Results Statement:

The purpose of this statement is to provide clear information and details about your All-Star Program.

Members Home 

Welcome to the (Your Gym Name) Family!!! We are excited that you have taken the next step to join one of our awesome All-Star Competition Teams! 

This members section contains information that will help you with questions that may arise throughout the season! You will find a Monthly Calendar, A Full Season, Half Season and Prep Competition Schedule, Forms and Policies, The Parent Info Center contains all the info you need about fundraising, the spotlight, practice and competition expectations and MORE! Music Download houses all our current year music for your athletes to enjoy or practice at home!! 

New Member Success Kit 

What does it take to be an All-Star Cheerleader? 

Being an All-Star Cheerleader is a time commitment, but is extremely rewarding! As a member of the team, you and your teammates will work hard, train hard, and compete hard toward the ultimate goal of high placement at local and regional competitions. Success in competitions earns the athlete, team, and gym a variety of rewards that may include: medals, trophies, banners, signage, jackets, rings…and most importantly BRAGGING RIGHTS! 

Athletes should be prepared to practice 1-3 times per week, a couple hours each time. In addition, they should work to improve their skill levels with a variety of tumbling, stunting, and conditioning classes offered by (Your Gym Name). 

It’s crucial to remember All Star Cheer is a TEAM SPORT! 

  • Every All-Star cheerleader should be aware that this is a team sport. Decisions are made based on what is best for the team and the performance. There may be times when a parent or athlete may question a coach’s decision. Before discussing these issues with any gym staff, you should always ask yourself whether this decision was better for the team even though your child may not be in the position they had hoped. There will always be ups and downs in an All Star cheerleader‘s career, but rarely are these decisions made with any bias. (excerpted from Cheer Parents 101)

Understanding Levels 

Levels are broken down by age and skill level. You will hear terms like tiny, mini, youth, junior, and senior to describe levels; as well as numbers (1-5). These terms and numbers describe the age range and skill level present on each team.

Athletes (and parents!) should not place tremendous focus on these…meaning, please do not stress about whether your athlete is on a Junior or Senior team – there is no benefit/disadvantage to either. Additionally, placing an athlete new to a skill on a leveled-up team is not beneficial to the whole team, nor to the athlete, who may feel demotivated or defeated if he/she struggles to complete the skill with proficiency, thus costing the team points when scored compared to other teams. At (Your Gym Name), we place the athlete on the team that is best for them and their teammates, so the team as a WHOLE can succeed. This yields the greatest chance at success on the mat, and happiness and pride off the mat!

If you have questions about leveling, the best thing you can do is talk to the coach/gym owner to gain a better understanding of this process. Also, please refer to the signage located in the lobby of (Your Gym Name), which very nicely outlines tumbling skills equivalent with the various levels.

Being Prepared for practice 

Practices are run with the utmost efficiency in mind for all parties – athletes, parents, and staff! This can only be accomplished when all parties do their part to ensure a timely start and end to practice.

Athletes should arrive at the gym with enough time to ensure they are in full practice gear: practice uniform, cheer shoes, a high pony with a bow (for girls), nails trimmed, and a water bottle full. This usually means athletes should arrive to practice approximately 10 minutes in advance of their start time. For athletes unable to drive themselves to and from practice, parents need to ensure that their athlete is not late. Late athletes = conditioning…the best way to reinforce positive behavior.

Practices are physically intense for athletes. They work hard the entire time they are there. This means it’s in the best interest of the athlete and the team that everyone is well fueled and hydrated! Proper nutrition prior to and after practice is imperative for athlete wellness. Think a meal/snack balanced between protein and healthy carb, not immediately before practice begins (30-60 minutes is better). Water is the best choice and will keep the athlete properly hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, versus slamming some right before practice.

Oftentimes, athletes will be sore a day or two after a hard practice. Parents should treat athletes based on their own household preferences (medication). Bananas, kiwis, and any other fruit high in potassium, as well as WATER are some of the best ways to treat muscle soreness!

Coaches will be in the gym no less than 15 minutes prior to practice. They will greet the athletes and be available for any quick questions/concerns that need to be addressed.

