Welcome to MYAA Medford Indians Cheerleading!  

 2011 INFORMATION & GUIDELINES

conditioning, cheers and chants, stunts ,tumbling  & dance routines 

• Squad placement is determined by:

age & grade, skill level, previous MYAA experience, enrollment

• We cheer for  Medford Indians football which is part of the South Jersey Elite Football League.

• COACHES PHILOSOPHY
• *   All the coaches of the cheerleading program are volunteers.

*  We have taken the Rutgers Safety Course and are certified in coaching.

*  We are a dedicated coaching staff that will always make safety our first priority.

*  We hope to teach the basics of cheerleading by organizing practices that are both fun and challenging. 

*  We hope to provide the opportunity for cheerleaders to improve their skills, gain confidence and develop self esteem. 

* Our coaching teams are comprised of a Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Teen Coaches.

*  The Head & Assistant Coaches are parents that provide leadership, supervision, organization and direction to the squad and the teens. 

* The Teen Coaches are a dedicated group of Shawnee High School Cheerleaders that provide the routines and fundamental cheer instruction. 

*  Please keep the lines of communication open with your Head Coach. 

*  For any concerns, you may contact the Cheerleading Commissioner on www.myaa.net.

UNIFORM ORDERING

All cheerleaders MUST go to Coaches Choice between June 1^st and June 30^th to be fitted for the uniform.  Cheerleader must be present for correct sizing.  Print the Cheer Gear form at the end of the website.

All orders must be placed by June 30^th to guarantee delivery & distribution in August.

Cheer shoes must be paid for at the time of the fitting;  All other items will be paid for at uniform distribution in August.  Coaches Choice is located at 33 N. Locust Ave. in Marlton.  Phone 856-983-0707.  Their hours  are MTWF 11-6, Th 11-7, Sat 10-2.  Ask for Bruce!

UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION and PARENTS Q & A

**You must attend with your daughter even if she has previously cheered with MYAA**

This is the pick-up for Coaches Choice orders and fitting for the issued uniform.  Make checks payable to MYAA.

Please bring a copy of your daughter’s birth certificate.  Coaches and Commissioner will be present to answer any program questions.

Aug 4 uniform distribution will be held from 4:30 until 7:30.  I would like to try to assign times to help even out the number of cheerleaders we have at one time.  Please try to arrive during these times.

4:30-5:30- 105 lb. team- 4th & 5th graders

5:30-6:30- 120 lb. team- 6th & 7th graders

6:30- 7:30- UNL team- 8th graders

The next uniform distribution will be Monday, August 8 from 5:30 until 7:30

5:30-6:30- 70 lb. team- 1st graders

 6:30- 7:30- 85 lb. team- 2nd & 3rd graders

Vacationers from either week can attend the date that works for you.

Thank you for your cooperation with the change.  This is the first time we are attempting to distribute uniforms prior to the start of practice.  We would like for you to have all needed items for practice.  We also do not want to lose valuable practice time before the first game sizing uniforms.  Again, we thank you for your cooperation with this new system.

To be held at the field house at Hartford Crossing.

SUMMER PRACTICE SCHEDULE

All squads will practice at the same time and location each week.

WHEN: Tuesdays & Thursdays starting August 9 

TIME: 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

WHERE: Hartford Crossing Baseball & Football Complex (across from Lenape High School)  Babe Ruth Field- first field on the left as you enter the complex.

RAIN POLICY:  Practice is usually cancelled if it is raining hard.  If there is a light drizzle we will practice.  Cancellations will be issued by the commissioner ONLY, via e-mail.

SUMMER CHEERLEADING CAMP-

MYAA Cheer Camp has been designed to teach proper and safe cheerleading techniques. We will focus on cheers & chants, stunting, motions, tumble & jumps!  Camp is highly recommended for all participants in the MYAA cheer program. The Camp is $75 and will be offered August 1, 2, 3 from 9:30am to 2:30 pm at Diamond Athletics.  Please call Cara or Abbie at Diamond Athletics 609-859-1100 to reserve your spot.  You can now register for camp on myaa.net!  Deadline is July 15th. This was a HUGE success.  Thank you to everyone that particpated!

TUMBLING CLASS @ DIAMOND ATHLETICS

We are very excited to add a new element to our program.  We have established a positive working relationship with Diamond Athletics!  Together we will work to make it possible for girls to participate in both programs.  In addition, they have put together a tumbling program to run in conjunction with our cheer season.  This tumbling program will help advance tumbling skills, strengthen and condition cheerleaders & prevent injury.  The tumbling class will be on Mondays from 3:30pm-4:30pm.  It is 17 week program from Aug. 1st- Nov. 29^th.  The program is optional, and we need only 15 cheerleaders to sign up for the best pricing!  The entire 17 week session for $170! Please print the registration form on the website and call Cara or Abbie at Diamond Athletics 609-859-1100 to register.  A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required by July 15th. Off to a great start!!!

REGULAR SEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE

 “Regular Season” begins on Sept. 6th (Perfect Attendance begins) There are 3 practices each week.

Practices 1 & 2 are as follows:

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays           TIME:  5:00-6:30pm  

WHERE: Hartford Crossing Baseball & Football Complex (across from Lenape High School)

Practice 3 is 1 hour before every game at the game location.

We will adjust practice times & frequency once we have final game schedules.

RAIN POLICY:  Practice is usually cancelled if it is raining hard.  If there is a light drizzle we will practice.  Cancellations will be issued by the commissioner ONLY, via e-mail.

