What are the dates of the 2020 ICU World Championships?
April 27, 2020 – ICU Opening Ceremonies
April 27, 2020 – ICU Junior Championships
April 28 & 29, 2020 – ICU Premier Championships
April 29, 2020 – ICU Closing Ceremonies

What are the training dates? (Premier Coed & All Girl- Mandatory)
April 16 – 29 Orlando, FL

What is the time commitment and dates that I need to be available for?
The national team is a large commitment and all dates are mandatory.  In the spring there will be an expectation of skill work on your own based upon the coaches’ direction with some weekend non mandatory practices. The training period prior to the championship is April 16^th and goes through April 29^th. You will be required to be 100% available free from distractions during these dates.

What are the spring team practice dates?
Coed: March 14-15, 2020 | Location: TBD
All Girl: February 15-16 | Location: TBD
March 21-22 | Location: TBD

Where does training take place for the US National Team?
Training location is to be determined.

How old must I be to tryout for the US National Team?
In order to attend and participate in the US National Team Selection Process, all candidates must have graduated high school at the minimum. We also require that all members are at least 18 years of age by training (April 15, 2020 ) in order to participate with the US National Teams.

What skills will I be required to show at the tryout?
Every member of the national team is extremely skilled in elite partner stunt, tumbling, pyramids and/or basket toss skills. It is suggested that you be proficient in spinning, flipping, and inverted skills for partner stunts. Tumbling will involve both standing and running. We reserve the option of having candidates demonstrate basket toss skills at the selection process. Please note that ICU basket toss regulations are different than USA Cheer/AACCA guidelines. Multiple trick baskets and baskets that spin up to two times are legal at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. We suggest that you are able to demonstrate skills that can be executed clean. You will be asked to show only skills that you are 100% proficient in at tryouts.

When will I be notified if I made the team?
The teams will be picked on the day of the selection process and will be notified on site.  For 2020, the selection date will be January 20^th at the Wide World of Sports complex located at Disney in Orlando, FL. There will be an immediate team meeting after the tryout to go over and review all of the pertinent details of what it means to be a member of the US National Team.

Do you take alternates as part of the team?
Yes, every year we take alternates for all girl and coed.  There is no set number of alternates that we take, it varies year to year on the makeup of the current team members and what roles the coaching staff feel they may need to fill in. For the US National All Girl Team, specific individual members may be selected from a group as alternate status rather than selecting the entire group. 

How much does it cost to be a member of the national team?
The approximate cost for the national team is $3,500 which includes the training weeks, hotel, air and ground transportation, travel and meal expenses, apparel and uniform expenses and the actual costs of the event  in Orlando. USA Cheer will fund raise and look for sponsors to cover as much of the expense as possible.  Each team member will be required to raise up to $1500 as their contribution to the team costs.

I’m a full-time student, will USA Cheer excuse me from any classes I will miss with my University professors?
We offer a letter to your professors that asks for consideration on your behalf, however, every University and professor have their own requirements and there’s no guarantee that your missed attendance would be excused.  We suggest you carefully look at any conflicts that have to do with school, personal, or work and plan accordingly. We do offer nightly study tables during training for all members of the US National Team. We also provide proctors that monitor any quizzes and/or exams you may have during training/competition. If selected to the team, you can submit a request to the Director of National Teams for USA Cheer and a member of the USA Cheer staff will be assigned to proctor. The national team director can also verify by email confirmation with your instructor/professor at your individual university.

If employed, we can also provide a letter to your employer if requested that asks for consideration on your behalf as well. It is your responsibility to communicate with professors and employers about time you will miss due to training and competition. 

What are the dates of the 2020 ICU World Championships?
April 27, 2020 – ICU Opening Ceremonies
April 27, 2020 – ICU Junior Championships
April 28 & 29, 2020 – ICU Premier Championships
April 29, 2020 – ICU Closing Ceremonies

When do I need to submit my application and video entry?
No later than Sunday, February 2^nd, 2020 by 5 p.m. CST.

