UCA Nationals

Dear Coaches, Athletes and Cheerleading Fans –

Our goal for the National High School Cheerleading Championship is to provide the best possible experience for all athletes, coaches and spectators every year.  To that end, we are thrilled to announce that we are adding a 4^th day to the NHSCC championship weekend in 2024. 

As the event continues to grow, we believe this will help improve the experience at the venue and the schedule of events.  And — our goal is to maintain the three day competition format for each team to limit school days missed.

Our preparation for next year begins now (just like many of you), and we look forward to seeing you next year in Orlando February 9-12^th and providing you and your teams with an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.

CLICK HERE for the tentative 4-Day Block Schedule

• 2023 Event Block Schedule
• 2023 Order of Competition
• 2023 Open Practice Schedule
• 2023 Hotel Travel Package Bus Schedule

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

• Single Day Admission Tickets 
• Premium Parking Information 

Event Registration

• Make a Payment
• Request a Change

Watch the championship LIVE, see results and rewatch routines via Varsity TV!

• Varsity TV NHSCC Hub 

Coaches

• Email #1: USA Cheer Reminders, Enrollment Letter and Travel Discounts – 12.9

Hotel Assignments and Registration Information – 1.20

• ⁠All Star Sports
• ⁠All Star Music
• ⁠All Star Movies
• ⁠Pop Century
• ⁠Coronado Springs
• Delta Marriott Orlando
• ⁠Commuter Teams
• ⁠Extra Purchases Families

Order of Competition and Open Practice Information – 1.23

Team Information, ESPN Single Day Tickets and Celebration Party Information – 1.24

NHSCC Open Practice and Updated Block + Order of Competition – 1.27

NHSCC Event Orientation + Final Event information – 2.2

• Hotel Travel Package (All Star, Coronado, Pop)
• Commuter
• Delta Orlando

Coaches Webinar – 2.3

Teams can register for NHSCC prior to receiving your bid.  If for any reason you do not receive a bid at your regional event, your deposit for NHSCC will be refunded to you.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2022 NHSCC

In order to qualify for our National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC), teams are required to fulfil the following requirements:

• 75% of the qualifying team must have attended a 2 Day Varsity Spirit Summer Camp and participate in the Squad Credentialing program.
• Compete and receive a bid at a 2022 UCA qualifying regional competition for the 2023 National High School Cheerleading Championship.
• The division the team competes in at the regional will be the only division the team is allowed to compete in at the NHSCC. Exception – some divisions are further split further by Team Size or School Size at the NHSCC than they are at a qualifying regional competition.
• Individuals may NOT represent more than one team at the National Championship. Exception – Junior Varsity members may perform with the Varsity in a Varsity Game Day Division.

To create a Championship that gives equal opportunity for schools of similar student composition, UCA will subdivide the Varsity divisions at the NHSCC based on school enrollments in the 9th – 12th grades as of October 1, 2021. Varsity Divisions I & II – Please provide a letter signed and verified from your registrar’s office on school letter head with your total enrollment information.

Please mail to the UCA office no later than three weeks prior to the NHSCC. Check out www.uca.varsity.com for more details.

Registration for the 2023 National High School Cheerleading Championship is now open!

• Update 11/2: The Moderate Hotel option is now SOLD OUT. If you would like to be added to the Moderate waitlist, please contact your event registration specialist.
• Update 11/3: The Hotel Travel Package option is now SOLD OUT. At this time, we do have Commuter packages available.
  • If you would like to be added to the package waitlist, CLICK HERE to submit your registration information.

EVENT REGISTRATION SPECIALISTS:

• A-B	Keosha Lipsey	klipsey@varsity.com
  C-D	Ginger Watkins	gwatkins@varsity.com
  E-H	Mendy Terrell	mterrell@varsity.com
  I-M	Erica Dickey	edickey@varsity.com
  N-Q	Madison Toone	mtoone@varsity.com
  S	Taylor Collins	Taylor.collins@varsity.com
  R, T-Z	Chloe Webb	cwebb@varsity.com

For more information about UCA Regional Competitions, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view the 2023 Championship Pricing Guide!

Park Hopper Ticket Upgrade Pricing

• 2-Day to 3-Day: $37
• 2-Day to 4-Day: $146
• 2-Day to 5-Day: $182
• 3-Day to 4-Day: $109
• 3-Day to 5-Day: $145

General Rules and Information

1. The World School Cheerleading Championships (WSCC) is held in conjunction with the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC). All U.S. teams must follow all Rules and Regulations of the NHSCC.
2. The top 5 placing teams from the 2022 NHSCC are eligible to compete in the divisions offered.
3. Due to the size of the NHSCC – Game Day divisions will not be offered in the WSCC. The NHSCC will attempt to ensure teams will not have overlapping performance / warmup with WSCC.  However, The NHSCC cannot guarantee that a performance overlap will not occur during the final schedule.
4. Teams must be registered participants of the National High School Cheerleading Championship to be eligible.

