Mallard Creek Optimist Cheerleading

The Mallard Creek Optimist Club program was started in 2009 with three teams. We are a Cheer program for ages 5-16. In 2010, our program grew to three cheer teams and joined the Pop Warner, Little Panther's Division. Our teams have grown together and look forward to growing even more in the future!


2022 Fall Season Information

Teams are open to ages 5-16 
Pop Warner Cheer Age Brackets (age determined as of 7/31/2022)

            Tiny Mites: 5, 6, 7 
            Mitey Mites: 7, 8, 9
            Jr Pee Wee: 8, 9, 10, 11
            Pee Wee: 9, 10, 11, 12
            Jr Varsity: 10,11,12,13
            Varsity: 12,13,14,15,16

Season: August 1 - November; Saturday games in the greater-Charlotte area!·

Game times are set on a week-by-week basis. We will not get a schedule of times for the season. Typically, younger squads will cheer in the mornings, and older squads will follow.

Practices: Practices begins early August, and games begin late August/early September. Cheer Squads practice 2-3 times per week, depending upon age group, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Friday's.  Actual days depend upon coaches’ availability and facilities.

Home Game Location: Mallard Creek High School (Johnson Oehler Rd)

Competition: All squads will participate in a local cheer competition held annually in late October; Opportunities for advancement to regional and national competitions.

Experience
No previous cheer experience is required! We love teaching the sport of cheer to all levels. We only ask that participants show up to every practice with a can-do attitude, bright smile, and loud voice!

Assessments
We do not hold any tryouts or assessments. Participants are placed on squads corresponding to the Pop Warner age brackets. We do our best to place all participants on age/skill appropriate teams. You can request in the notes on the registration page that your participant be placed on the same squad as a friend(s)/sibling, but friends/siblings may be on different teams if they do not fit in the same Pop Warner age bracket.

Events
Uniform Fittings: TBD (mid-June)
First Practice: Tuesday, August 3

Registration Requirements
Cost for season is $300; Covers uniform (returned at the end of season), socks, bows, bloomers, insurance and facility fees.

Forms required at registration:

Picture/copy of Birth Certificate

Picture/copy of Health Physical dated in 2022; Have your medical provider complete this form: 2022 Medical/Physical Form

Additional items that will be required prior to season: Copy of 2021-22 Report Card; 2022 Participant Contract and Parental Consent Form

Email Cheer Commissioner Rekia Lipscomb with any questions.

Awards

· 2021- Winners of spirt award at local Competition

• Pop Warner Little Panthers League Fees
• Security Fees (Security personnel present at every game)
  
• Medic Fees (medics present at every game)
• Insurance (thru MCOC) for your child
• Field Maintenance and Lights (practice fields & game fields)
• Uniforms (Rental fee)
• Equipment (plus wear & tear and replacement)
  
• Miscellaneous – MCOC is a non profit organization maintained fully by your membership dollars and donations; MCOC is not funded by any municipality, therefore every dollar goes towards the Sports programs.

The Physical/Medical History Form is a “detailed” medical form with information about allergies, asthma, and medical issues.  This form will be carried in a binder by your child’s coach to each practice and game. This way, if there is a medical emergency, the trained medics will have immediate access to the child’s medical history and also have immediate information so they can contact the pediatrician if necessary.

Pop Warner requires each player to have a 70.0% or 2.0 GPA in order to participate in their football program. Pop Warner wants to stress how important it is to be a good scholar in school. The report cards are proof to Pop Warner that your child is performing at school.

Do teams need to provide any medical personnel during practices?
Pop Warner requires someone with CPR certification to be at the field (not necessarily on the same team) for practices in the event of an emergency. With 3-4 teams practicing at the same time, we are fulfilling the requirement.  In addition some coaches are CPR certified. For all games, a medic will be at the field at all times (part of your registration fee).

What does the schedule look like?
Our fall season starts with practices beginning in early August. We usually practice 2-3 times per week, depending upon age group, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Thursdays.  Actual days depend upon coaches’ availability and facilities.  All football games are on Saturdays in the Charlotte-metro area. Our cheer squads cheer for the football games that match up to their age group. We also end the season with a local competition, and our older squads have the opportunity to advance to Regionals in November and Nationals in December.

MCOC will use their communications app  Game Changer plus the coaches to communicate any cancellations. If nothing is posted, plan to be on time unless you hear from a coach.  If storms develop late decisions will be made at the fields.

Where are practices and games?
We practice at locations in the Mallard Creek Area.  Due to COVID, our facilities for the upcoming fall season are still being negotiated, but in the past we have practiced at Cox Mill High School and Dorton Park.  Home games will be held at the Mallard Creek High School. All football games are held in the Charlotte-metro area.

Are there additional costs?
Families also are responsible for the cost of travel related to competitions,

Who are the coaches?
All of our coaches for both cheer and football are 100% volunteers and are not compensated whatsoever for their time. We often need additional coaches and volunteers to help us stay organized.  Although it helps, cheer experience is not required.  We are a team of coaches and stay in touch frequently to make sure everyone feels supported. Each coach must also undergo a background check and pass the Pop Warner Youth Cheer and Dance Alliance training and certification.

Who do I talk to about coaching or volunteering?
We would love to have you on board! Please contact Rekia Lipscomb for more information on becoming a coach or volunteering. We have plenty of non-coaching opportunities like helping with paperwork, coordinating schedules for game-day drinks and snacks, and so much more!

Are the coaches paid employees of Mallard Creek Optimist Club (MCOC)?
NO. They are volunteers who donate their time to help our kids. This entire program, in fact, is run by volunteers who put in a great deal of personal time to make this program available to your children. Please keep this in mind…our staff has the same professional and personal responsibilities as you with the added responsibility that comes along with volunteering. If you are interested in committing some time to the program, please contact the Cheer Commissioner

What team will my child be on?
Age groups do overlap. Cheerleaders are placed on squads by coaching team based on age, experience, skill level, and number of cheerleaders registered for that age group. For example, a 9 year old may be on the Pee Wee squad if she/he has cheered for multiple years and has advanced tumbling skills, whereas a different 9 year old may be on our Mitey Mites squad if this is their first year cheering.

Can I request to be on the same team as another child or family?
We will do our best to honor all requests when possible. We understand that a carpool makes life easier!

What are the Age Divisions?
For cheerleaders and dancers, ages also range from 5-16. The spirit program is broken into seven age divisions ranging from Flag (ages 5-7) up to Unlimited (ages 11-15). Cheerleading squads are also broken down into Large (25-35). Medium (13-24) and Small (12 or fewer) Squads, and four different competition levels (PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4). Please review the Spirit Age-Weight Divisions to determine what level of play you fall into.
specifications but will try to accommodate when we can.