Aren’t Spring Floors Banned?
Last weekend Varsity Brands’ Athletic Championships (AC) hosted an event in Tunica, MS and had School teams compete on the Spring Floor. Did AC not get the memo that the NFHS banned that?
USASF Call for Position Papers
The USASF recently posted the Final NACCC Meeting Suggestion List and sent the following email:
USASF/IASF Member Coaches, Gym Owners and Event Producers:
Many thanks to those who sent in suggested revisions to the rules/levels for the 2008/09 season. These suggestions are now posted on the USASF/IASF website. The next step in preparation for the January NACCC is to accept both position papers and sign-ups for those who wish to speak about a particular ballot measure (revision) in person in Atlanta.
At this time no further additions to the list of ballot measures will be accepted. Ballot measures that have previously been submitted by an individual may be clarified or withdrawn entirely by its author only. Clarifications and withdrawals will be accepted only until December 15th. In some instances, the ballot measure that is currently written is broad in scope. We recommend that all ballot measures be as clearly defined as possible so as to avoid confusion for voters.
The above policy is put in place to allow the structure of the January meeting to be as defined as possible and to avoid last-minutes amendments to ballot measures.
If you would like to send in a position paper in support of or against any of the ballot measures that are currently posted, these papers are due to Les Stella (email omitted) no later than 11:59 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, December 18th. (Please note extension from originally published deadline)
The following protocols must be met in order for a position paper to be accepted and posted.
- The position paper must list the measure that it is addressing, exactly as it is currently listed on the USASF/IASF web site.
- All authors on the position paper must be a member in good standing (either as a coach, gym owner, event producer, etc.) of the USASF/IASF.
- The position paper must be submitted with the name/professional affiliation of at least one author ? Multiple authors and/or signatures in support of the statements written in the position paper will be accepted.
- Position papers will not be edited by the USASF/IASF office. We suggest that you are both clear and concise in your wording.
- While personal anecdotal stories may be helpful to support the cause of the position paper, please keep in mind that ballot measures should be looked at as to how they may affect the entire all-star industry.
- Any person who wishes to speak (see below) at the NACCC meeting in Atlanta, may also submit a position paper by the December 18th deadline.
For those individuals who would like to speak in person at the NACCC meeting in Atlanta, please adhere to the following protocol:
- Send your name/e-mail address/phone number to Les Stella (email omitted)
- Include the ballot measure, exactly as it is currently listed on the USASF/IASF web site, for which you wish to speak in person.
- A person may only speak on only one initiative at a time.
- All speakers must be willing to be broadcast via webcast.
- All speakers must be members in good standing (either as a coach, gym owner, event producer, etc.) of the USASF/IASF.
- All speakers must be available between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 3rd should they wish to present in person at the NACCC meeting in Atlanta.
- Only “in person” speeches will be allowed at the event. All other methods of presentation must be through a position paper.
- Speakers must declare their interest in presenting at the Atlanta meeting no later than 11:59 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, December 18th.
Once the total number of speakers has been determined, speakers will be informed of the amount of time they will be given to speak at the Atlanta meeting. There is no guarantee that every individual who wishes to speak will have an opportunity to do so at the Atlanta meeting. This will depend upon the final number of people who express their desire to speak in person.
We hope that this process is both clear and fair to all, and that it will provide a structure for a successful meeting in Atlanta at which all participants feel that their voices may be heard.
Sincerely,
Michael Burgess USASF/IASF Rules Committee Chair
NACCC Rules Information
The USASF sent the email below on Monday, November 19th:
Dear USASF/IASF Member Event Producer:
The USASF/IASF Rules Committee and the leadership of the NACCC, in addition to the USASF/IASFBoard, have been working hard to establish a process for rules/levels review and revision for 2008-09 that will be organized, inclusive and responsive to the needs of both all-star programs and event producers.
As a result, the attached process/dates have been developed to encourage as much participation as possible from member coaches and event producers. Please review these and take note of the following:
– This process has been posted on the USASF/IASF website since the beginning of November.
– The current list of proposed voting issues is listed on the website at www.usasf.net.
– The deadline for submitting suggested rules/level changes has been extended to Tuesday, November 27th.
– Submissions must be made in writing and sent to Les Stella at the USASF/IASF office.
Submissions and the ultimate voting on these that will take place in early January by coaches are critical to the continued success of the all-star activity and the standardization that the USASF/IASF and its members have strived to achieve over the past several years. Although event producers may not vote directly at the meeting in early January, I encourage your active participation in this important process by making suggestions for rules/levels revisions and getting this input on the ballot.
Sincerely,
Michael Burgess
USASF/IASF Rules Chair
The following information was attached to the email:
Nov 1-Proposed level/rule changes to date are posted on the USASF website and sent out to all USASF member coaches.
Nov 15 -Deadline for suggestions of additional level/rule changes. These must be submitted in writing to Les Stella at (email omitted). JUST EXTENDED TO NOV 27, 2007.
