General Scoring
Game Day Information
UCA Game Day Routine Criteria
NHSCC 4-Day Tentative Block Schedule
The format for Regionals and Nationals is inspired by what teams do at home and is similar to camp with the addition of Fight Song as a fourth element. Teams are permitted, but not required, to use camp material to demonstrate the game day environment at their school. With all four elements combined, the Game Day performance cannot exceed a 3 minute time limit. All skill restrictions below will be enforced.
BAND CHANT: The Band Chant will be consistent with the summer camp format. Teams should demonstrate spirit and enthusiasm while entering the performance floor and before the music begins. A cue will not be given to start the Band Chant. Once the music begins, the teams cannot incorporate any skills other than kicks and jumps, just like summer camp. Squads should utilize spirit raising props and focus on creative movements such as level changes or ripples, execution of the material and encouraging the crowd to participate.
SITUATIONAL SIDELINE: Following the Band Chant, the announcer will provide a cue for offense or defense. Teams should wait until the announcer finishes the cue and show the proper response to the game day situation. Squads should focus on crowd effectiveness, motion technique and skills relevant to a game day environment. NOTE: It is a requirement to incorporate skills into the Sideline (stunts and/or tumbling, if the division allows). Please review skill restrictions below.
CROWD LEADING: Following the Sideline, teams must return to the performance surface and show a clear separation between elements. Teams can show spirited interaction as a clear transition into the Crowd Leading material but are not allowed to stunt. Crowd Leading can include a cheer reflective of a timeout, general sideline / spell-out or other cheer material with minimal words, inciting a response and encouraging a crowd to yell along. Teams are required to incorporate spirit props and practical skills (stunts and/or tumbling, if the division allows).
FIGHT SONG: The final element should reflect your school’s traditional Fight Song. Teams should incorporate crowd effective skills (stunts and/or tumbling, if the division allows) and can include spirit raising props to enhance the overall effect. Fight Song incorporation is limited to three (3) consecutive 8-counts of stunts and/or tumbling. Counting will begin with the initiation of a skill and continue until either the incorporation is complete or the end of the 3rd 8-count. (If the Fight Song repeats, the incorporation will only be permitted both times if the skills are repeated exactly the same.) For teams that do not have an official Fight Song, it is recommended to use a second selection of band chant music. Music guidelines are available at varsity.com/music.
Game Day Skill Restrictions:
Qualification:
Teams must attend a Varsity Spirit Summer Camp that is at least two days or more and participate in the Squad Credentialing program, in addition to qualifying at a UCA Regional Competition in order to be eligible to participate in the 2025 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship. To be eligible for a bid at a qualifying UCA Regional Competition, 75% of the team must attend camp and participate in the Squad Credentialing Program.
Check out the videos below for inside tips on making your Game Day Competition performance the best it can be. Good luck at your UCA Regional Competition and the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship!
BAND CHANT:
SITUATIONAL SIDELINE:
CROWD LEADING:
FIGHT SONG:
We remain committed to fair and consistent scoring. Our goal is to evolve and provide the tools needed to all school teams this season for a clear understanding of divisions, rules, and scoring. To achieve this, we will follow the four guiding principles of transparency, fairness, integrity, and safety.
Scoring Review Process (See Attached)
Click here for the UCA Scoring Review
Legality Review Process
Universal Cheerleaders Association offers a service to help teams with legality and safety questions. Teams will be able to email skills in throughout the year to receive a legality or safety response. This service will help teams get a response with a video attached back to use in situations where the skill may be in question.
Teams are not required, but encouraged, to submit a safety video.
To email a video, the following must be included:
Videos that do not follow the above rules will not receive a response.
If you know that your video does not meet all the requirements above, please refilm/resubmit the video. Only videos that meet the above requirements will be reviewed.
Please send all videos to ucarules@varsity.com.
Please note: Performing the skill at a prior event does not ensure that a skill is legal nor that it would have warranted a legality warning. Only submitting the skill will make the skill eligible for a warning. UCA can only guarantee this process will be accepted at UCA-branded events. This would not include other Varsity-branded and state association events.
Click here for a complete list of changes for the 2021-2022 USA Cheer High School Rules.
Criteria for Selecting Judges
Judges selected for one of our regional events should meet these standards
In addition to the regional event standards these additional criteria will be used when selecting our National Championship Judges.
Judge Selection – Example Conflicts of Interest
Providing accurate, fair, and unbiased feedback for our customers is one of our top priorities. With that said, our selected panel of judges must have no affiliation with teams in a division they are scheduled to judge.
Example of potential Conflicts of Interest:
For Nationals/Championship events
Judges Directory
Coming soon!
Interested in Judging?
Click HERE to share your interest with our competition team.
Watch these videos to take a deep dive into the UCA Score Sheets.
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