USA Junior Nationals

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

COVID-19 VARSITY COMPETITION RULES

Safety is our priority for your competition experience.  We are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our athletes, performers, coaches and spectators.  Wea are prepared to administer a competition that will meet the state and local guidelines related to COVID-19 at the time of the event.  While the final details and schedule of any competition could require up to the day of adjustments, and all guidelines are subject to change based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), federal, state and local guidance, please be assured that Varsity Spirit is committed to delivering the same quality of competition experience for which we are known.  We appreciate your understanding of the flexibility this will require.  By accepting the Terms and Conditions as the authorized person from my program I agree and acknowledge to abide by the COVID-19 Varsity Competition Rules. 

HOTEL INFORMAITON

The Hilton Anaheim Hotel is the host hotel for the 2021 USA Junior Nationals.  A limited block of guest rooms has been reserved for USA Junior Nationals participants and guests.  No one can reserve a room at the USA discounted rate directly through the hotel – all reservations must be made as part of the team registration through the United Spirit Association.  Rooms are booked on a first-come, first-served basis as deposits are received and teams qualify for the event.  The hotel block may be filled before the hotel registration deadline.  Rooms are not confirmed until you receive a registration confirmation from the USA office.  Early registration for hotel rooms is highly recommended.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The USA is working in conjunction with ALTOUR to arrange the most convenient flights for you at the best possible prices.  They will research the cost of flights to and from airport that are nearest to Anaheim and that will best accommodate your needs.  They will then contact your school representative with possible cost and payment procedures.  We advise you to contact the travel agency early as many airline rates are based on 7, 14, and 21-day advance purchases and the best fares sell out quickly.  In most cases, flights are full by the end of January.  In addition, working through ALTOUR may allow you to receive a group travel discount.  ALTOUR will work with all major airlines.  For a quote contact ALTOUR at 1-866-719-0379 or submit an on-line request at varsity@aitvl.com.

EVENT ADMISSION – PARTICIPANTS AND COACHES

All participant and coach wristbands will be included in the team’s registration packet.

All coaches attending the event must be on a team roster.  Up to two (2) complimentary coach/advisor wristbands per team will be provided. Up to two (2) additional coaches’ wristbands per team may be purchased in advance through the team registration if the coaches are on the team roster.

EVENT ADMISSION – FAMILY AND GUESTS

Event admission can be purchased at the Anaheim Convention Center.  Single day adult event admission and child admission is not sold in advance and only may be purchased at the event site during the competition.  Cash only is accepted for general admission tickets purchased at the event.

One-Day Admission
$26.00 (adults)
$11.00 (children ages 5 – 11)
Under five (5) will be admitted free of charge 

PERFORMANCE ORDER/SCHEDULES

Typically, performance order is based on registration date.  The first registration entered will be the last to perform in that division and the last registration entered will be the first to perform in that division. Adjustments may be necessary due to division/team conflicts.

If payment is not received by the deadline, then performance order will be determined by when payment is received.

All teams will be given an assigned check-in and warm-up time prior to competition.

The contact on the registration will be emailed a tentative line up with performance times at least 2 weeks prior to the competition.  These times are subject to change.  The final schedule will be available by checking usa.varsity.com after 5:00 PM (PST) the Wednesday prior to the competition.  As of this day, performance times usually remain the same regardless of scratches.  It is the advisor/coach’s responsibility to check the schedule for accuracy of divisions, team size, etc. prior to the day of competition.

PERFORMANCE AREA

All Show Cheer will perform on a carpet bonded foam mat measuring 42’ (front to back) x 54’ (side to side). All stunts and/or tumbling must be completed on the mat surface.  There will be a three-point deduction off your final averaged score for each infraction of this rule.  Group Stunt teams will perform on a carpet bonded foam mat, measuring at least 28’ (front to back) x 42’ (side to side) — 4 strips. All Song/Pom teams will perform on a marley, basketball court or similar type of dance floor, measuring at least 42’ (front to back) x 42” (side to side).  Performance areas may change as a result of final registration.

SAFETY RULES/ PENALITIES

Routines at all USA competitions must follow the 2020-21 NFHS Spirit Rules Book (school-based cheer), 2020-21 USA Jr. High/Middle School Teams Show Cheer and Group Stunt Limitations (school-based cheer), 2020-21 Varsity Recreation Cheer Rules (rec cheer), 2020-21 USA Song/Pom and Pep/Short Flag General Safety Rules for School and Rec Teams (school-based and rec song/pom) and USA Jr. Competition Information (school-based and rec cheer and song/pom) available on-line at usa.varsity.com.

Points will be deducted from the final team average for violations of safety rules and/or time limits.

For specific safety rules for divisions, as well as time restrictions, skill restrictions, and other rules, please refer to the USA website at usa.varsity.com.

MUSIC

Teams may use as many songs in the music portion of their routine as they like. Music rules are being followed at all USA and Varsity Brands events.  Competition music must be properly licensed, and a team must be able to provide proof of licensing at any event where the music is used.  If a team cannot provide proof of licensing immediately upon request, the team may be disqualified from the event.   For further details visit varsity.com/music.

Music is defined as any recorded sound amplified through the competition sound system.

A sound system will be provided.  Speed control is not available.  Music checks on the main sound system are not permitted.  A representative must be present at the sound system at the time of performance.  Directors/coaches are asked to hold onto their own music until the time of performance and to take music back following the performance.

All teams must provide their own MP3 device or smart phone for use on the event provided sound system. Music must be recorded at the correct tempo.  Although it is not recommended due to interference that may be caused during a routine, a smart phone may be used for playing music.  No cover may be on any MP3 player or smart phone so that a patch cord may be easily inserted into the device.  Please ensure that jacks are clean and free of any debris which may impact connectivity.  You must ensure that your device has a jack into which a patch cord may be inserted.  Note that you will need to acquire an adapter in advance if your player does not have a head phone jack.  One or several selections of music may be used, if they follow the music licensing rules.

PRELIMS/FINALS

School-based and rec cheer and song/pom divisions with 10 or more teams after initial registration will be split by size and the resulting divisions will have preliminaries and finals with both performances on the same day.  There must be at least 3 teams (school-based cheer and song/pom) or 2 teams (rec cheer and song/pom) in each division once a split occurs to keep the divisions split by size.

AWARDS

At the conclusion of each section of the competition, awards will be presented to the top teams in each division.  Scoresheets will be made available following the competition.

For the 2021 USA Junior Nationals competition, trophies will be presented to 50% of the teams competing in each division.  For teams placing 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, individual medallions will be given to each participant.  First place teams also receive a Nationals banner and each individual team participant will receive a Champion gift.

More information coming soon…

For information about the 2021 USA Junior Nationals event, click HERE!

For the 2021 USA Junior Nationals Supplemental Registration Packet (SRP), click HERE!

HOW TO REGISTER FOR NATIONALS

More information coming soon…

More information coming soon…