Overview
Ridgefield Youth Cheer is a recreational and nationally ranked competitive cheer program that strives to provide an athletic environment that promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, physical fitness, and competition. Our program is open to girls and boys up to 16 years of age. Our certified cheer coaches teach basic motions all the way to complex routines. Cheerleading routines include all athletes on the team and incorporate cheers, jumps, stunts, tumbling, dance, and pyramids.
Evaluations are held to help place each cheerleader on the team that best fits their current skill level. Our coaches will be assessing basic motions, jumps, and spirit to ensure every athlete can shine, grow, and have fun with teammates who match their energy and experience.
For the 2026 Season, we are opening competition teams for athletes ages 7 ( 2nd grade) through 16 (as of 7/1/2026)! A sideline spirit team is available for all athletes! Only athletes interested in the competition teams are required to attend evaluations!
In addition to competitions, teams participate on the sidelines for weekly football games. On Game Day, cheerleaders will encourage the football team throughout the game as well as perform at halftime.
We look forward to working with your athletes and to another successful season!
Cheerleaders committing to Ridgefield Youth Cheer are rostered to a National Track Competition Team and will be placed in age-appropriate and skill categories. National Track Teams cheer on sidelines for Football games as well as compete in up to 4-5 competitions per season. (Fun Comp, Locals, States, Regionals, and Nationals). Teams who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at Regionals are required to advance to the AYC Nationals Cheer Competition. AYC Nationals Cheer Competition is held in early December in Kissimmee, FL.
CHEER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are the age requirements for the cheer program?
Players are eligible to cheer if they are no older than 16 years of age as of July 1st of the current year.
Q: What is the cost to register and what does the fee include? When is registration?
Registration ends on June 1st. ALL registration is online.
NATIONAL TRACK COMPETITION TEAMS (Ages 7 (2nd Grade) and older)
Registration fee is $440
Uniform Purchase: As of 2025, cheerleaders will now be purchasing their uniforms to keep and be used for 2 seasons minimally! For 2026, we are on year two of the existing uniforms. Uniform fittings and additional information will follow! If a returning athlete needs different sizes, single pieces can be ordered.
Uniform Price: $250
NEW for 2026, all cheer athletes will be required to purchase a tank top that will be used for practices and game days in the warmer months! Please see the website to purchase this tank top:
https://www.makeitswag.com/cheer
*All cheerleaders will receive 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
If a uniform is purchased, this fee is non-refundable!
Q: How and what paperwork needs to be handed in?
For 2026, AYC is now allowing all paperwork to be collected electronically through iSportz. Once registration closes, more information will be provided for the competition paperwork!
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 July 1st for summer practices. Coaches are working on this schedule now and will communicate the actual start date to each team. During the summer practice weeks, teams typically practice 2 days during the week. The practice location is typically the upper fields at RHS or Barlow Mountain Elementary School Fields. 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 indoors. Your practice schedule will depend on your assigned team. Practices are around 2 hours each.
Practice schedules will be finalized once teams are formed. All practices are mandatory. Practices may be added or extended before 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 30th. 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 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 a copy of the athlete’s birth certificate.
If your child participated in 2025, they do not need to provide a birth certificate.
Q: When and where are the 2026 competitions?
FUN COMP: Saturday- October 3rd at Shelton High School
LOCALS: Saturday- October 10th (Location TBD)
STATES: Saturday- October 24th OR October 31st (location TBD)
REGIONALS (if teams qualify): Saturday- November 14th at the University of Rhode Island
NATIONALS (if teams qualify): December 2nd -5th in Kissimmee, Florida
**Dates are subject to change. **