Resources for competing in Washington State. 

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Competitive cheerleading is an exciting experience for athletes, coaches, and families.  To ensure a fun and successful season, take the time to learn the ins and outs of competing in Washington State.

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Cost

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Rules and Regulations

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Categories & Divisions

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Scoring

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Qualifying for WIAA High School State Championships

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WSCCA Championships for Recreational, High School JV, Middle School/Junior High Teams

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2022-2023 Washington Competition Schedule

Schedule is subject to change due to COVID or other unforeseen circumstances.

Competing in Washington State

Competition Costs 22-23

• $100 per routine for High Schools (V, JV), Middle School, Jr High (up to 3 WIAA qualifying routines)

• $200 per routine for Rec.

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Rules and Regulations

Competition safety is regulated by the National Federation of High School Associations. NFHS Spirit Rule Books are available in eBook and printed versions at: https://www.nfhs.org/resources/publications/. If you have questions regarding if a stunt is legal you can email ucarules@varsity.com

• Safety and technical violations may result in penalties and points deducted from your performance score. Penalties may be appealed up to 20 minutes from the time of notification. 

​Stunt Certification is required for cheer coaches who intend to have their cheer squad(s) perform stunts. The certification program must be approved by either the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association or the WIAA. Coaches must be recertified every three (3) years.

• Stunt certification classes can be found here: https://www.wiaa.com/ardisplay.aspx?ID=1935

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Categories: 

• Traditional performance competition routines both tumbling and non-tumbling should include both a music portion and a cheer portion (total time must not exceed 2:30 with a maximum music time of 1:30). The 54’ x 42’ cheer mat area represents the performance boundary area for the Tumbling, Non-tumbling categories.

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• Game Day routines are limited to of three (3:00) minutes (there is no music time limit for the Game Day category.) The 54’ x 42’ cheer mat area represents the performance boundary area for Game Day Routine. The Game Day routine must follow this order:

  • BAND CHANT

  • SITUATIONAL SIDELINE

  • CROWDLEADING

  • FIGHT SONG

• Stomp routines are limited to of three (3:00) minutes (there is no music time limit for the Stomp category) The basketball court boundary lines represent the performance boundary for the Stomp routine.  The Stomp category has (3) three mats that will be centered horizontally along the side line. 

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High School Divisions

High school divisions are determined by WIAA. At the WIAA state event all classifications will be combined. 

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A school may enter one team in each category, for up to three (3) categories. Athletes may crossover to compete in Traditional, Game Day, and Stomp categories but may not crossover between Traditional - Tumbling and Traditional Non-Tumbling.

Recreational Cheer - Middle School - High School JV

Recreational divisions are determined by WSCCA. Traditional categories are separated into age divisions. An athlete's age for the season is determined by their age on August 31, of that year.

Traditional Tumbling & Non-Tumbling  Categories

Age Divisions

• Senior:  18yrs and under

• Junior:  14yrs and under

• Youth:  12yrs and under

• Mini:  8yrs and under

• All-Star crossover (no more than 3 USASF registered athletes can be registered on a team

• Middle School

• High School JV

Game Day & Stomp Categories

Age Divisions

• 5 - 18 yrs

• Middle School

• High School JV

Scoring

Four (4) WOA/WSCJA judges plus two (2) safety/technical judges will judge each routine. Judges will be positioned on one side of the facility. Points deducted for any safety violations will be subtracted from the final score. Skills are categorized into Low, Average, and High brackets with minimum ratio and execution requirements. It is important to familiarize yourself with the scoring rubric, ratio tables, and scoresheet for your category.

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Rubric and scoresheets for Traditional, Game Day & Stomp have been updated as of 02/20/2021. 

Qualifying for WIAA High School State Championships

To qualify for the WIAA High School State Cheerleading Championships:

1. The team must have performed in at least ten (10) school events, such as school assemblies, sideline cheerleading, half-time performances, pep rallies, etc.

2. The team must have participated in at least one (1) WIAA, WSCCA or school-sponsored competition.

3. The team can qualify for WIAA State competition in one of two ways:

1) Must have scored at least 59 as a minimum qualifying score in the non-tumbling divisions or 65 as a minimum qualifying score in the tumbling, stomp and game day divisions (whole numbers only; there will be no rounding of decimals) after all deductions (based upon the cumulative scores awarded by the four judges) in the competition, or...

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2) Receive one (1) of the top fifty scores of all performances during the competition season.

Once qualified, refer to the WIAA Bound for State Regulations for event information.

WSCCA Championships

• The squad must be non-school affiliated teams that are attached to a bona fide City Parks Department, Boys & Girls Club, Pop Warner program, recreational association or youth sports program.

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• Recreational squads MUST NOT be formed solely for the purpose of competition. Recreational programs must include a sideline squad that cheers for an organized sport.  A letter of affiliation is required on letterhead from the overseeing director of their league (City administration, Pop Warner, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Junior Football League, etc.) that proves the legitimacy of the organization.

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• Affiliated High School JV, Middle School or Junior High teams. 

Qualification is not required for teams to compete in the WSCCA Championships.

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For more event information visit our Championships page!