What is “AIA Spiritline?”
Cheer & dance can be so different in every state and at every school, which can be confusing for school administrators. AIA Spiritline is basically the header that includes interscholastic cheer and interscholastic dance in the state of Arizona. Some schools cheer & dance teams work under the direction of one Spiritline Director, some work separately, some do a bit of both. Most of the schools’ dance teams in AZ focus on Pom, so you will also hear us say Cheer & Pom. You can find much more information about AIA Spiritline and the AZ Spiritline State Championships by reviewing the Tournament Guide linked on the Spiritline page.
Are there Division Reps or a Coaches Committee for the AIA Spiritline?
Starting last season, we stopped having division reps or a coaches committee. The support and feedback we received from our partners this past season truly helped us work through decisions on scoresheets and other competition processes. We also want ALL coaches to know they can come directly to us if they have questions or feedback. This could always change, but for now, we feel division reps or a coaches committee is just not necessary.
I am a new coach (or an Athletic Director, who has hired a new coach), where do I start?
For all new Head Coaches, we ask that AD’s be sure to add coaching information to the AIA Dashboard, under the header Spiritline. All official Spiritline emails will go out to head coaches and ADs. We then ask that AD’s and/or new coaches to email estephens@aiaonline.org & avalencia@aiaonline.org so we can get you connected in other ways. For coaching requirements, please see the Coaching Requirements linked on the Spiritline page.
What is the best way to stay up-to-date on all things related to AIA and the Spiritline?
First, watch your email. Most communication will be sent from AIA to the address your Athletic Director provided through the AIA Dashboard. If you are not sure your email has been added, ASK YOUR AD. Secondly, be sure to join the Facebook group - search under groups for AIA Spiritline. Be sure you answer all questions to be admitted to the group and follow all group rules to keep our community respectful. Join the SportsYOU app and find the AIA Spiritline group. Email Emily or Annie to get added. Finally, follow AIA Spiritline on Instagram.
What is the best way to contact the tournament director or assistant tournament director?
Both can be reached via email. Please keep in mind, although we are both very much dedicated to our positions at the AIA, this is a part-time job for both of us. We promise to be responsive, but do ask for your patience and allow for one week to receive a reply. If you need a response sooner than that for an emergency type question, please direct message the AIA Spiritline Instagram page.
What are the start/end dates of the official Spiritline season? What day can practices/tryouts start?
The 2025-2026 Spiritline season starts July 28th and ends the last day of school for your district. The start date does change every year and is set by the AIA. It is normally announced around late February. See below on when you can hold tryouts. It is advised you do not set the dates for your fall tryouts until the season start date is set and/or before conferring with your AD. If you set your fall tryouts before the official season start date, you will have to change the dates.
What are the rules pertaining to spring clinics, tryouts, summer camps, etc.
The easiest way to explain is to break students into 3 categories.
Current Students - may attend spring clinics and spring tryouts. Most schools will hold clinics & tryouts in April/May for CURRENT students only. Clinics & tryouts can be made mandatory.
Incoming Freshman - may attend spring clinics (they cannot be mandatory), but cannot attend spring tryouts or be evaluated by coaches or judges in any way. The incoming freshman’s participation in a spring clinic cannot in any way influence placement on the team. Incoming freshmen must wait until July 28th to participate in a tryout. They may attend summer clinics & camps, but again, participation cannot be made mandatory and their participation cannot influence placement on the team.
Transfer Students - must wait until the end of school to participate in any summer clinics or camps. Tranfer students may participate in summer clinics & camps, but participation cannot be made mandatory and cannot influence placement on the team. Just like incoming freshmen, transfer students must wait until after July 28th to participate in a tryout.
Every school is a bit different on how they run their tryouts and navigate the different rules as it can be challenging to plan during the summer. If you need some advice, we are happy to help or get you connected with another coach who has created a practical system.
Please also see the Incoming Freshmen/Transfer Rule document linked on the Spiritine page.
What are the AIA requirements to be a cheer/dance coach in AZ?
For practices, games and other school events, the following 3 items are REQUIRED for all coaches who are employed by the school (this includes head, assistant, JV or any other coach employed by the school):
For the State Championships, the following item is REQUIRED for at these one coach or administrator of the school who plans to attend any AIA Championship.
When are the courses available & how do I access the courses?
