Cheering

Cheering

Welcome to our Football & Cheering Family!!!

Swampscott Youth Cheerleading is a member of the Cape Ann League. It is a program open to Swampscott residents entering 2nd grade through 8th grade in the fall.

Our season begins mid-August and concludes in November. However, we 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 where the kids will be in the parade on floats and we have a table at town hall with all our youth football & cheering gear for sale! We also have the Holiday Parade in December that we encourage all youth football players and cheerleaders to ride in one of our parade floats, help decorate the floats, get in holiday spirit, and toss candy to all our friends in Swampscott watching the parade. More info will be sent to families prior to events taking place.

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 routines, half time routines and dances to support football players.

Competition Day ~ 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 precision.

2024 MYCA Competition is Saturday November 2, 2024
Location and time TBD

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

Ericka Worobey
Swampscott Youth Football Cheer Director
SwampscottYouthCheering@gmail.com

 

REGISTRATION:
Registration opens May 1st and closes August 1st
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. Teams are subject to change depending on registration numbers. On game days each team cheers for their same-aged football team.

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

PRACTICE FREQUENCY & LENGTH:
D Team: 2 days per week / 2 hours each
C Team: 2 days per week / 2 hours each
B Team: 2 days per week / 2 hours each
A Team: 2 days per week / 2 hours each

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, they cannot compete in the MYCA Competition.

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 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. (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, Swampscott Middle School, and Swampscott High School (A Team Only)
 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.

2024 MYCA Competition is Saturday November 2, 2024
Location and time 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
(sample sizes available at Fit Night for reference)
 Track suit (wind/weather resistant jacket with matching tear away pants)
 Cheer hoodie (gray)
 Practice shorts (navy)
 Practice t-shirt

The following items will also be needed
 White cheer sneakers
 White ankle socks
 Boy shorts to wear under cheer skirt (navy)
 Sports bra (white)
 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!!!!