Inspired by gymnastics and other “judged” or performance-based sports, a fan friendly and exciting new format and scoring system was originated in the spring of 2009 by the NCSTA which follows the NCAA standards of having head-to-head structured competition against similar teams. The athletic administrators from the 6 institutions sponsoring varsity programs worked for over a year to create the administrative structure around the new format. That effort was guided by a constant regard for mirroring the structure to reflect the same set up of all other NCAA sports. Without intentionally excluding male participants, high school, recreation or all star level programs, the NCSTA focused solely on creating a model that would succeed as a collegiate NCAA sport.
After the inaugural 2009-2010 season of running the NCSTA system, the organization strengthened the overall structure of the new sport and improved the meet format. The legal interpretations from the Quinnipiac University trial provided critical clarification of previously confusing and ever-changing requirements by the Office of Civil Rights to meet Title IX compliance. Components of all NCAA sports such as standardized rules, a defined season and regular season based progressions to a national championship were incorporated into the NCSTA model for the second season. Never losing sight of the mission towards NCAA status, the NCSTA recreated from cheerleading a new NCAA ready sport with a new look and feel that celebrates its amazing athletes and their skills.
Growth, support and governance are three of the biggest steps towards NCAA emerging sport status that are now being taken by the NCSTA. The collegiate model has drawn support from prominent women’s advocacy groups such as the Women’s Sport Foundation. Opinions of such groups are key factors considered by the NCAA in approval of an emerging sport. Adoption by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) of competitive cheer as a sport is also a significant factor for the NCAA that shows sign of support for the future. Ten institutions must sponsor varsity programs or sign letters of intent to do so in order for the NCSTA to apply for NCAA status. In just over two years the number has gone from one to six institutions and the popularity of a new women’s sport ensures future growth in the Title IX minded era of college sports.
The most advantageous of steps towards the NCAA is the alignment of the NCSTA with USA Gymnastics (USAG). As required by the NCAA, there must be a recognized governing body that can standardize every aspect of the sport and enforce those standards. The newly named National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (formerly NCSTA) will continue to develop and govern the new sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) but, it will do so with access to more comprehensive safety standards, coach’s certifications, education programs and highly developed training techniques established by USA Gymnastics for those skills. Also, the value of aligning with an internationally recognized organization that is already accepted by the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee is a very powerful indicator of structure and governance that will present a strong case to the NCAA.
Embracing a relationship with the sport, who’s skill set is a big part of our own, is an opportunity that combines the full resources of both sports to strengthen the success of each. The name change to Acrobatics and Tumbling recognized the similarities between competitive cheer skills like stunts, pyramids, tosses and the long established gymnastics disciplines of tumbling and acrobatics. A new name was purposely created to help preserve sideline cheerleading and to avoid taking anything away from the identity and tradition it has created in American culture. A&T might come from competitive cheerleading, but there is no cheering nor leading involved. It’s important to distinguish and protect that group of athletes (sideline cheerleaders) as is evident in the fact that each of the 6 NCATA institutions also sponsor a sideline cheerleading program.
Just as the traditional sideline form incorporated tumbling and acrobatics, the NCATA has incorporated gymnastics and competitive cheer to facilitate the birth of a new NCAA sport. The marriage of the NCATA and USAG has created a family for similarly skilled athletes from both sports to have new and genuine opportunities in collegiate athletics. The name has changed, but the mission is still the same; from competitive cheer, the NCATA has created a new NCAA ready sport. Now it’s just a matter of four more institutions answering the call of millions of athletes.
After the inaugural 2009-2010 season of running the NCSTA system, the organization strengthened the overall structure of the new sport and improved the meet format. The legal interpretations from the Quinnipiac University trial provided critical clarification of previously confusing and ever-changing requirements by the Office of Civil Rights to meet Title IX compliance. Components of all NCAA sports such as standardized rules, a defined season and regular season based progressions to a national championship were incorporated into the NCSTA model for the second season. Never losing sight of the mission towards NCAA status, the NCSTA recreated from cheerleading a new NCAA ready sport with a new look and feel that celebrates its amazing athletes and their skills.
Growth, support and governance are three of the biggest steps towards NCAA emerging sport status that are now being taken by the NCSTA. The collegiate model has drawn support from prominent women’s advocacy groups such as the Women’s Sport Foundation. Opinions of such groups are key factors considered by the NCAA in approval of an emerging sport. Adoption by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) of competitive cheer as a sport is also a significant factor for the NCAA that shows sign of support for the future. Ten institutions must sponsor varsity programs or sign letters of intent to do so in order for the NCSTA to apply for NCAA status. In just over two years the number has gone from one to six institutions and the popularity of a new women’s sport ensures future growth in the Title IX minded era of college sports.
The most advantageous of steps towards the NCAA is the alignment of the NCSTA with USA Gymnastics (USAG). As required by the NCAA, there must be a recognized governing body that can standardize every aspect of the sport and enforce those standards. The newly named National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (formerly NCSTA) will continue to develop and govern the new sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) but, it will do so with access to more comprehensive safety standards, coach’s certifications, education programs and highly developed training techniques established by USA Gymnastics for those skills. Also, the value of aligning with an internationally recognized organization that is already accepted by the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee is a very powerful indicator of structure and governance that will present a strong case to the NCAA.
Embracing a relationship with the sport, who’s skill set is a big part of our own, is an opportunity that combines the full resources of both sports to strengthen the success of each. The name change to Acrobatics and Tumbling recognized the similarities between competitive cheer skills like stunts, pyramids, tosses and the long established gymnastics disciplines of tumbling and acrobatics. A new name was purposely created to help preserve sideline cheerleading and to avoid taking anything away from the identity and tradition it has created in American culture. A&T might come from competitive cheerleading, but there is no cheering nor leading involved. It’s important to distinguish and protect that group of athletes (sideline cheerleaders) as is evident in the fact that each of the 6 NCATA institutions also sponsor a sideline cheerleading program.
Just as the traditional sideline form incorporated tumbling and acrobatics, the NCATA has incorporated gymnastics and competitive cheer to facilitate the birth of a new NCAA sport. The marriage of the NCATA and USAG has created a family for similarly skilled athletes from both sports to have new and genuine opportunities in collegiate athletics. The name has changed, but the mission is still the same; from competitive cheer, the NCATA has created a new NCAA ready sport. Now it’s just a matter of four more institutions answering the call of millions of athletes.
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