Cheering

Cheering

Welcome to our Football & Cheering Family!!!

Swampscott Youth Cheerleading is a member of the Massachusetts Youth Cheer Alliance (MYCA). It is a program open to Swampscott and Nahant residents entering 1st grade through 8th grade in the Fall.

Our season begins mid-August and concludes in November. We also participate in many town activities in our off-season and urge all football players and cheerleaders to be a part of the fun! For example, we have the Strawberry Festival in June/July and Holiday Parade in December that we encourage all youth football players and cheerleaders to ride in one of our parade floats!

The goal is to provide a positive learning experience, focused on sportsmanship teamwork, safety and fun! 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. Cheerleaders perform sideline cheers and half time routines to support football players.

Competition Day ~ cheerleaders perform routines in a competitive forum against other local cheerleading programs. Routines are judged based on a variety of criteria, such as difficulty, creativity and technique.

2025 MYCA Competition Date and Location TBD

Here is some additional information to help you better understand the program.
If you have any further questions, please contact me anytime!

Kelley Collins
Swampscott Youth Football Cheer Director
Please email president@bigblueyouth.com with any questions.

 

REGISTRATION:
Registration opens May 1st and closes June 30th. New cheerleaders will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate.

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS:
Cheerleaders are assigned to teams by grade/birth years. Teams are subject to change depending on registration numbers. Since cheer team ages/grades do not align with football team ages/grades, it is not guaranteed that your child will cheer for football teams their age on game day.

E Team ~ 1st & 2nd grade
D Team ~ 3rd & 4th grade
C Team ~ 5th & 6th grade
A Team ~ 7th & 8th grade
(Once registration closes the official teams and coaches will be emailed to all families)

PRACTICE FREQUENCY & LENGTH:

E Team: 1-3 days per week / 2 hours each
D Team: 2-3 days per week / 2 hours each
C Team: 2-3 days per week / 2 hours each
A Team: 2-3 days per week / 2 hours each

Each team will be assigned a mandatory choreography practice 1-2 times per season for 2-4 hours.

PRACTICE ATTENDANCE POLICY:

(this is extremely important to know prior to registration)
Cheerleading is unlike other sports – there are no subs waiting on the bench and each cheerleader on the team has a position. When one cheerleader 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 competition routine and/or stunts.
 All practices, games, choreography days and competitions are mandatory. With that being said, we understand that children get sick or may have an absence.
 After 3 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. (If ill a doctor’s note may be required before returning to practice)

PRACTICE INFORMATION:
 Practices begin mid-August.
 Practice schedule will be sent via email in July.
 Practices are all mandatory.
 Practices are held at Blocksidge Field and Swampscott Middle School
 Extra practices will be held as competition approaches during October/November.
 Practice uniforms will be worn to every practice along with a sports bra and cheer sneakers, unless coach suggests otherwise.

Airpods and cell phones are not allowed at games or practices. Please come to both practices and games ready. This means the player arrives in the appropriate uniform, no jewelry, hair up in a high ponytail, and white cheer sneakers with white ankle socks.

(Players may need to bring sunscreen or bug spray depending on location/time of game and/or practice)

GAME INFORMATION:
 The game day schedule is available the week before 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.
 Playoffs are TBD.

COMPETITION INFORMATION:
 Cheerleaders will participate in ONE competition at the end of the season.
 Competition is usually the first weekend in November.
 Choreography day(s) are mandatory and failure to attend results in your child being unable to compete.

2025 MYCA Competition Date and Location TBD

UNIFORMS:
 A uniform will be issued during a fitting in July/August at “Fit Night” the date and time is TBD, but we will be sure everyone is notified as soon as possible.
 A uniform contract will need to be signed and damaged uniforms need to be replaced.
 Uniforms are returned (clean) at the end of each season, coaches will organize and collect uniforms from their players.

ITEMS EACH CHEERLEADER WILL NEED:

The following items can be ordered at Fit Night through Athletes Corner and Omnicheer
(sample sizes available at Fit Night for reference)

 Long sleeve bodysuit
 Boy shorts to wear under cheer skirt (navy)

 Cheer Hoodie

The following items will also be needed
 White cheer sneakers
 White ankle socks
 Bows TBD (sometimes bows need to be purchased, such as competition bows)

We look forward to another fun-filled season with new and returning cheerleaders!

GO BIG BLUE!!!!