National Collegiate Acrobatics
NCATATA NCA
& Tumbling Association
MEDIA GUIDE
2010-2011
Official Media Guide for the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association速
Founding Universities
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NCATATA NCA table of contents
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REASONS TO ATTEND A NCATA UNIVERSITY NCATA FOUNDING UNIVERSITY VISIONARIES NCATA INAUGURAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NCATA STUDENT ATHLETES BENEFITING NCATA FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS NCATA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR NCATA COMPETITION NCATA UNIQUE SCORING IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
NCATA 2010-2011 COMPETITION SCHEDULE
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Why a NCATA University?
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Academic Support Institutions provide extensive resources such as tutors, study sessions, counselors and other academic support tools to ensure student athletes meet NCAA academic standards and get a top quality education.
Focus on Safety The Department of Education states that each athlete has the right to participate in a safe sport in all categories from training to competition. Professional coaches, appropriate facilities and extensive continuing education ensure the highest safety standards. Additional support from the USA Sports Safety promotes these standards.
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REASONS TO ATTEND A NCATA UNIVERSITY
Opportunities in Athletics Athletes are a part of history as it develops with the emergence of a new women s collegiate sport. Acrobatics and Tumbling is an original sport that provides new opportunities for women to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
National Championships NCAA requires all sports to hold a true national championships. With regional competitions culminating in one true Nationals, the pinnacle of college sports is to be the last team standing‌.the one true National Champion!
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Athletic Support Staff Each university will support their acrobatics and tumbling team as equal to all other sports on campus. All educational and athletic perks are awarded to each of the studentathletes representing their acrobatics and tumbling team.
Why a NCATA University?
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Coaching Staff Qualified professional coaches are hired through national coaching searches to administer and train student athletes along with employed assistants and a staff of other coaches.
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Style of Competition The NCATA developed the exciting structure to compete in this sport. The fan friendly meet style format allows athletes from several different disciplines to specialize in their particular strengths as well as teams to excel as a whole.
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Facilities Acrobatics and Tumbling teams are provided with dedicated equipment, training, locker room and practice area facilities. Teams compete in their university s premier sports venues on campus.
Athletic Scholarship NCAA member institutions have invested millions of dollars into providing athletic scholarships for Acrobatics and Tumbling athletes. The financial advantage to parents and the benefit of a college education is invaluable to the success of a student athlete after graduation.
Athletic Participation Women who participate in sports have higher confidence and self-esteem. These benefits along with the irreplaceable experience of being a part of a team during college are often the propellants to a more fulfilling future.
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Which NCATA University?
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NCATA FOUNDING UNIVERSITY VISIONARIES
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2 Eugene, Oregon State flagship school NCAA Division I PAC 12 Conference West NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 16,942 Offers: Co-ed Spirit Cheer, Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling
College Park, Maryland State flagship school NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference East NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 24,520 Offers: Women s Gymnastics Team, Co-ed Spirit Cheer and Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling
3 Hamden, Connecticut Private university NCAA Division I Northeast Conference East NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 5,686 Offers: Co-ed Spirit Cheer, Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling
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Which NCATA University?
4 Waco, Texas Private university NCAA Division I Big 12 Athletic Conference West NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 11,880 Offers: Co-ed Spirit Cheer, Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling
5 Azusa, California Private university NAIA Division Golden State Athletic Conference West NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 4,163 Offers: Co-ed Spirit Cheer, Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling
6 Fairmont, West Virginia State university NCAA Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East NCATA Conference Undergraduate enrollment of 3,617 Offers: Co-ed Spirit Cheer, Women s Acrobatics and Tumbling 9
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NCATA INAUGURAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Only One. The NCATA follows the NCAA philosophy of having only one National Championship crowning a single national winner. The East and West Conference will come together to enjoy this inaugural event in early April in Eugene, OR.
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One Standard. The NCATA is setting a standard with the implementation of ONE National Championship representing the acrobatics and tumbling programs across the United States.
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Competition Site.
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National Championship The NCATA National Championship is a single-elimination tournament. Teams must be from member universities in good standing with the NCATA. All regular season requirements must be met including, but not limited to, number of required meets, team membership, and coach professional membership.
