We’ll use this page to explain some of the basic elements of scoring systems and give a little more information about the 3 major (Cheersport, JAM Brands, and Varsity All Star) scoring systems used in All*Stars and the Worlds scoring system.

(This was last updated for the 2011-12 Season)

Category & Panel Judging

There are 2 major types of scoring systems, Category and Panel:

• Category – Judges only score one portion of the routine, such as Building, Tumbling, or Overall Routine, instead of judging all portions.
• Panel – Judges score all portions of the routine.

Category Judging is used by JAM Brands, Worlds and some Varsity Brands including Athletic Championships and WSF.  Proponents of Category Judging say it is more accurate because a single judge only needs to focus on a part of the routine instead of the routine as a whole.

Panel Judging is used by Cheersport, NCA, and Spirit Sports, among others. Proponents of Panel Judging like to point out the fairness of having every section scored by several people so your fate doesn’t sit in the hands of

Cheersport

The consensus is you must hit clean to win at Cheersport. That’s worth saying again. You must hit Clean to win at Cheersport (and the most difficult team that hits will win). Things to know about Cheersport:

• Scoring in the highest range requires the equivalent of at least two-thirds of the team to perform level appropriate skills.
• You must connect Jumps to level appropriate Tumbling. At some levels this means it will be jump – pause – tumbling, but you must do it.
• Deductions are severe. If you miss a stunt, don’t put it back up. Since Cheersport will deduct for every mistake in a stunt sequence without a cap on the number of points they will take, it’s usually not worth going back up and risking dropping again.
• Don’t perform anything that isn’t level appropriate unless it is perfect. Since you don’t really get points for anything that isn’t level appropriate there is little reason to risk a deduction.
• Don’t keep any tumbling pass that won’t be completed. Since Cheersport deducts for omissions, an example being a level 5 tumbling pass ended in a back handspring, you don’t want to keep the “iffy” tumbling passes in.

JAM Brands

JAM Score separates Difficulty, Technique, Load ins/Dismounts/Transitions (LDT), and Quantity where appropriate, impacting the way your routine should be constructed.

• Skills must be performed by the majority (Half +1) of the team to score in the appropriate range. If fewer people perform the skill it will be scored in the upper end of range below.
• Put your required body positions in 1 Stunt sequence and be sure to hold each body position for at least 2 counts. That is the only way to max out Difficulty within your range.
• Perform a Stunt sequence for you Difficulty and LDT scores and a separate stunt for your Quantity score.
• “For a dismount score to count in Stunts and Pyramids it must be executed at the end of the Sequence.”
• Overall Impression is a little higher than Cheersport or Varsity.

Varsity All Star

The consensus is you need a balanced routine to win on the Varsity Standard of Scoring. Things to know about Varsity:

• Difficulty and Technique are scored separately so be careful when sacrificing one for the other.
• Quantity and Variety are what will move your difficulty up within your range.
• Do more than the standard set of group baskets. Look at your opening and running tumbling section to see if baskets can be added.
• Deductions aren’t bad, so get back into missed stunt and pyramid sequences.
• Specialty Kick Doubles are needed to get in the highest toss range in Level 5.
• Unassisted Stunts are rewarded. Do them if you can.

Worlds

The Worlds score sheet adjust from year to year. Here is some advice based on the last few years:

• Senior and International divisions have different point allocations with Senior divisions be more evenly weighted across the categories and the International divisions being building heavy and light on tumbling.
• Don’t have people doing nothing during Running Tumbling. Use those athletes to throw a Basket, perform a Pyramid, or do Synchronized tumbling, even if it’s just a standing tuck.
• Limit Solo Tumbling. The Synchronization score is as important as the Standing or Running score.
• Don’t be scared to do non Level 5 Tumbling skills as a group to improve your Synchronization score.
• Hit at least 3 “Picture Moments” in your pyramid and show variety in your transitions between the Picture Moments, by mixing in Flips and Twists.
• Have your top and middle layers Double, Full, Pancake, or Cartwheel down from your Pyramids. Do not simply pop down.
• Perform more than just one set of Synchronized Tosses. You have to do the synchronized set, but be sure to have additional baskets in your routine to get variety, even if the additional baskets are not Level 5.