To promote inclusiveness and provide another demonstration and expression to highlight the artistry and athleticism of cheer participants and teams, Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 will hold the first Cheer Competition in the history of the Gay Games. In holding the competition Cologne hopes to further expand the unique and excellent relationship between the Gay Games and the Cheer teams, some of which have participated since the first years of the Games.
The location of the Cheerleading competition and exhibition is the Neumarkt, a central location in the center of downtown Cologne. “Neumarkt” means “New Market” named because it became a marketplace in the 11th Century, much newer than the Alter Markt and the Heumarkt. It is one of the primary shopping centers of Cologne as well as a transportation hub, with 7 U-bahn lines crossing at the Neumarkt Station. The square is now identified by the pop-art work of an upturned ice cream cone on the top of one of the buildings on the square.
Neumarkt is within easy walking distance from most center city hotels and locations. It is a 5-minute walk from Rudolfsplatz. U-Bahn lines 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 16 and 18 all stop at Neumarkt. The competition stage on the Neumarkt is located the south end of the square.
The schedule for Cheerleading is as follows:
Saturday, July 31, 2010 Opening Ceremonies at Rheinenergystadion
Sunday, August 1, 2010 Strassen Singen – Street touring with choral
and cheer Groups.
Monday, August 2, 2010, 17:00 Cheer Exhibition
Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 17:00 Cheer Competition
The Rules for the Cheer Exhibition and Competition are as follows:
The following rules will apply to the competition, which will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the Gay Games stage on Neumarkt, during the Games.
I. Divisions.
a. The competition shall follow a gender non-specific operating model.
No distinction shall be made between all-female, all-male, and co-ed cheerleading
teams.
b. The Games Cologne Event will consist of two Competitive Divisions, as follows:
1. Show Cheer (Competitive)
a. Non-stunting and non-mounting performances focusing on jumps, dance,
formations, motions, spirit, artistry and overall routine impressions.
b. Two minutes and thirty seconds (2:30) routine length maximum.
c. No distinction shall be made between Show Cheer entries of different sizes.
Each team shall consist of at least 4 participants.
d. Each team can submit more than one Show Cheer entry.
Participants in a Show Cheer entry may not cross over into another Show Cheer
entry.
2. Group Stunt Cheer (Competitive)
a. Performances executed by three to five participants focusing on stunts, pyramids,
and tosses, as well as spirit, artistry and overall routine impressions.
b. One minute (1:00) routine length maximum.
c. Each team can submit more than one Group Stunt Cheer entry.
d. Participants in a Group Stunt Cheer entry may not cross over into another Group
Stunt Cheer entry.
II. Rules and Judging for Competition.
a. Each team will choose its own music, which will be supplied in CD or MP3 format
for compatible operation on Games Cologne Cheer Competition sound
equipment. Music may not have explicit sexual statements or themes, and the
music should be appropriate for all audiences.
b. Scoring at the Cologne Games will assess fairly and thoroughly all observable
aspects of each competitive Show Cheer or Stunt Cheer routine performed. Each
performance will be judged on a scale of 0 to 10, with one score assigned to
execution and one score assigned to difficulty.
1. Show Cheer - three (3) judges
a. Skills: Difficulty, Execution, Showmanship, and Overall Impression
b. Routine Movement: Difficulty, Execution, Showmanship, and Overall Impression
c. Overall Effect and Deductions: Time, Safety, and Skills
2. Group Stunt Cheer - three (3) judges
a. Stunts Building: Difficulty, Execution, Showmanship, and Overall Impression
b. Tosses: Difficulty and Execution
c. Overall Effect and Deductions: Time, Safety, and Skills
c. The stage for the competition is 12 meters (39.3 feet) wide and 10 meters (32.8
feet) deep, with a canvas roof 5.5 meters (18 feet) above the stage. Teams must
limit their performances to safely perform within the dimensions of this stage, or
perform on a dedicated area beside the stage.
d. All teams must notify Games Cologne of the name of each team competing, as well
as the name of each member of the team, by July 1, 2010.
e. Exceptions to these rules will be made at the sole discretion of the Cheer
Competition Director.
III. Awards.
The Cologne Gay Games will award medals for the Show Cheer and Group Stunt Cheer competitive divisions, awarding a gold, silver and bronze medal to each member of the team placing first, second and third place respectively.
IV. Exhibition.
The Cologne Gay Games will also have a Cheer exhibition on Monday, August 2, 2010, at the Neumarkt stage. The exhibition performance can include any combination of performance types. This exhibition will not be judged. The following rules apply to the Exhibition:
1. Performances can include stunts, pyramids, and tosses, as well as jumps, dance,
formations, motions, spirit, artistry, and overall routine impressions.
2. Five (5:00) Minutes routine length maximum.
3. The exhibition may take place on the stage described above or on the ground
next to the stage. Please note that if the teams perform on the ground no padding
or other protective flooring may be available for the team, so it should prepare its
stunts accordingly.
Each team can perform one Exhibition routine, and more than one if it requests additional entries 24 hours prior to the beginning of the exhibition.
V. SAFETY GUIDELINES
The following safety guidelines will apply to the cheerleading activities during competition to maximize the safety of all participants. Safety rules for all performances in competitive divisions shall be observed in accordance with IASF Level 6 guidelines.
1. Tumbling
a) All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface.
EXCEPTION: Tumbler may (without hip-over-head rotation) rebound from
his/her feet into a stunt transition. Rebounding to a prone position in a stunt is
allowed.
b) Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop, is not allowed.
c) Tumbling while holding or in contact with any prop is not allowed.
