NLYFA CHEERLEADING
On Game Days, our cheerleaders rally the crowd from the sidelines of Junior Knight and Junior Warrior football games. But NLYFA cheerleaders come together and hit the competition circuit as New Lenox Elite.
Elite cheerleaders compete against the best in the state through the Illinois Cheerleading Association. Our competitive history is strong:
*In 2019, our seventh grade team took first place at State.
*In 2021, both the sixth and eighth grade teams were the Number 2 squads in the state, while our fourth grade team took fourth place.
*In 2022, our third grade team took second place at State, and our second grade team took third place.
*In 2023, all Elite teams were State Qualifiers and our second and fourth grade teams both took third place.
Rising Grades K-8
Kindergarten - Incoming Kindergarten athletes are welcomed into our program as Mascots for our Varsity teams! Mascots cheer with our Varsity-level athletes during games and are incorporated into our halftime routine. The cost for this is $100.00, and includes a cheer bow & t-shirt.
Rising grades 1-8, - Cheerleaders can choose while registering to be Sideline Only (cheer for Jr. Knights or Jr. Warriors at their football games) or Sideline and Competition (cheer for football games and participate in ALL competitions).
Team Placement
For competition cheer, athletes are placed on a team according to age.
For sideline cheer, we have two teams: Jr. Knights and Jr. Warriors. Teams on both sides follow the same requirements and rules while offering comparable experiences to their athletes. We are unable to honor placement requests and cannot guarantee on which team a new participant will be placed.
Siblings are placed on the same side of the organization. Remaining new participants will be put into a lottery to determine which side of the organization they will be placed on.
Competition Cheer
Competition Dates are confirmed in the Spring. As soon as these dates are finalized, they will be communicated to families. Competitions begin in August and run through mid-November (STATE) if their team advances. If cheering for Competition, you MUST attend any and all competitions! If you can’t commit to all competition dates, we ask that you choose Sideline Only.
COMPETITIVE CHEER IS NOT FOR THE CASUAL ATHLETE.
Competitive cheer is a team-based sport that focuses on stunting, tumbling, jumps, dance and
performance. At competitions, teams are scored on the difficulty, technique and creativity of
each of these elements. Tumbling classes are strongly encouraged.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is MANDATORY at practices and team events. This includes any extra practices that
may be added in the weeks prior to a competition. Missing practice before a competition may
result in that athlete sitting out of that competition. Each cheerleader plays a vital role in the
team routine. We do not have back up athletes for any of the positions so it is of utmost
importance that the athletes honor their commitment to the team. Competitions are
MANDATORY for all of our competitive cheerleaders.
CAMP
2024 Camp dates are June 18, 20, 25 and 27 at Francis Field. Times TBA.
PRACTICE INFO
Practice will begin the week of July 8
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY THIS FIRST WEEK AS WE
WILL HAVE CHOREOGRAPHY. Team-specific dates and times will be shared as soon as they are
confirmed. Additional practices might be added in the weeks before a competition. Practices can
run 2-4 days per week, depending on practice space availability. Practice dates will be
communicated to families once they are confirmed.
COMPETITIONS
Competitions start at the end of August and run through the middle of November. Competition
dates will be confirmed in the Spring and communicated to families at that time.
If cheering for Competition, you MUST attend all competitions! If you can’t commit to all competition dates, we ask that you choose Sideline Only.
Coaches
Knights
SLW: TBD
LW: TBD
JV: TBD
V: TBD
Warriors
SLW: TBD
LW: TBD
JV: TBD
V: TBD
Elite
2nd - TBD
3rd - TBD
4th - TBD
5th - TBD
6th - TBD
8th - TBD
All board members and coaches are VOLUNTEER positions. We can’t do this without the help of our families! If you are interested in Coaching, please contact Cheer Director Anne Swanson.
Fees
2023 Sideline
Registration: $245
Fundraising costs: $130 per cheerleader.
Families pay $130 at the time of registration and receive a book of 26 raffle tickets.
Families may then sell the raffle tickets to earn their money back.
Raffle ticket stubs will be turned in at practice.
Included:
Uniform use
Outdoor Practice Space
Halftime Routine
Cheer Bow
Payment plans:
We offer two payment options.
You can opt to pay in full at the time of registration, or you can choose a plan that spreads payments over four months.
Monthly payments for sideline cheer are automatically charged as follows:
Feb 1 - $1
Feb 28 - $125
March 31 - $125
April 30 - $124
An additional $3 transactional fee is charged by our online administrator each month of the payment plan. If you register after a payment has already passed, you will be charged the amount due to date and the balance will be charged on the scheduled plan dates.
