JAMZ 2015-16 YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE DIVISIONS CATEGORIES ROUTINE GUIDELINES championships@jamz. com
YOUTH DIVISIONS For the 2015/2016 Season JAMZ has established competition divisions for two types of youth organizations: WHICH TYPE OF YOUTH ORGANIZATION DOES YOUR TEAM FALL UNDER? YOUTH DIVISIONS Divisions identified as Youth will provide competition for the majority of youth teams who have competed with JAMZ in past years; however the wording has been clarified to exclude teams who have left an organized program to form competition only teams, or join a program (ie. city parks and rec. league) which has youth sports teams, but no formal cheerleading program as defined below. TO COMPETE IN A YOUTH DIVISION, TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: Team is affiliated with a governing youth football organization (i.e. Pop Warner Football, P.A.L., American Youth Football, Junior All American, etc). The youth league must include cheerleading bylaws and cheerleading safety rules as part of their charter. Team supports, is affiliated with, and is required to cheer for all scheduled football games in their organization during the regular season. A public game schedule must be available for review. Teams affiliated with any sport other than football (ex baseball, basketball, soccer etc) must compete in the Non Affiliated NA Youth Divisions Youth teams must send a copy of their official league roster, along with the team registration form for regional championships or nationals qualification (video/score sheet). This roster will remain in effect through the remainder of the competition season, with no additions allowed. All teams should have proper, unaltered, and clear copies of each child s Birth Certificate or Government Issued ID for ALL athletes that attend a JAMZ Competition. Failure to provide such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. Youth divisions are determined by the age of oldest team member. The participant s age on July 31, 2015 shall be the participant s age through JAMZ Nationals 2016. -OR - NON AFFILIATED YOUTH DIVISIONS (NA) Divisions identified as Non Affiliated Youth will provide competition for youth cheer teams who are not associated with a youth football organization (as defined below), or with an all star cheer gym or dance studio but wish to compete. TO COMPETE IN A NON AFFILIATED YOUTH DIVISION, TEAMS MUST FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: Team is not affiliated with an all star cheer gym, dance studio or a youth football organization that includes cheer safety rules or cheer bylaws as part of its franchise. NA teams discovered competing in an All Star division at any competition (JAMZ or Non JAMZ events) during a competition season will be ruled as INELIGIBLE to compete in the JAMZ NA Divisions and will be placed in a corresponding All Star Division or be DISQUALIFIED. It is not mandatory that this team supports, affiliates with, or cheers for an organized sport (i.e. football, basketball, etc). Non affiliated youth teams are required to create and send a copy of their team roster, along with the team registration form for regional championships or nationals qualification (video/score sheet). This roster will remain in effect through the remainder of the competition season, with no additions allowed. All teams should have proper, unaltered, and clear copies of each child s Birth Certificate or Government Issued ID for ALL athletes that attend a JAMZ Competition. Failure to provide such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. Non affiliated youth divisions are determined by the age of oldest team member. The participant s age on July 31, 2015 shall be the participant s age through JAMZ Nationals 2016. To identify a non affiliated youth division on the registration form and competition schedule, non affiliated divisions will be referred to as Youth NA (Non Affiliated) followed by the Level (ie: NA - Division 12 Level 2). The example indicates: A non affiliated team, age 12 and under, selecting level 2 skills. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISIONS GENERAL DIVISION GUIDELINES WHAT ARE LIMITED DIVISIONS? Limited divisions have been created to provide a place to compete for Youth Leagues whose rules do not allow every skill that is judged in the show cheer and performance cheer divisions. The limited divisions will not be given zeros if a skill is not performed. No single leg stunts may be performed in the limited divisions at any level. Basket tosses are not allowed. WHAT ARE NON MOUNT DIVISIONS? Non mount divisions allow up to Level 3 tumbling skills ONLY; stunts, dismounts, cradles, release moves, pyramids and tosses are prohibited. WHAT ARE NON TUMBLING DIVISIONS? Non Tumbling divisions allow up to Level 3 stunting/building skills ONLY (stunts, dismounts, cradles, release moves, inversions, pyramids, and tosses). All TUMBLING including running and standing tumbling is PROHIBITED. Stunting skills that clearly incorporate tumbling skills (handstand transition to below level prep level load in position) are ALLOWED. Tumbling skills that involve stunting only after the tumbling is completed or is secondary to the stunting (i.e. round