If you are entering more than one event, you only need to send forms A and B one time. Form C is for every cheerleader. Keep form D and bring to all practices and events.
PLEASE READ
In order to enter any or
all of the above
1. Be a member of the
2. Attend a rules meeting. It is mandatory for the present salaried HEAD
coach/sponsor to attend a rules meeting covering the 2008-2009 cheerleading
rules. A list of fall rules meetings is
included in the fall mailing from the IHSAA.
Head coaches are expected to accompany their cheerleaders at these
3. You must fill out all of the
following forms completely.
Form A. One
Summary of Registration Form per school.
Form B. One Coach/School Information/Disclaimer Form per school. If the school has more than one head coach, please include that information on the form. Keep in mind the person responsible for the squad must be a head coach who has attended a rules meeting.
Form C. One Cheerleader Information/Parental Consent Form per cheerleader registering. If a cheerleader is participating in more than one event, only one form is necessary. The cheerleader cannot participate without the required signatures.
Form D. One Information and Consent For
Medical Treatment Form per cheerleader.
Only one form is necessary even if a cheerleader is participating in
more than one event. Be sure to fill out
all information, including
**You will not mail these forms in with your registration. You as the head coach are required to carry
these forms with you at all events and practices. You will be required to verify your
possession of these forms at each
Form E. One All-State Agreement of Terms Form. A $20.00 non-refundable entry fee for each cheerleader trying out is required. This event is open only to bona fide high school cheerleaders.
Form F. One State Competition Registration Form. An entry fee of $15.00 per cheerleader per event is required. (ex. One cheerleader is registered in team routine and stunt routine. This would require two payments of $15 each for that cheerleader.) This is open only to bona fide high school cheerleaders.
Form G.
One
5. Enclose one check made out to the
6.
Send all registration materials to:
Cheerleading Information
Page 2
Your
high school cheerleaders are invited to tryout for the 2008-2009 All-State
Cheerleading Squad. This is the 19th
year of this squad, and it keeps getting better each year. The cheerleaders chosen for this squad will
perform at the Iowa Boys’ Basketball Tournament this spring.
1. Coaches
must be members of the
Rules meeting.
2. A non-refundable $20
registration fee payable to
3. Candidates must sign all release forms prior
to tryouts.
4. The coach must have a
completed Information Form (C) and an Information and Consent for Medical
Treatment Form(D)
for each candidate. The Information form(C) must be mailed with
registration. The Medical Treatment form
(D) is to be filled
out and be the responsibility
of the coach to carry each cheerleader’s form D to the tryout and if the
candidates make the All-State
squad the coach
must bring them to the practices and performances as well.
5. Candidates must be a bona fide high school
cheerleader.
6. There are no limits on how many can tryout or make the squad from an individual school. (All
cheerleaders
from one school must tryout on the same day.)
7. The coach must drive candidates to and from
All-State Tryouts. (See “Coaches’ Duties” page 4 for
further
details.)
LOCATION: Two days have been set to allow as many
candidates as possible to tryout. The
dates for the tryouts are OCTOBER 18 and 19 at
TIMETABLE: (approximate)
Registration and Warm-up
Learn dance and practice
Break (bring own lunch)
Tryouts
For
the convenience of those who are traveling a great distance, cheerleaders will
tryout in order of their distance from the tryout site. Those farthest will tryout first, etc.
SELECTION
PROCESS: The judging committee will meet
after the tryout and review the tryout judging sheets and videotapes. A minimum of twenty cheerleaders will be
selected for the All-State Squad. The
final number will be determined by the judges following the tryout. There will not be a specific number selected
from each day of tryouts.
APPEARANCE: Candidates must wear plain BLACK or NAVY
All National Federation
Spirit Rules must be followed at all times by all candidates. All those trying out will be checked at
registration for violations, including jewelry, unsafe hair devices, and unsafe
fingernails. Anyone in violation at
check-in will not be allowed to register, learn the material or tryout. Candidates will be checked again for
violations prior to the actual tryout.
No refunds will be given in the event of disqualification.
Cheerleading Information
Page 3
TRYOUT PROCEDURE:
Motion
Drill/Cheer: Candidates will learn the
motion drill/cheer. Judges will be
looking for strong, correctly placed motions that demonstrate rhythm,
coordination, and technique. The words
and motions (including a video) for this cheer/motion drill will be on the
Dance: Candidates will be taught a dance (about 4 – 6 eight counts) during the morning of tryouts. The All-State choreographer will be the instructor. Candidates will dance in groups when trying out. Judges will be looking for coordination, rhythm, and personality.
