Congratulations to the girls on becoming squad captains / co-captains! Remember, a captain is a role model so try your best to be your best!
Salthill:
Jenny F
Kayleigh F
Chelsea McC
Alannah B

Renmore/Stuntworx:
Aisling F

Tully:
Shannen
Rachel M

We will be meeting at Father Burke Park (also known as Fr Griffin Park) on Fr Griffin Road across from GTI on Thursday - 11 for seniors and 11.15 for juniors. PLEASE DONT BE LATE.
Map to get to the park is HERE.

Just got our call time for the Parade : We all have to be ready to line up at 11.40am!
Juniors need to arrive by 11.15. Renmore juniors will report to Jamie, Salthill and Tully juniors will report to Katie.

All SENIORS need to arrive at 11 and report to Hilton and Marie. We'll tell you all info at class and a group message will be sent to parents.

So we havent received ALL the info about the parade yet but here's what we know!
Parade starts at 12.30 which means we need to be all ready to go and signed in by then.
We will be given a position in the parade and we must stay in that position throughout.
We are not allowed to stop along the parade route but there will be times when we have to because of hold ups. You will all know what to do during these small stops!
Juniors will be at the front of the group and must know their GO FIGHT WIN and LET'S GO COUGARS chants.
Seniors will follow behind.

Clothing:
Juniors must wear their Cougars t-shirts, black shorts or skirt with leggins underneath and a long sleeve t-shirt or jumper underneath, depending on the weather. Gloves may also be appropriate!
Hair MUST be tied INTO A PONYTAIL. Please wear comfortable shoes.

Seniors - if you already have a Cougars t-shirt you may wear this. If you do not, you will be wearing an 80s style cropped cougars t-shirt with a vest of any colour underneath. You may wish to wear a long sleeve t-shirt under this depending on the weather. If the weather is promised bad, we will wear regular cougar t-shirts and you can wear a hoodie underneath.
Black skirt or shorts, leggins of any colour underneath.
Please wear white runners, but if you don't have them, any other colour is acceptable, they MUST be runners though.

March 2011 Issue

Contents:

·         What Is Cheerleading All About?

·         Training

·         New Training Rules

·         Important Dates for your Diary

·         Payment Dates

·         Uniforms

·         Competitions and Charges

·         Fundraising Efforts

·         Charity Events

·         News

·         Feedback

·         Stay up to date

What is Cheerleading all about? It has come to our attention that a number of parents have little idea of what cheerleading is actually all about. We run a course in recreational cheerleading for juniors where they learn the basics of cheerleading and a competitive course for seniors where they put all the basics to work and develop a competition schedule.

All star cheerleading is a combination of gymnastics, dance and acrobatics all put together to fast music. There is usually a chant or cheer in a routine as well. Competitions are judged by a panel of at least three judges and routines are marked on skills, choreography, confidence and originality. All star cheerleading requires a lot of training and dedication. If your child is willing to put in the effort we can garauntee that they will increase their fitness, strength, flexibility, confidence and help develop their creativity and team work skills.

The best way to learn about all star cheerleading is to see it for yourself. You can find information and videos on our website www.galwaycitycougars.com. Otherwise look up all star cheerleading on www.youtube.com.  If you have any questions about your child’s course, PLEASE ask us and we’ll be happy to give you more information.

Training
Training takes place once a week in each venue for all seniors and juniors (except in Renmore). Training involves developing spacial awareness, an insane degree of flexibility, strength, speed, and power. We do this using conditioning exercises (basic ones would be speed running, jumping, push ups etc). Skills training happens in every class where we work on either tumbling (cartwheels, rolls etc), jumps, motions or choreography, or more often than not, a combination of all of the above. The junior classes involve games and fun and the senior class contains a higher level of training.

All seniors are expected to use the home workout which can be downloaded online at www.galwaycitycougars.com/resources.html. It’s very important that the girls practice at home as once a week is not enough to develop all the skills we need. Please encourage your child when you can.  

New Training Rules A child cannot compete without parents express permission, so all parents MUST be aware of our competition schedule, costs and time committment necessary to be a Galway City Cougar. Please ensure that the following new rules are enforced:

·         No Fee = No Train. Unfortunately, it has come to this as we cannot keep classes going on credit. If your child has not paid for classes in advance, then we cannot train them.

·         If your child is going to miss a class, please let us know. Often, we cannot train according to our class plan if full stunt groups are not at training.

·         If your child misses 2 classes in a row without explanation, her place will be forfeit. No refund will be provided here.

·         We are now enforcing a code of conduct and if your child’s behaviour is disruptive we will be in contact to let you know.

Uniforms
Uniforms are a necessity for all cheerleaders wishing to compete. They consist of shell, skirt, briefs and cheer shoes. They can be quite costly, however, with fundraising efforts the cost to parents from their own funds should be minimal. We will consistantly fundraise throughout the year to raise funds for uniforms even after they are purchased and return money to parents where possible.