 Schedule of Events

1. Friday – NHSCC Preliminary and Semi-Final rounds of competitions, visit parks.
2. Saturday – NHSCC Semi-Final and select Final rounds of competition, visit parks.
3. Sunday – NHSCC select Semi-Final and Final rounds of competition along with the World School Cheerleading Championships (WSCC) Final competition.

Awards

1. Teams will be awarded placement trophies.
2. Jackets will be awarded to Champions based on the number of athletes on the floor plus two coaches.
3. Nation’s rankings will be awarded to the top countries competing across all divisions.

Divisions Offered

Recreation Divisions (Affiliated and Non Affiliated Combined)

• Traditional Rec 8 and Younger (International Teams only)
• Traditional Rec 10 and Younger
• Traditional Rec 12 and Younger
• Traditional Rec 14 and Younger
• Traditional Rec 10-18 years of age (International Teams only)

School Divisions (Division I and Division II will not be offered)

• Junior High
• Junior Varsity
• Junior Varsity Coed
• Small Varsity
• Medium Varsity
• Large Varsity
• Super Varsity
• Small Varsity Coed
• Medium Varsity Coed
• Large Varsity Coed

School Divisions – Non Building

• Varsity Non Building

School Divisions – Non Tumbling

• Junior High Non Tumbling
• Junior Varsity Non Tumbling
• Small Varsity Non Tumbling
• Medium Varsity Non Tumbling
• Large Varsity Non Tumbling
• Super Varsity Non Tumbling
• Small Varsity Coed Non Tumbling
• Large Varsity Coed Non Tumbling

Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservations:

To help manage park capacity, the Walt Disney World Resort has introduced the Disney Park Pass service, a new Theme Park reservation system. In order to make your Theme Park reservations, you will need a My Disney Experiences account and valid Theme Park admission linked to it.  Once you are paid in full, approximately 7-10 business days later, Varsity Spirit will send you a ticket confirmation order number. Then, simply create a My Disney Experience account and select the dates and Theme Parks you wish to visit. To enter a Theme Park, both a reservation and valid admission for the same Park on the same date are required. Please note that reservations are limited in capacity, subject to availability and are not guaranteed until confirmed. If the first park you would like to attend reaches capacity, you can make a reservation for another park and then “hop” to your top choice after 2PM that day. Park availability is very limited and Varsity Spirit will not be able to assist with park reservations.

IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN PURCHASING THEME PARK TICKETS: The reselling or the transferring of theme park tickets in the state of Florida is a crime as described under Florida state laws; Florida Statutes s. 817.361 and Florida Statutes s. 817.36

Park Reservation How-To Resources:

• Booking Park Reservations Step-by-Step

Please note: There is a 25 person/ticket maximum on managing/linking per unique My Disney Experience account. And in the PDFs above, MDX is an abbreviation for My Disney Experience.

If you are flying to Orlando International Airport, we recommend you use ALTOUR to make your flight arrangements. If there are flight delays or weather cancellations on arrival or departure days, they will be able to accommodate you better with tickets purchased through ALTOUR. To purchase flights call 1-866-719-0379.

Walt Disney World no longer operates the Disney Magic Express. Attendees will be responsible for their roundtrip transportation from the Orlando International Airport to the resorts.

• • MEARS Direct Connect will be offering a 10% discount to those attending Varsity Spirit events for transportation from the Orlando International Airport.
  • • • One-Way Child (3-9): $12.15
      • Round-Trip Child: $24.30
      • One-Way Adult: $14.40
      • Round-Trip Adult: $28.20

  CLICK HERE to purchase your MEARS Direct Connect Transportation!

Airline and Rental Car Discounts: 

Southwest Airlines

• CLICK HERE to view Southwest booking information

United Airlines

• Bookings made by December 31, 2022: CLICK HERE
• Bookings made after December 31, 2022: CLICK HERE

Delta Airlines

• When booking online at www.delta.com/meetings, select ‘Book Your Flight’ and enter your Meeting Code NMVZP.

American Airlines

• 2022-2023 Booking Instructions
• Authorization Code: A9813DL
• The discount can be booked on-line at aa.com for AA/AE flights only, without a ticketing charge, allow at least 1 business hour for AA.com loading.  Use the Authorization Number noted above without the preceding A as the AA.com Promotion Code.  May not apply to some contracts.

Avis Car Rentals

• CLICK HERE to view AVIS booking information
• If asked for AVIS Proof of Company Association, CLICK HERE for document that can be shown to desk agent.

