GSSA 1 Spirit Cheerleading & Dance Competitions California

1 SPIRIT DANCE RULES

All Star teams must have at least 5 members. School teams must have at least 3 members. There is no maximum limit (except where stated under the description of the 1 SPIRIT Divisions).
All dance teams will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 15 seconds to complete their routine. The time limit will be extended to 5 minutes for all teams competing in the Production category. There are no minimum time requirements on any type of routine. Timing and judging of routines will begin with the first organized movement or the first note of music. Timing will end with a last note of music or the ending motion or pose is held. Introductions, spell-outs and/or organized entrances are considered part of the routine and are timed as part of the performance. All participants should walk/spirit onto the floor and immediately start their routine after placement of any props. Any un-sportsmanlike conduct while entering or exiting the floor may result in a .5 point deduction.
All routines will be judged using a 100-point scale, which will then be averaged on a 10-point scale for the final score. (See Scoring System for details.) The decisions of the judges are FINAL!
Mascots are welcome to perform as members of their squad, but must adhere to all rules and regulations expected of team members.
The main performance floor will be approximately 42 feet deep by 54 feet wide. For safety purposes we require everyone to perform their routine on the performance floor. However, there will be no deductions for stepping off the floor.
All routines must be suitable for viewing by audiences of all ages. Vulgar or suggestive material is restricted and will result in a .5 deduction for each incident. 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. Vulgarity will be determined at the discretion of the judges and/or 1 SPIRIT Event Directors.
Crossover competing is allowed.
SUBSTITUTIONS may be made in the event of an injury or other serious circumstance. However, all substitutions must be pre-approved by 1 SPIRIT. Substitutes must also abide by the age/grade restrictions in all divisions and have a waiver on file.
Please bring TWO HIGH-QUALITY copies of your music. CD’s ONLY! No tapes are allowed. 1 SPIRIT does not use MP3 compact discs.
In the event a routine is interrupted because of failure of 1 SPIRIT equipment, facilities, etc., then the participant(s) affected will be permitted to restart the routine from the beginning. In the event a routine is interrupted because of failure of the participants' equipment, music or supplies, then the participant(s) may either continue or withdraw from the competition. In the event an injury occurs during a performance, then the participant(s) may either continue or withdraw from the competition. Competition officials reserve the right to stop a performance due to an injury.
One (1) representative of your group/individual will be responsible for running the music during the competition. This person must remain at the sound area throughout the entire performance. In the event a routine is delayed due to operator error, timing of your routine will continue. No unnecessary team members, parents etc. are allowed at the music table.
All participants must submit a signed waiver form prior to performing. This can be in the form of a Team Waiver Form or an Individual Waiver Form. NO EXCEPTIONS!

RULE INTERPRETATION

It is the policy of 1 SPIRIT not to give specific rule interpretations over the phone, mail or email. All official rule interpretations must be submitted on a DVD, full size VHS videotape or email. All videos must contain:

A front, side and back view of the skill/section in question (do not send entire routines).
A letter stating the question/request.
School/Team Name and Event/Division entering.
Coaches Name, address, phone and fax numbers and email address.

Send to:

1 SPIRIT Rule Interpretations
11500 Champions Way
Louisville, KY 40299

All official rule interpretation requests must be received at the 1 SPIRIT office at least 10 days prior to the event attending. Please keep a copy of what you send us as well as any correspondence you receive from us for your records. Only official rule interpretations from the 1 SPIRIT office will be permissible at any event. Sorry no exceptions!

SCHOOL DANCE TEAM LEVEL RESTRICTIONS

In addition to the GSSA Rules and Regulations for participating dance teams, the following restrictions will also apply to all school teams entering the Jazz or Pom divisions at the Novice or Intermediate levels:

The following skills are example of what is and is not permitted in the Novice Jazz and Novice Pom divisions.

Permitted:	Not Permitted:
Chaine turns Single pirouettes All jumps (expect c-jumps and tilt jumps) Jete leaps Leg holds Kicks Kick lines	Multiple pirouettes Axels All other leaps Leg hold turns C-jumps Tilt jumps Turns in second Fouette turns

The following skills are example of what is and is not permitted in the Intermediate Jazz and Intermediate Pom divisions.

Permitted:	Not Permitted:
Double pirouettes Axels All leaps not involving a switch All jumps (including C-jumps and tilt jumps)	Pirouettes exceeding two rotations Switch leaps Fouette turns Turns in second Leg hold turns

* No skill restrictions have been placed upon the Advanced Jazz and Advanced Pom divisions for school dance so long as all skills abide by the general safety rules and regulations set forth by GSSA.

