Welcome to MARA Cheer!
Please read below for information on all our fall cheer program. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
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Congratulations to our 2023 and 2024 Pop Warner Cheer Squads. ALL competing teams placed FIRST in the Local Competition two years in a row! Multiple 2024 Pop Warner Cheer Squads also placed FIRST in the Regional Competition.
NEW FOR 2025: Pop Warner Football & Cheer National Championships will be held in Charlotte, NC! Our teams will be competing with the goal of making it to the National Championships in December!
Fall Pop Warner Cheer Program
The Fall Cheer program is our primary cheer program for athletes ages 5 through 16 years old (age determined as of 7/31/2025). This program is great for athletes looking to try a faster pace cheer program for the first time or build onto their existing cheer experience. This program is more focused on game day materials and building strong basics in all aspects of the sport. Athletes will learn cheers for football games and a competitive routine that will be performed throughout the season. Teams will compete in a local competition in October with the opportunity to compete in a regional competition November 15th and a national competition December 8-11. Both regionals and nationals will be in the Charlotte area.
FALL SEASON PRICING
Early registration pricing offered from May 23rd through May 29th. Family/sibling discounts are available when registering multiple participants. Registrations placed after July 15th will be assessed a late fee.
Payment Plans are available:
- $120.00 due at the time of registration
- $110.00 due on June 30th
- $90.00 or remaining balance due on July 15th.
Payments must be made in full by July 21st to remain on the roster. The first $50.00 of deposits made are non-refundable in accordance with our Refund Policy. Please review this policy carefully.
PRACTICES
All practices for the 2025 season will start the week of July 21st this year! There will be Friday indoor practices starting at the of September through December (depending on competition qualification), in addition to the practices noted below.
Tiny Mites:
- End of July-end of August: Monday and Wednesday – 5:30-6:30 PM
- Starting at end of August through remainder of season: Wednesday – 5:30-6:30 PM
Mitey Mites:
- End of July-end of August: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – 5:30-7:00 PM
- Starting at end of August through remainder of season: Wednesday – 5:30-7:00 PM
Junior Varsity:
- End of July-end of August: Wednesday and Friday – 6:00-7:30 PM; Saturday – 9:00-10:30 AM
- Starting at end of August through remainder of season: Friday – 6:00-7:30 PM
Varsity:
- TBD if we get enough cheerleaders to sign up and have a coach
GAMES
Games are held on Saturday mornings/afternoon and run weekly from the middle of August through early November. Typically, the younger squads cheer during the morning games and older squads cheer in the afternoon. Game times are set on a week by week basis. We will not get a schedule of times for the season. Games times are communicated the first half of each week as received from the Pop Warner Regional Association.
UNIFORMS
Uniforms are newly designed for the 2025 Fall Cheer season with a new company. All participants will need white cheer shoes for the season. Registration also includes a team shirt for the season.
Uniform fitting date: July 24th 5:30-7:00 PM at MARA Fields
EXPERIENCE
No previous cheer experience is required! We love teaching the sport of cheer to all levels. We only ask that participants show up to every practice with a can-do attitude, bright smile, and LOUD voice!
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
- All participants must meet a Pop Warner Scholastic Fitness Requirement of a 2.0/70% grade average, based on their 2024-2025 full year report card.*
- If your child is homeschooled, please let us know upon registering and we will provide you a home school eligibility form.
- *If your child's 2024-2025 grades do not meet the 2.0/70% grade average requirement, please contact us for further info on what will be needed in order for them to participate.
AGE DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
You will be asked to register your child in a division corresponding to their age. Teams are open to ages 5-16. Age for the 2025 season is determined as of 7/31/2025.
MARA 2025 Age Divisions (as of 7/31)
- Tiny Mites: 5, 6
- Mitey Mites: 7, 8, 9
- Junior Varsity: 10, 11, 12, 13
- Varsity: 14, 15, 16
COMPETITIONS
All squads will perform in LOCAL competitions through mid-late October. The annual Pop Warner local competition will be held mid-late October. Most divisions will have the opportunity to advance to the Regional Competition November 15th and National Competition December 8th – 11th. Details TBA.
ASSESSMENTS
We do not hold any tryouts or assessments. Participants are placed on squads corresponding to the Pop Warner age brackets. We do our best to place all participants on age/skill appropriate teams.
PRACTICE LOCATIONS
MARA - Arthur Goodman Memorial Park - 1200 S Trade St, Matthews NC 28105 In the event of inclement weather or field unavailability, there will be some off-site practices at a local school/gym.
Starting in late September, we will have indoor practices on Fridays at Charlotte Allstars.
COACHES & TEAM MANAGERS
We are always looking for more coaches/volunteers. No experience? No problem! Often times we have past MARA/high school cheerleaders help teach cheers/routines, but we are always looking for an adult supervisor to assist at practices and games and be a point of contact for the squad's parents. If you or someone you know are interested in helping coach, please email us at [email protected].
FUNDRAISING
We kindly ask all participants to assist in fundraising efforts throughout the season. Funds raised help us keep our competition costs low.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook at MARA Colts Cheer & Dance