Travel Tips – Be prepared for your trip to the magical Walt Disney World Resort: 

• • • Disney Travel Tips
    • Disney Housekeeping Information

CLICK HERE for more information regarding Divisions, Rules and Scoring.

When registering, by accepting the Terms and Conditions the for the event, you are agreeing to adhere to the competition rules.  Please see the “Rules and Regulations” button to review.

Required Forms:  Due Prior to arrival – Please upload prior to January 17, 2023

• Sample Enrollment Letter
  • Upload Enrollment Letter here

Required Forms:  Must be turned in at the registration desk in Orlando

• • Coach / Adult Release and Waiver Form
  • Athlete / Minor Release and Waiver Form
  • USA Cheer Certification
  • Rec Roster Verification

UCA SCHOOL GUIDELINES

(Performance Routine and Game Day Divisions) Athletes may only perform up to 2 times if one routine is a performance routine and the other is a game day routine. If an athlete is performing 2 times, they must be representing the same program/school in both performances.

UCA strongly recommends that you have an alternate (not a member of another competing squad at the same event), who is prepared to substitute in the event of injury, probation, etc. No cheerleader may represent more than one Team, even in the event of injury or emergency. Once a team checks into the event, the team will not be allowed to change divisions.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2022 NHSCC:

In order to qualify for our National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC), teams are required to fulfil the following requirements:

1. 75% of the qualifying team must have attended a 2 Day Varsity Spirit Summer Camp and participate in the Squad Credentialing program.
2. Compete and receive a bid at a 2021 UCA qualifying regional competition for the 2022 National High School Cheerleading Championship.
3. The division the team competes in at the regional will be the only division the team is allowed to compete in at the NHSCC. Exception – some divisions are further split further by Team Size or School Size at the NHSCC than they are at a qualifying regional competition.
4. Individuals may NOT represent more than one team at the National Championship. Exception – Junior Varsity members may perform with the Varsity in a Varsity Game Day Division.
5. To create a Championship that gives equal opportunity for schools of similar student composition, UCA will subdivide the Varsity divisions at the NHSCC based on school enrollments in the 9th – 12th grades as of October 1, 2021. Varsity Divisions I & II – Please provide a letter signed and verified from your registrar’s office on school letter head with your total enrollment information. Please mail to the UCA office no later than three weeks prior to the NHSCC. Check out www.uca.varsity.com for more details.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPATION

It is understood that teams that participate in the National High School Cheerleading Championship will NOT knowingly and willingly participate in any other cheerleading event promoted as a national or international championship for the 2021-2022 school year. (Exception: USA National Championship and The Quest Recreational Championship) A school can compete at UCA and NCA if that team is recognized as a separate team by the school and no athletes are the same. (No athletes can compete at both events) Teams who violate this rule will be subject to disqualification and will forfeit the opportunity to participate in the subsequent National High School Cheerleading Championship.

CHEER COACH MEMBERSHIP 

1. USA Cheer has developed a comprehensive Membership Program, which includes a background check, athlete protection training, acknowledgement of concussion training with return to participation guidance, a member code of conduct, and safety training courses on risk management and safety rules.
2. Beginning with the upcoming 2021-22 competition season, Varsity Spirit will require that all school coaches, choreographers and personnel wishing to access the warmup area, backstage or coaches’ box at our competitions have a USA Cheer Coach or Professional Membership.
3. One coach per cheer team will be required to have the USA Coach Membership which includes the Safety and Risk Management course and must accompany the team at the NHSCC. All other Coaches and Choreographers can accompany the team with a USA Professional Membership.
4. When checking in at the NHSCC All SCHOOL/REC Coaches, Choreographers, Professional members will need to present a photo ID and their USA Cheer Membership card (mobile phone photo or printed) to receive your USA Cheer wristband at registration/check-in. Coaches/Professional members must be listed on your event rosters to check-in. USA Coach / Professional Membership includes anyone; including choreographers that will accompany the team through warm-up area, backstage, coaches’ box, music area and competition.
5. The USA Cheer Membership is available on the USA Cheer website. Once your membership is complete, you can print your membership card, or save and display it on your mobile device at event registration along with your photo ID. This season’s membership will be active until May 31, 2022.

• Game Day Information
• Game Day Live Information
• Pep Band Battle

  • Pep Band Battle is an optional additional performance opportunity for pep bands that participate in the Game Day Live divisions of National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC). Participating pep bands and drumlines will engage in a bracket-style performance, competing for crowd engagement against other Game Day Live pep bands. The purpose of this performance is to provide participating bands with another performance opportunity, engage with their peers in a fun and crowd-driven environment and showcase the spirit raising abilities of bands to their audiences and administrations.