Jumps: After the motion technique and dance portion
of the tryout, each candidate will perform a single toe touch and also a
two-jump combination. This combination
can include any jumps such as a toe touch, front hurdler, etc. The candidate may take a
prep between jumps, but the combination must demonstrate continuous
motion.
Tumbling
– If a candidate wishes to show any gymnastics skills, he/she will demonstrate
these last. Gymnastic skills should be
at least at the back handspring level. A
cheerleader does NOT have to do gymnastics to make the squad.
The following is information pertaining to those who make the All-State Squad and their coaches. Please read it carefully so both the candidate and coach knows what is expected of All-State Squad members.
COACH’S
DUTIES – A head
cheerleading coach or assistant cheerleading coach who is on the school payroll
and has attended a 2008 – 2009 spirit rules meeting must be the official
chaperone for the cheerleaders. The
coach must drive candidates to and from all All-State tryouts, practices and
performances. The coach is responsible
for chaperoning at all times which means they cannot leave the site during the
tryout, practices and performances. No
parents will be permitted to accompany the participants in a supervisory
position. This is to insure coverage
through the IHSAA catastrophic insurance plan should an injury occur. The
If one of the coaches is unable
to attend, a school employee may bring the candidates. This must be approved IN ADVANCE with the
All-State Director. The school employee
must bring a letter from the school district superintendent or his/her designee
stating the employee’s relationship to the school and why the head coach cannot
attend. This should only occur in case
of an emergency, as it is important that the coach attend the tryout,
practices, and performances.
SQUAD
PRACTICES
Final
practices will be held the afternoon and evening of Thursday, March 12, and the
morning of
OTHER
INFORMATION
Cheerleading Information
Page 4
Your high school squad is
invited to attend and compete in the 17th Annual Iowa Cheerleading
State Championships sponsored by the
The competition will again be two sessions. Since start time and finish time for the day are dependent upon the number of schools that attend, placement of divisions in the day’s schedule and times of performance will be determined after registrations are received.
Parents and fans are encouraged to attend! The admission charge is $8.00 per person for the day. A limit of two (2) coaches per squad will be admitted free to the competition.
GENERAL INFORMATION
COACHES: In order to compete in the Championships the head coach must
be a member of the
must have also attended a rules meeting.
Membership material and rules meeting information have been enclosed in
the fall mailing.
All squads must be accompanied by their head coach or a designated school
official at all times. No squad will be
allowed to compete without a salaried coach or a designated school official in
attendance. NO exceptions will be made.
A limit of two (2) coaches per squad will be admitted free to the
competition.
FEES: An entry fee of $15 per competing cheerleader per
event is required (i.e. a cheerleader is registered
in
both cheer/dance and a stunt team. The
cost is $15 per event or $30 total.)
FORMS: The coach must have a completed Information Form (C) (mailed with registration) and an Information and Consent for Medical Treatment Form (D) for each member of the squad. It is the responsibility of the head coach to carry the Medical Treatment forms (D). The coach will be asked to sign off indicating the forms are in his/her possession.
The coach must list the cheerleaders competing on the squad on the entry form. Each squad member must be an eligible member of a 2008-2009 high school cheerleading squad. This means each cheerleader cheers for a high school sport. A JV, sophomore or freshman cheerleader who cheers for a high school team is eligible. A squad may include the person who performs as the school mascot. However, because he/she is the mascot, he/she must appear in uniform as that mascot for the competition, and cannot stunt or spot stunts. The mascot is counted as one of the 12, 16, or up to 25 squad members.
A squad may register two
(2) substitutes on the enclosed registration form to be used at the coach’s
discretion. No further substitutions
will be allowed. Substitutes must be an eligible member of a current high
school cheerleading squad. A squad may
compete with fewer members than registered but no squad member can be added
after the registration is sent. A squad
will be disqualified for illegal substitutions cheerleaders.
ELIGIBILITY: Participants are required to follow all
guidelines established by the
polices covering appearance, behavior, conditioning, etc. The participating member will also be required to follow good conduct polices set by individual schools.
DIVISIONS
**NEW** All
Cheer/Dance teams will divided by 2008 – 09 IHSAA basketball classifications
instead of football classifications as in the past. We will now have 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A.
Co-ed squads will be one open division. If enough teams register, this division might be divided into two divisions – Small and Large. (This decision is at the discretion of the Director.) A small squad would have up to sixteen (16) varsity members with at least one male. A large squad would have 17 to 25 members with at least one male. Co-ed squads are not allowed to enter the Non-Stunt/Mount division. (see page 7 for more information about this division)
Cheerleading Information
Page 5
(continued)
**NEW**
Schools who enter cheer/dance and/or stunt group may also enter a
group to compete in the Sideline Division. (IE- a school may have a cheer/dance
group, two stunts teams
Side Line Cheer will be divided into 4 classes. – 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A
(see page 8 for more information about this division)
Stunt Groups will be made
up of a maximum of five members. Teams
may be any combination of males and/or females.