** GSSA reserves the right to determine the level of difficulty for all technical skills not mentioned in the above guidelines. For 100% clarification of all skills, please submit an official GSSA 1 Spirit Rule Interpretation request to:

Send to:

GSSA 1 SPIRIT Rule Interpretations
11500 Champions Way
Louisville, KY 40299

*Please note that 1 Spirit is following USASF rules for the 2007-2008 season. Make sure to carefully read the rules as some major changes have been made from last season!

All Music Must Be In CD Format.
No Tapes or MP3's Allowed!

2007-2008 USASF DANCE RULES

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1.	All teams must be supervised during all official functions by a qualified director/advisor/coach.
2.	All participants agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship throughout the event. The director/advisor/coach of each team is responsible for seeing that team members, coaches, parents, and any other person affiliated with the team conduct themselves accordingly. Severe demonstrations of unsportsmanlike conduct are grounds for disqualification.

3.	All directors, advisors and coaches should have an emergency response plan in the event of an injury.
4.	Shoes are recommended but not required. Wearing socks only is prohibited.
5.	Jewelry as a part of a costume is allowed.
6.	All costuming should be age appropriate and acceptable for family viewing.

GENERAL RULES

1.	Teams must have at least 5 members. There is no maximum limit.
2.	Each team will have a maximum of 2 minutes and 15 seconds (2:15) 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 comes last. If a company adds the production/show category, the time limit may be increased to 5 minutes.

3.	Participants may compete in more than one dance division and/or category as long as they abide by the age restrictions in all divisions in which they compete.
4.	Substitutions may be made in the event of any injury or other serious circumstance. Substitutes must also abide by the age restrictions in all divisions.
5.	Any team proven to be in violation of the age restrictions will be automatically disqualified from the event.

TUMBLING & TRICKS

1.	Tumbling is allowed in all divisions as long as one hand, foot or body part remains in constant contact with the performance surface. These skills can be performed individually or in combination. Airborne skills are not allowed when hip-over-head rotation occurs.

The following are examples of skills that are and are not allowed:

ALLOWED	NOT ALLOWED
Forward/Backward Rolls	Dive Rolls
Shoulder Rolls	Round-offs
Cartwheels	Aerials
Headstands	Front/Back Handsprings
Handstands	Front/Back Tucks
Backbends
Front/Back Walkovers
Stalls
Head spins
Windmills
Kip up

2.	Drops to the knee, thigh, seat, front, back, or split position onto the performing surface from a jump, stand, or inverted position must first bear weight on the hands or feet in order to break the impact of the drop.

DANCE LIFTS & PARTNERING

Dance lifts are permitted and are defined as an action in which a dancer (s) is elevated from the performance surface and set down. The lifting dancer (s) must maintain direct contact with the performance surface at all times. The lifting dancer (s) must maintain ultimate control over the momentum, positioning, changes in position and return to the performance surface of the lifted dancer (s) through hand/arm to body contact. Hip over head rotation at or below the shoulders of the lifting dancer (s) may occur.

Partnering skills are permitted and must maintain body-to-body contact throughout the duration of the skill. One partner must maintain constant contact with the performance floor. Hip over head rotation at or below the shoulders of the lifting dancer (s) may occur.

3.	All cheer stunts and/or pyramids are prohibited. (Exceptions: pony sit, thigh stand, shoulder sit, back arch).
4.	All tosses including toe-pitches are prohibited.
5.	Jumping or leaping off of another person without maintaining hand/arm to body contact with another person is prohibited.

CHOREOGRAPHY

Suggestive, offensive, or vulgar choreography and/or music is inappropriate for family audiences and therefore lacks 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 affects the judges’ overall impression of the routine. Please make sure that all choreography is age appropriate.

PROPS

1.	Wearable and handheld items are allowed in all divisions and can be removed and discarded from the body.

2.	Standing props are only allowed in the prop category. (Examples: chairs, stools, ladders, boxes, stairs, etc.)

DANCE CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

JAZZ - A jazz routine incorporates stylized dance movements and combinations, formation changes, group work, leaps and turns. Emphasis is placed on proper technical execution, extension, control, body placement and team uniformity.

POM - Poms must be used 80% of the routine. Important characteristics of a pom routine include synchronization and visual effect, clean and precise motions, strong pom technique, and incorporate dance technical elements. Visual effect includes level changes, group work, formation changes, the use of different color poms, etc.

HIP-HOP - Routines emphasize the street style movements with an emphasis on execution, style, creativity, body isolations and control, rhythm, uniformity and musical interpretation. Teams may also put an additional focus on athletic incorporations such as jumps, jump variations, combo jumps and other tricks.

