Welcome to the 2008

Scottsdale Pop Warner

Cheer Season

The Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Association wishes to welcome all participants of the 2008 season. We hope that it will be an enjoyable season for all. The Board is available to you for any questions or problems that you may have. You may contact us through the office at 480-515-1881. During the season, there will be Board representatives at each practice field and game field.

Cheerleading is one of the fastest growing sports in the Country and Participation in the Pop Warner Spirit Program provides kids an opportunity to perform in an organized, supervised, safety-oriented environment. Pop Warner programs emphasize fun for all and encourage the development of qualities important long after Pop Warner days are gone.

CHEERLEADERS

Cheerleaders are for those ages 7-15. Each division has an age limit and is assigned to squads based on age and primary home residency. If you have a child in football and a cheerleader in order to put them on the same team, they must both be within the same age groups for that division. The Scottsdale Association is able to take REQUESTS ONLY to be with specific family and friends. On your separate request sheet indicate reason and names of family or friends. Do not write on the registration forms. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY REQUESTS. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

MASCOT PROGRAM

Scottsdale Pop Warner will not have a Mascot program. We feel that is it is in the best interest of all children involved to limit the program based on the ages of those children who can participate in all aspects of cheerleading (i.e. stunts, competition, etc), and under National Federation guidelines, Mascots are limited in their participation.

DIVISIONS

Squads are grouped by the following based on the football divisions:

Might Mighty 7-9 years old

Jr. Pee Wee 8-11 years old

Pee Wee 9-12 years old

Jr. Midget 10-13 years old

Midget 11-15 years old

Jr. Bantam 13-16 years old

PRACTICE

Cheer practice will begin in the beginning of August, location and time to be determined, depending on the number of cheerleaders to coaches, they may practice as a group for the first 2 weeks and then broken into squads. Practice is a commitment on both the cheerleaders and parents. The first 2 weeks of practice, squads typically practice 3 nights for 2 hours. These practices are crucial, in order to prepare the squads with enough material to cheer at the first game. Once the season begins, practices will be kept to 2 or 3 weekday nights for 2 hours. Your squad will practice the same nights, times and locations your team practices. It is important that all cheerleaders show up for practice. When cheerleaders don't show up for practice, often the entire work out has to be revamped. In order to perform the routine safely it is important for the entire squad to work together.

GAMES

Game schedules will be passed out prior to the beginning of the season. Cheerleaders are expected to attend all games, unless excused by the coach of the squad. It’s the parent's responsibility to provide transportation or organize car pools. Home games will be played at our home field "Desert Mountain High School". Away games can be played anywhere in the Valley. Cheerleaders must be at games 45 minutes prior to game time to check in with their team. The schedule for the season runs from September through November unless your team makes the playoffs, then it will end in December.

UNIFORMS

Scottsdale Association will provide each cheerleader and mascot with a uniform. Uniform consists of a cheer top and skirt. Uniforms distribution will be determined later. When uniforms are handed in, please ensure that they are cleaned at the end of the season. Parents may be responsible for additional expenses, depending on the squads fundraising, such as bike shorts, briefs, and athletic shoes suitable for cheerleading.

COSMETICS

Cheerleaders are allowed to wear suitable makeup. Face painting, temporary tattoos, finger nail polish and glitter are not permitted. All cheerleaders will be checked for fingernail polish and length prior to games. Jewelry is not to be worn on game day and practice; this includes watches, necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, anklets and toe rings. If you are planning on having your ears pierced prior to or during the season, there are no exceptions for starter earrings, they may not be worn. Cheerleaders who can't remove newly pierced earrings will not be allowed to practice or cheer at games.

FUNDRAISING

All cheerleaders will participate in some fundraising activities throughout the season (sell candy bars, water bottles, raffles, car washes, etc...) These funds are used to pay for any additional items your Coach and squad deem necessary.

CERTIFICATION DAY

Time and location to be determined. The entire team, including the cheer squad must attend. Certification is an important process. Certification is when the league volunteers check paperwork on every child and check every child to be sure that they are eligible to be in a particular age division. Every birth certificate, physical note, parent consent, proof of residency and report card is checked. If you do not make certification, you will not be allowed to participate in the season.

COMPETITION

Several competitions are held throughout the Valley for Pop Warner and other associations. Squads can only participate in these with Association and Federation approval. It is also required that all members of the squad participated regardless of their skill level.

COACHES

Coaches are volunteers that commit their time and energy so our children will have a fun and great experience. Coaches should have past cheer or dance experience. Coaches direct cheer practices including warm-ups, cheers/chants and dance routines. Coaches will be at all games or work with an Assistant Coach to make sure the squad is supervised at all times. We encourage anyone interested in working with the Cheer Program to fill out a volunteer application.

ASSISTANT COACHES

Assistant Coaches are used to help the Cheer Coach. Assistants help with organizing the squads, assist with practices and games and coordinate parent help. We encourage anyone interested in working with the Cheer Program to fill out a volunteer application.

SQUAD PARENTS

Assist both the coach and assistant coach with handouts and paperwork. The coach may assign other light duties. Participate in team operation of concession stand. (This is generally 1 or 2 Saturdays per season).

SAFETY

The key element of this program is to maximize the safety of all participants. All Associations are required to have a doctor, physician’s assistant, or paramedic present for all games. Each team is also required to have, on staff, at least one person certified in first aid and sports medicine by a Federation authorized training facility (i.e. Red Cross).

In addition, only those approved for each staff and the board of directors is permitted with the designated areas of the game field. All others must remain in the areas designated for spectators. During practice, only those designated as staff or those asked to assist with a drill are to be in the practice area. If you wish to speak to the coach of your child's cheer squad, do so after practice or as requested by the cheer coach.

f it is in your HEART it shows in your SPIRIT

If you have any questions, please contact Meghaen