This page is from a Potential Supervising Organization:
American Youth Cheer
AYC Governing Principles 
AYC has established a comprehensive easily adaptable set of governing principles:
1. Safety; 2. Sportsmanship; 3. Full Participation.
AYF/AYC is configured into two independent structures. 1) Tournament Memberships and 2) Local Membership. Declaration of your organizations intention/structure is required yearly at registration.
1. Tournament Membership Structure:
Tournament Membership Structure pertains to those leagues that plan to 
participate in AYF/AYC Regional and National Championships Tournaments and other pre or post-season games/tournaments. These leagues are required to strictly abide by AYC Rules and Regulations and age divisions as outlined in the Official American Youth Cheerleading Rulebook. This rulebook must be followed at all times along with the National Federation High School (NFHS) Safety rules this includes but is not limited to Pre-Season, In-Season, and Post-Season play (Year Round). Please visit http://www.americanyouthfootball.com/football.asp#about for Tournament Membership Structure: Terminology/Definitions
American Youth Cheer rules are only available to our members. To become a member visit www.joinayf.com
2. Local Membership Structure:
Local Membership Structure stays true to the 
AYF/AYC objective of remaining independent and supporting all football and cheer teams regardless of their competitive intentions. Organizations that DO NOT plan to participate in AYF/AYC inter-league Regional and National Tournament competitions have the freedom to participate as a member of AYF/AYC under its Local Membership Structure. These Local Memberships Structure leagues are free to play in accordance with their own locally adopted and governing rules, in so long as your rules subscribe to the AYF/AYC Governing Principles.
Local Membership Structure leagues can retain independence in creating a structure that fits their group specifically.
Tournament Membership Structure: Terminology/Definitions
Region: A Region is defined as a geographic territory. The geographic territory is determined by the AYF National Office. The 8 regional territories that make up AYF can be found online at: AYF Regional Map . A Region is comprised of Member Conferences within their territories that have applied for, and have been granted membership, by the National Office.
Conference: A Conference is defined by the geographic boundary of its membership. A Conference’s membership is the Associations that have applied for, and have been granted membership, by the Conferences governing body. In keeping with the American Youth Football’s Goals and Philosophies no application for membership should be unreasonably withheld.
Association: An Association is often defined as a local city, or town. The Association may be restricted by its Conference from drawing participants from certain geographic territory/boundaries. The acceptable method and determination of what participants can register within any given Association is governed by the Conference/Region to which it is a member. An Associations membership is the Participants that have applied for, and have been granted membership, by the Associations governing body. In keeping with the American Youth Football’s Goals and Philosophies no application for membership should be unreasonably withheld and under no circumstances will a participant be discriminated against.
Participant: A Participant is defined as a minor child that has applied for and has been granted membership within a given Association.
Division: A Division in Cheerleading is defined a grouping of Teams in specific Age bracket. See 2009 Age Chart
Teams: Teams are further broken down into Small - Large and skill classification Red – Blue. Maximum team size is 36 members.
Cheer Team Age Breakdown :
10 & under |
Minimum 8 years old |
11 & under |
Minimum 8 years old |
12 & under |
Minimum 9 years old |
13 & under |
Minimum 11 years old |
15 & under |
Minimum 12 years old |
Mite Mitey (Invitational only) |
7,8,9 years old |
Small team 4 – 16 members, male and/or female.
Large team 17 – 36 members, male and/or female .
( Mascots are not included in the total count )
10 & under teams will compete as RED only.
Download the AYC Age Chart For Age/Division Information.
AYC Rules and Regulations
AYC rulebooks are only available to our members. To become a member visit www.joinayf.com .
American Youth Football recommends and follows, for Regional and National 
Tournament play, NFHS rules, for both football and spirit. NFHS rules are the standard in high school sports rules and regulations; by adopting and playing in accordance with these rules you are providing for a smoother transition for youth participants should they choose to compete at a higher level. To receive a copy of the NFHS rules click here www.nfhs.org
Rule Books and Operations manuals can be found on the MyAYF control panel. This site is available to members only; use the password and username you were emailed upon joining. If your league or conference is a member of AYF and you are a coach or league administrator and don't have a username and password, ask your league administrator to add you to the league account or supply you with the necessary rules.
AYC Monthly Cheer Newsletter