FAQ

I get a lot of questions from students on cheerleading, since it's new to the Maple Lake community.  Here are some of them, and my answers!  Don't see an answer you are looking for?  Email Coach Larson at BOLTSCHEERLEADING@GMAIL.COM

I am not flexible.  Can I do cheer?

YES!  You absolutely do not need to be flexible.  We do work on our flexibility, but you don't need splits or anything like that to be on the team.

Is there a certain "body type" you need for cheer?

Absolutely NOT.  One of the best things about cheer is that ANY BODY TYPE can be an amazing cheerleader.  Tall, short, size 2 or 20, every girl can be successful at cheer if they work hard and have a great attitude.  If you are a volleyball player, being taller helps you hit.  Being taller helps you in basketball.  In cheer, there are roles for every girl!

Do I need any prior experience to join?

No.  That's what coaches are for!  Dance and gymnastics experience can help, but we will work with and train cheerleaders to help them learn the skills they need to be successful.  We will practice gymnastics skills at most practices.

Do you have alternates?

No.  Every cheerleader on our sideline or competition teams will perform on the mat.

Can I afford cheer?

Just like every sport you start, there are some start-up costs.  Shoes, clothing, warm ups, and uniforms are all things you'll need when you start.  We offer A LOT of opportunities to fundraise to help with the costs as well.  This year, we are doing a lot of program fundraising so we can purchase a safety floor and get some other basic supplies our program needs.  I have never turned anyone away from cheer due to finances.  Talk with Coach Larson if you're worried about costs.

Other schools say they can go to Nationals too.  Is that the same Nationals as ML/DC?

No.  There is only one true national cheerleading competition, and that is the UCA High School National Championship held in Orlando, Florida.  Other competitions may say they are "nationals", but the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) is the largest and most prestigious by far.  Minnesota alone sends between 25-40 school teams to NHSCC every year.  For those who watch ESPN, and have seen cheer on that network, that's the NHSCC competition.  It's almost like the NHSCC is the NCAA basketball tournament, and other "nationals" are like the NIT tournament.

Are your teams trying to go to Nationals this year?

Yes.  Our traditional varsity competition team will attempt to get a bid to nationals at UCA regionals in late October, 2025.  If we get a bid, we will be attending nationals in February or March 2026.

Can I do sideline at my school AND do Bolts Competition Cheer?

YES!  You can absolutely do both.  We will schedule competition practices around sideline and football practices.

Can I do competition at my school AND do Bolts Competition Cheer?

It depends.  Sometimes we can make accommodations, but not always.  Talk to Coach Larson if this may apply to you!