Welcome to Melrose Youth Cheerleading.  Registration is open from February 19th to July31st.

Melrose Youth Cheerleading is a member of the N.E. Commonwealth Youth Football and Cheer conference.  It is a program open to Melrose residents entering 1st 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!

All cheerleaders will participate in both game day and competitions. All cheerleaders learn a variety of skills such as cheers, jumps, stunts and tumbling. All 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 performances are routines in a competitive forum against other cheerleading programs.  Routines are judged based on a variety of criteria, such as difficulty, creativity and precision.

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

If you have any further questions, please contact anytime.

Anna MacMaster
Katie Herbert
Christine Burke

MelroseYouthFootballandCheer@gmail.com

REGISTRATION:

• Registration opens February 16th and closes July 31st.
• Once each team meets their cap your child will be placed on the wait list.

•  New cheerleaders will need to provide a copy of their original birth certificate at fitting day and are not permitted to attend practice until they do so.
• Returning Cheerleaders will need to provide a 2024 medical physical or our NCYFC Medical Release Form dated in 2024.

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TEAM ASSIGNMENTS:

Cheerleaders are typically assigned to teams by grades/birth years. 

• U8 – 1st & 2nd grade
• U10 -3rd & 4th grade
• U12 -5th & 6th grade
• U14 -7th & 8th grade

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 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 in August and parts of September are held at the Roosevelt School and will move indoors in the middle of September.
• Extra practices will be held as competitions approach during October/November.

 PRACTICE FREQUENCY & LENGTH:

            U8: 3 days per week 1.5 hours each

            U10 : 3 days per week 2 hours each

            U12: 3 days per week 2 hours each

            U14:  3 days per week 2 hours each

*days and times can change as competitions approach 

            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 compete.

COMPETITION INFORMATION:

• The cheerleaders will participate in 2-3 competitions yearly in October/November.
• Choreography day(s) are mandatory and failure to attend results in your child being unable to compete.

UNIFORMS:

• A uniform fitting will in June/July and handed out in August
• A uniform contract will need to be signed and damaged uniforms need to be replaced.
• There is a $125.00 charge if you do not return your full uniform.

WHAT ITEMS WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED:

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

Glasses/Jewelry

Glasses may be worn but must be secure. If they fall off, they must be quickly retrieved, a sport strap for a participate wearing eyeglasses is highly recommended

No jewelry may be worn except religious or medical medals that must be taped to the participant’s body without chain.

Jewelry includes but not limited to plastic and rope bracelets/anklets, hair elastics worn on the participants wrist.

Piercings must be removed. Covering with Band-Aids does not meet requirements for safe participation.

Glitter may be used on signs, props, or backdrops only if laminated or sealed

Glitter/Jewels/Stickers may not be adhered to the participant’s body and/or face

Fingernails shall be kept at a length appropriate for safe participation. No artificial nails/nail polish

Make up allowed for U12 and U14 levels only.