Cheerleading

Cheerleading is open to participants between the ages of 5 (must be 5 prior to 8/1) and 15. You do not have to be a resident of Stratford to sign up. However, if you do not live in Stratford a waiver may be required. Pop Warner does not do try-outs and experience is not required. It is however highly recommended that you sign up for tumbling classes at a local gym since tumbling is an important component of cheer. Please contact the cheer coordinator or your coach if you need a referral on the best local gyms to use. In addition, be sure to participate in our spring and summer clinics where we go over some of the basic fundamentals of cheer – motions, jumps, stunts, tumbling. Team placement is at the discretion of the Cheer Coordinator. If you have any questions regarding our cheer program or any information below, please Jodie Paul-Arndt at 203-257-2244 or email at coachjodie@optimum.net. Let’s have a fun and successful year!! 

Cheerleader Coaches for the 2022 Season

• Varsity 

Head Coach: Latanya Tubman

• Jr. Varsity

Head Coach: Dawn Nelson

• Pee Wees

Head Coach: Heather Dutertre

• Jr. Pee Wees

Head Coach: Nicola Rozario

• Mitey Mites

Head Coach: Alyssa Sherwood

• Tiny Mites

Head Coach: Christine Halverson

Anyone interested in coaching this upcoming season please reach out to the Cheer Coordinator. There are still openings for Assistant Coaches or Student Dems at ALL levels. Head coaches must be at least 21 years old, assistant coaches must be at least 18 years old. High school cheerleaders are encouraged to help out by being a Student Dem – its a great way to fulfill any requirements you may have for volunteer hours! Head Coaches for the 2023 season will be announced by March 15!

Practices

The season officially begins on August 1st. During the month of August practices are held outdoors at Johnson School by the baseball fields. Teams practice 4 or 5 days a week, either 2 or 2.5 hours each day. Tiny Mites practice 3 days a week. Practice days and times vary as they are set by individual coaches, but are typically on weekdays after 5:30pm. Once school begins in September, practices will move indoors to Erin’s Gym in Stratford which is located on Main Street behind the Sterling House Community Center. All teams will then limit practice times per week to 6 hours over 3-4 days, again TBD by coaching staff. We ask that you be flexible and anticipate changes to the weekly practice schedule since the days and times depend on gym availability, holiday schedules, etc. 

Cheerleaders should follow these Do’s and Don’ts regarding practices; 

• Do wear appropriate cheer sneakers and the recommended practice gear

• Do NOT wear jeans, sandals or crocs

• Do wear your hair up in a ponytail

• Do NOT wear ANY jewelry

• Do bring a water bottle, towel, and any medications that you need

• Do NOT keep your nails long or wear fake nails

• Do come to each practice as scheduled and arrive on time

• Do NOT get any new ear or body piercings just prior to or once the season has started

• Do notify your head coach or team mom if you cannot make it to practice or will be late

Football Games

Football games begin the weekend of September 1st. There are 8 regular season games. Cheerleaders are expected to cheer at ALL regular season and ALL playoff football games whether home or away and whether rain or shine. Games schedules will not be available until mid to late August. SPW and coaches do NOT provide transportation to away games. 

Cheer Competitions

All cheer teams will participate in and compete at both the Southern CT Pop Warner Cheer Competition and the CT State Pop Warner Cheer Championship. Both competitions will be held in October at the Field House on Sherman Parkway in New Haven, CT – directions are on our website. Any competition teams placing 1st or 2nd at the Southern CT Pop Warner Cheer Competition, will advance on to the New England Regional Cheer Championship held in Springfield, MA. Dates for that competition are TBD, but will be in November. Any competition teams placing 1st or 2nd at the Regional Championship will advance on to the Pop Warner National Cheer Championship in Florida the first week in December! Parents are responsible for providing transportation for their children to and from these events. SPW does organize fundraising efforts for travel to Nationals. Information will be distributed at a later date for any teams advancing to Regionals.

Uniforms and Accessories

The league will provide the uniform (skirt & top) for football games and the uniform top for competitions – which must be returned at the end of the season in the same condition they were received. They will be handed out prior to the first football game. Parents must also purchase a bodysuit, briefs, competition shorts, socks, hair bows, and sneakers to complete the uniform. These items are yours to keep and you can always use them again in future seasons. There are also optional items available for purchase (i.e. practice gear, warm up suit, pom pons, etc.). Information will be distributed upon registration detailing what specific items are needed, where parents can purchase them, and costs for each. Most items can be found online.