Varsity Spirit

Varsity Spirit LLC.
Industry Cheerleading, Apparel, Accessories
Founded 1974
Founder Jeffrey Webb
Headquarters Memphis, TN, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Jeffrey Webb
(Chairman and CEO)
Products Cheerleader apparel and accessories
Parent Varsity Brands
Website www.varsity.com

Varsity Spirit Corp. is an American organization that sells cheerleading and dance apparel, trains cheerleaders and dancers at educational camps and hosts cheerleading competitions.[1] The company is best known for organizing and successfully staging large-scale cheerleading activities within the United States.[2][3]

It has origins which trace back to 1948.[4] Since its founding, Varsity Spirit has been known for its involvement in the cheerleading industry to make it dynamic and popular.[5] In 1980, it hosted the first cheerleading championship called the National High School Cheerleading Championship[6][7] and as of 2015, three of Varsity Spirit’s national championships are televised on the ESPN Networks, including the National High School Cheerleading Championship, the National College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship and the National Dance Team Championship. Select divisions are also aired live on ESPN 3.[3]

Varsity Spirit camps train 325,000 cheerleaders from colleges, high schools, middle schools, and all star programs at 1,500 camps sessions around the United States.[3] In all, 475,000 cheerleaders and dance team members compete at Varsity Spirit events.

History and leadership

Varsity Spirit was founded by Jeff Webb,[8] a yell leader at the University of Oklahoma contemplating law school. While working in summers as a camp instructor for National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) with Lawrence Herkimer,[9] he decided to start Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA). Webb had a vision to combine cheerleading with high energy entertainment and traditional school leadership. He founded UCA in 1974.[10]

Webb used marketing and promotional campaigns[11] to increase cheerleading’s profile. In 1983, ESPN first broadcast eight hours of Varsity’s national championships, a relationship that continues to this day. In 2002, Webb was featured in a USA Today article entitled From Megaphones to Mega-Profits.[4] Varsity worked on driving the development of an international phenomenon that now not only includes millions of young Americans, but also a rapidly growing number of participants worldwide. In 2004, they announced a merger to form the largest partnership in the cheerleading and dance team industry.

In June 2010, Jeff Webb was called upon Title IX Case: Quinnipiac University in the federal trial in Connecticut, as an expert witness to clarify if Competitive College Cheerleading was a Title IX Compliant Sport to allow for the Quinnipiac University Volleyball Team to be replaced by the less costlier Quinnipiac University All Girl Cheerleading Team as proposed by the Quinnipiac University Athletic Department.[12]

In 2011, Varsity merged with Herff Jones, the Indianapolis-based provider of graduation, achievement and educational products and services, such as class rings and jewelry, yearbooks, motivation and recognition tools, and educational products. Jeff Webb was named President and COO in December 2012.[13]

Varsity Spirit and cheerleading safety

Varsity Spirit requires a Safety Awareness class for all of its more than 350,000 cheerleading camp attendees and worked with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to require that all college programs are under the direction of a safety certified coach.[14] For cheerleading safety, it partnered with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA), a nonprofit risk management organization that has certified more than 20,000 coaches from its founding, and is seen as the standard of cheerleading safety. AACCA was founded in 1987 with initial funding from Varsity Spirit.[9]

Since 2006, Varsity Spirit has provided safety audits for several of the NCAA Basketball Conference tournaments, including the Big 10 and others, to ensure the cheerleading squads are in compliance with safety requirements.

The NCAA’s insurance company has only had a single catastrophic injury claim from cheerleading since 2006, when the NCAA partnered with Varsity and started requiring that coaches receive safety training like the AACCA course. Under the new safety program, both participant and coach training on technical cheerleading skills will emphasize learning in a progressive format, as well as on basic safety rules and limitations for games and practice.[15] Training is provided at Varsity Spirit summer camps throughout the country.[16]

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) developed a Spirit Coaches Education Program in 2007, and selected the AACCA Safety Course as the first course offering.[17] Varsity Spirit’s educational curriculum also provides technical training in the more advanced safety modules presented by the NFHS.

In 2009, AACCA and Varsity Spirit announced stricter safety standards for all competitions, which addressed the proper environment and equipment for cheerleading activity and clarified the requirements for spotters on the competition floor. In May 2010, AACCA released new safety guidelines for elementary, middle and junior high school teams. In 2011, Varsity Spirit covered the cost of the AACCA Safety Course for 200 coaches.

