General Competition Information
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to compete at Champion Cheer Central events, all teams, regardless of division and classification, MUST follow the published Division and Rule Guidelines for Champion Cheer Central, USASF (All-Star Cheer teams), and The One Finals (Recreation and School/College Cheer teams, Dance teams). All-Star organizations must submit their official Event Roster via USASF.
- All school team members must be enrolled and currently attending the school they are representing. The competitor has to be in the grade for the appropriate division for the current school year. **Proof must be available upon request.
- If a school district allows for athletes below 9th grade to compete at the "high school level" the athlete is eligible to be considered a School team, all must apply:
- The team must be governed by their associated school’s administration.
- The team’s main purpose is to cheer for their associated school’s sports clubs (i.e. football, basketball, soccer, etc.)
Note: All teams should compete in the appropriate divisions.
All Star Teams must provide a roster printed from the USASF Member website for each competition. You may be asked to provide proof of age; please be prepared to provide proof for any CCC staff or competing teams. Proper forms of identification are birth certificates, current school identification cards, or a driver's license. If you are in violation of this rule, your team will be disqualified with no refund.
For the purpose of competing at a CCC Event, Recreational Cheerleading is defined below.
Your team must be affiliated with, report to, and be governed by an organization such as the following:
- YMCA
- Boys and Girls Club
- City/County Parks and Recreation Program
- Community Youth Organization
- Pop Warner Association
- Any other community-run program not associated with a school or all-star program.
Your team must be able to prove their relationship and affiliation with their said organization if requested. Their organization’s President or higher seated authority must submit a formal letter stating their endorsement.
A Recreational/Organizational team may do or have the following:
- Can hold tryouts.
- Can have their own practice facility or gym.
- Can practice and/or attend tumbling classes at gymnastics or All Star facilities.
- Can combine team members from other teams within the organization.
All teams competing as a Rec Organization must meet these criteria to compete in these divisions.
- 50% of the team must have cheered for a sport (i.e. football or basketball) with that association or organization within that cheer season. Proof must be provided upon request.
- A team may not have more than 25% all-star athletes on its teams. Proof must be provided upon request.
- Team members must fulfill the age requirement for the division that they are entering on/before December 31, 2021. Proof must be provided upon request.
- Participants may not represent more than one recreational program in a season. Proof must be provided upon request.
If a team does not meet all of the above criteria they may be disqualified.
CCC allows cheer and dance participants to perform for more than one team and/or additional performances within the same organization. Each participant must pay the FULL registration fee for the first performance. The second performance will be a discounted price. If a member of one organization crosses over to a new organization, for example; a School team to an All-Star team, then that participant must pay the FULL registration fee for BOTH organizations. Both organizations must contact Champion Cheer Central with what participant is a crossover from one organization to the other. Registration must indicate all crossover information and payment. CCC will do its best to allow time in between performances. However, we cannot guarantee separations between practice times, award ceremonies, or if a coach is responsible for multiple teams.
Please make sure you have noted your crossovers on your Registration Form and Team Roster. This information is crucial in planning the best day for your teams.
SPECIALTY DIVISIONS
Performers can only participate in a total of 3 specialty divisions due to scheduling and costuming issues.
If a dispute regarding a participant’s age arises, the coach/director must provide an official document that legally verifies and certifies the correct name and age of the team member in question. Acceptable forms of certified identification include, but are not limited to a birth certificate, passport, school-issued photo identification card, USASF ID card, or a valid, state-issued driver’s license. If the dispute is found to be accurate, the team may be disqualified from the competition. Champion Cheer Central will use the official USASF Event Roster for Date of Birth verification for All Star teams.
Age Challenges
Coaches are required to bring documentation of ages (see above “Proof of Age” for list) for every participant. Coaches ONLY of a competing team within the same division may challenge the eligibility of another team to a Champion Cheer Central Registration Representative. The challenging coach must provide actual proof of ineligibility. If sufficient evidence warrants at that point, Champion Cheer Central will require the challenged team to provide proof of eligibility. CCC will use the official USASF Event Roster for Date of Birth verification for All-Star teams.
