Welcome to the Amherst Patriots Cheerleading Program. We hope that you and your cheerleader enjoy your experience this season.
DRAW AREA AND AGE REQUIREMENTS
The Amherst Patriots Cheerleading program is open to children from Amherst, Mount Vernon, Hollis, Milford and Brookline (and other surrounding towns that do not offer a Pop Warner program) ranging in age from 5 to 13. Cheerleaders must be at least 5 by July 31st. There are no try-outs. All eligible children are welcome. The Amherst Patriots are members of the Pop Warner Little Scholars. The spirit program is designed to allow the cheerleaders the opportunity to cheer for our football teams at all home and away games as well as compete in the NH Pop Warner State competition at the end of October and possibly Regional and National competition.
The Amherst Patriot squads will be put together following the Pop Warner divisions based on ages from oldest to youngest. Cheerleaders will be assigned to the appropriate squad based on age and some consideration given for previous experience. We work to balance the squads in an effort to maximize the benefit to the cheerleaders.
- Tiny Mite, (ages 5 – 6 – 7)
- Mity Mite, (ages 7 – 8 – 9)
- Jr. Pee Wee Squad, (ages 8 – 9 – 10 – 11)
- Pee Wee Squad, (ages 9 – 10 – 11 – 12)
- Junior Midget (ages 11 – 12 – 13 – 14)
Cheerleading Registration and Fees:
- $225.00 – this includes a vest, skirt and crop top to borrow; sneakers, briefs, hair ribbons and t-shirts are theirs to keep.
- Warm-up suit is an additional fee of $68.00 (required)
- On-line registration will begin March 1st . If you prefer to register on-line and pay by credit card go to the Patriot’s website www.amherstpatriots.com and follow the link to registration.
- You may also pay by check and register in person at any information night .
Required Paperwork:
- All cheerleaders and players must complete a Participant Contract and Parental Consent Form
- Physical Fitness and Medical Release Forms must be completed and dated after January 1, 2012 and must be received by the Amherst Patriots by July 12th
- Each participant is required to submit (2) copies of their complete 2011/2012 Report Card. This also must be received by the Amherst Patriots by July 12th.
- Copy of birth certificate.
- ** Please note that original birth certificates will be required to attend regional or national competitions. They will be returned at the end of the competition.
Any paperwork not turned in at the time of registration must be sent to the Amherst Patriots on or before July 12th. Cheerleaders will not be allowed to take the field until all paperwork has been submitted.
The paperwork should be mailed to:
The Amherst Patriots
P.O. Box286
Amherst, NH 03031
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Thank you for taking the time to review this information.
We look forward to a safe, fun, exciting season for all.
GO PATRIOTS!
Parent Participation
- Each participating player or cheerleader parent is required to volunteer for work shifts per participating child on different squads during the course of the 2012 season.
- As a member of the NH Pop Warner, we are a non-profit organization. The success of our organization relies heavily on parental participation; exactly how many hours are needed will vary greatly upon on the size of your team. This participation requirement can be fulfilled by performing one of many necessary functions including concessions attendant, minimum play recording, scoreboard operation, home game announcing, home game chains attendant or game videographer. Please visit the website for more details.
- Volunteer positions will also be needed at the Cheerleading state competition.
Communication
- Please refer to the web site at www.amherstpatriots.com for all updates and changes. Each family will be responsible for checking the web site frequently as they will be responsible for any missed practices, games, or volunteer commitments.
- If at anytime, you or your cheerleader have a concern and you are not comfortable going directly to the coach, please feel free to discuss your concerns with the Cheerleading Coordinator,Ellen Barry.
Behavior and Discipline
- Cheerleading is a sport that requires the focus and attention of all team members to ensure the safety of all. Disruptive behavior of any kind will result in the coach giving a verbal warning for the first offense. If unacceptable behavior continues, the cheerleader will be asked to sit out and watch until they are ready to participate safely.
- Teasing, taunting, threatening or any other type of unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and may result in dismissal from the squad.
Pets
- Please do not bring pets to the practice or game field. We know you love your pets, however, not all others may feel the same way and the schools do not allow animals or pets on the field. We ask that you respect this and not jeopardize our use of these fields. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Going on Vacation in August
- If your child cheers for Tiny Mite or Mity Mite they will not be affected as much. However, if your child cheers for Junior Pee Wee or Pee Wee, Junior Midget, Midget it can have a pretty severe impact on their ability to compete. Many of the skills used during the year are learned in August, and your child would be notably behind. Additionally, the first two weeks are conditioning weeks where your child will receive 20 hours of conditioning in order to perform stunting. Missing all or part of those weeks can be significant. Typically it is first year players that are affected by vacation in August and unfortunately those are also the ones who need that practice the most. Just be aware for future years and try to plan around that.
2012 Game Information
- Attached is a tentative practice and game schedule. The schedule is subject to change and we will be participating in additional Invitational Competitions. We will release the dates as soon as they become available to us.
- The schedule for our games is determined by Pop Warner and is typically not distributed until the first or second week in August. Please understand that the Amherst Patriots have no control over the game schedule or when it is released. That includes game times, especially during playoffs. Some games could be scheduled on a Saturday or at night. We expect to have 4 home games and 4 away games. Currently, our first game is scheduled for August 30th and we’ll have games every Sunday through the last Sunday of October unless the football team makes it to the playoffs. The Pop Warner rules do require the cheerleaders to be present at all regular season and post season playoff games rain or shine. Cheerleaders are not required to attend National Football Playoffs.
