Les Stella's Blog

Open 4 explained

2011-10-05T13:25:00.002-04:00

Open 4 is NOT International Open 4.

This division is exhibition only for the 2011-12 season.

The goal for Open 4 is for a place to keep competing the athletes that age out of the regular Level 1-4 divisions. The age limit for this division is 17 and older based on the August 31st deadline. If we were to make the age for this division 14 and older, then coaches would come back one year from now and complain that their athletes are leaving their main teams to compete in the older Open 4 division.

Many athletes were complaining that once they aged out of the regular division, their only option to keep competing is to compete on a L6 team, even if they aged out of a Sr L1 team. Open 4 is set at L4 because it is the highest level without including twisting tumbling skills.

You are correct, International Open 5 is 14yr and older. The reason for this is that IO5 is an International division. The bottom age for IO5 is set at 14 to give International teams enough room (age wise) to form teams. If this was to be 17 and older, then International teams would not have the numbers to field this team.

Les Stella
Executive Director
USASF Rules and Judging

Final Clarification for L4

2011-02-21T15:37:00.002-05:00

Watch video. Illegal L4.

Level 4 Illegal

2011-02-07T12:12:00.004-05:00

This stunt is illegal in L4. It is an extended pancake stunt which is considered a downward inversion from an extended position and therefore illegal for L4. It has always been illegal but for some reason, a few safety judges have been allowing it this year.

Exciting Opportunity

2009-11-06T06:04:00.001-05:00

Exciting Opportunity!

Kimberley Ramsay of New Zealand is in need of a tumbling coach for the next 4 weeks (minimum). I told her I would send this out to all of you. She needs someone ASAP and she includes accommodations and a car while you are here. She also pays $450 a week. You need to be an outstanding tumbling coach who is also capable of teaching stunts. Male or female. You must also be able to perform as well as teach.
Obviously, you need to already have a passport. Please do not go to New Zealand if you are not committed to being a good coach. You are viewed as an expert from the USA and you should be able to conduct yourself as such. If you are interested and want further details please contact Kimberley at:
kimberley@allstarcheerleaders.co.nz
If you know someone who is qualified, please feel free to pass this info on to them.
Les

2009-10-15T12:39:00.006-04:00

This tumbling video is ILLEGAL for L3 because the step out of the forward roll is "part of" the forward roll. How does she fix it so it is legal? Following is two possible ways.

1. If she stood up on two feet to complete the roll and then took the step into the round off, it would be legal. This would complete one tumbling pass and the step would separate it from the next pass.

2. If she did exactly what she is doing now (stepping out of the forward roll) and then took additional steps to show the separation between the two passes, it would be legal.

If you have any questions please contact me at Les.stella@gmail.com.

Also, if you are getting this later than other coaches you know, then make sure you follow me on www.twitter.com. Look up my name Lesstella (no space or "." between the names) and choose to follow me. Also, make sure you select to have my posts from twitter sent to your cell phone via text messages.

Please feel free to make comments below.

Les

New USASF Board Vote

2009-09-09T11:28:00.001-04:00

In 2010 Levels 5 and 6 may be offered at any of the 2010 “end of season, multi-brand events” with the following USASF restriction: A gym can not send a team to compete in the same division at The Cheerleading or Dance Worlds and a 2010 "end of season, multi brand event".

2009-07-27T11:02:00.002-04:00

Still stuck in Sacramento.
Heading to Orlando this weekend. And then to Atlanta for the USASF Regional meetings.

Nor Cal

2009-07-26T16:25:00.004-04:00

Just finished the USASF Regional meeting in Northern California. Ate some sushi and had fun with the coaches here. Then again, it's hard not to have fun when you're around Morton.

I also did the USASF Regional meeting in NY last weekend. Got some great input from passionate coaches.

I hope to see the rest of you at the other meetings later this summer.