Course details & other information is always provided by the start of the season, which again for the 25/26 season is July 28th. Anyone that is listed as the Head Coach in the Dashboard will see the courses listed once they are available. Assistant Coaches will do what is called an “Open Enrollment" to access the courses. Instructions on how to do the open enrollment will be linked on the Spiritline webpage by July 28th.
What is the timeframe of when these requirements must be completed? Who tracks the completion of the coaching requirements? How long does my certification last?
Coaches should complete the requirements within 2 weeks of their school starting. Athletic Directors are expected to track the completion of the requirements and ensure coaches are following all AIA & NFHS rules. Certifications last 1 full year - for example, if you completed all requirements in 2025, you are certified until the new courses become available in July 2026.
What if a coach is hired during the middle of the year or during the summer?
All courses remain available in the Dashboard until the end of May. Summer practices and/or camps are outside the oversight of the AIA. Each school/district is allowed to set their own requirements during the summer. The NFHS Exam is available (with a cost) on the NFHS website at all times. For those schools that are holding summer practices or attending camp, the AIA does recommend coaches take the NFHS Exam to ensure safety is the top priority.
What is the Annual Coaches Conference and will there be a virtual/make-up option?
Starting in the 2024-2025 season, we changed our approach to the conference and coaching requirements. What used to be a full-day Coaches Conference, where coaches' certifications were tied to their attendance, is now a Coaches Informative Meeting. This meeting is required for those schools who plan to compete in any 25-26 AIA State Championship (this includes Game Day, Stunt, and Traditional in both Cheer & Dance categories). Because we are only requiring one coach from your Spiritline program, there will not be a virtual or make-up option. We do feel it’s important for this meeting to be done in-person for a few reasons. One, it creates another layer of logistics to set-up a virtual link, make sure it does not have any technical issues and track who attends. Secondly, we are making a lot of adjustments in Spiritline under new leadership and we desperately need coaches to be fully present when we speak of those changes. As many of you coaches are also teachers, you can understand that you simply do not get the same engagement and buy in when you are speaking through a screen where the camera can be turned off. We appreciate your support and understanding as the goal for the meeting is to get everyone on the same page in order to have the most successful championships as possible.
What will be covered at the Coaches Informative Meeting?
We will cover all important information about the season’s championships from registration information, updates on scoresheets, divisions & categories, new rules, competition procedures and more. We will also discuss as transparency as possible the why behind changes and goals for the AIA Spiritline, especially as they pertain to competition. There will be some other educational opportunities
If I am the Spiritline Director and oversee both cheer and dance, can I attend the meeting on behalf of both teams?
Yes, you can. Your cheer coach can also attend as the representative for the dance team, or vice versa. We do understand most coaches have other full-time jobs, so we have done our very best to make the required in-person meeting as convenient as possible. If there is not a Spiritline coach available, an administrator such as your Athletic Director or Athletic Administrative Assistant may attend.
Is a USA Cheer membership required for AIA or any other cheer/dance certifications?
No, there are no other certifications required to coach under the AIA in Arizona. However, other organizations usually require other certifications for competition participation - be sure to check their website.
Where can I find the tournament guide, score sheets, progression charts, and division breakdowns?
All of these items are in the updating phase right now. We will email once all items have been finalized and all documents can be found on the AIA Spiritline website. Click here: https://aiaonline.org/activities/spirit-lines.
What is the AIA transfer student rule for Spiritline?
Please have your AD contact the AIA for questions regarding Spiritline & transfer students.
I have other questions about AIA Bylaws and other policies, who do I ask?
Please start with your AD. He or she should have most of the answers you are looking for. If not, we ask that your AD email Jim Dean, the AIA Executive Director (jdean@aiaonline.org) and please copy Emily (estephens@aiaonline.com) and Annie Valencia (avalencia@aiaonline.org). Please do not post rule question on Facebook or on the SportsYou app. We do not want another coach to give you an incorrect answer.
What safety rules are followed at the high school level?
