Cheer Participants

When does the season begin and end?
While the exact start and end dates vary from year to year, the first practice usually begins around mid August. The first game of the season will be in September after Labor Day with the Super Bowl taking place mid-November ending prior to Thanksgiving. To ensure safety, fair performance, and team cohesion, all cheerleaders are encouraged to attend every practice.  Typically, there are 2 practices per week. Practice attendance will determine participation in specific Game Day performances.  Skill related performances will be at the discretion of the coach i.e., stunts, tumbling, and complex material/routines.

What is the registration fee for cheer and what does it include?
The registration fee for cheer for 2025 is $260 this covers program participation in the league and will include the 2025 new custom uniform. The registration/participation portion of the total is $110. Regular registration opens on April 1st, late registration after April 30th thru May 15 will incur an additional late fee of $75 per participant. 

What additional items will my child need for cheer and what is the cost?
Your child will need pom poms (which AYFCA will provide with a deposit as loaners for 2025 year or they can be purchased) and the Aledo megaphone which if they do not already have will need to be purchased separately.  A team store link will be sent out for this with deadlines or it can be ordered/purchased at one of the fitting dates.  They will also need white cheer shoes and white no-show socks that can be purchased anywhere. Participants will need to attend one of the custom fitting dates.  Emails for uniform fittings which are held with the vendor typically in April and May so watch for emails from AYFCA regularly.  Most cheerleaders use the uniform for 2 years. 

There will be season spirit events that could include additional costs such as, pink out and homecoming. However, these additional costs cannot be required for participation and are managed at the team/coach level.  Some teams choose to purchase separate matching team bows.

Is it possible to have my football player and cheerleader siblings assigned to the same team even though they aren’t the same age?
The AYFCA allows 5U or 6U Flag cheerleaders to cheer with cheer or football sibling's team two levels up to 8U only (5U to 7U, 6U to 8U). However, any 4 year old must stay in either the 5U or 6U Flag Offering and cannot move up to 7U tackle for safety reasons. Cheer participants in 7U+  can cheer up to any level with sibling - you  will enter the sibling information during the cheer participant's registration process in the appropriate registration field/s. 6th Grade must is grade pure per NCT bylaws - all 6th graders must cheer for 6th grade and may not be over 6th grade or the age of 13 by 9/1/25 to participate.  Our program ends for all after 6th Grade.