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Welcome to Chatham Cheerleading!

Chatham Youth Cheerleading is open to all Chatham residents in grades 4 through 8 during school year 2024-2025.  This is an instructional program where basic to intermediate cheerleading skills are taught and practiced in a supervised setting under the guidance of Parent Manager Volunteers and Teen Coaches. Our program provides spirit for Chatham youth tackle football teams – home and away, rain or shine.

“A good cheerleader is not measured by the height of her jumps but the span of her spirit.”

The goals of the Chatham Youth Cheerleading program are to develop confidence, leadership, good sportsmanship, and to represent Chatham in a positive manner. Our program encourages each cheerleader to have fun, do their best, and work together as a team.

Guiding Principles for All Cheerleaders

  • Safety first!
  • Positive attitude
  • Support your teammates
  • Respect for each other, CHS coaches, and parent managers
  • Focus, commitment, and effort
  • Have fun!!!!!!

Diamond Club

Diamond Club is a program to reward dedication to Chatham Youth Cheerleading.  Cheerleaders who attend every practice and every game (on time!) will join the Diamond Club and receive pin at end of the season to be worn on uniform for following season.  Diamond Club members also will receive custom Diamond Club Chatham cheer hoodie

Parent Manager Volunteers

Coaching will be provided by Chatham High School Varsity Cheerleaders and supervised by certified parent managers. All concerns, questions, and issues should be addressed directly with parent managers. Parents should not communicate directly with CHS cheerleader coaches.

We are in need of more parent manager volunteers for the 2024-2025 season for all grade levels. 

The success of the program relies greatly on having enough parent volunteers.  Each practice and game must have at least two parent managers.  If we do not have enough volunteers, the teams will consolidated to cheer for multiple grades.  We strongly encourage parents to volunteer so we have enough coverage for practices and games. At least four certified parent managers are required for each squad. Certification consists of a background check and participation in the Rutgers Safety Training Course.

Parent Manager Expectations and Time Commitment (no cheer experience necessary)

  • Complete Rutgers Safety Certification Course (one time, 3 hour evening class)
  • One weekly 1 1/2 hour practice
  • Sunday football game, plus 1 hour pregame practice

Parent managers will rotate coverage throughout the season so ensure that two parents are present for each practice and game.  Having more volunteers will lessen the time commitment.

Please email chathamreccheer@gmail.com with any questions or if you are interested in volunteering as a Parent Manager.

Dress Code

Uniforms  - A link for uniform purchases will be sent shortly.

Uniforms are to be purchased from Alfred's Sport Shop in Madison, New Jersey.

The required uniform and pom-poms, along with other uniform items, will be displayed on the uniform link.  You may order online.  Samples are available at the store for fitting or you may use the provided size charts on the website to determine size. Also, we highly recommend the purchase of the jacket as the cheerleaders wear them throughout the season.

Footwear should be an all white, lightweight, stable athletic sneaker (canvas sneakers are not permitted).

Dress Code

All cheerleaders must come to practice dressed appropriately.  Clothing must fit correctly, not too big or small.   All cheerleaders must come to practice in sneakers with long hair pulled up and back away from face.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  Proper supportive cheer sneakers and dress code is an important factor in insuring the safety of the cheerleaders.

The following items are not permitted:

  • Jewelry
  • Jeans or jean shorts
  • Long artificial nails
  • Any non-athletic sneaker footwear (slides, slips on sneakers, flip flops, etc).

Appearance at Games

▪ No jewelry

▪ Long hair up with Navy bow (Pink bow for October)  - Bows will be provided.

▪ All pieces of standard uniform, white no show socks, white sneakers (navy leggings if needed)

▪ Chatham cheer jacket is optional; but if other jackets are worn at games, must be navy in color

A camp will be held at the end of August.  Details with dates will be provided soon.

Practices & Games

PLEASE NOTE: If a cheerleader does not attend the weekly practices or has poor attendance, they will not be permitted to stunt for safety reasons.

Practice Structure

Each practice will follow a similar structure to ensure consistency in cheerleaders across all teams.

  • 10 minutes – Warm Up/Attendance
  • 20 minutes – Standard Chatham Cheers
  • 30 minutes – Jumps/Stunts
  • 30 minutes – Dance Routines or New Cheers

Game Schedule

Cheerleaders are expected to cheer at ALL football games (home and away, rain or shine) during the season.  Games are usually played on Sundays. Home games are played at Cougar Field. The Playoffs and Superbowl are played in early/mid-November.

Contact Information

Youth Cheerleading Program Coordinators:

Michelle Davis and Jamie Kocis, chathamreccheer@gmail.com