The AIA abides by the National Federation of High School Sports Spirit Rules (NFHS). https://www.nfhs.org/activities-sports/spirit/. All AIA member schools are expected to stay current on the Spirit Rules that are updated yearly. The AIA does supply 2 rule books to each member school that has a Spiritline program. Those books are received by the AIA office in late June and mailed to schools by mid to late July. It is important to understand that Spirit Rules are somewhat different that the rules of basketball, for example. The rules are centered around SAFETY, not necessarily the rules of the “game.” The specific rules of the each cheer/dance competition vary depending on competition producer. The NFHS Spirit Rulebook should be used to guide coaches in safely planning practices, understanding legal vs. illegal skills (especially as it pertains to performing surfaces & competitions), general coaching guidelines, rules of cheer/dance at athletic contests, and overall risk management. There are NFHS rules that require interpretation. Like all other states, Arizona is responsible for interpreting the yearly NFHS rules and applying them to the both sideline cheer/dance and the AIA Spiritline Championships.
Can athletes wear sashes, tiaras, etc. (this is usually done for senior night)?
Yes, they can, however they CANNOT do any skill work while wearing them. Skill work includes: turns, jumps, stunts, lifts, leaps, tumbling, etc. This is an NFHS rule.
Can athletes wear their hair down for games, assemblies, etc?
The NFHS rule states, “Hair must be worn in a manner that does not interfere with the safe execution of stunting or tumbling. Long hair that is not secured or that restricts vision presents significant risk during partner stunts, pyramids, tosses and tumbling.” For both cheer skills and dance skills, such as headsprings, aerials, etc., the most important thing is that the hair stays out of the face and does not restrict vision or present a safety issue. It’s expected the coaches are mindful of this rule. For competition, we advise being safer than sorry and pulling the hair completely back into a pony and out of the face. This rule does include males who have longer hair - it must be out of their eyes while executing skills.
What are the NFHS jewelry, nails, midriff, and approved surface rules and how does the AIA interpret them?
Jewelry is not allowed at any time while practicing or cheering/dancing. This includes a plug or spacer. A religious medal without a chain is allowed but must be taped and worn under the uniform (i.e. a cross that is off the chain and taped under the uniform). Fingernails must be kept short near the end of the fingernail. Midriffs must not show at any time while in uniform while standing at attention (this includes when you are standing and rallying at the game. During skills, we understand midriffs might show but as soon as the skill is complete, it should not be shown). Skills that are legal at the high school level (check your NFHS Spirit Rule Book) are permitted on the gymnasium floor, mats, grass (real or artificial) and/or a rubberized track. Basket tosses are not permitted on the gym floor. It is the coaches responsibility to read, understand and follow the NFHS Spirit Rule Book. When in doubt, ask Emily or Annie.
What is the process if a team violates any of these or other rules?
The AIA is not here to find teams who are breaking rules. We expect coaches to put safety first and by doing so, you would be following all rules. With that said, if we are made aware of a possible violation, we will reach out to the coach and/or AD (depending on the situation) to discuss and/or notify of the violation. If the violation or any other violation continues, further action will take place and may include disqualification from upcoming competitions.
Can we have children who have attended a youth clinic or alumni cheer or dance on the sideline at our games?
If where you cheer/dance is on a track, then yes, they can. If where you cheer/dance is part of the field and is grass, then NO - that is not considered a sideline, that is considered the field. In that case, your youth/alumni would only be permitted to perform pre-game, during a time-out or at half-time. Alumni should never stunt with current team members in street clothes. Children are never permitted to cheer/dance on the sideline at a basketball, volleyball or any other contest that takes place in the gymnasium. When in doubt, check with your A.D. and reach out to Emily or Annie.
Can high school cheerleaders or dancers participate in club cheer, studio dance or outside activities of that nature?
There is no AIA rule against this. We do advise you to be sure your AD supports your decision as a coach and parents are made clearly aware of the perimeters of how this approached on your team.
Where can I find rules for Junior High Cheer or Dance?
The AIA does not oversee anything related to Junior High. You can find helpful information and courses on the USA Cheer website under Safety and Training.
What are the requirements for music licensing for AIA Competitions?
Please visit Music Guidelines - Varsity.com for the do’s and don’ts of competition music. We follow these guidelines for our championships.
Where can I order competition music from?
Visit Music Provider Directory - USA Cheer for a directory of music providers.
Can a school band record the fight song for use at competition?
Yes, however, you will still need to visit Music Guidelines - Varsity.com for information about how to obtain permission for this.
What do I need to bring to AIA Competitions?
Your proof of licensing for all music. Medical waivers for athletes are not required for AIA competitions.
THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ATHLETES’ LIVES AND MAKE ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL SPIRITLINE THE BEST IT CAN BE!
Updated July 14, 2025