Herndon Optimist Youth Cheerleading (HOYC) is a recreational/development program for children 5 - 15 years old. The program provides a rewarding and fun experience with an emphasis on both teamwork and individual accomplishment. Cheerleading requires stamina, concentration, and regular practice as a team. Throughout the season, your child will learn cheerleading fundamentals, sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork appropriate for each age level.
Participation:
HOYC is open to boys and girls, ages 5-15. Players must be at least 5 years old and no more than 15 years old as of October 1, 2021.
League Schedule:
HOYC practices begin October 26, 2021. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:30pm in Herndon ELEMENTARY School GYM.
HOYC cheerleaders cheer at Haley Smith / Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB) games which begin in early December and end in mid-March and are held on Saturdays between 8am-6pm in the Herndon Middle School gym. There may also be a Sunday performance at the championship games in mid-March.
League Structure:
Depending on the number of cheerleaders registering, there may be more than one cheer squad. Please indicate in the registration whether the cheerleader has a sibling playing basketball. If we have multiple squads, we will organize them to align with the basketball grade divisions.
Requests to be placed with friends or specific coaches will be considered on a case-by-case basis and honored at the discretion of the Commissioner to ensure proper age placement and balance of squads. We will do our best to place cheerleader siblings together and cheerleaders are on a squad cheering for their basketball sibling's grade division. If you have a special request, arrange a time to explain your special request to the Cheer Commissioner by using the "Contact Us" menu option on the home page.
Fees:
HOYC Registration Fee: $125
HOYC Uniform Deposit Fee: $25 per uniform; Deposit is fully refunded when uniform is returned in clean condition, with no rips or stains, by the return date specified by the league
If your child resides in Fairfax County and receives government assistance (e.g., free/reduced lunch, Medicaid), the Registration Fee can be covered by a scholarship; the Uniform Deposit Fee is still required to be paid
If an adult family member is a Coach, the Registration Fee for one child is waived; the Uniform Deposit Fee is still required to be paid
Fee Payment Options:
Credit/Debit Card
Check
Scholarship (Fairfax County residents only; Uniform Deposit Fee still required)
Fee Waiver (Coaches and HOYC Board Members only; Uniform Deposit Fee still required)
Fee Refunds:
Registration Fee refunds, less a $10 processing fee, will be authorized if the league Registrar receives an email withdrawing the cheerleader and requesting a refund prior to the date of the first regular season game in early December
If a player or family is removed from the league for refusing to follow Code of Conduct Rules or COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols, no Registration Fees will be refunded
If Fairfax County cancels our access to FCPS gym space, the amount of Registration Fee refund, if any, will depend on the costs already incurred by the league
Uniform Deposit Fee will be refunded after uniform is returned in clean condition, with no rips or stains, by the return date specified by the league
Additional Costs
Each cheerleader will be required to purchase their own red boy cut briefs, white ankle cheer socks, and white sneakers
The health and safety of our volunteers, players/cheerleaders, game officials, and spectators are our highest priority. All participants must commit to following Virginia, Fairfax County, and Herndon Optimist Youth Basketball/Cheerleading COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols or should not register for our youth basketball/cheerleading program this year. If after registering, participants refuse to follow the COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols, they will be removed from the basketball/cheerleading program with no refund of fees paid.
Parents/guardians, family members, and spectators will be allowed inside the school provided they wear a face covering (nose and mouth) at all times and whenever possible maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household.
