Date: 7/31/23

Livonia Blue Jay Cheer 2023 Season KICK OFF

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The 2023 cheer season begins on Monday, August 7, 2023

Our 2023 Slogan: Together as One

Please be sure to READ this email in its ENTIRETY! We understand it is long, we apologize in advance, but please understand this email contains TONS of information! Most importantly for new families to learn about what happens during our season, but also equally important for returning veteran families as there are many important changes this year.

Practice Schedule:

Our practice days will remain the same throughout the season apart from the month of October when we move indoors. Once an indoor space has been secured, we will notify families of that schedule.

Practice is always held at Mies Park (Grant Elementary)

All Four Squads Will Practice 3 Days: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Practice Times: August 7 through August 25

·         Flag 6:00pm – 7:30pm

·         Freshman, JV and Varsity 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Practice Times: August 28 through September 29

·         Flag 5:30pm – 7:00pm

·         Freshman, JV and Varsity 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Indoor Practice Schedule: October 2 through October 27

·         Location, Days and Times TBD

What to Wear and Important Reminders for the Full Season:

·         Hair up!! All hair must be up and off the face and neck.

·         Athletic clothing. NO tube tops or sport bras!!!

·         Tennis shoes and socks!

·         BRING WATER!!! WATER! WATER! WATER!

·         Make sure your child eats throughout the day and has a small nutritious snack before practice and games.

·         USE THE RESTROOM!!!!!!!!

** Please dress accordingly for weather conditions! We will practice and have games rain or shine! Practice and games will only be stopped or cancelled for severe weather or if lightning is in the area. Depending on the time, games/practice will begin again when the threat has passed or there has been no lighting for 30 minutes. **

Attendance:

Attendance is important and will be strictly enforced this season. Our athletes work hard at every practice to learn the sideline cheers, a halftime routine and Cheerfest routines. When athletes are missing, it delays the learning process. We understand that families often have other obligations. If your family has a planned vacation during the season, please let your child’s head coach AND a cheer director know of those planned vacation dates. If your child participates in other sports/activities and you expect to share/split practices, please let your child’s head coach AND a cheer director know this as well.

If your child is out sick or with an injury, a doctor’s note will be required to return to practice (no exceptions).

If your child has more than 5 unexcused absences during the regular season, they will be unable to participate in Cheerfest. If your child misses a practice during the week leading up to a game and does not know the learned material, they may be asked to sit for a portion of the game and/or not participate in the halftime routine for that game (this will be at the discretion of head coaches). 

Sports Physicals:

Sports physicals are required for all athletes. DUE BY FIRST PRACTICE!! (sports physicals must be dated after April 15, 2023) – These will be uploaded to Sports Engine, just like you uploaded the birth certificate. There is not a specific form required, you may use a form your doctor’s office provides or use the following link to print and take with you.

https://www.mhsaa.com/portals/0/Documents/health%20safety/physical2page.pdf

**See attached PDF for instructions on uploading the sports physical to sports engine**

Raffle Drawing:

Families may begin turning in raffle tickets to any Blue Jay football or cheer director beginning August 7 at the practice field. All tickets must be turned in by August 16. If you have not turned in your tickets to a director at the practice field by August 16, you will be responsible to turn them in at the drawing location by 5:45pm on the day of the drawing. ALL THE STAPLES MUST BE REMOVED!

·         The raffle drawing will be held August 17, 2023, at 6:00pm at Bentley Field on 5 Mile Road (next to the Livonia Rec Center).

·         Participants are not required to be present to win.

·         The drawing will stream live (or be recorded) and on the public LJAL Blue Jays Facebook page.

o   First Prize: $1000

o   Second Prize: $750

o   Third Prize $500

o   Fourth Prize: $250

·         Athletes will still have normal practice on this day at MIES PARK (Grant Elementary). Practice WILL NOT be held at Bentley Field.

 

Picture Day: Thursday, August 24 at Mies Park (during practice)

Picture Day Pros will be taking our team and individual athlete photos.

 

BIG NEWS…. Picture Day Pros will have digital background options this year!! We are thrilled to have this option available!