backhandspring that rebounds into a cradle) would be ILLEGAL and Prohibited. WHAT ARE LEVELS? Levels have been created to provide safety and convenience for teams who may perform at a different skill level than others. Coaches must consider tumbling and stunting abilities when choosing the level in which their team will perform. Please refer to the JAMZ Youth Cheer Routine Guidelines, Scoring Guidelines, General Safety Rules, Penalty Info and Scoring Grids (found in the JAMZ Championship Guide) for routine requirements and specifications on skills that are allowed and restricted in each level. SAFETY & PROGRESSION Please be aware that all JAMZ divisions and levels are created to allow for proper progression in the learning of cheerleading skills, stunts, tosses, tumbling, and jumps. Nevertheless, some divisions allow skills that may allow for advanced progression over the previous level or division. Coaches and advisors should only have cheerleaders perform skills that they have mastered through proper progression and practice even though a division or level may allow a skill that is more advanced than the capabilities of the cheerleader or group. WHEN DO DIVISIONS COMBINE? JAMZ reserves the right to combine/delete divisions based on participation. For example, teams in upper level youth divisions: If there is a lack of participation in the selected division your team may be required to omit the element(s) allowed under the upper level youth divisions and move to a lower level. Example: The extended single leg stunt allowed in youth level 3 division must be omitted to abide by youth level 1 rules. Coaches will be notified of this type of division change PRIOR to competition. WHEN DO DIVISIONS SPLIT? SMALL/LARGE DIVISIONS: At JAMZ Nationals, teams will compete based on age and skill level (as listed in the divisions). After registration is complete, divisions may be split into small and large based on equal distribution of small and large teams. If there are TEN (10) OR MORE TEAMS IN A DIVISION, JAMZ reserves the right to split into small and large. Small and large numbers will be determined by the natural break. Natural break is calculated by finding the average participant number of the teams in that division and splitting accordingly. A minimum of 3 teams must clearly fall within the large and small break. After splitting into small/large, if more than 12 teams fall to one side, the division will be split into small, medium and large by dividing the division into thirds (while keeping like participant numbers in the same division). The natural break is calculated using the original number of participants registered. If any changes are made after the draft schedule those changes will not be considered during placement in small and large divisions on the final schedule. N/A DIVISIONS: At any JAMZ event, if there is only one team registered in a non affiliated (N/A) division at the time the draft schedule is created, that division will be combined with another N/A division within a two year age gap (providing other divisions are present; i.e. if N/A Division 8 Show Cheer Level 1 only has 1 team registered, they will be moved to N/A Division 10 Show Cheer Level 1). If there is not another age division within a two year age gap, there will be no change. DIVISIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. JAMZ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMBINE/DELETE DIVISIONS BASED ON PARTICIPATION. All divisions listed are not available at every regional championship. For the divisions offered for each event, please see the championship entry form (NOTE: there are separate registration packets for Six Flags events). For teams in upper level youth divisions: If there is a lack of participation in the selected division your team may be required to omit the element(s) allowed under the upper level youth divisions and move to a lower level. Example: the extended single leg stunt allowed in youth Level 3 division must be omitted to abide by youth level 1 rules. Coaches will be notified of this type of division change PRIOR to competition. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH CATEGORIES CATEGORY is defined by the type of performance you select. SHOW : Performance using music, cheer or any combination thereof. Music is required in this category. Music may be positioned for a segment, half, or the entire performance. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score; lack of tumbling in a show cheer routine will result in a 0 in any tumbling category. Stunts are required; omission of stunts in a Show Cheer routine will result in a 0. Poms, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on show cheer routine requirements. SHOW NON MOUNT: Performance using music, cheer or any combination thereof. Music is required in this category. Music may be positioned for a segment, half, or the entire performance. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score; lack of tumbling in a show cheer routine will result in a 0 in any tumbling category. Stunts are prohibited. Poms, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Non mount division tumbling is limited to Level 3 tumbling skills. