It’s time for COA Midwest Nationals in Indianapolis! This is a large competition full of outstanding teams & lots of fun. We are very excited for our teams to compete with some of the Best teams in the nation. Below you will find many travel details. Please read & print this to bring with you to refer to throughout the weekend. There are many changes to the competition due to Covid restrictions. Please be sure you have read all spectator information that was posted in the BAND and at the end of this post including ticket ordering and spectator entrances. The coaching staff has stressed to our athletes the importance of their cooperation to all covid guidelines and restrictions set in place. We want to keep everyone safe and healthy so that we can continue our season as scheduled.
Parents, we ask that you help us monitor our athletes throughout the weekend. Please give them support and guidance when they need it. Bring your Loud Voices, Noise Makers & KC Cheer Spirit to support these athletes at each performance.
COA Midwest Travel Information
★ Buses will depart from KC Cheer at 6:30 am, Friday, February 26th . Please make sure you are on the bus and ready to go at 6:20, we can NOT hold the buses for you if you're late. Please carpool as much as possible or have someone drop you off. Parking in the street is not allowed and do not park in front of other businesses or their garage doors. You are welcome to park at the arena. Buses will load in the BACK PARKING LOT of the MAIN GYM. Do not block traffic in the parking lot during drop off and loading.
★ Cheerleaders will have Temperature checks prior to loading the bus, use hand sanitizer and must wear a mask when not in their own seat on the bus.
★ Buses are equipped with a new air filtration system to circulate air out of the bus every 5 minutes. We are asking that athletes each sit in their own seat and can only have masks off when they are alone in their seat.
★ Cheerleaders should wear comfortable clothes on the bus. Remember, you can wear slippers on the bus but you MUST have shoes to change in to for lunch time (when you leave the bus)
★ Please remember the first two seats (across from each other) are reserved for the coaches….Thank you !
★ Please look for the bus bin for the hotel in which you are staying. We want everyone staying in the same hotel to have their luggage together. This will make unloading easier.
★ The buses will stop for lunch somewhere past St. Louis and a couple of other short "stretch" stops for the drivers. Cheerleaders will be allowed off the bus at lunch, but NOT during the other stops.
Drinks and snacks are welcome on the bus, but MUST have drinks w/twist on caps
Please do not share drinks or food with other team members
Please make sure movies are age appropriate.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE clean up after yourselves!
★ Do not leave items on the bus, they may not be there Sunday when you get back on
★ We are staying at the JW Marriott and Marriott Downtown
★ Cheerleaders should go directly to their room when we arrive and be ready for practice at times listed below.
★ Athletes must meet and enter the Convention Center together for practice and performances. The lobby of the JW MARRIOTT will be our meeting point. This is connected to the athlete skywalk entrance into the Convention Center.
TEAM ATTIRE:
All cheerleaders should wear the following when not in Competition Uniform during our stay in Indy. Do not leave your hotel room in a sports bra and spandex!
Friday Practice Wear - Program Practice wear for Fierce 5. Pink for Flawless with Warm-Up Fortune & Fearless will not have a Friday practice.
Saturday: Fierce 5: Sparkle Uniform/Black Bow Fearless : White Uniform/ White Bow
Fortune & Flawless : Program Uniform/White Bow
Sunday: Fierce 5: Red Uniform/Black Bow Fearless: Red Uniform/ Red bow
Fortune & Flawless - Program Uniform/Black Bow
Cheerleaders must be in warm-up jacket and pants when at competitions and not in uniform. Midriff must be covered at all times when not in practice room or competing. Cheerleaders must bring their own water bottle with name on it into the competition. You may bring your backpack with necessary items and will take it with you to the performance arena.
PRACTICE WEAR :
Program- Fierce 5/Black bow
Program - Fearless/White bow
HAIR BOWS:
Saturday: Fierce 5 - Black Fearless - White, Fortune & Flawless - White
Sunday: Fierce 5 - Black, Fearless - Red, Fortune & Flawless - Black
Rules & Requirements of Cheerleaders :
★ Hotel Curfew is 10:00 pm. Lights out in your room no later than 11:00, preferably 10:30. Coaches and parents will be making room checks to be sure all cheerleaders are in their assigned rooms. If cheerleaders do not adhere to this rule, their team will have consequences imposed upon them.
