Cheerleading Frequently Asked Questions
Cheerleaders are assigned to teams according to grade as follows:
Mascots- 2nd grade
D Team- 3rd & 4th grade
C Team- 5th & 6th grade
A Team- 7th & 8th grade
Only new cheerleaders to the program must provide a copy of their birth certificate. If you cheered last year, you do not need to provide one.
Games are held on the weekends only. Home games are typically held on Sunday at Lynnfield HS. Away games may be scheduled on Saturday or Sunday, and will be played against other teams in the Cape Ann Youth Football League (CAYFL). Towns in this league include Masco, North Reading, North Andover, Danvers, Newburyport, Marblehead, Ipswich-Triton, Gloucester, Hamilton/Wenham, Amesbury & Pentucket.
Games start the weekend after Labor Day. The game schedule should be available the week before Labor Day.
Practices may be held Monday – Friday, typically beginning no earlier than 4:00, and ending no later than 8:00. Practices are held at Lynnfield Middle School unless otherwise communicated by your child’s coach. Teams occasionally practice at Danvers Indoor Sports if the LMS gym is not available.
Mascots- 2 days per week- 1 hour practices.
D Team- 2 days per week- 1.5-2 hour practices
C Team- 2 days per week- 1.5-2 hour practices
A Team- 2 days per week- 1.5-2 hour practices
A tentative practice schedule will be distributed in early July. This schedule is based upon the availability of our coaches. We do not receive final confirmation of LMS gym space until mid-August, so schedules are not finalized until then.
Competition cheerleaders commit to attending ALL practices. They will participate in 2 cheer competitions at the end of the season in addition to cheering for football games. Game day cheerleaders are not required to attend all practices, and do not participate in the competitions. They do, however, cheer for football games by participating in sideline and half time routines.
Practices are mandatory for competition cheerleaders barring illness, injury, or family emergency. Practices are not mandatory for game day cheerleaders.
While we encourage all cheerleaders to attend and cheer at football games, they are not mandatory. We do expect that advance notice of the absence is given to your child’s coach. CAYFL does require that an A cheer team and a C cheer team be at all A and C football games.
The Cheer for a Cure competition is held in late October and at Ipswich High School. The CAYFL competition is held in early November at a high school in the Cape Ann league.
Register now if your child is interested in cheering in the fall. If you cannot commit to the mandatory practices, participating as a game day cheerleader is an option. If that option is not of interest, we will issue refunds through August 31.
Each cheerleader will receive a uniform to use for the season. Uniforms must be returned at the end of the season.
Uniform fittings will take place in late June. If the appropriately sized uniform is in stock, you will take it home from the fitting in June. If we need to order a uniform, you will receive it before the first game.
Cheer sneakers will need to be purchased. We typically have a representative from an apparel company available at our uniform night to size sneakers and place orders. You may also purchase the cheer sneakers elsewhere if you’d prefer. The approximate cost is $30-$40. Additional apparel will be available for purchase but is not required. Such apparel may include hooded sweatshirts, warm up suits, and nylon pull-overs.
No. Cheerleaders are placed on teams based on their school grade.
Per CAYFL policy, each competition team must not exceed 30 girls. There is not, however, a size limit for the number of game day cheerleaders cheering at a football game. The first 30 participants that sign up for their team and are willing to commit to mandatory practices will be placed on the competition team. Any additional girls will be placed on a wait list for the competition team while being offered the option of participating as a game day cheerleader.
Per CAYFL policy, if football players play, cheerleaders cheer. Cheerleaders need to be present unless the football game is cancelled or their team is excused by both Cheer Directors of the home and away teams.