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on show cheer non mount routine requirements. SHOW NON TUMBLING: Performance using music, cheer or any combination thereof. Music is required in this category. Music may be positioned for a segment, half, or the entire performance. Gymnastic skills are PROHIBITED. Stunts are required; omission of stunts in a Show Cheer routine will result in a 0. Stunts are limited to Level 3 skills. Poms, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on show cheer routine requirements. SHOW LIMITED: Performance using music, cheer or any combination thereof. Music is required in this category. Music may be positioned for a segment, half, or the entire performance. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score. Stunts are required; omission of stunts in a show cheer routine will negatively affect score. Basket tosses are not allowed in show cheer limited divisions. Single leg stunts are limited in the limited divisions. Poms, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on show cheer limited routine requirements. PERFORMANCE : Cheer(s) of your choice. Audience participation, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Music or amplified sound is not allowed in this category. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score; lack of tumbling in a performance cheer routine will result in a 0 in any tumbling category. Stunts are required; omission of stunts in a performance cheer routine will result in a 0. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on performance cheer routine requirements. PERFORMANCE NON MOUNT: Cheer(s) of your choice. Audience participation, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Music or amplified sound is not allowed in this category. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score; lack of tumbling in a performance cheer routine will result in a 0 in any tumbling category. Stunts, dismounts and cradles are prohibited. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Non mount division tumbling is limited to Level 3 tumbling skills. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on performance cheer non mount routine requirements. PERFORMANCE LIMITED: Cheer(s) of your choice. Audience participation, megaphones, signs, and banners are encouraged. Music or amplified sound is not allowed in this category. Gymnastic skills are required as a component of the total team score. Stunts are required; omission of stunts in a performance cheer routine will negatively affect score. Basket tosses are not allowed in the performance cheer limited divisions. Single leg stunts are LIMITED in the limited divisions. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Formal entrances are prohibited (i.e. crowd response chants or cheers, choreographed marching, team huddles, or stunts). Spirited entrances are allowed; teams should take no longer than 10 seconds to set for their routine. Please refer to the remainder of the youth cheer section for complete details on performance cheer routine requirements. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 6 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISIONS SHOW DIVISION is defined by the age of the oldest participant. LEVEL is defined by the degree of skill difficulty you select. YOUTH SHOW : TIME LIMIT 2:30 DIVISIONS AGE AS OF JULY 31, 2015 PARTICIPANTS Division 8 Level 1: 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 8 Level 2: 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Non Mount: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 1: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 1 Limited: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 2: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 3: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Non Tumbling: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Level 1: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Level 2: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Level 3: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Non Mount: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Level 1: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Level 2: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Level 3: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13 Level 1: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13 Level 2: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13 Level 3: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Non Mount: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Non Tumbling: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 1: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 2: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 3: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 4: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 8 Level 1 : 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 10 Level 1 : 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 10 Level 2 : 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 12 Level 1: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 12 Level 2: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 13 Level 2: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 13 Level 3: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 15 Level 2: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 15 Level 3: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 17 Level 4: 17 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) *NA - Non Affiliated Youth Divisions Please refer to the Youth Cheer Routine Guidelines for further information or contact us at (800) 920-4272. