Lower Cape Pop Warner

Welcome to Lower Cape Pop Warner Cheerleading!

Welcome all new and returning cheerleaders to Lower Cape Bluefins Pop Warner 2011 cheer season. Pop Warner is a national organization with a focus on spirit, teamwork, scholarship and fun! Being a part of the National Pop Warner Association there are several strict rules regarding paperwork, practice hours, team placement/age, equipment, uniform and safety issues that we must abide by. This website has a link to the National Pop Warner site if you would like to find out more about the organization. Below is some general information about our program and things to expect this season. Please read through all of this information to make sure you are ready for this
commitment.

All parents and cheerleaders must read & sign the Lower Cape Pop Warner Cheerleading Parents Manual.

When and where do we practice?
Just like football, we have preseason conditioning & training session, which will begin on Tuesday August 2nd, where the girls will learn cheers, dances, stunting and a half-time routine. The preseason practices will be four days per week  After Labor Day the practice days cut down to three days per week. Practices are held at Nauset Middle School in Orleans.

Do the girls compete?
*C, D and E squads do not compete but they are expected to participate in the league’s cheerleading exhibition which will be on a Saturday in October. Most of the Hockomock Towns attend and all the girls get to show off what they’ve learned all year.
*A and B teams are considered competition squads and compete in the Hockomock League Cheerleading Competition. The girls may compete in 3 competitions starting in late October. If the girls place at the Hockomock competition, then at the regional qualifiers, they go on to Regionals in November. If they place 1st or 2nd at Regionals they would move on to compete at Nationals. Nationals take place the first week in December at Disney World in Orlando Florida.

How many games do they cheer for?
There are a total of 8 regular season games: 4 home and 4 away. These games are typically played on Sundays but there may be a few games on Saturday or during the week. The game schedule with times should be available when practice starts. The home games are played at the Middle School. Parents must provide transportation to the four away games. You can speak to your team parent if you have problems getting your child to a game and they can help you coordinate a carpool. The A, B, C, and D Squads may need to cheer for additional post season games.

How is it decided what team girls are placed on?
Cheerleaders are placed according to date of birth and what number they were for registration. We can have a maximum if 35 girls per squad, although there is a national mascot rule we must abide by.

Why does it matter that we all have the same sneakers?
In cheerleading it is very important that the girls all have the same uniforms and try to do all the cheer moves in a synchronized way. The more simultaneous the moves are the better the group looks when they cheer. Also, for the teams that stunt cheer sneakers are a safety necessity that Lower Cape Pop Warner will not gamble with. For this reason we go to great lengths to make sure the girls all have the same bows, socks, sneakers, uniforms etc. to go with those synchronized moves.

What do I have to buy?
Lower CapePop Warner provides a cheerleading uniform to each cheerleader that must be returned at the end of the season. As stated above cheerleading is about synchronization of a team & for that reason you will be required to purchase items to complete their uniforms. A list of these items will be emailed to each family for purchase. There will be a Paperwork Night in July where you cans purchase these items. Ordering on specified dates you will receive the discounted price for buying in bulk. Ordering after these dates you will pay full price. Other items that are optional will be available.

What paperwork do I need to pass in?
Birth certificates with raised seal (NO COPIES) will be required for anyone who did not cheer last year. It must be given to the registrar at registration and placed in a notebook until after certification night (end of August). We have certified copies of birth certificates on file for those who are returning from last season.  Originals may also be required for championship competitions or playoffs.
A medical form filled out by your Doctor will be required for 2011. The physical and all other required forms must be completed BEFORE your child can participate in any practices. Doctor’s notes will no longer be accepted. This is a new National Pop Warner requirement. If your child isn’t scheduled for a physical before July or had one before Jan 2011 you will still have to have the doctor fill out the medical form. Each parent must also complete the Sport Parent Code of Conduct. We will have a paperwork night in July before the practice season begins so make those MD appointments and find birth certificates now so you’ll be ready. Also, when the kids bring their report cards home for the summer, make a copy or put it someplace you won’t forget it. IF PAPERWORK IS NOT IN BY THE FIRST NIGHT OF PRACTICE YOUR CHILD WILL HAVE TO SIT OUT.

Who are the coaches?
All coaches, team managers and student demonstrators are volunteers but they are all CORI/SORI checked (a National Pop Warner rule).  The team demonstrators are usually high school girls who have gone through the Lower Cape Pop Warner program and enjoyed it so much they want to give back and help the younger girls learn how to cheer. Even if you are unable to volunteer your time as a coach you will be required to volunteer for at least two hour per season in the Snack Shack at the home games. We are still looking for some coaches if you are interested please email lowercapebluefins@msn.com