Cheer Registration

Please read all of the information below. Then use the following links (Google Forms) to register for the NJCDCA State Championship

Registration Checklist
- ONLINE Registration Form requires:
  - General Registration and Contact Information
  - Floor Acknowledgement Form (Cheer Teams only)
  - Music Copyright Form
  - NJCDCA Official Team Roster *Click Here*
- Required Items to be Mailed:
  - Certificate of Insurance (see below)
  - Participant Release Waiver *Click Here*
  - Competition Invoice for Entry fee(s) or purchase order form *Click Here*

Payment
- All Member teams are $225 for each team ($150 for Game Day if entering 2 divisions w/ same team.)
- All Non-Member teams are $275 for each team ($200 for Game day if entering 2 divisions w/ same team.)
  - School Teams ONLY submit registration information required for MAIL: Kimberly McGowan, 47 Highfield Road, Colonia, NJ 07067
- Make checks payable to NJCCA
- If paying by Venmo @NJCDCA-treasurer
  - YOU MUST LIST THE FOLLOWING IN THE VENMO NOTE: TEAM NAME, COACH'S NAME & PHONE NUMBER

Deadlines & Late Fees: (Please see specific page for pricing and mailing information)
- On Time Registration: Must be time stamped on or before 11:59PM on January 17, 2025.
  - Any application postmarked after January 17, 2025 will be charged a late fee of $100 per team.
- "Last Chance": Must be time stamped on or before the timestamp date of 11:59PM on January 31, 2025.
  - No exceptions. Your $100 late fee (per team) must be applied to your payment.
- APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER JANUARY 31, 2025. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- NO CERTIFIED MAIL. IF OVERNIGHTING YOUR WAIVERS, PO/PAYMENTS OR CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE, PLEASE WAIVE THE SIGNATURE.
- WHEN SENDING PO'S, PLEASE SEND A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.
- All fees are non refundable. No fees or forms will be collected the day of the competition. All coaches are responsible for completing all forms. No phone calls will be made to inform you of missing items.

Insurance Certificates:
- The following addresses are for the additional insureds- give to your insurance agent:
  - NJCDCA: 47 Highfield Road, Colonia, NJ 07067 Attn: Kimberly McGowan
  - Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ
    - Each team must email/mail with their payment a certificate of insurance naming BOTH the NJCDCA and Brookdale Community College as the additional insured. If you fail to do so, you will not be able to participate.
  - NO CERTIFICATES WILL BE ACCEPTED the day of competition and verbal authorization is not acceptable.

Team Roster & Liability Release Forms: (see links above under Registration)
- Please submit an NJCDCA Official Team Roster for each team competing in your ONLINE Registration Form
- Coaches must MAIL each participants' liability release form before they are permitted to compete. It is the responsibility of the coach to copy one for each participant and submit them along with the entry packet
- PLEASE DO NOT FAX OR EMAIL LIABILITY FORMS. THEY SHOULD BE MAILED OR BROUGHT TO ONE OFTHE MANDATORY COACHES MEETINGS. THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED THE DAY OF THE EVENT.

General Competition Information:

Performance Surface:

All Music teams will perform on a SPRING FLOOR (54 x42)
Cheer/Dance and Non-Tumble teams will perform on a FLAT MAT (54x42)
Game Day teams will perform on a FLAT MAT (54x42)
Dance teams will perform on a basketball court wood floor surface

General Information

Due to liability issues the use of designated spotters for cheer teams is not an option.
Alternate judging will be used for all divisions.
The warm-up time will be 4 minutes for both the tumbling mat and performance mat.
Performance times will be posted online after the mandatory coaches’ meetings.
NJCDCA will be selling t-shirts online and at the event.
Updates will be posted in our NJCDCA Coaches BAND forum.

Time Limits:

CHEER/DANCE: 2:30 minutes max
ALL MUSIC: 2:30 minutes max
RECREATION: 2:30 minutes max
GAME DAY (School and Rec): 3:00 minutes max
Dance: 3:00 minutes max

Rules & Penalties:

Coaches will not be permitted to speak to the safety judges before their performance time
All safety questions must be sent to the Safety Committee via THIS LINK *Click Here* by February 15
36 member maximum per team except for where noted
National Federation Interscholastic Spirit Association rules and regulations, including current revisions, with the exception of the use of a spring floor, will be strictly enforced.
- A .5 point deduction will be assessed for athletes stepping off the performing surface.
- A 1 point deduction will be assessed for minor infractions (NFHS Rule 2-General Info and Rule 3 &4 Apparel/Accessories).
- A 2.5 point deduction will be assessed for each infraction (all other sections) including exceeding the time limit. www.nfhs.org
- A 2.5 point deduction will be assessed in the Non-Tumbing division for any tumbling skills that are performed.
- A 2.5 point deduction will be assessed in the Intermediate division for any skills performed out of the level.
- A 2.5 point deduction will be assessed in the Game Day division for any infraction of the rules.
Please note Rubrics for all Varsity, Co-ed, Non-tumbling, Game Day and Intermediate divisions are located on the SCORE SHEET PAGE .
Alternate team members and coaches sitting on the competition floor may not say the words with the team
Timing will begin with the first word, movement or note of music and end with the last.
Alternate team members and coaches sitting on the competition floor may not say the words with the team
A warm up area with tumbling strips will be available.
Timing will begin with the first word, movement or note of music and end with the last.

