NAIA Competitive Cheer & Dance Webinar

2014 Season – Cheer Division

NAIA Cheer DivisionCompetitive Cheer and Dance in the NAIA is

changing to better mirror other, traditional team sports in the NAIA. To this end, there will be a regular season, consisting of at least 2 countable competitions (3 in 2014-2015) and teams will have to compete in a Qualifying Competition in order to move to the National Invitational.

The purpose of this webinar is to familiarize coaches and judges with the scoring criteria and requirements for the NAIA Competitive Cheer Division.

NAIA Cheer DivisionIf you have not done so already please visit

the NAIA Competitive Cheer & Dance Official Web-Site that has resources for coaches and officials.

NAIA Competitive Cheer & Dance Official Web-Site

NAIA Cheer DivisionThere will be 1 division in cheer.The routine must be a least 1:45 in length and cannot

exceed 2:15 (completely performed to music – no crowd involvement section).

Score sheets will reflect a balance between all-girl and co-ed routines by emphasizing deductions and execution categories – skills can be at varying degrees of difficulty.

There will be a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 20. Teams are allowed to have male members that equal half plus one of the entire squad (with a maximum of 10 males).

NAIA Cheer DivisionSkill requirements: All skill requirements can be

at varying degrees of difficulty with execution being the main focus. Requirements include Partner/Group Stunts, Pyramids, Tosses, Jumps and Tumbling. Score sheets will reflect deductions and execution categories.

Judges/Officials Cheer: 4 Total: 3 Panel Judges; 1 Difficulty, Penalty, & Execution OfficialPlus a Tally Checker: To double check tabulations from the penalty judge.

NAIA Cheer DivisionScoring

Teams will be scored by all three panel judges. Those three scores will be added together (raw score) and then

deductions will be taken from that raw score. Teams will be ranked from highest score to lowest with the highest

score being named the winner.

The score sheet categories for Tumbling, Partner Stunts, Pyramids, Basket Tosses and Jumps should be evaluated using the NAIA Cheer Rubric (see next page).

Teams should score in the high end of a point category when they have not only the skills represented in their routine for that point level, but also a majority of the team performing the skills. The following slides will break down each category of the rubric

NAIA Cheer DivisionPartner/Group Stunts Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 9.5Points

9.5 – 10Points

Beginning Stunt Skills• Shoulder

Stands, Extensions,

Chair sits, etc.

Intermediate Stunt Skills -

Minimal incorporation

of braces inverting/twist

ing/unique mounts,

dismounts, and

transitions • Liberties, Liberty

variations, Awesomes,

etc.

Intermediate Stunt Skills

Strong incorporation

of braced inverting/twist

ing/unique mounts,

dismounts, and

transitions • Liberties, Liberty

variations, Awesomes,

etc.

Advanced Stunt Skills

Strong incorporation of braced and

unbraced inverting/twist

ing mounts and

dismounts • Toss 1-arm

and/or 1-leg stunts,

inverting and twisting

stunts, etc.

Elite Stunt Skills

Unbraced inverting/twisting mounts to an extended

level that also include

inverting/twisting dismounts

• Full-up extension full down pop-off,

Rewind target, etc.

Elite Stunt Skills

Unassisted inverting or a 1.5 -2 twisting

mounts (release toss for coed) to an extended immediate

body position or 1-arm stunt

followed immediately by a flipping

or double twisting

dismount. • Double-up immediate lib/stretch,

Rewind awesome

Double down, etc.

NAIA Cheer DivisionPyramids Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 10Points

Beginning Pyramid Skills •

2 High non-transitional pyramids

Intermediate Pyramid Skills – 2

high pyramids incorporating

minimal to no 2 ½ high

transitions and includes minimal incorporation of

braced inverting/twisting/unique mounts, and dismounts

Advanced Pyramid Skills – 2

high pyramids incorporating

multiple 2 ½ high transitions and

multiple incorporation of

braced inverting/twisting/unique mounts, and dismounts

Elite Pyramid Skills – A pyramid

sequence that contains single

or multiple structures

incorporating One top person at the 2 ½ high level of multiple 2 ½ high people

with minimal twisting/inverting

/unique mounting and

dismounting by the top person(s)

Elite Pyramid Skills – A pyramid

sequence that contains multiple

structures and multiple

transitions. Each structure in the

sequence should contain 2 or

more top people at the 2 ½ high level. The top people should use numerous

twisting/ inverting/unique in both mounting and dismounting each structure.

NAIA Cheer DivisionTosses Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 10Points

Non Flipping Tosses • Ex. Toe touch, tuck arch,

bottle rocket, etc.

Non Flipping Tosses – with

single twisting skills • Ex. Toss

full twist, kick full twist, etc.

Non Flipping Tosses – with

double twisting skills •Ex. Toss

double twist, kick double twist, etc.

Flipping Tosses • Back tucks,

layouts, x-outs, Arabian ½, etc.

Flipping and twisting tosses • Ex. Layout with

full twist, Arabian 1 ½, layout

double full, x-out full twist, etc

NAIA Cheer DivisionJumps Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 10Points

Below Level Jumps

Level Jumps and Jump

Combinations with average

execution by the majority of the

team.

Level Jumps and Jump

Combinations with average

execution by the majority of the

team. Must include at least

one back handspring

combination by majority of the

team.

Level Jumps and Jump

Combinations with above

average execution by the majority of the

team. Must include at least

one jump to immediate back tuck combination

by majority of the team.

Level Jumps and Jump

Combinations with above

average execution by the majority of the

team. Must include at least

one jump to immediate back handspring back tuck (or layout

position) combination by majority of the

team.

NAIA Cheer DivisionStanding Tumbling Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 10Points

Beginning Tumbling Skills.   Forward rolls and walkovers

Intermediate Tumbling Skills.  Standing BHS, etc.

Advanced Tumbling Skills.   

Standing BHS series, standing Back tucks, & BHS tucks

Elite Tumbling Skills.   Standing back tucks & BHS back tuckswith some type of jump included, standing fulls, standing BHS fulls,

Elite Tumbling Skills team must meet the 8‐9 requirements  plus at least one  synchronized standing skill whereby the majority ofthe team starts and finishes together.  The synchronized skill must include a minimum back tuck flip backhandspring back tuck.

NAIA Cheer DivisionRunning Tumbling Category Breakdown

5 – 6Points

6 – 7Points

7 – 8Points

8 – 9Points

9 – 10Points

Beginning Tumbling Skills

round offs, cartwheels, etc

Intermediate Tumbling Skills

roundoff BHS, etc.

Advanced Tumbling Skills

roundoff BHS series,roundoff BHS toback  tucks, layouts, etc.

Elite Tumbling Skills

numerous running passes consisting of layouts or alternate passes and  full twists

Elite Tumbling Skills

team must meet the 8‐9 requirements plus atleast one synchronized running skill wherebythe majority of theteam starts andfinishes together. The synchronizedskill must include a minimum back tuckflip.

NAIA Cheer Division

Remaining Categories Breakdown

Choreography Degree of Difficulty

Overall Effect Perfection of Routine

MusicTransitions

FlowPace

CreativityVisuals, etc.

Level and pace of performance

according to rubrics

ShowmanshipProjection

Performance

Clean RoutineMistakes not deductions

NAIA Cheer DivisionDeductions & Penalties

All cheer teams must follow the safety rules and guidelines of AACCA for their competitive routines.

Deductions will be taken from each teams raw score.

NAIA Cheer Division

NAIA Cheer Division

NAIA Cheer DivisionSample Score Sheets and Deductions SheetsNAIA Webinar Home Page

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