CBN Oct/Nov 2009
Varsity Announces Standard Scoring
Varsity announced a new scoring system for the 2009–10 season that standardizes the score sheets among most of their all-star event companies, eliminating the need for coaches to alter routines to score better at various events within the Varsity family. More than 13 event producers contributed to the master score sheet. “Coaches can finally create routines specific to a universal rubric,” says Justin Carrier, vice president of Varsity All-Star.
All-Star Challenge and portions of American Cheer Power and The American Championships will not follow the Varsity standard of scoring. For more info, visit varsity.com.
The JAM Brands Presents Universal Scoring System
The JAM Brands announced the implementation of a Universal Scoring System for all their event companies in the 2009–10 season. The new system includes:
A unified scoring scale, score sheets and scoring grids for every JAM Brands event in both cheer and dance; consistency in scoring at all JAM Brands events; positive aspects from each company’s previous score sheets. In addition, all JAM Brands judges will be trained in depth on the universal score sheet for maximum effectiveness. Click here for more details.
Congrats to SITA Hall of Fame Inductees!
Debbie Bracewell, executive director of the National Council on Spirit Safety and Eduation (NCSSE), and Lynn Singer, vice president of Spirit Innovations, were selected for induction into the Spirit Industry Trade Association (SITA) Hall of Fame class of 2009. Bracewell and Singer were nominated by SITA members and voted on by current members of the Hall of Fame, which was created in 2007 to recognize industry leaders of high integrity and character who have contributed 20 years or more to the spirit industry.
The formal induction will take place at the SITA Annual Meeting and Awards Gala on October 3 in Nashville. For more info and to register, visit spiritindustrytrade.com.
AACCA Issues Updated Emergency Action Plan
The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) released a new, illustrated Emergency Action Plan in August, which is designed to improve cheer teams’ readiness to respond in emergency situations. Jim Lord, executive director of AACCA, recommends that all teams update their emergency plan every season and practice it often enough to ensure that all participants are aware of the procedure if a serious injury were to occur during a practice or competition.
The plan highlights step-by-step tips to aid with prevention of accidents and responses to emergency situations. AACCA recommends that coaches use this plan as a guide to develop their specific plan. The Emergency Action Plan is available at aacca.org.
ACDA Jumps on the Worlds Bandwagon
American Cheer & Dance Academy joined the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) as a Tier 1 event producer. ACDA will offer one full-paid and three at-large bids to the 2010 Cheerleading Worlds at their Reach the Beach Ocean City All Star & College Internationals in Maryland on April 10–11, 2010. More than 250 all-star teams are slated to compete at the event, marking its 14th anniversary. For more info, visit acdaspirit.com.
Spirit Celebration Partners with Downunder Cheer & Dance
Spirit Celebration announced a new partnership with the Downunder Cheer & Dance Championships of Australia. Spirit Celebration President Billy Smith traveled to the country this summer to emcee the Downunder Championship in Australia, attend the New Zealand Cheer Fest and finalize the new partnership with Downunder owner Eadie Burgess. Spirit Celebration, a founding member of the Independent Event Producers (IEP), will be handing out bids to participants to compete next June in two Championships in Australia and New Zealand. For more info, visit spiritcelebration.com and downunderspirit.com.
Spirit Ready Sportswear and Team Tumbling Join Forces
Spirit Ready Sportswear is now carrying the complete line of accelerated tumbling tools from Team Tumbling. These products range from the Flip Machine to Accelerator Incline to Landing Zone Mats and Team Track, all created to help cheerleaders improve their tumbling skills with step-by-step drills. To order these and other products, visit spiritreadysportswear.com.
UCA and Baskin-Robbins Set Guinness World Record
Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop, along with Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), set the Guinness World Record for the largest cheerleading dance to the tune of “Ice Cream and Cake” by the Buckwheat Boyz to celebrate the launch of Baskin-Robbins’ Ice Cream and Cake Dance Video Contest. Baskin-Robbins donated $1 for each of the 227 cheerleaders who participated in this event, on behalf of UCA, to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The Ice Cream and Cake Dance Video Contest ran through September 9, with entrants uploading their creative dance videos to baskinrobbins.com/videocontest. The top five finalists were announced September 25, and the winners will be announced October 12. For more info, visit baskinrobbins.com/videocontest or uca.varsity.com.
Inside American Cheerleader
American Cheerleader’s September/October 2009 issue—the College Issue—gives your athletes the 411 on everything they need to know to make their freshman year successful and safe. Find out what special perks some student-athletes receive from their schools and how they benefit from them. AC also has expert tips for staying safe on campus and dealing with dorm room drama.
Cover girl and Cheerleader of the Month Christy Lee McCarthy from California State University, Long Beach, spills on what it’s like being on an award-winning college squad. And for those athletes who are just now thinking about college, make sure to check out the complete College Scholarship Guide online at americancheerleader.com. Don’t miss this issue—on newsstands now and available online at americancheerleader.com/shop.
USASF Updates
USASF Accepting Submissions for Chairman’s Cup
The USASF has announced its search for the 2010 Chairman’s Cup winner. Designed to highlight the volunteer and philanthropy efforts of cheerleaders and dancers, the community service award will be given to the gym whose service project made the largest impact.
Each gym should submit pictures, a press release and a news article or broadcast, which will be reviewed for the selection of five nominees. The second annual Chairman’s Cup will be awarded at the VIP Reception Ceremony on April 23, 2010, at Disney’s Epcot Showplace.
Worlds Changes
In an effort to maintain the prestige and attendance of The Cheerleading Worlds in 2010, the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) Sanctioning Committee has made two changes in the bid-awarding process: First, the number of overall bids offered will be smaller; Second, three Junior teams will be invited to Worlds through a video selection process. For all other Worlds divisions, Tier 1 and 2 event companies will be able to award paid, partial and at large bids how they see fit.
Coaches Conference Changes
The USASF announced that it’s moving its annual Coaches Conference and Industry Trade Show, which is usually hosted every year at The Cheerleading Worlds, to fewer calculated places in the U.S. for 2010. In this new format, the benefits of the conference, such as continued education, credentialing and vending, will be combined with the important communication and rules interpretation (Safety Judges Certification) of the regional meetings to create one event in each area of the country.
The USASF will work with member companies and established coaches conferences to combine efforts for these events.
For more information on these news items, visit usasf.net.
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