(see page 8 for more information about this
division)
T-SHIRTS:
TROPHIES: Trophy policy is to award trophies to half of the teams which compete in each division. If an odd number compete, trophies will be one less than half. Up to three places with trophies and corresponding individual medals may be awarded in each division. Divisions are determined using current IHSAA basketball classifications. IHSAA will be consulted as needed to make final determination. The Side Line Division will be awarded Division I, II, or III plaques for outstanding performance. No state champions will be recognized in the Side Line Division.
VIDEO: The video right of the Iowa
Cheerleading State Championships rest solely with the
TAPING contractor. Videos will be sold to the public. The
COMPETITION
AREA: All competition will take place within the bounds of a 42’ X 42’ performance mat. All-squad members must be within this area for all of their performance. Deductions will no longer be assessed for unintentional stepping off the mat.
RULES: All squads must follow the
2008-2009 National Federation Spirit Rules adopted by the Iowa High School
Athletic Association. These include the
strengthened guidelines adopted by the
If you have questions
about the legality of a stunt/mount or any other component of a routine send a
video of that part of the routine to Donna
McKay,
All decisions made by
the technical judges concerning the legality of stunts/mounts and/or any other
component of your competition routine are final and not subject to review.
SPOTTERS: Members of your competition squad must fulfill all spotting requirements as required by the National Federation Spirit Rules.
Cheerleading Information
Page 6
START
the ROUTINE
RULES: Each squad will be given time to enter the performance area and place pompons and signs. Your school name will be called two (2) times – once when you enter the performance area and a second time when you are in your starting position on the performance surface. Your routine may begin with an entrance or from a stationary position on the floor. You may begin from any side of the performing surface except from the front (where the judges will be seated). You cannot begin your routine in a stunt or mount. You will have 30 seconds to collect all props and exit the performance area following the completion of your routine.
PROPS: Signs, megaphones, and pompons are the only props that are allowed. Signs cannot be used in a theatrical manner (i.e. – in the shape of guitars, people, etc.). They must have words or symbols associated with school spirit (i.e. - school name, go-fight-win, etc.) and should be used in the routine, not just to “decorate” the performance area. Megaphones, if present, must also be used in the routine, and not just as a decorative device. No cheerleader(s) may break through a sign, as that would be considered theatrical. Please use signs only to lead cheers.
JUDGES: Judging will be done by qualified
competition judges selected by the
SCORING: Your performance will be scored in four or five categories. The score sheets may be picked up following the presentation of awards for your division from the head scorer at the scorers’ table. Performance categories are as follows:
1. Cheering Fundamentals – motion technique, tumbling, jumps, stunts/mounts. (Stunts/mounts are not applicable to the Non-Stunt/Mount Division.)
2. Dance– timing, execution, choreography and personality.
3. Crowd Appeal – spirit, voice projection, appearance, poise and eye contact.
4. Variety of Routine – transitions, flow of routine, spacing and use of the performance area.
5. Perfection of Routine – overall execution and timing.
Competition Score forms
for all divisions are posted on the
Squads will be disqualified if coach(es) and/or other spectators “act out” the routine or yell with a squad during a crowd involvement cheer.
FAMILY
VIEWING: All routines must be appropriate for family viewing. Any vulgar and/or suggestive movements, words, or music may result in the assessment of a ten (10) point penalty or disqualification.
BLOOD/
INJURY: The
TIME: All Cheer/Dance and Non-Stunt/Mount routines should be 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Timing will begin with your first word, motion, or taped portion, and ends when your squad comes to a standstill or a stationary position. Both Side Line Cheer and Stunt Groups will have a time limit of one minute. A ten (10) point penalty will be assessed to any squad exceeding the time limit. Any squad who exceeds the time limit by more than ten (10) seconds will be disqualified.
MUSIC: Your music time cannot exceed one and a half minutes (90 seconds) of a two minute and 30 second routine. Any material that is on a tape (spoken or otherwise) is considered part of your music portion.
Please be aware that different machines may play at slightly different speeds. It is better to be slightly under the time limit to be safe. Any squad exceeding the 90 second time limit for music will be assessed a ten (10) point penalty.