COACHES INFORMATION
Registration is open one hour before each event. Teams need to register before their scheduled practice. All information about the event is given to the coaches at that time. No formal meeting will be held so that teams may arrive at the competition at their convenience. Coaches are encouraged to ask any CCC Representative questions that you may have.
All Star Teams must provide a Team Roster printed from the USASF website and turned in at registration. Teams will not be able to compete without this form. Rec (recreational) and non-USASF member teams may use the alternative CCC verification roster found here >> Roster Verification - Rec & Non-USASF
PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES
All schedules are emailed the Monday before the event by 12:00 PM EST. All times are subject to change due to cancellations and additions beyond our control. Champion Cheer Central, Inc. may update the performance order several times throughout the week. The schedule will be final the Wednesday before the event. There will be no additional paper copies of the schedule at the event. QR Codes are available at the venue with the performance schedule. If you have a scheduling conflict, CCC will do its best to accommodate all teams as best as we can. Our priority is athlete crossovers, not coach crossovers. Please plan accordingly. Please let us know immediately by calling 888-912-4337. Practice times are strictly enforced. Teams that do not arrive at the scheduled time will forfeit their practice.
Although we make every effort to follow the performance order as closely as possible, the nature of any live event requires flexibility. We encourage you to stay informed of any possible changes in performance times on the day of the event. CCC cannot be held responsible for parents and spectators who miss performances or award ceremonies. All times are approximate, subject to change & can fluctuate by as much as one hour in each direction.
PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE AREAS
CCC Regionals have a 54 x 42 ft. Spring Floor. Dance teams will perform on the Spring Floor at all Regional Events. Practice areas vary from host venues but, for most events, we provide a 54 x 42 ft Foam Cheer Floor. Only athletes and coaches are permitted to enter the practice/warm-up area at the event. All coaches/personnel must have a Green Light Background Check to have access to the practice area. These coaches/personnel will receive a wristband in order to be recognized as clear to enter the area.
PRACTICE TIMES
Practice times are strictly enforced. Any team that misses their practice time will forfeit their practice. Due to the high volume of crossovers, CCC will do its best to accommodate teams.
COMPETITION WAIVERS
Each participant must have a completed waiver in order to participate in any CCC Event. Any person who does not have a completed waiver prior to their practice time will be unable to perform. Waivers are available on our website under each competition along with the registration form and Code of Ethics. Once a waiver has been completed by a participant, no other waiver is necessary for any other CCC Event during that competitive season. Waivers can be turned in at registration.
AWARDS
Super Regional Events
- Banners for the Top 5 in each division
- Grand Champions receive banners & medals
- Level Champions receive banners & medals
- Specialty Awards
- Battle of Lake Erie Bids at Battle Events
- Bids to The One Finals at designated Qualifiers
Championships
- Banners for the Top 5 in each division
- Division Champions receive t-shirts
- Grand Champions receive banners & medals
- Level Champions receive banners & medals
- Specialty Awards
- Battle of Lake Erie Bids at Battle Events
- Bids to The One Finals at designated Qualifiers
CHEER GEAR
Champion Cheer Central has Competition Specific t-shirts available as well as other Cheer Clothing such as Shorts, Sweatshirts, Sweatpants, and T-shirts. Competition shirts are $25. All other cheer clothing ranges from $8 to $35.
PHOTOS
RT Event Photo takes candid photos during most CCC Events. Pictures can be purchased at the event or online. Visit https://photos.rtevent.com/login
We also have a team photographer that will take team photos prior to warm up. These are available to purchase at the venue.
MUSIC
Champion Cheer Central (CCC) adheres to all copyright laws and guidelines related to the music industry. All sound recordings used in your team’s music shall only be used with written license from the owners(s) of the sound recordings. To review these guidelines and obtain the most up-to-date music information, visit https://www.usacheer.org/music. You will be required to sign a Competition Music Copyright Compliance Form before your event. Please bring TWO high-quality copies of your music. CDs or MP3/Ipods. *Be sure that if you are using a phone, iPod, or tablet that the notifications are turned off. One representative of your group/individual will be responsible for playing the music during the competition. This person must stay at the sound area throughout the entire routine. In the event that the routine is delayed due to the responsible party's error, the timing of your routine will continue and penalties will be in place.
