Cheerleader must be in 1st thru 8th Grade during the Fall season of the current year. Cheerleader will be assigned to a squad based on their grade level.

Panthers is a 100% volunteer run program.   Depending on your level of comfort, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.  You can help at any of the following levels:

• Board Member
• Head Coach
• Assistant Coach
• Team Admin
• Spirit Wear Sales Committee
• Event Planning Committee

If you would like to get your feet wet, please Contact Us.

The Panthers play regular season games against teams affiliated with the Bill George Football League.  Some of the towns include Lombard, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Bartlett, Elk Grove, and West Chicago; for additional information and directions, please visit our BGYFL page.  In addition to cheering at home/away games during the season, Squads may also travel up to 90 minutes for their competitions.

The season typically starts the first Monday in August of the current year.   Squads will cheer at roughly 8 games with 4-5 games being Home games and the remainder being away.  Panther Cheerleaders will also support the football teams throughout the Flag Bowl and BGYFL playoffs in Mid-November.

**Teams that advance to State Cheerleading Competition will end Mid-December. **

Squads will practice up to (3) times per week for a maximum of two hours per practice between the hours of 5:00-9:00 PM. 

Practices typically start the first week of August at O’Neil Middle School (635 59^th St. Downers Grove). 

Around the third week in August, practices will move to Memorial Park (Maple Avenue, between Main & Belmont) in Downers Grove. The exact date for moving to Memorial Park is determined by the Downers Grove Park District. Dates are sent out as soon as we are informed.

Panthers is a non-profit organization.  Registration fees help cover league fees, administrative costs, park field usage costs including lights, insurance cost, indoor space usage on cheer mats or artificial turf fields.

Parents will be able to purchase their Uniforms thru Panthers which they will be able to keep to use for multiple seasons.

Parents will be responsible for providing the following items..

**The 3rd through 8th Grade squads also have the opportunity to qualify and attend the ICA State Competition in December. State qualifying teams will incur an additional expense to cover state registration fees and additional indoor practice space.**

 1st and 2nd Grade squads will compete in one UYFL Cheerleading Competition.  3rd through 8th Grade squads will compete in a minimum of three (3) ICA Regional Competitions.  The 3rd through 8th Grade squads also have the opportunity to qualify and attend the ICA State Competition in December.  State qualifying teams will incur an additional expense to cover state registration fees and additional indoor practice space.

In order to keep registration costs down, cheerleaders will be required to participate in ONE mandatory fundraiser totaling $100 which is included in the registration fee.  The raffle tickets will be distributed during one of our Uniform Fittings which you will need to attend to complete registration. 

Refunds requested before cheer uniforms and/or warmups have been ordered will be refunded the paid registration fee, minus $35, and minus any discounts given at the time of registration.  For refunds requested after cheer uniforms and/or warm ups have been ordered, 50% of the paid registration fee will be refunded upon return of the uniform. 

**No requests for registration fee refunds will be accepted after the second Monday in August for any reason.  There are no refunds for the Panthers pre-season camp.**