Welcome to the St. Johns Bears Cheer 2010 season.  St. Johns sports Association is an official Pop Warner cheerleading & football association located in the NW area of St. Johns County, operating under the rules of the Greater Jacksonville Pop Warner Football Cheer Conference (www.popwarnerjacksonville.com).  Everything from the qualifying of coaches, game schedules, practice times, and competitions are overseen by Pop Warner.

SJSA has cheer programs for girls, and boys, ages 5-15 (as of July 31, 2010).  We welcome everyone from the new cheerleader to the former All-Star cheerleader.  St. Johns cheerleaders are not allowed to participate on school or all-star squads during the season – but can (and are encouraged) to take a tumbling or cheer classes.

Pop Warner Little Scholars requires each cheerleader to submit a birth certificate, final report card, physical form and parental consent form.  All forms must be turned in before the season begins.

Cheer uniform fittings will take place Monday, May 24, 2010 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Plantation Park Field House.  All cheerleaders (competitive and non-competitive) are required to attend.  Competitive cheerleaders (Jr PW, PW, Jr Midget and Midget cheer) will be required to submit the deposit payment for their uniform.  The remainder balance will be due in August when uniforms arrive.  Returning cheerleaders that have a properly fitting uniform will not have to purchase a new uniform, but are still required to attend fittings.  There is no uniform fee for non-competitive cheerleaders (Tiny Mite and Mitey Mite cheer).

Practice days and times are decided on by the coaches – younger squads usually practice one or two nights per week, with a Saturday game.  JrPW, PW, Jr Midget and Midget squads practice two or three evenings per week, with a Saturday game.  The squads do travel all over Jacksonville – Please be prepared to follow your football team and support our Bears.  Excessive absences from practices & games can result in the cheerleader being removed from the squad.

All of St. Johns cheer squads participate in the Greater Jacksonville City Cheer/Dance Competition.  This year’s competition will be held at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Sunday, October 24, 2010.  A lot of hard work goes into getting the cheerleaders ready for this big day.  The Tiny Mite and Mighty Mite cheerleaders perform at the City competition however they are not judged.  This is an exciting opportunity for the younger cheer squads to see what the older girls do and what they can expect as they get older and grow up in the program.  All competitive cheerleaders compete at the Greater Jax Cheer/ Dance competition.  Squads that place first or second will advance to compete in Orlando Florida for Regional and possibly National cheer competitions.  Regional cheer competition is held the Friday and Sunday after Thanksgiving – please plan on your season continuing until that time.

In 2009 SJSA earned 2 City Championship honors in the Jr. Midget Intermediate and Midget Advance divisions.  These 2 squads went on to compete in the Southeast Regional Cheer/Dance competition in Orlando Florida over Thanksgiving weekend.  Jr. Midget Int. earned 5^th place and Midget Advance earned Regional Championship honors.  The Midget Advance squad participated in the National Competition at Disney’s Wide World of Sports earning a 7^th place and most spirited squad nomination. 

Returning cheerleaders are kept together as a squad whenever possible.  We regularly receive requests from cheerleaders & parents asking to be assigned to a particular squad.  While we take certain things into consideration, it is the sole discretion of the Cheer Director as to what squad cheerleaders are assigned to.  Squads are formed based on a number of different factors.  Our goal is to place cheerleaders where they will learn and be challenged, but not overwhelmed by what is required of them.  We also want as many cheerleaders as possible to be able to participate.  Coaches work hard from the first practice to build their teams and help the squads come together as a group.

We are still looking for enthusiastic coaches for our squads.  Please contact Shanna Bragg at bragggirl@comcast.net if you are interested.  We are always in need of volunteers!  There are a number of opportunities to assist us throughout the season.

Please contact our Cheer Director Shanna Bragg at bragggirl@comcast.net if you have any questions or suggestions. 

GO Bears!!