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NCATA National Championships April 7-9, 2011 University of Oregon
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Qualification Championship Qualification Score (CQS) for All Around Championship Teams will be seeded for the NCATA Championship based on regular season results from each sanctioned meet. For the all-around championship, the CQS is calculated by averaging the four highest final scores earned during each event at NCATA sanctioned meets. Two out of the four scores earned must be earned at NCATA away sanctioned meets. If a tie occurs the next highest score is used to break the tie. Top two all around CQS scores earn a bye for the first round at the championship. The top six all around CQS scores qualify to compete at the NCATA championship. CQS will be calculated per event and a separate CQS will be calculated for the all around score.
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Tournament Brackets
Event Finals Event finals will occur on Saturday morning prior to the national championship meet. Each heat will have four teams competing. The four highest scores earned throughout the regular season (in each of the 4 skill events and the team event) at NCATA sanctioned meets will qualify for event finals at the championship. Student-athletes may not compete twice in the same heat during the event finals at the championship. One substitution to the originally qualifying group allowed for injury or a double qualifying athlete in the partner stunt, pyramid, tumbling and basket toss rounds is permissible. The group or individuals identified as receiving the highest score will be Event Champion.
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How many athletes benefit from NCATA opportunities?
NCATA STUDENT ATHLETES BENEFITING
Azusa PaciďŹ c University Student-Athlete Roster yields = 25 females
University of Maryland Student-Athlete Roster yields = 36 females
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Baylor University Student-Athlete Roster yields = 27 females
Fairmont State University Student-Athlete Roster yields = 30 females
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Quinnipiac University Student-Athlete Roster yields = 31 females
University of Oregon Student-Athlete Roster yields = 36 females
These 185 student-athletes inspiring women have chosen to become a pioneer in a grand way. These athletes are making history in the sports world by being a member on the ďŹ rst teams to compete in the new sport of acrobatics and tumbling.
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Where are NCATA athletes coming from?
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Cheer Gyms
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Gymnastic Gyms
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Universities
NCATA ATHLETE REPRESENTED CLUBS / SCHOOLS
South Jersey Storm Will-Moor Gymnastics Gold Star Gymnastics USA All Stars Rettig's Gymnastics Bulgarian National Gym Cheer Dynasty Yellow Jackets Gymnastics Club Metro Gymnastics Center Star Athletics Five Star Gymnastics Academy Le Club Gymnastics Maryland Twisters Cascade Elite Gymnastics Club Diamondback Gymnastics Spirit Central Flips Gymnastics American Elite Gymnastics Premier Great White Sharks Gymnastics Plus American Gymnastics Academy World Cup Shooting Stars Flight School Gymnastics Center Twiststars Stingrays OGA Gymnastics club JuST Cheer Ultimate Athletics Legacy High Schools All Star Legacy Lahainaluna High School Methuen Pittsburgh Superstars Mater Dei HS Oregon City HS Gravity Cheer Croton Harmon Westview HS Top Gun Jackson Memorial Glencoe HS Cheer Factor All Stars Sachem North Union HS Stealth All-Stars St. John Vianney Western Christian HS Cheer Challenge All-Stars Wood Ridge North Forsyth HS FAME All-Stars Mount Olive Aliso Niguel HS Jersey Devil All-Stars Academy of the Holy Names Barbe HS Rams All-Stars Nipmuclan Regional Newport HS World Cup Odyssey All-Stars Holy Name Reno HS Connecticut Spirit All-Stars Brick Township Red Mountain HS USA Wildcat All-Stars Robert E. Fitch High School Lithia Springs HS PACE All-Stars Westerly Kamehameha HS West Coast Extreme Seymour San Marcos HS Ignite All-Stars Taunton High School Vista HS Motion All-Stars Shamokin Area Oak HS Nor*Cal Elite All-Stars Middletown Area Los Alamitos HS California Cheer Gym Nonnewaug Upland HS Hype Addiction Raritan High School Chicago Christian HS Icon All-Stars Roxbury Woodrow Wilson Classical HS Pacific Coast Magic Burlington Santa Rosa Academy Magic All-Stars Texas Lonestar Cheer Co. Fierce All-Stars California Flyers All-Stars Champion Cheer Oregon Coast College College of the Canyons Storm Cheer Stephen F. Austin University of Tennessee Cheer Athletics Michigan State Kennesaw State University CheerNation Biola University Premier Tennessee California All Stars The NCATA athletes come from varied backgrounds. They Desert Storm Elite seek a university education and an athletic experience at a Kidnastics Illinois Cheer Company great university. Some athletes have volleyball, track and
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Who supports the NCATA?
