Ohio State Fair CHEERLEADING & DANCE COMPETITION August 9, 2015

Ohio State Fair CHEERLEADING & DANCE COMPETITION August 9, 2015 Promoted & Managed by Visit www.americheer.com or www.ameridanceinc.com for more information! Entry Deadline: July 17, 2015 Event Date/Time: August 9, 2015 Buckeye Sports Center Event Notes: Classifications o High school squads will be divided into small, medium and/or large varsity squads, based upon number of team members (please refer to divisions and rules for additional explanation). o Squads will receive email confirmation upon receipt of registration (please provide email address). o Only NON-MOUNT cheerleading teams, individuals and duos and dance teams, soloist and ensembles are permitted to compete in the Ohio State Fair competition due to facility ceiling height. Competition Time Schedule o Competition times are subject to change. 9:00am Doors open and Registration begins 9:30am Warm-up begins 10:00am Competition begins Cheer team divisions will begin first. Dance Divisions dance team divisions will follow. NOTE: All times are subject to change and are based upon the number of participants and number of teams registered for the event. Eligibility o All squad members must be currently enrolled in an accredited Ohio school to be eligible to compete for the 2015-2016 academic year. o Contestants may be male or female. o 2015 graduates are not eligible to compete. o The Ohio State Fair Cheer and Dance competition is limited to NON-MOUNT divisions only due to the ceiling height of the facility. Page 1 of 7

Entry Date and Fee o A non-refundable entry fee of $15.00 per cheerleader/dancer is required to enter this competition (includes a ticket for the fair). o 2014 Grand Champion squad(s) will receive free entry for the 2015 event, but must complete and send in the entry form and liability release forms (located below). o Dishonored checks are considered non-payment. All entries covered by a dishonored check will be ineligible to participate. o Entries must be postmarked (with cancellation from the post office) no later than July 17, 2015. Entries may be mailed or faxed to the AmeriCheer, Inc. Corporate Office. Mail to: AmeriCheer, Inc. 20 Collegeview Road, Westerville, OH 43081 Fax to: AmeriCheer: 614-898-0404 o o Changes cannot be made to the entry form after the deadline date. Make checks payable to AmeriCheer. Credit Cards will also be accepted for payment. Please call 614-898-1000 or 800-966-JUMP with questions or regarding payment. Fair Admissions and Parking o Cheerleaders, dancers, and up to two coach/advisors will receive a free admission ticket for the day of the competition. Admission tickets and final instructions will be mailed to the squad contact listed on the registration form, prior to the Fair. Coach(s)/Advisor(s) name must appear on the entry form to receive a free admission ticket. o A maximum of one parking permit will be provided to each squad for transporting of equipment. If a parking permit is required, you must state so on the entry form. All other vehicles will be charged the daily parking charge, payable at the gate, and must go to general parking. For this reason, we strongly suggest you give cheerleaders their own admission ticket so anyone attending or arriving with family (and sent to a different parking area) will have their ticket. If members are traveling separately, a meeting place should be arranged to ensure the entire squad reaches the performance area. General Rules o A performance order and warm-up schedule will be included in a final confirmation emailed to the coaches prior to the event. Ohio State Fair Admissions tickets will be mailed to each team s coach/contact. Please note that all warm-up and performance times are subject to change. Coaches will receive the most up-to-date performance order at the registration table when checking in the morning of the event. o Squads must check in at the registration table upon arrival and no later than one half hour prior to team s scheduled warm-up time. o Members must appear in school uniforms. o Members will enter the performance area facing the judges, no exceptions. Liability o Each member (including alternate members) of your team is required to sign the Waiver of Liability form before competing. A copy of this form is included with the entry form (please copy for all members/alternates to complete; minors parents/guardians must sign the form). Divisions and rules o The competition will follow the 2014-2015 AmeriCheer and AmeriDance performance guidelines and divisions. o Safety rules will follow the 2014-2015 National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Spirit Safety rules. NOTE: Only NON MOUNT cheer teams will be allowed to enter into the Ohio State Fair competition due to the facility s ceiling height. Page 2 of 7

