C. Partner Stunts

1. Partner stunts (free-standing or as part of a pyramid) higher than shoulder stand level must have a separate, continuous spotter for each person over shoulder stand level.
2. A spotter is required for single base shoulder level stunts in which the feet of the top person are in the hand(s) of the base.
3. The bases of any extended stunt must have both feet in direct weight-bearing contact with the performing surface.
4. Bases may not:
   1. Hold any objects if their hands if they are the primary support for the top person.
   2. Assume a backbend, handstand or headstand position.
5. A spotter:
   1. Cannot provide primary support for a top person. Primary support means the majority of the top person’s weight.
   2. Must be in a position to protect the top person’s head, neck and shoulders when coming off a stunt or pyramid or landing in a cradle. In most stunts this is behind or beside the top person.
   3. Spotters must have their attention focused on the top person. Momentarily looking away in order to assess environmental safety factors (poms, signs, another stunt, etc.) is allowed as long as their focus returns to the top person.
   4. May not have their hands behind their back.
   5. May not support under the heel or sole of the top person’s foot in a single based extended stunt. They may hold at the ankle of the top person and/or the wrist of the base or any combination thereof.
6. The total number of twists in a dismount from a stunt cannot be greater than one and one quarter (1 1/4) rotations.
7. Partner stunts and pyramids may not pass over, under or through other partner stunts or pyramids.
8. Cradle dismounts from partner stunts or pyramids shoulder height or above to the original base(s) require an additional spotter in position to protect the head, neck and shoulders of the top person.
9. Cradle dismounts from partner stunts to another set of bases must be caught by three bases who are standing near the original base(s). Any type of gymnastics movement (1/2 turn, twist, toe touch, etc) after the top person has left the base(s) hands is prohibited.
10. A Release Stunt must either be cradled or connected to at least one bracer. The exception to this rule is the following:
    1. Helicopters are allowed provided all of the following conditions are met:
       1. The top person makes no more than a 180 degree rotation (half-turn).
       2. Four bases must be in position during the entire release.
       3. There must be a base at the head/shoulder area during the initiation of the toss as well as the catch.
       4. The bases are not allowed to change positions during the release.
       5. The top person must begin and end in a face up position.
       6. The top person cannot perform a twisting skill.
11. Non-braced suspended splits in a transition are allowed provided all of the following conditions are met:
    1. The top person must have both hands in continuous contact with a post or with both bases’ hands or,
    2. When transitioning to the split without continuous hand-to-hand contact:
       1. There are a total of four bases that support the top person.
       2. At least three of the bases must support under the legs of the top person. The fourth base may support under the legs or make contact with the hands of the top person.
       3. The top person must have both hands in contact with bases during the split portion of the transition.
12. Extended Straddle Lifts must have an additional spotter for the head and shoulders of the top person (similar position to a Double-Based Elevator/Extension Prep).
13. Single-based stunts in which the top person is parallel to the performing surface and the bases’ arms are extended must have a continuous spotter at the head and shoulder of the top person. (i.e. Bird, Side T, Single-Based Flatback, etc.)
14. A top person may be moved from a vertical position to a face up or face down straight body horizontal position provided all the following conditions are met:
    1. The top person maintains contact with at least one original base or spotter.
    2. Two or more additional catchers/bases catch the upper body of the top person.
    3. When the catchers are not the original bases, the top person may not begin in or pass through an extended overhead position.
    4. The catchers remain close to the original bases and must be in place prior to the movement to the horizontal position.
    5. The base(s) do not turn.
    6. The base(s) has/have constant visual contact with the catchers.
15. A single-base may not be the only primary support for two extended top persons.  The exception to this rule is the following:
    1. Double Cupies/Awesomes are allowed. If dismounted to cradles, there must be three people for each top person being cradled.
16. Dismounts to the performing surface from shoulder height or above must have assisted landings.
17. A swinging stunt is legal provided all the following conditions are met:
    1. A downward movement is only allowed from below shoulder height.
    2. The top person is face up.
    3. The top person begins from the performing surface or a stunt that is below shoulder height.
18. Single-based split catches are prohibited.
19. Tension drops are prohibited.

Video 1: Liberty to Horizontal Position with Downward Inversion Dismount – Legal

Both of these skills are legal for high schools according to the NFHS and AACCA rules.

1) You can transition from a vertical position to a horizontal position as long as there is continuous contact, and the top person is caught on her upper body by at least two bases/catchers. The phrasing in the NFHS rule book says “additional catchers/bases” but this does not mean that the original bases can’t be the two catchers. This is clarified by the photo on page 53 that shows the original bases catching. If the skill comes from an extended position (starting or passing through it) then the ONLY legal catchers are the original bases.

2) The inversion begins and remains below shoulder level with two persons in position to protect the head/neck/shoulders during the downward movement in the inversion.