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USA Gymnastics
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USA Sports Safety
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NCATA FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS
USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in the United States and has agreed to sanction NCATA competitive events. NCATA athletes are members of USA Gymnastics and adhere to the rules and policies of the organization. NCATA officials, coaches, and administrators are professional members of USA Gymnastics and follow the organization s standard requirements, such as mandatory criminal background screening and safety certification.
USA Sport Safety is dedicated to raising the standard of care in acrobatics and tumbling safety to reduce injury, disability, and death from the sport. USA Sport Safety has assembled the nation s top sports medicine and safety experts to tackle the safety concerns of the #1 cause of catastrophic injury to female athletes in the United States. As a totally independent organization, the rules governing acrobatics and tumbling safety are written by more than 20 doctors, lawyers and experts with more than 500 combined years experience. The rules are also based on peer reviewed scientific research.
United States Sports Academy The United States Sports Academy is the educational organization for USA Sport Safety. The Academy offers college level course work enabling coaches to receive important continuing education credits as well as allowing any coaching professional to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in Sports Science. The syllabus also meets UN Human Rights for children. The NCATA includes course work from the Sports Academy in the safety training and certification of it's coaches. NCAA As a recognized sport at each university, each acrobatics and tumbling team follows all NCAA rules and guidelines for student-athletes, such as recruiting standards, practice restrictions, academics, scholarship criteria, travel requirements, drug-testing, etc. Acrobatics and tumbling athletes are held to the same requirements and restrictions and given the same institutional benefits as all other NCAA certified athletes including important medical care and concussion testing. All institutions sponsoring acrobatics and tumbling teams are members of the NCAA.
The NCATA continues to develop relationships with key sports organizations. The foundation of success these groups provide, coupled with the cooperation and guidance from science, medical and sports experts, is an important part of the long term growth and success of acrobatics and tumbling. 14
What are the most commonly asked questions?
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NCATA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is the difference between Cheer and Acrobatics & Tumbling?
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Why did the NCATA try to change cheerleading?
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Will athletes that cheer at games be the same athletes for A&T?
Acrobatics and Tumbling is an evolution of the allfemale portion of competitive cheer. The main purpose is to compete on behalf of a university. Athletes on NCATA teams are subject to the same benefits and standards as NCAA certified amateur athletes with regard to GPA, eligibility, practice limits, recruiting policies, etc. While composed of athletes, a college cheer team's main purpose is not
competition. Cheer teams do not receive the full financial, academic, professional staff and medical support provided to varsity programs and do not comply with all NCAA requirements. Sideline cheerleading is not structured to be a college sport. Acrobatics and Tumbling was created to specifically to be a college sport to meet the needs of female athletes with this skill set.
Cheerleading is being protected by the NCATA s efforts. There is a clear separation between sideline cheerleading and competing in a sport. Both are outstanding athletic opportunities, but the line has been blurred by the competition aspect dominating traditional cheerleading. The NCATA is
redrawing the line by using the most athletic and competitive components to form a model that is consistent with the set up of other traditional Olympic sports. Acro and Tumbling responded to popularity and interest by developing a sport that eliminates the argument whether it is a sport.
Traditional cheerleading will always have its place on the sidelines of college athletics. However, the commitment to being a scholarship athlete in a varsity sport prohibits the opportunity to compete on another team. NCAA rules prohibit same-season crossover and current research shows injury rates
are partly a result of lack of specific training or too much training (i.e. overload with games, studying, competing, jobs, class time, PR appearances). Female athletes now have a choice that was previously never available.
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Is Acrobatics and Tumbling governed and controlled by a true non profit?
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Why Choose Acrobatics and Tumbling?
The NCATA, the governing body of Acrobatics & Tumbling, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to bring the sport under the NCAA. It is responsible for developing the rules, regulations, policies and providing governance of the sport. Former expert competitive cheer coaches, along
with professional collegiate sports administrators are well suited to advocate for the best interest of the athletes and the sport. Invaluable resources and international reputation are just some of the benefits of working with the foundations of progress towards becoming an NCAA sport.
