Cheer Questions & Answers

How do I sign up?   

Registration starts Friday, March 25th and the link can be found on the registration tab. If your child has cheered with us previously register under the returning cheerleader registration. If your cheerleader is brand new register under new cheerleader registration. If your child is going into kindergarten or first grade register under "fundamental cheer."

When does registration end? 

We are trying to have cheerleaders register by May 18th as we are getting new uniforms and have a fitting scheduled for May 19, 2022. We want everyone to have a perfect fitting uniform!

What are some important dates?

We are holding a free cheer clinic and a parent meeting Friday, 5/6/22 at Gideon Welles school at 5pm in the cafeteria. We will be having a uniform and shoe fitting 5/19/22 at GWS 5-7pm. 

What is the fundamental cheer program?

This program is NEW for kids going into kindergarten and first grade. It's a great introduction to cheer for our youngest cheerleaders.  They will play fun games to introduce them to cheer as well as learning cheers, chants, basic stunting and dance. they will receive their first pom poms, a bow and a Glastonbury cheer shirt. Practice will be one evening a week with a game on Sunday cheering for flag football at GHS. 

What is the difference between sideline and competition cheer?

Starting this season, we are very excited to offer a competitive experience for our cheerleaders. Cheerleaders and their families can choose to add the competitive experience to cheer. ALL of our cheerleaders are required to do sideline cheer. They will all be assigned a squad to cheer sidelines with for Sunday games based on their age/grade. If they choose to do competition, there will be additional practices and/or additional time added to their regular sideline cheer practice. Competition cheer is a larger commitment and we understand that not every cheerleader is ready or would like to do this. We want to offer competition for the kids that want to take cheer to the next level. 

What is included for my cheerleader?

All cheerleaders receive a uniform that will need to be returned in excellent shape to GYFA at the end of the season. This includes a shell, liner, and skirt. We are getting new shells this season! If they are new they will receive pom poms, a pink breast cancer awareness bow for October games, and a bow for all other games. They will also get a ticket for our end of the year cheer banquet. Our returning cheerleaders will be recieving a new bow with our new added team color and a banquet ticket. 

What do I need to buy in addition for the cheerleading season?

There are some additional items that your cheerleader will need to purchase. We will have a sneaker package to purchase that includes sneakers, boy shorts, and socks. A varsity representative will be coming 5/19/22 to GWS to fit uniforms and shoes for our cheerleaders. Cheer shoes are vital for safety when stunting and cheering.  Additional items can be purchased such as warm ups, backpacks, bows and practice gear.

How can I help?

All GYFA families including cheer are required to volunteer at some point during our fall football and cheer season. This includes volunteering for concessions during home games (don't worry-it's not the whole game). For competiton we will need parent volunteers for every competition that we are in or move forward to (locals, states and regionals). Volunteering at competitions also brings $$ into our program! GYFA is a parent/volunteer run organization and we could not do this without your help! We can also use your help coaching especially for our new fundamental program. Please reach out if you are interested!!

When do practices begin?

Practice for cheer begins Monday, August 15th, 2022 for our 2nd-8th graders. Our first two weeks are held in a "camp" format and are very important as the cheerleaders bond with their teammates, get in their required 10 hours of conditioning, and learn cheers. We have fun themed nights for each of these practices. The first week of practice is M-F from 6-8pm on the Gideon Welles lawn. The second week will be M-TH. Practices will move indoors during the school year with Tuesdays and Thursdays be practice days. Our competition teams may have additional days and or time added for practice. 

When do games begin and how long is the season?

Games will begin Sunday, September 4th and go through October 30th. Game times can start anytime between 9am and 3pm.  There can be up to three additional play-off games in the season starting 11/6, 11/13 and 11/20 for championships.

Where are the games held?

We are a part of the Shoreline Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference and play the following teams- 

Branford, Bristol, Cheshire, Clinton, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, Monroe, Newington, Newtown, North Haven, Pomperaug, Shelton, Southington, Torrington and Wallingford (We do not play all of these teams in a season). Refer to syfcct.org for further info.

We will cheer all home games at GHS but will also travel to some away games. The schedule will be given in August!

When is Competition?

The local competition will be held this year on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Shelton High School. States will be 11/5/22 and Regionals will be held in Rhode Island this year with the date TBD. Nationals is held in Florida 12/9-12/11. 

Any questions please reach out to Nicole at glastonburycheer@gmail.com or Rachel at gyfacheer@gmail.com