PRACTICES
Practices are two nights a week during the school year and are held at The Ridgefield High School Gym. Practice times are to be determined once coaches have been placed!
• 1-2nd grade exhibition squad : TBD
• 3rd-8th grade competition squads : TBD
*Practice location and times are subject to change.
All practices are mandatory for a successful season. Cheerleading is a team sport where athletes rely on one another to perform and learn new skills. If you know your cheerleader will miss practice at any time during the season please let your coach know as soon as possible. The attendance policy and the consequences of missing multiple practices or games will be at the discretion of your child’s coach.
MANDATORY COMPETITION DATES (subject to change)
Teams will participate in at least 2 competitions - Locals and States. Placing at States will move that team onto Regionals. Again, attendance at practices and competitions is mandatory. If we qualify at Regionals, we will go to Nationals in Florida (2nd week in December).
• Locals - October 21, 2023 – North Haven High School
• States - November 4, 2023 - Floyd Little, New Haven, CT
• Regionals (if qualified) - SUNDAY, November 19, 2023 – UNH Whittemore Center, New Hampshire
• Nationals (if qualified) - December 2023 - Orlando, FL
GAMES
Ridgefield Youth Cheerleaders cheer at the Ridgefield Youth Football games. These games have historically been on Saturdays and Sundays however dates are not provided to us until early September. We have no control over the league schedule so please be patient. We will get the game schedule to you as soon as it is available to us.
UNIFORMS
All cheerleaders will be provided with a uniform.
This uniform includes pom poms, hair bows as well as uniform top and bottom! Bows belong to the athlete and do not need to be returned! White cheer sneakers will need to be purchased by the athlete. A great site to find cheer shoes is https://www.omnicheer.com/shop/cheerleading-shoes
Uniform fittings will be held at the Rec Center in June (date and times TBD). Paperwork for the season should be handed in at this time!
Back for 2023!
Ridgefield Cheer Warm Ups
*These will be used to cheer in at football games once the weather gets colder as well as competitions. The purchase of a warm up is not mandatory, however when we switch to them for games, athletes are required to wear black pants / leggings and a black top / sweatshirt!
The warm ups can be purchased through this link:
https://crystallizedcouture.com/teams/ridgefield-tigers-cheerleading
COMMUNICATION
Ridgefield encourages effective communications between players, parents, and coaches. Please be assured that the raising of an issue, or team related matter, will not adversely impact participation, coaching or attention afforded your child. In the event that you or your child has an issue with one of the coaches, or if you or your child has any other team related matter, it should be addressed by observing the proper chain of communication. FIRST, speak with the head coach of your team. If you are unable, or unsuccessful, then please go to the VP of Cheerleading, or Director of Team parents. Together, you will address the issue at that time. It is important to respect the expertise and judgment of your child's coaches when it comes to positions and participation. If you feel that your child is meeting all of the above requirements, then the appropriate VP’s will reassess the individual situation with the coach.
POLICIES
ALL participants must have a completed and signed registration packet including doctors’ forms and an original copy of their birth certificate (only for your athlete is new to the competition program for 2023).
Any ALCOHOL or DRUG consumption by a participant will lead to suspension or possible dismissal from the team. Parents suspected to be under the influence of ALCOHOL or DRUGS will be escorted from the practice/game field. Smoking is also strictly prohibited in the practice and game fields, as well as parking lots. These are designated NO SMOKING zones by the State of Connecticut. Both are violations that are subject to having a parent or guardian removed from the field, having a grievance filed against them and could result in a member being suspended from the Ridgefield Youth Football and Cheer Association.
VOLUNTEERING
Parent involvement is crucial to the success of the program. Parents will be asked to assist in a variety of ways throughout the year. We encourage you to get involved because our success is dependent on you. Please consider sharing your time to this worthy cause.
COACHING
Please email Lisa Mariakakis at
for more information on coaching!
