FLAMES CHEER FALL 2023 SEASON

BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR ICA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS! SIDELINE COMPETITION TEAMS ARE OPEN  FOR GRADES 2-8. 

GAME CHEER TEAMS ARE OPEN FOR GRADES K-2.  

TEAM SUMMARIES:

SIDELINE COMPETITION TEAMS: 

ALL SIDELINE COMPETITON TEAMS WILL PRACTICE TWICE A WEEK DURING THE WEEK AND ONCE ON THE  WEEKEND. EACH TEAM WILL CHEER EVERY OTHER WEEKEND DURING THE FOOTBALL SEASON.  Weekday practice days and times will be determined by the team coach. Practice is Saturday morning sometime between 9-12.  If your team is cheering for a Football game that game is considered their practice.  Games are Saturday at Knox Park.

COMPETITIONS:  Flames will participate in 3 competitions paid for through your registration. Teams that qualify will also participate in the State Championship.  Please note that the $165 registration fee for State is NOT included in the regular season registration fee. When your child's team qualifies for State you will need to pay the $165 State registration fee.
These are the Competition Dates (** indicates the preffered competition.  Exact dates will be determined by the ICA June 26th).

• Sunday, September 24th 1st Madness at NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb 
• Sunday, October 8th Cheercago at Hampshire High School
• Sunday, October 22nd Cheer Pink at Dundee Crown High School **
• Sunday, November 5th Operation Cheer at West Aurora High School **
• Saturday, November 18th Final Fling at NIU Convocation Center**
• November 30th-December 3rd  State Championship NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb

CHOREOGRAPHY:  All sideline competition teams are REQUIRED TO ATTEND CHOREOGRAPHY.  We are allowed 12 hours of professional choreography per team paid for through your registration.  It is imperative that the whole team is present.  Missing choreography could potentially change or eliminate your athlete's position. Choreohraphy will be during the last two weeks of July; July 17th-28th.  Exact dates and times for each team will be determined after teams are oficially made. The dates will be updated here on the website as soon as they are determined.

Flash (Grade 2-3): Monday, July 17, Tuesday July 18, Monday July 24, Tuesday July 25 all from 9-12.

Flare (Grade 3-4): Monday, July 17, Tuesday, July 18, Monday July 24, Tuesday July 25 all from 12-3.

Blaze (Grades4-5): Wednesday July 19, Thursday July 20, Thursday July 27 and Friday July 28 all from 9-12.  

Inferno (Grades6-7): Wednesday July 19, Thursday July 20, Thursday July 27 and Friday July 28 all from 12-3.

Varsity (Grade 8):

***Competition teams will ultimately be based on registration numbers NOT grade level.  Some teams may have one grade level instead of 2 or 3 if the registration allows.  In that case a new team will be created.  If you are 'wait listed' for  SIDELINE COMPETITION team please know that means you are waiting to be told which team you are on while registration is open through May 4th.  We can create new Comp teams as we need them.  If you have never cheered before and LOVE Cheer, we want YOU- no Cheer experience needed!**

**Practice starts for all Sideline Competition Teams the week of August 14th**

GAME CHEER: 

**Exciting new changes are happening with our Game Day Cheer Program. Sparks Game Cheer is now open for Grades K thru 2nd.  Sparks is an excellent introduction to Cheer. This team will learn sideline cheers, cheer basics and beginner stunts.  Once athletes have completed Sparks they are better prepared to move on to our Sideline Competition teams.  Any inquiries you have about Game Day Cheer please reach out to Nicole Schultes for more information.**

SPARKS: KINDERGARTEN-2nd GRADE GAME CHEER:  Sparks has a 12 week season beginning August 3rd.  They will practice once or twice per week for 1 hour and cheer every weekend.  Practice will be 1-2 nights per week at Knox Park.  Practice time and night will be determined by coach availability.  Sparks is a great way to introduce your child to the Flames Cheer Program.  This team will learn how to do proper cheer jumps and motions and learn  Flames sideline cheers.  Basic stunts will also be learned (prep or hip level only). Sparks will be divided into separate teams after registration is comlete. Siblings will of course be together. Team placement will be announced before the start of practice. Feel free to send in friend requests to Nicole Schultes Sparks is limited due to the amount of available uniforms and practice space.  If you are wait listed for Sparks we will notify you of an opening IF it occurs the week we start practices.

SPARKS CAMP: The weeks of July 14th-July 28th we will offer a mini Cheer Camp for the incoming Sparks team.  They will learn sideline cheers, basic stunts, jumps and motions. More information on cost, times and days will be coming shortly.

OVERALL CHEER PROGRAM INFORMATION:

UNIFORMS: 

.*Sparks Game Cheer uniforms will be rented.  The fitting will be at Knox Park on Tuesday August 10th.  Sparks will rent their uniform from Flames.  A $100 deposit is required and will only be cashed if the uniform is not returned. ***This will change for the Fall of 2024.  All uniforms will be rented for a non refundable fee.*** 

* Sideline Competition Teams need to purchase a full uniform for $235.00.  A game day tank/shirt will be provided through your registration fee.

Fittings are scheduled for Tuesday, May 2nd and Thursday May 4th form 5:30-7:30.  A Sign-Up Genius will go out closer to the date. Note: Registration will close for Sideline Competition teams after the final uniform fitting May 4th.  Unifoms are custom ordered and cannot be guaranteed delivery after the order has gone through.

PRACTICE ATTIRE: Practice shirts (2) will be provided through your registration for competition teams.  All teams will wear plain black shorts (not provided) and a t-shirt to practice.  Practice, game and competition bows will be provided as well.  Sparks will receive one practice shirt, a practice bow, and a game day bow.

SHOES: All athletes must purchase their own shoes.  Shoes must be clean and white.  Sideline Competition Teams need two pairs of shoes.  One specifically for games that must be white and one for Competitions and practice only.

WARM UPS:  Full warm ups are no longer required.  We ask all cheerleaders to purchase the Flames Cheer Hoodie or Zip Up.  This will be worn in colder weather with black leggings.  Beginning 2024 all teams will require the Flames Zip Up jacket at their own cost. 

COACHES AND PRACTICE VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for parents who want to get involved with coaching and leading practices.  There are many ways to be involved: head coach, assistant coach, spotter, specialty coach, leading warmups, and conditioning.  You do not need to be a cheer expert to be a coach.  Please reach out to Nicole Schultes to learn how you can be involved!