Parenting Through a Rough Practice

As much as we would all prefer for every practice to end with smiles on every face, that simply isn’t the case in any sport! All Star Cheer is no different. There will be practices that end with athletes feeling frustrated and/or emotional. The rewards are huge because it’s a challenging sport! The best thing a parent can do during challenging times are:

  • Be positive! Your child needs you to be his/her cheerleader! Say things like,
    • “While tonight might have been rough, think about how much stronger you/your team will be next time!” or “One practice doesn’t define an entire season…tell me what went well tonight.” If that’s not working, steer the conversation away from cheer! Often, a good night’s rest, or some time to concentrate on something else, helps put things in perspective and allows athlete, parent, and coach, to see a situation with a fresh set of eyes.
    • If the concern persists after waiting 24-48 hours, contact the coach to schedule a meeting with the parent, athlete, and coach. It’s important all parties are present so that an issue/concern can be addressed and moved past.
    • Do not discuss the situation with other parents/athletes. It’s human nature to want to bounce ideas off each other, reach out to a sounding board, or simply vent at times. However, these situations can quickly escalate to negativity, gossip, or inaccurate information. So do the best thing for the athlete, the parent, the coach, and the gym…and steer clear of these situations! Your athlete’s coach is the best resource.

What to Expect at Competition 

For each competition, the information will be provided as we get it. At no time is information withheld or delayed (unless there is a high likelihood of large changes). Once the gym has it, the information will be provided on:

  • Specific location of the competition 
  • Where/when to drop off/collect your athlete 
  • Where do parents go? What side of the venue to sit on (when applicable)
  • Spectator fees Awards times

Your athlete will be required to carry a backpack/drawstring bag with them at competition. Their bag should contain water, light snack, change of shoes/pants (only if it fits in their bag), hairspray/cosmetics, other items necessary to that athlete (medications, etc.) They will have their bag with them from the drop off point until parent pick-up.

Athletes are not allowed to leave a venue from the drop off time until after awards unless specifically cleared with the gym owner/coach! Also, while the team is together and waiting for warm-ups, performance, or awards, concessions are not allowed (unless otherwise permitted by the coach/gym owner)

Throughout competition days, regardless of where an athlete is, good sportsmanship is required by all athletes, parents, and coaches. We wish luck to each competition team, congratulate our competition, and remain positive during awards ceremonies regardless of how we place. (Your Gym Name) takes great pride in setting example of exemplary sportsmanship! 

Reviewing Score Sheets 

After each competition, the coaching staff will review score sheets via a Facebook post on the private team page. This will be in detail, including scores, corrections and a brief overview Knowing how their measured, where they excelled, and how improvements can be made provides an opportunity for athletes to take pride in their performance and feel motivated toward the next one. These are very POSITIVE posts – great focus is put on congratulating successes and understanding opportunities to do even better next time!

Forms and Downloads (this is a list of sample forms to have available for download/access)

  • JUNIOR STAFF INFORMATION
  • JUNIOR STAFF APPLICATION
  • ATHLETE SPORTS PHYSICAL FORM
  • GYM CALENDAR
  • ABSENT FORM
  • TEAM SHINE ANGEL INFO AND APPLICATION
  • MEASUREMENT SHEET

Video Training Center 

  • HAIR: 
  • MAKE UP:

Parent Info Center 

Fundraising (Your Gym Name) will provide three major fundraising opportunities per year. Typically, this will include a spring fundraiser of discount card sales, summer/fall Barrow of Cheer and late fall/winter fundraiser Gift Card Basket Giveaway. These are subject to change per the changing profitability and sales by (Your Gym Name) families. The “profits” of fundraising can be used for any (Your Gym Name) expense, including but not limited to, class/team fees, apparel, logo items, private lessons. When in doubt, your best bet is to contact the gym to determine whether fundraising fees can be allocated/distributed to something before committing to the expense.

(Your Gym Name) has fundraising available through the sale of Seroogy’s candy bars year-round. For information on this stop at the front desk. You prepay $38, sell the candy bars for $1.50 each and keep $36 in profit. This is the only fundraiser that allows parents to pay, collect, and keep the profit outside of the individual (Your Gym Name) Account. 

Spirit Spotlight 

The Spirit Spotlight is a performance hosted by (Your Gym Name) each year on the First or Second Sunday in December. During this annual event, each (Your Gym Name) team performs that season’s routine for hundreds of local friends, family members, and fans who may not be able to make it to one of their travel competitions. It’s a great opportunity to support the athletes while they work out the butterflies, nerves, and kinks of performing in front of a crowd. We encourage fans to support them at this local event as they would at any other – signs, flowers, and shout outs are welcome!

