1. What are the ages for the EMCSA Cheerleading program?
    Cheerleading is open to athletes ages 5–14 years old. Athletes must meet the age requirement for the current cheerleading season to be eligible to participate.

  2. What is the duration of the EMCSA Cheerleading program?
    The EMCSA Cheerleading program runs from August through November.
    Registration opens in April and closes in July, with additional optional pre-season activities taking place in June.  Mandatory uniform try ons will be held in July, scrimmages occur in August, and games run from September through November. The season concludes with our Cheer Competition and Closing Ceremonies in November. 

  3. What is the cost of EMCSA Cheer, and what does that cover? 
    Registration fees are $200 plus $120 in mandatory raffle ticket sales. Your base registration covers: Cheer uniform, hair bow, pom poms, bag, end of season award, and accessories. Your raffle ticket fees cover: Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Out cheer accessories for the month of October and help with field maintenance. 

  4. What all will our cheerleader learn during the season?
    Cheerleaders will learn sideline cheer safety, basics, stunts, cheers and chants, including a half-time routine. Our athletes also get a taste of competitive cheer at the end of the season for our EMCSA exclusive Cheer Competition. 

  5. When will we know what team our athlete is on? 
    After football try-outs take place (in July) athletes will be assigned to a team and notified via Team Sideline. Coaches will also reach out directly welcoming you to their teams.  

  6. How do we communicate with our Coaches and team?
    Parents will use Team Sideline for practices, games, and updates, as well as GroupMe for team conversations. Coaches will also provide their phone numbers to you in your GroupMe.

  7. I have a football player, will my cheerleader be assigned to the same team?
    Yes! Sibling cheerleaders will be assigned to the same team and will not be drafted to different squads without parental consent. 

  8. Why are there no try-outs for cheerleading?
    T    o allow for siblings to be on the same football and cheerleading teams, we cannot fairly hold cheerleading drafts. This also allows us to have cheerleaders of all ages and skill levels on each team, while allowing for coach requests and family / friend requests to be honored when able. 

  9. How do you assign cheerleaders to a team if there are no try-outs?
    Teams are assigned in the following order: 1) Head coaches athletes will be placed on their teams first; 2) Football team siblings; 3) Coach Requests 4) Athlete Requests 5) even distribution of any other siblings among teams (to not have too many separate sets of siblings on a single team); 6) even distribution of older aged cheerleaders; 7) even distribution of youngest aged cheerleaders; 8) even distribution of remaining cheerleaders. 

  10. Since there are no try-outs, why do we need to attend try-out dates?
    This is so cheerleaders can try on their uniforms! Everyone will be assigned to a team, but must come try on uniforms to ensure proper fit. Any assumed sizes without trying on the actual uniform will be the parent or guardians responsibility to pay for replacement uniform and can take up to 3 weeks to receive.

  11. How often do the cheerleading teams practice? 
    Teams will practice between 1 – 3 times a week. Cheerleaders must attend at least once practice a week. 

  12. When and where are the games?
    Games will take place on Saturdays. Some games will be at our home fields (Bull Sallas Park), and others will be at the fields of other teams in our alliance within about an hour radius. 

  13. What does Concession Stand duty entail, and why are volunteers needed?
    C    oncession Stand duty is required for each football and cheerleading team during a home-weekend and must be worked by volunteers aged 16 or older. You will help restock and distribute concession purchases and clean at the end of your shift. The reason we need volunteers to help with Concession Stand duty is to help keep registration costs low and not putting funds towards paid workers. 

  14. Do the teams receive any support from the Sponsorships they are required to get?
    Each team must acquire at least 1 Full Sponsor or 2 Half Sponsors (total donation of $350.00) for your team. After a team acquires their initial donation of $350.00, they will receive half of any additional Sponsor donations that they are able to obtain provided that the money is used for the team. The team’s money will then be issued by the EMCSA Executive Board to the head coach. Coaches must keep record of receipts and logs of what the money is spent on for full transparency with the team parents. 

  15. What does the Sponsor receive with their sponsorship?
    EMCSA will provide a Sponsor Sign to be posted at the park for the season. They will also receive proof of donation via tax form, team plaque, and tickets to Opening Day meal baskets. 

  16. Who do I contact with questions?
    The EMCSA Cheer Director, Amber Dobyns, is glad to answer any questions you may have and can be contacted at cheer@emcsports.org.