WHO ARE WE? WHAT DO WE DO?
The Wappingers Wildcats Youth Cheerleading program consists of both sideline/gameday and competition/exhibition cheer teams for athletes between the ages of 4-12 years old. Our program is available to families whose children attend the Wappingers School District, Spackenkill School District, occasional neighboring schools (if a cheer program is not offered there), as well as private and homeschooled children. Our season begins the first week of August and extends to the end of November. Throughout the season we work with our cheer athletes to prepare them for sideline cheer, where they will cheer on our Wildcats football teams on gameday. We also prepare them for our local TYC and regional competitions, where they have the great opportunity to perform and compete against the other amazing TYC cheer programs, as well as regional teams in Trenton, NJ. We know that each athlete is unique and develops in their own time, which is why our cheer program places great emphasis on building each and every athlete up to their full potential in a safe and comfortable environment. Our cheer athletes work together with their teammates. When they leave our program, they are not just friends, they are family.
WHAT IS SIDELINE/GAMEDAY CHEER?
WHAT IS COMPETITION/EXHIBITION CHEER?
WHAT TEAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHEERLEADERS?
WHAT COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED OF A SIDELINE CHEERLEADER?
Sideline cheerleaders will practice for two hours, once a week, every week from August 5th to November 2nd. Athletes are expected to attend ALL practices and games. Games are held on Sundays starting the weekend of September 7th until November 2nd. Game schedule will be released by the end of August 30th. Most games will be on Sundays, with the possibility of one or two Saturdays.
WHAT COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED OF A COMPETITITON/EXHIBITION CHEERLEADER?
Competition and exhibition cheerleaders will practice three days a week for two hours a day, beginning August 5th until the end of November. Two days will be for learning and solidifying their competition routine, and one day will be dedicated to sideline cheer. Practice is absolutely mandatory, as with the short amount of time we have together throughout the week, we want to make sure all athletes are understanding and comfortable in their position on the team. Absences can jeopardize the whole team and set your athlete back. Comp and expo teams will have a MANDATORY choreography date in August (date and times TBD). Choreography will include two days (four hours each day) of learning their competition/performance routine. Missing choreography is not optional, and doing so will result in your athlete losing their place in the routine. Comp/expo cheerleaders are also required to do sideline/gameday cheer as well. Games will be played on Sundays beginning the weekend of September 7th and will end the weekend of November 2nd. Upon completion of the football season, we will no longer practice sideline cheer as that is when competition season will pick up and be our sole focus.
WHAT DOES PRACTICES LOOK LIKE AND REQUIRE?
Practice will begin on Tuesday, August 5th. Practices are located at the backfield of Wappingers Junior High School. Each team will have a designated practice area. Days and times can vary for each team (final practice schedule TBA by June). When practicing indoors, families will be notified of our location the day before practice. Practices run approximately two hours long, with a small break in between. All athletes are required to wear a comfortable fitted t-shirt, dark shorts, or cropped leggings with comfortable sneakers. Absolutely no Converse, Vans, Crocs, open toe shoes or flip flops are allowed. Please make sure your athlete uses the bathroom before practice. We will take a short break, but when everyone has to go to the bathroom at once, it can hold practice up for quite some time. Please always provide your athlete with a full water bottle. For comp/expo cheer, once the football season is over, sideline practice will end, and our sole focus will be on our comp/performance routines. Please be advised that there may be a Saturday or extra day of practice scheduled based on the team's needs. Any changes, additions or cancellations will be communicated with you in a timely fashion. We understand that August is a time for Summer vacations, but it is also a very important time for major athletic development and choreography for our program. If you have any conflicting dates during the month of August, please communicate with your coach and the Cheer Director as soon as possible.
WHAT DOES GAMEDAY LOOK LIKE?