Players/Cheerleaders and Referees must wear a face covering (nose and mouth) and maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household when not on the basketball court; Players/Cheerleaders and Referees will NOT be required to wear a face covering while actively participating on the court during practices and games
Coaches, Team/Equipment Managers, and Scorekeepers must wear a face covering (nose and mouth) at all times while in the school and whenever possible maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household
Players/Cheerleaders will be required to bring their water bottle and hand sanitizer to practices and games, and will not be allowed to share water bottles, personal attire, or other personal equipment with others
Coaches or Team/Equipment Managers will provide team balls and periodically clean with disinfecting wipes team balls and any chairs, benches, or tables used by the team during practices or games
If any Player/Cheerleader, Referee, Coach, Team/Equipment Manager, or Scorekeeper has a positive case of COVID-19, it must be reported to the Herndon Optimist Basketball/Cheerleading Registrar. We are then required to provide information about the individual, date of last exposure to the team, and team rosters to the Fairfax County Health Department for contact tracing. Team practices and games will be paused until we are given the ok to resume or 14 days after the team’s last exposure to the individual (whichever comes first)
Base Cost:$150.00
Opened:09/06/2021 Closes: 11/30/2021
Open to: born between: 10/02/2005and10/01/2016
HOYC 2021-2022 Adult Volunteer
HOYC is run soley by volunteers. We strongly encourage at least one adult family member volunteer their time to assist with running the league or their child's squad. The league’s success is directly related to adult involvement. We have many positions available where you can help - some require a larger commitment than others, but we will gladly take any time you can give to help make this league better.
HOYC Head Coach/Assistant Coach Positions:
Head Coaches must be at least 18 years old and Assistant Coaches must be at least 15 years old as of October 1, 2021. Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement.
No cheerleading experience required for coaches. At the first few practices, the coaches will work together as a team to teach the kids the cheers. This provides consistency but also provides an opportunity for the new coaches to learn the cheers.
If you have a child that plays basketball, we will make every effort to ensure you are coaching a squad that cheers for your child’s basketball grade division, but that cannot be guaranteed. The number of cheerleaders assigned to a squad depends on the number of registrants and volunteer coaches available.
Each Head Coach that has a child participating in the program receives ONE FREE child registration!
Other HOYC Volunteer Positions:
Team Manager
Registrar
Apparel Coordinator (e.g., Uniforms, Spiritwear)
Publicity/Social Media Coordinator
Fundraising Coordinator
Special Events Coordinator (e.g., Pep Rally, Picture Day, End-of-Season Party)
There are no fees to register as a HOYC volunteer. All HOYC volunteers are expected to:
Provide additional personal information and complete a background check before participating in HOYC events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
Complete a youth abuse prevention online training and exam before participating in HOYC events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
Complete the Volunteer Building Director (VBD) online training and exam by the deadline given (see link provided under "Links")
Enforce the HOYC Code of Conduct with your squad members, parents, and spectators (see documents provided under "Forms and Documents")
Complete administrative tasks by the deadlines given by the league
Attend required coaches meetings and training/clinics
Assist with league special events (e.g., End-of-Season Event)
Implement and enforce the COVID-19 health and safety protocols specified by Virginia, Fairfax County, and HOYC (see below)
The health and safety of our volunteers, players/cheerleaders, game officials, and spectators are our highest priority. All participants must commit to following Virginia, Fairfax County, and Herndon Optimist Youth Basketball/Cheerleading COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols or should not register for our youth basketball/cheerleading program this year. If after registering, participants refuse to follow the COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols, they will be removed from the basketball/cheerleading program with no refund of fees paid.
Parents/guardians, family members, and spectators will be allowed inside the school provided they wear a face covering (nose and mouth) at all times and whenever possible maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household.
Players/Cheerleaders and Referees must wear a face covering (nose and mouth) and maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household when not on the basketball court; Players/Cheerleaders and Referees will NOT be required to wear a face covering while actively participating on the court during practices and games
Coaches, Team/Equipment Managers, and Scorekeepers must wear a face covering (nose and mouth) at all times while in the school and whenever possible maintain a six-foot distance from other participants not residing in their household
Players/Cheerleaders will be required to bring their water bottle and hand sanitizer to practices and games, and will not be allowed to share water bottles, personal attire, or other personal equipment with others
Coaches or Team/Equipment Managers will provide team balls and periodically clean with disinfecting wipes team balls and any chairs, benches, or tables used by the team during practices or games
If any Player/Cheerleader, Referee, Coach, Team/Equipment Manager, or Scorekeeper has a positive case of COVID-19, it must be reported to the Herndon Optimist Basketball/Cheerleading Registrar. We are then required to provide information about the individual, date of last exposure to the team, and team rosters to the Fairfax County Health Department for contact tracing. Team practices and games will be paused until we are given the ok to resume or 14 days after the team’s last exposure to the individual (whichever comes first)