December 1 - Final slate of level/rule changes to be voted on during Jan meeting is posted on the USASSF/IASF website and sent out to all USASF/IASF member coaches. A call for anyone who would like to speak on the webcast to any particular issue on the slate will be presented. An opportunity to write position papers will also be made.
Dec 15 - Position papers on any item on the slate for Jan meeting are due to Les Stella. These papers are for those who would like their voice to be heard, but cannot be present at the Jan meeting.
Dec 22 - Position papers posted on the USASF/IASF website. Agenda with speakers for Jan meeting set.
Jan 3 and 4 - At the Jan meeting, all those who previously asked to have time to speak on an item on the slate for voting will be permitted to speak. There will be a time limit given to each speaker. This time limit will be based upon the total number of people who have signed up to speak. Speakers will be limited to speaking only on the rule/issue that they are specifically addressing. Moderator to monitor this.
There is no guarantee that every individual who wishes to speak will have an opportunity to do so. Should there be multiple speakers addressing the same issue, there may be a limit placed on the number of people permitted to speak at the NACCC meeting (written comments on a topic will be welcomed).
These in person speeches will be webcast for all to view who cannot be present at the NACCC meeting.
Jan 14 - Votes will be tallied and final recommendations made to the USASF/IASF Rules Committee by the NACCC. These recommendations will be reviewed by the USASF Rules Committee which will in turn make a recommendation, Feb 1st, to the USASF Board as to whether to accept the proposed rules of the NACCC as written or not.
- If the rules are accepted as written, then the process ends.
- IF the rules are not accepted by the USASF Rules Committee as written, then the rules will be sent to a Joint Committee of the USASF and NACCC for revision. This joint committee will be comprised of 3 members of the USASF and 3 members from the NACCC. It is our hope that given the representation on both committees from the start, that the rules will not need to be forwarded to a Joint Commission (especially when we have a pseudo-joint commission all along with representation from each organization on each other’s committee).
- The joint Rules Committee will revise the rules and make a recommendation to the USASF Board before final approval.
Feb 1 - USASF /IASF Rules Committee makes final recommendations to the USASF/IASF Board. Ultimately, the USASF Board may only approve or disapprove rules as recommended by the USASF Rules Committee (per the recommendation from the NACCC) or by the Joint Rules Committee. The goal is for the USASF Board to make its final decision for 2008-2009 rules/levels no later than the end of Feb 2008.
March 1 - Approved 2008-2009 levels/rules/divisions announced.
NACCC Rules Meeting Update
This email was sent on Friday, November 16th concerning the upcoming NACCC Rules Meeting:
Dear USASF/IASF Member Coach:
The leadership of the NACCC and the USASF/IASF Rules Committee, in addition to the USASF/IASFBoard, have been working hard to establish a process for rules/levels review and revision for 2008-09 that will be organized, inclusive and responsive to the needs of both all-star programs and event producers.
As a result, the attached process/dates have been developed to encourage as much participation as possible from member coaches. Please review these and take note of the following:
– This process has been posted on the USASF/IASF website since the beginning of November.
– The current list of proposed voting issues is listed on the website at www.usasf.net
– The deadline for submitting suggested rules/level changes has been extended to Tuesday, November 27th.
– Submissions must be made in writing and sent to Les Stella at the USASF/IASF office.
Submissions and the ultimate voting on these that will take place in early January by coaches are critical to the continued success of the all-star activity and the standardization that the USASF/IASF and its members have strived to achieve over the past several years. I encourage your active participation in this important process.
NACCC Rules Meeting
The NACCC sent the following email on November 2nd with the Meeting Flyer attached. An updated Flyer was sent on November 5th.
Coaches,
Attached is the flyer for the NACCC (National All-Star Cheerleading Coaches Congress) Meeting taking place in Atlanta. Please review it and plan on registering to attend.
Remember, IMPORTANT TOPICS are voted on at this meeting and this is a perfect opportunity to have a voice in this industry.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES…
- Nov 15 - All suggestions for 08-09 Rules/Level Changes due to Les Stella
- Dec 1 - All items to be voted on at meeting will be posted on USASF website
- Dec 15 - Position Papers posted on USASF website NEW THIS YEAR
- The NACCC brochure will not be mailed. This IS your invitation.
- Only scheduled speakers will speak on their position at the meeting
- All of the general sessions will take place on Thursday, January 3rd. (Inaugural Members will meet on the evening of January 2nd).
- The meeting will conclude on Thursday, January 3rd at 4pm. For those flying to Atlanta, you will probably be able to get home that evening.
If you have any questions about the agenda for the USASF Meeting, contact the USASF at www.usasf.net. As it was so eloquently stated in an earlier survey, be a part of the SOLUTION, not the problem!!
No More Spring Floors
Beginning with the 2007-2008 season, schools following National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) guidelines, which includes most junior high and high schools, will not be allowed to perform or compete on spring floors. This rule was implemented as a safety measure preventing schools from using height increasing apparatus.
Please visit the NFHS website for complete information.
http://www.nfhs.org/web/2007/01/nfhs_spirit_rules_changes_20070.aspx
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
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