★ All Cheerleaders should make sure they have their phones with them as Team Parents will be sending text messages notifying everyone of any last minute instructions (changes to practice times, etc.) Parents make sure you are part of the BAND for your team.
★Given all the Covid restrictions there will not be the opportunity to watch other teams, have a team room or many of the other things that typically happen at this competition. Athletes are only allowed to be in the competition venue at their competition time and with their coach.
★Coaches are asking that athletes continue to be diligent about following recommended safety guidelines. Stay out of large groups (aside from your team members) Limit activities outside of those necessary while at the competition. Wear your mask and wash your hands often. We realize athletes have friends from other states on other teams, unfortunately this is not the year to be hanging out with friends outside our “bubble”.
★Please do not allow your athlete to travel to and from the venue alone. Coaches will be accompanying them at times listed, but outside these times please be sure they are with a chaperone. The competition venue is only open to teams and spectators performing at given times. Please read the Spectator information sent out in the band and below in this post.
★On the crowded note: It may be a good idea to bring a small cooler with breakfast foods inside, muffins, fruit, bagels & juice, snacks and water. With all the restrictions better to come prepared.
★ Hotel check out is 11:00 am on Sunday. Details about when to load luggage will be determined later.
★ The buses will begin loading for the trip home following virtual awards ceremonies. Forutne and Fearless may leave prior to the other team’s performances. A decision will be made about this on Saturday.
★ Planning to bring food on the bus is a good idea as stops will be limited
PACKING LIST
★ Competition Uniform/Shoes/Socks
★ Fearless White & Red uniform - White Bow & Red Bow
★ Fierce 5 Sparkle Uniform & Red uniform/Black Bow
★ Black KC Cheer Mask
★ Competition Make-up
★ Practice Wear
★ Practice Shoes
★ KC Cheer Warm Up
★ KC Cheer Tank Top (black with red KC logo)
★ Hair Clips/Hair Spray
★ Medications (if needed---ibuprofen, cold medications, Dramamine, inhalers, etc.)
★ Hand sanitizer
★ Consider bringing a pillow and blanket for the bus
★ Snacks for the bus – Please use drinks with twist-on caps
★ Cell phones/chargers
★ Money for Meals
There really is not much need to pack “street clothes” as cheerleaders will be either in their uniform, warm-ups, or KC Cheer shirts while they are at the convention center.
Friday Practices
Fierce 5 & Flawless teams will practice on Friday night at the convention center. We will meet at the JW Marriott and walk over together.
Flawless - Meet Coach at 7:15 - Practice 7:55
Fierce 5 - Meet Coach at 7:15 - Practice 8:15
Coaches will walk teams back to JW immediately after the 30 minute practice
Saturday Schedule:
The Meeting location will always be the JW Marriott lobby. Athletes should be completely dressed and ready to go when they meet their coach.
Teams should plan to review their scoresheets with their coach once they are received.
Sunday Schedule
Spectator Information for COA Midwest Championships in Indianapolis.
Spectator Ticketing
Spectator tickets will be done by team viewing and limited to two per athlete based on venue capacity guidelines.
Tickets must be purchased pre-event online through Eventbrite. You may purchase tickets on-site through Eventbrite on your mobile device. Click here for ticket sales.
Tickets will be sold as a weekend pass for $20 ($10 per adult per day) and children 12 and under are free. Single day ticket options will not be available. *Additional fees for online ticket purchases may apply.
Spectator Viewing
Spectator viewing will be done by team performance only.
All spectators will complete a digital health screening form before receiving your wristband to enter the building.
Spectators will have a designated entry and exit door for traffic flow as listed on your Eventbrite ticket. Spectators will not be allowed to enter the building more than 20 minutes prior to their team’s performance. Spectators will move from zone to zone with physical distancing protocols in place.
The viewing area will be done on a rotation basis with physical distancing protocols in place.
All spectators will need to leave the facility after each team performance to limit the number of people allowed in the facility and allow for cleaning between groups.
A general schedule listing the divisions and times for each performance is posted on the event page.