GAMEDAY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association is excited to offer State Championships in the Gameday Division beginning 2021-22 school year.
The goal of the Gameday Division is to offer a championship level competitive event which showcases only skills and routines which can be safely used in a gameday atmosphere, and promotes crowd involvement & response, while enhancing the genuine spirit of a sporting event.
The GAMEDAY CHAMPIONSHIP includes 3 Divisions in each Classification (1-5): TIMEOUT, FIGHT SONG, BAND CHANT (All 1 minute routines - Rules below)
State Championship Teams must perform in all 3 Divisions
School teams may perform in any/all divisions, but to be considered for a State Title, the team must perform in all 3.
State Championship Teams must place in the Top 5 in at least 2 Divisions to be considered for championship placement
Qualifying Team scores will be averaged. Squad size cannot change between divisions
General MCCA substitution guidelines for Performance divisions apply to Gameday divisions
Top 5 State Championship Teams will be awarded placement plaques at State Championships.
Top 3 State Championship teams will be awarded individual medals at State Championships. Top scoring State Championship teams in each classification will be awarded the title of State Champions – Gameday Division.
TIMEOUT DIVISION RULES
COMPETITION AREA
-
● Participants will enter from the side of the competition area. (Similar to a timeout at a basketball
game.)
-
● All permitted skills (stunts, pyramids, tumbling) must be performed in the performance area.
-
● The performance area will be 9 strips of cheer floor.
-
● Objects cannot be thrown outside the competition area.
-
● All props (i.e., poms, signs, flags, megaphones, etc.) need to be carried on and off the mat in a
manner similar to usage during a basketball time out.
PARTICIPANTS
-
● Maximum participants: there will be a maximum of 20 participants allowed (excluding mascots,
see below).
-
● Mascots may participate, but are not required. Mascots do not count towards the total number of
participants (e.g., if the maximum number of participants is 20, a team of 20 may still include a
mascot).
-
● Schools with multiple official mascots are allowed to use both (e.g., Truman and Trudy the Tiger).
Multiple mascots may participate subject to request and approval by the Competition Committee.
-
● Mascots must use the same props as cheerleaders and are not allowed to stunt.
-
● Mascots are only allowed to do forward rolls. They may not perform any other tumbling skills.
DIVISIONS
-
● There will be five divisions broken down by classes: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A & 5A.
-
● Teams may utilize members from all of their squads. There will be no restriction concerning team
composition.
-
● No more than one squad may compete per school.
● In the event that a school has a competition squad that is separate from their sideline squad and
both wish to compete, priority shall be given to the sideline squad for entry into the competition.
TIME LIMITATIONS
-
● Each team will perform cheers/chants not to exceed 1 minute similar to an actual basketball time
out.
-
● Time will start when the buzzer sounds after your team name is announced.
-
● The buzzer will sound again when 15 seconds are left, so teams know it’s time to finish their
performance and exit the floor.
-
● Teams need to be off the mat at the final buzzer. Teams with the majority of its members on the
mat at the final buzzer will receive a 15 point deduction.
-
● Teams may not set up props in advance.
-
● Any additional organized entrances, chants, etc. are considered part of the routine and as such
are timed as part of the performance.
ROUTINE AND JUDGING REQUIREMENTS
-
● The National Federation Spirit Rules and MCCA Rules must be followed.
-
● No music may be used during the performance.
-
● Performances must include both a cheer and chant.
-
● Performances should incorporate props effectively.
○ Poms and signs must be used. The use of megaphones and flags is optional, however their use is encouraged.
-
● There will be a 5 point deduction assessed for each prop left in the performance area.
-
● Judging will be based on the following criteria:
-
○ Effective entrance that immediately involves the crowd with a clean exit upon completion.
-
○ Potential for crowd response, practicality and effectiveness of the material, ease of
participation for crowd participation.
-
○ Correct motion technique and synchronization (where applicable).
-
○ Use of props to enhance crowd response.
-
○ Showmanship, genuine spirit, confident, eye contact, natural smiles, creativity.
-
○ Good volume, spirited, encouraging, natural sounding.
-
○ Effective formations, spacing between squad members and crowd-coverage, seamless
transitions.
-
○ Overall execution and effective use of time.
-
SPECIFIC SKILL RESTRICTIONS
-
● Basket and sponge tosses are not permitted.
-
● Maximum difficulty level for tumbling is limited to standing back handsprings.
-
● Running tumbling is allowed during the entrance only.
-
● Skills are limited to those allowed on gym floors by the National Federation Spirit Rules.
-
● Stunts and tumbling will not be scored separately or for difficulty. They will only be assessed in
terms of enhancing crowd involvement.
Band Chant Division Rules
COMPETITION AREA
-
● Participants will start on the competition mat area.
-
● All permitted skills ( jumps) must be performed in the performance
area.
