Cheerleading (updated May 20, 2024)

Contact

Cheerleading Commissioner:
Renee Cahill
cahill31775@gmail.com

Participation

In accordance with the philosophy of the St. Paul Parish Parent Athletic Association (PAA), the cheerleading program will follow a “no-cut” policy. All eligible girls/boys entering the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade will have the opportunity to register on the PAA website to participate in cheerleading. Registration opens up in March of each year prior to the upcoming cheer season. Regardless if you choose to cheer for the football season, basketball season, or for both sports, everyone must register in March of each year and attend practices in June, July and August to get ready for the cheer season.  All cheer material that is used for both the football and basketball season is taught during the summer.
 
Our St. Paul football program has combined with the following schools: St. Matthias, St. Michael and St. James under the new team name Northern Bishops, team colors are Silver and Black.  Our St. Paul cheer program, during the football and basketball seasons, will combine with St. Matthias for eligible girls/boys entering the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade and will need to register for cheer when registration opens up in March of each year, via the St. Paul PAA website, prior to the upcoming cheer season and attend summer practices.

The St. Paul Football Cheer program will also combine with St. Michael and St. James for eligible girls/boys entering the 7th and 8th grade; these students will also need to register for cheer when registration opens in March of each year via the St. Paul PAA website prior to the upcoming cheer season and attend summer practices.

Squads

Varsity cheerleading squad: 7th and 8th graders
JV cheerleading squad: 5th and 6th graders

  • During the football season, the Varsity cheer squad is required to cheer for the Varsity football team at all of their home and away games, including playoff and championship games. (The Varsity football team consist of 7th and 8th graders)
  • During the football season, the JV cheer squad is required to cheer for the JV football team at all of their home and away games, including playoff and championship games. (The JV football team consist of 5th and 6th graders).
  • There has been a change to which football games the JV squad will cheer for since our cheer football program has combined with St. Matthias, St. Michael’s and St. James. St. Paul and St. Matthias JV football cheer squad is Team Black and will cheer at half of the 5th-6th grade Northern Bishop Football games including championship games; they will also cheer at 4th and 5th grade St. Paul flag football games. St. Michael’s and St. James JV football cheer squad is Team Silver and will cheer at half of the 5th-6th grade Northern Bishop Football games including championship games; they will also cheer at 4th and 5th St. Michael flag football games.
  • During the basketball season, there are multiple St. Paul basketball teams for 7th and 8th grade. The Head Cheer coach will go through all of the basketball team’s schedules and pick the games the Varsity cheer squad will cheer for, including playoff and championship games.
  • During the basketball season, there are multiple St. Paul basketball teams for 5th and 6th grade. The Head Cheer coach will go through all of the basketball team’s schedules and pick the games the JV cheer squad will cheer for, including playoff and championship games.

Cheer Skills Learned and Performed

  • Cheerleaders will learn correct arm motions, cheer jumps, chants, cheers, band dances and a 3 minute halftime routine which is a combination of a 45 second dance, chant, cheer and a 45 second dance. The halftime routine will be performed on the field during halftime at the football games; it will also be performed on the court during halftime at the basketball games. Cheerleaders will also have the opportunity to learn basic tumble skills: cart wheel, round off, front and back walkover.  Higher level tumble skills are permitted; however, these skills need to be learned from taking a gymnastic class.  Examples of higher level gymnastics skills include, but not limited to, a back handspring, back tuck and an aerial.
  • St. Paul Cheer Coaches have completed training and certification to teach stunting skills. The St. Paul cheer program has received permission from the Parish Office to add stunting to our program. We successfully taught and performed stunting skills during our 2023-2024 cheer program. We will continue to stunt during our 2024-2025 cheer program. The exception is the St. Michael’s and St. James JV Football Team Silver squad will not be stunting. If a parent does not want their cheerleader to stunt please let Coach Cahill know.

