Increasing Competition – Part 5 – Recommendations

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Andre

This is the final piece of a 5 part series on increasing competition in All*Star Cheerleading. This one will focus on my recommendations and suggestions that were sent to the USASF as part of the Rules Process for 2013-15 seasons.

Spirit SMove Coed Divisions on the Age Grid

My first suggestion is to move Coed divisions from the top of the Age Grid and list them in the When to Split Divisions section similar to how Small and Large splits are listed. This would make it so every Junior Level 3 team is competing against each other, regardless of large, small, coed, or all girl, until there are enough Junior Level 3 teams to warrant splitting Junior Level 3.

I intentionally avoided stating how many teams should remain on each side of a split in the official suggestion to avoid clouding the issue with a specific number, but I think it should be raised to 5.

Move Coed Divisions on the Age Grid

Remove Size Based Division Splits in Favor of a Single Team Size

My second suggestion is to remove Small, Medium, and Large divisions in favor of a single division size. Once again I intentionally did not state what size teams should be in the official suggestion to avoid clouding the issue of if there should be a single division size with what size it should be. If it were up to me I would go with 24, but I’ve heard some decent logic behind using 25 instead.

Remove Size Based Division Splits in Favor of a Single Team Size

Increasing Competition Series

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USASF & IASF 2012-13 Age Grids

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Andre

USASF LogoThe USASF and IASF has released the Age Grids for 2012-13. Noted Changes to the USASF version include:

  • Youth L5 and Youth Restricted have been combined.
  • Junior Coed is only listed for L5.
  • Senior L1-4.2 have a minimum age of 10. Senior L5 remained at 12.
  • International L5 divisions now have a minimum age of 15, up from 14.

Open Level 4 (17 Years and Older, 1-15 Males, 5-24 Members)

An event producer must request a “waiver” from the USASF to offer this “trial” division for the 2012-13 season. This is a non-sanctioned division that does not count toward any Cheerleading Worlds bid. Event producers are requested to complete at USASF “waiver” to offer this division.

All Star Prep

An event producer must request a “waiver” from the USASF to offer “trial” divisions for the 2012-13 season. These are non-sanctioned divisions that do not count toward any Cheerleading Worlds bid. Event producers are requested to complete a USASF “waiver” to offer this division. The following criteria must be met in order to compete in these divisions:

  • Maximum routine length is 2 minutes
  • At any given event, an athlete may not crossover between teams competing in a standard division and teams competing in a ‘Prep’ division (and vice versa).

In addition to the criteria listed above, Event Producers may apply their own additional unique criteria when defining eligibility requirements for these divisions. Event Producers must declare what criteria they used to differentiate their ‘Prep’ divisions from the standard USASF divisions (ex: for half year teams, for teams not allowed to practice more than 2 hours a week).

Small Gyms

The USASF is still evaluating options to address the concerns of Small Gyms (75 athletes or less).

USASF Cheer Age Grid & IASF Cheer Age Grid

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Independents & Vendors Join Us In Vegas For The 3rd Annual IEP National Conference

Posted on May 14, 2012 by M

IEP LogoMay 14, 2012- Minneapolis, MN – The independents are meeting at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas for the 3rd Annual IEP National Conference on May 15th to the 17th of 2012. Any independent company that has no ownership or control by any company in the spirit industry with annual gross revenues of $5 million or more is able to attend. Non-member companies who fall under these guidelines may attend the conference to hear first-hand about the Independents organizational goals, accomplishments and future tasks by simply paying the conference fee.

The conference will be held at the beautiful Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino on the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The Venetian has over 30 individual restaurants on the property, amazing shopping, 4 great golf courses, and is home to the Canyon Ranch Spa which was voted the “Best Spa” by Meetings Magazine. The all-suite guestrooms will be in the Palazzo Tower. These rooms include sunken living rooms and Italian marble bathrooms.

A limited number of vendor and sponsorship booths will be available. If interested in talking first hand with the leaders of major independent companies, contact Ann Lerhmann, the IEP Annual Conference Registration Director. (410-799-1390).

Visit www.WeAreIEP.com to obtain a complete registration packet with pricing and details located on the home page of the website.

Independents & Vendors Join Us In Vegas For The 3rd Annual IEP National Conference

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Varsity All Star: 2012-2013 Scoring Update – Tumbling

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Andre

Varsity All Star LogoFor the 2012 – 2013 season, Varsity All Star is making an adjustment to our scoring that allows coaches more wiggle room when selecting their team:

For Standing Tumbling Difficulty and Running Tumbling Difficulty, ‘squad participation’ will no longer require 100% of the athletes executing a given skill. ‘Squad participation’ will now be reached when just 75% of the athletes execute that skill. (Ex: a Level 4 team with 15 out of 20 standing back tucks will be evaluated equitably when compared to another Level 4 team with 20 out of 20 standing back tucks).

This new initiative should assist coaches as they select their team members, coach their athletes through mental blocks, and rework routines when last minute roster changes occur. From an athlete’s perspective, it should also relieve a little bit of the pressure they may feel to be perfectly well rounded. Our hope is that this ruling provides opportunities for athletes that wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to advance to the next level with the rest of their team.

2012-2013 Scoring Update

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Males—Minimize Exaggerated or Theatrical Movements

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Andre

Slate published Males—Minimize Exaggerated or Theatrical Movements.

But cheer is an activity in which it’s always been OK for boys to shimmy. The USASF’s new rules have threatened to destroy that safe space. Gadke is still waiting to see the promised revision to the guidelines, and he’s still talking with the ACLU and GLAAD. He wants not just a revision but an apology. After all, cheerleading is a sport that’s built on trust. At this weekend’s championships, children and adolescents will toss themselves in the air on the assumption that a teammate will be there to catch them. If the USASF doesn’t right itself soon, the entire sport will be in for a hard fall.

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Cheerleaders on Team USA for International Competition

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Andre

The Crimson White published Cheerleaders on Team USA for International Competition.

This year, the international athletic competition is once again primed to take its biggest stage. After all, 2012 is an Olympic year, but cheerleading is not among the sports that will be showcased in London this summer. This lack of recognition may be coming to an end. In fact, a Google search of “cheerleading Olympic sport” voices the outcry that may give cheerleading a fighting chance in 2016.

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