Please review the information about each program carefully and contact us with any questions about cheer: [email protected]
The Pennridge Football Cheerleading season for both non competitive and competitive teams begins August 1st and runs through the last game of the season, typically late October or early November. The final game date is determined by how far our football teams advance in the post season.
** Competitive teams can and often extend beyond the football running through the first week in December.
Every cheerleader (even non competitive) will compete at the BuxMont Cheer Competition which is most often scheduled on a Saturday in early October.
For competitive teams this will determine our advancement to Regionals with the possibility of advancement to Nationals. Additional fees will apply and more details are outlined below under Competitive Cheer.
A parent meeting will be schedule prior to the start of practice
Your coach will let you know where your practice is going to be located.
COMMITMENT
Practices in August will be Monday thru Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00pm (with the exception to flag levels that may not practice all week). Attendance is extremely important, especially in the month of August as described below.
Once the school year begins, practices will drop for non-comp squads to 2 nights a week.
Parents should check with coach or team parent to stay informed and up to date on all cheer related items.
Games: Cheerleaders are required to cheer at home and away games. Per Pop Warner rules, all cheerleaders must attend at least 8 games during the season. Attendance will be taken at games.
Snack Stand: All parents are required to take a turn helping in the Pennridge Greenjackets snack stand throughout the season; during your child's games or scheduled events. If you are unable to work at your scheduled time; as a courtesy, YOU must find a replacement and notify your team mom. Volunteer work will be tracked to ensure that all help.
Registration will be open from April 1, 2023 to June 15, 2023. Any registration after June 1, 2023, will incur a late fee – please see registration page for all costs and fees.
Team Placement: All cheerleaders will be placed on teams in the month of July, after registration is complete. Teams will be based on age, the number of athletes registered in the program, and skill set. Pennridge Greenjackets Cheer squads are based on the Pop Warner Age Guidelines and Skill Sheets.
Non-Competitive Teams: Football Cheer and 1 competition (BuxMont Cheer Competition)
Competitive Teams: Football Cheer and various competitions outlined below
**Tiny Mites: 5, 6, & 7 - will be competitive in 2023
Mighty Mites: 7, 8 & 9
Jr. Pee Wee: 8, 9, 10 & 11
Pee Wee: 9, 10, 11 &12
Jr Varsity: 10, 11, 12 & 13
Depending on enrollment of athletes, there could be more or less squads than this – teams will be assigned in July.
**Please note that Pennridge Greenjackets Cheer reserves the right to move girls and place them based on each individual athlete’s skill level.
What is included with this year’s Registration Fee?
Uniform - cheer shell and skirt
pom pom rental (if needed) (if you purchased poms for the 2022 season, you may use those again)
October Breast Cancer Bow
Either October Pink Socks OR Pink Poms (not both)
Pennridge Greenjackets Insurance
Pennridge Greenjackets Indoor Practice Space (as needed)
Routine Music
Routine Signs
Costs related to running the Greenjackets facility - water system maintenance, electricity, field maintenance, snack stand maintenance (new POS system, etc)
Costs related to competition - including fees to participate in regional for each team that advances
**Note: If a competitive team (Mighty Mite - Pee Wee squads) advances beyond Regionals and Nationals, additional competition fees will be incurred by the cheerleader/family. See below for more competition information.
PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS
Cheerleaders should arrive 10 minutes before practice. Practices are required and missing multiple practices will result in losing a spot or being taken out of the routine. August is a learning month. If your child misses practice in August, s/he will be left behind. Pop Warner requires that all cheerleaders complete 20 hours of conditioning prior to stunting or tumbling. In order for all participants to complete the required hours, your cheerleader MUST participate in the August training schedule. If you have a vacation planned for August, you must notify the Cheer Coordinator upon registration or ASAP. During the regular season, it is important for all cheerleaders to attend practice regularly. Attendance will be taken at each practice. If your cheerleader misses practice August, they will be required to condition prior to stunting and tumbling. Cheer is a team sport and all members are critical for the routine.
Dress Code: Athletic sneakers must be worn to all practices and must be tied. Without the correct sneakers, your child will NOT be allowed to practice. No elevated sneakers or slip on are permitted. No spaghetti strap, belly shirts, short shorts, jeans or jean shorts are permitted. No jewelry is permitted and hair must be up and off shoulders.