-
● The performance area will be 9 strips of cheer floor.
-
● Objects cannot be thrown outside the competition area.
-
● Props (i.e., poms, signs, flags, megaphones, etc.) are allowed.
PARTICIPANTS
● Maximum participants: there will be a maximum of 20 participants allowed (excluding
mascots, see below). Mascots may participate, but are not required. Mascots do not count towards the total number of participants (e.g., if the maximum number of participants is 20, a team of 20 may still include a mascot).
○ Schools with multiple official mascots are allowed to use both (e.g., Truman and Trudy the Tiger). Multiple mascots may participate subject to request and approval by the Competition Committee.
-
● Mascots must use the same props as cheerleaders and are not allowed to stunt.
-
● Mascots are only allowed to do forward rolls. They may not perform any other tumbling skills.
DIVISIONS
-
There will be five divisions broken down by classes: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A & 5A.
-
● Teams may utilize members from all of their squads. There will be no restriction concerning team
composition.
-
● No more than one squad may compete per school.
-
● In the event that a school has a competition squad that is separate from their sideline squad and
both wish to compete, priority shall be given to the sideline squad for entry into the competition.
TIME LIMITATIONS
-
Each team will perform a band chant not to exceed 1 minute.
-
Time will start with the first synchronized motion or music note.
ROUTINE AND JUDGING REQUIREMENTS
● The National Federation Spirit Rules and MCCA Rules must be followed.
● Recorded music may be used during the performance. Live music is not permitted.
● Performances should incorporate props effectively.
○ Poms and signs may be used. Megaphones and flags are also encouraged.
● Judging will be based on the following criteria:
○ Performance is appropriate for a game day environment.
○ Level changes, ripples, creative movements and other visual effects.
○ Potential for crowd response, practicality and effectiveness of the material,
ease of participation for crowd participation. Correct motion technique and
synchronization.
○ Showmanship, genuine spirit, confident, eye contact, natural smiles, creativity.
○ Effective formations, spacing between squad members and crowd-coverage, seamless
transitions.
○ Overall execution and effective use of time.
SPECIFIC SKILL RESTRICTIONS
-
● Basket and sponge tosses are not permitted.
-
● Standing tumbling is not permitted.
-
● Running tumbling is not permitted.
-
● Stunting is not permitted.
Fight Song Division Rules
COMPETITION AREA
-
● Participants will start on the competition mat area.
-
● All permitted skills (stunts, standing tumbling and jumps) must be performed in the performance
area.
-
● The performance area will be 9 strips of cheer floor.
-
● Objects cannot be thrown outside the competition area.
-
● Props (i.e., poms, signs, flags, megaphones, etc.) are allowed.
PARTICIPANTS
● Maximum participants: there will be a maximum of 20 participants allowed (excluding
mascots, see below). *Mascots may participate, but are not required. Mascots do not count towards the total number of participants (e.g., if the maximum number of participants is 20, a team of 20 may still include a mascot).
○ Schools with multiple official mascots are allowed to use both (e.g., Truman and Trudy the Tiger). Multiple mascots may participate subject to request and approval by the Competition Committee.
-
● Mascots must use the same props as cheerleaders and are not allowed to stunt.
-
● Mascots are only allowed to do forward rolls. They may not perform any other tumbling skills.
DIVISIONS
-
There will be five divisions broken down by classes: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A & 5A.
-
Teams may utilize members from all of their squads. There will be no restriction concerning team composition. *No more than one squad may compete per school.
-
In the event that a school has a competition squad that is separate from their sideline squad and both wish to compete, priority shall be given to the sideline squad for entry into the competition.
TIME LIMITATIONS
-
Each team will perform a fight song not to exceed 1 minute.
-
Time will start with the first synchronized motion or music note.
ROUTINE AND JUDGING REQUIREMENTS
-
● The National Federation Spirit Rules and MCCA Rules must be followed.
-
● Recorded music may be used during the performance.
-
● Performances should incorporate props effectively.
○ Poms and signs may be used. Megaphones and flags are optional.
● Judging will be based on the following criteria:
-
○ Level changes, ripples, creative movements and other visual effects.
-
○ Potential for crowd response, practicality and effectiveness of the material,
ease of participation for crowd participation. Correct motion technique and
synchronization (where applicable).
-
○ Showmanship, genuine spirit, confident, eye contact, natural smiles, creativity.
-
○ Effective formations, spacing between squad members
and crowd-coverage, seamless transitions. Overall execution and effective use of time.
SPECIFIC SKILL RESTRICTIONS
-
● Basket and sponge tosses are not permitted.
-
● Running tumbling is not permitted.
-
● The maximum difficulty level for tumbling is limited to standing back handsprings.
-
● Stunts and tumbling will not be scored separately or for difficulty. They will only be assessed in
terms of enhancing crowd involvement.