Athlete's Guide to Cheer Canada Novice, Prep and All Star Cheer 2026-27

Cheer Canada's Novice division follows modified IASF Level 1 rules.

• Not scored, but may be evaluated through the Cheer Canada rating system, once per event.
• Routine may not exceed 1:30.
• Tumbling is allowed but not scored or required. U6 is limited to cartwheels and forward rolls.
• U6 may not include any building skills.
• Other age groups: single-leg stunts only at waist level or below (no prep-level single-leg-with-bracer skills); two-leg skills may not pass above prep level; up to a 1/4 twist with no Level 1 exceptions; no transitions to prone position; no straight pop-down dismounts; no waist-level cradles, tosses or sponge tosses.
• Athletes cannot cross over to All Star or Prep teams.
• Practice is limited to once per week.
• Cheer Canada recommends no out-of-province travel and fewer performances.

Source: https://cheercanada.ca/education/all-star-cheer/

Cheer Canada's Prep division follows IASF-level rules for its division, with tosses removed.

• Routine may not exceed 2:00.
• U6 and U8 are not scored but may be evaluated through the Cheer Canada rating system. Other age divisions may be scored and ranked.
• Rated or scored only once per event, single or multi-day.
• No tosses, including waist-level cradles and sponge tosses.
• Athletes cannot cross over to All Star or Novice teams.
• Practice is limited to once per week.
• Cheer Canada recommends a season of 8 months or less and no travel outside the program's province.

Source: https://cheercanada.ca/education/all-star-cheer/

From the Composition and Eligibility rules in Cheer Canada's 2026-2027 division list:

• Team size: 5 to 30 athletes in Canada, or up to 36 for the University division.
• Coed: males cannot exceed two-thirds of a coed team's roster.
• Crossovers: athletes cannot move between Novice, Prep and All Star divisions. They generally cannot switch programs at the same event, except a Level 7 team when their home program does not offer Level 7 or 7NT.
• Multiple teams: you can compete on up to three cheer teams per event, not counting Performance Cheer divisions.
• Replacements: a team can make up to three unplanned replacements. Beyond that, or if a replacement does not meet the division's age requirements, the team performs for exhibition only.
• Scholastic: school athletes must attend the school they represent; collegiate athletes must be enrolled in three courses at their institution.
• Inclusion: if more than 25% of a roster is athletes aged 8 and older with adaptive abilities, Unified, Traditional Special Olympics and Adaptive divisions become available.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/agegrid2026 (linked from https://cheercanada.ca/education/all-star-cheer/)

• IASF rules: routine performance time may not exceed 2:30; non-tumbling routines may not exceed 2:00.
• Cheer Canada Prep: routine may not exceed 2:00.
• Cheer Canada Novice: routine may not exceed 1:30.
• Timing begins with the first movement, voice or note of music, whichever comes first, and ends with the last movement, last voice or note of music, whichever comes last.
• At the start of the routine, each athlete must have at least one foot, hand or body part (other than hair) on the performing surface.
• The competitors who begin a routine must remain the same throughout; a performer may not be replaced by another during the routine.

Sources: https://www.iasfworlds.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/iasf_rules_cheer_25-28_final.pdf and https://cheercanada.ca/education/all-star-cheer/

From the IASF Cheer Rules 2025-2028 General Rules:

• All athletes must be supervised during all official functions by a qualified director or coach.
• Coaches must require proficiency before skill progression and consider athlete, group and team skill levels.
• All teams, gyms, coaches and directors must have an emergency response plan for an injury.
• Stunts, pyramids, tosses and tumbling may not be done on concrete, asphalt, wet or uneven surfaces, or surfaces with obstructions, in practice or performance.
• Catchers must be attentive, must not be involved in other choreography, must make physical contact with the top person on catching, and must be on the performing surface when the skill starts.
• Drops (knee, seat, front, back, split) from a jump, stunt or inverted position are not allowed unless the majority of weight is first borne on the hands or feet. Shushunovas are allowed.
• Height-increasing apparatus used to propel an athlete is not allowed, except a spring floor.
• Dismounts may not intentionally travel, and must return to the original base(s) unless dismounting single-based stunts with multiple top persons.

