Tag Archives: International

FIG, ICU and SportAccord Sign Trilateral Agreement

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, September 10, 2012: The agreement finalizing the terms and conditions under which the FIG supports the principle for the admission of the International Cheer Union (ICU) into SportAccord has now been signed by all of the three parties involved: SportAccord, the ICU and the FIG.

International Cheer Union logoThe final signature was added at FIG headquarters on August 29, in the presence of ICU President Jeff Webb and ICU General Secretary Karl Olson, along with their FIG counterparts Prof. Bruno Grandi and André F. Gueisbuhler.

Commenting on the agreement, SportAccord’s President, Hein Verbruggen hailed what he described as “a positive outcome, and one which all of the parties are happy with.” He went on to state that, “The ICU’s membership application will be on the agenda of the next SportAccord General Assembly and there is no doubt that the presence of the ICU within SportAccord would strengthen and increase the scope of its offering to both the public and the media.”

Speaking on behalf of the ICU, Jeff Webb added: “Our Union is very proud to have taken this positive step forward and we would like to thank our partners and co-signatories of this agreement. SportAccord membership would open up new horizons for the ICU in terms of its development and its profile on the international stage. It is also important for our 103 national federations members, As well as over three million cheer athletes worldwide.”

FIG President, Prof. Bruno Grandi also welcomed the agreement, noting that it “sets out clearly and in a way that satisfies all of the parties involved, those specific activities for which the FIG and the ICU will each assume direct responsibility.”

FIG, ICU and SportAccord Sign Trilateral Agreement

USASF Rules Update – April 5, 2012

USASF LogoThe USASF posted an update to the rules changes made last week and published A Message From the USASF Board of Directors (April 5th, 2012).

The USASF Announcement is available on USASF.net and a summary of the updates announced today is below:

  • Standing Double Fulls are not allowed, but Standing Single Fulls are.
  • Standing Single Back Handsprings into Double Fulls are not allowed, but Standing 2 or 3 to Doubles are.
  • Bounding Twisting skills into a Double Full are not allowed.
  • Twisting Skills out of a Double Full are not allowed.
  • Open (International) L5 teams will have the bottom age raised in one-year progressions to age 17 by the 2014-15 season as follows: (2012-13 Season – 15 Years & Older, 2013-14 Season – 16 Years & Older, 2014-15 Season – 17 Years & Older).
  • Keep Youth age as it currently is on the Age Grid (11 & Younger)

USASF Rules Update – April 5, 2012

2012 NCA All-Star Nationals: Worlds Bids & Grand Champion Process for International Divisions

NCA sent the following email regarding International divisions and Worlds Bids. This seems to open the door to, in the worst case scenario, having a team finish 1st in the division, but not be 1st in line for a Worlds Bid (among teams in that division). It will be interesting to see how a situation like this is resolved if it arises.

Coaches:

NCA All Star Nationals LogoLast month, we announced that the final scores for International Open and International Open Coed (Levels 5 and 6) would be calculated using the weighting of skills consistent with the International scoresheet being used at the USASF Worlds Championship.

The difference in this weighting methodology, however, will potentially skew the results for how NCA declares the Worlds Bid winners and the selection of our Grand Champion at Nationals. On the International score sheet, Building Skills is weighted 65%. On the standard NCA All-Star score sheet, Building Skills is weighted 40%. Since Building Skills tends to be the highest scoring section for most teams, it is likely that the International teams’ Final Scores will be higher and outscore most teams in non-International divisions. Since we compare teams’ Final Scores across divisions when selecting Worlds bids and Grand Champion, many non-International teams will be put at a competitive disadvantage since we would be comparing scores derived from different weighting methodologies.

Therefore, for the Final Rankings, we will move forward as planned and was previously communicated applying the International weights (65/10/10/15) to calculate the Final Score. However, we will select Worlds Bid Winners and our Grand Champion using a Final Score recalculated for those International divisions using the standard NCA weights (40/30/20/10).

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this. To view an updated version of our Bid Declaration, CLICK HERE.

Justin Carrier
Vice President – Varsity All Star
NCA/NDA
Varsity Brands

USASF/IASF: Worlds Policy Update II

Les Stella made a clarification about the email the USASF sent yesterday:

Any all star event conducted by a USASF/IASF member event producer is fine to attend. The “international” title is not an issue, the “World” title is a problem.

It really is that simple. As long as you don’t attend a competition that has the “World” title attached to it, then there is no problem.

Les Stella

Executive Director, USASF Rules and Judging

Dear IASF: An International Idea

The international divisions currently exist to fill two needs: provide an outlet for the cheerleaders who have aged out of the club divisions while providing a chance for teams from other countries to compete on a ‘level’ playing field.

The problem is that because this division fills two needs currently one aspect of the division has to suffer over another. To make sure the international teams feel successful after paying all their money to come compete the USASF currently limits the amount of US teams to go on to finals to 3. That way the top place an international team can in a worst case scenario get is 4th. But still in general the US teams finish 1, 2, and 3 and no international teams go home with a globe. At the same time International team growth for the US is stunted because of the risk of not making finals for all but 3 teams.

Because of the growing importance to our sport of older athletes needing a place to compete (let us face it… college cheer is dying) I have come up with a solution to encourage growth in IO(C) 5 and 6, as well as reward the other countries that come and compete.

The key is that other countries want a shot to compete against US teams but feel like they accomplished something. Here is how you do it.

There are a total of 6 globes that can be given out in an international division. 1-3 that are the normal medals, and 1-3 for the emerging countries. An emerging country is any country that has less than 50 teams that goes to Worlds (this should effectively eliminate the US, but allow everyone else to be an emerging country. The specifics of what qualifies as an emerging country can be adjusted if this is actually put into place). This emerging country is ONLY for international.

1 – 3 is ALWAYS given to the top three scorers. If none of the top 3 scores is from an emerging country, then 1 – 3 for the emerging countries is given out. These globes are the exact same as 1 – 3 normal ones, but say the word ‘emerging’ on them. If 1 – 3 top scores IS an emerging country they get that globe AND the golden globe for an emerging country.

Why is this great? In general the US teams will be a good bit stronger than the international teams. This is not a forever thing, but a right now thing. If 20 teams come into the international division from the US, most likely the top 20 will be the US. But if Columbia has the 21st highest score overall and wins a globe for 1st place emerging country they will feel accomplished AND get a legit shot against the US teams to try and improve.

More US teams will be encouraged to come in and compete, more international teams will come in and compete, and everyone will be happier with the process.

This is not unlike when someone runs a marathon. When you finish, you get your place for the entire race, but also your place for your age group. You may finish 5,000th overall, but get 50th for your age group. That breakdown makes runners feel accomplishment and come back for more.

To all US and International teams: if you feel like this is a good idea feel free to write the NAB and Steve Peterson. Emailing them will help get this idea out and discussed!