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Alpena Spirit Program Information
Competitive Teams: ALL STAR CHEERLEADING
Have you ever watched all-star cheerleading competitions on ESPN? This performance sport is growing leaps and bounds across the entire United States. It is different from any cheerleading you have ever seen before. Alpena Spirit is one of only a few all-star cheer programs currently offered at this time in northeastern Michigan. Our training facility is located at 801 Miller Street in Alpena, MI.
Alpena Spirit All-Star Cheerleading teams make synchronized team tumbling their number one priority. In fact, it is the team’s tumbling ability as a whole that determines what level they compete at during competitions. The members perform a 2.5 minute routine entirely to fast paced customized music. They perform on gymnastic spring board matted floors. They do not yell any vocal cheers. They are teams formed entirely to compete and perform. Their routines are required to include dance segments, various floor tumbling tricks and stunting pyramids designated by their performance level. All-star cheer teams only compete against other teams at the same tumbling/stunting level. All-star cheerleaders do; however, dress somewhat like cheerleaders and they perform cheerleading stunts, jumps and pyramids. All and all, the routine is quite strenuous and it takes many months practice for each member to perform the entire routine without resting between segments. All members must be athletes and exceptional performers who are not shy to perform in front of very large crowds. All members should strive to at least have a backwalkover and continue to train to accomplish a backhandspring.
All-Star Cheer Competitive Team Levels: (remember the skills listed below are suggestions….we always have openings for girls who may not have the skills listed below but are willing to train to achieve them.)
Level 1 – able to perform backwalkovers, cartwheels, roundoffs
Level 2 – Skilled in Level 1 activities plus one armed cartwheels, Standing Backhandsprings, Roundoff backhandsprings, running backhandsprings series.
Additional all-star cheerleading levels include level 3 through level 6. Alpena Spirit has some members who are training at level 3 and 4 for solo type competitions.
Boys with tumbling ability are also frequently seen at competitions. At this time we do not have any boys on our all-star cheer teams but in the past we have had boys with tumbling ability on our all-star hip hop dance team.
Competitive All-Star Cheer Team Choices: Ages listed are the ages of the child as of August 31st
Tiny ages 5 and under, Level 1
Mini ages 8 and under, Level 1 or 2
Youth ages 11 and under, Level 1 or 2
Junior ages 14 and under, Level 1 or 2
Senior ages 18 and under, Level 2
Although minimum age requirements do apply to various teams choices, since athletic ability is a major determining factor of team placement, you could see a younger member placed on an older team to enhance the competitiveness of the team.
Tuition:
Registration fee is $40 due by July 15th. This fee is non-refundable. This fee must be paid before any member is formally placed on any all-star cheer team. Tuition payments are $50 monthly with first payment due August 1st and last payment due March 1st. A fee may apply to late payments or any returned payments. Sibling’s tuition will be discounted ˝ or more. Tuition payments must be current to ensure children receive end-of-season awards and trophies and to ensure placement in any future competitive teams. Our program is committed to not exclude any members based on financial cost; therefore, payment plans or partial scholarship opportunities may be available.
Practices:
Will be held in the evening hours once a week August thru Mid-Sept and twice weekly Mid-Sept thru March. Youth/Junior/Senior team practices will be Tuesdays 5-6:30 and also on Thursdays 5:30-7 when practices change to twice a week. Practice days for Tiny/Mini will be Mondays 5:30-6:30 and on Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 when practices change to twice per week. In some instances, we may consider revising practice schedules to try to accommodate all members’ individual schedules if time conflicts are discovered. On various days throughout the season, members will also be provided some open gym times to improve their tumbling skills in their free time.
Fundraising
Fundraising will be the only way that we can keep the program affordable. All members are expected to participate. We will try our best to pick activities that truly bring in funds without purchase of worthless items or over strenuous activity. Participation will be monitored; however, parents will have the option of paying competition fees directly should they not wish to participate.
Competitions:
Youngest teams usually perform first at competitions so staying the night before is normally necessary. However, most parents of even the older teams choose to come the night before since it’s not only very fun but inclement weather is always a possibilty. No competition is cancelled due to weather. Exact performance times are usually not available until one week prior to competition dates. Admission charges for family members are usually very expensive although some competitions allow us to purchase tickets in advance at considerable discounts. Some competitions are free admission but charge you to park so all competitions have different rules even if they are held at the same location. All specific competition info will always be distributed as soon as possible at practices.
Competition Dates Include:
Oct 29, 2011 Exhibition Performance in Alpena, MI
Nov 5, 2011 Spirit Rocks Competition - Birch Run, MI – Birch Run Expo Center
Dec 3, 2011 Great Lakes Santa's Challenge Competition - Birch Run, MI - Birch Run Expo Center
Jan 22, 2012 (tentative) Champion Spirit Group - Aim High Sports Center in Lansing, MI
Feb 4, 2012 Spirit Shine Celebration in Birch Run, MI – Birch Run Expo Center
Mar 3, 2012 (tentative) Cheer Champion Express - Lansing Center
Community Service Projects:
In order to nourish the leadership talent that is apparent to members who are attracted to all-star cheerleading, various community projects and leadership tasks will be planned throughout the season.
Send E-Mail to: mmbennett2009@hotmail.com
Copyright © 2011 Michelle Bennett . All Rights Reserved