US National Team Coaches’ Resources
Congratulations on being selected as one of the coaches for a US National Team. This page will be your resource for any and all information you need regarding the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. Please check this page before emailing or calling Tony or Looie.
The 2020 ICU World Cheerleading Championships have been cancelled. Click HERE for more information.
Please remember never to refer to your team as Team USA. The correct terminology is US National Team. If you would like to refer to your team specifically, use this formula: US National + squad + Team (i.e. US National Junior All Girl Team).
Below is a detailed list of requirements that must be completed in order to be the coach of a US National Team.
- Complete USA Cheer Coach Membership- save the membership card.
- Read the guidebook in its entirety. Sign the Coach Code of Conduct, saving the document with your team name and first and last name (i.e. US National Premier All Girl Team Tony Nash).
- Fill out the Coach Roster. This is where you will upload your USA Cheer Membership Card and Coach Code of Conduct. Do not submit this form unless you have completed the membership and the code of conduct.
- Distribute the Team Guidebook to all team members. Each team member must sign the Athlete Code of Conduct and fill out the Athlete Roster form. This is where they will upload their birth certificate (for verification of date of birth) and their Athlete Code of Conduct.
Team Guidebook
USA Cheer Memberships
All US National Team Coaches (excluding Special Olympics) must have a current USA Cheer Coach Membership. All Special Olympics coaches are required to have a current USA Cheer Youth/Rec Membership. You will be required to complete the courses listed below. Once you purchase the membership and login to your account, you will select each course needed under “Courses” – “Take a Course” in the left sidebar. If you have a concussion or heat illness prevention certification already, you are able to upload those by selecting the course then “Add document”.
Click HERE to access both memberships.
USA Cheer Coach Membership Requirements:
- Signed Waiver
- Concussion Verification – every two years (certification upload required)
- Accept Certifications from: CDC Heads Up (free), NFHS Concussion in Sports (free), and Sport Safety International/Concussionwise (free with small fee for certificate)
- Each course takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete and can be completed prior to logging into your USA Cheer Membership
- After you have completed the training and receive your certificate, you will upload it in your USA Cheer Member Course
- Heat Illness Prevention Verification – every two years (certification upload required)
- Accept Certification from: NFHS Heat Illness Prevention (free)
- Course takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete and can be completed prior to logging into your USA Cheer Membership
- After you have completed the training and receive your certificate, you will upload it in your USA Cheer Member Course
- Current Maltreatment Course – every two years beginning in 2020 (once you complete it this year you will not need to complete it again next year)
- Available in USA Cheer Member Courses
- Course takes about 1 hour to complete
- First Choice Background Screening – yearly
- Must use the link provided in the USA Cheer Course
- Results can take up to 10 business days to receive once submitted to First Choice (please do this one as soon as possible since it takes the longest to receive results)
- USA Cheer Safety & Risk Management OR Current USA Cheer AACCA Certification – every four years
USA Cheer Youth/Rec Membership Requirements (Special Olympics Coaches ONLY):
- Signed Waiver
- Concussion Verification – every two years (certification upload required)
- Accept Certifications from: CDC Heads Up (free), NFHS Concussion in Sports (free), and Sport Safety International/Concussionwise (free with small fee for certificate)
- Each course takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete and can be completed prior to logging into your USA Cheer Membership
- After you have completed the training and receive your certificate, you will upload it in your USA Cheer Member Course
- Heat Illness Prevention Verification – every two years (certification upload required)
- Accept Certification from: NFHS Heat Illness Prevention (free)
- Course takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete and can be completed prior to logging into your USA Cheer Membership
- After you have completed the training and receive your certificate, you will upload it in your USA Cheer Member Course
- Current Maltreatment Course – every two years
- Available in USA Cheer Member Courses
- Course takes about 1 hour to complete
- First Choice Background Screening – yearly
- Must use the link provided in the USA Cheer Course
- Results can take up to 10 business days to receive once submitted to First Choice (please do this one as soon as possible since it takes the longest to receive results)
- Youth Cheerleading Safety and Risk Management Certification – every four years
- Available in USA Cheer Member Courses
- Course takes about 1 hour to complete
- Coaching Youth Athletes Training – yearly
- Available in USA Cheer Member Courses
- Course takes about 30 minutes to complete
Special Olympic Coaches – Please check with your Special Olympics State office to verify if additional Special Olympics certification requirements are required.