Score Check:

Score sheets will be available immediately after the competition.
Score Check - Approximately 15 minutes after your performance, all cheer teams will have an opportunity to view and discuss the following:
- On Day 1 - Legality Check for Game Day teams
- On Day 2 – Difficulty Score and Legality Check for all Performance teams
A table at the back of the judges dais will be designated for score check and one (1) coach from each team will be permitted at the table.
A sheet with your difficulty ranges (performance teams), any safety infractions and point deductions will be provided for you.
Legality:
- If it is decided that an infraction / point deduction has NOT taken place, the score check judge will notify tabulation and the penalty will be removed.
Ranges:
- If it is decided that a range needs to be adjusted, the score check judge will notify tabulation and the range will be adjusted.
- If it is determined that the range is correct, the decision is FINAL.
No scores will be adjusted if found to be in the correct range.
ONLY YOUR DIFFICULTY SCORES CAN BE CHALLENGED; NOT EXECUTION.
You should print and bring a copy of the ranges- they will not be provided for you. THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN CHALLENGE YOUR SCORES.
If you have sent in a skill to the Legality Review link and it has been deemed LEGAL, you should print and bring the email that states the legal ruling.
You may not question another team’s scores.
Once the score check judge has made a decision, it is FINAL.

Awards:

Team trophies will be awarded to the top 3 places in each division.
Banners & Medals will be awarded to division champions in all divisions as well as group champions in the varsity cheer/dance and all music divisions only
NEW THIS YEAR! ALL Cheer Teams in the Varsity Cheer/Dance, Varsity Game Day AND the Varsity All-Music division will compete for a State Group Title in the respective division/group. Group Info can be found on the High School Cheer Page.

Mandatory Coaches Meeting:

Two mandatory coaches meeting will take place. YOU ONLY NEED TO ATTEND ONE.
Each team must have at least one coach or team representative attend either (one) of the meetings.
- Date: February 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Howell High School, 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Farmingdale, NJ
- Date: February 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM at David Brearley High School, Kenilworth, NJ.
Cheer Coaches will receive their packets of information including their warm-up and performance times.
DIVISIONS CANNOT BE CHANGED ONCE THE FIRST MEETING TAKES PLACE. Please notify Kimberly McGowan immediately if your division has changed after you have registered.
We suggest that you have a backup/ contingency plan because if any team does not have a coach or a representative for the team present (no students allowed) you will not be permitted to compete.
No Exceptions! If you have another coach/ representative pick up your packet you are still responsible for all information presented at this meeting.
We request that you hold your questions until the meeting so that everyone receives the same information or e-mail your questions in advance to njcdcastatechampionships@gmail.com so we can have that information ready for all coaches at the meetings.
DANCE COACHES: We will have a separate meeting for all dance coaches on a date to be determined.

Scheduled Start Times:

Doors will open at 1-1/2 hours before the scheduled start times for team and 1 hour ahead for the spectators.
Day 1: Game Day Divisions will be in the morning and Dance will be in the afternoon.
Day 2: All Music teams will perform in Sessions 1 and 2 in the morning and all Cheer/Dance teams will perform in sessions 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
Schedule is subject to change.

Team Eligibility:

All team members must be a full-time student within the school district where they currently cheer/dance and compete or attend a magnet/technical/ choice school with the permission of that school district.
The district Athletic Director must certify that all competitors participating and competing in the state competition through NJCDCA are active students and covered under the district Board of Education’s (or like governing body’s) liability insurance.
Coaches must be able to certify that every student participating is a student in good academic standing.
Seniors are permitted to participate on JV teams at the discretion of the coach.
8th grade students are not permitted to cheer in any High School divisions.

Please Note:

Eligible for “group” state championship:
- All-Girl Cheer/Dance small, med., large, mega, super, and co-ed varsity
- All-Girl All Music small, med., large, mega, super, and co-ed varsity
- All-Girl Game Day small, med., large, mega, and co-ed varsity
- All Music teams in the Group Cheer Championships will compete against other All Music teams in their respective groups; Cheer/Dance teams will compete against other Cheer/Dance teams in their respective groups; and Game Day teams will compete against other Game Day teams in their respective groups.
IMPORTANT! There must be at least three (3) teams in each division, or divisions MAY be combined (except Group Cheer Championships which may have 2 teams)
Although we do not encourage crossovers, we understand injuries do occur. Up to 2 substitutions to cover potential illness or injury are permitted. Your rosters should reflect the names of the substitutes.

Admission:

Cheerleader/Dancer/Coach Wristbands: NO wristbands will be issued the day of the event. ANY ATHLETE or coach attending BOTH DAYS of competition will be required to keep their wristbands on for both days. DAMAGED or MISSING wristbands will require entrance and payment through spectator entrance.
- Wristbands will be distributed to participants and coaches only.
- Only team members and coaches with wristbands will be free.
- Only 2 coaches and the maximum number of team members allowed in each division will be admitted free with wristbands.
- Admissions are $20 per person.
- $10 for students with School ID ONLY (No other forms of ID will be accepted)
- Pre-Admission can be purchased through EVENTBRITE.
- 5 and under free

Other Information:

Score sheets will be available immediately after the competition.
No outside food or drink is to be brought into Brookdale Community College.
The NJCDCA , Monroe Twp HS, or Brookdale Community College is not responsible for lost or stolen items.