Expert: Kimmi - 9/28/2007

Question
I am looking to start my own all stars cheer team...where do i begin?

Answer
Hi Ricca,

  Congrats on wanting to start your own team. The first step for you is to find out what other programs exist in your area. Once you know this, you can plan where the best place to base your team would be, or rather the place where you'll be able to get athletes as a 1st year team. The next step is finding a place to hold practices. If you can't afford to rent or lease your own building, the way to go is to contact the park district, local YMCA, school, or private building etc. to find a place to rent so you can run the program. Once you have done that, you are good to start recruiting kids. Start it off as maybe an open gym thing or a intro to cheer class. Then you can see what kind of potential there is and if you have the capability to start a team to cheer. Hopefully you'll be able to pull some raw talent in or plain old hard workers and build a team from there. My advice, from my personal all-star team, which I am still in the painfully slow process of building, make sure that you keep tuition below any other program near you. This is a guaranteed pull for kids who may be talented but can't afford traditional all-star. Also, if you can get some sponsorships, offer scholarship money. Then once you've got your kids, research rules, pick a level, build a routine and go to it!! Hope that helps you. Please let me know how it turns out!
Happy Cheering!
Kimmi