USA Cheer will provide each team with:
- Mini flags for opening ceremonies- 1 for each athlete and coach
- USA Cheer logo pin- 1 for each athlete and coach
- One TEAM flag for awards ceremonies
- Registration and administrative support throughout championship
There are three coaches polos available- red, white and navy. The red polo is required for all coaches for the opening ceremonies. You may purchase other gear as you wish. Visit the USA Cheer Shop and use code coaches10 for 10% off. The deadline to order polos and use the discount is April 1st.
Each year USA Cheer has a fan shirt for friends and family to purchase and wear at the championship. Use this form to make your team order (1 per team due by 3/11). These are $20 pre-order or also available on the USA Cheer shop for $25 plus tax/shipping.
Click HERE to pre-order.
The Cultural Exchange takes place after the opening ceremonies and is a chance for USA Cheer athletes to meet and mingle with the athletes from other countries. This is a time where trinkets are exchanged. There are optional items that may be purchased for the exchange, i.e. lapel pins, buttons, wristbands, etc. Additional information to order these items is coming soon.
2021 INFORMATION COMING SOON!
2021 INFORMATION COMING SOON!
2021 ICU World Cheerleading Championships
April 21-23, 2021
Divisions, Rules & Regulations
Scoresheets
ICU FAQs
ICU Competition Package (billing/payment will be to ICU Event)
- Commuter Package $70 per person
- This price is for competition access only.
- You can purchase a 3 day Hopper Pass for an additional $150 for registered athletes and coaches if your team would like to go to the parks.
- Resort Package $100 off per person discount for coach/athlete
- For the Resort Package, you must purchase a package through ICU and then they will apply the $100 per person discount for registered athletes/coaches.
US National Team Apparel Packages (billing/payment will be to USA Cheer)
- Junior Cheer Teams Package
- Package Includes
- USA Cheer Uniform Shell/Top
- USA Cheer Uniform Skirt/Pant
- USA Cheer Warmup Jacket
- USA Cheer Warmup Pant
- USA Cheer T-Shirts x4 (Tiger Blue Apparel)
- USA Cheer Sublimated Backpack
- Track Shorts x2
- Uniform Briefs
- Uniform Bow
- All Shipping Charges
- Package Includes
- Junior | Premier Dance Teams Package
- Package Includes
- USA Cheer Warmup Jacket
- USA Cheer Warmup Pant
- USA Cheer T-Shirts x4 (Tiger Blue Apparel)
- USA Cheer Sublimated Backpack
- Track Shorts x2
- All Shipping Charges
- US Pom Teams can work with our US Dance Director; Stacy Shelton if interested in doing a pom uniform through Impact Apparel. Contact Stacy for details.
- Package Includes
- Special Olympic | Special Abilities | Adaptive Abilities Package
- Package Includes
- USA Cheer Uniform Shell/Top
- USA Cheer Uniform Skirt/Pant
- USA Cheer Warmup Jacket
- USA Cheer Warmup Pant
- USA Cheer T-Shirts x4 (Tiger Blue Apparel)
- USA Cheer Sublimated Backpack
- Track Shorts x2
- Uniform Briefs
- Uniform Bow
- All Shipping Charges
- Package Includes
- COACHES Package
- Package Includes
- USA Cheer Warmup Jacket
- USA Cheer Warmup Pant
- USA Cheer T-Shirts x4 (Tiger Blue Apparel)
- USA Cheer Sublimated Backpack
- All Shipping Charges
- Package Includes
Any graphics or social promotions you need created must go through USA Cheer in order to ensure they meet branding guidelines. If you have marketing needs, including flyers, social squares, etc., please contact Kelsey Werling (kwerling@varsity.com) and copy in Tony Nash (tnash@usacheer.org) and Lauri Harris (lharris@usacheer.org). Please give her a week’s notice from when you need the final product. She will ensure its creation.
Please take a moment to review the USA Cheer Branding Guidelines.