Competition Squad

  • Competition squad is for 7th-8th Grade Registered St. Paul Rams Cheerleaders cheering for football and or the basketball season. If a cheerleader is interested in the competition squad, they will need to attend a summer practice to learn material and participate in an assessment evaluation to perform cheer material taught. We will have a practice in July or August to teach a chant, cheer, and dance. Material taught will be performed during an assessment date that will be set for July or August. During the assessment, the cheerleader will also perform a hurdler jump, toe touch jump, pike jump, round off and cartwheel. The cheerleader can also perform an optional standing tumble and running tumble skill for bonus points. The cheerleader will be scored on each skill. The Cheerleader will need to earn at least 80 points out of 120 points to be placed on the competition team.

Summer Practices

  • Summer practices will be in June, July and August.  Regardless of what sport you are cheering for, football, basketball or both, all cheerleaders are required to attend summer practices to learn all material that will be used during the football and basketball seasons.
  • We will have all squad practices, both Varsity and JV squads, which will meet twice a week for 2 hours each practice during June, July and August.  Day of the week and time TBD. The Head cheer coach will schedule extra practices throughout the summer if needed.
  • In June or July, day and time TBD. The Varsity cheer squad will attend a mandatory two day choreography session, 3 hours each day, to learn their halftime routine. Our choreography is taught by a professional cheerleader. The cost of our choreography is covered by our cheer registration fees. (The cheer registration fees also help to cover cost of new cheer uniforms when needed).
  • In June or July, day and time TBD. The JV cheer squad will also attend a mandatory two day choreography session, 3 hours each day, to learn their halftime routine.
  • In July or July, day and time TBD. The Varsity and JV cheer squad will attend a 3 day professional UCA home cheer camp. The camp will be held at St. Paul. Professional cheerleaders from the UCA organization will lead this camp to teach high level cheer skills, new cheers, chants and band dances to use during our season, and to strengthen team unity. This camp is not required, but is highly recommend that cheerleaders attend because it is a great learning opportunity for them to build their skills.  It also teaches leadership skills and working well with your teammates and it is a lot of fun!  The cost of the camp is $220 per person, .   Additional cost will be camp attire: matching top and shorts for Day 1 of camp, matching top and shorts for Day 2.  On Day 3, they will wear their St. Paul cheer uniforms.

School Year Practices and Cheer Games

  • When the school year begins, we will have all squad practices once a week for 2 hours. Day of the week and time TBD. The Head cheer coach will have this schedule by July. For the football season, this will be from September-October; for the basketball season, this will be from November-February (there will be breaks from practice for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s).
  • The football game schedule isn’t released until about 1-2 weeks prior to the start of the football games which usually start in August and run until October.
  • The Basketball game schedule isn’t released until about 1-2 weeks prior to the start of the basketball games which usually start in December and run until February or the beginning of March.

Special Events

  • In August, the St. Paul Varsity and JV cheer squads will perform their halftime routines at the opening of the Parish Picnic.
  • In October, the St. Paul Varsity and JV cheer squads will cheer on their classmates during the St. Paul Walk-a-thon.
  • In December, the St. Paul Varsity and JV cheer squads will participate in the Westerville Christmas Parade; this may require additional practices to prepare.
  • In the Fall and Spring, during the school year, the St. Paul Varsity and JV cheer squads will lead a School Pep Rally for the  K-8th grade St. Paul students. Additional practices will be needed to prepare.
  • A Cheer banquet for all of the St. Paul cheerleaders, regardless of what sport you are cheering for, will be held in the spring at the end of the cheer basketball season.

