2023 ICU Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships Team Cheer and Performance Cheer
Click Here To Download (EN/FR)
Call for Applications
Cheer Canada is looking for Canada’s best teams to represent our country at the 2023 ICU Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships being held in Orlando, Florida, USA. The ICU World & Junior World Championships are held annually with this being the 14th Championship. Cheer Canada hopes to use the ICU World Cheerleading Championships and ICU World Junior Cheerleading Championships to provide additional opportunities for athletes to represent their Country.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY CURRENT CHEER CANADA MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO APPLY
Event: 2023 ICU Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships, Orlando, Florida, USA
Date: April 19-21, 2023 (Tentative travel dates are April 18-22, 2023 – 4 days)
Details: Cheer Canada will send a maximum of twenty-four (24) athletes with four (4) alternates for each of the team divisions, two (2) athletes with zero (0) alternates for the doubles divisions following within the team composition criteria.
One (1) team per nation allowed for all Team Cheer divisions and one (1) team per nation allowed for all Team Performance Cheer divisions. (For example: Canada may send one Junior All Girl Team and one Junior Coed Team, etc).
Eligibility:
All competitors must satisfy the following conditions:
- All athletes are required to be a minimum of six (6) month consecutive permanent resident of their respective nation on the 2023 World Championships date of competition;
- Age of Athlete – Youth World Cheerleading Championships
- 12-14 years of age within the year of the Junior World Championship
- Age of Athlete – Junior World Cheerleading Championships
- 15-18 years of age within the year of the Junior World Championship
- Age of Athlete – World Cheerleading Championship
- Team Cheer Special Olympics & Special Abilities Intermediate Divisions – 12 years or older within the year of the World Championship
- Team Cheer Adaptive Abilities Unified Median & Advanced Divisions – 12 years or older within the year of the World Championship
- Team Performance Cheer Hip Hop, Freestyle Pom, Jazz, Adaptive Abilities Unified Hip Hop & Freestyle Pom Divisions – 14 years or older within the year of the World Championship
- Team Performance Cheer Doubles Hip Hop, Doubles Freestyle Pom Divisions
– 16 years or older within the year of the Pan-American Championship
- Team Performance Cheer Special Olympics & Special Abilities Hip Hop and Freestyle Pom Divisions – 12 years or older within the year of the World Championship
All coaches must satisfy the following conditions or complete upon selection:
- Submit a current Criminal Record Check;
- Submit their certificate for Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders;
- Submit their certificate for Safe Sport
- Provincial Coaching Certification (certification must meet the requirements of the level their team will be competing)
Applicants: Programs must submit applications to Cheer Canada meeting the following criteria:
- Be a current registrant of Cheer Canada (through their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO)) and provide registrant numbers for all rostered athletes/coaches;
- Complete roster including alternates/substitutes (Team leader must confirm all athletes are age eligible) if including alternates/substitutes please specify;
- Provide the event division their program would compete in;
- Submit a video (“Private” YouTube Video link) of the listed requirements below, following the above
NOTE: PTSOs will be required to verify that each athlete and coach is a registrant of their PTSO & Cheer Canada; Cheer Canada admin will verify that they are members in good standing with Cheer Canada.
Adjudication: An impartial judging panel will be assembled and will comprise a minimum of Three (3)Five (5) judges officials from across the country who are ICU trained and certified. Officials Judges shall use the ICU judging criteria to evaluate each video submission.
Application Deadline: Applicants must electronically submit all application items by DECEMBER 31ST, 2022 via the online form to Cheer Canada.
Application Fee:
- Team entries must also include a fee of $250 (per team)
- Duo entries must also include a fee of $50 (per duo)
Selection Dates: The final teams will be selected no later than January 13th, 2023. An email notification will be sent to all applicants no later than January 15th, 2023.
ICU World Cheerleading Championships Divisions
| Division / Age Group |
Senior (17 YEARS +) |
Junior (15-18 YEARS) |
Youth (12-14 YEARS) |
| Team Cheer All Girl Premier | National Team | N/A | N/A |
| Team Cheer Coed Premier | National Team | N/A | N/A |
| Team Cheer All Girl Elite | 16-24 athletes | 16-24 athletes | N/A |
| Team Cheer Coed Elite | 16-24 athletes | 16-24 athletes | N/A |
| Team Cheer All Girl Advanced | N/A | 16-24 athletes | 16-24 athletes |
| Team Cheer Coed Advanced | N/A | 16-24 athletes | 16-24 athletes |
| Team Cheer All Girl Median | N/A | N/A | 16-24 athletes |
| Team Cheer Coed Median | N/A | N/A | 16-24 athletes |
| Team Cheer Adaptive Abilities Unified Median* (14 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Team Cheer Adaptive Abilities Unified All Girl Advanced* (14 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Team Cheer Adaptive Abilities Unified Coed Advanced* (14 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Team Cheer Special Olympics Unified Intermediate** (12 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Team Cheer Special Olympics Traditional Intermediate** (12 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
*Note: Adaptive Abilities Unified Provincial Teams must comprise of 25% or more athletes with disabilities per team.
**Note: Special Olympics Unified Provincial Teams must comprise of a 1:1 ratio of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities per team & Special Olympics Traditional Provincial Teams must comprise of 100% athletes with intellectual disabilities per team. All Special Olympics Team eligibility is based on approval by the province’s respective Special Olympic programme and Cheer Canada. Additionally, Cheer Canada reserves the right to provide Special Abilities Unified Divisions (50% or more athletes with intellectual abilities per team) & Special Abilities Traditional Divisions (100% athletes with intellectual disabilities per team) for teams not yet eligible under Special Olympics guidelines.