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISIONS PERFORMANCE & SPECIAL PERFORMANCES DIVISION is defined by the age of the oldest participant. LEVEL is defined by the degree of skill difficulty you select. YOUTH PERFORMANCE : TIME LIMIT 2:00 DIVISIONS AGE AS OF JULY 31, 2015 PARTICIPANTS Division 8 Non Mount: 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 8 Level 2: 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Non Mount: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 1 Limited: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10 Level 2: 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Level 1: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11 Level 2: 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Non Mount: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Level 2: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12 Level 3: 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13 Level 2: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13 Level 3: 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Non Mount: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 2: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15 Level 3: 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) YOUTH SPECIAL PERFORMANCES: TIME LIMIT 1:30 DIVISIONS AGE PARTICIPANTS Mascot Performance Youngest Cheerleaders Unlimited Special Needs/Challengers Performance No Age Requirement Unlimited SPECIAL PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES No ranking or judging in this category. May perform any category/style offered, following time restrictions, category guidelines/rules and league rules. Stunts and pyramids are allowed but must NOT exceed the skills permitted in Level 1. Teams must follow their league rules. Tear away uniforms or removal of clothing is prohibited. Mascot division is not offered at JAMZ Nationals. Mascots who perform in a non mascot division will be considered a member of the team. They do count as part of the team s numerical count. Please refer to the Youth Cheer Routine Guidelines for further information or contact us at (800) 920-4272. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 8 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH ROUTINE GUIDELINES THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FORMAT OF YOUR ROUTINE. AGE CHECKING/ELIGIBILITY Registered Coaches of teams are allowed to question/lodge a complaint regarding the age and/or eligibility of another team s athlete. The request to verify or check the age or eligibility of another team must occur before the close of the competition day. No verification of the athlete will occur between the POINT OF NO RETURN and the team s performance on the competition floor. However, a team may be questioned regarding their athletes eligibility either before the POINT OF NO RETURN and after a team s performance. Only registered coaches of a team may lodge a complaint against another team regarding age/eligibility. The team lodging the complaint is REQUIRED to present proof of their team s age and eligibility at the time they are lodging a complaint against another team. Only JAMZ event officials may question or investigate a team s eligibility. All teams should have proper unaltered and clear copies of the Birth Certificates or government issued IDs of ALL athletes that are on the roster for ALL JAMZ COMPETITIONS. Failure to have such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. All complaints regarding age or eligibility should be lodged with the event director before the close of the competition day. RULES VIOLATIONS/POINT DEDUCTIONS Registered Coaches of a team may request a review of another teams level rules or general safety rules violations only within 24 hours of the completion of the competition day. A rival team MAY NOT request the review of another team s routine for execution point deductions because those deductions are based on the human eye and are not reviewable for adding additional deductions not viewed live. Registered coaches may request a review of their own team s execution point deductions/rules violations up to 24 hours after the completion of the competition. However, please be aware any review of your point deductions/rules violations may result in your team being awarded additional violations that were not viewed during the live performance if the video review discovers deductions not originally placed on your team. If the awards ceremony has already been completed and a team is given additional Level Rules Violations or General Safety Rules Violations based upon a lodged complaint within 24 hours of the close of the competition day then placements of teams may be altered ONLY if it effects the Top 3 teams in a division. Nevertheless, JAMZ will not strip any team of a national championship or top 3 placement once it has been