About Football & Cheer

Welcome to the 57th season of Panther Football & Cheer! Panthers is a competitive tackle football and cheer organization, open to athletes who live in Downers Grove and surrounding areas. We also offer a flag football program. The Panthers is a travel league, with opponents in the western suburbs. We are members of the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL). Our home field is Doerhoefer Park in Downers Grove.

The Panthers focus on developing the fundamentals of football and cheerleading, through teamwork and sportsmanship. Every is welcome to play.  All tackle football players are placed on a team based on age, weight, and ability after the first week of practice. Cheerleaders are assigned to a cheer squad, based on age.

Age requirements:

  • Tackle football players must be between 7-14 years old by August 1 of the current year.
  • Cheerleaders must be between 6-14 years old by August 1 of the current year.

To be eligible to play flag football, players must be 5-7 years old by August 1 of the current year. *For safety concerns any 7 year old that weighs over 70lbs will not be eligible to play at the Flag level but is welcome to join our 8U tackle football team.

Please see our Tackle Football, Flag Football, Sideline Cheer and Competitive Cheer FAQ pages for more information