COMPETITIVE CHEER

All business conducted by sport committees must be submitted as recommendations to the Administrative Committee. I. Regular Season A. Crossroads League Cheer will follow the NAIA guidelines in regards to: 1. Maximum number 10 Contests. One scrimmage. Minimum number of regular season countable competitions (4) 2. 24 week season 3. For a student athlete to participate in Crossroads League competitions, they must have been certified as NAIA eligible with the conference. 4. Participating schools: Bethel University, Wesleyan, Marian University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, , , University of Saint Francis,

II. Rules Governing Play: NAIA Cheer Rulebook will be used for Championship Competition. Competition rules, score sheets, rubrics, judges, etc. must meet current NAIA Guidelines within the capabilities of the facility.

III. League Championship The Crossroads League Conference Cheer Champions will be determined at the Crossroads League Conference Championship Competition. A. The CL Conference Championship will be hosted on an alphabetical order rotating basis beginning 2021. The team in position to host has until August 1st to confirm. If they are unavailable to host, it then goes to the next team in alphabetical order until a host is secured. B. Must be held 2 weeks prior to NAIA Nationals Championship date. (makeup date within 7 or 8 days of the National Qualifying Competition and must be a weekend day). (All depending on NAIA ruling about when conference championships are to be held) C. Should the host school also be hosting the Crossroads League Basketball tournament on that Saturday, Cheer will begin at 12:00 noon start time and basketball will move to a 7:00pm start time. D. The 2021 Crossroads League Competitive Cheer Championship will be hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 3:00pm. *If IWU is hosting for Basketball, Cheer will adjust times and begin earlier in the day and will discuss the possibility of the Basketball game beginning at 7:00pm that day. E. Future Hosting Rotation: Will be determined during a coaches meeting after the complete of the 2021 Championship F. League Championship Procedures Follow National Qualifying Competition and Nationals system format. See NAIA Rulebook for Final Event Score Calculations (pg. 9 of 2019-2020 rulebook) 1. 1 gym/set of mat structure i. Open stretch for 30 minutes for all teams and coaches meeting where order of Preliminary Competition will be drawn. ii. Open Stunting for 30 minutes (15 min for the first 3 preliminary teams followed by 15 min for the other 3 preliminary teams) followed by Open Tumbling for all teams for 10 min iii. Introduction of Teams and National Anthem. iv. Full Mat Team Warmups begin 20 minutes prior to National Anthem with each team getting 10 min on the mat in the preliminary order.

Team A full mat for 10 min Team B full mat for 10 min National Anthem Team A competes 64 Crossroads League Procedures Manual 2020/2021

Team C full mat for 10 min Team B competes. etc.

v. Teams compete in Preliminary Order every 10 minutes. vi. Coaches will be given their own preliminary scoresheets as soon as they are ready and the coach will have 10 min from the time they are given their scoresheets to report any calculation errors and appeals. Team rankings and scores will be announced at the conclusion of the preliminary competition. vii. Warmups for the Conference Finals begin in order from the lowest ranked team to the highest ranked team. Warm-ups follow same procedures as preliminary rounds. viii. Coaches will be given their own finals scoresheets as soon as they are ready and the coach will have 10 min from the time they are given their scoresheets to report any calculation errors or appeals.

2. Contest procedures for multiple gyms/facility/mat structure i. Open stretch for 30 minutes for all teams and coaches meeting where order of Preliminary Competition will be drawn. ii. Warmup Structure in order of preliminary order: a. 10 minute stretching b. 10 minute Tumble/Stunt Mats (at least 2 strips) c. 10 Full Mat d. 10 Minute Holding Area

