April 21, 2011
What an exciting time of year! Spring is here and summer fun is right around the corner! It’s a time of rebirth and rejuvenation as the season winds down and many of you look to the future with anticipation and excitement. Here at The JAM Brands, we look toward the future and envision ways to make this sport more exciting, more invigorating, and more focused on the athletes who compete hard and leave it all on the floor! We understand the tireless hours, endless workouts, and unseen sacrifices required to be a champion. We understand the pain-staking process to rebuild your body and mind season after season so you and your team can go beyond expectations. We understand that while the glitz and glamour of competitions are great, you really want to be recognized for the athlete inside. It is for this reason that COA has unveiled a new format refocused on PURE COMPETITION! One that will showcase competition at every level by giving athletes and teams more ways to compare themselves with others through new and creative outlets.
For 25 years, COA Cheer and Dance has been widely recognized for consistently leading the industry with a creative and cutting-edge approach to cheer & dance competitions. As part of the brand’s continual evolvement, COA strives to provide the most pure competitive experience in the industry! Designed as a “competition-first” version of present-day events, COA’s new format will allow individual athletes and teams to compare themselves with others by offering; free individual competition within team competition, statistical tracking for both teams and individuals, and season-long standings. Additional features include the 100% club to recognize teams with deduction-free routines and player cards, an interactive, individualized on-line piece to be printed, shared with friends and displayed at events.
For more information, please visit www.coacheeranddance.com/rebuilt to find out how COA is rebuilding for the future!
April 12, 2011
Join us in Louisville, KY on June 25-26 for JAM U! Spend a weekend with some of the most experienced and influential people in this industry. Our professors include Tara Cain of Maryland Twisters, Craig El of Ultimate Athletics, Brad Habermel of Cheer Athletics, Happy Hooper of Ace All-Stars, Eric Little – World famous Choreographer, Leroy McCullough of Twist and Shout, Cherokee Greendeer of Green Bay Elite Cheer, Courtney Smith-Pope of Cheer Extreme, and more to come!!
Major in Fine Arts, Business Management, Education, or Performance Economics. There will be a wide variety of courses available for YOU to choose what YOU want to learn! Between open forums, round table discussions and our educational courses, JAM U is going to be the ultimate conference to attend! There will also be an opportunity to get you or any of your coaches credentialed. Visit www.gojamu.com and register today! See you in Louisville!
April 5, 2011
After 25 years as Founder, President and CEO of COA Cheer & Dance, Steven G. Wedge is announcing his retirement! Steve will retire on May 31, 2011 in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the company.
“My years at COA Cheer & Dance have been a fantastic period in my life and this is by no means a light-hearted decision, but at some point, it’s time to move on. The timing is good with respect to my future personal goals,” says Wedge. “The hardest part of this decision is disengaging professionally from my talented and trusted current and former employees. Without their initiative, imagination, and dedication, COA Cheer & Dance would not be the respected spririt industry company it is.”
“Steve Wedge has been a pioneer in this industry helping cheer and dance become what it is today. Steve has brought amazing passion, commitment, knowledge, experience, professionalism and a contagious spirit to our group. We congratulate Steve on his retirement and wish him nothing but the best,” says Dan Kessler, co-owner of The Jam Brands.
The JAM Brands is excited to continue the COA excellence in both cheer & dance competitions and great instructional camps across the country. Wedge will remain as the Chairman of the Shirley A. Wedge National Cheer & Dance Scholarship Fund, an organization he founded 25 years ago that has provided over $400,000 in educational scholarships to deserving cheer and dance athletes.
For more information about COA Cheer & Dance, please visit www.COAcheeranddance.com
March 29, 2011
Think back and share with us your favorite memory from cheer or dance camp. It can be anything! Post your favorite memory on The JAM Brands Facebook page. The person with the BEST camp memory will win a $40 gift certificate to the JAMwear Online Store to purchase a new and hip camp outfit for this camp season! Your favorite camp memory contest ends on April 6th, so post away 
March 24, 2011
JAMcamps, where Quality Comes First, is the place for all of your camp/choreography needs this summer! With full out, all inclusive JAMography to JAM Stunts where we help you build your program towards success – you can start your next event season off in a “win-win” situation before it even starts. Other services such as JAMography Lite & Team JAM’s are also available and designed to fit your needs as JAMcamps, Your Partner in Spirit, values the uniqueness of our customers!
With competitive pricing and special JAM Rewards discounts available new this year, JAMcamps is the sure way to go this summer and well into the future! Looking for multiple team choreographies…? There’s a discount for that too!!! Our goal at JAMcamps is to see your team be the best they can be and succeed!
For additional information, please visit www.jamcamps.com today or give your JAMcamp Director Fernando Thomas a call today at 1-502-653-4944!
March 18, 2011
Only a couple of weeks left to pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Charities! Don’t forget to bring your soda pop tabs to a JAM Brands event in the month of March. Soda pop tabs are collected and then recycled to generate funds to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities! Do your part this month and POP TABS!!
March 15, 2011
It’s that time again! Wow-can you believe it? We still have over a month of the 2010-2011 competition season left! We are quickly entering tryout time for the 2011-2012 season. Now is the best time to promote your gym to increase enrollment. What creative things are you doing within your program to promote tryouts for next year? Share your thoughts and let’s help each other grow!
March 10, 2011
The USASF Dance Rules Committee met at the first of March to discuss changes for the 2011-2012 season. The committee was made up of several dance directors, dance judges, and event producers. As the all-star dance industry continues to grow and become more innovative it is imperative that the industry ensures that the rules continue to grow as well. Check back for the finalized updates that should be available in the near future.
March 9, 2011
Bear with us as we work through technical bugs and continue to update over the next week.
What do you think ? Anything you would like to see? Something we left out or overlooked?
Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.
March 7, 2011
At The JAM Brands, we realize that Cheer and Dance is much more than a sport, or a hobby, or an activity. It is something that permeates our very being, gives us a sense of purpose and a sense of identity. It is what keeps us grounded during great success and drives us during adversity. It gives us character, a sense of responsibility and instills an endless work ethic. So while others spend time and energy trying to determine if this is a sport, a hobby, or an activity, we prefer to think of it as a lifestyle! An all-encompassing, all-conusming, fully immersive way of life! And we wouldn’t want it any other way!!
