EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FLEMING ISLAND DREADNAUGHTS CHEERLEADING PROGRAM

The 2020 Cheerleading season will begin August 1, 2021. During this 2-week "conditioning" phase, each squad will practice 5 days per week in order to complete their mandated 20 hours of conditioning early into the season.

Cheer Coaches are background checked AND certified through extensive training courses prior to the beginning of the season. This is a requirement to coach so that your cheerleaders are in great hands!

Competitions begin in October and can last through late November depending upon our advancement. Please be prepared for your cheerleader to continue practicing until late November, especially our older squads. Please remember your final squad assignment will be given to you by August 1 (when conditioning begins). If you have any special requests (like trying to keep siblings on the same squad), please contact the cheer coordinator.

Parental financial obligation: Other than the $300 registration fee, paid to the association, financial obligations are the responsibility of the parents. Once uniforms are ordered there are no refunds given. A payment plan is available of three equal installments of $100 each, with the full registration fee to be paid no later than July 15, 2020. Uniforms must be neat and in good repair for the duration of the season. If you lose any piece of your uniform before the end of the season, it must be replaced immediately or you could forfeit any further participation on your cheerleaders behalf.

Uniform pieces included in your child's registration are: Shell, Skirt with briefs, Shoes, Competition Bow, October Spirt Bow, Long-sleeve bodyliner for competition, a set of metallic poms, and a backpack. All cheerleaders must wear the same uniform pieces on game days, competitions, and any other events where they are representing the squad.

Participation rules: Cheerleading is a team sport that requires FULL participation from everyone. If your child is involved in other activities that will not allow her to attend all practices, games or competitions, please do not register her for cheerleading. Each squad has a limited time to practice and prepare, extensive absences are a safety hazard for your child and their teammates, and could result in her removal from the routine.

Practice guidelines: Practice begins August 1. All squads can practice up to 8-10 hours per week, Monday thru Friday until Labor Day. After Labor Day, squads can practice 6 hours per week until the end of the season. Every cheerleader must attend all practices.

Attendance: There are specific guidelines for excused absences—if a cheerleader is sick, a doctor's note is required before she may participate in future practices or games. 

Game information: All games are played on Saturdays. There is a small admission charge for all spectators (including parents, usually around $3-$5/person). Half of our games will be home games at Fleming Island High School's field and the other half will be away games. Click here for a list of other FCC Pop Warner teams and their field locations. Please keep in mind that our game schedules are always subject to change and all cheerleaders are responsible for their own transportation. Cheerleaders are required to attend all games and any post season games. If our football players are scheduled for playoff games we must attend those games with them. This is a requirement of Pop Warner.  

Competition and fundraising information: Each cheerleader will have a required amount to fundraise to cover their competition expenses (this way there will likely be very minimal out-of-pocket expenses for families). All teams attend the district competition in Jacksonville, Florida including Tiny Mites and Mitey Mites. Junior Pee Wee, Pee Wee (as well as Junior Varsity and Varsity teams if applicable) are also required to attend any Regional or National competitions that they advance to. Please consider that competition teams will be traveling during the Thanksgiving Holiday (with Thanksgiving Day being a possibility) when you register for cheerleading. Unfortunately, we have no control over the competition date so please make sure your family is prepared to travel during this time frame.