Acrobatics & Tumbling vs. STUNT
I recently realized that there are two new formats for competitive cheerleading at the collegiate level. I’ve already talked a lot about NCATA’s Acrobatic’s and Tumbling, and I recently discovered College STUNT Association’s (CSA) STUNT.
So, let’s do a little comparison of the two:
OBJECTIVES:
NCATA: Make Acrobatics and Tumbling an emerging intercollegiate sport with the NCAA.
CSA: Make STUNT an emerging itercollegiate sport with the NCAA.
These identical objectives require that the potential sport satisfies Title IX requirements as well as meeting NCAA standards:
- At least 20 varsity teams or competitive club teams on college campuses.
- There must be additional data demonstrating support for the sport (Examples: association/organization support, high school sport sponsorship, non-scholastic competitive programs, Olympic Committee support, national governing body support, coaches association support, etc.).
- Proposals must include general competition rules, suggested NCAA regulations, and the format for the sport.
- 10 letters of commitment must be submitted from 10 member institutions.
- Once made an emerging sport, all NCAA rules must be abided.
MEMBER TEAMS:
NCATA: Acrobatics & Tumbling has 6 member teams who meet all standards set forth by NCATA.
CSA: STUNT appears to have approximately 22 teams competing, it is not clear whether or not they are actual members who had to meet specific standards.
NCAA STANDARDS:
NCATA: All NCATA teams must meet all NCAA bylaws, rules and regulations that apply, especially in relation to recruiting.
CSA: There is no specific information available.
ASSOCIATION/ORGANIZATION SUPPORT:
NCATA: USA Gymnastics sanctions all NCATA meets.
CSA: USA Cheer developed STUNT.
FORMAT:
NCATA: Meets are split up into halves, each having 3 events. The first half consists of Compulsories, Stunt and Pyramid. The second half includes Basket Toss, Tumbling and Team Routine. Some skills performed are predetermined while others must meet certain criteria.
CSA: Meets are split into quarters. The first quarter is Partner Stunts, teams compete simultaneously on the mat. Group Jumps & Tumbling are performed in the second quarter, teams compete individually. The third quarter consists of Pyramids/Tosses, teams compete simultaneously. The fourth quarter is the Team Routine, teams compete individually. All skills performed, with the exception of Team Routine, are predetermined.
POST-SEASON PLAY:
Both provide for post-season play and championships.
My personal opinion is that Acrobatics & Tumbling is a better format and is much more organized and further on it’s way to becoming an Emerging NCAA Sport. In addition, I think that it is just dumb to have two competing formats; these organizations should be working together to redefine and evolve cheerleading into a fully recognized intercollegiate sport. However, having competition between the two may make the process of becoming a sport quicker as they each try to meet requirement before the other.
michigancheerleader 
I’m not sure that I agree 100% with your blog post, but I did find it intriguing.
You have the very base comparison correct. However, in your last comments, you miss the issue when you say, “the two should be working together”. I mean you REALLY miss the point. Why would 6 athletic directors at NCAA member institutions work with a for profit company when they already have everything in place? Varsity Brands owns and operates USA Cheer. Thus, those adminstrators specifically chose not to work with that organization because it is not the proper type of organization that fits into the traditional model of what is expected of sports. Non Profit governing bodies, independent safety organizations and non commercial administration are the hallmarks of how all other international sports work. Its like saying the big drug companies get to also be the guys who test the drugs for safety and the ones who approve if they are safe for sale. That must all be independent of each other. This is how goernance and safety works in all other sports. Varsity Brands owns every facet of cheerleading and is interested in the bottom line first. The NCATA is interested in opportunities for women at the collegiate level, the good of the sport and the good of the athletes. It is a true non profit organization with an independent safety organization and governance structure that fits the traditional sports model.
The NCATA started A&T two years ago when no one else stepped forward to make this a sport on the college level. They brought cheerleading to the table as a real sport when Varsity Brands worked so long to keep it an “athletic activity” so they could continue to regulate, govern and therefore profit from it. USA Cheer and Varsity Brands used the Quinnipiac court case to obtain documents with the design and format of A&T. Just like VBI has always done, they stole the original work others have done and put their own branding on it. Why all of a sudden would Varsity Brands want to make a sport out of this? They have been big enough to do it years ago. But when someone else threatened their control and profit margin, BAM….here they come. Not to mention, “little man” probably threw a hissy fit thinking about someone else being able to say they made cheerleading a sport.
I realize that most people have no clue and just think whatever Varsity does, it must be right and must be good. I also realize that the vast majority of people don’t understand the how sports work behind the scenes and how they should be organized. However, I can tell you, Varsity Brands, USA Cheer and STUNT are soooooo not in line with what is expected for a sport at the collegiate, national or international level. The SportAccord laughed “little man” out of the room when he tried to bring his slithery commercial crap to them. This is an international organization that is the stepping stone to Olympic recognition. They saw through USA Cheer and the Internation Cheer Union (little man’s international organization) like a parent sees through their kid telling a lie.
So back to the original pont of this reponse….There’s no way in hell that the 6 NCAA member institutions who created this format and brought cheerelading to the table as a sport should be working with the evil empire. The NCAA is founded on principles of interest of the athletes and the good of the sports. The opportunities provided to student athletes by the sport experience and the return enrichment of the university is key in NCAA governance. What is not part of the NCAA is sport for profit. This is why the NCATA stands tall and alone in this mission towards NCAA emerging sport status.
I definitely had no idea how much control Varsity has because in Michigan we have competitive cheerleading through schools with MHSAA, so I have very little experience with Varisy Brands. But this is all very interesting to know.
However, I think you missed my point; I wasn’t suggesting that NCATA should team up with USA Cheer, I was trying to say that USA Cheer should support NCATA in their efforts rather than trying to foil them. But, obviously, I did not know a lot of what you just told me when I wrote this post.
Thanks for giving me all this great info; I really appreciate it!