Spirit Cheer

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:
Divisions are determined by the age of the participant according to USASF Guidelines. Click here for the USASF All Star Divisions. Persons wishing to challenge a participants eligibility must submit a format complaint with proof to the USASF Disciplinary Committee. High School and Recreation will be determined by grade. This can be found on our registration form.

TWO-DAY COMPETING FORMAT:
The competition will be a two-day format with a 40% and 60% split. Saturday's scores will count 40% and Sunday's scores will count 60% of your final score. Four panel judges will score the routine and one judge will do deductions.

ONE-DAY COMPETING FORMAT:
The competition will be a one-day format. Scores will be calculated on a 100 point scale. Depending upon the event there will be either three or four panel judges to score the routine and one judge to do deductions.

GRAND CHAMPION FORMAT:
The Grand Champion is the team with the highest overall score within their level. We will offer a Grand Champion award to one team from each level represented at the event as well as a school and dance Grand Champion Award. Each winning team will receive a Grand Championship trophy. Many events will offer more, see events awards sectioni for more details.

JUDGES:
Varsity Brands have developed a Universal score sheet and scoring program. We believe you will find it easy to understand, straightforward, and intern, help you and your program to score the maximum allowable per skill they execute. At National events there will be 4 overall judges and 1 penalty and legality judge. Depending on the size of the event will determine if there will be 4 or 5 judges at One day Nationals or Championships, most will have 3 overall and 1 penalty or legality judge.

SCORE SHEETS:
Each squad will receive their "Spirit Cheer Score Sheets" as well as the "Deduction Sheet". These sheets will be available at the judging/tabulations desk approximately 30-45 minutes after the completion of the division awards ceremony at one day events and at the 2 day National Championships, approximately 2 hours after performace on day one in the coach hospitality room with final score sheets being given after awards on Day 2.

VIDEO REVIEW:
Spirit Cheer's deduction judges and/or head judge and the event director will review any deduction via video review prior to handing out a rules violation or deduction. If you feel that you have been given an inappropriate deduction then the head judge and event director will review the video. The coach will not be present at the viewing, and the decision of the head judge and event director is final and can not be challenged. Any questions regarding dedcutions or violations WILL NOT be allowed after the posting of rankings for that division.

PERFORMANCE AREA:
The performance areas will be a 54'x42' Spring floor with carpet-bonded foam strips running front to back. There are NO out-of-bounds, but ALL skills MUST be performed within the 54'x42' competition area.

MUSIC:
Routine time limits are 2:30 for cheer and 2:30 for dance. Your entire routine may be choreographed to music but it is not a requirement. Spirit Cheer will be providing a CD player, and I-Pod hook up for your music on the main practice floor as well as the main stage. In the event that your music stops or skips in the routine you will have the option to start your routine again at the point of malfunction. There will be no more tape players being provided.

INJURIES:
In the event that an injury occurs in the warm up area or on the competition mat you will be given 45 minutes to rework the routine with the available members (available members would be anyone within your program that is age eligible for that team). (This is also based upon discretion of Even Director and what is happening during the event at that time) If any part of the routine is unable to continue due to the absence of an available member then those parts of the routine will count as a missed skill.

SPOTTERS:
Spirit Cheer does not provide spotters at any of the championships or national championships events. You may, however provide your own spotters for the routine. We believe each coach has a responsibility to make sure the material that is choreographed is well within the capability of the participants performing. If there is any doubt about your team and this policy please bring it to our attention so spotters can be arranged or we can allow you to spot your own routine.

PROPS:
The only props allowed are signs, megaphone and poms. Signs must be used to evoke a crowd response. All props must be carried onto the performance area by the competitors. No stationary props allowed (ex. placing props on floor to help mark spacing). All Props must be used in the routine.

ROUTINES BEGINS WHEN...
The timing of routine will begin at first organized movement or sound of music.

MUSIC STATION:
A coach or representative will be needed to run your music while your team is performing. We are not responsible for burned CD’s not working, we highly advise you to bring a second copy as a back-up. Rest assured we use the highest quality of equipment. Many people are downloading their music on I-Pods to insure safety, sound quality, and tempo.

In the event your routine is interrupted because of failure of equipment, facilities, etc. you will be permitted to begin your routine over from the point of failure. In the event your routine is interrupted because of failure of your CD, equipment, supplies or coach, you may continue or withdraw. Spirit Cheer does not take responsibility for a coaching error. In the event an injury occurs during your performance, Spirit Cheer will work with you to help rework if needed and help you to continue, we will rework you in the schedule. We also reserve the right to stop a performance. Teams will also have the option to withdraw with-out refund.

SCHOOL & RECREATIONAL TEAMS:
The total routine time for School and Recreational teams cannot exceed 2 minutes and 30 seconds. All School and Recreational routines may be choreographed to all music or may contain a cheer or chant. The maximum allowable music for the cheer division will be 1:45 of music. Words may also be used with music or during the musical portion of the routine. These routines would be in the All-Music Division. The time given to the cheer/chant portion is completely up to the team/coach.

All School and Recreational divisions can be found on our registration form. Please double check and make sure you have signed up for the proper division. JV & Varsity Cheer teams must compete in the division corresponding to their NFHS or State designation for Football/Basketball. If the designation is different for those two sports, the team must compete in the higher of the two.

OPEN CHEER TEAMS/COLLEGE CHEER DIVISIONS:
Open Cheer Teams and College cheer routines may not exceed 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Cheer division you have up to 1:45 of music, max. Routines may be performed to all music. Routines may also contain a cheer or chant.

All Open Cheer Teams and College Team divisions can be found on our registration form. Please double check and make sure you have signed up for the proper division. College teams will follow AACCA rule and guidelines. Open Cheer Teams will follow the guidelines specified by USASF for level 6 all-star teams. Any questions please call our offices.

INDIVIDUAL CHEER AND STUNT DIVISIONS:
Individual cheer routines cannot exceed 1 minute and 30 seconds. The cheer may be performed over the music but does not have to be. There is no required length of cheer whether it is performed over the music or throughout the routine. Individual routines should include dance, cheer, motions, standing/running tumbling and jumps. Non-tumbling divisions (NT) should include all of the above with the exception of tumbling. The same rules apply for duo and trio cheer groups. No stunting in duo and trio cheer groups. Individual divisions encompass skills from level 1 thru level 5 while tiny and mini participants are allowed the highest skill level allowed in that division.

Stunt group routines may not exceed 1 minute and 15 seconds. The entire routine should be all music. Only stunt skills should be included in this performance. All stunt groups must provide their own qualified spotter. Stunt groups can include up to 5 members and are open with skills ranging from level 1 thru level 5 stunt skills. Mini stunt groups may only perform level 1-3 skills in their stunt routine.

Partner stunt routines cannot exceed 1 minute and 15 seconds. The entire routine should be all music. Only stunt skills should be included in this performance. All partner stunt competitors must provide their own qualified spotter. Partner stunt groups can include up to 2 members and are open with skills ranging from level 1 thru level 5.

DANCE SOLO/DUO/TRIO:
All solo, duo, trio and ensemble (4-5 members) routines cannot exceed 1 minute and 30 seconds. Solo, duo, trio and ensemble divisions can be found on our registration form. Please double check and make sure you have signed up for the proper division.

Tumbling of any kind is not permitted. With limited exception (i.e. forward rolls, shoulder rolls, back bend kicks/walk-over and aerial cartwheels are allowed). Dance lifts of any kind are not permitted.