Category: Spirit

Happy New Year! As one year ends and another begins many of us think of the changes we’re going to make to our lives. Sometimes it’s adding something and other times it’s removing something. For those of you in the cheer and dance community I’d like to suggest changing points of view. For the next…

As a coach do you realize how significant your role can be in a child’s life? If you name the adults a child spends the most time with in a year the list will probably start with Mom & Dad, then move to their teacher. The person after that may very well be a coach.…

This weekend is the busiest weekend of the year per USASF sanctioned events. Former Cheerleaders Warn of Concussion Risks in the Sport via Inside Edition. Cheering from Japan to Kentucky via The Trail Blazer. USA Cheer Recognized by Sports Destination Management via USA Cheer. Column: Male Cheerleaders, Take Off Your Clothes! via The Daily Tar…

I spoke with some parents that were disappointed their daughter was removed from a team mid season. The team was the type of marquee team that could win any event they attended, including Worlds. Their daughter had been a member of the program for several years, finally making her dream team and deservedly so. The…

Here are your October articles as you enjoy your Halloween candy: Texas Cheerleader Saves Choking Toddler During Homecoming Parade via ABC News Former UC Berkeley Cheerleader Says She was Forced to Perform Despite Concussions via San Francisco Chronicle Men Return to Husker Cheer Squad, Add More Stunts, Tumbling via The Eagle. New Study Shows High…

Here are some more random ideas I’ve had. I don’t anticipate any getting implemented, but think they’d be interesting to try. Benefit of the Doubt I’d like to try not giving teams the benefit of the doubt about what skills were performed. Instead of a team with 5 groups performing 2 true double ups, 2…

Dear USASF Coaches and Program Owners, Competition season is upon us. Are you competition ready? Join Regional Directors Glenda Broderick and Robin Galik as they walk you through the steps to ensure you are prepared for your 2019-2020 events and fully understand compliance, eligibility, rostering, and more! SELECT THE TIME THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU…

Learn about the USASF Dance Score Sheet for the Senior Divisions at The Dance Worlds used by Worlds judges by watching the NEW Scoring Webinar, hosted by the Worlds Senior Panel Directors. To learn about the Rules, Divisions, and Scoring System for the Open & Junior divisions, visit iasfworlds.com.

Everything in your routine should either be beautiful or Invisible. Many apply the beautiful part to the major skills in their routine, stunts, pyramids, tumbling, etc., but sometime skip the details, motions in the air, landing the tumbling, and timing of skills. There are a few options for making something invisible, taking it out, hiding…

September has come and gone, bringing back school and football. Here’s some of the news that came along with it. Squad Goals | Cheerleader with Down Syndrome is the Inspiration, Heart and Soul of the Cheer Squad via WFMY. Cowboys Settle Cheerleader Pay Dispute, Entire Squad Gets Pay Boost via WFAA. Cheerleader Movies Are Big…

All Level 6 and 7 teams entering one or more of the following USASF Sanctioned Events will receive points based on the size of their division and placement rankings. At the end of the season, the Level 6 and/or Level 7 teams with the highest point totals will win 3 Paid Bids and 3 At…

What do you focus on when trying to make your team elite? You can’t do everything, at least not all at once, so you need to decide where to spend your time first. There are 15-16 scores on the major scoring systems I looked at. Some scores separated difficulty from execution, stunts and tumbling for…

Summer is ending. It’s not cheerleading or dance specific, but ESPN published Study: On Average Child Quits Sports at Age 11. I Made $3,400 As An NFL Cheerleader — & Spent It ALL On Looking The Part via MSN. Cheerleader With Down Syndrome Makes All-American Team via CBS Local. 20 Unsettling Rules Professional Cheerleaders Must…

Several of my past ideas centered around trying to increase the average number of teams within a division. First is making the standard team size 24. Forget XS, Small, Medium, and Large divisions and make a single sized-based division with a maximum of 24 athletes. Second is reducing the number of mainstream levels from 5 (last…

The 2019-20 USA Cheer College Cheerleading Rules have been posted at USA Cheer. The college rules process uses an “odd year/even year” rotation between addressing major and minor changes. 2019-20 is a “minor changes” year, with the addition of a sign rule in which top person and middle layers may not release hard signs to…

The 2019-20 high school rules were published to the USA Cheer site on May 1 and are available here. An update has been made to the new rule regarding signs for high school teams and younger. Bases are not allowed to hold props that are made of hard material or have sharp corners or edges.…

One of USA Cheer’s primary objectives is to “promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States.” It is a responsibility that is central to everything we do, including growing cheer participation and representing the USA in cheerleading internationally. This safety update includes information on updated high school rules and the new rules…

From the U.S. All Star Federation and the International All Star Federation regarding The Cheerleading and Dance World Championship The Road to Worlds is an exciting one for All Star teams around the globe, and we share in the excitement and anticipation each year! The growth and momentum of All Star brings together incredible athleticism,…

A long time ago, when I first started coaching Tiny and Mini aged kids, I was told kids won’t do anything for you until they think you care about them. This was quickly proven true. At that age some of the kids instantly decide you are best friends and you are good from the first…

Summer news is a little slow.The IASF posted a comparison of the USASF and IASF rules. Florida’s Famous Cheerleader, Mr. Two Bits, Dies via ESPN. ‘Black Girls Cheer’ Documentary, Coming to Chicago, Looks at Joy, Power of All-Black Cheer Squads via Chicago Tribune. Varsity Spirit Expands Its Band Division With Two Significant Acquisitions via Yahoo!.…

Another unconventional idea is to crowdsource bobbles, falls, and legalities to the other teams competing at the event, basically turning in your opponents. This would put more eyes on the floor looking for deductions, reducing the likelihood of one being missed and if one is missed it is at least partially the responsibility of those most…

Dear USASF Program Owners and Coaches, Join Ali Stangle, Dana Fielding and special guests including Kenny Feeley at the USASF National Meeting as they bring the Cheer Rules to life through video and live stunt demonstrations. This is an in-depth workshop where you learn the nuances of the rules while gaining a real understanding in…

I’ve worked scoring and deduction challenges at several events in the past, usually on the deductions side, but occasionally on the scoring side. In doing this I’ve been part of and have overheard many discussions related to scoring and rules in our industry and it has left me with an idea for an experiment. I’d…

The USASF Disciplinary Committee has posted its report of member non-compliance concerns that were addressed last month. Reports will be posted each month, so check back regularly.

All teams, athletes, coaches and personnel attending a USASF sanctioned event that are competing or performing as an Exhibition Team in an All Star Division must meet the eligibility requirements. Learn more.