CREDENTIALING QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

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1 CREDENTIALING QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Q: What is credentialing? It is a way to prove that you have the skill knowledge required to teach skills. This is a way of legitimizing the qualifications of a coach to be teaching at a certain level. Credentialing is for any teams that follow USASF/IASF level rules. Many insurance companies are now requiring that coaches be credentialed up to the level they are coaching, or as a minimum, up to level 2. It is different than all other programs because there is no course. You will not sit for hours learning (or not learning) stuff. It simply assesses the knowledge that you already have. Once all of your testing is complete, you will then be issued a certificate saying what level you are credentialed to for each aspect (stunts, tumbling and tosses). The Level 6 credentialing program has not been finalized and approved yet. The USASF breaks down cheerleading skills into three categories: 1. Stunts 2. Tosses 3. Tumbling You are tested on each category separately. For example, you can be credentialed to level 2 in tumbling, level 4 in tosses and level 5 in stunts. Throughout your life, you ve probably encountered coaches that are great leaders but lack the skill knowledge. Or coaches that have great skill knowledge but who are lousy leaders. Credentialing does not ensure that you are a safe coach. It does not replace the importance of First Aid and CPR training and does not diminish the importance of other courses or clinics that help train coaches to be good all around leaders, be organized, use safe training practices, etc. It simply assesses whether or not you have the knowledge to teach the required skills at any given level. Credentialing will provide parents with the assurance that the coach knows how to correctly teach the skills. As the true nature of competitive cheerleading has become more publicly acknowledged, so have the risks and numbers of injuries associated with the sport. The proper usage of safety equipment and the ability, knowledge and skill level of the coach to teach stunting and tumbling skills properly has been shown to significantly impact the number of injuries. This is something that has become very important for parents in the past 5-10 years since cheerleading gyms/clubs have been springing up all over North America. Especially since many people tend to embellish their resumes. Scenario: Your daughter wants to join a level 5 senior team. Would you rather your daughter be coached by a 35 year old who s been coaching cheerleading for 18 years or by a 20 year old who s been coaching for 4 years? Answer: You need more information. What if the 35 year old has only coached low-skill-level game cheering teams, or even non-mount teams? And let s say the 20 year old has cheered on elite teams for 10 years and coached a level 4 team for the past two years. Chances are the 20 year old knows much more about the skills they will be teaching. Being credentialed gives parents that missing piece of the puzzle that experience doesn t always convey. It s also becoming a major requirement for staffing for not only all star programs, but also summer camp instructors, judges, school and university coaches, choreographers, trainers, cheerleading companies, etc. Question: What if I have the knowledge and experience to be credentialed to high levels of stunts and tosses but low level in tumbling? Answer: That s fine. Each aspect is treated separately. You can be credentialed to level 3 stunts, level 4 tosses and level 2 tumbling. You do not have to be credentialed to the same level in all areas. USASF Membership: In order to be credentialed, you must be a USASF member. If your gym is a member, then all coaches at the gym are automatically members and you do not have to pay any extra. For info on the benefits of membership please go to For your convenience, if you are not already a member, you can pay your membership fee during your hands on test. NEW! Membership Costs for International Teams: Gym Membership: $40 for a 3 year and this allows all STAFF of that Gym to become members and piggy-back off of the Gym's membership. Individual Membership: $10 for three year membership which is mandatory in order to get credentialed. If person is a member of a GYM that is purchasing a Gym Wide Membership, they do not pay for the Individual Membership. *Check with your gym whether or not they are CURRENT USASF/IASF Members. If the gym is a gym member, it will not cost you anything extra to get credentialed. If your gym is NOT a member, you will have to pay either the individual coach membership fee ($10) or the gym fee ($40). See below for more information. You cannot be credentialed without registering as a member.

