Cheer parents –
At our board meeting Monday night, we reviewed the results of our parent survey, our competition survey (sent to other organizations), and guidance on returning cheer.
We considered the following guidelines (specific cheer sections listed at the end of this post.
- OHSAA Return to Play Recs , 2020
- AAP | Healthy Children, Youth Sports Participation, July 2020
- NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020
- CDC | Considerations for Youth Sports, 2020
- USA Cheer Return to Cheer & Stunt Guidelines, July 2020
Based on our home field layout, restroom facilities, increased distancing required, the high risk cheering/singing/yelling can bring to increasing spread, lack of coaching interest & availability of school buildings for practice, we voted to not have an official cheer season this year. This was not an easy choice, or one we anticipated making. There is simply not enough space for coaches, cheerleaders, spectators as well as football players and families to accommodate the social distancing required for a high-risk activity. We did not feel comfortable requiring a mask while cheering especially in hot conditions.
We considered the potential of having a competition only season, but based on our survey results, there are not many organizations hosting competitions or competing this year. We will not be hosting our September Go for Gold Competition. We did consider an outdoor option. However, we would need to bring in mats because our field is not turf. The additional considerations for space, weather, as well as COVID-19 restrictions, we determined it is not a viable option this year.
We know this Is not the news you wanted to hear. We are disappointed as well. But the safety of each cheerleader, volunteer, and coach is of the utmost importance to us.
As a board, we will reconvene in October and review options for a winter season (sideline or comp) based on requirements at the time. We anticipate hosting virtual clinics to teach cheer basics, chants, conditioning, etc. It is our hope we will be able to host our February cheer camp as well.
If you have already registered for the season, we have several options:
- You can receive a refund check mailed to you
- We can transfer the registration fee to another sport
- We can apply the registration to next year
We will also conduct another uniform buyback. We will email & post on FB when it is scheduled.
Going forward, we are going to need a lot of volunteers to begin to take a more active role in coaching and serving on the Cheer board. Three of the four members of the board will have daughters in their final year of youth cheer next season. If you think you would be interested in serving on the board, please let us know. We would love to be able to transfer a lot of our knowledge before we officially transition. We know this is looking ahead but we wanted to start talking about it now. This program is on the way up & we would love to see it continue. If you are interested in getting involved now, we have an opening for a League Rep on the Board. This position serves as the liaison between CNEAA and our cheer board. The meetings are currently the first Sunday of the month at 11 am.
If you are interested in being a head coach or assistant coach, please email us and let us know who your child is so we can keep you on the list for camps & next year. The only team that has a head coach & assistant coach is the 10-year-old team which will be 11/12 next year. We will need coaches for the 5/6, 7, 8, and 9-year-old squads next season. We will happily train you as best we can.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out & we will do the best we can to give you answers.
CNE Youth Cheer Board
OHSAA Return to Play Recs , 2020
It is strongly encouraged to take into consideration the venue’s ability to safely allow for and enforce proper physical distancing amongst cheerleaders, mascots and dance teams. Direct physical interaction with and sharing of equipment and “apparel” with fellow cheerleaders, mascots and dance team members, including those from the opposing team(s), and fans should be prohibited. Cheerleaders, mascots and dance teams and all auxiliary personnel should always practice physical distancing when possible and should also wear a facemask/covering as much as possible and when appropriate.
AAP | Healthy Children, Youth Sports Participation, July 2020
During sports practice or games:
Whenever possible, athletes maintain 6-8 feet of physical distance during drills and conditioning.
When possible and safe, athletes should each wear cloth face covering–especially on the sideline, in dugouts, and during team chats.Avoid these behaviors:
Cheering, chanting, or singing when closer than 6-8 feet from others.
Store personal equipment 6-8 feet away from other teammates’ equipment.
NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020
Higher Risk: Sports that involve close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers, and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants. Examples: Wrestling, football, boys lacrosse, competitive cheer, dance
CDC | Considerations for Youth Sports, 2020
Ability to engage in social distancing while not actively engaged in play (e.g., during practice, on the sideline, or in the dugout). During times when players are not actively participating in practice or competition, attention should be given to maintaining social distancing by increasing space between players on the sideline, dugout, or bench. Additionally, coaches can encourage athletes to use downtime for individual skill-building work or cardiovascular conditioning, rather than staying clustered together.
Size of the team. Sports with a large number of players on a team may increase the likelihood of spread, compared to sports with fewer team members. Consider decreasing team sizes, as feasible.
Nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers. Limit any nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations.
Face coverings may be challenging for players (especially younger players) to wear while playing sports. Face coverings should be worn by coaches, youth sports staff, officials, parents, and spectators as much as possible. Wearing cloth face coverings is most important when physical distancing is difficult.
Identify adult staff members or volunteers to help maintain social distancing among youth, coaches, umpires/referees, and spectators (if state and local directives allow for spectators).
Space players at least 6 feet apart on the field while participating in the sport (e.g., during warmup, skill building activities, simulation drills)
If keeping physical distance is difficult with players in competition or group practice, consider relying on individual skill work and drills.
Encourage players to wait in their cars with guardians until just before the beginning of a practice, warm-up, or game, instead of forming a group.
Limit the use of carpools or van pools. When riding in an automobile to a sports event, encourage players to ride to the sports event with persons living in their same household.
If practices or competition facilities must be shared, consider increasing the amount of time between practices and competitions to allow for one group to leave before another group enters the facility. If possible, allow time for cleaning and/or disinfecting.
Provide physical guides, such as signs and tape on floors or playing fields, to make sure that coaches and players remain at least 6 feet apart
Avoid group events, such as games, competitions, or social gatherings, where spacing of at least 6 feet between people cannot be maintained.
Limit any nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as much as possible – especially with individuals not from the local geographic area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
USA Cheer Return to Cheer & Stunt Guidelines, July 2020
The primary consideration is to begin any activity, practice, etc. with a clean space.
Clean/sanitize surfaces with cleaner/accepted methods listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 as directed by the CDC, or as may be reasonably necessary.
Mats should be cleaned at least each day of activity or as needed according to current guidelines. If different groups are meeting in the same space at different times, mats should be cleaned between groups.
Temperature checks and health assessment questionnaires should be completed at check-in and records maintained.
Provide access to handwashing areas and wash hands during breaks or as reasonably necessary, with particular attention after participating in stunts.
Athletes, coaches, and support staff who are a member of a high-risk group or live at home with a member of a high-risk group should consider attending training sessions virtually.
Athletes should maintain their equipment themselves and there should be no other shared equipment, including, but not limited to the following: Water bottles, Poms, Megaphones, Signs
Contact and physical distancing should follow all local health directives. Local state athletics/activities associations and other local governing bodies may have varying rules regarding face coverings. We recommend following federal, state, and local health department guidelines as well as those of your governing athletics/activities association.
USA Cheer recommends allowing face coverings with the following guidelines:
Face coverings should be snug-fitting.
Face coverings should not impede vision or movement.
Face coverings should be soft and pliable with no exposed metal, and should provide adequate ventilation and protection from the spread of particulate matter.