Ravens Cheerleading

Football Frequently Asked Questions

Updated August 31, 2010  by Coach Karen, Cheerleading Director

2010 REGISTRATION
Q: Is it too late to register?

A: Registration for the 2010 season has been officially closed. Please check back to our website early Spring for information about 2011 registration.

Q: How old must my daughter be to cheer?

A: Cheerleaders must be 5 years old by July 31^st to be eligible to cheer for the same season. The age limit is 14 (15^th birthday must be after September 30^th to be eligible).

PRACTICE, GAMES, WEATHER,  EQUIPMENT
Q: What are the practice schedules? How often are practices held?

A: The first three weeks of practice are Monday through Thursday. Practices begin at 6:00 P.M. and end at 7:30 P.M.  Once school starts (after Labor Day) squads will practice two nights a week and will be set by your squad’s coach.

Q: What time do the games start? What day are they played?

A: Games are played on Saturday, with Sunday used if a Saturday game gets rained out. The schedule runs Flag JV at 8AM, followed by: Juniors at 9AM; Midget Varsity; Peewee Varsity; Flag Varsity; Midget JV; and then lastly Pee Wee JV. Since the later games can’t start until the game before it finishes the start times of the later games can vary quite a bit.

Q: If it rains, will there be practice and/or games?

A: We will practice and/or play games as long as the fields are open and playable. Storms that may develop during the course of a game or practice will be assessed as they happen. Metro occasionally cancels games due to weather. In the event of questionable weather, please call Henrico County field hotline phone number is 804-501-5132 and is updated once daily at 3pm.

Q: What should be worn to practice?

A: All cheerleaders should wear attire similar to what would be worn in gym class –shorts without pockets, t-shirt, socks, and athletic tennis shoes. In the event of cooler weather, long sleeve shirts and exercise pants without pockets are appropriate. Hair must always be off the shoulders and out of the face.

There are some “no-no’s” for cheerleader attire:

• No denim can be worn
• No jewelry can be worn at any time by any cheerleader (if your daughter has pierced ears band-aids may not be placed on top of the earring – the earrings must be removed)
• No flip flops, sandals, open toe shoes, stilettos….you get the point! Athletic style sneakers must be worn to practice.

Q: What cheer equipment do the Ravens provide? What do we need to provide?

A: We provide the game day uniform – shell and skirt. When your daughter is sized for her uniform you will be provided with a complete list of prices for uniform pieces she must have (warm-up outfit, lollies, shoes, socks, crop top, hair bow). We sell this additional equipment at cost as both a convenience to you and to ensure uniformity. Additional optional equipment may be purchased as well (duffle bag, practice clothing).

GAME SCHEDULES
Q: Where are the game schedules posted?

A: The game schedules and directions to host athletic fields are posted on the Ravens web site under the “Game Day” section on the site. These are posted as soon as the schedule is published by Metro.

Q: Do the JV teams play the same schedules as the Varsity teams?

A: Metro will determine the JV schedules approximately the last week of August. These schedules are dependent on the number of other Associations that will field JV teams.  In most cases, the JV teams will play at the same location as the varsity teams, but there is no guarantee that this will happen.

COACHING / HELPING OUT
Q: I am interested in coaching. Can I be a head coach or assistant coach?

A: We have a full slate of coaches for the 2010 season already! If you are interested in submitting your name to be a coach for our 2011 season, please contact Karen at cheerleading@glenallenravens.net if you are interested. Head coaches must be 18 years of age.

Q: I don’t have the time/experience to help out by coaching, but I’d like to still help out somehow. Are there any other things I could do?

A: Yes there are!!

• Each squad will need a Team Parent (we don’t exclude willing Dads).
•  We also have some fun things planned for this season just for the cheer parents to get involved with! Anyone feeling crafty?!
• Both the football and cheer parents are needed to keep our concession stand running for practices and game days. Information regarding this will be given to you at a later date.
• Be present! Your presence at practices and games makes a HUGE difference for your daughter! You will see what she’s learning and have the chance to talk to her about it later. You will be available in the event of a medical issue or a behavioral problem.
• Talk to your daughter. When you reinforce to your daughter the importance of listening to her coach, respecting her teammates, and having the “can-do” attitude it really makes her have a much more rewarding cheer experience!

ALL ABOUT CHEER

Q: Do I have to tryout to be a cheerleader with the Ravens?

A: No! We do not have any requirements other than excitement, an eagerness to try new things, and a readiness to learn!

Q: What skills can my daughter expect to learn while cheering with the Ravens?

A: Your daughter will learn sideline chants, cheers, jumps, tumbling, stunts, and dance routines. We put all of this together in a package with a focus on teamwork skills, confidence building, and leadership development.

Q: Isn’t my daughter too young to do THAT stunt?!

A: Safety is our number one priority when it comes to our girls! Every cheerleader can’t wait to do the cool looking stunts they’ve seen performed before. While stunts are an important and extremely fun part of cheerleading, it is a strict policy that stunts are not taught when they can’t be taught properly and safely. When they are taught properly and performed in a safe manner there is no limit to the ‘Ooh’ and ‘Did you see that?’ possibilities for stunts executed by even the youngest cheerleaders!

Q: We were rushing out of the house on game day and forgot part of my daughter’s uniform! Does this mean she can’t cheer?

A: While we understand how easy it is for this to happen, we are bound by regulations of uniformity through Metro. If this happens we will make every effort to help you locate a “substitute” piece of uniform that your daughter can borrow for the game. The best way to prevent this from happening is to pack up the game day bag the night before and double check that all uniform items are accounted for. If this happens and we can’t find a solution, as much as we hate it, your daughter may not be able to take the field with her squad.

Q: What if my daughter can’t make it to practice and/or a game?

A: We know that things come up in life! We do ask that you make every effort to let your daughter’s head coach know ahead of time if your daughter is going to be absent. Halftime cheers, stunts, and dance routines are usually planned out with specific girls in specific places and it can be very difficult to make last minute changes. If your daughter misses a practice this does not mean that she will have to sit out for the upcoming game. She will still be able to cheer on the sidelines but may have to sit out for the halftime cheer. This will be handled on a case by case basis taking in to consideration any new moves learned or changes made to the routine during the practice missed.

Q: My daughter’s coach taught her squad to do a cheer differently than they learned last year. Why can’t they do it the old way like they already learned?

A: There are limitless possibilities of how a single cheer/chant can be done. This is almost guaranteed to happen at some point in your daughter’s cheer career! We find value in variety and know learning new ways to do the same cheer/chant can only add to your daughter’s experience. We will have a core set of sideline chants that are done the “Raven way” in order to allow all squads to perform together for pep rallies and other events.