Spirit Points of Emphasis - 2026-27

BY NFHS ON August 25, 2026 | RULES, SPIRIT

Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is the foundation of every great athletic experience. At all levels of play – but especially in high school sports — it is the most important value that athletes, coaches, parents and spectators can uphold. Sportsmanship isn’t just about playing fair or following the rules; it’s about demonstrating respect, integrity, humility and teamwork, regardless of the final score. Spirit participants should strive to boost school spirit; promote good sportsmanship; develop good, positive crowd involvement; and help student participants and spectators achieve the most worthwhile educational objectives of the interscholastic program. Spirit leaders can effectively neutralize negative environments at any interscholastic contest.

Copyright Compliance
Spirit coaches and schools should be conscientious and follow all U.S. Copyright Laws when incorporating music into their spirit programs. There are many companies that will assist in securing copyright compliance. Coaches should exercise due diligence to protect programs against costly fines and potential lawsuits when using copyrighted music. Be sure to take the NFHS Learn Course for Copyright Compliance for Cheer and Dance coaches at https:// nfhslearn.com/courses/understanding-copyright-and-compliance or visit copyright.nfhs.org.

Risk Minimization
Appropriate footwear continues to be an area of concern in both cheer and dance. As a reminder, dancers and cheerleaders must wear footwear appropriate for the activity, as specified in the NFHS Spirit Rules Book. In addition, practices and performances must take place on surfaces suitable for spirit activities. Slick, wet, or otherwise unsafe surfaces are not considered appropriate for cheer or dance performances.

Appropriate spaces for spirit activities must be free of debris and obstructions; this requirement applies to both games and performances. Spirit participants are prohibited from standing in the free-throw lane, as referenced in rule 1-1-16 in the NFHS Spirit Rules Book.