>Exceptions


Coaches Information

Below is a collection of key information we've put together for coaches to help provide the best competition experience. Please pass this information on to each of your coaches as it covers many of the questions we receive in the weeks leading up to, and on the day of, our competitions.

Competition Director

  1. Each competition is supervised by a competition director. The competition director is ultimately responsible for ensuring that each CHEERSPORT competition is run in a safe and orderly manner that is consistent with established rules, guidelines and policies.
  2. The competition director has the final authority on any and all issues, questions and problems that may arise at CHEERSPORT competitions.

Registration/Medical Release Forms

  1. Registration forms must be submitted and full payment must be postmarked 10 days prior to Grand Championship events. Please visit the Nationals section for information about registration and payment for our Nationals.
  2. A medical release form for every competitor must be turned in at team registration on the day of the event. Competitors without a signed medical release form will not be permitted to compete.

Competition Schedule

  1. Competition schedules will be posted the Monday preceding the competition by 5pm. A warm-up schedule will be posted the Wednesday preceding the competition by 5pm. These schedules are subject to change. Final schedules will be distributed at team registration on the day of the event.
  2. Competition schedules are set based on a number of factors including the number of teams competing and the size of the facility. Detailed competition schedules are posted the Monday before the competition.
  3. Please note that each schedule includes a "Doors Open" time. The doors to the competition facility will not open prior to this time. Please plan your team meeting times with this in mind and please make sure that your team parents and spectators know this.
  4. A coaches information handout will be available at registration. It will include the Event Directors name, warm-up rotation schedule and judging panels for the day along with other helpful information.
  5. CHEERSPORT competitions run on time. Teams should be in the floor loading area fifteen minutes before their scheduled competition time.

Routine Music/Injury Guidelines

  1. Both CD's and MP3/iPod players are accepted for routine music. Please bring two copies of your routine music to the music stand. A representative for each team must be present at the music stand for the duration of the routine. A CHEERSPORT staff member will load the music. The team representative will be responsible for starting and stopping the music.

    If you experience technical difficulties with your music (i.e. cd skips, etc. ) in the routine, it will be under the coaches discretion whether or not to stop the routine. This decision must be made within five seconds of the technical difficulty occurring.

    If the coach chooses to stop the routine, the routine will be judged up to the point the coach stopped the routine. The team will be rescheduled to perform the remainder of the routine within 10 minutes. During the second performance, the team will "walk-through" ( no stunts, jumps, tumbling, etc. ) to the point the coach stopped the routine and perform from that point on.

    If the coach chooses not to stop the routine at the point of technical difficulties, the team will not have the option to perform again.
  2. The safety of all CHEERSPORT's participants is our primary concern. Teams with an injury or sickness prior to competing will still compete at their scheduled time.

    If an injury occurs during the performance it is under the coaches discretion whether or not to stop the routine. This decision must be made within five seconds of the injury occurring.

    If the coach chooses to stop the routine, the routine will be judged up to the point of the injury. The team will have 15 minutes to rework and perform the remainder of the routine. During the second performance, the team will "walk-through" ( no stunts, jumps, tumbling, etc. ) to the point of the routine immediately following the injury and perform from that point on.

    If the coach chooses not to stop the routine at the point of injury, the team will not have the option to perform again.

Photo and Video Guidelines

  1. CHEERSPORT Grand Championships: Spectators are allowed to photograph and videotape the competition. No cameras or video cameras are allowed behind the judges stand. No cameras or video cameras are allowed in the area between the judges stand and the front of the floor, or in any position that obstructs the judges or other spectators view of the competition floor.
  2. CHEERSPORT Nationals: Due to contractual obligations to the professional photography and videography companies at Nationals, spectators are not allowed to photograph and videotape the competition.

Competition Floor/Spotting/First Aid

  1. There is never an "out of bounds" at CHEERSPORT competitions.
  2. Coaches, parents or other cheerleaders within your organization are welcome to spot their teams during competition. The judges will not take away points from the competing team for using spotters.

    In the event that a team does elect to use a spotter, this person should be especially aware that they must limit their involvement on the competition floor to spotting. Their presence on the floor must remain 'hands-off' and is intended only to ensure a safe dismount from a stunt or pyramid in the event of a fall.

    Any activity by a spotter that appears to provide any undue competitive advantage (such as 'saving' a stunt, assisting in the building of a stunt or otherwise providing guidance or instruction to the competitors while on the floor) may result in a penalty against that team at the discretion of the head judge and/or competition director.
  3. CHEERSPORT will have a medical trainer at all competitions to handle any injuries that may occur. Please note that trainers will not provide wrist or ankle taping. It is the responsibility of each team to handle wrist and ankle taping.

Routine/LevelPlay Guidelines

  1. All teams are responsible for knowing and following CHEERSPORTs routine limits, division rules and LevelPlay guidelines. Teams that do not follow these rules may be penalized and/or disqualified from the competition. For any questions about CHEERSPORT rules and guidelines, please contact Julie O'Brien at 888-READY-OKx245.
  2. Please visit the Guidelines section to learn more about CHEERSPORTs rules and guidelines including penalties for inappropriateness and competition day conduct.
  3. Also available in the Guidelines section is a list of each violation that CHEERSPORT has actually penalized a team for during the 07-08 competition season.