Due to the many changes in School and All-Star Divisions we decided to survey many teams who attend our events. We wanted to make sure our competitions reflected what you wanted.
U.S. Spiritleaders recognizes that the most frustrating issues for teams, coaches, and parents are the rising prices in entry and spectator fees...and with so many divisions, teams are performing exhibitions rather than competing.
Based on the great responses that we received we have decided to keep our regionals in High School venues to keep the fees down. In the interest of creating more competition, we will also group teams of different sizes if there is less than 3 in a division.
If you were not contacted or did not respond to our survey please feel free to send us an e-mail with your opinions.
General Information
All New Information Is Highlighted In Red. Division Breakdowns and Specifc Guidelines for Cheer and Dance Teams are to be found in the appropriate PDF Files above.
Event information/Location:
El Toro High School - 25255 Toledo Way, Lake Forest, Calif. 92630
CLICK HERE FOR DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Event Begins: December 6, 2008
Spectator Ticket Price: Adults $ Children $ (12 - 3 years of Age)
Directions: A Mapquest Link will be posted one month prior to the event.
1. Directions / Parking
Directions to event will be posted at least two weeks prior to the event.We have no control over the parking situation. Parents and teams should be prepared to pay for parking. All parking tickets disputes must be handled with the facility where the event is being held.
2. General Admission / Food
Tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event. The doors will open 30 minutes before the competition begins.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase throughout the event. We are not responsible for the type, price, quality of the food, if the vendors run out of food, or how many stands are open.
3. Travel Arrangements
Call the U.S. Spiritleaders Office to receive information on local hotels offering group discounts.
4. Performance Fee, Payment and Entry Deadlines
Performance Fees:
• $ per participant per team
• $ per individual/solos
• $ per participant per group stunt
• Second entry: The fee for a team entering a second division is $150. There is no fee for an individual entering a second division at a U.S. Spiritleaders Regional Competition.
The fee for College/Open entrants is $300 per team, per division. The fee for College/Open Teams entering a second or third division is $150 per division.
The team fee for entering a second or third division is $150 per team. There is no fee for an individual entering a second or third team division at a regional enent.
There will be no refunds 21 days prior to the event and a $100 change late fee per occurance.
All entry checks must be received 21 days prior to the event. There is a $100 late fee for entries after the deadline, if accepted.
There are no refunds for cancellations 21 days prior to the event.
Only school checks, cashiers checks, or money orders made payable to U.S. Spiritleaders will be accepted prior to the deadline of the event.
Only cashiers checks or money orders will be accepted from Schools or All-Star Gyms within 21 days of the event.
Teams or individuals will not be placed on the order of performance list until all fees have been received. All change of performances will not be made unless we have received the $100 entry fee change. Only cashiers checks or money orders will be accepted from Schools or All-Star Gyms for entry changes. Only Cash will be accepted if there are any changes on the day of the event.
5. Regional Qualifier
All squads are eligible to attend The King of the Bleachers Invitational by attending The Winter Classic, SoCal Kickoff, Spirit Spectacular or another U.S. Spiritleaders affiliated regional competition. Teams must receive a superior rating. Individual/Group, Mascots, College, Open and Flags do not need to qualify for Invitational.
6. Coaches Policy Agreement
The main coach/sponsor must sign and turn in the “Coaches Policy Guide” at check-in. This acknowledges the acceptance of our rules concerning medical/insurance, routine safety guidelines, eligibility, trainer restrictions, eligibility, sportsmanship, and performance rules.
7. Routine/Safety Guidelines
U.S. Spiritleaders recognizes that teams attend other competition events. Because of this fact rules and guidelines are constantly changing. The most current safety rules and guidelines for cheer and dance teams are available in the PDF files above.
School Teams may perform skills that are accepted by USA, NCA/NDA, UCA/UDA, or COA sponsored competitions. U.S. Spiritleaders Safety Rules reflect these organizations guidelines and can be found in PDF forms listed above.
All-Star Teams may perform skills approved by the U.S. Spiritleaders affiliated National All-Star Coaches Congress (NACCC) and the U.S. All-Star Federation www.USASF.net
Questionable Skills It is the responsibility of all coaches to send in a video of any skill that could be illegal or fall within a gray line of legality to the U.S. Spiritleaders office one month prior to the competition date for approval.