awarded on stage but instead reward dual placements or co National Champions to teams in that division. These rules violations/point deductions review complaints must be lodged within 24 hours of the completion on the competition day. All complaints should be lodged with the JAMZ Event Director or by emailing rules@jamz.com within 24 hours of the close of a competition day. LEVEL RULES VIOLATIONS EXPLANATION: ALL COACHES AND ADVISORS should be aware that level rules and general safety violations are judged live by the rules judge on site during a live competition. It is IMPOSSIBLE for a rules judge to 100% detect all violations during a competition day just as it is impossible for officials/referees to detect all violations in other sports. Just because a team has attended a prior JAMZ event, competition, Nationals, regional, or camp and that team s skills or routine received no deductions does not mean that the routine is LEGAL or violation free for that Division or Level. The ONLY way a team can guarantee that their routine is Level Rules or Safety Rules Violation Free is to email their skills or routines to rules@ycada.org and ask for a rules determination. JAMZ WILL NOT withdraw any rules violations because a rules judge at a prior competition, regional, championship, camp or event failed to detect or discover the violation at the previous event. It is the responsibility of ALL Coaches to ensure their routines are free of Level and Safety Rules Violations and the only way to accomplish such is by emailing their skills and/or routine to rules@ycada.org for a rules determination REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION: Teams with illegal participant(s) will be disqualified. Reasons for disqualification include but are not limited to inappropriate choreography/music (at the discretion of a JAMZ official), over age participant(s), more or less participants than allowed on the floor, participant(s) not listed on official league roster, and/or illegal participant(s) listed on official league roster. If a team is found with unregistered participants, the team will be disqualified. Teams registering and performing in incorrect divisions will be disqualified. Due to unforeseen circumstances, JAMZ reserves the right to disqualify any team. DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, JAMZ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY ANY TEAM. Youth cheer teams are required to follow their league rules and guidelines in addition to the JAMZ Youth Cheer Levels Grid and Youth Cheer General Safety Rules. The JAMZ Youth Cheer Levels Grid and Youth Cheer General Safety Rules are of a general nature and are not intended to cover all circumstances. JAMZ American Spirit Connection Inc. makes no warranties either expressed or implied that the Youth Cheer Levels Grid and Youth Cheer General Safety Rules will prevent injuries to individual participants. These guidelines have been developed from JAMZ youth programs across the country and the Youth Cheer & Dance Alliance - YCADA. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 9 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YCADA CATEGORIES CATEGORY is defined by the type of performance you select. POM: This performance must consist of three dance styles (Pom, Jazz, Cheer Funk) with the majority of emphasis on Pom. See the scoring section for details on point distribution. Poms are recommended for the majority of the routine but required for half. POM: The most important characteristic of this style is synchronization and visual effect. Cheer style motions should emphasize uniformity, motion sharpness, technique and placement. A visually effective routine should include ground work, level changes, group work, and roll offs. JAZZ TECHNIQUE: This style includes kicks, leaps/leap combinations, pirouettes, turning sequences, body placement, control, etc. When incorporating these skills, it is very important to make sure proper technique is maintained (for example, leaps demonstrating height, extended legs, correct arm placement, and pointed toes. Pirouettes demonstrating proper foot placement, arm placement, spotting and performed on relevé). Improper execution of technique may negatively affect your score. FUNK: This dance style emphasizes on uniformity, rhythm, body isolation, creativity, and execution yet, still incorporates the basic fundamentals of cheer such as sharp precise movements and visual effect. This style of dance does NOT include pop and lock, street or excessive vibrating. Incorporating these skills may negatively affect your score. HIP HOP: A routine focusing on street style movements with an emphasis on variety, execution, creativity, body isolations/control, rhythm, uniformity and musical interpretation. Choreography should demonstrate various styles and elements of hip hop while incorporating athletic tricks, footwork, jumps, stalls, etc. When incorporating these skills it is very important to make sure proper technique is maintained. Improper execution of any trick, stall, etc. may negatively affect your score. FUNK: This dance style with an emphasizes uniformity, rhythm, body isolation, creativity, and execution, yet still incorporates the basic fundamentals of