The Wildcards Blog

NTU ACES, National Cheerobics Champions 2008.

2008 is the year Cheerleading Association of Singapore (CAS) decided to follow International Federation of Cheerleading (IFC)'s competition standard to place a cap of a maximum of 16 people in a routine with a time limit of 2.30min. In 2008, NTU ACES were the Champions with a score difference of 40+points from 1st runner ups KR Steppers. Let us try to learn from their routine to see what made them Champion in 2008.



SEGMENT 1

1)Opening stunt, Tosses : 03 x layout (+ difficulty score. layout is harder than backtuck)

2) Jumps: Double toe touches (requirement)

3) Gymnastics segment: 1 round off back tuck, 2 round off back hands springs, some round offs and a basket toss layout twist (+ difficulty score)

4) Partner Stunts: 7 toss up hands, single lib ( + difficulty score. full squad partner stunts)

5) Pyramid 1 : 540 toe pitch--> 270 toss up gladiator ---> front tuck dismounts ---> waterfalls ---> toss up swedish falls. (+ difficulty score on toss ups, gymnastic element dismounts)

effective pyramid transition: gladiator ---> swedish fall (x2 pyramid to pyramid transition)


CHANTS

1) 4 consecutive arm motions (requirement)

2) 4 heel stretches, pop single twist dismount (requirement, 1 stunt) (+difficulty. flexibility element on stunt and twist dismounts)

3) Full up 221 (requirement, 1 pyramid) (+difficulty: full up 221. cartwheel dismounts. )


SEGMENT 2

1) 1 set of Dance (requirement)

2) Pyramid 2 : two basket toss pike opens (+difficulty)---> toss up glad ---> 443

3) Ending pyramid: Ground up high chair (+difficulty, ground up pyramid )


CR's note: what works for others, might not work for you. And vice versa. There are certain elements in cheerleading that is classified under '' cannot do means cannot do '' . If you are a flyer and you haven been stretching all your life, it will be impossible to hit a full squad bow and arrow although this flexibility element stunt will score a lot of points. Likewise, if you are Zhiliang and retarded telling you to do a round off backhands spring twist layout is also asking for the sky.

It is important to work on the team's strengths rather than your own individual strength and use it to your advantage during competitions. There can be 101 ways to do well in a competition but probably only one suitable formula for your team.

And most importantly always remember, no matter how big your stunts are; if they don't hit, they don't count.

Zhiliang will touch on IFC's competition requirement in his next post. **Shoots arrow at ZL**