USASF/IASF 2008-09 Age Grid
The USASF sent the following email concerning the 2008-09 Age and Division Grid on Monday:
Dear USASF/IASF Member:
After several months of input from a wide variety of sources, I am pleased to forward you the USASF/IASF Age Grid for the 2008-09 season. There are two copies attached, one with highlights of the changes that have been made from the 2007-08 document and the other a “clean” version with no comparisons shown.
I feel it is important that you know the procedures that were implemented in the development of this document:
- Calls for rule/age grid updates were made in the Fall, and were then voted upon by the NACCC in early January. Although event producers were encouraged to submit their recommendations, their voices are most clearly heard through several committees of the USASF/IASF.
- Results from the NACCC meeting were forwarded to the USASF/IASF Rules Committee.
- The Rules Committee spent a great deal of time throughout the past 2 1/2 months (at the height of the busy competition season I might add), reviewing the recommendations of the NACCC. Some issues had a clear mandate from the NACCC, others did not. The Rules Committee made recommendations which were then forwarded to the National Advisory Board (NAB) and the Sanctioning Committee of the USASF/IASF for their review and input.
- The final approval came from the Board of the USASF/IASF
Please note a couple of key items on the grid. First, “small gym” categories and events have been further defined. These may be run by any USASF/IASF event producer in any geographical location within the parameters established.
For “splitting” divisions, three is now the number of teams that must remain in each division that was split from a larger division. In some instances divisions must be “combined” if there are not at least two teams in a particular division.
The grid has been re-formatted to make it easier (hopefully) to follow the “combinations” and “splits” of divisions. You are reminded that as a member event producer, you must follow the mandates for “combining” and “splitting” divisions as stated in this document. The only choices that are given to event producers are statements that contain the word “may” in them. (i.e. “For divisions that are designated ‘Small’ and ‘Large,” event producers may further subdivide…). Any statement that contains a “will” statement in it must be followed by the event producer as written.
The age grid was posted on the USASF/IASF website late last week, as many programs are gearing up for try-outs and this information was critical for this process.
The Level Rules document for 2008-09 will be posted toward the end of this week. The USASF/IASF Rules Committee has been working diligently to review the level rules for presentation, clarity and ease of interpretation. I felt that no changes would be made to these which would directly impact a gym program’s try-out process, thus we are spending some additional time “word smithing” this document prior to its release.
Finally, I would like to commend the large body of coaches, event producers and industry experts who have given many hours of their time during some of the busiest months of the season to be part of the rules review process.
Ultimately, I feel very good about the overall direction that we provided for the rules process and the integrity that we maintained in allowing feedback and many eyes to review proposed items. Given the multiple agendas, various program sizes and needs, national and international issues and the varied opinions on some controversial topics, I feel that in the end we should proud of what we have accomplished. Will everyone support every decision that has been made? Unfortunately, no. However, I feel that every decision that was made was vetted thoroughly and that multiple points of view were taken into account.
Thank you for your continued support of the USASF/IASF.
Sincerely,
Mike Burgess — Rules Committee ChairUSASF 2008-09 Age Grid - Highlighted & USASF 2008-09 Age Grid
Michael Burgess
United Spirit Association
President
Addition by Subtraction
There are 51 USASF recognized All*Star divisions for the 2007-2008 competition season. Of course, this count ignores the 7-8 Small Gyms divisions in the Southwest.
The 2007-2008 divisions break down like this:
- Tiny Level 1s - 1
- Mini Level 1s - 1
- Mini Level 2s - 1
- Mini Level 3s - 1
- Youth Level 1s - 2
- Youth Level 2s - 2
- Youth Level 3s - 2
- Youth Level 4s - 2
- Youth Level 5s - 1
- Junior Level 1s - 2
- Junior Level 2s - 2
- Junior Level 3s - 3
- Junior Level 4s - 3
- Junior Level 5s - 3
- Senior Level 1s - 1
- Senior Level 2s - 3
- Senior Level 3s - 4
- Senior Level 4s - 4
- Senior Level 5s - 6
- International Level 5s - 4
- Special Needs - 1
- Open Level 6s - 2
Or by Levels, like this:
- Level 1 - 7
- Level 2 - 8
- Level 3 - 10
- Level 4 - 9
- Level 5 - 14
- Level 6 - 2
- Special Needs - 1
Or by Age, like this:
- Tiny - 1
- Mini - 3
- Youth - 9
- Junior - 13
- Senior - 18
- International Open - 4
- Special Needs - 1
- Open - 2
New Small Gym Divisions in the Southwest Region
On September 6th the USASF made the following announcement:
The USASF announces an immediate and limited addition to its divisional structure for the 2007-2008 season. NEW FOR 2007-2008:
- USASF member event producers conducting events in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas (Southwest Region) will be permitted to offer the specific “small gym” divisions listed below at any and all sanctioned events in these states. Offering these divisions is optional.
