Game Day Live

Dancers:

To attend the National Dance Team Championship, teams must first qualify by receiving one of the following:

• All Superior trophy winners at UDA camp with 5 or more members*+
• All Home Routine trophy winners at UDA Overnight camp with 5 or more members
• Teams attending any Varsity branded camp with 5 or more members can also qualify for Nationals at a UDA regional competition*

* Teams must attend an overnight camp, day camp, or home camp that is at least 2 days in length to be eligible

+ Teams will continue to qualify for a Superior trophy at overnight and day camps by athletes being evaluated in all routine evaluations. To qualify for a Superior trophy at home camps each athlete must be evaluated on a minimum of 2 camp routines.

Pep Band:

• Pep Bands DO NOT have to qualify for the 2024 National Dance Team Championship.

The Game Day Live performance consists of three elements—Fight Song, Spirit Raising, and Performance Routine —combined in a 3:30 performance by the pep band and dancers, just like the current game day format. The entire performance may not exceed 5:30 with entry and exit of all performers.

RUN ON/BAND PERFORMANCE:

The pep band will have 30 seconds to enter the competition performance floor and set up in formation.

ONLY Handheld or harnessed instruments allowed in the pep band.

Pep Bands will be introduced to the floor and will have one (1) minute to play any cadence or song. Only the pep band is scored during this time.

At the end of one (1) minute the dance team will be introduced to the floor and will have 30 seconds to take their formation prior to starting the first Fight Song component.  Pep Bands may play any cadence or song during the 30 second dance team introduction. Only the pep band is scored during this time

Following the one (1) minute performance, pep band members should be in formation for the start of the routine showing a clear beginning of the Fight Song. All pep band members should remain in the designated band area throughout the Fight Song and Spirit Raising. Pep Band members are allowed to change formation but must remain in the designated performance area in which they started during the first two elements.

See Specific Event Rules and Regulations for space limitations. Space will be dependent on the venue you are performing.

FIGHT SONG (Up to 60 Seconds): This element should reflect your school’s traditional Fight Song. For teams that do not have an official Fight Song, it is recommended to use a second selection of band chant music.

• Dancers: The dancers should showcase skills and choreography that represents the traditional Fight Song that your team performs at games and community events. Teams can choose to incorporate crowd effective skills to enhance the overall effect. Dance teams must remain in the dance performance area.
• Pep Band: When performing the fight song, the pep band should focus on sound quality, technical accuracy, musicality, and engagement. They should lead the dancers and the crowd with their performance, as well as participate in call-backs, if applicable. Pep Band must remain in the designated band area.

SPIRIT RAISING (Up to 60 Seconds): This element will follow the Fight Song. There will not be a cue given by the announcer. Teams will choose to perform one of the following elements; Sideline Routine, Stand Routine, or Drum Cadence.

• Dancers: The dancers should focus on crowd effectiveness, creative movements such as level changes or ripples, and execution of the material. The dance team should showcase a clear ability to engage and lead the crowd. Dance teams must remain in the dance performance area.
• Pep Band: The pep band should provide a cadence or spirited music that reflects a game day environment where dancers can incorporate visual movements and crowd involvement. Pep Band must remain in the designated band area.

PERFORMANCE ROUTINE (Up to 60 Seconds): The final element should be a routine that would typically be performed during a timeout or halftime and is designed for crowd entertainment. This routine can be in any style or mix of styles and should incorporate both groups.

• Dancers: The dancers should focus on creative choreography such as routine staging and visual elements, execution of the material, and overall entertainment value.
• Pep Band: The pep band should provide music that is upbeat, engaging, and reflects a game day environment. Pep bands are encouraged to move into the dance performance area and be incorporated in formations with the dance team to enhance the overall visual appeal.

RUN OFF: The pep band has 30 seconds to play original, spirited music while the dance team exits the competition floor. Once the piece ends, the pep band may exit. Only the pep band is scored during this time.