During the Spirit Spotlight, (Your Gym Name) also hosts our annual (Your Gym Name) event. During this showcase, athletes can have a special guy in their life show their support as they vie for the title of Mr. (Your Gym Name). There’s an introduction of each guy by their cheerleader, a brief Q&A session, some fun with cheer trivia, and then the much-anticipated talent portion during which the Mr. (Your Gym Name) nominees perform their own cheer routine. This performance leaves everyone on their feet – always an awesome showcase of their talent!

The WHOLE Athlete 

Let’s just say it: All Star Cheer is a tough sport. To prepare our athletes to take the stage in front of thousands of audience members, compete against teams from all over the country, and walk away with heads held high (no matter what the judges decided) takes weeks and months of sweat and hard work! It takes physical and mental strength to accomplish this and (Your Gym Name) focuses on the WHOLE athlete – body, mind, spirit!

To follow the same path at home, please consider the following things on behalf of your athlete:

  • Sleep, sleep, sleep!! Ensuring enough sleep is a step in the right direction toward allowing the body enough restorative time. It’s when brains quiet down and muscles rest and heal.
  • Nutrition – Focusing on fuel to get an athlete through a practice is important! If ever you doubt the rigor of practice, have your athlete walk you through 100 yards of bear crawls. Skittles and Starbucks aren’t going to cut it. A focus on proteins (eggs, chicken, lean beef, etc.), lots of fruits and veggies, and complex carbs will sustain them long term. Of course we all indulge in the occasional treat, but these kids are athletes and most of their practices are focused on building muscle. Muscle needs an abundance of nutrients, most of which are absent in processed foods and drinks. Think whole foods.
  • Hydration -5,6,7,8, let’s go hydrate!! Water, maybe an occasional sports drink, is all that’s needed to replenish the water and electrolytes lost during practices. On average, people should drink at least half their body weight in water each day. Have your athlete supplement with even more when they’re practicing that day. When a person feels thirsty, they’re already dehydrated. It’s better to be proactive with fluid intake.
  • Stress management – Practices and competition can be stressful. Athletes will occasionally come home bummed out or frustrated about how practice went or how their competition ended up. It’s important that the family/support system talk through those issues in a positive and supportive manner. No athlete is wholly defined by their life as a cheerleader. Remind your athlete of all of their amazing accomplishments in and out of the gym! Encourage them to practice stress management: deep breathing, take a walk, write in a journal, talk to a parent/friend/coach, watch something that will make them laugh, etc. If you need assistance with this, please contact your athlete’s coach or the program director. We‘re here to help!
  • Encouragement is essential for the success of the athlete and team. Even when we lose, we win! At every practice and competition, we learn something and grow as individuals and teams. It’s so important that the parents/family/support system reinforce this at home. Leave the coaching and constructive criticism to the coaching staff. Please be your athlete’s biggest fan, supporter, and cheerleader!

The Look of (Your Gym Name)

Those new to the sport may be perplexed by the perfection we strive for with hair and makeup. If you need assistance achieving the desired (and required) look, please reach out to an experienced parent. We are all willing to help each other with enough notice. Some of the best memories are created while more tenured athletes help newbies with hair and makeup. Don’t leave it to chance – find someone to help. Their polished look helps them feel more confident at the competition and that has a dramatic effect on their performance. And remember, the best time to practice hair and makeup is well before it’s needed for a performance or competition. Try it out for practice, or just pick a day with some free time and give it a go! That way trial and error will lead to laughter and silliness versus stress and tears!

For a hair and makeup tutorial, please see our video training center.

Do’s and Don’ts 

  • DO be your child’s biggest supporter!
  • DO be a positive influence!
  • DO have fun! Smile, laugh, encourage often!
  • DO take pictures! You can share them via our team gallery!
  • DO focus on the team as a whole – cheer is a TEAM SPORT!
  • DON’T criticize. Cheer is hard. Athletes work their butts off. Encourage and be supportive.
  • DON’T take it personally. At times, your athlete will be moved from the spot you think she should have to the one that’s best for the team.
  • DON’T be negative toward other teams. Remember, sportsmanship always!
  • DON’T hesitate to reach out to your athlete’s coach or the program director with questions, comments, concerns!