CBN: June/July 2009
CHEERSPORT & Universal Spirit join Varsity Family Plan
Varsity All Star has partnered up with CHEERSPORT and Universal Spirit for the 2009–2010 competition season. In addition to all the Varsity Brands, gyms that attend CHEERSPORT and Universal Spirit events next season may also qualify for The Family Plan and The Network. To clarify, this alliance isn’t a merger or an acquisition, and there’s no change in ownership or management.
“We are thrilled with this new alliance because it’ll allow us to serve our customers even better,” says Kevin Brubaker, president of CHEERSPORT. “We have many mutual customers, and they will be well served by it.”
This is the fourth season for Varsity’s Family Plan, which is a revenue-sharing program that allows gym owners to reinvest a portion of paid competition fees back into their gyms through rebate checks handed out at the season’s end. Other benefits include “early bird” pricing and priority check-in at select events. Visit allstar.varsity.com for CHEERSPORT and Universal Spirit’s competition dates and locations, and to find out more about the Varsity Family Plan.
COA Freedom Pass
COA Cheer & Dance launches the fixed price COA Freedom Pass for the 2009–2010 competition season. The COA Freedom Pass permits teams to compete for one low price all season long. There are three types of passes available, so teams can choose which one best fits their budget. For more information, contact a member of the COA sales team at 800-252-4337. Supplies are limited.
USASF Age Grid Updates
The USASF Rules Committee released the 2009–2010 Cheer & Dance Level Rules, Cheer Age Grid, Dance Divisions and Glossary at the end of March. The updates can be found at usasf.net, but here are some noteworthy changes that were made to the Age Grid for the 2009–2010 season:
- The age of the competitor as of August 31, 2009, will be the age used for competition purposes throughout the 2009–2010 season, a change from last year’s cut-off of May 31. Exception: the cut-off date for the maximum age of the Senior teams (18 years old) will remain May 31, 2009, for the 2009–2010 season, but will change to August 31 for the 2010–2011 season.
- Level 5 has a new division with tumbling restrictions, Senior Open. “The Senior Open Level 5 division was created as a stepping stone for gyms of all sizes needing to develop their Level 5 athletes to a true Level 5 status,” says Justin Carrier, executive director of strategic development at NCA and rules process leader for the USASF. “This decision was made to meet the needs of: a) Level 4 teams that aren’t ready for Level 5 tumbling, and b) gyms that have a difficult time fielding the age-restricted (ages 12–18) Senior Level 5 divisions.”
- For the 2009–2010 season, a “Small Gym” will be defined as having one physical address for its location and having 75 or fewer athletes registered in its competitive cheer program at the time of competition, a decrease from the current season’s cut-off of 100 or fewer athletes.
- Teams are defined as having 5 to 36 members, and divisions will be split into small and large if there will be at least two teams in each division. Teams from the same gym won’t have to compete against themselves if they have a “small” and “large” team in the same division. A mandatory split in the division would occur in this situation, even if it means that division is left with only one team performing.
The Word from Worlds
More than 400 teams from over 40 countries competed for the tile of World Champions at The 2009 Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, April 25 and 26. This year’s event was bigger and better than ever; with the competition rising to a new level of difficulty. For full Worlds coverage, pick up the next issues of CBN and American Cheerleader magazines.
USASF/IASF VIP RECEPTION
Numerous industry leaders and programs were honored at this year’s USASF/IASFVIP reception, kicking off the Worlds weekend. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Small Gym of the Year (sponsored by American Cheerleader magazine): Green Bay Elite, Green Bay, WI
- Coach of the Year: Courtney Pope, Cheer Extreme, Raleigh, NC
- Gym Owners of the Year: Brett Hansen and Brad Vaughan, Spirit of Texas, Arlington, TX
- International Coach of the Year: Claire McKay, Goldstar Cheer & Dance, Glasgow, Scotland
- International Dance Coach of the Year: Charlie Bedford, ADA Dark Angels, Bristol, England
- Dance Coach of the Year: Dan Sapp, PACE All-Stars, Westminister, CA
- The Chairman’s Cup Winner: Pro Spirit, McKinney, TX
- Nfinity Cup Winner: Maryland Twisters Reign, Glen Burnie, MD
- Hall of Fame Inductees: Bill Presson, USASF Parents Action Committee/Special Needs Advocate and Victor Rosario, Top Gun All-Stars
International Cheer Union World Championships
The International Cheer Union’s inaugural World Championship was held April 23 to 24 in Orlando, sparking even more growth for the sport around the globe. More than 45 countries out of the 65 ICU member countries were represented at the event. “This had an incredible effect on cheerleading around the world,” says Jeff Webb, ICU president. “It was energizing to see the sportsmanship, respect and appreciation that these countries have for one another.”
