Roadmap for New Teams (Starting from Scratch)

For a new college team aiming for Daytona, the focus is on building fundamental skills and securing a Nationals bid early:

• Summer (May–Aug 2025): Hold tryouts in late spring and immediately begin off-season conditioning. Attend an NCA Summer Camp in July–Aug 2025 to learn game day material and earn a Nationals bid (camp attendees can receive an automatic bid)varsity.com. Start basic stunt group training and coed stunt basics; emphasize tumbling drills and motions technique.

• Fall 2025: With the bid secured, kick off regular team practices by August. Spend September on stunting technique and pyramids, gradually increasing difficulty as skills solidify. In October, begin choreographing the competition routine’s outline – including the crowd cheer segment (signs, chants, megaphones) and the music section. By November, finalize music selection and ensure it’s properly licensed. (If the team didn’t attend camp, submit a video bid by the November deadline to qualify for NCA Nationals.) In late fall, ramp up full-out practice repetitions.

Roadmap for Returning Advanced Teams

Experienced college teams (especially those returning to Daytona or defending titles) can streamline early-season prep and push difficulty further:

• Early Off-Season (May–July 2025): After the 2025 Nationals, give athletes a short break to recover (mental and physical rest is important). By June, start optional workouts focusing on maintaining conditioning and rehabbing any injuries. Many top teams still attend an NCA College Camp in summer – not only to secure their bid (if not already obtained via video) but also to practice game-day elements and bond as a team. Use camp to identify any skill gaps and set goals (“Go Be Great” initiative and spirit showcases add motivational fire).

• Fall 2025: With many veterans returning, you can start at a higher difficulty level. In August and September, introduce new elite stunts, pyramids, and tumbling passes that build on last year’s routine – push creativity and difficulty since these teams aim to wow judges. Analyze score sheets from 2025 to address any relative weaknesses (for example, if tumbling difficulty was maxed out, focus on stunt innovation, etc.). By October, have a preliminary routine outline and begin full routine choreography earlier than a novice team would. Using the fall, perform at pep rallies or exhibitor events to get comfortable performing in front of crowds. Ensure music is mix-mastered by winter and fully compliant with licensing rules (Varsity requires use of licensed music providers).

• Spring–Summer 2025 (Formation & Basics): Hold tryouts by May 2025 once the previous season ends. Select athletes who meet the age and level requirements for a Worlds team (typically Level 6 or 7). Start training in June with a focus on basics: establish technique for tosses, standing tumbling (fulls/doubles), and stunt group assignments. Over summer, schedule extra clinics for specialty skills like baskets and tumbling upgrades. Also, choose a competition schedule targeting bid-qualifying events (e.g., USA Cheer or Varsity competitions that offer Worlds bids).

• Choreography & Routine Building (Late Summer 2025): By July or August, host a choreography camp to create a first draft of the Worlds routine. Since difficulty is paramount at Worlds, incorporate the hardest skills the team can safely execute – but ensure to design routine sections that highlight athletes’ strengths (e.g., if you have strong tumblers, emphasize synchronized tumbling passes). By the end of summer, you should have a routine that hits all score sheet elements (stunts, pyramid, running and standing tumbling, jumps, dance). Obtain music from a licensed producer (the mix often includes voice-overs highlighting team name/theme).

• Fall 2025 (Routine Reps & Early Comps): Use the fall months to condition the athletes for full 2:30 routines. Initially, break the routine into sections for cleaning. Start doing full-outs by October. It’s wise for a new team to attend an early-season competition (Nov or Dec 2025) to get feedback. Even a local competition can serve as a reality check for stamina and where deductions occur. Adjust choreography if needed – for example, if a stunt is not hitting consistently by December, consider simplifying it to ensure a clean routine by Worlds.

