NEWSLETTER -The ICCA Newsletter is published 4 times a year (August, November, February and May) and offers current information about events and situations that involve cheerleaders and their coaches. The newsletter also contains contact information of Board members. Made up of articles submitted by Board members, the ICCA newsletter is free of advertising so the focus can be on information for the ICCA membership.

COACHES CONFERENCE - This annual conference is held in April. It offers many great speakers, sessions to help coaches gain more knowledge in coaching their cheerleaders, and offers National Federation Coaches Training Courses. This is also a great place to network with other coaches.

AWARDS – ICCA gives several awards annually including Coach of the Year, Contributor of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Athletic Director/Administrator, Years of Service, Friend of Cheerleading, and Sportsmanship.

FREE CLINICS - There are several free clinics held all over the state every August. They are free for ICCA member coaches and their cheerleaders. Cheers, chants, jumps, and dances are taught at the clinics by different cheer companies or individuals.

SCHOLARSHIPS - The ICCA proudly awards scholarships each year. They may go to a graduating high school senior of an ICCA member team or a college cheerleader. Each nominee must have a minimum of a 3.5 GPA. ICCA member may nominate cheerleaders from their own squads. A team of judges from outside Iowa choose the winners based on recommendations and essays. The winners receive their scholarships at the ICCA Spring Banquet. Scholarships are also awarded at the four events listed below.

HONOR SQUAD - The Iowa Cheer Honor Squad is a special squad sponsored by the ICCA and the IHSAA. Each ICCA member coach is allowed to nominate 3 varsity cheerleaders who are either a junior or senior. Criteria for choosing the cheerleaders are completely up to the coach. Up to 200 cheerleaders can be chosen for this squad. This squad performs their routine at the IHSAA State Football Championships in the UNI Dome.

ALL-STATE SQUAD - The Iowa All-State Cheerleading Squad is an ICCA/IHSAA sponsored select team. Any varsity cheerleader of an ICCA member team can tryout for the team. Tryouts are held in October and a team of 20-45 of Iowa’s best cheerleaders is chosen. During the IHSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament the team comes together and performs during half time of three of the Friday games.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - The State Championships are another ICCA and IHSAA sponsored event. This is a chance for varsity squads to compete against other teams around the state. There are different divisions for which squads can compete. The Championships are held in November at the Jacobson Building at the Iowa State Fair Grounds in Des Moines. Look for more information to come out in the fall mailing in the middle of August.

ALL-STARS- The ICCA in conjunction with the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) offers an opportunity for the best junior and senior cheerleaders in Iowa to come together to cheer for the Iowa All-Star basketball teams at their tournament held in March. Tryouts are done by sending in a video with a short cheer, incorporating strong motions, a short dance and toe touch.

SHRINE BOWL - ICCA partners with the Iowa Shriners during the last week in July, where cheerleaders meet at ISU, along with the Shrine Bowl football players. They learn a choreographed routine and various cheers. The routine and cheers are performed during the Shrine football game on Saturday night. The cheerleaders, as well as the football players, are able to participate in the many wonderful activities hosted by the Shriners that week.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS - Cheerleaders learn a routine the morning of the Special Olympics Open Ceremonies. Next, the cheerleaders hold a cheer clinic for the Special Olympic athletes in the afternoon. The cheerleaders will then perform their routine they learned that day, in the evening at the Opening Ceremonies held in Ames at Hilton Coliseum.