Welcome to the Catonsville Stars Cheerleading Program!
Introduction
Catonsville Stars Cheerleading is a youth organization within Baltimore County Parks and Recreation. We are a non-profit organization run strictly by volunteers. Our program accepts children ages 4-14. The Catonsville Stars Cheerleading program cheers for the Catonsville Stars Football program also a non-profit program ran strictly by volunteers.
Registration
Registration information for the Catonsville Stars Cheerleading Program can be found on the attached pages or online at www.abooma.com/cyc . Please read through this information before registering your child. Please be sure that this program sounds like something that you will be able to commit to and that your child will enjoy. Unfortunately due to the fact that we must order all necessary cheer merchandise at the beginning of the season refunds for merchandise will not be available after the first practice. Refunds for your child’s participation will not be available after the second week of practices. Once again we do understand that situations arise and note that for special circumstances refunds will be given.
Squads
The Catonsville Stars Cheerleading program is broken into a number of squads dictated by age groups. We hope to have 6 different squads but are sometimes unable to due to the lack of coaching staff. Our expected age groups will be 4-5, 6-8, 7-9, 8-10, 9-11, 10-12 and 11-14. Your cheerleader will be placed in the appropriate group dictated by age. We are unable to place any cheerleader in an inappropriate age group regardless of experience.
Practices
Catonsville Stars Cheerleading will practice every Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6-8 PM from August 3 – August 25. Beginning September 1 we will practice on Thursdays only from 6-8 PM. Beginning Oct 12 we will resume Wednesday and Thursday evening practices from 6-8PM to get ready for our Nov 13 competition. Our program practices at the Bloomsbury Recreation Center located on Bloomsbury Avenue. If you decide you would like to be a part of Catonsville Stars Cheerleading please understand that practices are not voluntary. We expect that each cheerleader will give her all at each practice and will attend the majority of practices. We understand the occasional need to miss a practice but hope it does not become a habit.
Games
Catonsville Stars Cheerleading cheers at weekend games for the Catonsville Stars Football teams. Games are usually held on Saturday’s but may include an occasional Friday evening game depending on the availability of fields within the Football organization. We expect that each cheerleader will attend these games on a weekly basis. Again we understand the need to miss an occasional game but hope that it does not become a habit. We will begin cheering at games beginning the last weekend in August. Due to the fact that we will have one night a week practices every team will meet 1 hour prior to game time to complete a half time routine.
Competition
Catonsville Stars Cheerleading attends an annual local competition. All of our age groups participate in this competition. We will be competing against other park and recreation cheerleading teams within the Maryland Football and Cheerleading Association. All cheerleaders are expected to participate in this competition. If you feel your cheerleader will not be able to compete please let us know in the beginning of the season. Each cheerleader will begin to learn the routine for competition early in the season. Competition is usually held in early November.
Coordinators
The Catonsville Stars Cheerleading program is run by volunteer coordinator(s). The coordinator(s) are responsible for the overall well being of the program and the children in the program. These coordinator(s) share responsibilities ranging anywhere from scheduling practices to coaching individual teams. The duties of a coordinator vary from day to day and some are passed along to other responsible leadership.
Head Coach
Catonsville Stars Cheerleading squads will each have one responsible head coach. This coach will be someone of age 21 or above. The head coach is responsible for attending each practice of their given squad. They are also responsible for attending their squad’s games. Each head coach will work closely with the coordinator(s) to make sure that each team is receiving fair and equal treatment as well as being sure they are learning as much as possible. You will be notified as to who your cheerleaders head coach will be once the season begins.
Team Parent
Each squad will have at least one team parent who is responsible for helping the head coach with various duties. Team parents are often asked to attend practices and games when head coaches are unable to attend. You will be notified as to who your cheerleaders Team Parent/Parents will be once the season begins.
Jr. Coach
Each squad will have at least one Jr. Coach who is knowledgeable and familiar with Cheerleading. These coaches are mainly high school cheerleaders who are volunteering their time to teach our children what cheerleading is all about. These coaches are responsible for teaching their squad the basics of cheerleading, cheers, stunts and jumps. Jr. Coaches are not allowed to teach the children tumbling besides the basic forward roll and cartwheels. Jr. Coaches will also be responsible for teaching game time routines as well as our annual competition routine. You will be notified as to who your cheerleaders Jr. Coach will be once the season begins.
Paperwork
In order to be a part of the Catonsville Stars Cheerleading program there are a few necessary items that we must collect from you. The registration form & fee are due at the time you register your cheerleader, all other forms are due at the first practice. Registration Form & Fee at the time of registration
Cheerleader Information Card (due at first practice)
A Maryland State ID card that has not expired (due at first practice)
A medical release form filled out by child’s doctor
Mandatory Parents Meeting
This year we will be hosting a mandatory parents meeting on August 3, 2011 (first practice) in the Auditorium at the Bloomsbury Center. This meeting is where you will turn in the remainder of your necessary information to us. During this time we will be giving out any further information that you should receive for the season. Again the remainder of your paperwork is due at this time. If you are unable to attend for any reason please contact Jaclyn Lilly by email at catonsvillestars_hotmail.com to make further arrangements. You may also email us with any questions you may have. If you do not contact us and you do not attend we will assume that you and your cheerleader are not interested in participating in our program.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important information. If you feel that your cheerleader would like to become a part of the Catonsville Stars Cheerleading Program please fill out the paperwork and return it to us. We look forward to cheering with you.
Catonsville Stars Coordinators