2 Components of the Credentialing Process There are three parts to the credentialing process. You must complete all three parts to be credentialed. 1. Written Test: On the USASF website ( you will need to log on with your username and password (top of the website in red on the main page). If you or your gym is already a member with the USASF, you/your gym will have a login name a password that you can use. If not, you can use this temporary login info to access the forms: Username: leadingedge Password: conference Once you are logged on, click on Credentialing Information. Now you can download the PDF tests. This will take you to the same credentialing page as the regular website except now you can open all of the tests. There is a separate test for each level for each aspect (stunts, tosses, tumbling). Use the answer sheet located on the same page to record all of your answers. Please note that the test is new as of May You will also need a copy of the current rules located under the safety tab on the USASF website ( Read the material and do the test using the answer sheets, DO NOT just circle the answers on the test. Bring the completed answer sheet with you to your testing time slot. Do not rush through this part. We have seen some people stress about the Hands On test, pass that part, but fail the written test. You must pass both parts to be credentialed. 2. Experience: In order to get credentialed past level 2, you need to fill out a Practical Field Experience Validation Form (PFE). This form states that you have enough experience coaching at the level below the level you are asking to be credentialed to. The form has to be signed by the gym/club owner. If you are the gym/club owner, you can sign for yourself. Or, if you were a school coach, you or your athletic director can sign for you. The point is that somebody has to vouch for you to say that you have coached for enough hours at the level below the level you want to be credentialed to. This is the practical part of credentialing. Common Question: I don t get it.if I want to be credentialed to level 5, why do I only need PFE s saying that I have experience at level 4 and below shouldn t I need a form saying that I am experienced at coaching level 5? Answer: If insurance companies are requiring you to be credentialed to level 5 before you can coach at level 5 how would you ever get credentialed to level 5 if you need experience coaching at that level to do so? The assumption is that if you have true experience for the required amount of hours at level 4 and below, and you know the rules and skills required for level 5, then you are ready for level 5. To be credentialed in Levels 1 and 2: No PFE is required. These are the entry levels for all areas (stunts, tumbling, tosses). You gotta start somewhere! To be credentialed to Levels 3 and 4: Your gym owner will need to sign off on your Level 3 and 4 PFE for you to get credentialed for these levels. You will need a separate signature for each category for which you are requesting credentials: Stunts, Tosses or Tumbling. The Level 3 and 4 PFE states that you have a minimum of 100 hours coaching experience at level 1 and or 2 in the category for which you are requesting credentialing. That means 100 hours of coaching level 1 and/or 2 stunts, 100 separate hours coaching level 1 and/or 2 tosses and 100 separate hours coaching level 1 and/or 2 tumbling. To be credentialed to Level 5: Your gym owner will need to sign off on your Level 5 PFE for you to get credentialed for this level. You will need a separate signature for each category for which you are requesting credentials: Stunts, Tosses or Tumbling. The Level 5 PFE states that you have a minimum of 150 hours coaching experience at level 3 and/or 4 in EACH of the categories for which you are requesting credentialing. This is an additional 150 coaching hours to the 100 hours at 1 and or 2, not just an additional 50 hours. So the total number of coaching hours is 250 for each area (stunts, tumbling and/or tosses) with a minimum of 150 hours spent at levels 3 and 4 for each area. The Practical Field Experience Validation Form can be found here: Question: I cheered on a level 5 team for 6 years and I coached a level 2 team for 3 years. Next year I want to coach the level 5 senior team because I know how to do all of the level 5 skills and the current coach is leaving the program. Based on the info above, does this mean that I cannot get credentialed to level 5 because I do not have any experience coaching at level 3 or 4? Answer: Yes, that is what it means. You will need a couple years at level 3 and 4 first, depending on how often your team practices to acquire enough hours to qualify. Coaches/Club Owners: Get your team members involved with coaching lower level teams within your club. This will help give them the experience that they will need to get credentialed to higher levels later on when they are ready to take on higher level teams and help you build your program. Not only will it help them learn the skills and give them experience, it ll also teach them how YOU want your programs to run (and give you some extra helping hands). If you want strong coaches that you can trust, who teach the way you want things taught and instill the values that you want to instill: BREED THEM!