EXCEPTION: Standing Tuck with pompons in hand is permitted.
d) Assisted or connected tumbling is not allowed.
e) Dive rolls:
i. Dive rolls performed in a swan/arched position are not allowed.
ii. Dive rolls that involve twisting are not allowed.
f) Standing and running tumbling skills are allowed up to 1 flipping and 2 twisting
rotations.
2. Stunts/Building
a) A spotter is required:
i. During extended one-arm stunts other than an extension, awesome/cupie, or
liberty.
ii. When the load/transition involves a twist or flip.
b) Twisting stunts and transitions are allowed up to 2 twisting rotations by the top
person.
c) Free-flipping or assisted flipping stunts and transitions are allowed. Rewinds
must originate from ground level only and are allowed up to 1 flipping and 2
twisting rotations. EXCEPTION: Rewinds to a cradle position are allowed.
RULE ADJUSTMENT: All free-flipping transitions caught at shoulder level or below must use an additional catcher who protects the head and neck. (Example: a flip that lands in a straddle position requires a hands-on spotter.)
d) Transitional stunts may involve changing bases.
e) Single-based split catches are not allowed.
f) Single-based double awesomes/cupies require a separate spotter for each top
person.
g) Release Moves
i. Release moves are allowed.
ii. Release moves may not land in a prone position.
iii. Release moves must return to original bases. EXCEPTION: A toss from the
performing surface to prep level is allowed to travel if the toss is from a single
base and there is an additional spotter to catch.
iv. Helicopters are allowed up to a 180 degree rotation with a 1/2 twist and must
be caught by at least 3 catchers, one of which is positioned at head and shoulder
area of the top person.
v. Release moves may not intentionally travel.
vi. Release moves may not pass over, under, or through other stunts, pyramids, or
individuals.
h) Inversions – Downward inversions from above prep level must be assisted by at
least 2 bases. Top person must maintain contact with a base.
3. Pyramids
a) Pyramids are allowed up to 2-1/2 high.
b) For 2-1/2 high pyramids, there must be a spotter in front and back for each
person on the top level, and the spotter(s) must be in position the entire time the
top person(s) is/are at the 2-1/2 high level(s). Spotters may stand slightly to the
side but must remain in a position to spot the top person adequately. Spotters
must maintain visual contact with the top person the entire time the top person is
at the 2-1/2 high level. Spotters may not be a primary support of the pyramid.
c) Free-flying mounts must originate from ground level only and are allowed up to 1
flipping and 1 twisting rotation, or 0 flipping and 2 twisting rotations.
d) Release Moves - During a pyramid transition, a top person may pass above
2-1/2 high while in direct physical contact with at least one person at prep level
or below.
e) Inversions
i. Inverted stunts are allowed up to 2-1/2 persons high and must be braced by at
least 1 person at prep level or below.
ii. Downward inversions from above prep level must be assisted by at least 2
bases. Top person must maintain contact with a base or another top person.
f) Release Moves with Braced Inversions
i. Braced flips are allowed up to up to 1-1/4 flipping and 1 twisting rotation.
ii. Braced flips are allowed if direct physical contact is maintained with at least 1 top
person at prep level or below and must be caught by at least 2 catchers.
4. Dismounts
a) Single-based cradles that exceed 1-1/4 twisting rotations must have a spotter
assisting the cradle with at least one hand/arm supporting the head and shoulder
of the top person.
b) Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted.
c) Up to a 2-1/4 twist cradle is allowed from all stunts and pyramids up to 2
persons high and requires at least 2 catchers. Cradles from 2-1/2 high pyramids
are allowed up to 1-1/4 twist and require 3 catchers. EXCEPTION: 2-1-1 thigh
stands may perform 2 twists from a forward facing stunt only e.g. extension,
liberty, heel stretch.
d) Free flipping dismounts are allowed up to 1 flipping and 0 twisting rotations.
e) Free flipping dismounts to the performance surface are not allowed.
f) Flips into cradles from prep level or below stunts require at least 2 catchers, one
of which is an original base.
g) Flips that originate above prep level are not allowed. EXCEPTION: 3/4 front
flip may occur from a 2-1/2 high pyramid but requires 2 catchers and an
additional spotter positioned at the head and shoulder area of the top person.
Spotter may stand slightly to the side but must use at least one hand/arm to catch
under the top person's head and shoulders.
h) Tension drops/rolls of any kind are not allowed.
i) When cradling single-based double awesomes/cupies, 2 catchers must catch
each top person. Catchers and bases must be stationary prior to the initiation of
the dismount.
5. Tosses
a) Tosses are allowed up to a total of 4 tossing bases. One base must be behind
the top person during the toss and may assist the top person into the toss.
b) Tosses must be performed from ground level and must land in a cradle position
by at least 3 bases, one of which is positioned at the head and shoulders area of
the top person.
c) Flipping tosses are allowed up to 1 flipping rotation and 2 twists.
d) No stunt, pyramid, individual, or prop may move over or under a toss, and a
toss may not be thrown over, under, or through stunts, pyramids, individuals, or
props.
e) Non-flipping tosses may not exceed 3-1/2 twists.
f) Top persons tossed to another set of bases must be caught in a cradle position
by at least 3 stationary catchers. Catchers may not be involved in any other
choreography and must have visual contact with top person when the toss is
initiated and must maintain visual contact throughout the entire toss. The toss is
allowed up to 0 flipping and 1-1/2 twisting rotations. EXCEPTION: 3/4 front
flips with no twists are allowed.
The VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010 is excited to offer these Rules for the new Cheer Competition. Please contact us if there are any questions or comments regarding the rules or any questions about the competition.
