UNITED VS OPEN: Choosing the Right Scoring System for Your Cheer Program

Starting the season on the right foot means choosing the perfect scoring system to showcase your team’s strengths and secure your path to year-end events. The United and Open scoring systems each offer unique advantages—your decision should align with your program’s goals, athlete abilities, and competitive aspirations.

Understanding the Scoring Systems

Before diving into your season, carefully review the rubrics for both United and Open. Each system emphasizes different aspects of cheerleading, which directly impacts your routine construction and overall scoring potential.

United Scoring: Quantity and Difficulty Take Center Stage

The United Scoring System rewards teams who excel in Difficulty and Quantity. Teams with a large number of athletes consistently performing elite-level building and tumbling skills will have a significant advantage. While execution remains important, your team’s capacity to hit high-difficulty skills in larger numbers often defines success under United.

United scoring aligns closely with popular events like the Summit, The One Finals, and US Finals. Competing with this scoring system opens doors to year-end competitions such as the prestigious Summit in Orlando, Florida, and The One Finals/US Finals held nationwide.

Open Championship Series: Technique is Key

If precision and execution define your athletes, the Open Championship Series might be your ideal fit. Technique heavily influences scoring, making up 50% of the building and tumbling categories. Even though difficulty still matters, impeccable execution will be your competitive edge.

This scoring system connects teams with the opportunity to qualify for Allstar Worlds in Orlando, Florida—another elite year-end event. Like United, teams competing under the Open Championship Series also qualify for a Nationals event, giving another route to celebrate their season’s success.

Factors to Consider in Your Decision

• Team Strengths and Weaknesses: Evaluate your athletes’ skill sets—both building and tumbling.
• Athlete Count and Skill Levels: Consider how many athletes consistently execute elite-level skills.
• Technique vs. Difficulty: Decide if your strength lies in precision or the sheer quantity of difficult skills.
• Year-End Goals: Identify the events you’re targeting, as this influences the most beneficial scoring system.

Technique and Execution:

Technique is crucial across both systems, but it plays a much larger role in the Open Series. Coaches choosing Open should emphasize skill refinement and consistency in practice to maximize scores. Conversely, if your team’s strength lies more in skill difficulty and athlete numbers, the United Scoring system will provide a clearer path to success.

Difficulty and Quantity Considerations:

Both scoring systems assess difficulty, but United has raised the bar with increased quantity expectations, potentially challenging smaller teams. Larger programs might benefit from United due to their ability to field more athletes capable of achieving these higher numbers.

Aligning with Year-End Goals:

Ultimately, your scoring system should support your team’s aspirations for year-end events. Whether you’re aiming for Summit glory or Allstar Worlds excellence, choosing the scoresheet that highlights your athletes’ best skills positions you for success.

Setting Your Team Up for Success:

Make sure at least three-quarters of your team can confidently execute the required elite skills for your level. Prioritize clean technique, especially if leaning toward the Open Championship Series, to ensure optimal performance.

By carefully selecting the scoring system that fits your team’s strengths and aligns with your competitive objectives, you’re setting your athletes up for a rewarding, successful cheer season.

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