Placement and Judges Rulings All Judges ruling on the day of the event can only be questioned within one week following the event, in writing to the U.S. Spiritleaders office. It is the right of U.S. Spiritleaders to change placing within one week of the event. All teams in the division will be notified of such changes if they occur.
8. Eligibility
An individual may not perform on 2 teams of the same level even if the division is divided.
School Entrants School entrants may not compete in both Advanced, Intermediate, and Novice divisions and must be registered students in the proper grade level of the selected division in which they are competing.
All-Star and Open Entrants All-Star and Open Entrants must follow the most current USASF/NACCC eligibility guidelines and rules.
Stacking (Participants who compete on more than one performing group but not of the same level even if team is divided and not competing as an Advanced, Int. or Nov. participant) All Star programs may Stack their teams, however there will be no special considerations for changing of uniforms, practice, or times between performances. No exceptions will be made in changing the order of appearance in the line up.
Penalty Any team or group/soloist will be disqualified for violation of any of these eligibility rules.
9. Sportsmanship
It is the goal of U.S. Spiritleaders to make competitions fun, innovative, and positive. We will not tolerate bad sportsmanship by participants, coaches, and fans/parents. We reserve the right to remove any person/persons that are unsportsmanlike or do not follow the directions of the security and event staff. Coaches should set a good example and make their teams and fans aware of the team penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. (20 points for each occurrence.) U.S. Spiritleaders Events invites judges from different cheerleading and dance backgrounds so different styles are taken into consideration. All judges decisions are final and are objective. Coaches should prepare their teams and fans/parents in the way they conduct themselves during the day, during the awards ceremony, and even after the event is over.
10. Performance Rules
Dance, Flag, and Mascot divisions will perform on a gym or hardwood floor. Cheerleaders will compete on a 42x54 Spring Floor. There are no out of bounds penalties.
Order of Performance
Teams will perform in their divisions based on when we receive their entry forms paid in full. The earlier you turn your entry in, the later in the division your team will perform
Timing
1.Timing begins with the first note of music or cheer and ends with the last note of music or cheer. 2. Squads will be penalized 10 points from the total score for each time infraction. 3. Teams will be penalized 5 points if they or the coach are not ready to perform or start the music. 4. The event reserves the right to call teams to perform no more than 30 minutes ahead of time or if running behind schedule, announce the new estimated time of performance.
Music
1. A representative from the competing team must be present at the sound table to start and stop the tape, cd or ipod. 2. Music for each performance should be labeled with the team name/division and begin at the start of a high quality tape or cd and be the only music that is recorded. 3. You must have back up music in tape and cd format. 4. We are not responsible for tapes that break or cds that skip or stop during performance. 5. Ipods may be used to play your competition music. More than one routine may be on the ipod.
Interruption Of Performance
1. Teams or soloists run the risk of their CD’s being unreadable or skipping by the events equipment. It is recommended that tapes or ipods be used. 2. If the interruption of the routine occurs due to a failure of the equipment, facilities, or other factors associated with the event, the squad may perform the routine again. 3. If the routine is interrupted due to the failure of the team’s tape cassette ( damaged or in poor condition) or CD (that skips or is unreadable by the events equipment) the team may perform the routine again from the section where the interruption occurred after the first occurrence. On the second occurrence, the tournament director reserves the right to decide if a team may perform again based on time, safety, and any event circumstances. Team’s should be prepared with back up music in tape, CD or ipod formats. 4. If an injury takes place during the performance the squad may either continue the routine or withdraw. 5. The tournament director reserves the right to decide if a team may completely re-perform their routine due to time, safety, and any event circumstances.
Jewelry
1. Wearing any jewelry is prohibited except religious or medical medals which must be taped to the body under apparel. 2. A participant wearing a cast shall not be involved in a stunt. 3. Dance divisions may wear hair hair pieces or head/hair jewelry pieces but will be deducted if they fall off during the performance. 4. Any jewelry that is part of the costume is permissable but it must be securely attached to the garment/hat. 5. Glitter that does not readily adhere (brushes off) is not permitted. Glitter woven into fabric that will not brush off is legal.
11. Entry Confirmation & Line-up Posting
Coaches will be notified via e-mail that we have received your entry form within 10 working days. Medical/Insurance forms, sample score sheets, rules, and all general information is available on the website. A preliminary line and final line-up PDF file will be posted on the website at least 10 days prior to the event. You may request to have any of these forms mailed or faxed 1 week prior to the event.
