CHEER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What are the age requirements for the cheer program? 

Players are eligible to cheer if they are entering 1st through 8th grade/are no older than 14 years of age as of July 31st of the current year.  

Q: What is the cost to register and what does the fee include? When is registration?

Registration ends on July 15th. ALL registration is online .

SIDELINE ONLY TEAM  (GRADES 1-5) 

Registration fee is $275.00

NATIONAL TRACK COMPETITION TEAMS (GRADES 1-8)

Registration fee is $400

*All cheerleaders will receive a uniform, practice t-shirt or tank, pom poms and two bows. Additional cheer apparel will be available to purchase. Athletes will be responsible for purchasing cheer shoes. 

Q: What is the Refund Policy

100% if registration is withdrawn for any reason before August 1st

50% before August 15

No refund after August 15th 

Q: How and What paperwork needs to be handed in? 

All paperwork needs to be handed in by July 15th. We will collect ALL completed paperwork at the uniform fitting in June  (date TBD). We will also communicate paperwork drop off opportunities in June and July. 

Required Forms (AYC will release updated forms in May 2024)

• Participation, Tracking and ID Card- Page 1
  
• Participation, Tracking and ID Card- Page 2
  
• Medical Clearance Form
  
• Birth Certificate 
  
• Emergency Medical Treatment 
  
• Waiver and Release of Liability 
  
• Image Release
  
• AYF Code of Conduct
  
• Concussion Form
  
• Anti-Bullying Form
  
• Cheer Team Declaration Statement 
  
•  Original birth certificates and a copy needed for NEW cheerleaders only. Returning cheerleaders we already have a certified copy from previous year.
• Medical Clearance Forms need to have the doctor’s signature and office stamp.

Q: When are uniform and practice apparel fittings? 

All fittings will be scheduled for June (date TBD) 

Q: What is the summer practice schedule? 

Cheer practices can start as early as Monday July 22nd, 2024. Coaches will communicate the actual start date to each team. During the summer practice weeks teams will practice 2 days during the week. The practice location is typically the upper fields at RHS. All practices are mandatory. Please communicate with your Head Coach if you have a scheduled vacation or family commitment. 

Q: What is the practice schedule once school starts? 

Once school starts, we will be practicing indoor. Your practice schedule will depend on your assigned team. Practices are around 2 hours each.

*Sideline Only Team will practice once a week for 1 hour. 

Practice schedules will be finalized once teams are formed. All practices are mandatory. Practices may be added or extended prior to competitions. 

Q: What is the attendance policy? 

ALL practices, games, and competitions are mandatory. Cheerleading is a TEAM sport. The entire team relies on each other to learn the routine and to perform it safely. If you know your cheerleader will miss a practice or game at any time during the season, please let your coach know ASAP. After 3 unexcused absences it will be up to the coach and the VP of Cheer as to whether your child will be able to remain on the team. 

Q: Do we cheer at games when it rains/snows? 

If football is playing a game, we will be cheering. We will cheer in inclement weather. We will modify our cheers and half-time routine as necessary to ensure the safety of the cheerleaders. 

Q: When and where are the football games? 

Football games may start as early as August 27th. We cheer at home games and some away games depending on the football schedule. Games can be on Saturdays or Sundays. We will know the game schedule by late-August. However, there can be changes throughout the season so flexibility is important. Attendance at football games is mandatory. If your child cannot attend, you must inform the Head Coach. All cheerleaders are expected to be accompanied by an adult to football games. Please review the attendance policy.

Q: How long is the cheer season? 

Football games start at the end of August and the regular season ends near the end of October. We will also cheer at any post season games and championships that continue through November, as necessary. Our competitions start in October and typically end around Thanksgiving. 

National Track Competition Teams in Grades 1-8 will be competition teams. The cheer season will be extended if your team qualifies for the AYC National competition which is in Florida in early-December. Teams will continue to cheer for play-off games that may extend beyond Local & State competition dates.

Q: Will I need my child's original birth certificate for registration? 

All NEW cheerleaders to our organization will need to provide an original birth certificate with a raised seal AND a copy. Once the birth certificate has been validated in late August, the original will be returned to you and we will keep a validated copy. 

If your child participated in 2023, they do not need to provide a birth certificate.

Q: When and where are the competitions? 

• LOCALS: Saturday- October 19th or Sunday October 20th (TBD as well as location)
• STATES: Saturday- November 2nd (location TBD)
• REGIONALS (if teams qualify): Saturday- November 16th (location TBD but in Central MA)
• NATIONALS (if teams qualify): December 4th -7th  In Florida

**Dates are subject to change**

Q. What are the Team Registration Options? 

The Options are:

• Sideline ONLY Team (Grades 1-5)
• Nationals Track Competition Team (Grades 1-8)

Sideline Only Team and National Track Competition Teams will ALL be required to cheer on the Sidelines for Football games.