• Competition Season (Fall 2025–Winter 2026): Rather than waiting, many returning teams compete at major competitions mid-season to secure a Paid bid and test their routine under pressure. For example, attend an early bid event in November or December 2025; some U.S. teams go to events like the All Star Challenge or America’s Best (or for international teams, perhaps an early national championship) to grab a bid. Securing a Paid Bid by January means less financial stress and more focus on training. Through January and February, practice is relentless: full-outs 3–4 times a week, cross-training for endurance (some teams do swimming or extra cardio sessions), and frequent cleaning sessions (drilling tumbling landings, fixing any form breaks in stunts).

• Peak and Taper (March–April 2026): March is about peaking – difficulty and performance should reach their zenith. It’s common for elite teams to hold a showcase or send-off in late March or early April for family and fans, performing the routine in uniform exactly as they will at Worlds. This provides one last performance rep and confidence boost. After that, focus on mental preparedness and slight tapering of physical intensity to keep athletes fresh. By now, all logistics for Worlds (travel, Disney park tickets, practice gym bookings) are finalized. The team might also review tape of top competitors (if available from other comps) to understand how they can stand out.

• Worlds 2026: Arrive with time to adjust to the venue. For veterans, the Worlds arena atmosphere – massive crowd, cameras, and pressure – is familiar, but remind any newer athletes what to expect. Usually, there’s a prelim/semifinal round: treat it like finals, hitting a solid routine to advance.

• Bid Events (Winter 2025–26): Compete at your chosen bid event when ready – possibly December 2025 or January 2026. If you don’t win a bid on the first try, have backup competitions planned in Feb or even early March (the Open Series often has later bid comps). An At-Large bid will suffice to attend, though a Paid bid helps financially. Once the bid is secured, celebrate briefly, then refocus on cleaning up for Allstar Worlds. Submit all required bid acceptance paperwork and register for Allstar Worlds by their deadline (likely in March 2026).

• Pre-Event Prep (March–Apr 2026): Practice the routine in the “Battle Round” format – at Allstar Worlds, you might perform on Day 1 (battle) and only some advance to Day 2 finalscheermedia.com. Prepare two days of energy. If your division has a large number of teams, you may compete twice before finals. Stamina training (running full-outs on back-to-back days in practice) will help. Focus on performance showmanship: facials, sharp motions, and engaging choreography can set your team apart in a field of many.

• Allstar Worlds Event (April 2026): Arrive in Orlando with time to adjust (like Worlds, this is at a huge venue). Attend the check-in and any opening ceremonies to get athletes excited. On competition day, bring the fun and passion – judges and crowd here appreciate a joyful, high-energy performance as much as difficulty. If you advance past battles to finals, treat finals like a fresh start (scores often don’t carry over fully). The goal for a new team should be hitting a personal best routine on that Worlds stage and making memories at this international showdown.

• Winter 2025–26: Once a bid is secured (hopefully a Paid Bid by late fall), utilize December–February to polish. Because Allstar Worlds isn’t Varsity-run, there may be slight differences in score focus – research judging feedback from 2025’s event to see what was rewarded (maybe creativity and pyramid difficulty were big). Incorporate those insights. Continue to keep the routine fun and engaging – returning teams often bring back signature moves or themes that the Allstar Worlds crowd remembers.

• Spring 2026: As Allstar Worlds approaches, simulate the Battle Round format in practices. For example, have the team do a full-out in the morning (as if Day 1) and another in the afternoon (as if Day 2 finals) to build confidence that they can hit twice. Fine-tune the routine pace so athletes have the endurance to finish strong (judges notice if energy fades at the end). Take advantage of any “last chance” comps only if needed – otherwise, focus on practice.

• At the Championship: A returning team knows to soak in the unique atmosphere – an enormous convention center with multiple floors and a festival-like atmosphere. Remind athletes to stay focused amid the spectacle. The team can also lean on past years’ experience: e.g., if last year they lost points on a minor deduction, they know now to avoid that mistake. Execute the battle round with confidence to advance to finals. In finals, aim to outperform your own Day 1 routine – the goal is to peak at the right moment.