For NCAA member institutions, continuing to promote and provide opportunities for female athletes is critical. A&T is a very cost-efficient, high participation, wide fan base sport that responds to the solid interest of the scholastic based and club level athletes in the United States. This is the only
opportunity for a woman to receive the full benefits of a varsity scholarship athlete in this skill set. Acrobatics and tumbling is the long awaited evolution of the sport that is a win-win situation for both universities and the athletes.
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What are the important NCATA competition facts?
IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR NCATA COMPETITIONS
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Team Size & Positions An Acrobatics and Tumbling team is typically 35-40 student-athletes, with an active game-day roster of 28. There are three positions within the squad: base (main and secondary), back base and flyer. A base support is directly under a stunt supporting the majority of the flyer s weight and is responsible for the flyer s mid-back, hips and legs during dismounts. A back base is behind a stunt but responsible for the a
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Meet Structure & Team Participation Two to four teams compete at a meet. The typical duration is roughly two hours. A meet is made up of six events: Compulsories, Stunts, Pyramids, Basket Tosses, Tumbling,
and Team Routine. All event competition is in team rotation throughout each event. The rotation order is predetermined by the Head Official prior to the beginning of the meet.
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Scoring Scoring is based upon pre-determined difficulty start values. Each skill performed is valued by NCATA officials prior to the meet. Teams submit their skill sequences one week
prior to the meet. Scores are posted immediately following the conclusion of the performance, and overall standings are displayed throughout the meet.
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portion of the flyer s weight and stability while they are in the air. Back base is also responsible for the head and shoulders of the flyer during dismount. A flyer is lifted and sometimes airborne in a stunt. All team members are proficient tumblers, with the ability to execute an elite tumbling pass. An elite tumbling pass consists of 3 consecutive tumbling skills.
Combined Score Wins At the end, scores for each event for each team are added to arrive at Team Score.
The maximum score is 300 points.
Meet Length Expected length of a meet is 2 hours for a two team, head to head format. Halftime is 15 minutes occurring between the pyramid and tumbling events. Each team will exit the event floor and break for a minimum of 3m.
During the halftime each team will receive a 3m touch on the main floor. The Head Official is responsible for arranging touch times prior to meet. Teams can use the remaining warm up time at their discretion.
Warm up Warm up will begin with each team afforded 15m of stretch time-no elements can be executed. Each team will have a maximum of 10m on the main mat. Additional mats are
assigned but will not be timed. The meet will start one hour after warm up has begun. The Head Official will determine warm up order, offering home team preference first. 16
EVENTS
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What are the NCATA competitive events?
NCATA UNIQUE SCORING IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
Competition Events
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EVENT 1: Compulsories Four heats construct the Compulsory Event: stunt, pyramid, basket toss, and tumbling. During each heat the teams perform the exact same skills, allowing the officials to compare the technique and execution of each team. No crossover rules apply from the Compulsories to other events.
40 possible points Stunt Heat-10 points • Straight up Heel stretch • Power press • Arabesque • 810 degree cradle dismount • Unassisted Rewind to Sponge • Heel stretch • 720 degree cradle dismount
Pyramid Heat-10 points • All feet start on the floor • 4‐2‐1. Two shoulder level stunts as 2nd level support built before toss up • Basket up from back • 3 catchers in front • 270 degree flip off of the front • Second level dismounts at the same time as the top flyer, to below shoulder level then floor/
Basket Toss Heat-10 points • Basket Back Tuck • 4 bases tossing, 1 flyer
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EVENT 2: Stunt Event Three heats construct the Stunt Event where each team sends a maximum of four athletes to compete a 45 second stunt sequence to counts. Athletes may compete in two heats, however no more than two athletes may crossover together from one heat to another. Timing begins with the first movement, and exceeding the 45 seconds will result in a time deduction. In each heat, teams must attempt all required number of elements in addition to the required skill. The required skill counts as an element. • Heat 1: Required flip skill, 5 elements 10 Pt. • Heat 2: Required twist skill, 6 elements 10 Pt. • Heat 3: Required release, 7 elements 10 Pt.
30 possible points
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EVENT 3: Pyramid Event Each team has 60 seconds to perform three 2.5 high structures which each include entry, 2.5 high structure, and a dismount. Officials will score each pyramid separately. Separate pyramid scores and totals will be displayed. A maximum of 24 athletes may participate, and the same athletes must be used the entire round.
