Ravens Cheerleading

Football Frequently Asked Questions

Updated April 11, 2011 by Coach Karen, Cheerleading Director

2011 REGISTRATION
Q1: How much does it cost?

A: Our pricing for registration this season will be the same as it was in 2010 which is $140 for football players and $100 for cheerleaders. There is a $20 late fee that we assess for players who register after June 30th. We do offer a multi-child discount of $30 for each additional child registered for families registering more than one Raven (football or cheerleading)!

Q2: How old must my child 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).

Q3: What squad will my child be placed on?

A: The only criteria used to determine which cheerleading squad your child will be a member of is age. *The age your child is considered for squad placement is the age they will be as of September 30^th.

Squad	Age as of… 5 year olds: July 31st 6-14 year olds: Sept 30th
Flag JV	5, 6
Flag Varsity	7
Pee Wee JV	8
Pee Wee Varsity	9
Midget JV	10
Midget Varsity	11
Juniors	12, 13, 14

Q4: How do I register my child?

A: Online registration is currently open! To register your child online simply follow the link from our homepage.

Q5: When does registration end?

A: Regular registration will be open until June 30th. After June 30th all registrations will be considered late and have an additional $20 fee per registration.

PRACTICE, GAMES, WEATHER,  EQUIPMENT
Q6: When does the first practice begin?

A: Monday, August 8, 2011

Q7: What are the practice schedules? How often are practices held?

A: The first three weeks of practice are Monday through Friday. Practices begin at 6:00 P.M. and end at 8:00 P.M.  After Labor Day squads will practice two nights a week.

Q8: 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. Your child’s coach will tell you what time your child will need to arrive at the field for pre-game warm-ups.

*The 1^st two games of the day (Flag JV and Juniors) are the only two games with definite start times – the remaining game times listed are approximate start times. Actual start times will depend on the time the previous game ends.

Squad	Game Time
Flag JV	8:00 AM
Juniors	9:00 AM
Midget Varsity	10:30 AM
Pee Wee Varsity	12:00 PM
Flag Varsity	1:30 PM
Midget JV	3:00 PM
Pee Wee JV	4:30 PM

Q9: 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. The Metro Youth Football League occasionally cancels games due to weather. In the event of questionable weather, please utilize Henrico County field hotline phone number is 804-501-5132 for a list of field closings. This hotline is run by Henrico County and is updated once daily at 3:00 PM

Q10: 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. Jewelry is prohibited for practices and games. Denim is NOT allowed!

Q11: What cheer equipment do the Ravens provide? What do we need to provide?

A: We provide the game day uniform – shell and skirt – for your child to use for the duration of the season. 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 jacket, leggings, lollies, shoes, socks, crop top, hair bow, poms). 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).

Q12: Why is some of the equipment different this year?

A: There are a few reasons some of the equipment may vary from one season to the next: the manufacturer may no longer make the particular item/brand; if we’ve had problems obtaining items in a timely manner from a manufacturer/vendor we will switch; we may have found a less expensive option.

Q13: 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
Q14: 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.

Q15: 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
Q16: I am interested in coaching. Can I be a head coach or assistant coach?

A: We are still looking for two head coaches!! If you are interested in helping in the capacity of head coach or assistant coach, please contact Karen Weed at cheerleading@glenallenravens.net if you are interested. Head coaches must be 18 years of age. Junior coaches are 16 – 18 years of age.

Q17: 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

Q18: 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!

Q19: 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.

Q20: 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 our strict policy that stunts are only taught when they can be taught properly and safely. When safety is 1st there is no limit to the ‘Ooh’ and ‘Did you see that?’ possibilities for stunts executed by even the youngest cheerleaders!

Q21: 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.

Q22: 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.

Q23: 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.