CHEERLEADING
Welcome to the Recreation Department’s Cheerleading program!
Program Information
Ages: Cheerleading is for girls currently in or entering grades 4-7
Bengals: 3/4 Grade
Panters: 5/6 Grade
Cats: 7/8 Grade
Registrations: Held in the spring
Practices/Games: The cheerleading program begins practice in early August and the season runs through late October/early November. The girls cheer at the youth football games which are held on Saturday evenings and/or Sunday afternoons and the end of season exhibition.
Tryouts: Tryouts will be required for the Panthers (5/6 Grade) and the Cats (7/8 Grade). There will be no tryouts for the Bengals (3/4 Grade)
Any girl selected to the team is expected to attend all games and practices and must be on their best behavior. Cheerleading must be their first extracurricular activity. Any member of the team violating these provisions will be suspended by the coaching staff or removed from the team. Girls that make the cheerleading teams are not permitted to play soccer or field hockey in the fall. Parents are responsible for transporting their daughter to and from all practice and games.
Tryout Agenda: The evaluations will be conducted by an independent panel of cheerleading knowledgeable people or the coaching staff if they do not have a relative participating on the squad. During the first two days of tryouts, the participants will be taught two cheers that they will have to perform on the last day. Evaluations will be based on all three days and attendance at all three sessions is critical. The criteria for evaluations are:
- Overall attitude and presentation (smile, positive behavior, friendly attitude towards are at the tryout)
- Communication skills
- Dance technique
- Jumps
- Motion technique
Uniform Requirements: A cheerleading uniform, practice shirt and pom-poms (if the coach chooses to use them) will be supplied to each cheerleader. You may be required to purchase the following and your daughter’s coach/the board will inform you of this as the season approaches):
- Jacket
- Socks
- Cheerleading Shoes
- Hair ties
- Turtleneck
Fundraisers: All cheerleaders and parents are required to participate in one fundraiser or take at least one shift in the concession stand during one of the home games. Due to South Hadley hosting the exhibition, we may be looking for people to cover specific tasks and you will be contacted at a later time and date. Fundraisers may include the following: car washes, Avon, Huke-Lau night, 4th of July concession stand, etc… It is the intent of SHYCA to limit fundraisers to what is necessary and most profitable.
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