Information for Coaches

Awards Back To Top

Squad Competitions

Trophies are given to the first place teams in the school divisions.
Banners are given to the first place teams in the all-star divisions.
Second and Third place trophies will be given in all divisions. The number of awards given per division is determined by the number of squads in that division.
Individuals on the first place teams will receive individual awards (patches, medals, t-shirts or other similar recognition items).
The Tiny Division is an EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE division only. No trophies will be awarded, however, all participants on each squad in the Tiny Division will receive individual awards (patches, medals, t-shirts or other similar recognition items).
Teams who register and have no other squads in their division will compete against a score. Teams scoring between 60-70% of the possible points will receive Bronze medals, teams scoring between 71% and 84% of the possible points will receive Silver medals and teams scoring 85% or greater will receive Gold medals.

Stunt Group & Co-ed Partner Stunt Competitions:

One trophy for first place team in EACH DIVISION and medals for all participants of each first place stunt team.

Directions Back To Top

For complete directions for each All Star Cheerleading Events, please visit our Event Directions Page.

The DJ will announce your team 3 times. You will be called on deck and should report to the "on deck" area. When it is your time to take the floor - the moderator will signal for you to take the floor and the DJ will announce you as "Taking the Floor XYZ Squad". Once you are set in your position, you will then be announced as "Now Performing XYZ Squad" this will be your cue to start the routine. If you open with music, you or your designated representative should start the music. If you open with a cheer segment - this is the cue for whoever starts the cheer/chant, to begin.

Event Schedule Back To Top

Coaches will receive the PRELIMINARY time schedule TEN days prior to the competition.

The most efficient way to receive your confirmation packet is via email - please provide an email address on your registration form.

The event schedule is determined by the total number of squads entering the competition. Typically there are 2 or 3 sessions throughout the day with check-ins at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Check-in may be as early as 8 a.m. for squads.
Events are scheduled to end between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. (This depends on the total number of squads entering a particular regional).
On Sundays, CYO squads will not check-in before 12 noon.
If you need a more exact time, prior to receiving your time schedule (to schedule a bus, etc.), please call tournament director, Amy Clark at toll free 1-888-577-5456.
FINAL SCHEDULE will be available from All Star Cheerleading's Event Schedule the THURSDAY immediately before the competition by 5 p.m. No changes to this schedule will be made after that time (including change requests made on the day of the event).

Glitter Back To Top

At the request of our host facilities - no glitter is to be worn - and ESPECIALLY NOT SPRAYED in the building. Teams violating this request will not be permitted to perform and are not entitled to a refund.

If glitter has been pre-applied it will be dealt with on a case by case basis, please be respectful of the host facility's request. Make-up that includes glitter may be worn. HOWEVER - it must be applied PRIOR to arriving at the facility.

Judging Packets Back To Top

Judging packets will be available at the trophy table following each session's awards ceremony.

Music Back To Top

Review the content of your music for profanity or other inappropriate language.
All-Star Cheerleading's main sound system has both a CD player and a tape deck.
Music of poor quality detracts from your routine and could affect the scoring by the judges. We suggest you play your CD on a variety of boom boxes and CD players to listen to the quality on several different CD players. We suggest you bring several copies of your music.
Designate one representative from your group to run your music; this person must remain at the sound table throughout the entire performance.
Your routine music should be the ONLY thing on the tape/CD and it should start at the beginning. We cannot be responsible for "finding" the music on your tape/CD. If you are using a tape, to ensure it is at the right spot on the tape, put it at the beginning of the tape. If you are using two different songs at different points in your routine (and you are using a cassette tape), it is advised that you put both selections on the same tape, on the same side with a short amount of "silence" between the two selections. If you are using a CD, please have only the cuts you will be using on the CD you bring.
This information can also be found in the Regional Cheer and Dance Championships General Rules and Guidelines

Performance Order Back To Top

Performance order is determined by random draw. The preliminary schedule will be faxed and/or e-mailed to all coaches 10 days prior to the event. It is your responsibility to confirm that you are in the right division and your performance order allows for ample time for your "double dippers" to recover and be ready to perform on the next squad. Any REQUESTS for changes, corrections or modifications to the schedule must be done via e-mail or fax (in writing) by 12 noon on the Wednesday prior to the event. We make every attempt to be as accommodating as possible to all teams, however, requests made too close to the event day cause major inconveniences for the event organizers as well as other teams that have entered. All final schedules will be set at 12 noon the Wednesday prior to the event and will not be changed. Any imperative change requests made after this deadline (including those requests made at the event) will be honored at the discretion of the tournament director and will result in a 10 point penalty PER JUDGE to the team requesting the change, if the change is granted. The final schedule will be available after 6 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the event on our website at All Star Cheerleading's Event Schedule

Registration Payments and Refunds Back To Top

Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable unless written notice of withdrawal from the competition is postmarked at least 14 days before the competition date. For more information, visit our Registration Payments and Refunds page.

Routine Specifics Back To Top

All-Star Cheerleading believes that cheerleaders and dancers are athletes. Therefore, make sure your choreography is in good taste and suitable for family viewing. Technical deductions will be assessed for inappropriate moves such as excessive pelvic thrusts or rubbing one's posterior. Check your music for profanity or other inappropriate language, and eliminate outward displays of arrogance in your performances. Please review the USASF Dance Rules.

