Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory!

We will teach you how to jump, stunt, tumble, dance, CHEER and Compete! No experience necessary!

Raiders Cheer begins July 27th, 2026 and is an age based program. Athletes will condition, dance, tumble, stunt, chant, and learn all of the basics of cheer to prepare for both football game performances. Once they move to indoor space, they will begin to learn and eventually compete with a competitive cheer routine. The Fall season has the potential to run until the first weekend in December and meets for practices 1-2 times per week once school begins in addition to attending home football games throughout the season.  

The cost is $250 for the Fall Cheer season for all cheer athletes.  

You will be required to purchase white cheerleading shoes in the brand of your preference and a season bow.

Cheer is available to athletes ages 4 - 16. According to national rules, there cannot be more than a 4-year age span per team.

Athletes will be split into teams to create as many successful teams as we can! 

D6, D8, D10, D12, D14, D16

No prior experience needed - new cheerleaders welcome at all levels!!

Registration is online via the league website. Be sure to register early to secure your athletes roster spot and save with early bird discounts. Spots can be limited at certain levels, especially after deadlines. 

Required paperwork items for fall participation:

• Birth certificate original with a raised seal - This document must be verified by representatives from Central Mass for authenticity. If you have played in a previous fall season, this is not needed. 
• Updated physical form if your athlete's physical was performed in the current year. If the most recent physical was performed in the previous calendar year, the AYF Medical Clearance form must be submitted. (doctor-signed)
• Completed Year end Report Card with all 4 terms and final grades listed. Save this in a safe place on the last day of school!
• Official AYF Player Packet signed by both the parent and the athlete.

All paperwork must be completed and verified before participating in practice or games. 

Cheer is $250 for the season. This cost covers league fees, insurance, competition fees, music cost, uniform components, and some accessories. 

Extra costs for shoes, team specific items, travel to competitions, or optional items such as jackets or spirit wear. 

Provided: Uniform is loaned to the athlete, Season T-shirt is provided to wear for warmer games, game bow, team music, and some props if needed.

Parent provides: Approved all white cheer shoes/sneakers (any brand), white socks, practice clothes (fitted athletic wear), water bottle, hair ties. 

Strict no-jewelry/hair policy—long hair must be secured.

Additional items may be required: Team competition bow, Team October pink items, Team Jacket (optional)

Practices start early August for conditioning, basics, and game prep. 

Season: August–November (sideline at home games + competitions). Nationals is Early December in Florida, if advanced.

Practices: 2-3 days/week, 1.5–2 hours (evenings). 

Practices will begin outside at Windle Field where we will work on our basics of the sport and also the basics of building our routines and halftimes. Once school begins, cheer teams will be practicing 2-3 times during the week at a local school using our cheer mats. Practices during the school year vary by team and will be announced when indoor space has been approved by the Millbury Public Schools administration.

Any changes to practice days and time will be at the discretion of the head coach of each team. Attendance at practice is essential for both the skill development of our cheerleaders and to maximize their safety. We ask that family vacations be scheduled before our first practice of the season wherever possible. Attendance at practice is recorded and determines placement in competition routines, especially for stunting. 

No tryouts— athletes are placed by age/grade to keep athletes with their classmates wherever possible.

Teams will build a competitive routine with evaluations during practice to highlight skills of the group's athletes. 

 Cheerleading involves Performing, Stunting, Tumbling, Jumping, Dance, Cheering and SO much more! We are affiliated nationally with American Youth Cheer (AYC) and we follow the rules and guidelines of YCADA to safely teach our athlete's the sport and techniques of competitive cheer and traditional sideline cheerleading. 

Our athletes participate in sideline cheering at football games, we use this time to highlight routines, cheers, and stunts the athletes have been working on. It is their first chance to get the jitters out while performing in front of an audience! It is important that all athletes attend to be able to showcase what we are working on. When athletes are working with their group at all practices, and just one athlete does not show up, the whole group cannot show their skill or have to modify what they have practiced. Not only is this disappointing to the athletes that are attending the game, excited to show their family what they are working on, it can destroy the plans the coaches have put in place all week for the team to perform at the game.... leaving the team not looking their best. It is essential that you and your athlete commit to attending all scheduled games for the duration of the season. We want our athletes to all have the opportunity to SHINE!!

Competitive performances are created for each team to be able to highlight the skills of the athletes and the team of athletes. Our teams are given just 2 minutes and 30 seconds to show what they can do and check off the skills in their scoring rubric. Our goal is to build confidence, coordination, teamwork while safely executing skills that are appropriate to the team's level. We work with all skill levels and we enjoy watching our athlete's improve through safe skill progression and accomplishing goals they never thought possible!