In March of 2011, Varsity Spirit supported USA Cheer as it developed the USA Cheer Safety Council in partnership with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama, founded by Dr. James Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon.

Philanthropy

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

In 2011, Varsity Spirit began “Team Up for St. Jude,” a fundraising campaign to support the children’s research hospital. “Team Up for St. Jude” includes a letter writing campaign and Team Up for St. Jude Game Day events.[18] As of January 2015, Varsity Spirit, through the Team Up for St. Jude Spirited by Varsity campaign, has contributed more than $2.6 million to St. Jude.

The Sparkle Effect

The Sparkle Effect is a nonprofit organization that generates cheerleading and dance programs including students with disabilities.[19] Varsity Spirit partners with The Sparkle Effect to provide new cheerleading and dance uniforms to Sparkle Effect teams.[20][21] As of 2015, Varsity has provided uniforms to 140 Sparkle Effect teams.

CheeReaders

CheeReaders was created by Hannah McRae Young to encourage children from kindergarten to second grade to pick up a book and read.[22]

National School Spirit Day

Varsity Spirit created National School Spirit Day in 2009 to share stories and to encourage cheerleaders and dancers to participate in community service.[23] National School Spirit Day was recognized on the floor of Congress in 2014.[24] To date, cheerleaders and dancers have pledged more than 550,000 community service hours. In 2015, National School Spirit Day expanded to all of Varsity Brands, creating America’s Most Spirited High School contest.

Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards

In 2016, Varsity Spirit took part in the Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards to honor schools, school groups and individuals who go the extra mile to build school pride, student engagement and community spirit. The awards included sixteen different categories. Each winner received prize money, adding up to $25,000 in awards from Varsity Brands. Varsity Spirit sponsored six categories: Spirit Superstar Award, Spirit of Inclusion Award, Outstanding Student Section Award, Standout Spirit Program Award, Best School Tradition, and Sound of Spirit Marching Band.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Varsity's new line improves cheerleading comfort". Bizjournals.com. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Ioanna Opidee (26 January 2012). "American Cheerleader Sold to Varsity Spirit Corp.". Folio Magazine. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Master Entrepreneur takes cheerleading to new heights with Varsity Brands". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  4. 1 2 "From megaphones to mega-profits". Usatoday.Com. 2002-04-26. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  5. ↑ Katie Dowd. "Beyond Beauty: Cheerleading's Terrifying Danger". Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hall High School Cheerleaders Headed To Nationals". Foxct.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Paul Guzzo (26 April 2015). "Competitive cheerleading is focus of documentary by Bloomingdale High grad". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Industry Profile: Jeff Webb of Varsity Brands, Inc". Cheercoachmagazine.com. 2006-05-01. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  9. 1 2 "NCC Nationals: Continuing a rich tradition". Philstar.com. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Michael Sheffield (19 June 2015). "Top 100: Varsity squad leader Jeff Webb rallies billion-dollar spirit brands". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (June 11, 2007). "Marketers Are Joining the Varsity". New York Times.
  12. ↑ Bill Cloutier (23 June 2010). "Quinnipiac trial: Legitimacy of cheerleading as sport focus of plaintiffs". New Haven Register News. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Michael Sheffield (11 December 2012). "Jeff Webb Named President, COO of Herff Jones". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. ↑ Kristin Hoskinson. "aacca.org". aacca.org. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  15. ↑ "New Study Finds Cheerleading Safety Efforts Are Starting to Pay Off" (PDF). The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Jay David Murphy (8 September 2012). "Cheerleaders are athletes, too!". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Support Needed". Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Student roundup". Times Union. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Julissa Trevino (9 April 2015). "Students with disabilities find school spirit, new opportunities through cheerleading team". Dallas News. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  20. ↑ Whitney Kent (12 September 2014). "Special needs students sparkle with varsity cheerleaders". Local8now.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  21. ↑ Jo Ellen Corrigan (25 February 2015). "Cheering Sparkles have uplifting effect on Medina County schools". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Reading is Something to Cheer About for Montgomery Central Students". 1 October 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Sophie Forbes (26 August 2011). "Go team! Kendall Jenner shows her school spirit in her cheerleading uniform". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  24. ↑ KJ Mullins (7 September 2011). "Cheerleaders pledge 60,000 hours for National School Spirit Day". Digital Journal. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Varsity Brands Honors Schools, Groups And Individuals Promoting Outstanding Student Engagement And Community Spirit With School Spirit Awards". TheStreet. 11 February 2011.
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