Dance Team:

• Teams are required to wear a traditional uniform that you would wear when representing your school.
• Teams may use poms, but they are not required.
• Teams will be permitted to use signs in the Fight Song and Spirit Raising components ONLY. Signs cannot be tossed or thrown on stage or into the crowd and must be safely placed or dropped outside the competition area. Hip over-head rotation skills (with or without hand support) may not be done with signs in hand. No other props will be allowed.
• Teams should take the floor immediately with spirit and enthusiasm, but without excessive gestures (i.e., running of the flags, chest bumps, intricate handshakes).

Pep Band:

• Pep band is limited to 40 participants; however, some events will have a limitation on the number of band members allowed on the performance surface. Please see Specific Event Rules and Regulations for details.
• Time starts once the band has been introduced.
• Teams must show a clear start and end between each element.
• ONLY handheld or harnessed instruments allowed in the pep band.
• In connection with our Band events, each pep band must submit this form signed by a member of the local school administration attesting to the school’s right to use the music, chants and other material in the anticipated performance at Varsity sponsored events.
• Members must stay in their designated area with the exception of the Performance Routine component

Game Day Live Score Sheet – Dance – 2023

Game Day Live Score Sheet – Pep Band – 2023

The dance team and pep band will receive an overall score of their performance as one unit.

The dance team and pep band will be scored separately on the following elements:

• Fight Song
• Spirit Raising
• Performance Routine

In these elements, the pep band will be scored primarily on:

• Sound Quality – Are the tone and pitch of each note/piece accurate
• Technical Accuracy – Is the music being performed with correct technique and rhythm?
• Musicality – Is the music appropriate and/or relevant to a Game Day setting?
• Engagement with the crowd – Is the pep band in sync with the cheerleaders, responding with appropriate call-backs when elicited and providing music that complements the dance elements?
• Overall Performance with the Dancers – Does the combination of the groups reflect a successful Game Day setting?

CLICK HERE to view the 2023 NDTC event pricing.

• 2024 pricing will be available later this year.

VIDEO SUBMISSION QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Video must demonstrate the band and cheerleaders performing the school’s fight song together.
  • This video can take place at a game or an organized practice.
  • The band can be situated next to the cheerleader’s performance surface or behind the performance surface, but NOT on the performance surface.
• The other Game Day Live elements including band chant, situational sideline and crowd leading are allowed to be demonstrated into the qualifying video, but are not required.

Cheerleaders:

• The cheer team must still attend an in-person or virtual UCA Regional Competition and compete in the Game Day division, even if they already received a guaranteed bid for Game Day Live from the video submission process.
• Game Day Live bids will ONLY be offered to teams that submit a video or qualify at select Regional Competitions in 2023-2024.
• Teams that accept the invitation to compete in the Game Day Live division will ONLY be allowed to compete in Game Day Live and Traditional Routine. They will not also be allowed to compete in the current Game Day division.

Pep Band:

• The pep band must submit a deposit per pep band member upon registering for the Championships. Spots will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• The pep band must be in a school-related, coordinated outfit (i.e., traditional team uniform, coordinated outfit representing your school colors, letters, mascot, etc.).
• The pep band does NOT need to attend a Varsity Spirit Camp or UCA Regional Competition in order to submit a video in conjunction with the cheer team.

To review the Game Day Live filming guidelines, click here!

The Game Day Live performance consists of four elements—Band Chant, Situational Sideline, Crowd Leading and Fight Song—combined in a 3-minute performance by the pep band and cheerleaders, just like the current game day format. The entire performance may not exceed 5 minutes with entry and exit of all performers.