2023 Sideline And Elite
Registration: $465
Fundraising costs: $130 per player for raffle tickets AND one box of candy bars (Cost TBD).
Families pay $130 at the time of registration and receive a book of 26 raffle tickets.
Families may then sell the raffle tickets to earn their money back.
Included:
Uniforms for sideline/competition
Outdoor/Indoor Practice Space
Game Day Bow/Competition Bow
Halftime Routine
Elite T-shirt
Choreography for Competition
Licensed Music for Competition
Payment plans:
We offer two payment options.
You can opt to pay in full at the time of registration, or you can choose a plan that spreads payments over five months.
Monthly payments for Sideline and Elite are automatically charged as follows:
Feb 29 - $150
March 31 - $150
April 30 - $150
May 31 - $145
An additional $3 transactional fee is charged by our online administrator each month of the payment plan.
If you register after a payment has already passed, you will be charged the amount due to date and the balance will be charged on the scheduled plan dates.
Additional Fees
All cheer families are required to purchase no show socks, white athletic shoes and black spanx/Nike pro-like shorts. We will have samples at uniform sizing.
Returning athletes may use any warm up jacket they may have from past years or purchase a new one. This is not mandatory.
If your athlete advances to STATE, there is a fee of $155.00 per athlete.
Please contact our cheer directors with any questions you may have regarding our upcoming season!
Anne Swanson – NLYFA Cheer Director [email protected]
Kim Litke – Elite Cheer Director [email protected]
Social Media
Please follow us on Facebook @ NLYFA or Jr. Knights/Jr. Warriors & Elite Cheer. Instagram @nlelitecheer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I register?
Registration opens on Feb. 1 for returning cheerleaders and Feb. 8 for new families.
What do I need?
No-show socks, white athletic shoes and Nike Pro shorts (or equivalent).
Where is Francis Field and the equipment shed?
Many practices and activities, including the Homecoming bonfire and equipment pick up, occur at Francis Field, 801 E. Francis Road in New Lenox. Our equipment shed is the smaller building directly west of main building when you enter the property.
What can I expect from a practice?
Sideline cheer practices occur early in the season and are generally held outdoors. Plan ahead to have bug spray and water on hand. Hair should be pulled back and nails should be kept short. Times are similar to football practice times.
Elite practices are indoors and in evenings for most of the season, and some practice locations do not have space for parents to watch. We do invite parents in for special performances on occasion, so you can see what your child has been working on.
Who is my coach?
**2024 Coaches will be announced at a later date.**
What can I expect on a game day?
A great time!
Games start in the middle of August and run every weekend through early November. They could be held on either Saturday or Sunday. Generally, games start mid-morning with the Super Lightweight teams and progress to the older teams as the day goes on.
There are eight regular season games and up to four additional playoff games. Usually, about four of those are home games, held at LincolnWay Central (Knights) and LincolnWay West (Warriors).
For home games, we have bleacher seating, indoor restrooms and concessions provided by Joey’s Red Hots. Games are played in all weather, unless there is lightening nearby.
The game schedule for the season will be released as soon as it is provided by our league.
I’m sorry, what are these checks I’m writing?
Once you’ve paid your initial registration fee, we don’t have many additional costs. However, we will ask you to write two checks at equipment pick up: A $300 volunteer check and a $300 equipment check.
Equipment checks will be returned to you, uncashed, upon receipt of your helmet and shoulder pads at the end of the season. Volunteer checks will also be returned at that time, provided your family completed the required four volunteer credits throughout the season.
You want me to do what?
Volunteer! NLYFA is an entirely volunteer-run organization, from our coaches to our announcers. That’s why we need you to pitch in throughout the season.
Volunteer jobs range from collecting trash and running gameday raffles, to shooting videos and organizing homecoming events. You will receive a sign-up link at the beginning of the season, and you can visit our YouTube channel for instructional videos of our most common jobs.
What is involved in Homecoming?
We love having a great time with our football families! So, just like the high schools, we host a special Homecoming weekend each year.
Teams from all levels – both football and cheer -- will gather at Francis Field for a bonfire and pizza party. You’ll want to bring your family, folding chairs and bug spray. Then be ready for a good time!
On game day, there will be special festivities, decorations and prizes.
What is the End-of-Season Banquet?
This is our chance to recognize the hard work your kids put in throughout the season! Your team will gather for a meal, slideshow and awards to celebrate the year’s accomplishments.
Where can I find the game schedule?
Once it is released for the season, you’ll be able to click on it right here.