The 2024 NCA High School Nationals has arrived as Day 1 kicks off one of the most competitive high school cheer competitions of the season, featuring teams from all across the country.

This weekend's event will feature returning champions with years of experience and some teams who are taking on NCA High School Nationals for the very first time.

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Events will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Competition begins at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19, across three different performance areas including Hall A, Hall B, and the Arena.

Here’s what Friday’s schedule looks like at the 2024 NCA High School Nationals. 

Here’s The Day 1 NCA High School Nationals Schedule For Friday

Friday Arena Schedule

Friday NCA Kick Off - Arena 

• 6:00PM: Opening Ceremony 
• 6:08 PM - 7:30 PM: Introductory Traditional, Game Day Rally, Beginner Traditional, Beginner Unified, Novice Unified, Intermediate Traditional
• 7:30 PM: NCA Scholarship Nominee Introductions, NCA Scholarship Winners, Go Be Great Winners, Awards - Special Olympics Texas 

Here Are All The Cheer Teams Competing On Day 1 Of NCA High School Nationals

 Arena:

• Introductory Traditional Carroll Dragons, 6:08 PM
• Game Day Rally Harlandale High School, 6:11 PM 
• Beginner Traditional Katy Wolf Pack Special Olympics, 6:22 PM 
• Game Day Rally Sunset High School, 6:26 PM 
• Beginner Traditional Duncanville Sparklers, 6:30 PM
• Beginner Traditional Notre Dame School, 6:41 PM 
• Game Day Rally Royse City High School, 6:44 PM
• Beginner Unified Keller ISD Sparkles, 6:55 PM 
• Game Day Rally Bishop McGuinness High School, 6:59 PM 
• Beginner Unified Notre Dame School, 7:03 PM 
• Novice Unified Grand Prarie ISD, 7:14 PM 
• Game Day Rally Grapevine High School, 7:17 PM
• Intermediate Traditional Katy Stars, 7:28 PM 

How To Watch The 2024 NCA High School Nationals

The 2024 edition of the NCA High School Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

If you will be in Dallas and want to see the event in person, click HERE for spectator and ticket information.

About The Format/Categories At The 2024 NCA High School Nationals

Regardless of experience, skill level, or specialty, there’s a place for all competitors at the NCA High School Nationals. Here’s a breakdown of the categories – Crowd Leading (novice, intermediate, advanced), Performance (novice, intermediate, advanced), and Game Day.

From Varsity.com’s 2023-2024 School Rules & Scoring:

Crowd Leading Divisions

Routine Length: 2:30 minutes (Music up to 1:45 minutes)

Levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced

Grade Levels: Junior High/Middle School, Junior Varsity/Freshmen, Varsity, Coed Varsity, Non-Building, Non-Tumbling, Junior Club

These divisions offer the best of both worlds! 

Crowd Leading divisions emphasize crowd-leading ability with crowd-effective material.

Routines in these divisions will include transitional stunts and pyramids, but the cheer section will encourage a crowd response, as if you were leading the fans at an actual game.

Teams can use all sideline-appropriate props, such as signs, poms and megaphones in their routines.

Performance Divisions

Routine Length: 2:30 minutes (Music up to 1:45 minutes)

Levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced

Grade Levels: Junior High/Middle School, JV/Freshmen, Varsity, Coed Varsity

Does your team excel in skills and performance environments? NCA Performance divisions showcase the athleticism of cheerleading, with a focus on visual elements. 

Teams competing in these divisions have routines that consist of transitional stunts, pyramids and a cheer. The cheer does not have to encourage crowd participation.

Game Day Divisions

Routine Length: 3:00 minutes

Grade Levels: Junior High/Middle School, Junior Varsity/Freshmen, Varsity

Bring your sidelines to the spotlight in an NCA Game Day Division! 

Teams combine their band chant, game-day cheer, and fight song with a game-day situational response to showcase in one three-minute performance. 

Game Day divisions are the perfect way to transition material you already have and practice on the sidelines for the national floor. 

Cheer teams also have the option to bring their dancers, mascots, and band members to compete in the Game Day Rally division (previously called Spirit Program Division). 

This division celebrates how spirit programs work together to enhance their school game day and rally experience.

The 2024 NCA High School Nationals Results

Results for the 2024 NCA High School Nationals can be found here.

The 2024 NCA High School Nationals Schedule

The schedule for the 2024 NCA High School Nationals can be found here.

Tune in to Varsity TV on January 19-21 to watch all the action live from the 2024 NCA High School Nationals in Dallas!