Cheerleading Information
Page 7
MUSIC (cont): Your music can be in segments throughout your routine or played all at one time. You may also use a CD or a cassette tape. It is recommended that you bring a music backup tape or CD. We ask that the head coach run the music for his/her squad and sit at the music table during his/her squad’s performance.
NON-STUNT/MOUNT DIVISION
The Non-Stunt/Mount division is an open division, meaning that the division will not be made into classifications by size of school. This division is limited to a maximum squad of twelve (12) participants.
The routine should represent a continuous flow of cheers, chants, jumps, tumbling and dance. No stunts/mounts are allowed in this division.
Schools entered in this
division may not participate in the Group Stunt Division. They are allowed to enter a separate team in
the Sideline Division.
CHEER/DANCE DIVISION
The Cheer/Dance Division will be all-girl squads limited to twelve (12)
squad members in Division 1A and 2A.
Schools divided into Divisions 3A and 4A may have up to sixteen (16)
squad members. Division 4A Large may
have between 17 – 25 members.
The
routine should represent a continuous flow of cheers, chants, jumps, stunts,
tumbling, and dance.
Any team wishing to compete UP a division needs to contact Nancy
Huether and have all the necessary paperwork filled out and turned in by
Friday, September 26.
COED DIVISION
Co-ed squads will be one open division. If enough teams register, this division might be divided into two divisions – Small and Large. (This decision is at the discretion of the Director.) A small squad would have up to sixteen (16) varsity members with at least one male. A large squad would have 17 to 25 members with at least one male. Co-ed squads are not allowed to enter the Non-Stunt/Mount division.
The routine should represent a continuous flow of cheers, chants, jumps, stunts, tumbling, and dance.
SMALL TEAM DIVISION
Small Team Division is for all girl squads of eight members or fewer. This is also an OPEN division meaning that the
division will not be made into classifications by size of school.
The
routine should represent a continuous flow of cheers, chants, jumps, stunts,
tumbling, and dance.
***NEW THIS YEAR*** Any school may enter a group to participate in
this division, plus enter a group in the Cheer/Dance Division or Group Stunt. Schools which have participants entered in
Cheer/Dance cannot enter the same cheerleaders in this division. The participants must be different
cheerleaders. They may cross over from
the Group Stunt division if they aren’t in Cheer/Dance also.
Examples: Cheerleader A – only
entered in Group Stunt and not Cheer/Dance – is eligible in Side Line.
Cheerleader B –
not a member of a Cheer/Dance, Non-Stunt/Mount, or Group Stunt – is eligible in
Side Line.
Cheerleader C – a member of Cheer/Dance
division – is not eligible in Side Line.
Cheerleader D – a member of Cheer/Dance
and a Group Stunt – is not eligible in Side Line.
Cheerleader E – a member of a
Non-Stunt/Mount division – is not eligible in Side Line.
The emphasis of this division
is side line cheering. The cheerleaders
will lead the crowd in chants and/or cheers.
The idea is that cheer teams bring some regular chants and/or cheers
(that your home crowds love) and present them for the judges. The volume of the crowd response will not be
judged to make it fair to every school whether they have 20 or 200 fans in
attendance. However, the judges will be
looking at the potential for crowd response, as well as the squad’s motion
technique and personality.
Cheerleading Information
Page 8
SIDELINE DIVISION continued
*Jumps will be allowed, but will not be evaluated by the
judges. Teams will use
jumps to show
enthusiasm and lead the crowd, not to be evaluated by judges for
performance points.
*Stunts at shoulder level or below will
be allowed, but will not be evaluated by the judges.
Teams will use stunts to show enthusiasm or
lead the crowd, not to be evaluated
by judges for
performance points. Teams will receive
deductions for stunts
extended above
shoulder height.
*Poms, megaphones,
and signs may be used (but not required) to help lead the crowd.
*No tumbling is allowed.
*No music is allowed.
*Time is one minute.
Side Line Cheer will be divided into 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A (basketball classifications)
1A and 2A – up to 12 members
3A – up to 16 members
4A – up to 25 members
This
division may be combined if there are not enough teams participating. Squads
will be notified if this occurs.
GROUP
STUNT
This
routine represents a continuous flow of stunts by a five- person team
accompanied by music. Bases and flyers
may switch places as long as it is the same five members involved.
*Tumbling into the first stunt will be permitted as long as it
doesn’t violate NF rules.
No other tumbling will be
allowed. Tumbling other than into the
first stunt could cause a scoring deduction.
*There will be no leading of
cheers, jumps, or dance.
*Teams may be any combination of
males and/or females.
*To qualify for this division:
1. Your team is registered in
any cheer/dance division.
2. This is the only entry from
your school.
