The U.S. Finals

Celebrate the end of your season at The U.S. Finals! Due to the challenging times, The U.S. Finals has decided to host a Virtual Championship, giving programs across the country the opportunity to end their season together, while apart.

Here are some things to know before registering:

When is The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship? 

• Registration closed on June 12, 2020.
• Registered teams will be able to submit videos to Varsity TV beginning on June 15, 2020.
• Video submissions must be complete by Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 11:59 pm CT.
• Virtual judging will take place Tuesday, June 23 – Friday, June 26, 2020.
• All performances be available for viewing on-demand on Saturday, June 27, 2020.
• The Awards Show will be hosted by Varsity TV on Sunday, June 28, 2020.
• Awards & gifts will be shipped to all participating teams beginning on Tuesday, June 29, 2020.

 Will Gold Bids be honored for the virtual event?

Yes! Gold Bids received from the 2019-2020 season will be honored at the virtual event.

 Can teams use their Gold Bid next season if they choose not to attend the virtual event?

No, Gold Bids earned in the 2019-2020 season must be used at the virtual event, or they will become void.

How much does it cost to participate in The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship?

Prior to the switch to virtual, the pricing for a team with a Gold Bid to attend The U.S. Finals was $250 per team. That fee was discounted to $150 per team if received by the deadline. The new price for the virtual event for teams who earned Gold Bid is $75 per team.

For reference, the pricing for teams who earned 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place at a qualifier was a per athlete fee of $89, $99, and $119, respectively. The virtual event price for ALL non-Gold Bid teams is $300 per team.

Additionally, since COVID-19 eliminated so many qualifiers in March and April, we have decided to extend an open invitation to any team who would like to participate. The open invitation fee will also be $300 per team.

What do crossovers pay?

Our new pricing is team based, so there is no crossover fee. Simply pay the team fee for any and all teams you’re participating on and you’re ready to go!

 How will The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship work?

1. Register your team
2. Submit your video
3. Varsity Judges will evaluate your video
4. A virtual event, including awards will be aired on Varsity TV
5. Awards and gifts will be mailed to the teams.

How can people watch The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship?

Varsity TV will host this event, and a one-month subscription will be given to each registered coach. It is our hope that coaches will be able to gather with their teams to watch the event together utilizing this free account. Also, anyone with a Varsity TV subscription will be able to watch the event in its entirety. The event will also be free to watch on Varsity TV one week after its release.

How do I register for The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship?

Teams will register for the event in the MyVarsity portal. At first the pricing will show up in your account as $300 per team for all teams. Our registration teams manually verify Gold Bids, and once those are confirmed, the invoices for Gold Bid winners will be discounted down to $75 per team.

What kind of video do I need to submit?

Teams will submit a video of their routine to be judged and ranked, meeting one of the three qualifications outlined below.

• Varsity All Star Event Video – Teams may submit a previously recorded video from any Varsity All Star event from the 2019 – 2020 season, previous season videos will not be accepted. Videos will need to be one take – edited footage will not be accepted. All 4 corners of the floor should be visible. The program must own rights to this video and consent to it being posted on Varsity TV for The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship. When uploading teams will need to indicate if they have the synch rights to the music being used in the video. If teams have synch rights, the video will be played on Varsity TV with sound – if not, the video will be muted.
• Video from Practice – Teams may submit a previously recorded video of their routine taken in their practice facility. Videos will need to be one take – edited footage will not be accepted. All 4 corners of the floor should be visible. The program must own rights to this video and consent to it being posted on Varsity TV for The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship. When uploading teams will need to indicate if they have the synch rights to the music being used in the video. If teams have synch rights, the video will be played on Varsity TV with sound – if not, the video will be muted.
• Alternative Solution – For teams that are unable to submit a video they own from a prior event or practice, please email videos@theusfinals.com to learn about alternative options.

 How will cheer teams entering The U.S. Finals be scored?

Since video submissions will be from various events and points of view, teams will not be traditionally scored but they will be ordinally ranked based on the Varsity All Star Scoring System rubric. The champion from each division will be recognized for what made them stand out above the rest.

What criteria will dance teams be judged upon?
Since not all dance teams own the synchronization rights to their music, we have consulted with our dance director to determine how we can best accommodate and judge your teams fairly. Here is the following protocol that we will follow for The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship event.

• All dance teams will be judged without music
• All dance performances will air on Varsity TV without music
• Teams will be judged on:
  • Overall creativity
  • Originality of movement
  • Transitions and formation changes
  • Staging
  • Proper technique of movement
  • Technical skills
  • Uniformity from dancer to dancer
  • Spacing throughout the routine

We feel confident that our judges will be able to accurately rank the participating teams using the criteria above and should you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Before COVID-19, teams who earned 1st or 2nd at a qualifier event got a discount compared to those who got 3rd. And, anyone who didn’t place in the top 3 was not invited to The U.S. Finals. Why isn’t there a discount for 1st and 2nd place finishers anymore, and why is the event now open to anyone?

We wanted the price point to be low for everyone, so instead of creating several layers of pricing, we decided on one team price for Gold Bid winners and non-Gold Bid winners. We know the season did not end as expected for anyone, and we want to give everyone the opportunity to participate. This makes it a simple, low cost way to help give closure to this season for kids and coaches.

What happens to Champions Challenge?
Since we are not hosting the 8 regional U.S. Finals events, there is no need for a Champions Challenge round of competition this season.

What do teams get who participate in The U.S. Finals Virtual Championship?

• All athletes will receive a commemorative medal.
• All teams to register with a Gold Bid will receive Gold Shoelaces for every athlete.
• All teams will receive a placement award.

• Since video submissions will be from various events and points of view, teams will not be traditionally scored but they will be ordinally ranked based on the Varsity All Star Scoring System rubric. The champion from each division will be recognized for what made them stand out above the rest.
  • The U.S. Finals follows the Varsity All Star Scoring System for all All Star Cheer & Dance divisions. Click here to learn more!
  • Youth & Recreation Scoring

To view the full list of Gold Bid winners, click here!

The U.S. Finals is a spectacular way to celebrate the accomplishments of your program. In 2020-2021, The U.S. Finals will focus on celebrating athletes in both the Fall and Spring Prep & Novice Seasons. Youth/Rec, Dance & School divisions will be available at select events. More information about dates & locations will be coming soon.