School Cheer Teams Division Notes: AmeriCheer reserves the right to disqualify any team that does not adhere to the division guidelines. Divisions not already separated by size, will be separated into Large (21+ members) and Small (5-20 members) based upon enrollment. For divisions that are broken into Small and Large, in the event that there are not at least 2 teams in each division, these divisions may be combined. AmeriCheer also reserves the right to add divisions based on enrollment. Team Division Routine Guidelines for: School Non Mount-Traditional Total Routine Time: Maximum 2:30 (no minimum time) Total Music Time: Maximum 1:30 Routines should contain all elements reflected on the official School/Rec Non Mount Traditional Score Sheet Routines must contain a cheer/sideline crowd leading portion. prepare to begin the routine. Participants may punch/wave but may not jump, kick, tumble or do any type of organized chant, movement, etc. Timing will begin with the first organized movement or note of music whichever comes first. Approved props are poms, signs, (including flags with letters/words, etc.) and megaphones. School Non Mount-Show Cheer Total Routine Time: Maximum 2:30 (no minimum time) Routines should contain all elements reflected on the official School Non Mount-Show Cheer Score Sheet. Routines must be performed entirely to all music. prepare to begin the routine. Participants may punch/wave but may not jump, kick, tumble or do any type of organized chant, movement, etc. Timing will begin with the first organized movement or note of music whichever comes first. Approved props are poms, signs, (including flags with letters/words, etc.) and megaphones. School Non Tumbling-Traditional Total Routine Time: Maximum 2:30 (no minimum time) Total Music Time: Maximum 1:30 Routines should contain all elements reflected on the official School /Rec Non Tumbling-Traditional Routines must contain a cheer/sideline crowd leading portion. prepare to begin the routine. Participants may punch/wave but may not jump, kick, tumble or do any type of organized chant, movement, etc. Timing will begin with the first organized movement or note of music whichever comes first. Approved props are poms, signs, (including flags with letters/words, etc.) and megaphones. Tumbling is not permitted (this includes forward/backward rolls). Page 3 of 7

School Spirit Leader-Traditional Total Routine Time: Maximum 2:30 (no minimum time) Total Music Time: Maximum 1:30 Routines should contain all elements reflected on the official School/Rec Spirit Leader-Traditional Routines must contain a cheer/sideline crowd leading portion. prepare to begin the routine. Participants may punch/wave but may not jump, kick, tumble or do any type of organized chant, movement, etc. Timing will begin with the first organized movement or note of music, whichever comes first. Approved props are poms, signs, (including flags with letters/words, etc.) and megaphones. Tumbling/stunting/pyramids/tosses are not permitted. Game Day Ready Routine Guidelines for: Game Day Ready CHEER Total Routine Time: Maximum 1:30 (no minimum time) Cheer should contain all elements reflected on the official Game Day Ready CHEER Traditional sideline cheer uniforms are required. No costumes and/or specialty/themed uniforms are permitted. Cheer should be a crowd leading style cheer (with emphasis on crowd involvement) and should contain call-backs that would be used for getting the crowd involved in a game time-out situation. No music and/or drum cadences are permitted. Props permitted are poms, signs (including flags with words/letters) and megaphones. These items are highly encouraged to better enhance the cheer s overall effect. No gimmicks (i.e. confetti, balls, candy, etc.) are permitted nor are permitted to be thrown into the audience at any time before, during or after the performance. prepare to begin the cheer. Timing will begin with the first word and/ororganized movement. Game Day Ready SIDELINE Total Routine Time: Maximum 1:30 (no minimum time) Sideline should contain all elements reflected on the official Game Day Ready SIDELINE Traditional sideline cheer uniforms are required. No costumes and/or specialty/themed uniforms are permitted. Sideline should be game applicable with an emphasis on crowd involvement. Recorded drum cadences/rhythms are permitted as part of the sideline/chant. Props permitted are poms, signs (including flags with words/letters) and megaphones. No gimmicks (i.e. confetti, balls, candy, etc.) are permitted nor are permitted to be thrown into the audience at any time before, during or after the performance. prepare to begin the sideline. Timing will begin with the first word and/or or organized movement. Page 4 of 7