cheer such as sharp precise movements and visual effect. STREET: This urban style of dance is often improvisational or raw and social in nature. This style of dance can also encourage interaction between performers such as battling and/or partner work. POP AND LOCK: This dance style emphasizes body isolation that implements popping (muscle flexes) and locking (short pauses or freezes within movement). BREAK : This is a very athletic style of skills, combining forms and maneuvers from activities such as gymnastics*, hip hop, and martial arts. *See Tumbling, Gymnastics and Tricks under Dance General Rules for details. KRUMPING: This is an evolving new style of dance that involves fast, expressive, and highly energetic movements. JAZZ: This performance demonstrates various elements of jazz technique and performance skills. This routine should focus on a mixture of difficulty, creativity, and technique. Technical elements should be included in this category (see below): JAZZ TECHNIQUE: Kicks, leaps/leap combinations, pirouettes, turning sequences, body placement, control, etc. When incorporating these skills it is very important to make sure proper technique is maintained (for example, leaps demonstrated with height, extended legs, correct arm placement, and pointed toes. Pirouettes demonstrating proper foot placement, arm placement, spotting and performed on relevé.) Improper execution of technique may negatively affect your score. THEME : The focus of this performance is audience entertainment. With no spoken word, this routine tells the story of the selected theme or era. Through the selection of music, costuming and dance the audience is drawn into your theme. This routine should encompass and express one predominate theme and/or era. Theme dance incorporates novelty movements into elegant, athletic theatre capable of captivating audiences. This performance should additionally focus on athletic skills such as jumps, combo jumps, tricks, trick variations and/or illusions. Technical skills (i.e. pirouettes/ leaps) will be credited toward degree of difficulty. Dance style must emphasize uniformity, rhythm, creativity, and execution. Costuming is required to reflect the routine s theme/era. Props are highly recommended, however not mandatory. See Youth General Dance Routine Guidelines for prop specifics. Please refer to the remainder of the YCADA Dance section for complete details on dance routine requirements and scoring. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISIONS DIVISION is defined by the age of the oldest participant. DIVISIONS CATEGORIES TIME LIMIT 2:30 AGE AS OF JULY 31, 2015 PARTICIPANTS Division 8: POM, HIP HOP 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 10: POM, HIP HOP 10 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 11: POM, HIP HOP 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 12: POM, HIP HOP 12 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 13: POM, HIP HOP 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Division 15: POM, HIP HOP 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 8: POM, HIP HOP 8 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 11: POM, HIP HOP 11 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 13: POM, HIP HOP 13 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) NA* - Division 15: POM, HIP HOP 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) Youth Open: JAZZ, THEME 15 years and younger (5 36 members, male and/or female) *NA - Non Affiliated Youth Divisions Please refer to the Youth Dance General Rules for further information or contact us at (800) 920-4272. WHICH TYPE OF YOUTH ORGANIZATION DOES YOUR TEAM FALL UNDER? YOUTH DIVISIONS Divisions identified as Youth will provide competition for the majority of youth teams who have competed with JAMZ in past years; however the wording has been clarified to exclude teams who have left an organized program to form competition only teams, or join a program (ie. City Parks and Rec. League) which has youth sports teams, but no formal cheerleading program as defined below. TO COMPETE IN A YOUTH DIVISION, TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: Team is affiliated with a governing youth football organization (i.e. Pop Warner Football, P.A.L., American Youth Football, Junior All American, etc). The youth League must include cheerleading bylaws and cheerleading safety rules as part of their charter. Team supports, is affiliated with, and is required to cheer for all scheduled football games in their organization during the regular season. A public game schedule must be available for review. Teams affiliated with any sport other than football (ex baseball, basketball, soccer etc) must compete in the Non Affiliated NA Youth Divisions Youth teams must send a copy of their official league roster, along with the team registration form for regional championships or nationals qualification (Video/Score Sheet). This roster will remain in effect through the remainder of the competition season, with no additions allowed. All teams should have proper, unaltered, and clear copies of each child s Birth Certificate or Government Issued ID for ALL athletes that attend a JAMZ Competition. Failure to provide