Welcome to North Reading Youth Cheerleading.  Registration is open from April 1st to May 31st.

North Reading Youth Cheerleading is a member of MYCA (Massachusetts Youth Cheer Alliance).  It is a program open to North Reading residents entering kindergarten in the fall through 8th grade.  The season begins mid-August and concludes in November.  The goal is to provide a positive learning experience, focused on sportsmanship teamwork, safety and fun!

Most cheerleaders participate as both game day and competitive cheerleaders, however if your child is unable to make all competitions then they will only be offered game day cheerleader.  All cheerleaders learn a variety of skills such as cheers, jumps, stunts and tumbling. Game day cheerleaders are assigned to a team and cheer for them weekly at both home and away football games.  Game Day cheerleaders perform sideline routines, half time routines and dances to support football players.  Competitive cheerleaders perform routines in a competitive forum against other cheerleading programs.  Routines are judged based on a variety of criteria, such as difficulty, creativity and technique.

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you better understand the program.  

If you have any further questions, please contact me anytime.

Nicole Hajj

North Reading Cheer Director

[email protected]

REGISTRATION:

• Registration opens April 1 and closes May 31.

• Once each team meets their cap your child will be placed on the wait list.
•  Wait list cheerleaders may have the option to join the team as a game day cheerleader.

•  New cheerleaders will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate at fitting day and are not permitted to attend practice until they do so.

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS:

Cheerleaders are assigned to teams by grades/birth years. 

• JVE Team-- kindergarten & 1st
• E Team-- 2nd grade
• JVD--3rd grade
• D Team--3rd grade
• C Team--5th & 6th grade
• A Team--7th & 8th grade

GAME INFORMATION:

• The game day schedule is available by Labor Day.
• Games start the weekend after Labor Day.
• Games are one per week on Saturday/Sunday.
• All cheerleaders travel to both home and away games.
• All games are mandatory.

PRACTICE INFORMATION:

• Practices begin mid-August.
• Practice schedule will be sent via email in July.
• Practices are all mandatory.
• Practices are held at Aldersgate at 235 Park Street North Reading, MA 01864 and at North Reading High School 189 Park Street North Reading, MA 01864.
• The Friday before competition needs to be reserved for a run through.
• Extra practices will be held as competitions approach during October/November.

 PRACTICE FREQUENCY & LENGTH:

            JVE/E:                2 days per week

            JVD/D Team:           2 days per week 2 hours each

            C Team:           2 days per week

            A Team:             3 days per week

        Each Team will be assigned a mandatory choreography practice 1-2 times per season for 2-4 hours.  
If your child can't attend the mandatory choreography day, then they are unable to be a competitive cheerleader.

COMPETITION INFORMATION:

• The cheerleaders will participate in 2-3 competitions yearly in October/November.
• Competitions are in October and November.
• Choreography day(s) are mandatory and failure to attend results in your child being unable to compete.
• If your child can't make one of the competitions, then they will be permitted to be a game day only cheerleader as there is not enough time between competitions to change the routine.
• If your child's squad is trying to compete at Nationals for a chance to get a bid at Disney. It will be determined at the beginning of the season and approved by both the Cheer Director & Board.  Parents are responsible for the additional fees for Disney; however fundraising will be allowed to help offset fees.

UNIFORMS:

• A uniform will be issued during a fitting in June/July.
• A uniform contract will need to be signed and damaged uniforms need to be replaced.

WHAT ITEMS WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED:

• Cheer sneakers
• Boy Shorts
• Pom-poms (this is a one-time purchase as the same pom-poms are used)
• Bows (sometimes additional bows need to be purchased, such as competition bows)
• Warm up suit (optional)
  

ABSENCE POLICY:

 ****Cheerleading is unlike other sports that there are no subs waiting on the bench and that each cheerleader on the team has a position.  When one child is missing, that means one entire stunt group is unable to practice their stunt or that the entire team may be unable to practice their pyramid.****

• All practices, games, choreography days and competitions are mandatory, that being said we understand that children get sick or may have an absence.

• After 2 unexcused absences the coach reserves the right to remove your child from the competition team and have him/her participate as a game day cheerleader.

• All absences need to be communicated to your child's' coach in advance of missing a practice/game.