Uniforms and Cost of Additional Items

  • Cheer uniforms, top and skirt, are provided by PAA for each cheerleader. Cheer uniforms are the property of PAA and they must be returned at the end of the cheer season clean and in good condition. It is the responsibility of the Head Cheer Coach to pass out uniforms and select the appropriate size for each cheerleader; each cheerleader will be measured at the beginning of each season to help determine which uniform size they will receive. The Head Cheer Coach will collect the uniforms at the end of the cheer season. If a uniform is damaged or lost, it is the parent’s responsibility to purchase a replacement; cheer uniforms cost around $120-$175 per set.
  • We have two sets of uniforms
    • Football uniforms have the Bishops logo and are Silver and Black. These uniforms will be used while cheering at the football games.
    • St. Paul uniforms have the RAMS logo and are Blue and White. These uniforms will be used when performing at our St. Paul Parish picnic, attending a UCA professional cheer camp, cheering at the St. Paul Walk-a-thon, fall and spring pep-rally, cheering at the Basketball games, and for a cheer competition.
  • Additional items that will need to be purchased by the parents to complete the cheer uniform:
    • Black Cheer Bodysuit to wear under the football Bishops uniforms and St. Paul Varsity uniforms: $17.99 + tax
    • Royal Blue Cheer Bodysuit to wear under the St. Paul JV uniforms: $17.99 + tax
    • Black Cheer Briefs to wear under the Bishops and St. Paul cheer skirt: $8.99 + tax
    • Cheer Jacket: $52.00
    • Cheer bow for football Bishops uniform: $15.00
    • Cheer bow for St. Paul Cheer uniform: $15.00
    • Silver and Black cheer poms for football season, these are yours to keep and to use each additional football cheer season: $25.00-$30.00
    • Blue and White Cheer poms to go with the St. Paul cheer uniforms; these are yours to keep and to use each additional cheer season: $25.00-$30.00
    • Cheer socks: $8.00
    • White tennis shoes of your choice
    • For cold football games, the girls will need black leggings, black gloves, and a black headband/earmuffs to cover ears

Game Day Attire

  • Uniforms and shoes are to be cleaned and in excellent condition for every occasion at which they are worn.
  • Each cheerleader must wear their bodysuit under their cheer top for each game, unless a Cheer coach decides not to wear them during a hot football game. In this case, the cheerleader must wear a sports bra under their cheer uniform so they are appropriately covered under their cheer uniform top.
  • Cheer briefs must be worn under their cheer skirt uniforms.
  • Cheer socks and white tennis shoes.
  • Hair must be neatly pulled back in a high pony tail and cheer bow is to be worn.
  • For cold games they will wear their cheer jackets while cheering with the additional black leggings, black gloves, and a black headband/ear muffs to cover ears when needed. If it is raining, they will also need a poncho

Cheer Commissioner and Coaches

  • The current Cheer Commissioner and Head Coach is Renee Cahill.
  • The Cheerleading program depends on volunteer coaches for each grade level.
  • For each practice and game, there must be two coaches to be in compliant with “Protecting God’s Children”.
  • Coaches devote a significant amount of volunteer time to the Cheer program and should be treated with respect.

General / Conduct / Suspension

  • Cheerleaders are expected to attend practices, games and special events. If a practice, game or special events needs to be missed, the Coach needs to be given prior notice. If the athlete misses a practice, it is their responsibility to learn the missed material and be ready to perform it at the next practice. Material learned at a practice will be videotaped and provided to the parents so their athlete can learn the material at home.
  • Cheerleaders must understand and abide by the game procedures and rules of the sport they cheer for.
  • Cheerleaders must avoid unnecessary conversation with members of the crowd, team, or each other during the games. They must pay close attention to the game so that appropriate cheers may be initiated and pay attention to their Coaches for guidance.
  • Cheerleaders are expected to practice at home to help develop their cheer skills and practice all of their chants, cheers, band dances and half time routine.
  • Cheerleaders are expected to give 100% at all practices, games, and special events. They are expected to be respectful and work well with their teammates and Coaching staff.
  • Cheerleaders represent their Parish teams, their squad, their families and most importantly themselves; always behave in a Christian manner.
  • Cheerleaders should also represent good sportsmanship, spirit, and leadership and must act in a manner reflecting those qualities.
  • Any repeated behavior problems, whether at school, cheer games, cheer events or practice, will result in suspension from the next cheerleading game or event.
  • Examples of inappropriate behavior are lack of respect, cooperation, foul language, and general lack of Christian attitude towards others.
  • Parents will be notified if their child has received a suspension as well as the head of the PAA.
  • After the third suspension the athlete will be relieved of their cheerleading responsibilities and their cheer uniform will need to be returned to the Head Coach.
  • At any time during the cheer season, parents should feel free to contact their coaching staff with any questions or concerns.