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Light-Up LED Pom Poms
Metallic streamers with LEDs built into the pom, a rechargeable pack, and one remote that changes the whole team’s color at once.
$145 USD per pair
Nothing in the current rules prohibits light-up pom poms, and nothing explicitly approves them. We read the 2026–27 USASF cheer and dance rules and the ICU 2026 rules in full: pom pons are allowed props in cheer, handheld items are allowed in every USASF dance category, poms are part of the uniform in the ICU Pom category, and none of the rulebooks mentions lights, LEDs or batteries anywhere. The legality official at each event makes the final call, so the way to be certain is to get a written answer before your first competition.
What do the rulebooks say about pom pons?
Here is what each current rulebook says, paraphrased with the key line quoted. USASF marks its rules documents as copyrighted, so read the official versions linked below for the full text.
| Rulebook | Pom pons | Lights, LEDs or batteries |
|---|---|---|
| USASF Cheer Rules 2026–27 (effective June 1, 2026) | One of the only allowed props: “Flags, standard flat banners/signs, pom pons, megaphones and pieces of cloth are the only props allowed.” | Not mentioned |
| USASF Dance Rules 2026–27 (updated May 18, 2026) | Wearable and handheld items are allowed in all categories; standing props are not. | Not mentioned |
| ICU 2026 Cheerleading | Flags, banners, signs, poms, megaphones and pieces of cloth are the only props allowed. | Not mentioned |
| ICU 2026 Performance Cheer | Handheld props are not allowed, except in the Pom category, where poms are considered part of the uniform and are compulsory throughout. | Not mentioned |
Sources: USASF Cheer Rules 2026–27, USASF Dance Rules 2026–27, ICU 2026 Sport of Cheer Rules.
So are light-up pom poms legal or not?
Read literally, a light-up pom pon is still a pom pon, and no current USASF or ICU rule restricts poms that light up. But the rules also do not say they are approved, and they leave decisions on the day to the event’s legality officials. That is why we will not tell you our poms are “competition-legal.” Nobody can promise that except the people who rule on your routine.
What the rules do set are general prop limits that apply to every pom, lit or not. In USASF cheer, props cannot have sharp, unyielding or pointed edges, cannot block an athlete’s vision, cannot bear weight, and have to be put down safely, out of harm’s way. In USASF dance, certain skills cannot be performed while holding poms in a supporting hand. Choreograph around those limits the same way you would with metallic poms.
How do you get a written answer before you compete?
- USASF events: the rules invite coaches to submit routine skills through the USASF Coach App before competition. Submit the section of your routine that uses the light-up poms, on video, and keep the response.
- ICU events: the ICU rules direct questions to its rules committees: cheer.rules@cheerunion.org for cheerleading and pc.rules@cheerunion.org for performance cheer.
- Other event producers: ask the event’s rules or legality contact directly, in writing, and bring the reply with you.
- Do it early. Get the answer before you commit the routine, not the week of the event.
A written answer turns “nothing prohibits them” into certainty for your team, and it protects you if a legality official asks on the day.
Which divisions are the best fit for light-up poms?
| Division | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pom (dance and ICU Performance Cheer) | Strongest | Poms are used throughout and, at ICU, are part of the uniform |
| Game Day | Strong | Poms are encouraged for the sideline and time-out sections (source: Varsity on Game Day) |
| All-star cheer | Limited | Allowed as a prop, but routines are built on stunts and tumbling, and props cannot be held while tumbling |
| ICU Performance Cheer, non-pom categories | Not allowed | Handheld props are not allowed outside the Pom category |
Where can you use light-up poms with no ruling at all?
A legality answer only matters in a judged routine. Everywhere else, the team decides:
- Showcase nights at your own gym; see competition season planning for coaches.
- Game nights: halftime, time-outs and theme nights.
- Exhibition performances, which are not scored.
- Banquets, senior nights and send-offs.
Most teams that buy light-up poms use them far more often at these events than in a judged routine, so the set pays for itself even before a ruling comes back.
Are LED face stickers allowed in cheer competition?
No, not on the skin in USASF cheer. The 2026–27 rules do not allow rhinestones on the face or eyelids, and treat rhinestones as legal only when they are adhered to the uniform, not the skin or hair (source: USASF Cheer Rules 2026–27). We make LED face stickers, and we tell coaches plainly: they are for fans, alumni events, game nights and showcases, not for athletes in a USASF cheer routine.
What should a coach check before ordering?
- Which routines the poms will be used in, judged and non-judged.
- The rules for your events: USASF, ICU or the event producer’s own.
- A written answer for any judged routine, before the first competition.
- A full matched set plus spares, ordered together.
Our team rate on light-up pom poms is $120 a pair on 10 or more pairs. Email or DM us with your team size, colours and first event date for a quote. We make the poms ourselves and will answer questions about how they are built if your legality contact asks.
Frequently asked questions
Are light-up pom poms allowed in cheer competition?
Nothing in the 2026–27 USASF rules or the ICU 2026 rules prohibits them, and none of the rulebooks mentions lights, LEDs or batteries. The legality official at each event decides, so get a written answer before competing.
Are pom poms an allowed prop in USASF cheer?
Yes. The 2026–27 USASF cheer rules list flags, standard flat banners and signs, pom pons, megaphones and pieces of cloth as the only allowed props.
Can dance teams use light-up poms?
USASF 2026–27 dance rules allow wearable and handheld items in all categories and do not mention lights. In ICU Performance Cheer, poms are allowed only in the Pom category, where they are part of the uniform.
How do I get a ruling on light-up poms?
Submit the routine section through the USASF Coach App for USASF events, or email the ICU rules committee (cheer.rules@cheerunion.org or pc.rules@cheerunion.org) for ICU events. For other events, ask the event’s rules contact in writing.
Are LED face stickers allowed in cheer competition?
Not on the skin in USASF cheer: the 2026–27 rules do not allow face or eyelid rhinestones and treat rhinestones as legal only on the uniform. Use face stickers for fans and events instead.
Where can teams use light-up poms without a ruling?
At showcases, game nights, exhibitions, banquets and send-offs, where there are no legality officials.
See also: competition season planning for coaches and dance team pom poms.
Sources: USASF Cheer Rules 2026–27, USASF Dance Rules 2026–27, ICU 2026 Sport of Cheer Rules, Varsity on Game Day.
Questions: info@neoncowboys.com.