such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. Youth divisions are determined by the age of oldest team member. The participant s age on July 31, 2015 shall be the participant s age through JAMZ Nationals 2016. -OR - NON AFFILIATED YOUTH DIVISIONS (NA) Divisions identified as Non Affiliated Youth will provide competition for youth cheer teams who are not associated with a youth football organization (as defined below), or with an all star cheer gym or dance studio but wish to compete. TO COMPETE IN A NON AFFILIATED YOUTH DIVISION, TEAMS MUST FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: Team is not affiliated with an all star cheer gym, dance studio or a youth football organization that includes Cheer Safety Rules or Cheer Bylaws as part of its franchise. NA teams discovered competing in an All Star division at any competition (JAMZ or Non JAMZ events) during a competition season will be ruled as INELIGIBLE to compete in the JAMZ NA Divisions and will be placed in a corresponding All Star Division or be DISQUALIFIED. It is not mandatory that this Team supports, affiliates with, or cheers for an organized sport (i.e. football, basketball, etc). Non Affiliated Youth teams are required to create and send a copy of their Team Roster, along with the team registration form for Regional Championships or Nationals Qualification (Video/Score sheet). This roster will remain in effect through the remainder of the competition season, with no additions allowed. All teams should have proper, unaltered, and clear copies of each child s Birth Certificate or Government Issued ID for ALL athletes that attend a JAMZ Competition. Failure to provide such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. Non Affiliated Youth divisions are determined by the age of oldest team member. The participant s age on July 31, 2015 shall be the participant s age through JAMZ Nationals 2016. To identify a Non Affiliated Youth Division on the registration form and competition schedule, non affiliated divisions will be referred to as Youth NA (Non Affiliated) followed by the Level (ie: NA - Division 12 Level 2). The example indicates: A Non Affiliated team, age 12 and under, selecting Level 2 Skills. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 11 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISION GUIDELINES WHEN DO DIVISIONS COMBINE OR SPLIT? SMALL/LARGE DIVISIONS: At JAMZ Nationals, teams will compete based on age and skill level (as listed in the divisions). After registration is complete, divisions may be split into small and large based on equal distribution of small and large teams. If there are TEN (10) OR MORE TEAMS IN A DIVISION, JAMZ reserves the right to split into small and large. Small and large numbers will be determined by the natural break. Natural break is calculated by finding the average participant number of the teams in that division and splitting accordingly. A minimum of 3 teams must clearly fall within the large and small break. After splitting into small/large, if more than 12 teams fall to one side, the division will be split into small, medium and large by dividing the division into thirds (while keeping like participant numbers in the same division). The Natural break is calculated using the original number of participants registered. If any changes are made after the draft schedule those changes will not be considered during placement in small and large divisions on the final schedule. N/A DIVISIONS: At any JAMZ event, if there is only one team registered in a non affiliated (N/A) division at the time the draft schedule is created, that division will be combined with another N/A division within a two year age gap (providing other divisions are present; i.e. if N/A Division 8 Show Cheer Level 1 only has 1 team registered, they will be moved to N/A Division 10 Show Cheer Level 1). If there is not another age division within a two year age gap, there will be no change. DIVISIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. JAMZ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMBINE/DELETE DIVISIONS BASED ON PARTICIPATION. All divisions listed are not available at every regional championship. For the divisions offered for each event, please see the championship entry form (NOTE: there are separate registration packets for Six Flags events). Coaches will be notified of this type of division change PRIOR to competition. SAFETY & PROGRESSION JAMZ dance divisions and categories allow for progression within skills, choreography and tricks. Coaches and advisors should only have dancers perform skills that they have mastered through proper progression and practice even though a division and/or category may allow a skill that is more advanced than the capabilities of an individual or group. AGE CHECKING/ELIGIBILITY Registered Coaches of teams are allowed to question/lodge a complaint regarding the age and/or eligibility of another team s athlete. The request to verify or check the age or eligibility of another team must occur before the close of the competition day. No verification of the athlete will occur between the POINT OF NO RETURN and the team s performance on the competition floor. However, a team may be questioned regarding their athletes