Sprite Step Off, the largest stepping competition in history, has held 15 qualifying and regional competitions since it began this Fall. Scores of fraternity and sorority step teams have been engaging crowds across the country with their performances and choreography while competing for the $1.5 million scholarship prize pool.

As the Sprite Step Off moves toward the more challenging rounds, step teams are working even harder to perfect their performances. In an effort to give teams additional time to fine tune their routines, the Sprite Step Off regional competition rounds have been rescheduled to January 2010. Additionally, we are working on several new and exciting opportunities that will significantly enhance the competition.

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Tickets sold for events scheduled prior to October 17 are valid only for those events.

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The events will take place in January 2010. Locations are still being determined. We will update spritestepoff.com with details as they become available.

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We are working on several new and exciting opportunities that will significantly enhance the competition, including broadcast opportunities.

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All teams that have qualified for the tournament will be contacted by SSO staff who will update them on new scheduling of the competition, travel arrangements and other details.

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We are determining who will be the entertainment acts at the January 2010 events. We will update spritestepoff.com with details as they become available.

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At each of the remaining regional competitions, step teams will be given the opportunity to participate in a "Wild Card" event to qualify for the tournament and compete in that regional competition. Wild card qualifying rounds, regional semifinals and regional finals will all occur in January 2010.

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We are committed to delivering the strongest Sprite Step Off competition possible. Timing is crucial which is why we have rescheduled the regional competitions to January 2010. We are working on several new and exciting opportunities that should significantly enhance the competition and will make it well worth the wait.

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Yes. Any team member who graduated in December of 2009 is eligible to participate in Sprite Step Off January 2010 activities.

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Sprite®, the lemon-lime beverage category leader and the preferred refreshing drink for many college students, is launching the Sprite Step Off - the largest college Greek stepping tournament in history with the biggest prize pool ever. The Sprite Step Off will celebrate the originality and self-expression of multicultural college Greek fraternities and sororities through both step and scholarship. Sprite Step Off is comprised of three main components - the tournament, entertainment and charitable platform.

The Sprite Step Off begins with Qualifying Events followed by Regional Semi-Finals and Regional Finals. The National Final will be held in February 2010 in Atlanta, GA.

The Sprite Step Off will have an entertainment element. To highlight the passion that exists behind stepping, Sprite will create content that showcases the different aspects of the tournament. Each event throughout the Sprite Step Off will showcase a variety of local and national recording artists, renowned marching bands, and local and celebrity DJs.

The Sprite Step Off also has a robust charitable platform comprised of two major components: service and scholarship. In a desire to inspire young people to higher education, Sprite has created the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge, which calls on individuals and organizations nationwide to donate 1.5 million community service hours focused on educational empowerment. The Sprite Step Off will also donate over $1.75 million in college scholarships throughout the program. Click here for more information on the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge.

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Sprite is launching the Sprite Step Off in an effort to not only highlight the exceptional art form of college Greek stepping but also to positively highlight the impact of multicultural youth on the college experience. Through its various media and experiences, the Sprite Step Off will recognize the leadership, service, loyalty and perseverance of our participating teams. The goal of the Sprite Step Off is to holistically showcase a dynamic culture that will bring a fresh perspective to how young people view college life.

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Yes. The Sprite Step Off has been officially endorsed by:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

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The Sprite Step Off is open to members of undergraduate chapters of nationally recognized, service oriented fraternities and sororities that are in good standing with both their national organizations and college or university.

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No. The Sprite Step Off is only open to students in undergraduate chapters of fraternities and sororities.

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No. The Sprite Step Off is open to any fraternity or sorority, regardless of race.

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• A team must have a minimum of three (3) and no more than (15) performing team members. The team may also have two (2) alternate team members.
• Every Team member must be of the same gender and from the same chapter.
• Every Team member must meet the team member eligibility requirements.

Please see the Official Rules for more details on eligibility.

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All team members must:

• Be a legal resident of the United States, 18 years of age or older at the time of competition.
• Be an active member, in good standing of an undergraduate chapter of a nationally-recognized, service oriented fraternities and sororities affiliated with an accredited (4) year institution that have been in existence for one calendar year.
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in good academic standing at an accredited four (4) year institution.
• Have a valid school ID.
• Have a valid government issued ID (i.e. passport, state issued driver's license, state issued identification card, or military ID).

Please see the Official Rules for more details on eligibility.

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Each step team will be allowed to have up to two alternate team members. The alternates are official team members that can be used if a core member of the team is unable to compete or to assist the team with props or music. Alternates must meet all eligibility requirements and will receive part of the team scholarship prizes awarded to winning teams.

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Teams should ensure that their performance is suitable for viewing by people of all ages. No portion of the performance should reflect negatively upon The Coca-Cola Company or the team's fraternity or sorority or subject The Coca-Cola Company or its organization to public scandal or ridicule. Prohibited performance conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Use of prohibited calls or hand signals
• Ridiculing other fraternities or sororities
• Any dance or step routine that includes nudity, partial nudity, gyrating or simulating sexual activity, or sexually suggestive movements
• Profanity, including any word, expression, gesture or other behavior that is socially construed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, or disrespectful
• Use of any music and/or videos that are in poor taste or contain profanity or sexually explicit language or connotations

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All teams are given up to 15 minutes to set up, perform and clear the stage (a maximum of four (4) minutes for prop setup, seven (7) minutes performance time including intro and exit, and four (4) minutes for prop removal.) Teams that exceed this time frame will have points deducted from their score.

