PUPS CHEERLEADING FINANCIAL & TIME COMMITMENT
Tryouts take place every spring for the following school year. Tryouts are open to all girls who will be entering 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th grade, residing in Carmel.  Tryouts typically take place in early May at the HBM building located behind Carmel Middle School.  Girls who do not make a Pups cheer squad are encouraged to register for a fall Carmel Dads' Club recreational football cheer squad where they can develop their skill to improve their tryout performace the following year (for Pups or Middle School.)

A mandatory clinic lasts from two days where the girls are taught their cheers and dance routine they will use at their tryout. At the clinic, parents will be given complete information about the upcoming cheer seasons.

Girls who will be entering the 6th grade can try out for fall Pups Football Cheer and/or winter Pups Basketball Cheer. Girls who will be entering 3rd, 4th or 5th grade can try out for winter Pups Basketball Cheer. Pups Basketball Cheer Squads vary in size from 4 to 8 girls depending on tryout scores. Tumbling is not judged for basketball squads. The 6th Grade Fall Pups Football Squad can hold up to 13 girls. Tumbling is judged for football cheer but only adds a few points to the final score. The girls who make a squad will be posted on the website 1 to 2 days following tryouts.
Pups football cheerleaders begin practicing in June for the 4th of July parade and continue practicing thru July for the first scrimmage game in early August. Check website frequently in April & May for exact dates of clinic and tryouts. Pups Cheer does not hold alternate tryouts for girls who cannot attend for any reason.

UNIFORM PURCHASE
Takes place at a sizing meeting 1 to 2 weeks following tryouts.  Our Varsity Rep will accept credit cards for uniform purchase. Uniform & accessory prices are approximate and only include youth sizes; adult sizes are a little more...
Prices are subject to change every year.  Uniform pieces and accessories are subject to change every year.
Following are approximate prices:

6th Grade Football
Uniform $150
Bodysuit $40
Briefs $15
Poms $30
Shoes $50 (one new pair for each cheer season)
Parade T-shirt $25

Parade Shorts $10

Practice Tank $25

Practice Shorts $10
Warm-ups $95
Hairbow $10
Duffle Bag $30
Car Decal $5

Optional Hoodie $40
(6th Grade Winter Wool Coats will be purchased later - more info soon. Approximate cost $120)

4th & 5th Grade
Uniform $120
Bodysuit $25
Briefs $15
Poms $20
Hairbow $10
Shoes $50

Parade T-shirt $25

Parade shorts $10
Practice T-shirt 25

Practice shorts $10
Optional:
Duffle Bag $30
Car Decal $5
Hoodie $40
WarmUps $95

3rd Grade

Since this is a new Pups Cheer squad this year, uniform costs are still being determined; however, they will be less than all other grades shown. 

 

All 6th grade Pups Cheerleaders will attend UCA Cheer Camp at CHS in August. All other younger squads will attend a private UCA Cheer Camp in the early fall.  Cost for camp is approximately $75 and is due at the uniform sizing meeting.

COACHES & PARENTS: You will also be able to order Carmel and/or Pups apparel at the sizing to wear to the games (most parents do.) Coaches need to purchase a Carmel Pups Cheer Coach shirt. You can pick it out from the catalog yourself. Coaches also need to pay to attend the 3 days of cheer camp with their squad $30 per coach.  AACCA Cheer Coaches Safety Certification course is provided for Pups Cheer coaches (a $75 value)

6th GRADERS: Practices begin immediately, the Carmelfest parade is on July 4th, and the first game is usually the first weekend in August.  More info will be provided at the sizing.

TIME COMMITMENT
Pups Cheerleaders practice 2 evenings per week and cheer at least one game every weekend. Football season lasts Aug thru Oct with a banquet in Nov. Basketball season lasts Oct thru Feb with a banquet in March. Pups Cheerleaders must commitment to their squad over all other extra curricular sports and clubs. Missing practices or games accumulates demerits which could result in being benched for the rest of the season. Demerits are also received for arriving late, being unprepared, missing parts of the uniform, bad behavior, etc.

Basketball season conflicts with competition cheer schedules. Pups Basketball cheerleaders who are also competition cheerleaders can be placed on a Pups AllStar Squad together which will cheer fewer games. The cost is the same.

COACHES
Volunteer Pups Coaches are interviewed prior to tryouts. If you are interested in being a Pups Cheer Coach, contact Pups Cheerleading General Manager, Stephanie Linville, at bslinville@hotmail.com.
Coaches receive UCA Safety Certification at cheer camp in August and get into all the games for free.