eligibility either before the POINT OF NO RETURN and after a team s performance. Only registered coaches of a team may lodge a complaint against another team regarding age/ eligibility. The team lodging the complaint is REQUIRED to present proof of their team s age and eligibility at the time they are lodging a complaint against another team. Only JAMZ event officials may question or investigate a team s eligibility. All teams should have proper unaltered and clear copies of the Birth Certificates or government issued IDs of ALL athletes that are on the roster for ALL JAMZ COMPETITIONS. Failure to have such identification and/or proof of age could lead to a team s disqualification. All complaints regarding age or eligibility should be lodged with the event director before the close of the competition day. RULES VIOLATIONS/POINT DEDUCTIONS Registered coaches of a team may request a review of another teams level rules or general safety rules violations only within 24 hours of the completion of the competition day. A rival team MAY NOT request the review of another team s routine for execution point deductions because those deductions are based on the human eye and are not reviewable for adding additional deductions not viewed live. Registered coaches may request a review of their own team s execution point deductions/rules violations up to 24 hours after the completion of the competition. However, please be aware any review of your point deductions/ rules violations may result in your team being awarded additional violations that were not viewed during the live performance if the video review discovers deductions not originally placed on your team. If the awards ceremony has already been completed and a team is given additional level rules violations or general safety rules violations based upon a lodged complaint within 24 hours of the close of the competition day then placements of teams may be altered ONLY if it effects the Top 3 teams in a division. Nevertheless, JAMZ will not strip any team of a national championship or top 3 placement once it has been awarded on stage but instead reward dual placements or co national champions to teams in that division. These rules violations/ point deductions review complaints must be lodged within 24 hours of the completion on the competition day. All complaints should be lodged with the JAMZ Event Director or by emailing rules@jamz.com within 24 hours of the close of a competition day. RULES VIOLATIONS EXPLANATION: ALL COACHES AND ADVISORS should be aware that dance rules and general safety violations are judged live by the rules judge on site during a live competition. It is IMPOSSIBLE for a rules judge to 100% detect all violations during a competition day just as it is impossible for officials/referees to detect all violations in other sports. Just because a team has attended a prior JAMZ event, competition, Nationals, regional, or camp and that team s skills or routine received no deductions does not mean that the routine is LEGAL or violation free for that Division or Style. The ONLY way a team can guarantee that their routine is Dance Rules or Safety Rules Violation Free is to email their skills or routines to rules@ycada.org and ask for a rules determination. JAMZ WILL NOT withdraw any rules violations because a rules judge at a prior competition, regional, championship, camp or event failed to detect or discover the violation at the previous event. It is the responsibility of ALL Coaches to ensure their routines are free of Dance and Safety Rules Violations and the only way to accomplish such is by emailing their skills and/or routine to rules@ycada.org for a rules determination. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com
YOUTH DIVISION GUIDELINES REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION: Teams with illegal participant(s) will be disqualified. Reasons for disqualification include but are not limited to inappropriate choreography/ music (at the discretion of a JAMZ official), severe demonstrations of unsportsmanlike conduct, overage participant(s), more or less participants than allowed on the floor, participant(s) not listed on official league roster, and/or illegal participant(s) listed on official league roster. If a team is found with unregistered participants, the team will be disqualified. Teams registering and performing in incorrect divisions will be disqualified. Due to unforeseen circumstances, JAMZ reserves the right to disqualify any team. DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, JAMZ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY ANY TEAM. Youth dance teams are required to follow their league rules and guidelines in addition to the JAMZ Youth Dance General Rules. These rules and guidelines have been developed from JAMZ youth programs across the country and the Youth Cheer & Dance Alliance - YCADA. The JAMZ Youth Dance General Rules are of a general nature and are not intended to cover all circumstances. JAMZ American Spirit Connection Inc. makes no warranties either expressed or implied that the JAMZ Youth Dance General Rules will prevent injuries to individual participants. (800) 920-4272 MAKE YOUR MARK! 13 CHAMPIONSHIPS @ JAMZ. COM www.jamz.com