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Yes, as long as the team can set the staging/props in the allotted time frame. Please note that use of any props is subject to the stage manager's approval. Onsite registering teams must also have all props and backdrops approved onsite via a Sprite Step Off committee member upon check-in. No animals, firearms, fireworks, pyrotechnics, or indecent materials will be allowed as show props.

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Each team member is expected to wear appropriate attire. All clothing should be clean, properly fitting and in good repair and meets the following requirements:

• Clothing cannot expose the midsection or abdominal area.
• All undergarments (including briefs and sports bras) should be properly covered by your outer clothing.
• Strapless, halter or tube tops, low cut clothing, transparent clothing, and very short skirts, shorts or dresses are inappropriate.
• Attire must not display obscene, profane, illegal, inappropriate or offensive images or words, including references to alcohol, tobacco, drug usage or violence.
• Team members shall not wear any items reflecting what appears to be pledge line names and/ or numbers.
• No advertising slogans or corporate logos shall appear on the clothing of team members.

Also, no tattoos or brands may be visible during the team's performance.

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Yes, however, music used during performances must be cleared prior to show performance. Music for your performance cannot contain profanity or sexually explicit language. The Sprite Step Off staff will review and approve all music and will determine, in its sole discretion, whether a team may use its music.

All music must be cued on a CD or MP3 player. One team member must be assigned to instruct the sound person during the performance.

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Yes. In the event a team member is deemed ineligible, the Team Captain may amend the Official Team Roster to include a new team member that meets the eligibility requirement.

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Each Team's performance is scored based on the following criteria as set forth in the applicable event Official Rules:

• Creativity - Performing new and innovative steps and utilizing a creative introduction and exit.
• Show Theme - The overall storyline of the performance
• Execution - Carrying out precise rhythmic syncopation of beats
• Showmanship - Overall manner of team's performance

In the Sprite Step Off Regional Finals and the National Finals, crowd enthusiasm and response will also be a criteria.

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Yes, teams are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and represent their organizations in a positive light. Failure to adhere to the Official Rules may result in a five (5) point deduction, for each infraction, from the team's overall score or immediate disqualification.

Deductions may be assessed against a team for any of the following:

• Failure to report to staging area on time.
• Exceeding allotted time for performance.
• Use of unauthorized props or music.
• Violation of the Performance Criteria/Sprite Step Off Code of Conduct.

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Every individual on every team that qualifies for Regional Competition in the Sprite Step Off will be required to follow the Performance Criteria/Sprite Step Off Code of Conduct and will subject to a background check. During this process, information provided by each team member prior to competing in a Qualifying Event will be verified by their national Greek organization and college or university. If it is determined through this process that an individual has provided false information, he/she subjects themselves and their team to potential disqualification will forfeit his/her share of any team scholarship prizes.

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The $1.5 million prize pool is the largest ever awarded during a step tournament.

From the $1.5 million prize pool, each fraternity and sorority team that places as first, second and third place winners will be awarded a prize in the form of team scholarships during the Qualifying, Regional Semifinal, Regional Final Rounds and National Finals.

Scholarship prizes will be awarded to the highest scoring team in each fraternity and sorority category. Prizes will be distributed in both categories as follows:

The scholarships will be distributed evenly amongst all team members listed on the Official Team Roster including the alternates.

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No. All scholarship awards will be made payable to each individual team member's educational institution, in the name of the individual.

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The Sprite Step Off Service Challenge is a national program designed to spark individuals and organizations nationwide to refresh their communities by donating a collective 1.5 million hours of youth-focused volunteerism and service between Sept. 12, 2009 - Sept. 12, 2010.

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Yes. All interested parties are welcome and encouraged to support the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge by volunteering in charitable programs throughout the community. There is a list of partner non-profit organizations on www.spritestepoff.com.

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You can serve by volunteering your time to better your community or positively influence youth in your community by doing a project related to education, active living and/or community service. For example, you can volunteer to read to children or tutor them at your local library. You can also participate in a project with one of our official Sprite Step Off Service Challenge partners, like the Boys & Girls Club of America.

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For the Sprite Step Off Service Challenge, 'Community Service' is defined as volunteer service for a non-profit agency, community organization, civic organization or society. In general, community service benefits those in need.

A 'Service Hour' constitutes 60 consecutive minutes of volunteer community service by an individual for another individual, group or organization.

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Individuals must visit www.spritestepoff.com/servicechallenge to register and pledge hours. Our goal is to secure 1.5 million hours collective between Sept. 12, 2009 - Sept. 12, 2010. Participants (Sprite Step Off regional competitors and the general public) can pledge how much they plan to commit over the next year in community service and should follow-up by confirming actual hours served on the Sprite Step Off website.

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President Obama has issued a call to the entire nation "to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation." Sprite Step Off Service Challenge is our answer to President Obama's call aimed at rallying Americans, in particular multicultural youth, to make a positive impact in their community.

You should volunteer for Sprite Step Off Service Challenge to help us reach our goal of 1.5 million volunteer service hours dedicated to inspiring educational pursuits among multicultural youth and building stronger, more stainable communities.

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There is no service requirement for teams during the Qualifying Round of the Sprite Step Off. All teams that advance to the Regional Rounds of the Sprite Step Off will be required to participate in a service project.

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Community service has played a significant role in the foundation of multicultural fraternities and sororities since they were founded in the early 20^th century. Sprite supports and encourages social responsibility as an effort to empower and maintain our communities.

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