 

Cheerleaders will not have regular practice and will be free to leave once photos are finished. More details and specific arrival times for each squad will be given closer to the actual date.

 

Picture Day Ordering Information:

 

ORDER NOW!  Discounted pricing is only available now until the day pictures are taken.  On-line Orders must be made no later than 5 days after picture day to avoid shipping & handling fees.

To receive discounted pricing, use the following link to pre-order online. thepicturedaypros.com/order/  

Please print your confirmation email and bring to picture day!

You must enter LJAL Blue Jays in the league field. 

**Please note, when ordering for more than one child or placing orders for buddy pictures, a separate order must be completed for each pose. **

Simply bring the printed confirmation of your online order OR completed order form (attached to this email) with payment on picture day.  

Click here for full product offering and discounted pricing available online only!  

If you have any questions regarding picture day, please contact Picture Day Pros directly at (888) 416-1516.

Spirit Wear: Spirit Wear will be available to purchase soon for athletes and families. Once a link to the web store is available, we will pass it along.

 

Yard Signs: Yard signs will soon be available for purchase. Once information and pricing are available, we will pass that information along as well.

 

Volunteer Spots:

Our organization is run 100% by volunteers. All families will be required to fill 4 volunteer spots. Volunteers are in high demand for home games but are also needed for away games.

If you sign up to volunteer and are unable to make it, it is your responsibility to find a replacement for that spot.

It is highly recommended to volunteer for the game before or after your child’s game. For example, if your child is a freshman, you should volunteer during the flag or JV game.

Team moms (football and cheer) will only qualify for 2 volunteer spots. Those families will be required to sign up for 2 additional volunteer spots.

A link will be distributed by the start of the season for families to secure their spots!!!!!

Concession Donations:

Donations are needed to supply the concession stand for home games. Donations can be brought to the practice field (Mies Park) on any practice day during the week prior to the home games. Donations should be brought to the container located on the Mies Park side of the practice field.

Flag: candy and chips

Freshman: Soda/Pop

JV: Gatorade/Juice

Varsity: Bottled Water

All Things Family Day: Saturday, September 30, 2023

Family Day is a fun day to celebrate our athletes and their families. At the start of each game on this day, families will be asked to line up on the 50-yard line just prior to the start of their child’s game. Each child’s name will be announced, and they will run out to be with their family on the 50-yard line. Families and athletes will remain on the 50-yard line for the National Anthem and then families will return to the stands.

·         Special Person: Each cheerleader will select a “special person” to cheer with them on this day during the 1st and 3rd quarters. Their “special person” may be anybody they choose (no younger siblings). Selected “special persons” will be invited to a practice during the week prior to the family day game (Tentative Date for special person practice will be Thursday, September 28 for the first half of practice).

·         Family Day Theme: Cheerleaders will also be themed for Family Day. This year’s theme has not yet been decided. Team moms will put together special outfits for the athletes to wear based on the theme and will collect a fee, typically not greater than $25.00 per family to purchase these items. This fee is optional and not required, but please keep in mind if your family chooses not to pay the fee, their child will not receive the items.

·         Family Day Posters: Families of both football players and cheerleaders are encouraged to create a poster with pictures of their athlete to be hung up along the fence line for the duration of family day. These posters will be turned in on practice days the week prior to family day and team moms will hang them up at the game field. Families will be responsible for taking their child’s poster down when they leave the game field that day.

·         Pep Rally: On one of our practice days (exact day TBD) leading up to family day, all athletes and families are encouraged to participate in our pep rally event! The pep rally will be held during the last half of practice on the selected day. More details to come as we approach this special week of celebrating our families.

 

Game Day:

Details on uniform and hair style will be given prior to each week’s game and could vary by squad.

Cheerleaders will be expected to arrive 30 minutes (unless otherwise instructed by their head coach) prior to the start of their game to allow time to stretch, run halftime and line up for introductions.