30 possible points
Tumbling Heat-10 points • No changing athletes between compulsory skills • Athletes must be positioned in windows • Skills performed in order: a. Standing tuck (to front); b. Toe‐touch tuck (to front); c. Handspring tuck (to front); d. Round‐off handspring layout from left to right in two lines.
HALFTIME INTERMISSION Between Event 3 & 4
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Additional scored categories: • Routine construction 5 pt. • Dance 5 pt.
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EVENT 4: Basket Toss Event A maximum of four athletes may toss. A basing group consisting of two bases and a back or a top person may only compete in two heats, of which one must be the synchronized basket toss. Athletes may crossover and compete in two heats, one of which must be the synchronized basket toss. • Heat 1: Skill in layout position 10 Pt. • Heat 2: Two synchro. basket tosses 10 Pt. • Heat 3: Two air elements/skills 10 Pt.
30 possible points
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EVENT 5: Tumbling Event Six heats construct the Tumbling Event. Athletes may compete in both synchronized and in one single pass, but tumble a max. of two times. Passes are synchronized/ • Double‐ 2 athletes-identical tumbling pass • Triple‐ 3 athletes-identical tumbling pass • Quad‐ 4 athletes-identical tumbling pass • Ariel- 1 athlete-one flip before final flip • 6 Elements- 1 athlete; 6 elements • Open- 1 athlete; no requirements
60 possible points
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EVENT 6: Team Routine Athletes perform synchro. choreographed skills in a 2.5m routine set to music. Routine has a minimum of 20 athletes, and a max. of 24 athletes. Routine made up of required and optional skills. The required skills include: • 36 Stunt Elements 20 pt. • 6 Basket Tosses 20 pt. • 5 Pyramids-2.5 high) 20 pt. • 1 Jump/Standing Tumbling/person 20 pt • 1 Running Tumbling Pass/person 20 pt.
110 possible points
National Collegiate Acrobatics
NCATATA NCA
Date Dec. 3, 2010 Dec. 4, 2010 Dec. 5, 2010 Dec. 5, 2010 Jan. 23, 2011 Jan. 27, 2011 Jan. 29, 2011 Feb. 5, 2011 Feb. 12, 2011 Feb. 12, 2011 Feb. 24, 2011 Mar 5, 2011 Mar 7, 2011 Mar 12, 2011 Mar 21, 2011 Mar 24, 2011 Mar 26, 2011 Mar 26, 2011 April 7-9, 2011
& Tumbling Association
Meet Baylor vs. Fairmont State Quinnipiac vs. Maryland Quinnipiac vs Fairmont State Baylor vs. Maryland Oregon vs. Baylor Oregon Exhibition Performance Azusa Pacific vs. Oregon Baylor vs. Azusa Pacific, Quinnipiac & Fairmont State Oregon vs. Azusa Pacific Fairmont State vs. Maryland Azusa Pacific vs. Maryland vs. Baylor Azusa Pacific vs. Baylor Baylor vs. Oregon Maryland vs. Fairmont Oregon vs. Quinnipiac Oregon vs. Maryland Oregon vs. Fairmont State Maryland vs. Quinnipiac 2011 NCATA National Championships
MEDIA GUIDE
Location Fairmont, W.V. College Park, Md. College Park, Md. College Park, Md. Waco, Texas Eugene, Ore. Eugene, Ore. Azusa, Calif. Azusa, Calif. College Park, Md. Waco, Texas Azusa, Calif. Eugene, Ore. Fairmont, W.V. Hamden, Conn. College Park, Md. Fairmont, W.V. Hamden, Conn. Eugene, Ore.
Start Time 6:00 p.m. EST 4:00 p.m. EST 4:00 p.m. EST 12:00 p.m. EST 1:00 p.m. CST 2:00 p.m. EST 7:00 p.m. PST 10:00 a.m. PST 7:00 p.m. PST 5:00 p.m. EST 6:00 p.m. CST 9:00 a.m. PST 7:00 p.m. PST 6:00 p.m. EST 7:00 p.m. EST 7:00 p.m. EST 6:00 p.m. EST 11:00 a.m. EST All Day
2010-2011
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