What to Bring: Water Bottle or Sports Drink, towel and pom poms.
Transportation: It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to arrange transportation to and from practices/games in a timely manner. Every effort should be made for cheerleaders to arrive on time. Parents should be at pick up at the end about 10-15 minutes prior to the end of practice. Only legal guardians may pick up a child without written permission to the head coach from the legal guardian.
Behavior: Respectable behavior is expected at all times. Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated. Foul language will not be tolerated, anyone found using foul language will be dismissed immediately. All cheerleaders will stay with their Coaches or certified Team Mom during practices, games, and game half-times. In the event a cheerleading squad advances to a higher level of competition, they will travel and stay as a team at the entire event.
Safety: Please make certain your child's coach knows of any medical conditions or physical limitations such as Asthma or Allergies. If your child is asthmatic, a second inhaler is requested to be kept by the coach in case the child forgets to bring it to practice or games. If your child is allergic to bees, you must alert her coach. Every parent must come to their child's practice area to get their child at the end of practice. The children will not be permitted to leave until the coach has acknowledged the parent or the person they've been told will be picking them up. Please inform your coach if someone other than you will be picking your child up from practice.
Player Dismissal: Cheerleaders can be dismissed without refund for the following reasons: A cheerleader tells Coaches that she does not want to cheer. A cheerleader attempts to intimidate fellow participants at practice by word and/or physical deed. A parent has not followed the Code of Conduct. Each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
GAMES
Cheerleaders should arrive at the games at minimum of 30 minutes prior to a game and stay until the game is over. Competitive squads may be required to arrive 1 1/2-2 hours prior to the start of a game. Parents must be present at the game by the end of the 3rd quarter. Cheerleaders cheer in rain, snow, and cold weather conditions. If the football players play, cheerleaders cheer. Cheerleaders should come prepared to the games with complete uniform available. For inclement weather, sweatpants or leggings may be worn along with sweaters, gloves, hats and, if needed, jackets. Cheerleaders are to stay with the team the ENTIRE game.
Uniforms: Uniforms are the property of the Pennridge Greenjackets. You will be responsible for damage or loss and will sign off on the condition of the uniform when distributed. A uniform rental deposit may be required. Care instructions sheets will be given when uniforms are distributed and should be followed explicitly. Uniforms are to be worn ONLY for Bux-Mont sponsored events (football games, competitions, and pictures). Uniforms are NOT to be worn as Halloween costumes. At the end of the season every cheerleader is responsible for returning a CLEAN uniform at their designated time. In order to maintain an accurate inventory of our uniforms your cooperation in this matter is needed. You will be charged for a uniform if not returned.
Additional Uniform Costs: Parents will be asked to purchase the following items to maintain a uniform look as a squad, which is at the parents/legal guardians' expense, and will be in addition to the registration fee: competition cheer bow, cheer bloomers, white no show cheer socks, cheer sneakers, and a cheer liner top for cold weather. The approximate additional cost for the 2023 season is $70. Your head coach or the cheer director will distribute details about these items. For competition squads, there may be additional expenses if the head coach deems that additional items (such as team jacket) require purchase. A squad may also have "team dues" to help fund these and other items the coach deems for the squad.
COMPETITIVE CHEER
Competitive Cheerleaders may compete in 3 Pop Warner sponsored competitions should they advance.
BuxMont Cheer Competition
- Dates: Typically held last weekend in September or first weekend in October.
- Location: Souderton High School (2023)
- All Cheerleaders compete (non-competitive teams showcase their routine)
- Qualifying teams will advance to Regionals.
Pop Warner Eastern Regional Cheerleading and Dance Competition
- Dates: Typically held 1st weekend in November.
- Location: Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton NJ
- Qualifying teams will advance to Nationals
Pop Warner National Cheerleading and Dance Competition
- Dates: 1st Week of December
- Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando Florida
- Please note: We request that the family hold the entire week of Nationals as the teams will not receive the Order of Performance until 2 weeks prior to the event.
Additional Fees that a competition cheerleader may incur include:
- Competition Fees
- Spirit Wear for Nationals (includes a shirt and shorts for each day)
Post Season Competition Opportunities: (note these are at the discretion of the coaches and you should indicate to your head coach if you wish to have your child’s season end after Nationals.)