Fall Cheer Season 2026 Information

Fall Cheer Season 2026 Information

🔴 Team Levels
• Flag Cheer – Kindergarten (sideline only)
• Super Lightweight – 1st–2nd Grade (sideline only)
• Lightweight – 3rd–4th Grade
• Junior Varsity – 5th–6th Grade
• Varsity – 7th–8th Grade
⚪ Team placements depend on final registration numbers.
🔵 Athletes cheer for their 2026–2027 school grade. Team requests cannot be honored due to ICA competition rules.

📣 PROGRAM OPTIONS

🔴 Kindergarten Flag Football Cheer
Fee: $175

Includes:
• Uniform rental
• Practice shirt
• Game bow + awareness bows
• Homecoming attire
• Practice space

Schedule
• Practices: 2×/week starting early August
• After school starts: 1–2×/week afternoons/evenings
• Season practices end mid-September
• Cheer at all home games at Schussler Park
(Shoes not included)

⚪ Sideline Football-Only Cheer (No Competition)
Fee:
• Residents: $295
• Non-Residents: $370

Includes uniform, shoes, bows, shirt, homecoming attire, space rental, and a professional jump class.

Practice Schedule
• Aug–Sept: 2× weekly
• Additional refresher practice later in fall
• Approx. 13 total practices (weather permitting)

🔵 Competition Cheer Team

Competitive cheer is a high-commitment team sport involving tumbling, stunting, jumps, dance, and choreography. Attendance at all practices and competitions is mandatory. Tumbling classes are also strongly encouraged. Practices will begin July 8th in preparation for choreography camp
Eligibility: Grades 3rd –8th (Kindergarten & SLW not eligible)

Fees
• Residents: $560 total (football + competition)
• Non-Residents: $635 total

Includes:
• Entry to 2 ICA competitions
• Professional choreography
• Music + bow
• Indoor practice space

Additional Costs
• Competition uniform (~$200, required for all athletes) Uniforms are NEW this year and EVERY athlete will need to purchase a new competition uniform this year
• State Championship fee (~$165 if team qualifies)
• Second pair of all-white shoes for football games

🏕 Mandatory Competition Cheer Choreography Camp

Held at Gym Tyme (Lockport)
• LW & JV — July 16–17 (11am–2pm)
• Varsity — July 18–19 (10am–1:30pm)

❗ Must attend to compete — no exceptions for vacations.

🏆 Tentative Competition Dates
• Cheer PINK — Oct 3 or 4
• Spirit Spooktacular — Oct 24 or 25
(Confirmed after ICA registration in May)

🥇 State Championships (If Qualified)
Two weekends:
• Nov 13–15 → Day 1 score (25%)
• Nov 20–22 → Day 2 score (75%)
Varsity competes Friday evenings both weekends.

📍 Practice Locations
• Outdoor: Schussler Park & Sandburg (until mid-Sept)
• Indoor: District 135 schools + Sandburg
• Frequency: 2–3× weekly depending on level
PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE ANY VACATIONS AFTER PRACTICES START IN JULY. ALL PRACTICES, CHOREO CAMP, COMPETITIONS AND THE STATE COMPETITION ARE MANDATORY.
(Schedules released late May. Subject to change due to space, weather, or coach availability.)

📱 Communication
All schedules and updates are sent through the BAND app. Coaches will send signup links after registration closes.

📅 IMPORTANT DATES

Uniform Fittings:
📍 May 20 — 6–9pm
OYA Office – 10649 W. 163rd Place
(Only fitting date — attendance required)

Items fitted:
• Uniform vest & skirt
• Shoes (non-flag)
• Practice Shirts
• Competition uniform (if applicable)
• Warm-ups (if needed) *All cheerleaders are required to have warm-up pants and jackets which are not included in the registration cost. Warm up uniforms will be the same as last year and ALL cheerleaders must have the warm up uniform to participate. The warm up uniform will stay the same for a 2-3 year period.

Deposits Due at Fitting- CASH and Credit/Debit Cards are NOT an option
• $250 uniform deposit check (postdated Dec 1, 2026)
• $300 volunteer deposit check (postdated Dec 1, 2026)
Returned if requirements fulfilled.

📋 Attendance Policy
Athletes must attend:
• All practices
• All games
• Entire games (no halftime dismissal)
• 3+ absences → possible dismissal (no refund)
• Only medical absences excused
• Vacations should not conflict with season
• Missing a competition will result in removal from program.
• Practices within 2 weeks of a competition are mandatory! Missing these practices will result in the athlete sitting out the competition and/or removal of the program. A doctor’s note will be required for all competition-week illnesses.
• We reserve the right to call additional mandatory practices as necessary. We will give as much advance notice as possible.

👟 Practice Attire Rules

Allowed:
• Athletic shorts/leggings
• T-shirts
• Gym shoes

Not allowed:
• Jeans
• Sandals or Crocs
• Jewelry
• Long nails
• Crop tops
Hair must be secured in ponytail or braid.

🎀 Stunt Groups
Chosen by coaches based on:
• Safety
• Skill level
• Team needs
Positions are not guaranteed and may change.

🏈 Games
Cheerleaders will cheer:
• Home games
• Away games
• Playoffs
Games may be Saturday or Sunday. Schedules usually release early August.

🙌 Volunteer Requirement
We offer a variety of opportunities throughout the season to help you fulfill this obligation on
your own schedule. Each family must work 3 volunteer credits. SignUp Genius will be sent once we have the football schedule.

Golf outing volunteer = counts as 2 credits
Homecoming Committee Member = counts as 2 credits
Team Mom = counts as 3 credits
Team Photographer = counts 3 credits

Deposit check returned once hours completed.

🍿 Mandatory Fundraiser
All athletes must sell $300+ in Double Good popcorn
OR choose buy-out option (fee set by board).

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Meeting
📅 June 10 — 6:30pm (Zoom)
Required for all families.
Meeting link emailed the day before.

📣 Coaching Volunteers Wanted

Interested in coaching? Email: oppioneerscheer@gmail.com

Requirements:
• Background check
• Online safety class
Experience helpful but not required.

⭐ We look forward to an exciting and spirited 2026 season!

Cheer Athletic Directors:
Jill Lenzen
Rhea Sternberg