation was the result of a performance error.

From the 2026 AASCF Cheer Deduction System:

• Time limits: All Star 2:30, Novice 2:30, All Star Non-Tumbling 2:00, Group Stunt, Partner Stunt and Assisted Partner Stunt 1:00. A team that exceeds the allotted time by 1 or more seconds is subject to a 0.25 deduction. Judges do not issue it until their clock shows more than 2 seconds over.
• Boundary: the performance surface is the 42 ft x 54 ft competition floor, and the boundary includes any immediate adjacent safety border. A 0.25 deduction applies per occurrence when an athlete has both feet off the performance surface and the safety border. An athlete is in bounds with at least one foot touching either.
• Team size: a team that registers, rosters and competes with fewer than the minimum athletes for its division is moved to the correct division or given a 5.0 deduction. A team that competes with more than the maximum is disqualified.

From the 2026 AASCF Cheer Image Policy:

• All athletes must wear suitable clothing at all times, with the midriff covered. Uniform tops may not include an exposed midriff (crop top).
• Tops must be secured by straps or material over at least one shoulder or around the neck. Tube tops are not allowed. This applies to all group, partner and assisted partner stunts and teams.
• Skirts: briefs under the skirt are required. The skirt must fully cover the hips, completely cover the briefs and fall at least 3 cm below the briefs (regular and boy cut).
• Shorts must have a minimum 5 cm inseam.
• No risque, sexually provocative or lingerie-looking uniform or garments. All pieces must adequately cover the athlete and be secured to eliminate any wardrobe malfunction, and appropriate undergarments must be worn.
• Choreography and music must be suitable for family viewing and listening.

A breach of the image policy is a 0.25 deduction.

From the 2026 AASCF Cheer Image Policy:

• Make-up should be uniform and appropriate for both the performance and the age of the athletes.
• Rhinestones: face, eyelid and hair rhinestones are not allowed. False eyelashes are allowed but may not be decorated in rhinestones or additional jewellery. No rhinestones, plastic or metallic decorations may be glued or woven into hair.
• Accessories (including hairpieces and bows) should not be a distraction to the performance, should be worn in a manner that minimises risk, should be adequately secured, and should not fall over the forehead into the eyes or block the athlete's view.
• Bows should not be excessive in size; acceptable bows are generally no more than 8 cm wide.
• Hair accessories should not be made of or contain metal or other materials that may cause injury.

The AASCF documents reviewed for this guide do not set a separate rule on body jewellery.