- “Small gym” divisions will be combined with standard divisions when there are not at least 2 teams registered in each division.
- A “small gym” is defined by 100 or less all star cheer competitors within one gym. Cross competitors are not factored into the equation.
Level 2:
- Small Gym Mini - 8 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
- Small Gym Youth - 11 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
- Small Gym Junior - 14 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
- Small Gym Senior - 18 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
Level 3
- Small Gym Youth - 11 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
- Small Gym Junior - 14 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
Level 4
- *Senior Small Gym - 18 years and younger, F/M, 5-20 members
*The Level 4 “small gym” divisions may be further split into co-ed when there are at least two teams that will ultimately be registered in each respective division.
These divisions will be only offered at events held in the Southwest Region (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, & Arkansas) to teams that reside in these specific states listed. This change will only affect gyms in this region. We realize that most teams are already set; therefore, this decision should not affect the structure of existing teams. Instead it should allow gyms the opportunity to compete with USASF event producers while also allowing us to gather important information for future division decisions.
It has become evident that the “small gym” issue has different needs in different regions of the country. The USASF is committed to meeting these needs of this section of market while at the same time maintaining focus on its mission statement. Through the initial research and efforts of the USASF Small Gym Task Force, the USASF Rules Committee and the USASF Sanctioning Committee, the proposal above was put before the Board of Directors on September 5, 2007 and passed. Realizing now is not the time for great change, the USASF Board feels that this proposal will allow us to gather further data on the “small gyms” demographic while concurrently meeting the needs of USASF event producers and their customers in a geographical area that has a large representation of gyms of this size.
While this topic is now closed for further discussion for the 2007-2008 season, keep in mind that before setting divisions for the 2008-2009 season we will attempt to gather statistics from as many gyms as possible across the country. Please complete the survey on our website in the coming weeks so that we can all be a part of the solution. It is our goal that when divisions are set for the 2008-2009 season, they will be based on a large pool of data and the invited input of every member/potential member of USASF - gym owner and event producer alike.
Thank you for your understanding and patience with the process.
Sincerely,
USASF Board of Directors
We Are the Champions?
In the early to mid 90s a now defunct coed All*Star team known as Pro Cheer went to Dallas and won in their first year in existence. Shortly after that the Senior division was split into 2, Senior All Girl and Senior Coed, because the powers that be no longer felt is was fair to have teams with a lot of guys compete against all girl teams. Since that time the powers that be have decided many other competitions are not fair, such as teams with 4 or fewer guys competing against teams with 5-8 boys or more than eight guys; teams with 21 or more people competing against teams with 20 or fewer; teams with fulls and/or double fulls competing against teams than can only do layouts, teams with layouts competing against teams with tucks, teams with tucks competing against teams with back handspring series, teams with back handspring series competing against teams with a single back handspring. I may have misstated something in listing all the unfair competitions because being someone with only 15 years of cheerleading experience and 2 Master degrees I still get confused about the divisions and ask you to forgive me.
I now ask a simple question; Who is the champion? That question may be a little too broad so instead I’ll ask Who is the National Champion? We cannot decide that until we decide which “National Championship” we are talking about. How hard can that be, right? Let’s see, we have NCA and UCA. And American Championships. And USA and ACA. And WSF. And I almost forgot Athletic Championships. OK, that gets us through the Varsity Brands. How about Cheersport or Jamfest. Or Jamz, GSSA, Cheer Power, COA, Deep South, or Mardi Gras. How about Universal Spirit and Great Lakes. Even after we choose the company we must choose an event because many on the list host multiple National Championships. Let assume we all agree on the company and event. Now we must choose a division, which involves choosing a level. The correct answer to my question “Who is the National Champion” has over 1,000 correct answers according to the jackets on the kids backs and the banners in their gyms.
If I ask who is the football national champion I will probably get one of 2 answers. Same with basketball. If I ask about cheerleading how many teams come to mind? 2? 4? more? When I think of my answer for cheerleading I think of 2 teams, Louisville and Central Florida, but even that leaves off great teams from Morehead, Maryland, West Georgia, and Wichita State (or is it SFA now?). It also ignores all of the High School and All*Star champions. A lot of people probably think of the 4 Large & Small Coed and Senior USASF World Champions, which doesn’t address the question Who is the National Champion. With this many potential answers coming from cheerleaders, what is non cheerleader to think? They probably think we need to get our act together if we want to be taken seriously. We can even tell someone who our champion is without engaging them in a game of 20 questions; which company, which competition, which level, which division, etc., etc., etc.