Game Day Ready FIGHT SONG Total Routine Time: Maximum 1:30 (no minimum time) Routine should contain all elements reflected on the official Game Day Ready FIGHT SONG Traditional sideline cheer uniforms are required. No costumes and/or specialty uniforms are permitted. Routine should be performed to your school s recorded fight song. No mounting/building/tumbling permitted. Approved props permitted in the routine are poms only. Poms must be physically used if placed within the performance boundaries. No gimmicks (i.e. confetti, balls, candy, etc.) are permitted nor are permitted to be thrown into the audience at any time before, during or after the performance. prepare to begin the routine. Timing will begin with the first organized movement and/or note of music, whichever comes first. Game Day Ready POM DANCE Total Routine Time: Maximum 1:30 (no minimum time) Routine should contain all elements reflected on the official Game Day Ready POM DANCE Traditional sideline cheer uniforms are required. No costumes and/or specialty uniforms are permitted. Routine should be performed entirely to pom routine music that could be used at games. No mounting/building/tumbling permitted. Dance skills (i.e. kicks, leaps, turns, etc.) are permitted. Poms must be used at least 75% of the routine. No gimmicks (i.e. confetti, balls, candy, etc.) are permitted nor are permitted to be thrown into the audience at any time before, during or after the performance. prepare to begin the routine. Timing will begin with the first organized movement and/or note of music, whichever comes first. Dance Teams AmeriDance Dance Team - Routine Guidelines TEAM total routine time: Max. 2:30 PROP category Max. 4:00 performance time (2:00 additional minutes for set-up and tear down) SOLO & ENSEMBLE (2-4 members) total routine time: Max. 2:30. Ensemble may have 2-4 participants Timing of each routine will begin with the first choreographed movement or beat of music and end with the last choreographed movement or beat of music, whichever comes last. Backdrops are permitted in all categories. The backdrop may not be manipulated during the routine. The backdrop is not permitted to be taller than 8 high. It must fit through a gymnasium door without the center pole being removed. Wearable and handheld items are permitted in any category and can be removed and discarded from the body. Standing props are only allowed in the prop category (exception: may be used in all ensemble and solo categories; examples: chairs, stools, ladders, boxes, stairs, etc.) 2-Point Penalty Dance Team General Guidelines Performance Guidelines: All teams must be supervised during all official functions by a qualified coach/instructor. Coaches/instructors must require proficiency before skill progression. Coaches must consider the dancer and team skill level with regard to proper performance placement. Page 5 of 7