For more on the ICU and the World Championships, pick up future issues of CBN, or visit cheerunion.org. Here are the results from this year’s event:
COED PREMIER
Gold: Team USA
Silver: Team Thailand
Bronze: Team Colombia
ALL-GIRL PREMIER
Gold: Team USA
Silver: Team Finland
Bronze: Team UK
COED ELITE:
Gold: Team Canada
Silver: Team Chile
Bronze: Team New Zealand
ALL-GIRL ELITE
Gold: Team Canada
Silver: Team Colombia
Bronze: Team Mexico
COED PARTNER STUNT
Gold: Team USA
Silver: Team Colombia
Bronze: Team Slovenia
GROUP PARTNER STUNT
Gold: Team China
Silver: Team Mexico
Bronze: Team New Zealand
Worlds Winner’s Circle
INTERNATIONAL OPEN COED LEVEL 5
Gold: Cheer Athletics Wildcats
Silver: Spirit of Texas
Bronze: Top Gun
LARGE SENIOR LIMITED COED LEVEL 5
Gold: Spirit of Texas
Silver: Twist & Shout All Stars
Bronze: ACE All-Stars of Alabama Warriors
SMALL SENIOR LIMITED COED LEVEL 5
Gold: Brandon All-Stars Black
Silver: Tribe Chiefs
Bronze: ICE Athletics
SENIOR UNLIMITED COED LEVEL 5
Gold: California All-Stars
Silver: Top Gun
Bronze: Cheer Extreme Allstars
SMALL SENIOR ALL-GIRL LEVEL 5
Gold: The Stingray Allstars
Silver: Cheer Extreme Allstars
Bronze: Woodlands Elite Generals
LARGE SENIOR ALL-GIRL LEVEL 5
Gold: World Cup Shooting Stars
Silver: Cheer Athletics Panthers
Bronze: Cheer Extreme Allstars
INTERNATIONAL OPEN ALL-GIRL LEVEL 5
Gold: Cheer Athletics Fiercekatz
Silver: Cheer Extreme Allstars
Bronze: Cheer Sport Sharks (Canada)
INTERNATIONAL OPEN COED LEVEL 6
Gold: Gym Tyme All-Stars
Silver: The Stingray Allstars
Bronze: South Jersey Storm
INTERNATIONAL OPEN ALL-GIRL LEVEL 6
Gold: UPAC Miss Panthers (Chile)
Silver: Cyclones (Japan)
Bronze: Team UK
INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR ALL-GIRL LEVEL 5
Gold: Maryland Twisters Supercells
Silver: Celebrity Cheer
Bronze: World Cup Starlites
INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR COED LEVEL 5
Gold: Cheer Athletics Jags
Silver: South Jersey Storm
Bronze: University Cheer Junior Air Force One
UPA Inducts Hall-Of-Famers
United Performing Association (UPA) inducted Missy Ragon from Dakota Spirit All Stars in Sioux Falls, SD, and Susan Link from Lakeville North HS in Lakeville, MN, into the Hall of Fame at their annual Academy Awards Celebration following the AmeriCup Cheer & Dance Championship in February.
Since its debut in 1988, UPA established the Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding individuals in the spirit industry. Inductees are selected based on factors such as coaching teams, judging, developing associations, choreographing and/or continually reinforcing the positive promotion of cheerleading and dance. For more on UPA, visit upainc.net.
Inside American Cheerleader
The June issue of AC is jam-packed with everything your athletes need to make cheer camp the best part of summer. From the legend of the Spirit Stick to the benefits of becoming a camp staffer to the latest camp clothes, this issue covers it all. Gracing our cover is Sara Rogers, a 17-year-old cheerleader from Orlando All-Stars and Lake Mary HS. This stellar athlete is also poised and honest about how she deals with the pressure of a hectic cheer schedule and staying ahead of school.
Also in this issue: The winner of the title of 2008 Cheerleader of the Year. If you have an athlete who deserves the title of Cheerleader of the Month, plus a $1,500 scholarship, applications can be downloaded at americancheerleader.com.
Vote for the Most Influential
It’s that time again! Turn to page TK of this issue and fill out the ballot for the 2009 [ital: All-Star Insider]. Vote for whom you think is the most influential in the industry this year, and nominate up-and-coming coaches, gym owners, event producers and talented athletes to be featured. Return your ballots by TKTK to make sure your choices are included. Questions? E-mail us at cbn@americancheerleader.com.
American Cheer Power selects Nation’s Best
More than 500 athletes competed at American Cheer Power’s individual event scholarship competition on May 16 at the “Nation’s Best” Cheerleader Championship in Las Vegas. At the end of the competition, Cheer Power selected the top five scores from varsity solo age categories, taking into account their report cards and an essay. Those five athletes were award $5,000 toward their college education. As part of the final decision, athletes were interviewed on stage. The Nation’s Best Athlete was then selected and received an addition $5,000 for a total of $10,000 toward their college education. For more on American Cheer Power and the Nation’s Best competition, visit cheerpower.varsity.com.
USASF Image Campaign
The USASF, in conjunction with their members and partners, has created a campaign focusing on the positive life experiences of all-star cheer and dance, which will run from May to December. This campaign is part of a continuing effort to promote a positive image of cheerleading in the community.
As part of the campaign, all USASF members will be given a PSA video where they can insert their company name and logo, place it on their websites and submit to local broadcasting networks. This video will also be aired on ESPN during The Cheerleading and Dance Worlds showing. Members will also be able to order pamphlets and brochures that highlight all-star cheer and dance in an inviting and exciting way, and provide information, statistics and testimonials about the USASF, AACCA, ICU, Team USA and Worlds. Gyms will be able to use this information to promote the legitimacy of the sport by the outside governing bodies. For more information, visit usasf.net.
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