DT Elite Competition

*Competition Information for the 2021 season will be sent out soon!

*Approximate cost and preliminary information is below. It is subject to change. 

Costs:

• Approximate cost for leveled squads is $200; Approximate cost for the exhibition squad (minis) $100.
• Approximate cost for the mandatory fundraiser $70 IN PROFIT for all squads.
• White indoor cheer shoes (to only be worn on the mat).
• Uniforms – We have not yet received pricing for the uniforms. 
• Travel: locations can change, but we look for competitions within approximately 2 hour driving or less. There will be one overnight trip, that a hotel stay is recommended. (The girls love this!)
• Admission costs to the competitions may vary, but were all under $15 a person last year.

Practices:

• Choreography practices are tentatively set to begin in Mid – September.
• Practice will be held from 5:45 PM to approximately 8:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays for leveled squads and from 5:45 PM to 7:30 PM for the exhibition squad. Practice times and dates are subject to change.
• The week before a competition practices have been extended in the past years to 8:00/8:30PM.
• Practices for leveled squads will begin the week after homecoming is held (tentative first practice October 2nd).
• Practices for the exhibition squad will begin (tentatively) October 16th.
• Practices are mandatory PERIOD! This is for safety, we can't do our routines if all the girls are not there!

Mats:

• Each family is required to help haul, set up, and tear down mats!
• We will need to know if you are able to help with hauling them from the cougar building to practice and back.
• A schedule will be sent out to make sure that we are covered for each practice.
• We cannot practice without the mats! This is a pain for all of us, but goes so much smoother with your help!

 Competitions:

• The leveled squads will participate in approximately 6 competitions (5 local and one overnight). The exhibition squad will participate in 3 competitions.
• Competition season will tentatively run from December through March.
• We have not yet received the dates for most of the competitions. We will provide the schedule as we have more information.
• The week of the competition we receive that day’s schedule. We pass information along as we receive it.
• All cheerleaders will be expected to arrive promptly at the meeting time. We are not able to enter most competitions until our entire squad is together!
• Competitions last a few hours, please plan on spending anywhere from 4-6 hours at the venues.
  

Getting prepared for Tryouts:

 *  Please be sure that your cheerleader starts to prepare for tryouts!

• She should be working on jumps, tight motions, stretching, tumbling (with parent’s approval), and Smiling!
• Doing 2 sets of:  20 pushups, 25 sit-ups, a 1-minute Plank, and 10 bridges 3 days a week will help to set them up for success! Don’t forget to have them stretch first!
• Many cheer workouts and prep routines can be found on Pinterest!

Levels:

There have been some questions as to what exhibition, level 1 and level 2 are. Each "level" is set up based upon skill levels and ages set by the USASF. These are the standards that most competitions follow. There are many other "fine print" conditions that we also have to follow, but below will give you a top level view of some of the criteria we use to determine what level a cheerleader is placed on. Please know that we do our best to place each cheerleader in the best fit for them AND the squad as a whole.

Exhibition (Mini):

• Exhibition (or Mini) are comprised of ages younger than that of the level 1 team. (note that a certain % can be above the age)
• Exhibition teams are not judged.
• In the past few years, Exhibition have been considered Mini and have been judged because the price at the competitions was not different for one versus the other. This allows coaches to receive a scoring sheet to see what they can work on.  Also, the age was not the same as the level 1 squad. You cannot compete against your own teams.

 Level 1:

 * Ages are not the same as the exhibition team

• Certain % are able to perform a forward roll, cartwheel, round-off, front walkover, back walkover, and handstand
• Prep level stunts.
• A dance, cheer, pyramid, jump sequence, standing tumbling, running tumbling and stunts will all be a part of the routine. Cheerleaders should have clean motions and strong athletic abilities in order to perform each sequence.

 Level 2:

 * Ages are generally one level above the level 1 team.

• Certain % are able to perform all level one tumbling and a front/back handspring.
• A dance, cheer, pyramid, jump sequence, standing tumbling, running tumbling and stunts will all be a part of the routine. Cheerleaders should have clean motions and strong athletic abilities in order to perform each sequence.