Can my organization/team enter in more than one category (i.e., Jazz, Hip Hop and Pom)?
If you would like to enter in for more than one category, you may.

Is there an additional entry fee for applying for more than one category?
A one-time $75.00 fee will be needed.

Who can apply for US National Jazz, Hip Hop and Pom Teams?
Any dance team, school, organization, or crew can apply. Each individual must be 14 years or older within the year of the World Championships and a current US Citizen.

When will we find out about the US National Team decision?
A group of highly qualified judges will sit down with Director of Dance, Stacy Shelton, and judge all video entries on Monday, February 3^rd, 2020. They will also look at all online applications. Team selections will be made by the following Monday, Feb 10^th, 2020. Coaches will be contacted prior to being publicly announced.

If chosen, what is expected of my organization/team?
If chosen to represent one or more of our teams, you will be held to a high standard. You must hold additional practices with your organization/team, have an allotted time that director of dance can come in to help assist with choreography/cleaning/overall routine updates, and keeping your athletes in shape.

If chosen, what is expected of my organization/team financially?
All travel and competition costs for participants and coaches must be paid by your team/organization. USA Cheer partners with a fundraising company that we help set up for your team. This is a way to get family, friends, and the community involved to help donate for your team to represent the USA. You are welcome to do additional fundraisers at home with your organization/team. Estimated costs for each individual is $1000. (Items that go into costs are, but not limited to flights, rooming, food and any costume updates/changes.)

What dates will my organization/team have to be in Orlando, FL?
You must travel to Orlando on Sunday, April 26, 2020. The ICU Championships will be April 27 – 29, 2020.

What are the dates of the 2020 ICU World Championships?
April 27, 2020 – ICU Opening Ceremonies
April 27, 2020 – ICU Junior Championships
April 28 & 29, 2020 – ICU Premier Championships
April 29, 2020 – ICU Closing Ceremonies

What size squad are you looking for to compete?
Due to competition guidelines, we will only invite teams that compete in the Medium, Large, or Super Large Divisions. The ICU Championships allow a minimum of 16 athletes up to 24 athletes on the competition floor.

How old do I have to be to compete?
For ICU, all members of the team must be between 12 – 16 years of age within the year of the Junior World Championships. As a guideline for all teams, ICU Junior World Championship athletes born on or between January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2008 would be age eligible for the 2020 Junior World Championships. Any team proven to be in violation of the ICU age requirements will be automatically disqualified. If the athlete is 16 years of age in 2020, they will qualify even if they turn 17 years of age before competition.

If chosen, what is expected of my team financially?
Teams will be required to fund raise; all travel and competition costs must be paid by your team. USA Cheer is partnered with a fundraising company to assist the team with their efforts, in addition, we will assist your team in the fundraising campaign. This opportunity is a way to get family, friends, and the community involved in donations for your team to represent the USA. You are welcome and encouraged to do fundraisers at home with your school. Estimated costs for each individual is approximately $1000. Items that go into costs are, but not limited to: transportation, hotel rooms, competition fees, food, apparel, and uniforms.

When will we find out about the US Junior National Team decision?
This information is to be determined.

If chosen, what is expected of my team?
Once selected, USA Cheer will set up dates to send a member of our coaching staff to work on choreography for the ICU routine alongside your current coaching staff.

What dates will my team have to be in Orlando, FL?
You must travel to Orlando on Sunday, April 26, 2020. This ICU Championships take place on April 27^th through April 29^th.

*Please Note: The Director of National Teams for USA Cheer reserves the right to individually select a team to represent the US National Junior Team if there are a small number of teams that apply. In addition, if submission entries lack the skill level to be competitive, a team may not be selected. USA Cheer also reserves the right to appoint a team if the selection panel finds that submitted teams lack in any or all areas to be competitive.