At Foxboro Youth Cheerleading, we believe in empowering our cheerleaders to raise their voices, shine bright, and enhance their strength and flexibility in both sideline and competitive cheer! Our program is designed to nurture valuable life skills such as leadership, communication, and confidence, all while proudly displaying the unmistakable FOXBORO S-P-I-R-I-T!
FAQ & Info
SIDELINE CHEER
We are pleased to announce that our program is now offering a Sideline Cheer option! This is a fantastic opportunity for athletes who want to be part of our cheer community without the time commitment of competitive cheer. If you have a child interested in cheering without the pressure of competitions, sidelines cheer may be the perfect fit.
As a sideline cheerleader, your child will practice once a week outdoors starting in August and will cheer at one football game (travel or home) each week throughout the football season. Practices will focus on game day cheers, a halftime performance, and essential cheerleading skills such as tumbling, stunting, and jumping, along with conditioning. Your child will be part of a team, fostering teamwork and friendships with peers of various ages.
COMPETITIVE CHEER
Competitive cheer is all about teamwork and excitement! Our cheerleaders will perform as a squad at football games and take part in various competitions. Practices kick off at the beginning of August and continue through the football season or until your team finishes advancing in competitions – which ever comes last.
Once September arrives, our practices will transition indoors, and attendance becomes MANDATORY. It’s important to keep in mind that if an athlete misses more than three unexcused absences, they may be moved from their competitive squad to a sideline squad. We want to ensure that every cheerleader is committed to their team, giving them the best chance at advancing.
Age-Based Divisions
Our cheerleading divisions are organized by age. Placement on a roster is determined by the athlete’s age as of July 31 of the current year. Teams may be categorized as small or large based on the squad size, and skill levels are classified as Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on each team’s abilities. Additionally, squads will declare whether they are Non-Advancing or Advancing. Below is a brief overview of each classification:
Exhibition (6U)
Designed for our youngest cheerleaders, the Exhibition division offers a welcoming environment for beginners to start their cheerleading journey. Participants will have the opportunity to perform at local competitions, but there will be no judging or placement. This allows young cheerleaders to experience the excitement of taking the mat in front of an audience. Following August, practices for the 6U squad are limited to twice a week.
Non-advancing (8U)
For our younger cheerleaders in the 8U division, the Non-Advancing category allows teams to perform at competitions while experiencing the competitive side of cheerleading without the pressure of advancing. Non-Advancing teams may participate in invitational or local competitions but will not advance to State or Regional events. After August, practices are limited to twice a week but may increase as needed leading up to a competition at the Head Coach’s discretion.
Advancing (10U/12U/14U)
The Advancing divisions provides an opportunity for teams to have their routines judged and to compete for placements, with the ultimate goal of advancing to State, Regional, and National Championship competitions. Advancing teams will practice three times a week starting in September, with the possibility of additional practices as competition dates approach, as determined by the Head Coach.
Once our registration is complete, cheerleaders will be assigned to a squad, and each participant will be notified of their team placement before the season begins. Below is a summary of the divisions and their age ranges:
| Division: | Age range: | Category: |
| 14u | Ages 11-14 | Advancing |
| 12u | Ages 9-12 | Advancing |
| 10u | Ages 7-10 | Advancing |
| 8u | Ages 5-8 | Non-Advancing |
| 6u | Ages 5-6 | Exhibition |
*Team placement is based on age as of July 31.
For any questions regarding team placement please contact Molly Gould at [email protected]
Volunteer Opportunities
Each squad will have one or two designated team parents whose responsibilities include assisting with fundraising, volunteer communication, and other team-related tasks. Our program relies heavily on volunteers, and it is essential that each family participates in some way throughout the season.
We organize various fundraisers, and we ask that every family contributes not only to fundraising efforts but also help ensure our home games run smoothly. Opportunities may include donating your time for a shift during our home football games.
If your child is placed on an advancing squad, additional fundraising will be required. This could involve activities such as canning, selling popcorn, and more. Raising funds for competitions is crucial to help keep cost manageable, especially if your squad advances to Nationals. To receive equal assistance from the program, families are required to participate in at least one additional fundraising effort specifically aimed at competition funds.
We need you…
Foxboro Youth Football & Cheer is a volunteer-driven organization, and we are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help our season run smoothly. There are numerous ways you can contribute to make a difference – whether it’s coaching, assisting with fundraising, being a team parent, or volunteering at our events. Every effort, big or small, has a significant impact!
COACHING CHEERLEADING
The primary role of a FYFC Coach is to ensure that our athletes have fun while learning essential life skills, athletic fundamentals, and core values. Coaches are responsible for managing team communications with players, their families, and the Cheerleading Director, If you are interested in becoming a Head Coach or Assistant Coach for a Cheerleading Squad, please download the Coaches Application and CORI form below.