U.S. All Star Federation
| File:Upperleft.gif | |
| Sport | Cheerleading |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| No. of teams | 500 member gyms and 15 member competition sponsoring companies |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | 2008 Large Senior-World Cup Small Senior-Stingrays Large Coed-Top Gun Small Coed-Spirit of Texas |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN |
| Official website | http://www.usasf.net/ |
The U.S. All Star Federation or USASF is the governing body for all star cheerleading in the United States. The USASF was founded in December, 2003 by cheerleading competition sponsors National Cheerleaders Association, Universal Cheerleaders Association, Cheersport and, America’s Best with the goal of uniting to promote the safe and healthy participation in all star cheerleading for the maximum number of participants by developing a standard set of safety rules and competition regulations, as well as conduct the Cheerleading Worlds.[1] The mission statement of the USASF is to maximize the number of participants benefiting from the positive life experiences of all star cheerleading and dance by developing competition rules and all star gym training guidelines consistent with the latest best known safety, educational, and ethical practices.[2]
History
The first organization to call themselves all stars and go to competitions were the Q94 Rockers from Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1982 by Hilda McDaniel.[3] All-star teams competing prior to 1987 were place into the same divisions as teams that represented schools and sports leagues. In 1986 National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) decided to address this situation by creating a separate division for these teams lacking a sponsoring school or athletic association, calling it the 'All-Star Division' and debuting it at their 1987 competitions. As the popularity of these types of teams grew, more and more of them were formed, attending competitions sponsored by many different types of organizations and companies, all using their own set of rules, regulations and divisions. This situation became one of the chief concerns of gym owners. These inconsistencies caused coaches to keep their routines in a constant state of flux, detracting from time that should be utilized to develop skills and provide personal attention to their athletes. More importantly, because the various companies were constantly vying for the competitive edge, safety standards had becoming more and more lax. In some cases, unqualified coaches and inexperienced squads are attempting dangerous stunts as a result of these “expanded” sets of rules.[1]
The USASF was formed in 2003 by these various competition companies to act as the national governing body for all star cheerleading and to create a standard set of rules and judging standards to be followed by all competitions sanctioned by the Federation and ultimately leading to the Cheerleading Worlds. The USASF hosted the first Cheerleading Worlds on Saturday, April 24, 2004.[1] At the same time, cheerleading coaches from all over the country organize themselves for the same rule making purpose, calling themselves the National All Star Cheerleading Coaches Congress (NACCC). In 2005, the NACCC was absorbed by the USASF to become their rule making body.[3] By late 2006, the USASF was ready to expand its reach even further, by facilitating the creation of the International All-Star Federation (IASF), the first international governing body for the sport of cheerleading. [4]
The Cheerleading Worlds
The foremost competition for all-star cheerleading is the annual Cheerleading Worlds held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. Teams must qualify for the event by receiving a bid to attend from one of several qualifying competitions. US teams have won the vast majority of the medals, but an increasing number of strong teams from around the globe have come to compete in the event in recent years. This competition has grown in popularity and prestige since it's beginning as a small competition in 2004. In 2007, over 100 teams from 15 different countries competed in the event.[5]
2004
On Saturday, April 24, 2004 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the top Senior division winners from both the coed and all girl divisions of some of the most competitive national championships competed in two divisions to determine the first World Champions. The show was broadcast on ESPN nationally and included all competitors at the event.[1]
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior All Girl |  Cheer Athletics |
Maryland Twisters |
American Cheer |
| Senior Coed | Miami Elite |
Spirit of Texas |
Memphis Elite |
2005
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Senior | Maryland Twisters |
Cheer Athletics |
American Cheer |
| Large Coed | Miami Elite |
Cheer Athletics |
Top Gun |
| Small Senior | Stingrays |
Georgia All-Stars |
Star Athletics |
| Small Coed | Spirit of Texas |
The Cheer Zone Tigers |
Twist & Shout |
2006
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Senior | Cheer Athletics |
Charlotte All-Stars |
Maryland Twisters |
| Large Coed | Cheer Athletics |
Georgia All-Stars |
Kentucky Elite |
| Small Senior | Cheer Athletics |
Stingrays |
Pro Spirit |
| Small Coed | Gym Tyme |
Spirit of Texas |
Cheer Force |
| International Coed | Gym Tyme |
Star Athletics |
Extreme Cheer |
| International All-Girl | Georgia All-Stars |
 GuangXi University |
 Jaguars All-Stars |
2007
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Senior | World Cup |
Cheer Athletics |
Cheer Extreme |
| Large Coed | Top Gun |
Cheer Athletics |
Georgia All-Stars |
| Small Senior | Stingrays |
Spirit of Texas |
Basics Superstars |
| Small Coed | Gym Tyme |
Stingrays |
Cheer Force |
| International Coed | Gym Tyme |
Texas Lonestar |
Cheer Extreme |
| International All-Girl | Encore Cheer Co |
 Cambridge Cheer Sport Sharks |
Oklahoma Twisters |
| International Junior | World Cup |
Celebrity Cheer |
Desert Storm Elite |
| International Junior Coed | Flip Factory |
Infinity Titans |
Kentucky Elite |
2008
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Senior | World Cup Shooting Stars |
Cheer Extreme |
Maryland Twisters F5 |
| Large Coed | Top Gun |
California Bullets |
Stingray All Stars |
| Small Senior | Stingray All Stars |
California Bullets |
Pro Spirit |
| Small Coed | Spirit of Texas |
Twist & Shout |
World Cup Odyssey |
| Large International Coed 5 | Gym Tyme |
Storm Cheer Wrath |
Cheer Athletics Junglecats |
| Large International All-Girl 5 | South Elite |
Cheer Extreme |
West Valley Thunder |
| International Junior | World Cup Starlites |
Austin Cheer Factory |
Maryland Twisters Supercells |
| International Junior Coed | University Cheer Airforce |
Platinum Elite |
Infinity Titans |
| International Coed 6 | Stingray All Stars |
PACE Empire |
Guangzhou Sports University |
| International All Girl 6 | PACE Phoenix All Stars |
||
| Small International Coed 5 | Cheer Athletics Pumas |
California Allstars |
Top Gun |
| Small International All Girl 5 | Cheer Athletics Fierce Katz |
No 26 Middle School of Nanning |
 Gold Star Galaxy |
Worlds Medal Count by Program
References
- ^ a b c d "The Cheerleading Worlds Administered by the USASF". Varsity Brands, Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- ^ "USASF Mission Statement". Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- ^ a b Smith, Jennifer Renèe (February 2007), "The All-Star Chronicles", American Cheerleader, 13 (1): 40–42, ISSN 1079-9885
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "USASF Insider" (pdf). Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "A World of Cheer!". Retrieved 2007-05-17.