KICK - Routines emphasize control, height uniformity, extension, toe points, timing and creativity of a variety of kick series. Fifty kicks must be performed in the routine. For a kick to be counted, at least half of the team must perform the kick. A kick is defined as one foot remaining on the floor while the other foot lifts with force at least one inch from the floor.

VARIETY - Routines will incorporate a blend of jazz, pom and hip hop styles. Emphasis should be placed on overall creativity and flow of routine and successful technical execution of the dance styles performed.

LYRICAL - Routines combine the principles of jazz and ballet and emphasize proper technical execution, the use of flexibility, balance and mood. Routines are fluid in movement and focus on emotion that compliments the musical selection.

MODERN - Routines implement the principles of fall and recovery and/or contraction and release and weight sharing to express inner feeling as related to the musical or narrative piece.

PROP - Routines emphasize the use of props or a variety of props. The manipulation of the prop must be the main focal point of the routine. Each team will be given 2 minutes to set up and 2 minutes to take down their props before and after the performance if necessary.

PRODUCTION - Production teams must have at least 25 members, and routines must emphasize a theme or a storyline. Routines may be any style of dance that is outlined in the USASF category listing. Production routines will have a maximum of 5 minutes to complete their routine.

OPEN - An Open category will be offered only when separate dance categories are not offered in an age division. A routine in this category may incorporate any one style or combination of styles outlined in the USASF category listings. All styles will be judged against each other in this category. Emphasis is placed on choreography, proper technical execution, visual effect, creativity, staging and team uniformity.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Airborne - To be free of contact with a person and/or the performing surface.

Back Walkover - A non-airborne tumbling skill where one moves backward into an arched position, with the hands making contact with the ground first, then rotates the hips over the head and lands on one foot/leg at a time.

Cartwheel - A non-airborne gymnastic skill where one supports the weight of the body with the arm(s) while rotating sideways through an inverted position landing on one foot at a time.

Dive Roll - An airborne forward roll where the hands and feet are off of the performing surface simultaneously.

Front Walkover - A non-airborne tumbling skill where one rotates forward through an inverted position to a non-inverted position by arching the legs and hips over the head and down to the performing surface landing one foot/leg at a time.

Handstand - A straight body inverted position where the arms are extended straight by the head and ears.

Head Spin - A hip hop technique in which the dancer spins on his/her head and uses his/her hands to aid in speed. The legs can be held in a variety of positions.

Headstand - A position in which one supports oneself vertically on one’s head with the hands on the floor supporting the body.

Kip-up - From lying down, stomach up, the dancer bends knees, thrusts legs into the chest, rolls back slightly, and then kicks up. The force of the kick causes the dancer to land in an upright position.

Lifts - An action in which the partner is elevated to any height and set down.

Hip over head rotation - A movement where hips move over the head, as in a back walkover or similar tumbling skill.

Partnering - Any type of trick that uses two individuals, one using the other for support.

Pony Sit - Base either kneeling or standing in bent over position. Partner straddles/sits on the lower back.

Prop - An object that can be manipulated.

Shoulder Roll - A forward or backward roll starting from a squatting or tucked position, where the back of the shoulder is the contact with the floor. Head is tilted to the side to avoid contact with the floor.

Shoulder Sit - Base stands with feet slightly beyond shoulder width apart. Top person sits atop bases shoulders with legs wrapped around mid-section of bases back.

Stall - A hip hop technique that involves halting all body motion, often in an interesting, inverted or balance-intensive position on one or both hands for support.

Thigh Stand - With bases in lunge positions with one leg bent and one leg straight, lifted dancers feet are placed in the pockets of the bases thighs. Bases should support the top person with one arm around the back of the lifted dancers leg and the other hand bracing the foot.

Toe Pitch - A single or multi-based toss in which the base(s) push upward on a single foot or leg of the top person to increase the top person’s height often resulting in a hip over head rotation/flip.

Toss - An airborne stunt where base(s) execute throwing motion from waist level to increase height of top person. Top person becomes free from all bases. Top person is free from performing surface when toss is initiated (ex: basket toss or sponge toss).

Windmill - Beginning in a position laying down on the back, the dancer spins from his/her upper back to the chest while twirling his/her legs around his/her body in a V-shape. The leg motion gives the majority of the power, allowing the body to “flip” from a position on the back to a position with the chest to the ground.

*1 Spirit reserves the right to decide which dance floor will be used. Depending on the number of dance teams registered for each event, a marly floor may or may not be used.