After the success of Netflix docuseries Cheer, which has attracted both hearts and minds alike, the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and The National Dance Alliance (NDA) has altered their rules to prevent teams from getting a leg up – figuratively – from other teams appearing in a televised program and/or print media “that portrays their team, school or general activity of collegiate cheer and/or dance in a negative manner.”

You can read the official announcement, which was posted to Facebook by CheerMAD.com to update schools, cheerleading competitors and their coaches. (UPDATE (1/27/20): The CheerMad FB page turned their post private, but Decider has acquired a screenshot of the new rules, which you can see directly below:)

The exclusivity policy, which claims to have been implemented “due to media, sponsorship considerations, and administrative concerns regarding school-based priorities, image, and funding,” was issued on January 16, shortly after the premiere of the Netflix series.

It specifically mentions that “schools that desire to compete at Nationals as well as participate in such media (reality show or documentary, news articles, books, etc.) should consult their school legal counsel to develop and access license and consult with NCA & NDA in advance to pre-determine any possible conflicts of interest.”

The show, which follows Navarro College Cheer as well as their fierce, dedicated and hardworking leader, Coach Monica Aldama, takes a deep look inside the team’s struggles to train themselves and abuse their bodies to the max in order to win a national competition. It is an accurate portrayal of the trauma that some students face while participating as part of competitive teams in college sports.

If Cheer is an accurate portrayal of what occurs in college cheerleading, what is the NCA & NDA trying to hide? Shouldn’t both the struggles and successes of college athletes be made known to the public? It now seems that after this issuance, Navarro College may have to give up the Netflix series in order to remain qualified for future competitions.

The first season of the hit reality tv series is currently available to stream in full on Netflix and we highly recommend that you check it out.

Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor

STREAM CHEER ON NETFLIX