1) What is expected from an athlete at tryouts?

Tryouts are for coach assessments and team placements. No experience is required to tryout. Synergy coach's will be evaluating each athlete's skills to determine proper team placements. Everyone is welcome and appreciated here at Synergy.

2) What do you wear to tryouts?

Wear tennis shoes, shorts (with lollies), tank top/t-shirt, and hair pulled up. NO JEWELRY!

3) What is the cost of participating with Synergy?

Costs will be fully explained during the visit on a one-on-one basis as well as any questions answered. Synergy offers many payment options and discounts to help bring the cost down as much as possible so that more kids are able to participate.  Our awesome Synergy Booster Club runs continuous fundraising to assist families in offsetting costs affiliated with allstar cheerleading.

4) How many teams does Synergy have?

In 2009-10 we had 5 teams.  Mini Embers, Youth Flames, Junior Heat, Senior Intermediate blaze & Senior Coed Inferno, so there is a team for every cheerleader, novice or advanced.  The teams are broken up by skill level to maximize the skills of each athlete and to make the teams more competitive.  Based on current athletes we are anticipating similar teams for 2010-11.  However, because the teams are based on age and skill level,  this could change as the Summer progresses.  Division Levels will be decided at the end of the Summer.

5) How many competitions will Synergy be attending in 2010-11?

Synergy will attend approximately 5-6 competitions/Nationals this season.

6) Do you have to have a cheerleading/tumbling background to tryout?

Absolutely not, all athletes are encouraged to tryout. Our coach's are dedicated to teaching each athlete the skills necessary to be a competitive cheerleader in all areas such as stunting, basing, tumbling, flying and spotters. We at Synergy step up to the challenge of bringing out the best in each athlete!

7) What can Synergy offer its' athletes?

Synergy Allstar's mission is to create a program of positive, yet serious instruction, superior organization & sportsmanship, and most importantly... FUN!  We also seek to create a safe environment where cheerleaders progress in their skills & develop self-confidence while building friendships with coaches & team mates.

8) What rules/policies are expected from its' athletes?

Synergy Staff will provide a rules and policies guideline to all athletes.  Each parent and athlete are required to read and sign these rules/policies. Being in a team environment, each athlete is expected to follow the same set of rules.

9) What is the time commitment to be on Synergy Cheer of VA?

Our season begins in May 10 and ends in April or May depending on our last competition. During our season athletes are expected to attend all practices unless otherwise excused by Synergy coaching staff. All competitions are mandatory and the competition schedule itself is to be announced in the Summer as soon as all the Competition companies announce their schedules and after we have explored and picked the BEST competitions for our teams.  Synergy puts great effort into picking competitions that are not only great experiences but that we have competition rather than competing with a score so that when we win we can truly say we are the BEST.  We also try to pick competitions with like teams so that we are competitive. Practice times are once a week during the Summer months and twice a week during the school year, depending on what team your child is on.  We do try to work with long distance athletes to help minimize travel.  We also accommodate High School Cheerleaders schedules until after school competitive cheerleading is over.   Synergy Cheer of VA is committed to support our athlete's education and school functions as much as possible while maintaining our competitive edge on the competition floor. Synergy Staff takes pride in learning from past experiences and have an open mind on suggestions and feedback to make being part of our Synergy family a win-win for all involved as well as a great experience for all of our families and athletes.. 

10) How are practices conducted in comparison to determining the level each team will compete?

Practice is the time needed for our coach's to prepare athletes for competition. During this time coaches dedicate time to teach new skills, clean up current skills, and then encourage athletes to push themselves to the next level to achieve more difficult skills, identify bases that work well together, then find the flyer that fits best in that group. They also identify which groups need extra practice and suggest private lessons. Coaches work with tumblers to push themselves to master the pass they have, then once mastered, encourage them to push themselves to the next skill. Practices are the ideal time to iron out all of these details. Then, once the coach determines the level that the entire team itself has mastered is when the level we go and compete will be chosen. This is a team effort and the level competing is determined by what the team itself has mastered. Practices are a time to master your skills, competitions are the time to show the cheerleading world how hard you have worked in practice. Going to competitions your athletes need to feel confident in themselves and in the team based on the routine itself.  They must have that level of comfort that each have practiced this routine and feel safe in competing with their team-members and then ultimately excelling at competition. Preparation is the key to success, practice is the time to prepare, competition is the time to execute your successful practices!

11) When do athletes learn choreography?

Our choreography camp for the 2010-11 season has not yet been set but will be announced soon.

12) Does Synergy offer extra opportunities for skill development?

As our teams have grown in numbers and skill over the years, we have learned that providing extra opportunities for advancement in areas such as tumbling and stunting is important and needed for not only our most advanced athletes but those just learning the sport.  While we have awesome instruction at Synergy Cheer that is taught on a weekly basis, every athlete is different and can benefit from the occasional input of different instructors with different styles and teaching techniques.  Therefore, we will also be offering skills camps and clinics from prominent gyms and Colleges located in Virginia and North Carolina, at our gym as well as at their locations.  These will be announced soon and are not mandatory but will be offered for those that are interested.