1. Traditional Spirit
Traditional Spirit squads compete during the Pop Warner playing season from August 1st through December 31st.
2. Year-Round Spirit
The year-round season begins January 1st and ends July 31st. A Year-Round squad must compete in one competition from January 1st to July 31st. *Note: Year-Round Cheer Medical and Registration due by February 1st
* Tryouts of any kind within Pop Warner are prohibited.
The ages of all spirit participants in the program shall correspond to the overall ages that the League is permitting for players, unless League rules dictate that the ages of the spirit squad shall correspond to the playing ages of the team with which they are associated.
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CHEER & DANCE DIVISIONS |
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Division Name |
Age Range |
TINY-MITE |
5-6-7 |
MITEY-MITE
|
7-8-9 |
JUNIOR PEEWEE
|
8-9-10-11* |
PEEWEE
|
9-10-11-12* |
JUNIOR MIDGET
|
10-11-12-13* |
MIDGET
|
11-12-13-14-15* |
JUNIOR BANTAM
|
12-13-14-15* |
UNLIMITED |
12-13-14-15 |
BANTAM
|
13-14-15-16* |
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*The asterisked (*) provisions in each division are for those leagues/associations that carry “older but lighter” football players. The age of the spirit participant may match the age of the football players in that same division. (i.e., if the league permits a football player to be a 13 year old, older-lighter junior midget, then the spirit squad may also sign-up a 13 year old participant on the corresponding cheer/dance squad.) The spirit participant is matched in age only, weights do not apply.
* Only a League that requires the ages of the spirit squads correspond to the playing ages of the team with which they are associated shall be permitted to send spirit squads to any competitions sanctioned by PWLS outside their League. Outside their league would be defined as PWLS Region or PWLS National Competition.
* A squad, regardless of the ages of its spirit participants, must be rostered, certified and registered in the same age division as the football team with which it is associated (e.g., it cannot cheer at midget games and compete as a junior midget cheer squad). The only exception to this rule is a squad registered as “Cheer/Dance without Football”. Reference Rule 1 - Formation of Squads for the definition of Cheer/Dance without Football.
* The participant’s age on July 31st of the current year shall be the participant’s age for the coming season.
AGES FOR FLAG CHEER & DANCE:
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AGES |
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| Division |
Age Range |
Cat |
5-6 |
Cub |
5-6-7 |
Bobcat |
8-9-10 |
Wildcat |
11-12-13 |
Panther |
14-15-16 |
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SIZES OF SPIRIT SQUADS:
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SPIRIT SQUAD SIZE: |
|
Division |
Size of Squad |
Small Cheer |
20 and under |
Large Cheer |
21-35 |
Dance |
35 Maximum |
Flag |
35 Maximum |
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