2023 Registration Update Over the next few months, we will finalize many logistics for all of our teams, including team assignments (in late -May), coaching staff and other season/team details. As more details are determined, I will be in communication with you. Please note the following:
As a reminder, each team is limited to no more than 36 athletes, per our national rule book. If we exceed this number, we will 'wait list' the 37th registration for that team.
Anticipated Teams for 2023
As a reminder, we are an age-based program (not grade-based), and per our national rule book, teams are formed based on the athlete's age as of 7/31/2023. Based on our registrations we may field all or a combination of the following teams for this upcoming 2023 season. It is important to note that this can change based on actual registrations. We will look to finalize the teams and team placements of individual cheerleaders by mid-May. At that time, you will receive an official email with your athlete's team placement.
Competitive (must turn the max age prior to 7/31/2023)
D14 - age range 11-14
D12 - age range 9-12
D10 - age range 8-10
D8 - age range 7-8
Instructional
Flag -- ages 5 and 6, as of 7/31/2023
Minis -- ages 3 and 4, as of 7/31/2023
Inspiration -- all ages, for athletes with special needs - we are forming teams for junior level ages 8-13.
If at any time you have any questions, please be sure to reach out to me!
Emma Alparone
Hunterdon Huskies Cheer Coordinator
ealparone@comcast.net
(908) 268-3349
HUSKIES CHEER PARENT POLICY
Huskies Cheer Mission
To promote the development of competitive cheerleaders in a positive, fun, and safe learning environment
Provide a structure that encourages teamwork, new friendships, self-confidence, and self-discipline
Focus on delivering strong technical training, while also promoting sportsmanship, integrity, and discipline, to help participants excel both on and off the cheer floor
Provide inspiration and enthusiastic support for our nationally recognized Huskies football teams
While highly competitive, we recognize that our cheerleaders are children, not professionals
Goals
Goals help us organize our resources and plan appropriately for our season, practices, and competitions. More important than that, however, it’s a sound reminder of just how important it is to have goals in life – for without a goal to reach for, work toward, and practice for, success can prove evasive.
The Goals for Huskies Cheer:
All competitive level cheer teams advancing to and placing at Big East Region Finals
Continue to properly progress and prepare our cheer athletes for the next step – with the ultimate goal of preparing all young cheer athletes for successful competitive high school cheer careers, should they choose to try out for those teams
Stunt Clinic
All competitive teams have had a June Stunt Clinic in previous years. When dates are confirmed, we will update the "Key Dates" on this website, as well as send communications to all registered cheerleaders. The 2023 Mandatory Stunt Clinic is planned for Sunday June 11th.
We are looking for 100% participation at this clinic, as our coaches and choreography consultants will be on hand to help shape stunt groups, determine positions, and begin choreography exploration
Last year the cost of this clinic was $25 per cheerleader – confirmation on cost, dates and additional details will be sent out in May
Attendance Policy
All practices, competitions, games and team events are mandatory unless otherwise noted. This is for the well-being of the team as a whole. Cheer is a team sport and requires all participants to be present in order to function and train. The only excusable absences are illness and religious education
For unexcused absences (>3), the following action(s) may be taken for the safety of team: 1) Removal from stunt position in competition routine; 2) Switching the participant from competition team to “game day only”; 3) Removal from the team
Practices
Season begins as early as the last Monday of July for all competitive level teams; instructional teams will start later (typically in mid August)
Competitive team practice 4 nights per week in the Summer
Flag, Minis, Inspiration practice 1-3x a week (varies by team)
Summer practices are at Union Forge Field, 1 Washington Avenue, High Bridge
Once school starts, practices will be 3x per week for competitive teams. Note that these practices may be weeknights or Saturdays. As we near competitions, it's possible we will add additional practices to ensure the team is properly prepared. After Labor Day, instructional teams will practice 1 or 2x a week
After Labor Day, our competitive teams will move indoors on cheer mats for practices. The location in the past has been Baptist Camp in Lebanon. The instructional teams will move indoors when weather requires it.
Required Cheer Accessories
All cheerleaders will need to purchase certain items to complete their uniform (team sneaker, boycut briefs, white no-show socks, competition bow, etc)
The cheer coordinator will send out details in May
Football Game Days
There are approximately 8 or 9 regular season games (4/5 are home, 4/5 are away). Games are typically on Sundays (though some may be Saturday evenings)
Home games are at Union Forge Field in High Bridge, and sometimes at our local high schools. Away games are in the northern Jersey Shore area; Flag games are held on Saturday afternoons at our home field
If a competitive football team makes the playoffs (in November), cheer teams are required to cheer
Inspiration and Minis do not cheer away games, and may only cheer certain (not all) home games
Choreography
Competitive teams will receive professionally choreographed routines and instruction
The Choreography Fee in not included and is in addition to the registration fee and must be paid by all athletes rostered to the team
The cost for the 2023 season will be $150 for D10 and up; this cost covered team expenses including the choreography of the routine, professional instruction, and a choreo shirt. Our D8 team will be slighty less, approximatley $120.
Choreography practice sessions are typically indoors (location likely High Bridge Elementary School or Baptist Camp) and are generally in early August (D10 and up will have choreo the week of August 7th Choreo for D8 will also be in August with a date TBD),
Tentative Key Event Dates for 2023
Early June – Stunt Clinic; Sunday June 11th
Early July - ALL paperwork must be in no later than July 21st. No athlete may begin practice unless all of there paperwork is in.
Late July - Practice for Season can begin as early as the last Monday of July - tentatively set for July 24th
August - Competitive Routine Choreography and rehearsals for bonfire and football games - Choreography is set for week of August 7th for D10 through D14 and TBD for D8
Mid-Late September – North Stunt Clinic, mandatory for all competitive teams in the fall; this is typically a Saturday later in the month - tentatively set for September 16th; cost is typically $35 per participant (payable to North)
Early-Mid October – Routine review for competitive teams will be held October 7th or 8th. Huskies Annual Spirit Rally typically at North Hunterdon HS, this event will be in early October (usually a Friday or Saturday evening) and is mandatory for all teams.
October – Jersey Shore Conference Cheer Competition (set for October 21st) for Inspiration and all competitive teams. The Flag Expo will be held in October, the date is still not set. Spooktacular will be held at North on October 28th for all teams.
Early-Mid-November – Big East Region Cheer Championships (set for November 11th), qualifying advancing competitive teams only
Typically Early-Mid December – AYC National Cheer Championships (set for December 6th through 11th) held in Florida – for advancing teams only.
We are looking forward to another awesome season! If you have any questions at any time about our cheer program, please be sure to reach out to Huskies’ cheer coordinator, Emma Alparone, at ealparone@comcast.net or (908) 268-3349