Cheer Team Routines

Must be at least 2 minutes, but no greater than 2 minutes and 30 seconds in total length. Coaches are strongly encouraged to create routines that finish a few seconds under the time limit.
Recommended to include at least one cheer and one chant or sideline (see all star exception below).
Must include a musical segment of at least 45 seconds, but not greater than 1 minute and 30 seconds inclusive of the total length (see all star exception below). The music portion may be divided into as many sections, using as many songs as you wish.
Should be choreographed so that the routine flows from one element to another.
Should include jumps. Gymnastic skills are recommended but not required.
May use poms and signs (including flags with letters) and megaphones. No other props permitted.

Exception: All Star teams may use music for the entire routine (optional).
Exception: Mini squads have no minimum time limit or requirements. The entire routine may not exceed 2 1/2 minutes.

Dance Team Routines

Must be at least 2 minutes, but no greater than 2 minutes and 30 seconds in length
Must be performed entirely to music.
Only forward rolls, back rolls, and shoulder rolls are allowed. Individual back bends and handstands are permitted so long as they do not involve hip over head rotation (exception: Hip Hop stalls are allowed). No back handsprings, back tucks or aerials allowed.
Must not include pyramid building, stunts, partner stunts or advanced tumbling (forward rolls are permitted).
Should be choreographed to demonstrate the required elements of the chosen category (see Dance Team Divisions & Categories.)

Stunt Group & Co-ed Partner Stunt Routines

Must be at least 1 minute, but no greater than 1 minute and 15 seconds.
Must be performed entirely to music with stunting only.
May not include ANY tumbling or jumps.
Should be choreographed to demonstrate a variety of stunts and transitions.

Scoring Process Back To Top

Copies of all score sheets are available on our website - check here for samples!
Squads will be disqualified if a prohibited element has been included in their routine or for a violation of the safety guidelines.
Squads will be disqualified if they include an element that is not permitted in their skill division.
Tie Break Procedures: In case of a tie, the high and low scores will be dropped to determine the final placement of the squads within the division.

Cheer Squads

The Judging Panel is comprised of 5 to 6 judges. One difficulty judge, one penalty judge, and 3 or 4 execution judges.
Each squad will receive one score sheet per judge. The score sheets will be tabulated and combined to come up with a composite score. The overall score will be ranked amongst all other scores in their division to come up with final placement.

Dance Teams

Dance Divisions will have 3 to 5 judges.
Each category (Funk/Hip Hop, Jazz and Pom) has a separate score sheet based on the specific elements that should be included in each type of routine.
Each team will receive one score sheet per judge. The score sheets will be tabulated and combined to come up with a composite score. The overall score will be ranked amongst all other scores in their division to come up with final placement.

Stunt Groups & Co-ed Partner Stunt Teams

Stunt Groups & Partner Stunt teams will have 3 to 5 judges.
Each group will receive one score sheet per judge. The score sheets will be tabulated and combined to come up with a composite score. The overall score will be ranked amongst all other scores in their division to come up with final placement.

Sound Check Back To Top

If you would like to test your music prior to performing - you may approach the DJ table up to 15 minutes prior to the start of your session. You will be permitted to play a short segment of your music to check sound quality, not the entire musical segment. Make sure your music is cued PRIOR to your performance.

Spotters Back To Top

All-Star Cheerleading will provide spotters at all events.
You may only use the spotters we provide. If you feel your team needs more than the 3 or 4 spotters we provide - you may put additional spotters on the floor - to SPOT and not to coach from the floor. If the judges feel you are coaching or assisting in any form - you will be assessed a 5 point deduction per judge, per incident.
If you use your own spotters and one of them assists a stunt in going up - you will receive a 5 point deduction per judge, per incident.
Stunt Groups and Coed Partners must provide their own spotters.
All-Star Cheerleading spotters are in addition to the mandatory team spotters required by the National Federation Spirit Safety Guidelines (for School and Recreation Squads) and/or the USASF Safety Guidelines (for All-Star Squads). The purpose of these spotters is to provide additional safety.
All-Star Cheerleading spotters are required and no requests can be made that they leave the competition floor during a performance.
All-Star Cheerleading Spotters will not move props.

Trainer Back To Top

An on-site trainer will be provided for each event. The trainer will remain in the training room or main gym during the event. The trainer is on-site to provide immediate attention to minor injuries. It is your responsibility as a coach to report all injuries to the athletic trainer on-site. The trainer will assess the injury and administer first aide as needed. As a coach, it is your responsibility to communicate with the parent and seek the appropriate medical attention after the event. We recommend you advise your participants to seek medical advice on all injuries and receive clearance from a medical doctor before allowing the participant to return to any athletic activity.

Warm Up Back To Top

The warm-up room will have three stations: Station 1 and 2 are 6 *42 strips for for tumbling and/or stunting warm-up and Station 3 is one performance size floor (54X42). Please note, at spring floor events, station one will be a SPRING STRIP and station two will be a foam strip. You should report to the warm-up area 5 minutes before your first warm-up time. You will wait on deck for 5 minutes and then be given 5 minutes at each warm-up station. You will then proceed to the on deck area to go on the main floor to compete.
The main floor (in the main gym) will be used for open tumbling and stunting warm-up on a first-come, first-served basis before the competition and between sessions. It will be considered open warm-up.
All un-scheduled warm-up times in the warm-up gym will be considered OPEN but will be timed and utilized on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be courteous of each other and follow the instructions of the monitors in this room.
A boom box will be available in the warm-up room to play your music while you are on the warm-up floor.