Scholarship Application Deadline
Calling all college-bound USASF 5 Star Cheer and Dance Athletes! Don’t miss your chance at a USASF College Scholarship! Deadline for application is February 1, 2013!
Video Submissions for Junior Team Bids for Dance Worlds Due
If your Jr. Dance Team wants to compete for a bid to The Dance Worlds, video submissions must be received by Feb 19!
All Star cheer and dance coaches are gathering this summer to discuss, learn about, plan for and celebrate everything All Star! Don’t miss out! We’re thrilled to expand our six Regional Meetings with valuable All-Star Dance specific sessions, giving you even more opportunities to learn from industry pros!
You’ll want to register at least two coaches from your program so you’ll be able to take advantage of multiple cheer and dance class offerings. Meeting schedules, speaker and class lists and registration information are available online:
Be active in YOUR governing body for All Star and get involved in everything we’re doing together to advocate for the safety, education and growth of our sport.
Questions? Contact your Regional Director or Regional Dance Ambassador. They can’t wait to talk to you about USASF Regional Meetings!
Regional Directors
Regional Dance Ambassadors
The USASF has 6 Regional Meetings for attendees to choose from. We are happy to announce the General Schedule to give you an overview of what will take place at each location. Exact topics and speakers will vary by location, however your Regional Director will be happy to assist you with your meeting specifics questions.
Credentialing
Credentialing will be offered at each meeting location. If you or members of your staff have credentials that have already expired or expire during the 2012-2013 season a Regional Meeting is your best opportunity to get it done!
Cheer & Dance Safety Judge Training and Rules Course
Cheer & Dance Safety Judge Training and Rules Course will be offered at each location. Judging candidates may register to attend the safety judge training only or are welcome to join us for the Regional Meeting. You must register for the events you want to attend. Coaches are invited (and encouraged) to attend the safety judge training course to audit the Rules Course to gain a better understanding of the rules in cheer and/or dance. There is an additional fee for the cheer rules course (refer to the General Schedule link above for registration fees and deadlines).
All registrations will be done ONLINE.
At our 2012 Regional Meetings, we will have renowned choreographers presenting master classes in Hip Hop and featured speakers for both our Cheer and Dance attendees. We are excited to introduce to you, the featured cheer speakers (listed below) who will be at each of our 6 Regional Meetings. Each one brings a wealth of knowledge to the meeting and is looking forward to sharing information with you as they teach several classes.
Mid-Atlantic Meeting
Northeast Meeting
Southeast Meeting
Midwest Meeting
West Meeting
Southwest Meeting
Greetings!
One of the highlights of The Cheerleading & Dance Worlds competition is the Thursday night’s VIP Gala.
The cheerleading and dance media partnered with the USASF to recognize a few of the outstanding members of our community.
REMINDER: Just over a week to submit nominations, so make sure to get your votes in! The official deadline is April 6, 2012.
Links to the nomination forms are displayed below.
Cheer Coach of the Year (Sponsored by Cheer Coach and Advisor Magazine)
Nominees exemplify the dedication, determination, and heart that represents what being a top coach is all about.
Small Gym of the Year (Sponsored by Inside Cheerleading Magazine)
Every gym has a story, and it goes far beyond the number of trophies, banners and championship jackets. For the small gyms we honor, the stories are the heartbeat of our industry.
Gym Owner of the Year (Sponsored by Cheer Biz News)
The attitude and spirit gym owners have is clearly reflected in the program’s athletes. As figureheads of their communities, they embody all traits of successful people.
Dance Coach of the Year (Sponsored by Dance Coach Association)
These are the innovators and leaders who encourage and inspire the dance community. Not just teaching skill sets, but projection and performance on and off the Marley.
Choreographer of the Year (Sponsored by The Cheer Leader Magazine)
The masterminds behind all of the skills that reach new heights and routines that draw audiences in; nominees should be recognized for their creativity and innovation.
Leadership through Sportsmanship (Sponsored by USASF)
Leadership through Sportsmanship award for all star behavior on and off the competition floor. Those who exemplify sportsmanship contribute to the positive life experiences of all stars.
Please feel free to pass this along to parents, athletes, and coaches to ensure that everyone has a vote!
Sincerely,
Tegan Reeves & Gena Evans
VIP Gala Directors
U. S. All Star Federation
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 28, 2012) — Effective with the 2012-13 season, a double twist to a cradle (double down) no longer will be permitted in high school spirit (cheer, dance, drill, pom).
This significant risk minimization ruling was one of 19 rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Committee at its March 3-5 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
With changes to Rules 2-8-9 and 2-10-2, a twist performed to a cradle must not involve more than one complete rotation except when dismounting to a cradle from a side-facing stunt or toss, which will permit 1¼ rotations. In these cases, the bases may make a one-fourth turn to catch the cradle.
“Data presented by the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee confirmed that the majority of head injuries in spirit are from body-to-body contact in stunts,” said Susan Loomis, editor of the NFHS Spirit Rules Book. “The committee recognizes that the primary body-to-body contact issues are presented during double-twisting dismounts. Prohibiting double twists to a cradle is consistent with the NFHS focus on risk minimization.
“Many of the other changes approved by the committee would be considered less restrictive and should allow for more creativity on the part of high school participants,” Loomis added.
Among those less-restrictive changes are several rules in a new section on Inversions. While allowing for more creativity and options, the committee believes these stunts do not increase risk of injury.
“These skills have been demonstrated to have a reasonable expectation for minimizing risk when given the specific limitations and conditions required for performance,” Loomis said.
Another less-restrictive change is the elimination of Rule 2-4-8, which previously required a spotter’s arms to be extended toward a top person in order to be in an alert, ready position. The committee agreed that there are a number of different ways for spotters to be alert and ready that don’t involve extending the arms and which don’t increase the risk of injury.
In other changes, the committee deleted rules regarding pendulums since they are now included in a set of rules regarding “horizontal” transitions. The rules committee also voted to allow swinging stunts to begin from below shoulder height rather than specifically from a cradle.
One change was approved by the committee in Rule 3 – Dance/Drill/Pom Risk Management. New language was added to Rule 3-4-1 which permits forward rolls from props low enough that the top person can put both hands on the performing surface before dismounting.
A number of the rules changes approved by the Spirit Rules Committee bring NFHS rules in closer alignment with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (AACCA) rules. In addition, in a similar spirit of cooperation, AACCA will be revising some of its rules in other areas to align with NFHS rules.
This was the final meeting for Loomis to serve as the NFHS spirit rules consultant. She has served in that capacity since the organization moved to Indianapolis in 2000 and followed a 10-year involvement on the committee as a member and chair. Kent Summers, NFHS director of performing arts and sports, will now serve as staff liaison and rules editor.
Competitive spirit squads constitute the ninth-most popular activity for girls at the high school level, according to the 2010-11 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS, with 96,718 participants nationwide. There are also 21,487 girls who participate in dance or drill teams, according to the same survey.