Dear Dance Owners and Coaches,

With competition season underway I am beginning to receive Legality Official tracking submissions from our on-site officials. Based on these submissions we have determined a need for modifications to this season’s rules.

We have worked in recent years to find the most effective way to monitor the use of hands-free poms and the distraction this has become is not only overwhelming the officials, it has also created imminent safety concerns and difficulty meeting our goal of fair play at events. The following verbiage will be removed anywhere it appears in the rules beginning January 1, 2024:

• proper use of hands-free poms are allowed

While hands-free poms will still be allowed at competition, their use must comply with the rules stated for traditional poms. This was the original intent of the above verbiage however, it is being used as a loophole at events. We highly encourage coaches and choreographers to clearly demonstrate there is NO pom material between the hands of the executing dancer and the performance surface in ANY hip-over-head rotation skills. Those using hands-free poms without removing pom material from between the hand and the floor will receive a deduction, even in accidental occurrences such as hands down in an aerial, without exception. Brush up on the latest Dance Rules & Age Grid HERE.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Remember, the COACH APP is a great way to make sure your skills are legal before you arrive at your next event.

Sarah Miller Bate
Director of Dance Rules
smbate@usasf.net