GAME SCHEDULE

First Regular Season Game (tentative): weekend of September 11

Last Regular Season Game (tentative): weekend of November 4 

We will cheer all 8 Varsity Games in each weight class of the MYAA Football Teams.  We will also cheer 4 home games for each Junior Varsity weight class of the MYAA Football Teams.

Varsity Games are played on Saturday.  Jr. Varsity games are played on various days. 

We will adjust practice times & frequency once we have final game schedules.

Playoff Games will follow the regular season and usually last 2-3 weeks.

Games are typically played rain or shine and we plan to cheer if the game is on.

Cancellations will be issued by the commissioner ONLY.  Notifications will be sent by e-mail.

COMPETITION

There will be a competition at the end of the season hosted by the South Jersey Elite Football League.  All teams associated with the league will participate in the competition.  Additional practices may be associated with the competition teams once the teams are established.  The competition is scheduled for November 20th.  It is held at Williamstown High School.

AWARDS PROGRAM

There will be a variety of incentives and awards offered throughout the season.

Perfect Attendance: The cheerleaders that have made a commitment to attend all scheduled practices and games will be acknowledged with a perfect attendance award at the end of the season.

Spirit Award: A cheerleader from each squad will be chosen at each practice and game to receive this award.  The spirit award acknowledges the cheerleader that went the extra mile that day.  It includes good sportsmanship, most improved in an area, extra effort applied, great attitude, good listening, etc.  They will be honored with a certificate and a pin.

Captains:  Two or three cheerleaders will be chosen each game to be captain.  The captains will wear a captain pin, get front line placement for chants and call the chants.

Trophy:  Season trophies will be presented at the banquet.

MYAA NIGHT @ SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL

All the Medford Indians Football players and cheerleaders attend a varsity football game at Shawnee.  The cheerleaders line up on the hash marks and the football players run through the lines on the field.  Squads get announced and the kids get t-shirts. We then stay for the game and watch our teen coaches cheer.  It is a lot of fun for all the participants!  MYAA night is scheduled for Friday, September 23, 2011.  All teams need to meet at the side bus entrance of the high school by 5:30 pm.  This is not a drop off event.  It is usually over by 6:45pm.  All cheerleaders are to wear their issued black t-shirt with blue jeans and sneakers.  Hair is to be worn in a high ponytail with the issued hair bow.

FUNDRAISING

There will be a variety of fundraisers throughout the season.  Funds raised will be applied to the costs associated with running the cheerleading program (i.e. field maintenance, uniforms, and banquet).  The fundraisers were picked due to their large return back to the Cheerleading program.

·         Clothing & Gear Boutique:  The boutique is located next to the concession stand in the field house.  Each parent is expected to work the MYAA boutique for one home game.  Schedules will be distributed by the coaches and posted inside the boutique.  Dates and times will be assigned.  If you cannot make your assigned date and time, you can switch with another parent.  Please notify your coach of any change in the schedule.

·         Spirit Wear:  There are a variety of options available from Coaches Choice at time of uniform fitting.  These items must be ordered in June but will be paid for and distributed in August.

·         “BLING” Spirit Wear:   We have custom tanks, t-shirts, long sleeve thermals, hats, sweatshirts, gloves and scarves available from Girlfriend’s Boutique.  They are on site for uniform distribution and orders will be taken until August 18^th for distribution on August 25^th.  Second wave of orders for cold gear will be in September.

·         Silpada Jewelery: We have our very own Silpada consultant on our coaching staff.  We will distribute catalogs and open an on-line show during September- get some of your Holiday shopping done and it benefits the cheerleading program!  This is not mandatory, but would be a huge success if each cheerleader could get at least one order from family & friends. The cheerleader from each squad that collects the most $ sales will receive a jewelry gift!

·         Papa Joe’s Salt:  In October, we will distribute 5 gift packs of Papa Joes to each cheerleader.  The gift packs sell for $10 each.  A unique spice mix that adds flavor to almost everything!!

•          ·Photovision:  Individual & team photographs.  Picture Day is Tuesday October 4^th.
• ·         Photography by Brian Price:  Looking for that extra special action shot?  Special package pricing for on field photography.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:  In October, we will sell pink cheer hair bows to be worn during our games.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to Making Strides.  MYAA cheer is in the process of forming a team to walk in the fundraiser in October. This is strictly a community fundraiser- not to benefit MYAA.

There are also a variety of fundraisers established by the football program.  Participation in these events benefits the program as a whole.

·         Field Signs:  Sponsor the program & advertise your business all at once.  For information contact Kelly Herman at fundraising@myaafottball.com.  Order sheet will be e-mailed..

·         Denims to Diamonds Social:  A fun evening with fellow parents full of Silent auctions, Chinese auctions, 50/50 raffles, food & beverages.  Information will be posted at the field house.

·         Yearbook:  Yearbooks are given to all participants in the football & cheerleading programs.  The yearbooks will be given during the banquet.  Parents have the opportunity to purchase an ad in the yearbook.  The kids love seeing their pictures & receiving messages in print!  Ad sheet will be e-mailed and is also attached at the end of the website.

Uniform Policy is posted at the end of the website.

General safety, attendance, medical & behavior rules are posted at the end of the website.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Uniform Distribution: August 4^th  & 8th

First Practice:  August 9^th

First Game:  Weekend of September 11^th

MYAA Night: Friday September 23.

Picture Day:  Tuesday October 4

Last regular season practice:  November 3^rd (playoff teams may continue to practice if needed)

SJEFL Cheer Competition: November 20th

Awards Brunch:  November  13^th    9:30am to 12:30pm

Uniform Return Day:  November 29^th  4:30 to 7:30