3 3. Hands On (verbal) Test: The Hands-On portion of credentialing is proving you understand how to teach certain skills within each level. No, you will neither have to perform these skills nor will you be working with athletes during the testing. However, you will have to explain to an instructor how to perform each skill just as if you were coaching a team. The instructor will have a list of key points that you must cover in order to pass that skill and or level. You do not have to cover the key points word for word as listed on the instructors paper. The instructors job is to validate that you cover in your own words the key points of each skill in order to teach proper technique and ensure that you know what you are talking about in order to keep the athletes safe. You must score a 70% or higher in each area to become credentialed at that level and qualify to move on to the next level for that area. Your Hands On test will consist of you meeting one-on-one with an instructor. Your test will be approximately 10 minutes for each full level (three tests) that you complete (i.e. if you are doing all of level 1 and 2 it will take about 20 minutes. If you are going all the way through to level 5 it will take about 50 minutes). You will have to explain the job of the base, top and back spotter for each skill and you will be tested on primarily the most difficult skills allowed in each level for each area. So if you don t know how to teach a double full, you will not pass level 5 tumbling. If you do not know how to teach a kick double full basket toss, you will not pass level 5 tosses. If you know the job of the base(s) for all stunts but do not know the tops job, you will not pass. You must know how to teach all skills permitted within a level to pass that level. You will not know in advance which skills you will be tested on. Question: Will I be able to refer to notes during the Hands On test? Answer: No. You have to know it. Everyone wants to be credentialed to level 5. We understand that. If you have the experience (PFEs) to back it up and you do well on the written tests, then all you have to do is teach your instructor how to do the skills. If you are a little sketchy on the bases job in any given skill, learn it. If you don t know what the back spotter should be doing, learn it. If you don t know what the top does, learn it. If you do not know how to spot a certain tumbling skill, learn to. If you don t know what a tumbler does in a skill (i.e. layout, tuck, round off, full, etc), learn it. If you don t know any lead up drills to help train a tumbler for a certain skill, learn some. Don t just memorize them for the test to get a piece of paper use the information to make your teams and fellow coaches better! Take the information that you learn and make teaching notes for the rest of the coaches and then use the tools at your practices. That will solidify the information in your memory. There are study guide on the USASF website right beside the written test. Print them off and study them. In order to keep the integrity of the credentialing ideal, there are very few credentialing instructors, and each is entrusted with the job of assessing whether or not a coach is ready for each level. Since parents, coaches, the cheerleading industry (and the insurance industry especially) have accepted this program, the program must not be nullified by credentialing someone to a level that they are not ready for. It would undermine the whole concept of the program. For that reason, if you are not ready, you will not pass. Your skill knowledge alone will be the determinant. This is not meant to scare you, but rather to reassure you that when you register YOUR child for cheerleading and the coach is credentialed to level 3, that your child s coach knows how to teach level 3 skills. That s the whole point. Don t underestimate the importance of studying and actually preparing for this. Don t wait until the last minute. Those who fail are usually those who are over confident in their abilities and therefore fail to prepare. Remember that if you are asking to be credentialed to level 5 you will first be tested at level 1, 2, 3 and 4. If you fail one of the lower levels, you cannot move on. So don t just study level 5 skills. You pay for what you intend to complete, not what you actually pass. So if you pay for up to level 5 and only pass up to level 3, you still have to pay for all 5 levels. CREDENTIALING COSTS: $22 per singleton test. There are three tests per level (one for stunts, one for tosses and one for tumbling). Level 1 only has 2 tests because tosses are illegal for level 1. All of level 1-3 would be 8 tests. If you are going to do up to level 3, you might as well pay for up to level 5. It's cheaper and makes more sense (see below). $85 for all of levels 1-2. This is a special deal and applies to level 1 and 2 only, not any two levels and no additional levels. $110 for all of levels 1-3. $170 for up to level 5 in all areas. This is also a special rate. This allows you to opportunity to upgrade within one year for no additional cost. So you can go to level 4 at the conference and then upgrade to level 5 later (within one year) without paying any extra. For those of us that have EXPIRED, we simply need to get credentialed at the HIGHEST LEVEL for each category to be Re-Credentialed ($66 for most of us). You just need to do the Hands On portion and written test up to the level you want to re-credential; you do not need to pass in a new PFE. There are no taxes. All payments will be made during your credentialing time slot during the event and must be cash only. Do not bring a cheque made out to Laura Mar or CheerExpo. Your payment does not go to us, it goes to the USASF but if it crosses through our bank account I will have to pay taxes on it. Therefore it is CASH ONLY. Once all of the cash is collected we will purchase a US money order and send the payment in with all of the paperwork. Additional Questions & Answers: 1. Q: How old do I have to be? You have to be at least 16 years old to be credentialed. 2. Q: What will I receive once I am credentialed? Certificate form and an ID card. 3. Q: How long is credentialing good for? 3 years. Before your 3 years runs out, you will need to renew. You will repeat the Hands On portion only and the cost is $66 ($22 per test).