Source: https://www.iasfworlds.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/iasf_rules_cheer_25-28_final.pdf

From the IASF Cheer Rules 2025-2028 (the rule set Cheer Canada aligns with):

• All levels: no single-based or assisted single-based extended stunts for U12 and below, though the stunt may immediately pass through the extended position if allowed.
• Level 1 spotters: required for prep level and above and for floor stunts. Shoulder sits, T-lifts and stunts supported only at waist level do not need one.
• Level 1 height: waist level single leg; prep level two leg (may immediately pass through an extended position); no single-based stunts with multiple top persons.
• Level 2 spotters: required for above prep level and for floor stunts.
• Level 2 height: prep level single leg (may immediately pass through an extended position); above prep level two leg; no single-based stunts with multiple top persons.
• Twisting: Level 1 allows up to a 1/4 twist; Level 2 up to a 1/2 twist.
• Required spotters must be your own team's members, trained in proper spotting techniques.

Source: https://www.iasfworlds.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/iasf_rules_cheer_25-28_final.pdf (Stunts, pages 13 and 11)

Under the IASF Cheer Rules 2025-2028 General Rules:

• Jewellery of any kind is prohibited (for example navel jewellery, tongue jewellery, earrings, necklaces, pins on uniforms) and must be removed. Rhinestones may not be adhered to the skin or hair. Medical bracelets are allowed if taped to the body.
• Shoes: soft-soled shoes with a solid sole must be worn while competing. No dance shoes or boots, and no gymnastics slippers or similar.
• Gum, candy, cough drops or similar items that may cause choking may not be in your mouth during practice or performance.
• Supports, braces and soft casts that are unaltered from the manufacturer's design need no extra padding. Altered ones must be padded with closed-cell, slow-recovery foam at least half an inch thick if you are in stunts, pyramids or tosses.
• Hard casts (such as fibreglass or plaster) and walking boots: you must not be involved in stunts, pyramids, tumbling or tosses.

Source: https://www.iasfworlds.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/iasf_rules_cheer_25-28_final.pdf

• IASF image policy: athletes wearing non-full top uniforms must wear a t-shirt or appropriate cover-up over their uniforms, except in the warm-up area, when travelling as a group directly to or from the warm-up area, or on the performance stage. Teams competing at the Cheerleading Worlds in an IASF division must cover their midriff (no crop tops).
• Choreography and music must be suitable for family viewing and respect the dignity of the athletes.
• Cheer Canada recommendations: Novice teams wear a t-shirt and shorts or practice wear; Prep teams wear a simpler, less costly uniform. The Cheer Canada All Star page states no uniform rules.
• Props: a uniform piece purposefully removed from the body counts as a prop. The only props allowed are standard flat signs, megaphones and poms.

Sources: https://www.iasfworlds.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/iasf_rules_cheer_25-28_final.pdf and https://cheercanada.ca/education/all-star-cheer/

Cheer Canada expects all participants to promptly report any behaviour that may breach the Code of Conduct or the law. Concerns are handled at four levels:

1. Program level: for less severe issues, try to address it respectfully with the person, then contact the gym manager or owner, club president or board.
2. Provincial level: for more severe issues, or when the concern involves the person who receives complaints, report to the provincial sport association.
3. Cheer Canada level: for concerns involving Team Canada or Cheer Canada events, unsuccessful attempts at the first two levels, multiple provincial bodies, non-program matters, or serious issues such as abuse, harassment or discrimination.
4. Independent third party: Sport Dispute Management, at complaints@sportdispute.com or through the online form on the SafeSport page. Reports are confidential, including from Cheer Canada staff.

Suspected child abuse must be reported immediately to local child protection and/or police, then to Cheer Canada. Good faith reports that turn out to be unsubstantiated will not be met with retaliation. Anonymous reports are discouraged.

Source: https://cheercanada.ca/education/safesport/

• Concussion: Cheer Canada provides a Concussion Recognition Tool and a Return to Sport strategy on its SafeSport page.
• Anti-doping: Cheer Canada has adopted the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. By participating in activities sanctioned by Cheer Canada, you may be selected for doping control.
• Substances in training and competition: the IASF rules state that athletes and coaches may not be under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, performance enhancing substances or over-the-counter medications that would hinder their ability to supervise or execute a routine safely, while participating in a practice or performance.

Sources: https://cheercanada.ca/education/safesport/ and the IASF Cheer Rules 2025-2028 (https://www.iasfworlds.net/cheer/)