ICU World Cheerleading Championships Performance Cheer Divisions
| Division / Age Group |
Senior (16 YEARS +) |
Junior (15-18 YEARS) |
Youth (12-14 YEARS) |
| Team Performance Cheer Freestyle Pom |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
| Team Performance Cheer Jazz |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
| Team Performance Cheer Hip Hop |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
16-24 athletes |
| Adaptive Abilities Unified Team Performance Cheer Hip Hop* (14 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Adaptive Abilities Unified Team Performance Cheer Freestyle Pom* (14 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Special Olympics Unified Team Performance Cheer Hip Hop** (12 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Special Olympics Unified Team Performance Cheer Freestyle Pom** (12 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Special Olympics Traditional Team Performance Cheer Hip Hop** (12 YEARS +) | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Special Olympics Traditional Team Performance Cheer Freestyle Pom** | 16 – 24 athletes | ||
| Doubles Performance Cheer Hip Hop** | 2 athletes | 2 athletes | 2 athletes |
| Doubles Performance Cheer Freestyle Pom** | 2 athletes | 2 athletes | 2 athletes |
*Note: Adaptive Abilities Unified National Teams must comprise of 25% or more athletes with disabilities per team.
**Note: Special Olympics Unified Provincial Teams must comprise of a 1:1 ratio of athletes with and without
intellectual disabilities per team & Special Olympics Traditional Provincial Teams must comprise of 100% athletes with intellectual disabilities per team. All Special Olympics Team eligibility is based on approval by the Province’s
respective Special Olympic programme and Cheer Canada. Additionally, Cheer Canada reserves the right to provide Special Abilities Unified Divisions (50% or more athletes with intellectual abilities per team) & Special Abilities Traditional Divisions (100% athletes with intellectual disabilities per team) for teams not yet eligible under Special Olympics guidelines.
Financial Cost: At the present time there is no funding available for athletes, coaches or officials; therefore, the trip is entirely self-funded. The estimated cost to attend this event is approximately $3,000.00 per person (CDN$).
Payment Schedule: Initial deposit of $250/person due on February 1st, 2023 Second deposit due February 21st, 2023
Final payment due March 17th, 2023
** Please note that Cheer Canada will confirm the amounts owing for the second deposit and final payment once entry, travel package and clothing packages have been confirmed. **
The following is a projected summary of costs incurred by a team travelling to ICU World & Junior World Cheerleading Championships.
| Description of Cost |
Estimated Cost **Please note these are only estimates and do not include any shipping and/or taxes** |
| Team Canada Uniform | $300 CDN |
| Team Canada Apparel Package (track suit, shorts, t-shirts, bag) | $300 CDN |
|
ICU World & Junior World Championship Entry Fee** |
$100 USD/athlete |
| Airfare (dependant on location within Canada)* | ranges from $500 – $850 per person |
| Accommodation & Local transportation package (including transportation to/from airport, to the competition venue & any additional official events) | Cost will vary depending on individual team |
|
Cheer Canada Participation Fee (includes Cheer Canada kit, admin fee) |
$500 per team entry or $50 per duo entry |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL | $1250 – $1600 (Plus Accommodation & Cheer Canada Participation Fee) |
*cost will vary depending on the departure city and/or date
**cost will vary based on exchange rate
Travel and Insurance:
Travel should be coordinated and paid for through the participating program/team or participant directly.
Each team member, including coaches and support personnel, must have valid out of country travel, medical (emergency & non-emergency) and personal insurance (including COVID insurance) for the duration of their stay.
Each participant is required to make themselves aware of all COVID-19 travel related requirements for entry into the host country and for return to Canada. All COVID-19 related expenses are the responsibility of the participant.
Minimum Submission Requirements:
The below requirements (along with any full routine submissions) will be adjudicated on the ICU scoring system.
Performance Cheer Videos (Team & Duo) should include:
| POM | JAZZ | HIP HOP |
| ● 4 counts of 8 including a jump combo(s) | ● 4 counts of 8 including a jump combo(s) | ● 4 counts of 8 in any style of Hip Hop |
| ● 4 counts of 8 including a kick and/or turn combination | ● 4 counts of 8 including a kick and/or turn combination | ● 4 counts of 8 in a second style of Hip Hop |
| ● 4 counts of 8 of dance within the above style. Please include skills such as (but not limited to) turns, illusions, transitions, aerials. | ● 4 counts of 8 of dance within the above style. Please include skills such as (but not limited to) turns, illusions, transitions, aerials. | ● Please include skills such as (but not limited to) kip ups, head springs, transitions, stalls. |
Team Cheer Videos should include:
Please note the following for all video submissions (Performance Cheer and Team Cheer):
- Show only your best skills with a level of mastery — clean and solid;
- Ensure entire routine is visible in video, officials can only judge what they can see;
- The environment for filming and athlete attire is recommended to be neutral and un-branded in order to prevent team identification. We will be presenting numbered videos to the officials without titles or Therefore, please refrain from adding titles or intros to videos;
- Common yet plain attire (shirts/shorts), and submissions filmed in a generic facility like a gymnasium are preferred to ensure there is no positive or negative bias during the adjudication process; and
- Total Video length should be less than 4 minutes, after 4 minutes, the video will be
Cheer Canada understands that this is a new endeavour with a large financial commitment associated with the Championship. Please feel free to reach out and discuss any questions, we are always looking for ways to assist teams who are eager to represent the country at International Championships.
For more information, please contact:
Gary Oswald
Executive Director, Cheer Canada
executivedirector@cheercanada.ca