- All games and play-off games are mandatory for Cheerleaders.
- We practice and have games during inclement weather. Never assume a practice or game is being cancelled.
- You must contact the head coach or cheer coordinator 2 hours prior to practice time or game time by cell phone if your cheerleader is going to be late or not attend. Do not send emails – you must speak directly to a coach or Team mom.
- Cheerleaders must arrive at least one hour prior to game time in full uniform, ready to cheer. Any cheerleader who arrives more than 10 minutes late may not be allowed to cheer for the first half of the game at the discretion of the Head Coach. If you have a conflict with this arrival time at any point, please discuss it with the Head Coach or Cheerleading Coordinator before hand.
GAME UNIFORM
- All cheerleaders will receive cheerleading sneakers, briefs, hair ribbons and t-shirt that they may keep.
- Uniform vests, skirts and crop tops must be returned in good condition at the end of the season or you will be responsible for $155.00 replacement fee.
- Warm-up suits must be purchased by the beginning of August. All cheerleaders are required to have an Amherst Patriots warm-up suit that consists of a jacket embroidered with “Amherst Patriots Cheerleading” and the cheerleaders name as well as matching pants. These warm-up suits may be worn for practice and must be brought to all games in the event of inclement weather and are yours to keep at the end of the season. The cost of a new wind suit is $68.00 or $52.00 for a jacket and $22.00 for the pants.
- Please wash uniforms in cold water only (preferably alone) and hang to dry. The uniforms can not be dried in a dryer, dry cleaned or ironed
- The cheerleaders will not be permitted to eat anything or drink anything but water when in uniform. Snacks should be eaten before or after the game. The cheerleaders’ focus should be on the play on the field or the fans on game days.
All cheerleaders must have ALL ITEMS with them during game times
- Vest
- Skirt
- Bodysuit
- Cheer sneaker
- Briefs
- White socks
- Hair must be pulled up and out of face with Hair ribbon
- Warm up suit & Bag
- White tank top only can be worn under vest
- WATER
- Bug Spray
- Sun Screen
- No jewelry
(Medical must be taped to the body)
- No plastic or metal hair accessories except for bobby pins and flat covered clips. No nail polish
COLD WEATHER ATTIRE
- Complete Game Uniform items mentioned above
- Warm-up suits
- White headbands/hat
- White gloves or mittens.
- Please be prepared with the above items at all times during all games and practice times, for weather changes.
- All cheerleaders may be ineligible to cheer if any parts of the above mentioned uniform are missing.
2012 Practice Schedule
- Pop Warner requires a minimum of 20 practice hours before the cheerleaders are eligible to do any stunting or participate in any games. The practice schedule is designed to give us ample opportunity to ensure that the cheerleaders are physically prepared to participate safely.
- Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to practice time, practice will start promptly. Being late for practice may result in an unexcused absence.
- We practice and have games during inclement weather. Never assume a practice or game is being cancelled. In September if we can secure indoor space during inclement weather we will do so. If this happens we will notify you via email ASAP.
- Absences may affect the role your cheerleader plays within the routine. It is extremely important that all team members attend all practices! Any cheerleader with 2 unexcused absences, may be taken out of the competition or half-time routine. Illness, school related events, or prior commitments that the coach has been notified of at the beginning of the season (in August) will be the only “excused” absences. Every member of the squad affects the squad’s ability to perform. Stunts can not be performed without all group members present, dances can not be performed with synchronized timing without all members present, and routines can not be practiced without the entire team present.
- All practices are mandatory with the exception of school functions or illness. During the month of August, we do understand that family vacations have been planned that may prevent your cheerleader from attending practice. Please notify the coach in advance of the days your cheerleader will miss practice due to vacation. The coaches and team members will be working very hard on their half-time and competition routines, it is impossible to fully execute these routines without the entire squad present.
- The cheerleaders will have an opportunity to use the bathroom prior to practice. If you anticipate that your Tiny Mite or Mity Mite cheerleader will need to use the bathroom more frequently than that, please plan on staying for practice. Coaches and team Moms are not allowed leave the rest of the team to take them to the bathroom. Cheerleaders on the Junior PeeWee, PeeWee, Junior Midget and Midget teams must use the bathroom before practice they will not be allowed to leave the practice field to use the bathroom. Please let your head coach know if you anticipate this being a problem for your daughter. We understand issues/emergencies arise and of course we will allow your daughter to use the bathroom under these circumstances.
- Please arrive on time to pick up your cheerleader. The coaches and board members must remain at the practice field until all cheerleaders have been picked up so we ask that you arrive promptly to pick them up and we will end practice promptly at the designated time. All cheerleaders must be picked up from our practice field by a parent, guardian or other designated adult. A parent or guardian must come to the field to pick up their cheerleader. Cheerleaders will NOT be allowed to go to the parking lot alone. If you plan on carpooling you must notify the Head coach or Team Mom prior to practice by phone. We will not release your child without your permission.
PRACTICE UNIFORM
- Athletic sneaker
- Cotton form fitting short or pants
- Fitted cotton T-shirt or Tank
- Hair pulled up and out of the face (with a supply of hair elastics)
- Water!
- Bug spray and sun block
- NO jewelry (Medical must be taped to the body)
- NO plastic or metal hair accessories except for bobby pins
- NO nail polish
- NO hooded shirts/sweatshirts or any item with strings
Above is required for the SAFETY of all cheerleaders, not having the above items could result in an unexcused absence. The coaches will not have extra items.