• Team Formation (Autumn 2024): UK teams typically kick off in September with the new school year. Hold tryouts or team placements in early September 2024. Register for FC Internationals as soon as registration opens (Sept 16, 2024) – it’s first-come, first-served until they hit capacity, so a new team must secure their spot. Begin weekly practices focusing on core skills (stunts at level, tumbling basics, dance).

• Late 2024: By November, start routine choreography or at least stunt sequence construction. Many UK teams bring in choreographers in the winter. Plan music production by December so you can get proper licensing (usually via companies like ASCAP-covered producers or using sites aligned with the UK music guidelines). Over the winter break, athletes should maintain conditioning, as January will ramp up.

• Early 2025: Aim to have your full routine choreographed by January. Future Cheer’s Early Bird payment deadline is January 6, 2025, so ensure fees are sorted to get the discount. Use January and February to drill technique – UK competitions often deduct for form issues (bent legs, incomplete twists), so clean those up. Consider attending a smaller regional competition in Feb or March (Future Cheer and other organizations host events like “Heart of England” or “Legacy” etc.) as a trial run. This gives athletes experience and the coaches insight into any changes needed.

• Winter/Spring 2025: Pay close attention to deadlines: though you likely paid by January, confirm everything by March. If aiming for a USASF Worlds bid at FC Internationals, tailor sections of your routine to the Worlds score sheet (e.g., include more elite combo passes for tumbling, as Worlds values that). Through spring, focus on maximizing the execution score – a difficult routine only wins if performed cleanly. Conduct weekly mock-judging sessions: have coaches score portions of the routine and demand those last minor deductions be cleaned (pointed toes, synchronized landings, etc.). Conditioning is key – athletes should be able to finish the routine strong; consider extra cardio or full-out back-to-back runs.

• Pre-Competition: As a seasoned team, host a big showcase right before Internationals, inviting media or recording it for social. This not only hypes the athletes but also puts a bit of pressure to simulate the event. At this point, trust in the training – avoid over-practicing the final week. Keep everyone healthy (maybe schedule physio for anyone with nagging pains, enforce good nutrition and sleep).

• Competition Weekend: Arrive in Bournemouth with confidence. The team knows the arena and what nationals feels like. Their aim is likely to win or hit a specific score threshold. Remind them to enjoy it too – an authentic, confident performance can impress judges as much as pure technique. During the routine, veteran athletes will know how to adapt if something small goes awry (e.g., save a wobbly stunt) – this composure is your advantage. When that final beat hits, a seasoned team should be smiling because they know they just delivered something special. In awards, you might secure not only a trophy but possibly a bid to Worlds or other postseason events if offered – a valuable prize for all that hard work.

• Summer 2024–25 (Dec–Jan): Australia’s season starts in the new year (many tryouts happen in Dec or Jan). So, hold tryouts in January 2025 right after the holiday break. Begin training in February focusing on fundamentals. Set attendance at AASCF State Championships mid-year as a goal – these regional comps (around August/September) will prepare the team for Nationalsinstagram.com.

• Feb–May 2025: Use the first few months for skill building. If it’s a Level 2 team, for example, ensure all stunt groups master extended stunts by May, and all tumblers have solid back handsprings, etc. Choreography can be planned for winter – perhaps in June or July – when the team is skill-ready and right before competition season picks up. Also, early in the year, sort out administration: AASCF membership, music licensing (APRA AMCOS in Aus covers some, or use USA cheer music providers), uniform design and orders (many Aussie teams get new uniforms by Nationals; ordering by mid-year is wise).

• Mid-Year 2025 (June–Sept): Have a choreography camp by June or July. Right afterward, attend a mid-year competition (AASCF Winterfest or state competition in July/August) to test the routine. State Championships (each state’s qualifier, usually Aug/Sept) are key – they not only give competitive experience but also serve as a de facto qualifier for Nationals (though technically AASCF Nationals is open, doing well at State gives confidence). By September, identify weak spots from judges’ critiques at State and refine those sections. Registration for Nationals will be due around early fall – make sure to register the team and book travel to Melbourne if you’re from another region.