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 spanky's), tank top/t-shirt, and hair pulled up. NO JEWELRY!

3) What is the cost of participating with Synergy?

Please set up a time with one of our owners to discuss costs for the 2009-10 season. 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.  Synergy Booster Club runs continuous fundraising to assist families in offsetting costs affiliated with allstar cheerleading.

4) How many teams does Synergy have?

In 2008-09 we had 5 teams.  Tiny Sparks, Mini Embers, Youth Flames, Junior Blaze, Senior Coed Heat, 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.  We will most likely have similar teams as 09-10.  However, because the teams are based on age and skill level,  we won't know exactly what teams we will have until after tryouts.

5) How many competitions will Synergy be attending in 2009-10?

Synergy will attend approximately 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 09 and ends in April 10. 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 Spring/early Summer. Practice times are once a week during the Summer months and once or twice a week during the school year, depending on what team your child is on.  We do 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 strides 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. 

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 2009-10 season has not yet been set.  The tentative plan is for the advanced and youngest teams to have choreography first during the spring or early summer.   All other teams will get choreography throughout the Summer so that basic skills can be perfected and any new cheerleaders added PRIOR to choreography.