Competitive Cheer Program Overview & Highlights
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Our Mission 📣
Our mission is to provide a fun, safe, and encouraging environment while teaching our athletes to develop a positive attitude, leadership skills, teamwork, and important qualities such as determination and perseverance.
About Park Ridge Competitive Cheer
Park Ridge Competitive Cheer (PRC) is managed primarily by parents and volunteers. Our program includes both professional and volunteer coaches, including former Park Ridge Falcons Competitive Cheer athletes who now cheer at Maine South. We take great pride in fostering leadership within our program.
Each year, PRC is excited to welcome back former Falcons cheerleaders who return as Junior Coaches. These alumni are passionate about PRC and are eager to give back by providing today’s athletes with the same positive experience they enjoyed in years past.
PRC follows the American Recreational Cheerleading (ARC) rules and regulations for recreational competitive cheerleading. We are also a proud member of the Illinois Cheer Association (ICA). All teams are classified by grade level and compete at ICA Cheer Competitions throughout Illinois.
Since 2016, nearly every PRC team has qualified for the ICA State Cheerleading Championship 🏆.
Park Ridge Falcons Competitive Cheer – 2026 Season
2026 Evaluations / Tryouts
Registration for the 2026 PRC Season Evaluations is required and is open to athletes entering 2nd through 8th grade in Fall 2026.
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Registration opens: Monday, December 15
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Registration closes: January 13, 2026
(No late registrations will be accepted) -
Evaluation/Tryout Fee: $25 per athlete (non-refundable)
Registration will be completed on our website via TeamSnap.
Informational Parent Meeting 👨👩👧👦
An informational Parent Meeting will be held to answer questions regarding the upcoming season format.
📅 Date: TBD
If you have any questions, please email prcompetitivecheer@gmail.com.
Competitive Cheer Program Structure
🎉 Eligibility & Commitment
Participants must be entering 2nd through 8th grade at the time of registration.
🤸 Experience
While previous cheer or tumbling experience is preferred, it is not mandatory.
🏆 Commitment & Competition
The level of commitment and competition may vary depending on the skill levels of each team, but our top priority is that every athlete has fun! 😊
Program
Senior Team Black
Senior Team Red
Junior Team
Junior Prep Team
School Grade
6th – 7th – 8th
5th- 6th – 7th
4th – 5th
2nd/3rd
Sideline Cheer
Falcons Football
Falcons Football
Falcons Football
Falcons Football
Stunting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Competitions
4+ State
4+ State
4+ State
3
Competitive Cheer Program Details
🤸 Competitive Cheer Practice Information
Practice Schedule
Park Ridge Competitive Cheer squads generally practice twice a week. All practices will be held at:
Oakton Sports Complex
2800 Oakton St, Park Ridge, IL
📌 Importance of Attendance
Squads cannot have effective practices or perform successfully when participants are absent. Cheerleading relies heavily on teamwork and stunts, and missing even one practice can significantly impact the entire squad. Coaches often need to re-teach material for absent cheerleaders, which affects everyone’s practice time.
As a result, attendance at all practices and games is mandatory.
📝 Practice Attendance Policy
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Cheerleaders may miss up to three (3) practices from the start of the season through August.
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Cheerleaders may miss up to three (3) additional practices from August through the end of the season in early December.
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If a participant misses more than the allotted number of practices, their continued participation will be reviewed by the Head Coach and Director of Cheer.
For questions or concerns regarding the practice attendance policy, please contact the Director of Cheer.
👕 Practice Attire
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Black t-shirt or tank top
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Black shorts
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Cheer or gym shoes
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Hair pulled back
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No jewelry, candy, or gum
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Water bottle recommended for every cheerleader
📣 Game Day & Homecoming
Park Ridge Competitive Cheerleaders will energize fans at our home Park Ridge Falcons Football games through sideline cheers and half-time performances.
