What Is Novice Cheer?

Quick answer: Novice is an entry-level All Star track for brand-new teams. Under USASF rules, Novice teams aren't ranked against each other - each team is given a rating (Outstanding, Excellent or Superior). Routines are capped at 90 seconds, tosses aren't allowed, and stunts have extra restrictions on top of the normal level rules.

What Does This Division Mean?

Novice gives teams that are new to competitive cheer a low-pressure first experience of competing. Instead of placing first, second and third, each team is evaluated against a standard and given a rating, so the focus is on performing well rather than beating other teams.

How It Differs From the Numbered Levels

Novice teams still compete at a numbered level (the rulebook sets out Novice stunt rules for Levels 1 to 3), but the USASF All Star Cheer Rules (2026–27) add these differences:

• Ratings, not rankings: teams receive Outstanding, Excellent or Superior.
• Shorter routines: a maximum of 90 seconds, compared with 2 minutes 30 seconds for the traditional Elite track.
• No tosses, including sponge and load-in tosses, and no waist-level cradles.
• Tumbling may follow the normal level rules, but it isn't rated or required.
• Extra stunt restrictions. For example, Novice Level 1 allows no single-leg stunts above waist level and only quarter twists, and Novice Level 3 doesn't allow twisting into or out of extended single-leg stunts.
• Tiny Novice (the youngest age group) allows no stunts or pyramids at all, and only cartwheels and forward rolls for tumbling.

Typical Stunt, Tumbling and Jump Expectations

Expect simple, clean routines that emphasise fundamentals: basic stunts, motions, jumps and dance, performed with confidence. Because tumbling isn't required, teams can compete in Novice before every athlete has tumbling skills.

Division / Governing Body Differences

Not every governing body or event producer offers Novice, and some school and recreational rule sets use "novice" with different rules. Always check your specific governing body's and event's current rules.

Parent Questions

Parents sometimes ask whether Novice is a "lesser" division. It isn't - it's designed so that brand-new teams get a positive first experience of competition without being ranked against programs with years of experience. Many teams move from Novice to Prep or Elite as they develop.

Related Levels

See Level 1, Prep, or the levels hub for the full system.