Ex. #1- A participant is registered on a team for
any cheer/dance division, he/she may also participate in one stunt group for
his/her school.
Ex. #2- A participant’s team is not registered in any team division for state, but his/her school has put together a stunt team.
Ex #3- A participant is on a team in the Sideline
Division may participate.
Ex #4 A participant is on a team in Non Stunt/Mount
Divisions, he/she is not allowed to participate on a stunt team.
*Teams registered in the Non-Stunt/Mount Division
will NOT be allowed to compete in this division. (see
example
#4 above)
*A school may enter up to TWO
Teams in this division. Participants are
allowed to participate on only one stunt team.
TIME: One minute
Purpose:
The Small Team Division
has been created for those teams which cheer varsity ball games with 8 or fewer
girls on the team. This is not intended
for teams to “load” a squad and cut several girls who would normally cheer with
the squad so that their school may be more competitive. This is for schools with limited numbers of
cheerleaders on their teams.
The Non/Stunt Mount
Division has been created for those teams whose coaches do not allow
their teams to stunt for safety purposes, but wish to participate in a
competition. Teams in this division
should be those who cannot or do not stunt on a regular basis at games or
competitions. Teams who stunt on a
regular basis should not enter this division to put themselves in better trophy
contention.
Cheerleading Information
Page 9
The Iowa Cheerleading
Coaches' Association and the Iowa High School Athletic Association are proud to
sponsor the Iowa Cheer Honor Squad. This
squad will perform at the half times of two or three Iowa High School Football
Championship Games on
REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Coaches
must be members of the
2. A
non-refundable $35.00 fee payable to
3. All forms must be completed and have all required signatures.
4. Participants
must be juniors or seniors cheering for a varsity squad for the current school
year. Each
5. The coach must drive participants to Honor Squad practices and performances. ( see “Coaches’ Duties” below for further details)
6. The coach must have a completed Information and Consent Form and the Medical Treatment Form for each participant. The information and Consent Form is mailed with the registration. It is the responsibility of the coach to carry the Medical Treatment Forms to all practices and performances.
7. Participants and coaches are responsible for all food, hotel and travel expenses.
8. Participants
are required to follow all guidelines established by the
COACHES’ DUTIES – A head
cheerleading coach or assistant cheerleading coach who is on the school payroll
and has attended a 2008-2009 spirit rules meeting can be the official chaperone
for the cheerleaders. The coach must
drive candidates to Honor Squad practices and performances. The coach is responsible for chaperoning at
all times which means they cannot leave the site during the practices or
performances. No parents will be
permitted to accompany the participants in a supervisory position. This is to insure coverage through the IHSAA
catastrophic insurance plan should an injury occur. The
If one of the coaches is unable to attend, a school employee may bring the candidates. This must be approved IN ADVANCE with the Honor Squad Director. The school employee must bring a letter from the school district superintendent or his/her designee stating the employee’s relationship to the school and why the head coach cannot attend. This should only occur in case of an emergency, as it is important that the coach attend the practices and performances.
PRACTICES
The first practice will be
held on Sunday, November 16 from
1. All practices are mandatory, and both the coach and cheerleaders must stay for the entire practice. Cheerleaders will not be allowed to perform if they miss a practice.
2. Hotel information will be sent out to participants with your confirmation.
3. Participates
will receive a T-shirt, certificate, and medal at
the last performance. Please print names
on forms as they should appear on the certificate. Do not order t-shirts on the summary of
registration form.
4. The
Honor Squad Director/
5. The last day to change names or
substitute is October 31st .
6.
All
practices are mandatory, and both the coach and cheerleaders must stay for the
entire practice. Cheerleaders will not
be allowed to perform if they miss a practice.
MAIL
ICCA,
SUMMARY OF REGISTRATION
FORM A
**PLEASE USE BLACK OR
SCHOOL NAME__________________________________________________________________________________________
Please check off all items below as enclosed in your entry. Only send those forms required for the programs you are entering.
___
___FORM B – Coach/School Information and Disclaimer Form (one per school required for all entries)
___FORM C – Cheerleader Information/ Parent Consent Form (one per squad member required for all entries)
___FORM E – All-State Agreement of Terms Form (one per squad member entering All-State Competition)
___FORM F – State Competition Registration Form (if entering the state competition)
___FORM G – Iowa Cheer Honor Squad Application Form (if participating in the Honor Squad)
___One
Check for entry fees made out to
State Entry Fee – Team Comp ____ Members X $15.00 = Total__________
State Entry Fee – Group Stunt _____Members X $15.00 = Total _________
State Entry Fee –
Sideline Comp ____ Members X 15.00 =
Total _________