GAME DAY LIVE ROUTINE FORMAT & PEP BAND GUIDELINES

• Same rules and skill restrictions will still apply as the guidelines for Game Day Routines.
• Pep Band members would be allowed to play for multiple performances; however, they may only play for the school
  they attend. The pep band must be current members of the official pep band for the school they are representing.
• The pep band must be in a school-related, coordinated outfit (i.e., traditional team uniform, coordinated outfit
  representing your school colors, letters, mascot, etc.).
• The entire performance may not exceed 5 minutes with entry and exit of all performers.
• ONLY Handheld or harnessed instruments allowed in the pep band.
• Pep Bands will be responsible for transportation of all equipment to and from the event.
• Pep bands may use props; however, props must conform to the NFHS Band safety course guidelines.
• Pep band member may not be involved in any stunts / tumbling.
• Designated Pep Band Performance Area.
  • Pep Bands will line up anywhere center stage within the performing surface (54 X 42) and their timing will begin
    the first beat of music.
  • Pep bands must remain in designated areas of approximately 54 feet wide by 5 feet deep on the back side
    (behind the mats). Additional performance area on either side of the raised stage of 5 feet wide by 42 feet deep
    each area will be designated.
  • Pep Bands will be limited to 40 total band members. Teams may place those members to the side or back with a
    maximum of 20 members in each location.
  • During the performance, Pep Band members are allowed to change formation but must remain in the
    designated performance area in which they started.
  • Any team member stepping outside or touching outside the performance area will cause a .5 penalty per
    occurrence. Pep Band members must remain in designated area during the performance.
  • Once a team member takes the floor, they must remain on the floor until the end of the performance.

Game Day LIVE Format

• Game Day Live performances will allow one (1) minute for Pep Bands to play prior to the cheer team being called. Pep Bands may play any cadence or song. Only the pep band is scored during this time.
• By the end of the 1 minute section, the Pep Band must relocate to the area designated outside of the performance surface (30 seconds to move formation). Please ensure the entrance for the athletes is clear. Pep
  Bands may play any cadence or song during the 30 second cheer team introduction. Only the pep band is scored during this time.

BAND CHANT: The pep band should focus on playing spirited music that reflects a game day environment, and
that the cheerleaders can incorporate visual movements to.

SITUATIONAL SIDELINE: The pep band should provide a cadence that the cheer team and crowd back home
could easily yell along with, eliciting a crowd response.

CROWD LEADING: There must be a clear distinction between the Sideline and kicking off the Crowd Leading
portion. The cheerleaders and pep band may show spirited interaction as a clear transition. The pep band’s role
is to influence crowd participation by responding to the cheer team’s call-backs and encouraging the crowd to
yell along. They may also create a cadence that would be relevant to the game day environment to increase the
overall crowd effectiveness.

FIGHT SONG: The final element should reflect your school’s traditional Fight Song. For teams that do not have an
official Fight Song, it is recommended to use a second selection of band chant music. When performing the fight
song, the pep band should focus on sound quality, technical accuracy, musicality and engagement. They should
lead the cheerleaders and the crowd with their performance, as well as participate in call-backs, if applicable.

RUN OFF: The pep band has 30 seconds to play original, spirited music while the cheerleaders exit the
competition floor. Once the piece ends, the pep band may exit. Only the pep band is scored during this time.

CLICK HERE for an example of 2022-2023 Rules & Regulations.

• In connection with our Band events, each pep band must submit this form signed by a member of the local school administration attesting to the school’s right to use the music, chants and other material in the anticipated performance at Varsity sponsored events.

Game Day Live Score Sheet – Cheer – 2023

Game Day Live Score Sheet – Pep Band – 2023

The cheer team and pep band will receive an overall score of their performance as one unit.

The cheer team and pep band will be scored separately on the following elements:

• Band Chant
• Situational Sideline
• Crowd Leading
• Fight Song

In these elements, the pep band will be scored primarily on:

• Sound Quality – Are the tone and pitch of each note/piece accurate?
• Technical Accuracy – Is the music being performed with correct technique and rhythm?
• Musicality – Is the music appropriate and/or relevant to a Game Day setting?
• Engagement with the crowd – Is the pep band in sync with the cheerleaders, responding with appropriate call-backs when elicited and providing music that complements the cheer elements?
• Overall Performance with the Cheerleaders – Does the combination of the groups reflect a successful Game Day setting?

CLICK HERE to view 2023 NHSCC event pricing.

• Pricing for 2024 will be available later this year!