What's the difference between a legality infraction and a skill performed out of level?

Q: What's the difference between a legality infraction and a skill performed out of level?

Deduction Value (each occurrence) Applies when Legality infraction (safety violation) 2.0 Levels 1-6: the skill isn't allowed even in Level 6. Level 7: the skill isn't allowed in Level 7 Skill performed out of level 0.5 Levels 1-5: a building or tumbling skill above the team's level, but legal in Level 6 So a Level 3 team performing a Level 4 skill gets the 0.5 out-of-level deduction, while a skill that's illegal at every level up to 6 is a 2.0 safety violation. Legality is judged against the 2026-27 USASF Cheer Rules. Every skill allowed in a level is also allowed in the levels above it, and a skill not allowed in a level isn't allowed in any lower level.

Question

Accepted Answer

Deduction	Value (each occurrence)	Applies when
Legality infraction (safety violation)	2.0	Levels 1-6: the skill isn't allowed even in Level 6. Level 7: the skill isn't allowed in Level 7
Skill performed out of level	0.5	Levels 1-5: a building or tumbling skill above the team's level, but legal in Level 6

So a Level 3 team performing a Level 4 skill gets the 0.5 out-of-level deduction, while a skill that's illegal at every level up to 6 is a 2.0 safety violation.

Legality is judged against the 2026-27 USASF Cheer Rules. Every skill allowed in a level is also allowed in the levels above it, and a skill not allowed in a level isn't allowed in any lower level.