Category: Spirit

Dear Coaches: It is time to vote on the proposed rules changes for the 2013-2015 rules cycle. Voting will close on Friday, February 1st at 8 pm CST. Prior to voting, we encourage you to visit the Voting Slate information page, and become familiar with the rules proposals and read the postings that present the…

Scholarship Application Deadline Calling all college-bound USASF 5 Star Cheer and Dance Athletes! Don’t miss your chance at a USASF College Scholarship! Deadline for application is February 1, 2013! Download scholarship application here. Find out about 5 Star Membership here. Video Submissions for Junior Team Bids for Dance Worlds Due If your Jr. Dance Team…

Congratulations to the following members who will participate in the final elections February 4-8, 2013. Meet The Finalists! To prepare voters for the upcoming final election, bios for all finalists are posted online. MIDWEST COACH FINALISTS Darlene Fanning Lisa Hemmie Lance Stoltenberg NORTHEAST COACH FINALISTS (no preliminary election – all four nominees move to final…

The Intuit Small Business Blog published 4 Tips for Making Better Decisions by Rachel Hartman. The 4 tips given are: Identify Root Causes Ask Others for Input Keep Your Goals in Mind Let It Rest for a Bit

Forbes published You Don’t Have To Be Loud to Lead by Erika Andersen. So, as an introvert, how can you let people know that you have leadership capabilities and not get overshadowed by your louder, more gregarious colleagues? Make Your Point, Build Individual Relationships, and Lean Into Your Strengths are the 3 pieces of advice…

The voting slate of proposed rules changes for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons is now available on USASFRules.com. Issues are: Increase number of males allowed in Senior Medium Coed from 6 to 8. If the number of males on Sr Md Coed is increased (vote #1) from 6 to 8; then, also increase the total…

Team USA 2013 has been announced. The All Girl team will be coached by Tony Nash (Indiana) and Misty Hodges (Louisville) and the Coed team will be coached by LeRoy McCullough (formerly Oklahoma State) and David McDowell (formerly Alabama). Team USA All Girl: Courtney Boswell, Oklahoma State Michelle Bowles, Bowling Green State Aisha Brandon, Louisville…

February 1st is the deadline for USASF Scholarship applications and the last day for Junior teams to submit videos to qualify for Dance Worlds. USASF Scholarships | USASF Dance

Fortune published 7 Deadly Sins of Business Growth by Jeff DeGraff, talking about the mistakes business make that prevent growth. The sole purpose of a business is to grow. This can take on many dimensions — profits, revenues, market share, brand or community influence, just to name a few. The road to growth is very…

Forbes published The Top 5 Reasons Your Decisions Fail You. The decisions that fail us, that take us away from who we are and where we want to go, and cause serious unhappiness and regret, have the following five traits in common. These decisions: Don’t support your intrinsic values Are communicated poorly or without proper…

January 17, 2013 – The members of the National Advisory Board (NAB) are elected to discuss and create solutions for current and trending policy issues which are recommended to the Board of Directors. The NAB also selects the annual recipient of the Chairman’s Cup award presented at the VIP Gala at the Cheerleading and Dance…

Be sure all coach emails are up to date in your gym profile by Wednesday, January 16. ONLY those coaches listed in your gym profile will receive voting instructions. Non-USASF members are not eligible to vote. Update your gym profile now. NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD ELECTIONS Preliminary elections will be held January 17-25, 2013 to select…

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has selected Kathy Vruggink Westdorp of Michigan as the recipient of the 2013 NFHS Coach Educator of the Year Award. Westdorp has served as assistant director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) since 2004. One of her primary responsibilities when she was hired was…

Ben Horowitz published One on One., discussing the benefits and method to meeting with your employees individually. If you are an employee, how do you get feedback from your manager on an exciting, but only 20% formed idea that you’re not sure is relevant without sounding like a fool? How do you point out that…

Forbes published 5 Powerful Things Happen When A Leader Is Transparent. Problems Are Solved Faster Teams Are Built Easier Relationships Grow Authentically People Begin to Promote Trust in Their Leader Higher-Levels of Performance Emerge Each of the preceding points is interdependent and builds upon one another. This naturally takes us to point #5: higher-levels of…

Breakout Hit Web-Series Starts Production in Austin, Texas Cheer Channel Inc. (CCI), the #1 online entertainment provider for the spirit industry, announced the start of production for Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader 2, The Fierce One, on location in Austin, Texas. This is the second season of the “Secret Diary” franchise, an anthology of…

The 2013 USASF Regional Meeting dates have been announced. July 12-14 – Chicago, IL July 19-21 – Philadelphia, PA July 26-28 – Atlanta, GA August 2-4 – Dallas, TX August 16-18 – Costa Mesa, CA USASF Regional Meetings

Dear USASF Members: The members of the National Advisory Board (NAB) are elected to discuss and create solutions for current and trending policy issues which are recommended to the Board of Directors. The NAB also selects the annual recipient of the Chairman’s Cup award presented at the VIP Gala at the Cheerleading and Dance Worlds.…

Forbes published Why Jeff Walker is the $400 Million Dollar Man — And 7 Lessons You Can Learn From Him. The article discusses how a man built a business of giving advice. His 7 lessons are: He Who Dares — Wins Baby Steps and Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule Relationships and Connections are Everything Focus on…

What a way to ring in the New Year! We know that you have all heard about January 27th…. the first Nfinity competition EVER! Being an Nfinity evet, you know we’re going to blow your mind. North Carolina vs. South Carolina!! Finally we’ve created a format where rival gyms will become friends! It will be…

Intuit Small Business Blog published Why Offering Discounts May Be a Major Mistake. You could devalue your brand. Discount buyers may never pay full price. You may get drawn into a price war. You lose the premium-price mentality.

Memphis, Tenn., (December 28, 2012) Varsity and Spirit Holding have announced that they are merging, effective immediately. Based in Matthews, N.C., Spirit Holding is the parent company of CHEERSPORT, CheerLogistics and Universal Spirit, and hosts more than 30 competitions each year. CHEERSPORT’S signature Nationals event, held in Atlanta each February, is the single largest cheer…

Grasshopper published Four Fun Ways to Engage Your Facebook Fans, discussing ways to invite more interaction via Facebook. Fill in the Blanks Be Funny Photos and Captions Really Engaging Questions

Fortune published The Business of Cheer. Last year Varsity hit $300 million in revenue, an 8% increase over 2010. The company now boasts over 20 brands — from apparel lines to national competitions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom to American Cheerleader magazine — and merged with class ring manufacturer Herff Jones in June 2011. Nearly every…

Dear USASF Members: The USASF’s priority is always the safety of athletes. In response to requests from coaches, and based on the lack of an industry wide standard, the USASF Rules Committee felt it imperative to recommend to member event producers a protocol for stopping a performance due to injury. The Rules Committee is both…