Burros Cheerleading 

Welcome to The Mokena Youth Athletic Association 2024 Cheer Season! We hope to have your athlete as part of our program! The MYAA Cheerleading program is designed to have fun, focus on teamwork, and build the cheerleading skills that will take them to the next level. We are a Rec team, so everyone is welcome!

MYAA Cheerleaders will have the opportunity to choose to sideline only as an Illinois Junior Celtic cheerleader or the Competitive option (Which includes the sideline season) on the Mokena Burros Competitive Cheer Team - with the exception of our Kindergarten Cheerleaders who are sideline only in order to build the skills and fundamental elements needed to advance them to the next level of this sport.

On Game Days, all of our MYAA cheerleaders cheer on the crowd as Illinois Junior Celtics Cheerleaders at football games. But as a competitive team they compete with the best of the best in the State (and the Nation for our Varsity girls) as Mokena Burros!

Our Competitive History is Strong:

2023	6th/7th Grade - ICA State Champions 5th Grade - Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions, State Qualifiers 3rd/4th Grade - State Qualifiers 2nd Grade - State Qualifiers
2022	7th/8th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions, 2nd Place Pop Warner Finalist 5th/6th Grade - 3rd Place ICA State Finalist, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 4th Grade - Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions, State Qualifier 2nd/3rd Grade - Pop Warner Conference Champions
2021	8th Grade - 2nd Place ICA State Finalist, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions, National Finalist 6th/7th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 4th/5th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 3rd Grade - Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions
2019	7th/8th Grade - Pop Warner National Champions, 2nd Place ICA State Finalist, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 6th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 4th/5th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 2nd/3rd Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions
2018	8th Grade - Pop Warner National Champions, ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 6th/7th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 5th Grade - ICA State Champions, Pop Warner Conference and Regional Champions 3rd/4th Grade - ICA State Champions

Sideline vs. Competition Cheer….What is the Difference? 

Sideline Cheer:
• Practice with the team during outdoor practices and at games during football season
• Learn Sideline Cheer and a Small Halftime Routine 
• Learn and Gain Cheer confidence - especially if your athlete is heavily involved in another activity but wants the cheer experience

Competition Cheer:
• Practice Schedule runs through the entire competition season 
• Full Competition Schedule running through ICA State
• Camps and Clinics with your team
• Practices will consist of learning sideline cheers, stunting, tumbling, choreography of routine and dance
• This is the best spot for athletes who want to gain more skills, compete, and are committed to the team.

Who Can Register? 
Our Program is open to athletes entering Kindergarten through 8th grade in the 24/25 School Year.

Attendance: 
Attendance is mandatory at practices and team events. This includes any extra practices that may be added in the weeks prior to competition. We understand that our athletes participate in other sports, and families go on vacation. Your athletes coaches will do their best to facilitate a practice schedule in the summer months that work best for that teams schedule. Therefore, practices will vary in days and times.

• There will be a 2 week no contact period built into the schedule before the start of the school year. Dates to be posted as determined
• More than 3 unexcused absences can result in the removal from the competition team at the discretion of the coaches and the board.
• Missing practice before a competition may result in that athlete sitting out of that competition
• Competitions are mandatory for all of our competitive cheerleaders.

Practice Information: 
• Practices will start in June. Times and Dates TBD by coaches. A majority of our practices will be held outside until we move into our indoor practice location
• Additional practices may be added in the weeks before a Competition
• Competition teams are required to attend all camps and clinics

Game Information: 
• All registered cheerleaders (both sideline only and competitive) will sideline with their grade level team at our home games. This includes participation in Homecoming!
• We sideline Football games for the Illinois Junior Celtics at Mokena Main Park
• Depending on the number of football teams, sideline cheer may be 1 full football game plus half of another 
• Official football schedule will be made available closer to the start of the football season

Competitions: 
• Our 1st Graders-8th Grade Competitive Mokena Burros Cheerleaders will attend all scheduled competitions. 
• Our athletes can attend competitions with the ICA and Pop Warner 
• Competitions start at the end of August and run through the middle of November for our 1st-6th Grade athletes. Our 7th and 8th Grade team could run through the 1st week of December based upon scheduling.
• Competition dates will be confirmed in the Spring and be communicated to families at that time.

Registration: 
Registration fees are applied to pay for the following:
• Competition Uniforms
• Outdoor and Indoor Practice Space
• Halftime Routine, Competition Routine, Music
• Game Day Fees
• League and ICA Fees
• Homecoming Apparel

Additional Fees Can Include: 
• Bow and Team Gift Fees - TBD by coaches
• Sideline Uniforms - TBD by coaches
• Warm-Up Jacket (optional)
• White Cheer Shoes needed - additional information will be sent out after registration closes
• Black Nike Pro style shorts
• White no-show socks
• 7th and 8th Grade Cheerleaders will have additional practice wear
• If your athlete advances to the ICA State Competition, there will be an additional $165 fee

Code of Conduct 
Our MYAA Cheerleaders will hold themselves to a high standard of behavior both on and off the field and mat. They are representing MYAA as cheerleaders while at events, practices, and competitions as well as in their personal lives. MYAA cheerleaders and families will sign an age appropriate code of conduct for each team.