Welcome to Del Campo Jr Cougars Cheer

Del Campos Jr Cougars welcome youth athletes in the age groups below, whether they have years of cheer experience or have never cheered before.  We are a feeder program to Del Campo High School. 

We have 4 teams, and teams are based on age as of August 1st of the current year.

• 8u (Ages 6-8)
• 10u (Ages 8-10)
• 12u (Ages 10-12)
• 14u (Ages 12-14)

The Del Campo Jr Cougars organization is a member of SYF (Sacramento Youth Football).  SYF has multiple divisions each year, and division placements can change each year.  Specific division placement will be announced when it is released by SYF. 

The exact dates can change each year when the official SYF start dates are released, but below are some general informational items that you’ll find useful.  Youth cheerleading is a substantial time commitment and we want to make sure our families are aware.  Once the calendar is finalized and announced, it will be very specific and detailed.

* We encourage cheerleaders to play other sports in the off-season, but will announce any cheer skill development or strength and conditioning opportunities that we would suggest or offer such as DCJC hosted camps. *

• All of our practices and official camps will be held at Will Rogers Middle School, (times TBD)
• Camps usually start in the spring on Sundays. Dates, times, & locations will be posted. 
• The season will officially start in mid-July with 5 practices per week Monday-Friday.
• Once the San Juan School district returns to school we will go down to 3 practices per week Tuesday-Thursday
• Once our games begin in early September and  practices will remain three days per week (T - Th).
• We will have at least one weekend jamboree/scrimmage day, approximately 7 or 8 regular season games on Saturdays (one may be held on a Sunday to account for a current shortage of officials), and if the individual teams advance to the post season then those teams will potentially have additional playoff & championship games on Saturdays.
• Home games will be at Del Campo High school Football Stadium and away games will be at various locations throughout the region.
• Game times are as follows: 8u - 10am, 10u - 12pm, 12u - 2pm, 14u - 4pm.
• Games usually last approximately 2 hours, and coaches generally ask athletes to arrive approximately 90 minutes prior to game time for pre-game meetings and warmups.
• The season will end in mid to late October to mid November, depending on playoffs & results.

Yes.  Cheer is a team sport and practices are important for cheerleaders to learn to work as a team on their cheers and routines.  It is important to have all cheerleaders at practices. 

There are practice location assignments for each level on rotating days. Parents may staff in the quad area on the picnic tables. Please keep in mind that you may not be able to see your child's practice from this area but cheer practice areas are restricted to athletes and coaches only. 

Your registration includes jamboree gear  for you to keep (t-shirt, shorts, bow). These will be handed out before the Jamboree.

Families will also be required to purchase their cheer uniform and shoes. These will be purchased through our program vendor, and announcements will be made about fitting dates and costs.  

All cheerleaders will also need to bring a large jug of water and a towel for stretching to each practice and game.

• EMT professionals will be present at every game.
• We have dedicated Board Members for equipment and medical needs.  These board members or another assigned and trained adult will be present at all practices and are responsible for monitoring any possible equipment or medical need.
• All coaches at all levels will be trained on the USA Football Heads Up Concussion and Heat Stroke Awareness
• Several DCJC staff  are CPR and First Aid certified, and board members and all coaches  must pass a full background check in order to become an SYF certified coach.[VB1] 
• Our teams will have a systematic approach to practice scheduling to keep the focus on technique, skill, and knowledge development to improve technique and confidence. All stunts performed will be developmentally appropriate and taught using proper technique progressions, and all appropriate safety precautions will be used.

Team placement is dependent on several factors, including roster sizes, safety considerations, skill level, and overall team needs. In certain situations, difficult roster decisions may need to be made. If that occurs, communication will be clear and provided to families as early as possible within the first two weeks of practice.

As members of Sacramento Youth Football (SYF), there is no guaranteed performance time requirement. Participation in games, halftime performances, competitions, and special events is determined at the coach’s discretion and is earned through consistent attendance, effort, skill development, teamwork, and adherence to team expectations.

Our organization maintains a strong developmental philosophy. We are committed to helping every cheerleader grow in confidence, technique, leadership, and teamwork. While not every athlete may perform the same role at every event, our priority is to provide meaningful opportunities that support each cheerleader’s development. Our desire to develop young athletes is equal to our desire to present strong, competitive teams.

Squad placements and stunt group assignments will be made with several factors in mind, including team balance, safety, athlete skill set, attitude, and potential for growth. While preferences may be considered, they cannot be guaranteed. All cheerleaders will learn a variety of skills—including motions, jumps, stunts, tumbling (when appropriate), and sideline leadership—to help them become well-rounded athletes. Roles assigned during a particular season do not limit future opportunities within our youth program or at Del Campo High School.

• Registration is $400. Deposits are required and are in addition to registration cost. ($200 mandatory parent volunteer hours deposit and $50 mandatory fundraising deposit) *********** Cheerleaders are required to purchase cheer uniforms and cheer shoes which are additional costs that are NOT included in registration cost******************
• Registration opens March 1st. $100 minimum payment at the time of registration is required to hold your child's place on the roster. Payments may be made in any increments, total balance is due before August 1st. No Exceptions.
• Payment in full must be received prior to August 1st. Athletes accounts that are not paid in full  will be asked to sit out of practice until payment is received in full.
• Accounts with past due balances will be unable to register for a future season until the past due amount is received.
• In the event that your athlete is no longer a member of the team, full or partial refunds may be considered before final team placements are made or before August 1, whichever comes first.  Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• If you have financial questions please email us at treasurer.dcjc@gmail.com for details.
• Our program needs your financial support.  Please participate in and tell your friends about our fundraising efforts and events to support our program!
• If you own a company, work for a company, or know of a company that would like to support our program, please encourage them to become a business sponsor.  More information is on the sponsorships tab on our website.

Yes, our program has no paid staff, and is run completely by volunteers.  It is important that each family does their part to help our systems run smoothly.  There are several types of jobs to sign up for in order to meet your required hours. Learn more by visiting the VOLUNTEERS tab on our website. 10 hours per registered athlete is required. More information will be provided by our Board Member overseeing volunteer hours.  

• Medical Release/Physical:  All athletes must have a medical release (physical) done after April 1st and turned in before any participation.  The physician should complete the SYF Physical Form located on our Documents Download page. The form MUST be signed and stamped by the physician.
• Proof of Age:  ALL athletes must provide Proof of Age by providing one of the following:
  • School Registration Information Sheet: Printed from the school information system for the upcoming school year beginning this Fall.  Must include child's name, date of birth, address and grade in the Fall.
  • Letter of School Verification: Letter from school office for the upcoming year beginning this Fall.  Must include child's name, date of birth, address and grade in the Fall on school letterhead and must include school stamp and be signed. 

TIP: Print out or request letter of school enrollment verification/proof of age requirement by the end of May, prior to school information systems or offices closing for summer.

• Check our Website
• Join our Del Campo Jr Cougars group on Facebook 
• Follow Del Campo Jr Cougars @wpjrpanthers on Instagram
• Once you get registered, check your emails consistently for updates and information.
• Talk about Del Campo Jr Cougars in the community, and tell your friends.  Word of mouth is still a great way to get information out there!

Feel free to email any of our board members at any time with any questions, informational needs, or concerns about our program.  You can see our Board of Directors along with contact information on the ABOUT US tab on the website.