USASF Rules Change II
The USASF sent the following email to event producers on Thursday, July 19, 2007:
Dear USASF Member Event Producer:
As many of you know, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the “International Open Cheer” divisions being offered for the 2008 Worlds event and the recent decision in June to restrict team sizes and the number of males on each team for those divisions. Several event producers have asked how these changes are to be implemented for divisions they offer at their Worlds qualifying and non-qualifying events, especially since these divisions were not specifically listed on the 2007-08 USASF age grid.
In addition, there was concern expressed about limiting these divisions in size given the time of season when several teams have been picked and choreography has been (or is in the midst of being) completed.
In an effort to address these concerns and to comply with the mandate that divisions offered must be on the USASF age grid, the USASF Board voted yesterday to increase the Level 5 International Open Cheer divisions by two, adding a small and a large component. This decision was an effort to accommodate as many countries as possible, encouraging their participation in the 2008 Worlds. These new divisions and the June voted team size and number of male restrictions have been added to the age grid. Therefore, you will see on the attached grid the following divisions for the International Open category:
Division Age # of Males # of Members Small International Open All-Girl 14 yrs & Older No Males 5 - 24 Members Large International Open All-Girl 14 yrs & Older No Males 25 - 36 Members Small International Open Coed 14 yrs & Older 1 - 12 Males 5 - 24 Members Large International Open Coed 14 yrs & Older 1 - 18 Males 25 - 36 Members Please note that the total team size dictates small verses large. In addition to that, for the co-ed division there is a limit of total males that may participate on the team.
USASF member event producers are not required to offer all of the divisions above, but may choose which divisions to offer based upon their customers’ needs. Of course, you may offer all four divisions and then roll divisions together (i.e. Small and Large All-Girl become just All-Girl if you do not have enough teams to field 2 teams each in the divisions split out by size) as it states in the division consolidation guidelines.
As a reminder, a USASF-member event producer may only offer divisions from the USASF age grid or combine/split divisions based upon the guidelines contained within that grid, unless prior written approval is granted from the USASF.
The Board and USASF/IASF committees are working hard to establish a timeline that meshes the development of the age grid with the divisions that are set forth for the Worlds competition as well. As you can imagine, given the needs of numerous countries, this is no small task. Although the decisions for these divisions have come late this year, we hope that ultimately these divisions now meet both the needs of domestic U.S. programs as well as those of the various countries who will send teams to the 2008 Worlds event.
The updated grid below (rev. 7/19/07) will be posted on the USASF website early next week.
On a separate note, please remember that the Safety Judges’ Certification Course in Dallas is fast-approaching at the end of August. If you have not yet sent your registration in for representatives of your organization, please contact Jimmie Jo Schmidt (email omitted) as soon as possible to complete all the necessary information.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mike Burgess
Chair — USASF Rules Committee(See attached file: USASF Divisions - July 19, 2007)
Michael Burgess
United Spirit Association
President
In My Cheer World…
The topic today is things I would change about cheerleading.
- Each company would only be able to host one event billed as a “National Championship”
- NCAA would host the College National Championship
- All*Star Division would have an age floor and ceiling
- Assisted Stunts would score lower than unassisted stunts
- College Rules would be less restrictive
- Cheerleaders and Cheerleading Parents would understand physical attributes are a part of athletics
- Divisions would be combined to ensure every team at every competition competed against someone
- Varsity Brands would count as one company per USASF
- AACCA and USASF would be and appear independent
- USASF would follow its own rules
- Companies could be members of multiple governing organizations (USASF, NLCC, etc.)
- High Schools would be allowed to compete on Spring Floors
- All states would allow teams to compete at Nationals
That’s it for now. I’ll expand on these in the future.
Divide & Conquer
Are there too many options (levels and/or divisions) in All*Star Cheerleading? According to the USASF (USASF Divisions 2006-07), a senior aged All*Star female can compete in the following divisions. (This list doesn’t include the “Open”, “International Open”, or the generic “Senior” and “Senior Coed” divisions):
- Small Senior Level 1
- Small Senior Level 2
- Small Senior Level 3
- Small Senior Level 4
- Small Senior Level 5
- Large Senior Level 1
- Large Senior Level 2
- Large Senior Level 3
- Large Senior Level 4
- Large Senior Level 5
- Senior Limited Coed Level 3
- Senior Limited Coed Level 4
- Senior Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 3
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 4
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 3
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 4
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 5
How about Senior males:
- Senior Limited Coed Level 3
- Senior Limited Coed Level 4
- Senior Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 3
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 4
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 3
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 4
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 5
How about a Level 5 Senior female:
- Small Senior Level 5
- Large Senior Level 5
- Senior Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 5
How about Level 5 Senior males:
- Senior Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Semi-Limited Coed Level 5
- Senior Unlimited Coed Level 5
Are all of these divisions and levels necessary? Are more options needed? How does this impact competition? If more options are needed, should divisions or levels be added? If fewer, should divisions or levels be reduced? Please share your thoughts.
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