The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country

American Youth Cheer
AYC Cheers, Dances & Steps!

(AYC) Everyone cheers!
We remember "it's for the kids."

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AYC Membership Structure
 Terminology/Definitions
AYC  Team Age Breakdown
AYF Rules and Regulations
AYC Monthly Newsletter
AYC and Universal Cheerleaders Association
Varsity - Official Uniform Partner
AYC/UCA Camps and Clinics
AYC Championships
STEP Division

AYC Governing Principles

AYC has established a comprehensive easily adaptable set of governing principles:

1. Safety;

2. Sportsmanship;

3. Full Participation.

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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. 

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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

Team:  Teams are further broken down into Small - Large and skill classification Red – Blue.  Maximum team size is 36 members

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Cheer Team Age Breakdown:

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.

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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.  

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AYC Monthly Cheer Newsletter

Sign up now to receive the AYC Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust

AYC and Universal Cheerleaders Association Partner-up!

AYC Proudly Announces a new exciting partnership with UCA

UCA will provide Cheer camps, Coaches clinics and educational resources for AYC members.

In addition:

UCA Representatives will provide a support system for AYC members at all levels: Local and Regional Support for all AYC members is at your fingertips. Need help planning an event, educating coaches/participants/parents, need rule clarifications, AYC competition/qualifying guidelines...UCA will help!

Contact the AYC/UCA National Coordinator, Lauri Harris at Lharris@uca.com or your State Director (find your state director here) for more information.

In 2009 UCA will help to present an enhanced AYC National Championships. Details are still to come, but expect AYC Nationals to take on the incredible energy and excitement that UCA is known for!

More about UCA: UCA's goal is to inspire leadership on and off the field. All of UCA's material and programs are centrally focused on the traditional role of cheerleading. UCA believes the primary purpose of a cheerleader is to support athletic programs and lead the crowd before and during games. Cheerleaders play an instrumental role in raising, leading and maintaining school spirit in and around their communities. In short, they are leaders in building general morale at their school! See www.uca.com for more.

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VARSITY: The Official Uniform Partner of AYC!

Since its founding in 1974 by Jeff Webb, Varsity has been the driving force making cheerleading the dynamic, athletic, high profile activity it is today.

Varsity has driven the development of the phenomenon that is Cheerleading as we know it today!

Varsity is comprised of the leading organization and brands in various cheerleading segments and Varsity Brands have shown their commitment to AYC leagues by offering special pricing on Cheer/Dance Uniforms exclusive to AYC members!

Contact a Varsity/CDT Representative Today to take advantage of this great partnership!

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AYC and UCA Partner to provide Cheer Camps and Coaches Clinics

As part of a partnership created to help AYC leagues be more successful, AYC and UCA are offering Cheer Camps and clinics to educate, motivate and protect both Cheerleaders and Coaches!

Learn more about UCA/AYC Camps and Clinics and contact a State Director to set your date!
GO TO THE UCA/AYC CAMP PAGE

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AYC National Championships

Information on our AYC National Championship Event will be posted at www.ayfchampionships.com as it becomes available.

2008 Cheerleading National Championship Results
-  2007 Cheerleading National Championship Results
-  2006 Cheerleading National ChampionshipResults

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STEP Division

In addition to DANCE, AYC offers STEP CHAMPIONSHIPS.  Step is a form of dance that has been in existence for decades.  This type of dance is sophisticated, synchronized chanting and stomping to a rhythmic beats from participants’ hands, feet and mouth.  Today, youth across America have embraced this art form.  AYC National Championships includes a Step Division at Competitions.  Rules and Divisions are published in the Official AYC Rules and can be found on www.myayf.com

For information on participation in AYC STEP, please contact Deidrea at step@americanyouthfootball.com