Frequent Asked Question's

How many cheerleaders are you taking for each team and what are the requirements?

Spots available vary depending on the number of people and skill level of the people that try out.

•  Varsity Traditional Competition Team: 12-20 spots available

  • Requirements:

    • Tumbling: Standing Back Handspring (Our ultimate goal is full team tumbling.)

    • Stunting: Clean & Solid Liberty, Clean & Solid Full-Up

  • Cheerleaders may participate on a Varsity Game Day Team along with the Sparkle Team.

• Varsity Game Day Competition Team: 12-20 spots available

  • Requirements:

    • Tumbling: No tumbling requirement.

    • Motions: Motion placement & sharpness are HUGE aspects in this division.

    • Spirit & Energy: Crowd-leading ability is crucial, along with spirit and energy.

  • Cheerleaders may participate on a Varsity Traditional Team along with the Sparkle Team.

•  JV Game Day Competition Team: 10-30 spots available

  • Requirements:

    • Tumbling: We would like to see that you are willing & eager to learn new tumbling skills.

    • Stunting: Clean & Solid Preps, showing progression towards extended level stunts.

  • Cheerleaders may participate on a Varsity Traditional Team along with the Sparkle Team.

Can I make the competition team without any cheer experience?

Yes, we are looking for hard-working and dedicated cheerleaders.  We do not require any experience to be a part of our program, although in order to make our highest level team (Varsity Traditional or Varsity Game Day), you will most likely need prior skills in cheer and/or tumbling.

I don't know how to tumble. Can I even make a team?

Absolutely!!  Many of our athletes come to us with no tumbling experience.  We are fortunate to have tumbling staff come to us to work on our tumbling skills for 8 weeks in the Fall.  We highly encourage you to work on your tumbling through small group or private tumbling.  If you need recommendations, please let a coach know.

I'm not flexible enough to be a cheerleader!  Should I even tryout?

Cheerleading is not all about flexibility, nor do you need your splits to be on one of our teams.  If you aren't flexible now, you will be by the end of the summer through practices and conditioning.  When it comes to selecting team members we want strong athletes with dedication and potential!

I'm a freshman, can I make varsity?

Yes, we take freshmen on Varsity if the skill level is there.

How will we know what positions we're in (flyer, base, backspot)?

If you have previous experience with a position, we will probably have you start in that position.  If you have never stunted before, we will determine your position during Open Gym.  Depending on the team, you position may change during Open Gym's and throughout the season.  We hope that you have an open-mind and are flexible to learn now positions.

How are teams selected?

We bring in qualified outside judges along with our coaching staff to evaluate each cheerleader individually on the skills listed below.  The judges’ scores will be combined with a stunt evaluation score to determine the team placements.  Team placements could change throughout the season based on needs if skills are not maintained.

• • Knowledge of material

  • Motion sharpness & placement

  • Crowd leading ability

  • Jumps

  • Tumbling

How are captain's chosen?

Captain's have been chosen by the coaching staff based on leadership skills we saw last season.  If you are interested in being a captain next season, talk to the coaching staff to see what we are looking for in leadership skills this season.

Do you allow athletes to participate in other multiple sports, school clubs, and band?

As we strive to continue our program to the next level, it is essential that all cheerleaders be present at ALL practices, events, and competitions.  We recognize that athletes are involved in many sports, clubs, and band.  Cheerleading is a team sport and relies on the full team to be in attendance to execute stunts and pyramid.  Haven Cheer comes before other sports, activities & outside cheer or sport programs.  If you plan to be involved in another school sport, club, or band in or outside of school, please meet with the coaches prior to tryouts to see if it will work and talk about the best team options.

Can I get a part-time job or babysit during the cheerleading season?

Many cheerleaders have chosen to obtain part-time jobs and it is important that you understand that work is not a reason to miss practice or an event.  If you choose to work, please arrange your work schedule so it does not conflict with your cheerleading schedule.  Our schedule is quite demanding and we need total commitment from each cheerleader on the team.  Other activities not considered excused absences include such things as: homework, dance lessons, instrumental lessons, youth club activities, doctor/dentist appointments, birthday parties, baby-sitting, concerts, etc.  We have a very hectic schedule and must be flexible and ready for last minute changes and assignments.  We recognize the importance of outside activities, but feel we present a fairly solid schedule in enough advance that these can be arranged on days and times when there is no cheerleading. 

We travel a lot during the summer.  Is this a problem?

We know that families plan vacations throughout the summer and encourage that time to enjoy yourselves.  Our Spring/Summer Skills are designed to prepare for camp and choreography.  They will include stunting, tumbling, conditioning, cheers, dances and the weight room.  Cheerleaders should be in attendance to Spring/Summer skills if they are not on vacation.  If you have vacations planned, these practices are excused, as long as you communicate your absence with the coaching staff in advance.  Summer skills practices help prep the athletes for fall and winter seasons and prepare for camp.  

Our UCA Stunt Clinic on June 17th is mandatory for all Varsity and JV Competition cheerleaders.  Preseason is the beginning of mandatory practices and begins on Monday, August 12th.

How long will practices be and when do they start?

During the summer, we will host Summer Skills Practices once a week.  During these practices, we will focus on advancing cheer technique and skills along with solidifying stunt groups and advance our stunts in preparation for camp and choreography.

There will also be Captain's Practices, which will be hosted and run by the Captains.  These will be optional practices to teach and review all of the football cheers, chants, and dances.  All cheers, chants, and dances must be learned by August 19th.

Away Camp will be at Pine Forest in the Poconos from August 15th-18th.  This camp is required for Varsity and JV Competition Teams.

During the regular season, the Varsity Teams will practice 3 days per week for 2 hours and the JV Team will practice 2 days per week for 2 hours.  Additional practices may be added closer to the competitions.  The Sparkle Team will practice 1 day per week for 15-30 minutes.

Are your calendars set in stone?

Practice schedules are always tentative due to facilitating multiple teams in our program and working around other sports.  Game and competition schedules are tentative as they may be changed by the school hosting.  We do our best to keep you informed of any changes immediately since your time is as precious as ours! 

How many competitions are in the season?

Check out our Competitions Link to see what competitions we are looking at for this season.  It is a tentative schedule, so changes may be made.  All dates are based on last season and will be updated as they confirmed.

Do you go to UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida every year?

While we have attended Nationals (with Varsity) in the past, it is never a guarantee.  We plan to take our Varsity Traditional and Game Day Team along with our JV Game Day Team (for the 1st time) to a UCA Regionals event and hope to qualify to get a bid to Nationals.

Will Strath Haven be hosting a competition this season?

YES!!  We are hosting our Haven Cheer Challenge on Saturday, December 7th.

What will some fundraisers be this year?

Fundraiser are run by parent volunteers.  If your parent is interested in running a fundraiser, please let us know and we will work with them to set it up.  Below are fundraisers we have done in the past:

Can we lower the cost of cheerleading with fundraising?

We offer many fundraisers so you can lower or completely fundraise the entire cost of cheerleading for the season.  Members must be active in participation and willing to work to earn money towards their account. If you are, then you will have cheer paid for in no time!  In the past, we have had cheerleaders completely fundraise the entire amount owed.  If this is something you are interested in, let the coaches know and we can create a fundraising plan for you.

How can cheer benefit us during our high school years?

Cheerleading can teach many life lessons, such as: Dedication, Team Work, Integrity, Problem Solving, Confidence, Perseverance, and Commitment.