USA Cheerleading Camp

[CGgauchos]

We have always gone to UCA camp at Davis but this year we are attending USA camp at Santa Cruz. Can someone fill me in on what goes on? Is it much different than UCA camps?

[bchscheer]

We have not attended a UCA camp so I can't help with that, however, we have attended USA for the past 2 years and couldn't be happier.  Our teams are not competative so we find that they have the right amount of instruction for our teams.
What week are you going, we will be there July 10-13 and we can't wait.  We are taking 41!

If you have already registered, you should be able to download a generic schedule from the website.  Warmups are always in the morning, then the instruction ranges from sidelines, jumps, dance, chants, cheers, etc.  There are stunting sections as well.  There are team evaluations where the team is evaluated on their own cheer, not judged against other teams (which I really like).  Ribbons are awarded for different levels.  I know I am not doing the camp justice, but we really like it and serves our pupose well!  Look for us in Blue Silver & White!  Go Bruins!

[CoachErin]

Been to Santa Cruz many times, great camp. Love USA for my teams, perfect mix of styles for us. The only draw back to Santa Cruz are the hills, there are nice, big, steep hills to and from the dorms and cafeteria down to the practice fields. But otherwise I have always been thrilled with Santa Cruz, it is my number one choice.

[bchscheer]

The only draw back to Santa Cruz are the hills, there are nice, big, steep hills to and from the dorms and cafeteria down to the practice fields.

yeah......I did forget to mention the hills, going down isn't bad, going up takes some time (for us older, out of shape people).  The first day the girls complained a bit, but then they stopped, it was good conditioning!

[CGgauchos]

Is there a "home pom" routine? Which is a routine that you create before camp, and you perform it on the first night?

[bchscheer]

This would fall in the song pom section, I assume there is one as there is a home cheer section - we don't have song pom, so I am not sure - anyone else?

[CheerHounds]

Hey neighbor, I think I know what school you are from CG! 

[iloveyouu1]

I have been to both UCA and USA camps. I'm a cheerleader though. We went to USA my freshman year, and it was more demanding and things were taught at a faster pace. I went to UCA last year, my sophomore year, and I found it more laid back and not necessarily easy, just not as challenging as USA. I personally prefer USA.

Good luck(:

[IHScheercoach]

There are team evaluations where the team is evaluated on their own cheer, not judged against other teams (which I really like). 

Is the cheer that they are evaluated on one that they get taught at camp and add stunting to? This is how they did it at UCA and we also had a home pom routine that we brought to camp and got evaluated on. The cheer was evaluated individually, and the home pom was against other squads.

Does USA have a home pom or cheer like UCA does it? Im confused on how it works. I tried looking on the USA website but it didn't give me much information, just what we will learn.

[CoachErin]

I have not been to a USA camp for a few years, but there was not a home pom routine anytime I attended, either as a coach or cheerleader. But I have not been for a while so I don't know if anything has changed. Your best bet would be to get in touch with your Varsity rep, if they don't know they can put you in touch with someone who does.

[SoCalCheerCoach2]

At USA camps you are able to bring a routine from home and be evaluated on it.  Most teams do (at least at all of the USA camps I've attended) but it isn't mandatory.  They also have other little challenges throughout camp that you are evaluated on.  Last year my girls were evaluated numerous times.  They had to add stunts to a cheer they learned at camp, then another time they had to make changes to the cheer and have stunts, etc.  They also had an opportunity to do a band dance but they had just learned it and so none of the teams took that option.  If I had to guess off the top of my head, I would say they were evaluated on things (including the home routine) about 4-5 times.

[bchscheer]

There are team evaluations where the team is evaluated on their own cheer, not judged against other teams (which I really like). 

Is the cheer that they are evaluated on one that they get taught at camp and add stunting to? This is how they did it at UCA and we also had a home pom routine that we brought to camp and got evaluated on. The cheer was evaluated individually, and the home pom was against other squads.

Does USA have a home pom or cheer like UCA does it? Im confused on how it works. I tried looking on the USA website but it didn't give me much information, just what we will learn.

The home cheer evaluation is one that the team brings with them to camp for evaluation.  There is a camp cheer that is taught at camp and then each team is expected to make three changes to it for evaluation.  Still, you are evaluated as a team, not against other teams so it really helps each team develop rather than worry about being compared to another teams.  I know I've said it before - but I really like that part!  The girls focus on improving as a team rather than worrying about competing against other teams.