Uniforms will cost in the region of 100 euros per cheerleader. Depending on fundraising, we hope to have this subsidised enormously. However, it is the equivalent cost of a GAA, Rugby or Soccer strip.

Uniforms are not necessary for any girl not wishing to compete, however, as a competitive squad much of the year is spent in preparation for our upcoming events so girls not competing will feel left out. No girl will be made to compete.

Competitions & Charges
Competitions throughout the year entail a charge for registration per cheerleader. UK competitions usually charge around £20 GBP per cheerleader. This pays for the rental of the venue, lighting and photographers, printing and advertising. Any profit is usually put back into the organisation to fund education programmes etc.

There will always be travelling expenses and each cheerleader will be liable to pay these. For international competitions there will be stayover costs. Fundraising is essential here. Please see below. Spectators are encouraged to travel to see your child in competition, as it is a very exciting experience that s/he will not have had before. Competitions are very entertaining and show just what your child is aspiring to, as you will see some of the best in the country. We know that work, family committments and funds will stop you from attending most of these functions but it would be great if you could show your support where possible especially at Irish events.

Fundraising Efforts
Cheerleading is an expensive sport and that contributes to the slow growth of the sport in this country. At the Galway City Cougars, we know that added expenses are never a good thing. That’s why we have a number of fundraising efforts throughout the year. We NEED volunteers to give some of their time and knowledge to help us with this. Even if you just have an idea for fundraising, we’d like to hear from you. If you think that you may be able to help then please contact us at parentsfundraising@galwaycitycougars.com. We have a very special fundraising night coming in the next 3 months with a huge target to meet if we want topay for uniforms, competition entry and new equipment especially for our outreach programmes. If anyone wants to be involved, please let us know!

Charity Events
Whilst we have a hectic schedule as it is, we feel that we may be taking far more than we can give back so we want to help our local community when we can. We will organise events throughout the year such as cleaning a local beauty spot or helping out at charity events. If you have a charity that is close to your heart and would like some help at an event then please let us know as we may be able to help!

News
·         Galway City Cougars have a new full time home on the Tuam Road in Stuntworx Elite. This is Galway city’s first full time cheerleading venue and a massive boost for cheer in the West. We have a sprung floor, mirrored wall, olympic sized trampolines, tumble track and climbing ropes as well as crash mats and other safety equipment. All squads will get the chance to use the facility throughout the year, however the Renmore squad will move into the facility when it opens as their new home. We will also be offering recreational classes and trampolining and tumbling classes. Our outreach classes in Tully and Salthill will not be affected by this move.

·         FREE CLASSES: As a cougar, your child has been given the opportunity to receive FREE tuition in either Cheer Dance, Trampolining, or Cheer Tumbling at Stuntworx for our first term. We would highly urge you to take this opportunity as it will benefit your child’s cheerleading.

·         Galway City Cougars will be attending our FIRST COMPETITION in April with the Salthill Senior Squad in Northern Ireland. We will be competing against some the best in the country and this is a very exciting development for us! We hope you show your support!!

Feedback Feedback is so important to us at the Galway City Cougars so if there is something you think we are doing wrong please let us know. Equally, if we’re doing something right, don’t be afraid to tell us!!

Stay Up To Date We now have a big quantity of cheerleaders (a far cry from our first senior class in Salthill when there were only 2 girls!) so it is often impossible to get all the news to everyone all the time. Therefore we urge all cheerleaders and parents to look at the News sections on our website frequently. Often, all the answers to your questions may be found there.

SENIORS: Please download your uniform order forms on the Resources page of our website and bring it to class this week. The order will be made next Monday so if you don't have it in, you won't have your uniform when the rest of the girls do. Pricing will be discussed at class, but uniforms are compulsory for any girl who intends to compete this year. No uniform = no competition.

Hi All! No classes from next Monday for the week of midterm!!! No classes the 21st to the 27th Back to normal on the 28th. Sunday 20th of February Renmore class WILL go ahead as normal!

GREAT NEWS! We have found a full time venue which will be Galway City's first dedicated Cheerleading Academy! Stuntworx Elite is fully equipped with sprung floor, mirrored walls AND olympic trampolines to progress your tumbling!! We will be moving our Renmore classes to Stuntworx in February. All other classes will continue as normal!

Galway City Cougars Pyjama Bash!
Games and competitions from 6-7pm. Movie starts at

Tully: Sunday 19th December 6pm to 9pm.

Salthill and Renmore:  Takes place in Renmore Scout Den Monday 20th December 6pm to 9pm 

Cost: €4 per cheerleader or €10 for 1 cheerleader and 2 friends (non cheerleaders)

All Cheerleaders are welcome to bring friends.
Remember to be wearing your PJ's and to bring a pillow and sleeping bag/blanket.

Raffle takes place on the night of each venue.

The Galway Santa Dash has been cancelled due to the icy roads... means we don't get to perform in shorts and t-shirts in minus 9 degrees which I was so looking forward to... Keep watching for our next performance