Football games begin the weekend of September 7th and continue every Sunday (with the possibility of one or two Saturdays), until the weekend of November 2nd. Cheer athletes will cheer for their designated football team and will have to travel to away games. TYF will have the gameday schedule available by August 30th. All cheer athletes are expected to arrive on time, in full sideline uniform. Games typically last for approximately 1 hour for flag games, and approximately two hours for tackle games. Athletes must stay the entire duration of the game.
WHAT ARE COMPETITIONS LIKE?
Competitions are an exciting way for your cheer athlete to show off all of his or her skills by performing in a choreographed competition or exhibition routine. Competitive athletes will perform amongst other TYC teams for a chance to bring home a championship or top placement win. Exhibition athletes will get the chance to perform without the pressure of a score sheet, but still receive feedback to help them progress in their skills. We will compete/perform at five to seven events throughout the season, with our last competition being the Regional Big East competition in Trenton, NJ. All athletes are expected to arrive on time and in full uniform, no exceptions. Athletes will stay with their team for the duration of the event, while parents are allowed to spectate or even volunteer at designated locations during the event. The event will provide a schedule of performance for each team. After the performance session is over, awards will follow. Athletes are required to stay for the entire duration of their session. Once the event is over athletes, coaches and parents will meet at a designated location to dismiss athletes.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO CHEER?
Sideline Only: $300 Competition/Exhibition Cheer: $400
The cost of registration includes sideline uniform rental for all athletes, sideline bows, practice t-shirt and October/Breast Cancer Awareness Month gear.
New athletes have the option to purchase a warmup suit at the discounted rate of $40.
If returning athletes need new warmups, the price is as follows: Jacket $45 Pants $20 Both $65
Competition and Exhibition teams will be required to either rent or purchase one of our beautifully new designed competition uniforms. This cost is separate from our main registration fee. The program will cover a portion of the remaining balance, bows and shipping. The new uniform rental fee is $150 added to your athlete registration and must be returned at the end of the season. The cost to purchase your new uniform is $250. The purchase cost can be added to your registration where you can add it into a payment plan. You also have the option to have zero upfront costs by fundraising the full amount of your uniform with our 'Sponsor My Uniform' fundraiser. Fundraiser will be emailed to everyone, and uniform payment must be in by sizing. Whether you choose to purchase or fundraise your new uniform, the uniform is yours to keep. Uniforms are refundable up until our sizing event. Once athletes are sized and uniform order is placed, refunds are no longer available.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE TO PURCHASE?
All sideline athletes are required to purchase red cheerleading briefs for under their skirts. Both sideline and comp/expo athletes are required to have white cheer sneakers. Please see below for some references:
Chasse Boy-Cut Brief 2.0 - Cheer Body Basics | Omni Cheer
Chasse Apex Shoe - Cheerleading Shoes | Omni Cheer
Nfinity VENGEANCE Cheer Shoes - Best Women's & Girls Sneakers – Nfinity™ Cheer (Top brand, and extremely comfortable and lightweight)
IMPORTANT DATES
June 14th - Football/Cheerleading Clinic
Cheer Sizing Event - June 28th, 29th and 30th
July 12th - Wildcats Family Summer Event
August 5th - First Day of Practice
September 7th - Football Games Kickoff
October 26th - TYC Cheerfest
Big East Regional AYC Championships - November 8th
Choreography Dates TBD
Football Games TBA by 8/30
Local Cheer Comps TBD
Picture Day TBD
Program Trophy Party TBD
* Please advise that all games, competitions, sizing events and choreography dates are mandatory for all cheerleading athletes.
* Please advise that all dates and times are subject to change and will always be communicated with you.
If you have any further questions, or have an interest in coaching for one our cheer teams, please contact our Cheer President; Ashlea Ridenhour at ridenhour845@gmail.com
Program email: wappingersyouthfootball@gmail.com
CALLING ALL COACHES!
As with any sports program, we cannot grow without the help and commitment of our coaches! We are looking for Flag, Tackle and Cheerleading (gameday and competition), coaches to take…
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