The beautiful Hilton Suites Downtown (at Central and Thomas) has again been selected as the official hotel for the 2008 State Tournament.  Two room suites are available for $140.00 per night (plus tax), which can accommodate 6 occupants.  This rate includes a complimentary buffet breakfast and other luxuries.  There are 100 rooms available to State Tournament participants. For those teams needing to stay on Thursday, February 28, there are 40 suites reserved for only $160.00 (plus tax).    Reservations need to be made by January 31, 2008.  Please call 602-222-1111 for reservations – make sure you mention the State Tournament.  After 1/31/08 the rooms will released.   This is a peak time for the hotel so be sure to make your reservations early.

Tickets may be purchased on the days of the tournament at the Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.  Tickets are $9.00 for adults and $8.00 for students with school identification.  Children under 5 are free.

There is a $6.00 parking fee to be paid when you enter the Coliseum parking area.  There is no parking fee for buses and marked official school vehicles.    The Coliseum is located at 1826 W McDowell Road (19^th Ave and McDowell).  Please allow ample time for parking as there are often other events at the Fairgrounds.

Coaches and Participants in uniform must check into the Participant Entrance (North East side of coliseum) during the listed times (please look at the Competition Schedule for the times for your division).  Parents, extra coaches and non-participating squad members must enter through Spectator Entrance (North West side of coliseum).  Coach’s packets and final Order of Performances will be available at this time for all HEAD Coaches.  A coach must register their squad during each of the registration periods that their squad performs in!  Medical Release forms may be turned in at this time. Remember that the registration doors will only be open during the times listed to please make travel plans accordingly.

You will receive four complimentary coaches’ passes per school/gym.  These passes are necessary for adult coaches to be allowed downstairs in the warm up area and on the performance floor.  Only these four coaches will be allowed to be on the performance floor during their squads performance– there will be no exceptions to this rule and penalties will be assessed to schools/gyms that do not follow this request!  If your team needs more than the four complimentary passes, please enter the number of extra passes needed on the registration form and pay for them with your registration. 

Coaches meetings are scheduled 40 minutes before the event is scheduled to begin.  The purpose of these meetings is to update the Order of Performance for those divisions.  A coach must be present at each coaches meeting whose squad will be performing in those divisions.  Please listen to the announcer for updates on the Order of Performance.  It is the Coaches responsibility to have their squad in the warm up area at least 45 minutes before their scheduled performance time slot and/or at least 10 squads ahead.  The Coaches Meetings are for Coaches ONLY – not parents and participants.   If your team fails to register in the warm up area – your team will be considered a scratch and will NOT compete.

Only Coaches with Coaches Passes and participants in uniform will be allowed downstairs in the warm up room.  Please register with the Head Warm Up person when your entire squad is present and ready to warm up (at least 45 minutes before your scheduled performance time and/or 10 squads before) She/he will assign your squad a lead spotter who will take you through the warm up area.  Please expect approximately 5 minutes in each area.  Be stretched before starting!  Mat 1 is for tumbling.  Mat 2 is for a dry run through.  Mat 3 is for a dry run through.  The on deck mat may be used for stunts and basket tosses.  A Coach must be with the team during the entire warm up area.  The warm up room is just for warm ups.  Please cooperate with the staff and other teams. Please understand that it is the warm up room workers responsibility to stay on time and keep the timing fair.  It is your responsibility to warm up your squad within those time frames.  A tape/CD player will be available for your use.

Please do not allow your participants to change clothes in the stands; even if they are wearing a sports bra.  There are lots of bathrooms on the second floor to accommodate any changing of clothes.  Please be aware of what your members are doing at all times!

Vendors are located in the concourse area and outside the Spectator Entrance.  They are open to all Coaches, Parents, and Participants during the entire competition so please take time to visit them.  Programs will be available at the State Store located on the concourse and throughout the stands..

We encourage all Coaches to send a picture of their squad to be included in the 2008 State Program.  There is no cost to be included!  Please send your picture by 1/31/08 or email it to gene@statecheer.com in .jpg format.  Be sure to write (or include) your squad’s name.  Pictures will not be returned this year so please send ones you have duplicates of.

Parents and Booster Clubs are encouraged to take out “Good Luck” notes in the State Program. Information on these notes is found at the back of this Guide Book and on the web at www.statecheer.com.  State Programs will be on sale the days of the Tournament for ONLY $2.00!

Parents are welcome to bring video tape recorders into the competition.  Parents and coaches wishing to videotape their squads can either tape from their seats in the stands.  The coliseum cannot provide electricity for parents, so please be sure to bring plenty of batteries.  Mr. Video Productions will be on hand to videotape this year’s event.  Please be sure to visit Mr. Video at the vendor section in the concourse area if you are interested in purchasing a professionally produced video of the event.

G-2 Photo will be available for both team and individual pictures.  Please visit their booth on the concourse area to see action shots taken of your teams performance. 

Rock the World Entertainment will be providing the music/sound once again for this year’s tournament.  Both CDs and Tapes will be accepted at the sound station.  One coach must be present to start and stop the music.

The Coliseum is proud to present a full range of menu items for your visit during State 2008.  No outside food for drink will be permitted.  All food venues are located on the second floor. 

A Preliminary Order of Performance will be mailed to all Head Coaches the week of 2/18/2008.  This will give coaches a general time line of the day’s events.  Please remember that this is only a preliminary order and changes will cause time shifts in each direction of up to an hour.  Please have parents in their seats at least an hour before the preliminary time.  Final Order of Performances will be available at the door on the day of the competition. 

The Arizona State Cheerleading/Pom Tournament™ is a licensed and registered trademark in the State of Arizona.  Unauthorized use of this name in any way shape or form is a violation in the State of Arizona.  A first place win in any division gives your school/squad the right of the use of the name State Champion for that year.  If you are interested in purchasing t-shirts or a banner for your winning team, please contact us for written permission of the name “State” Champion and for a list of approved vendors.