SMPW Cheer

The objective of SMPW cheer is to teach each performer the fundamentals of cheer and to provide them an opportunity to perform in an organized, adult-supervised, safety-oriented and fun setting. We strongly emphasize good sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork. While we coach athletic skills on a competitive level and believe winning cheer competitions is important, our primary focus is forming good citizens and developing fine character. Pop Warner also requires that each student athlete meets specific academic standards.

ELIGIBILITY: Any child living within the boundaries of San Marcos Unified School District wishing to cheer is eligible to participate. Children are divided into teams based on the following age/weight breakdowns in the following chart. However, these are not strict standards in cheer as they are in football. To complete a cheer squad, older and younger cheerleaders may be combined without regard to weight.

SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS Pop Warner is the only national youth sport program that requires participants to maintain minimum scholastic standards. SMPW emphasizes that playing football is secondary to each child's education. If at any time it is brought to the attention of the SMPW Board that a child is failing in school due to their participation in football, the Board will meet with that child and their parent(s) to discuss the matter. If necessary, the Board will suspend the participant until his/her grades improve. In the same spirit, any child that maintains high scholastic achievement during the football season will be eligible for a scholastic award.

CONDITIONING: Cheer is an athletic performance sport. Practices are intense, but structured so each child can succeed with effort and self-discipline. During the first week of practice, beginning August 1st, the participant is subjected to a vigorous training program designed to build strength and stamina needed to cope with the physical nature of cheer.

CERTIFICATION: All candidates for a team must be certified. Certification includes the verification of the participant's age, weight & academic performance. Certification is conducted by Peninsula Pop Warner Football each year, usually close to Labor Day. There is no make-up session unless the candidate is ill and can provide a doctor's certificate to that effect.

GAMES: Games are typically held on Saturdays, but some post-season games may fall on a Sunday. Cheer squads cheer for SMPW football teams but they also compete in cheer competition meets on a competitive level. JAMZ events are also venues in which SMPW cheerleaders compete.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE AND TIME COMMITMENT: The season begins August 1st. The regular season runs through the end of October. Flag ends at the end of October.

The season can continue for the competitive divisions through the end of November if a squad qualifies for Regional competition, and potentially through mid-December if the team plays at the National championship level. The season will also continue if the football team the squad is rostered with qualifies for post-season playoffs/games.

FEE COVERS

The registration fee covers uniforms, cheer camp, pictures, banquet and trophies.