iii. Introduction of Teams and National Anthem occurs without teams present. Team A will compete immediately following National Anthem. iv. Teams compete in Preliminary Order every 10 minutes. v. Coaches will be given their own preliminary scoresheets as soon as they are ready and the coach will have 10 min from the time they are given their scoresheets to report any calculation errors and appeals. Team rankings and scores will be announced at the conclusion of the preliminary competition. vi. Warmups for the Conference Finals begin in order from the lowest ranked team to the highest ranked team. Warmups will follow same procedures as preliminary round. vii. Coaches will be given their own finals scoresheets as soon as they are ready and the coach will have 10 min from the time they are given their scoresheets to report any calculation errors or appeals. G. Awards Ceremony at conclusion of competition H. Competition rules, score sheets, rubrics, judges, etc. must meet current NAIA Guidelines within the capabilities of the facility. I. Host must have video review capabilities as required by the NAIA for the deductions judge and appeals J. Responsibility of host schools to ensure all guidelines are met K. Official assigner: Regina Smith [email protected] is the Crossroads League assignor

a. Official’s fees: 2-4 team event $110; 5-8 team event $185; more than 8 teams $210. CL League conference tournament $205. b. Required: 3 panel officials and 1 deductions official

L. Financial Report Form - Host school for Crossroads League Competitive Cheer will use the supplied Financial Report Form to report expenses and gate revenues to the League Commissioner. Revenue (net) and the Financial Form are to be forwarded to the League office one week after the Crossroads League Competitive Cheer Championship is complete.

IV. All Crossroads League Team

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A. The Crossroads League All-Crossroads League Teams will consist of a12-athlete First Team (3 Bases, 3 Back spots, 3 Flyers, 3 Tumblers) and a 12-athlete Second Team (3 Bases, 3 Back spots, 3 Flyers, 3 Tumblers) B. Athletes will be selected by the coaches. 1. Each coach will have the opportunity to nominate a maximum of 3 athletes for a particular position (Base, Back spot, Flyer, Tumbler), as well as 1 nomination for Newcomer of the Year. Nominations should be sent to the league chairperson by a pre-specified date. 2. Each submission will include a summary of each athlete and their role on the mat for their nominated position as well as at least 1 current season competition video highlighting the nominated athlete. Coaches will use the NAIA Cheer Rubric to outline the qualities of their athlete. The summary should first highlight the athlete in the position they are being nominated for (if an athlete is nominated as a base, their tumbling skills should not be considered in determining their ranking for a particular position) and then should include extra skill sets that each athlete uses on the mat which will help determine the Player of the Year award should they be selected as a First Team recipient. Newcomer of the Year nominations should also include a written summary as well as current season competition video. 3. A list will be compiled and the Sport Chair will send ballots to the member schools. 4. Coaches will vote on 12 athletes for each position, ranking them 12 to 1 (12 should be given to the top athlete in the league) 5. Coaches may rank their own athletes 6. League Coaches will meet on a conference call the Sunday prior to Crossroads League Competition to discuss nominations and vote for All Crossroads League athletes. C. Crossroads League Player of the Year will recognize the whole athlete. The Player of the Year will be chosen from the list of 12-First Team athletes. During the coaches conference call meeting, once First Team Athletes have been chosen, coaches will review the extra skill sets of the First Team recipients and a verbal vote will be taken for Player of the Year. In the case of a tie, a second vote will be taken between the tied nominations.

D. The First and Second Team All-Crossroads League Selections, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year will receive a plaque issued by the league. E. Coach of the Year-Cheer coaches will submit their vote for Coach of the Year with the All-League athlete nominations. In the case of a tie, a second vote will be taken just between the two coaches. F. Voting results for all Crossroads League Teams will be made available to all Crossroads League Competitive Cheer Coaches. If votes are taken by ballot, the ballot results will be shown to all Crossroads League Cheer coaches. If the votes are taken verbally, the verbal results will be documented for all Crossroads League Cheer coaches to see. G. Awards will be handed out at the Crossroads League Championship H. Following the selection of the All-Crossroads League Teams, the sports chair will submit a complete list of award winners, including votes received and indicating any ties or special circumstances to the Crossroads League Sports Information Director by the end of the same day.

V. NAIA Post Season Qualification- The winner of the Crossroads League Competition will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championship

VI. Sports Information- Host institutions will report all scores to the NAIA within 24 hours and the host institution is the responsible party to submit all results from all institutions.

VII. Sport Chair- The position of sport chair will be voted upon every two years. No term limitations will be set, but individuals must be nominated and voted into the position every two years.

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