🎉 Homecoming Participation
Cheerleaders will also take part in homecoming festivities, including:
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Half-time rose ceremony
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After-the-game celebration
🏈 Attendance Requirement
Attendance at all home games is mandatory.
Competitions
🏆 Competitive Cheer Competitions
Park Ridge Competitive Cheerleaders will learn and perfect a routine to compete in local cheerleading competitions against other teams.
📅 Competition Schedule
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There will be four season competitions.
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Attendance at all competitions is mandatory.
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Competition entry fees are included in the PRCC program cost.
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Dates will be announced as soon as Park Ridge Cheer is registered and confirmed in July.
🥇 State Competition
If any squad places 1st in a competition, they will advance to the ICA State Competition at NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb, IL in November.
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State competition entry fees vary annually and are NOT included in the Park Ridge Competitive Cheer fees.
Scoring Criteria
| Scoring Item: | Points |
| Voice/Expression/Projection | 10 |
| Motions | 10 |
| Jumps | 10 |
| Tumbling | 10 |
| Stunts | 10 |
| Pyramids/Basket Tosses | 10 |
| Formation & Transitions | 10 |
| Synchronization | 10 |
| Degree of Difficulty | 10 |
| Perfection of Routine | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Uniforms
👕 Competitive Cheer Uniforms
All Park Ridge Competitive Cheerleaders are required to purchase their own uniform.
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Payment for the uniform is due during the custom uniform fitting, which will be held in July.
💙 Uniform Program
Park Ridge Competitive Cheer has an established uniform program, where each squad makes a two (2) year commitment to a particular style of uniform.
♻️ End-of-Season Uniform Consignment
At the end of the season, we encourage cheerleaders who will not be returning to participate in our consignment program.
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Park Ridge Competitive Cheer connects gently-used uniforms with new cheerleaders for a small fee.
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This program benefits both departing and incoming participants, helping families save money while giving new athletes the opportunity to enjoy PRC uniforms. 💙
Dress Code
✨ Competitive Cheer Dress Code
👕 Uniforms
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Cheerleaders shall wear their full competition uniform to all competitions.
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It is the cheerleader’s responsibility to keep the uniform clean and in good condition.
💇♀️ Hair & Accessories
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Hair should be up, with the official cheer bow, and styled according to coach’s instructions prior to arriving at competitions.
👟 Shoes & Socks
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Cheer shoes and NO SHOW white ankle socks must be worn during competitions.
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Do not wear cheer shoes outside or to other events to keep them clean and bright.
❌ Prohibited Items
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No jewelry, nail polish, or glitter is allowed (risk of disqualification).
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Fingernails should be kept short for safety.
🌟 Code of Conduct & Sportsmanship
All squad members are expected to maintain and uphold the reputation of the Park Ridge Competitive Cheerleaders through their behavior and squad spirit.
😊 Participants are required to be:
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Courteous
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Polite
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Friendly
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Positive, always trying to share a smile with everyone
📣 All cheers and chants must be positive and sportsmanlike. Bullying is never tolerated.
💙 Core Belief
We believe that participation in competitive cheerleading provides valuable opportunities and experiences that support both personal and athletic growth. All Park Ridge Competitive Cheerleaders are encouraged and expected to exhibit good sportsmanship, demonstrating positive support for all participants and coaches.
👨👩👧 Parent Responsibilities
Parents of student-athletes also have important responsibilities and obligations, which will be outlined in detail at our Parent Meeting at the beginning of the season in June. Attendance is expected for all parents.
Volunteers
🤝 Parent Involvement & Team Mom Committee
We cannot be successful without the support and involvement of our parents! 💙
Please consider joining our Team Mom Committee:
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Each team has its own committee of 2–3 moms
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Team Moms help with:
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Fundraising 💰
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Communication ✉️
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Pictures & Social Media 📸
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Apparel & Gear 👕
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📧 Interested in Volunteering?
Please contact the Director of Competitive Cheer at: prcompetitivecheer@gmail.com
