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BatonTwirling

A baton is a light metal rod that is used for keeping time, twirling, and juggling in marching band, cheerleading, and parade performances, usually by drum majors or majorettes (Drum majors typically use either the larger mace or the smaller military baton.)

Baton twirling is a sport of unknown origin. Many people say that the Dutch introduced baton twirling to America in 1681 when they landed in Pennsylvania, others say Major Millsap created baton twirling when he established Millsaps College in Mississippi after the Civil War. The sport has expanded beyond parades and is now more comparable to rhythmic gymnastics (which includes manipulation of ribbons and light objects). In the USA, the top twirling organization is the United States Twirling Association. Other organizations include Drum Majorettes of America, the National BatonTwirling Association, Twirling Unlimited, and Twirl Mania. The sport is popular in many countries including Japan, France, Italy and Canada. Many countries compete each year at the World Baton Twirling Championships.

History of USTA

The United States Twirling Association is dedicated to the development of the sport of baton twirling. The Association was founded in 1958 as the first national twirling organization to be run democratically and it remains the only twirling organization that elects its Board of Directors through its membership.

The United States Twirling Association is incorporated in the State of Indiana and is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Currently, the United States Twirling Association has a membership of over 6,000 of which 750 are of professional status.

There is United States Twirling Association activity in almost every state with the largest memberships being California, Ohio, Texas and New York. Many of the states have State Councils, which promote and govern United States Twirling Association twirling in that state. Every United States Twirling Association Certified Coach at least 18 years of age is automatically entitled membership in the Council of the state where he/she resides.

The U.S.T.A. is a sport-oriented organization that sanctions approximately 200 local, state & regional competitions each year. The organization utilizes a competitive format, which is aligned with other subjectively judged sports adjudicated on an Olympic level scoring system where scores are shown to the competitors and audience immediately following each athletes performance.

Each year the United States Twirling Association holds the National Baton Twirling Championships and Festival of the Future competition. The location is rotated geographically to encourage participation by all its membership and to help develop twirling throughout the United States. This competition selects the U.S. National Champions in Men's and Women's Solo, Strut, Dance Twirl, Two Baton, Three Baton, Teams, and Corps. The Festival of the Future is a competition for beginner and intermediate twirlers and teams.

The U.S.T.A. also annually offers the U.S. Trials Competition to select a team of competitors representing the United States into the World Baton Twirling Championships

The United States Twirling Association also sponsors National and Regional Conventions in altering years. These conventions provide training classes and seminars for coaches and athletes in twirling and related areas such as dance, gymnastics, sports medicine and psychology. The National Convention also includes the General Assembly where the Board of Directors is elected and other business may be brought to the floor by United States Twirling Association Members. United States Twirling Association provisions may apply to serve on one of the Commissions, which propose rule and procedure changes and establish new programs. The current Commissions are: Essential Events, Competitive Events, Coaches, Judges, Marketing, and Public Relations. Commissions are chosen bi-annually and meet at the National Convention.

The U.S.T.A. has developed extensive and comprehensive Professional Training Programs for member athletes, coaches and judges:

• Judges are certified and required to update and retest regularly.
• Certification for coaches was developed in coordination with the Judges program.
• U.S.T.A. offers a complete system with logical, progressive skill development for teachers and coaches for training and educating athletes - The USTA Competitive/Achievement System

The Association is the official representative of the United State to the World Baton Twirling Federation, which hosts the annual World Championships each summer. There are now 22 other countries worldwide, which participate in these Championships. The United States Twirling Association is also a member of the National Council of Youth Sports.

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