24 ICU Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships Team Cheer and Performance Cheer

Call for Applications

Cheer Canada is looking for Canada’s best teams to represent our country at the 15^th Annual ICU Junior World and World Cheerleading Championships this coming April in Orlando, Florida. Cheer Canada hopes that these events will provide additional and exciting opportunities for athletes to represent Canada.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY CURRENT CHEER CANADA MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO APPLY

Event: 2024 ICU Junior World and World Cheerleading Championships, Orlando, Florida.

Date: April 24-26, 2024.

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 falling within the team composition criteria.

One (1) team per nation is allowed for all Team Cheer divisions and one (1) team per nation is allowed for all Team Performance Cheer divisions. (For example: Canada may send one [1] Junior All Girl Team and one [1] Junior Coed Team, etc).

Eligibility:

All competitors must satisfy the following conditions:

All athletes are required for a minimum of six (6) months to be a permanent resident of their respective nation on the 2024 World Championships date of competition;

Age of Athlete – Youth World Cheerleading

12-14 years of age within the year of the Junior World Championship.

Age of Athlete – Junior World Cheerleading

15-18 years of age within the year of the Junior World Championship.

Age of Athlete – World Cheerleading Championship

Team Cheer Special Olympics and Special Abilities Intermediate Divisions – 12 years or older within the year of the World Championship.

Team Cheer Adaptive Abilities Unified Median and 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 and 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 World Championship.

Team Performance Cheer Special Olympics and 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 training; and,
Provincial Coaching Certification (certification must meet the requirements of the level their team will be competing).

Applicants: Submissions to Cheer Canada must meet 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; and,

Submit a video (“Private” YouTube Video link) of the listed requirements below, following the above divisions.

NOTE: PTSOs will be required to verify that each athlete and coach is a registrant of their PTSO and Cheer Canada. Cheer Canada administration 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) to 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 15, 2023 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 and an email notification will be sent to all applicants no later than December 20, 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 be comprised of 25 percent 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 be comprised of 100 percent athletes with intellectual disabilities per team. All Special Olympics Team eligibility is based on approval by the province’s respective Special Olympic program and Cheer Canada. Additionally, Cheer Canada reserves the right to provide Special Abilities Unified Divisions (50 percent or more athletes with intellectual abilities per team) and Special Abilities Traditional Divisions (100 percent 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 be comprised of 25 percent or more athletes with disabilities per team.

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 (CDN) per person.

Payment Schedule: Initial deposit of $250/person due on February 1st, 2024 Second deposit due February 21st, 2024

Final payment due March 17th, 2024

** 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 traveling to ICU World and 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 (tracksuit, shorts, t-shirts, bag)	$300 CDN
ICU World & Junior World Championship Entry Fee**	$100 USD/athlete
Airfare (dependent 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 the 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 and 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 and 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, and aerials.	● 4 counts of 8 of dance within the above style. Please include skills such as (but not limited to) turns, illusions, transitions, and aerials.	● Please include skills such as (but not limited to) kip-ups, head springs, transitions, and 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 non-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 four minutes, after four minutes, the video will be

Cheer Canada understands that this is an endeavour with a large financial commitment. Please feel free to reach out and discuss any questions as we are always looking for ways to assist teams who are eager to represent Canada on the international stage.

For more information, please contact: Gary B. Oswald

Executive Director

Cheer Canada

executivedirector@cheercanada.ca

Mackenzie Craig

National Team Coordinator

Cheer Canada

mackenzie@cheercanada.ca