4 4. Q: When should I arrive for my credentialing time slot? A: You should arrive at for your test 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time to check in and review paperwork. Please make sure that you have all of the paperwork filled out. 5. Q: If I do not know how to teach a skill (or have questions about legality rules), can I ask during my testing time slot? A: No. You should already know the rules and how to teach the skills. 6. Q: Well, what if I am only requesting to be credentialed to level 3 and I want to ask how to teach a level 5 skill? A: Still the answer is no. Time slots are booked based on how long it takes to test you and collect your payment and paperwork. If we spend extra time teaching you skills we will get backed up. 7. Q: Can I ask questions about the written test during my Hands On test? A: No. For the same reason as above (i.e. time). Also, we are not permitted to help you with the written test. We do not correct the written test. That goes to the head office. Because rules change throughout the year, sometimes the written test goes through changes as well. We do not always keep abreast of all of the changes to the written test. If you have questions about the written test, you should contact the USASF/IASF office. 8. Q: How long will it take to get my certificate? A: Once all of the payments and paperwork are compiled, they will be sent to the USASF/IASF office to be corrected and they will issue the certificates. Generally it takes 6-8 weeks to receive certificates. 9. Q: What happens if I fail to show up during my testing time slot? A: You will miss your chance and you/your gym will still be billed. 10. Q: I m concerned that the credentialing tester s terminology may be different from mine. Is this going to be an issue during the Hands On test? A: No. We understand that one person s prep is another s double base, half, extension prep, etc. As long as you know how to teach it, it doesn t really matter what you call it. 11. Q: I m researching the explanation of skills online and the way they explain things is not the same as how we do it. For example: we grip our liberties differently then how they explain does this matter for the Hands On test? A: That depends. There are lots of ways to safely teach some skills. Liberties for example have a many different acceptable ways of gripping the foot. We know this. Explain it however you teach it. And yes there are many different ways to pull your arms for a twist cradle, etc. But for some skills there is a definite right way and wrong way of doing skills. For example: a basket toss grip will always be two people, each grabbing their own wrist (i.e. each grabbing their own left wrist or each grabbing their own right wrist), and then grabbing the free wrist of the person opposite them. Explain the way that makes the most sense and is safest in your mind. 12. Q: Although I have coached for years, I don t coach at a gym/club at the moment what do I write on the form? A: Just write the name of your team (if applicable) or write in coach at large, etc. and put your own contact info in there. 13. Q: Where does my registration money go? A: Unfortunately we do not get to keep it. The instructor gets paid $2 per level test and the rest goes to the USASF/IASF and expenses (paper, copies, mailing charges, cost of US money order, etc.). I m not sure that you are suppose to know what the instructor gets paid so let s keep that a secret between us). 14. Q: Why is it more expensive per test in Canada then it is in the US? A: Because our Canadian dollar is typically lower than the US dollar and there are extra costs of running the sessions in Canada than there are in the US. But our level bundles (i.e. $170 for up to level 5, etc) actually make it cheaper than being credentialed in the US (credentialing to level 5 in the US costs $210). 15. Q: Can I pick my time slot. A: No. Your time slot will be assigned to you based on the event schedule and the number of other coaches that have signed up for credentialing. CREDENTIALING STEPS: 1. BOOK A SESSION (info@cheerexpo.net) 2. Print off all forms that you will need (i.e. PFE, Written test answer sheets and Registration form). 3. Complete all of the paperwork. Give yourself at least a few hours to complete the written tests. Remember that your gym owner has to sign your EVF if you are credentialing past level Study 5. Arrive 15 minutes early for your hands on test session to pass in your completed paperwork and payment. Payments must be cash only. Receipts will be available. You will need to pass in: a. Completed written test b. PFE (if you are credentialing past level 2) c. Registration form that has your mailing address, etc. (found on the last page of this message). These sessions are being offered to help foster the integrity of the cheerleading programs in Canada. This has been sent to you because you are the contact person that we have on file for your group. Please pass this information on to all members from your gym who are being credentialed during the weekend. We are looking forward to seeing you all this year. Please let me know if you have any questions. SCROLL DOWN TO FIND REGISTRATION FORM. PLEASE COMPLETE IT AND BRING IT WITH YOU.

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