SCORE SHEETS
All score sheets/results are emailed to coaches at the event. Scorecheck is available throughout the day. All questions and/or score protests MUST be made 15 minutes after you have received your score sheets. Score sheets are timestamped. This helps our award ceremonies stay on time.
We are proud to be a United Scoring Partner.
SPOTTERS
Champion Cheer Central believes in providing a SAFE environment for all participants and because of this, we allow teams to provide their own spotters from their organization. Competition routines and individual cheerleading skills continue to become more dynamic each year. Routines are consistently featuring partner stunts, basket tosses, and pyramids, and tumbling sequences that are nearly impossible to spot effectively without the safety spotters having intimate knowledge of each routine prior to a competition. Teams are encouraged to have routine spotters, but it is the discretion of the organization’s coaches, directors, etc. whether or not they feel it is necessary.
These spotters must adhere to the following rules:
Teams may provide up to four additional spotters for their routine. Spotters should be trained to know proper spotting and catching practices.
Safety Spotters must;
-
- be at least 16 years old or affiliated with the organization.
- be attired differently than the team performing (team warm-ups preferred).
- follow all Rules and Guidelines. Rules governing jewelry, clothing, and all other safety concerns must be adhered to by the spotters or will result in a safety violation.
Spotters are there for safety purposes only and are not to verbally coach the team during the performance and must not engage in inappropriate behavior before, during, or after the performance, and must exit immediately following the routine. (This includes counting the routine) Any occurrence will be considered a general rule violation and will result in a deduction.
Spotters may only be used for stunts, pyramids, and basket tosses.
Spotters are there to catch any falls/mistakes and are not to assist or save stunts.
Spotters that do not adhere to the above rules will receive a 1.5 point deduction per infraction for the routine.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Champion Cheer Central, Inc. asks that the following code of conduct be adhered to during all CCC Events, to ensure a positive experience for all teams and individuals involved.
- Any questions or concerns that affect a team's performance must be expressed by one coach/advisor to the appropriate CCC official.
- Any unruly behavior by the coaches/advisors, participants, or spectators will result in removal from the event with NO REFUNDS.
- There will be no contact with the judges from any participant, coach/advisor or spectator during the competition. The judge's decisions are final concerning deductions, specific rulings, and final placement.
- We expect all teams, coaches/advisors, and spectators to represent themselves and their community in a positive way.
- Each team must complete a Code of Ethics form in order to compete at any CCC event. This form is available on our website under the registration form and waivers.
CELL PHONES
Out of respect for the athletes and other spectators, please turn off all cell phones upon entering the performance areas.
CROWD CONTROL, FAN AND HANDICAPPED SEATING
In the interest of public safety, CCC asks you to take a moment to identify your nearest exit, in event of an emergency, at the event. Keep in mind, the nearest exit may not be in your direct view. For safety reasons, please keep all aisles clear and open. We appreciate your cooperation. At most CCC events, there will be a FAN VIEWING AREA for friends and families of the team currently performing on the competition floor. Once your team’s performance is finished, please exit quickly to make room for the next set of fans. All other seating is general admission and seat saving is not permitted. For assistance with handicapped or elderly seating please see one of our Champion Cheer Central, Inc. staff members.
SCORE PROTEST POLICY
Any coach who feels that a mistake has been made may file a protest with the CCC competition coordinator. This can be done within 15 minutes of receiving your score sheet. ONE COACH per team may speak to the CCC Event coordinator. At this time, the scores will be reviewed and discussed, and adjustments may be made. Only legitimate protests will be reviewed. All protests must be placed before the award ceremony. No changes will be made after that time and all judges' decisions will be final. Any coach who approaches a judge will not be given the opportunity for their complaint to be heard. Deduction videos and score sheets are emailed after your performance.
For information about payment, cancellation, inclement weather, and other registration policies view our Registration Agreement and Policies page.