Game Schedule: (dates and times are subject to change)

**Please pay special attention to game start times**

Away: Saturday, August 26, at Northville Stallions

o   Flag: 10:00am

o   Freshman: 12:00pm

o   JV: 2:00pm

o   Varsity: 4:00pm

Away: Saturday, September 9, at Northville Colts

o   Flag: 10:00am

o   Freshman: 12:00pm

o   JV: 2:00pm

o   Varsity: 4:00pm

Away: Sunday, September 17, at Commerce Chargers (Night Game)

o   Flag: 1:00pm

o   Freshman: 3:00pm

o   JV: 5:00pm

o   Varsity: 7:00pm

Home: Sunday, September 24, with Redford Eagles

o   Flag: 9:00am

o   Freshman: 11:00pm

o   JV: 1:00pm

o   Varsity: 3:00pm

Home: Saturday, September 30, with Livonia Falcons (Blue Jays Family Day)

o   Flag: 9:00am

o   Freshman: 11:00pm

o   JV: 1:00pm

o   Varsity: 3:00pm

Away: Saturday, October 7, at Livonia Orioles (Pink Out)

o   Flag: 9:00am

o   Freshman: 11:00pm

o   JV: 1:00pm

o   Varsity: 3:00pm

Home: Sunday, October 15, with Novi Bobcats

o   Flag: 9:00am

o   Freshman: 11:00pm

o   JV: 1:00pm

o   Varsity: 3:00pm

**Playoff Schedule TBD**

Divisional Playoff Games will be hosted by Livonia Falcons and Novi Bobcats

Consolation Playoff Games will be hosted by Northville Colts, Livonia Blue Jays and Dearborn Lions

Superbowl will be held at Catholic Central High School

**Our cheerleaders will be expected to participate in all post season games if their squad makes the playoffs and/or Super Bowl game, providing the schedules do not conflict with any Cheerfest related events**

Cheerfest Potluck:

Our potluck event is for athletes only. This event is a time to celebrate their hard work all season and wish them luck as they go off to compete. At this event, each squad will also showcase their routines for each other as they often do not get to see each other compete at Cheerfest. Location, date, and time is TBD (usually the Thursday or Friday evening before Cheerfest). There will also be a signup genius that will come for families to donate items for the event, as well as extra snacks and water for the athletes to have during Cheerfest.

Cheerfest:

Date: October 28, 2023

Location: Northville High School

Details regarding ticket sales, performance times and vendors will be released closer to the event.

Cheerfest is what our cheerleaders look forward to throughout the entire season. Each squad will learn two routines, a pom routine, and a cheer routine (flag will only do a pom routine). The kids work hard all season long learning these routines to compete against the 11 other teams in the SMYFA league.

Year End Coaches and Athlete Gifts:

Each squad’s team mom will typically put together year end gifts for each of the athletes and their coaches to be given either at our Cheerfest Potluck or handed out at banquet. Team moms will usually begin collecting money from families to put these gifts together mid-season. Fees are typically not more than $25 per athlete. More information will come from each squad team mom.

Yearbooks and Banquet Tickets:

Yearbooks sales and banquet ticket information will be available later in the season. As soon as the information is available, we will relay it to families!

Year End Banquet:

Date: November 12, 2023

Time: 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Laurel Manor, 39000 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48150

Additional details will be released closer to the event.

Reminder: ALL CHEER FAMILIES (veterans and new) PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP!

Livonia Blue Jays Cheer

We will share tons of information here. Please make sure to answer the registration questions, or you will not be accepted. This is a private group.

**Even if you are a veteran family, please make sure you are on the page. We have done some cleaning of members and we want to ensure all current Blue Jay Cheer families are in the group. **

If you made it this far, THANK YOU! We understand this was a TON of information at one time. We strive to make sure that families are informed and aware of all things to come throughout the season. We will continue to put this information out there repeatedly! As much information that is here, it is highly likely I have missed some small detail……

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us.

Let’s get this season started! GO BLUE JAYS!! Together as ONE!!!!

Your 2023 Livonia Blue Jay Cheer Directors,

Jaclyn, Pam, Stacey and Heather

**The information above is also attached at a PDF**

                            2023 
            TOGETHER AS ONE