All participants agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship throughout the event. The director/ coach of each team is responsible for seeing that team members, coaches, parents, and any other person affiliated with the team conduct themselves accordingly. All programs should have, and review, an emergency action plan in the event of an injury. Each team will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30) to demonstrate their style and expertise. Timing will begin with the first choreographed movement or note of the music. Timing will end with the last choreographed movement or note of the music, whichever happens last. a. Event producers may allow a maximum of 5 second leeway/grace period. b. If a company adds the production/show category, the time limit may be increased to 5 minutes. Substitutions may be made in the event of any injury or other serious circumstance. Substitutes must also abide by the age and gender restrictions in all divisions in which they compete. Footwear is recommended but not required. Wearing socks and/or footed tights only is prohibited. (Exception: socks are allowed on a carpeted performance surface) Jewelry as a part of a costume is allowed. CHOREOGRAPHY AND COSTUMING Suggestive, offensive, or vulgar choreography, costuming, and/or music are inappropriate for family audiences and therefore lack audience appeal. Routine choreography should be appropriate and entertaining for all audience members. Vulgar or suggestive material is defined as any movement or choreography implying something improper or indecent, appearing offensive or sexual in content, and/or relaying lewd or profane gestures or implications. Inappropriate choreography, costuming and/or music may also affect the judges overall impression and/or score of the routine. All choreography should be age appropriate. All costuming and makeup should be age appropriate and acceptable for family viewing. PROPS Wearable and handheld items are allowed in all categories and can be removed and discarded from the body. Standing props are only allowed in the prop and production category. Any item that bears the weight of the participant is considered a standing prop. (Examples: chairs, stools, benches, ladders, boxes, stairs, etc. Please refer to the Dance Safety Guidelines/Penalties starting with Dance General Rules, as provided by USASF. Winners and Awards All participants receive a gift! Winners Placements in each division will be announced after the competition, after the scores are tabulated. All trophies for their respective divisions will be presented at this time. Squad score sheets will be available following the awards ceremony. Scoring and placement of squads will be posted online at www.ohioexpocenter.com following the competition, as well as www.americheer.com and www.ameridanceinc.com. Sponsored awards may be presented the day of the competition (or could be mailed at a later time). Additional Awards o Grand Champion Grand Champion Award, FREE entry 2016 Fair o Grand Champions send one coach for FREE* to the 2016 AmeriCheer and AmeriDance InterNational Championships and receive a Grand Champion Trophy. *Please call AmeriCheer or AmeriDance at 800-966-JUMP for details. A gift certificate will be awarded to the winning squad(s) in the varsity division(s). This award is provided through generosity of Victory Wear, Westerville, Ohio. Please visit www.victorywearonline.com or call 800-966-JUMP for more information. Bided Discounts can be earned for the 2016 InterNational Championships by scoring a 70% or above of the total possible points. Show Your Spirit Award This year at the Ohio State Fair Cheer and Dance competition, we will be awarding our Show Your Spirit Award. This award goes to the team with the most creative, enthusiastic, supportive fans! Page 6 of 7

o What You ll Win A Show Your Spirit Banner Organization/Team name listed on the AmeriCheer and AmeriDance websites Automatic qualification for the 2016 Spirited Program of the Year. (for more details visit www.americheer.com or call 800-966-JUMP) More prize packages and info to come Ohio State Fair Cheerleading and Dance Sponsor/Producer AmeriCheer and AmeriDance are proud to produce and sponsor the 2013 Ohio State Fair Cheerleading and Dance competition. Call 800-966-JUMP for information on camps, uniforms, clothing, competitions, special events, and more! Performance Area The competition will be held at the Buckeye Sports Center, which is on the eastside of the grounds. The performance area will be a 42' x 42' cheer foam flat mat system for all teams. Each team will be given a five-minute warm-up time on the mat prior to the start of the competition. Page 7 of 7

2015 Ohio State Fair Game Day Ready Competition Divisions Game Day Ready Divisions Female/Male # on Team Grade JH/MS Non-Mount Cheer Female/Male 5-35 Members 8 & Below JH/MS Non-Mount Sideline Female/Male 5-35 Members 8 & Below JH/MS Pom Dance Female/Male 5-35 Members 8 & Below Freshman/JV Non-Mount Cheer Female/Male 5-35 Members 11 & Below Freshman/JV Non-Mount Sideline Female/Male 5-35 Members 11 & Below Freshman/JV Pom Dance Female/Male 5-35 Members 11 & Below Freshman/JV Fight Song Female/Male 5-35 Members 11 & Below Varsity Mount Cheer Female/Male 5-35 Members 12 & Below Varsity Non-Mount Cheer Female/Male 5-35 Members 12 & Below Varsity Non-Mount Sideline Female/Male 5-35 Members 12 & Below Varsity Pom Dance Female/Male 5-35 Members 12 & Below Varsity Fight Song Female/Male 5-35 Members 12 & Below