We are excited for the 2025 season with American Youth Cheer (AYC) and the Eastern MA (EMASS) Conference. Below you’ll find information related to Spring Cheer, Fall Registration, Divisions and Team Placement, Practice Schedules, and Save the Dates.
Please direct all cheer related questions and inquiries to Cheer Director Steph Krol at stephaniekrolwyfc@gmail.com or Assistant Cheer Director Karen Pino at karenpinowyfc@gmail.com.
2025 Fall Season Cheer Registration
- Waltham Youth Cheer registration is open to cheerleaders entering K - 8th grade in the 2025-2026 school year.
- Cheer Registration opens March 15, 2025.
- Cheer Registration deadline is April 30, 2025
- Paperwork and payments due by June 30, 2025
Commitments
- Fit Night scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Waltham High School
- Practices! We start the week of July 28, 2025. See below for more information on practice schedules.
- Choreography day is tentatively planned for September 6, 2025 - please hold this date for your cheerleader.
- All cheerleaders are committing to Football games home and away. Games start Labor Day weekend.
- Advancing Competition teams are committing to travel if the team advances to States, Regionals, Nationals.
- Non-Advancing teams are committing to local and invitational competitions only.
- All cheerleaders are committing to our Annual Showcase scheduled for Thursday, October 16th.
2025 SPRING CLINICS Registration
- Spring clinics are open to returning cheerleaders from the 2024 season in grades K - 7.
- If you’re unable to attend all the sessions, no problem—join us when you can!
- Register for spring clinics here.
- We'll share options for new cheerleaders in April!
tumbling classes with Acrobatic rock and roll
We are excited to share that we have partnered with Acrobatic Rock and Roll to continue cheer tumbling classes! Classes are private to WYFC cheerleaders and are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
If you are interested in registering, please do so directly through Acrobatic Rock and Roll.
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to improve your tumbling skills!
Divisions & Teams
AYC divisions are age based. Placement of participants on a cheer roster is based on their age as of July 31 of the current year (7/31/2025). Teams may be categorized as small v. large based on the number of cheerleaders per squad, as well as, level 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on skill ability. Squads also declare whether they are Competition Non-Advancing or Advancing. Below is a brief description of each declaration and potential teams offered.
Final offerings and team placements will depend on registration numbers.
| Competition Non-Advancing |
For our youngest cheerleaders on 6u and 8u this provides the opportunity for the team to perform a full two minute and 30 second routine. It provides the opportunity for the team’s routine to be judged enabling coaches to identify areas for enhancement going forward. Competition non-advancing teams are placed at invitational or local competition events but do not advance to States. Practices are limited to 2x a week. |
|
Competition Advancing |
Provides the opportunity for the team’s routine to be judged, the squad to be placed and to advance. Competition teams compete at invitational and Local events with the objective of placing first, second or third in order to advance to State, Regional and National Championships. Competition teams practice up to 3x a week. |
Once the registration process has been completed, cheerleaders will be assigned to a squad. Each cheerleader will be notified of their team placement in June. The divisions below show a broad range of ages per division.
| Division | Age Range (as of 7/31/2024) |
Category |
| 14u | Ages 11-14 | Competition Advancing |
| 12u | Ages 9-12 | Competition Advancing |
| 10u | Ages 7-10 | Competition Advancing |
| 8u | Ages 5-8 | Competition Non-Advancing |
| 6u | Ages 4-6 * | Competition Non-Advancing |
* Waltham Youth Cheer registration is open to cheerleaders entering K - 8th grade in the 2025-2026 school year.
Practice Schedules
Summer practices
Summer practices will begin the week of July 28, 2025. Teams will practice up to 3-4 times per week. Summer practices are important to fill the 10 hours of required conditioning prior to starting regular practices. Coaches will be flexible in working with families around vacation schedules.
Competition practices
Starting the week of August 18, mandatory competition practices start. Practice days and times will depend on the availability of gym space at Kennedy Middle School and the Rec Center.
Competition practices are mandatory. It is essential that all girls attend practice as this is a team sport and being absent can affect the entire team (stunt groups, etc). Repeated absences or tardiness will potentially result in being pulled from the competition routine.
A mandatory choreography practice will be added to the schedule this year. Tentatively planned for Saturday, September 6th.
Teams and Practice Schedules will be released by June 1.
You’ll learn more about the competition team guidelines and expectations when we kick-off the 2025 season but if you have any questions or concerns prior to registering, please reach out to stephaniekrolwyfc@gmail.com.
Save the Dates!
|
2025 Cheer Competition Dates & Locations EMASS Power in Pink Invitational EMASS Local Championship New England Regional Championship |
Apparel, Accessories & Equipment
Cheerleaders are required to wear athletic clothing (e.g. shorts, t-shirt, cheer sneakers) to all practices. There should be no denim, zippers or buttons on shorts. Camis or spaghetti strapped tops are not allowed. (These can cause safety issues when stunting).
No Jewelry is allowed (e.g. earrings or other piercings) with exception to medical id bracelets or necklaces.
All cheerleaders should have their hair pulled back in a ponytail for every practice. No nail polish is allowed and all nails should be kept short.
Cheer apparel is a combination of:
- Items provided by the program as part of registration (e.g. uniform top, skirt, poms, practice t-shirt)
- Items ordered by the program and paid separately by the cheerleader (e.g. lollies, bow)
- Items purchased separately by the cheerleader not ordered by the program (e.g. white cheer sneakers, black leggings for cold days, red or black warmup jacket)
Any items owned by Waltham Youth Cheer are not to be worn outside of league sponsored events. They can be washed on the gentle cycle in cold water but line dried only. Uniforms will be returned to Waltham Youth Cheer at the end of the season. Uniforms not returned or damaged will be the financial responsibility of the parents or guardians.
Cheer apparel fitting night(s) will be held in June. We make every effort to keep mandatory items the same for a number of consecutive years so they may be re-used year after year or passed on to others. If you have any immediate questions relative to estimated costs, please reach out to stephaniekrolwyfc@gmail.com. Additional information will also be shared via email to all registrants.
Additional expenses to plan for:
- Cheer apparel not included in registration fees
- Competition entrance tickets
- Possible travel for regional and national competitions
- If a team qualifies for the national competition in Kissimmee, Florida, there will be fundraising opportunities to support the cost of travel for the cheerleaders and their families.
Behavior Policy
All Cheerleaders are expected to adhere to the code of conduct.
Fighting, intimidation, bullying, use of illegal substances (including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaping by minors) or disrespect for authority by any cheerleader or parent during practices, games or Waltham Youth Football & Cheer functions will not be tolerated. These activities may result in suspension up to removal from the Waltham Youth Football & Cheer program without refund.
Please remember that each cheerleader is representing Waltham Youth Football & Cheer and the Town of Waltham. Cheerleaders and parents should always conduct themselves in a proper manner and display good sportsmanship to the organization, team members, coaches and opposing teams.
Volunteer Needs and Requirements
Waltham Youth Football & Cheer is an all-volunteer organization. We always need volunteers and there are many different ways you can contribute to make a difference – fundraising, concessions, game day chains, cheer competitions, coaching, or as a team parent. If everyone does a little it goes a long way!
Please let us know where you can volunteer!