Your athlete must be in Kindergarten thru 8th grade during the fall season of the current year.  Your athlete 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 volunteer, 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.

The season typically starts the last week in July/the first week in August. During the regular season, 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.

Squads will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays between 5pm and 8pm for a minimum or (2) and a maximum of (4) hours per week depending on the age of the squad. While outdoors during summer months practices will be longer and more often. As teams move indoors the amount of practice days/time will reduce depending on indoor space availability. 

Where are practices?

Our practice locations include O’Neil Middle School (outdoors), Memorial Park (outdoors),  Westmont Yard (indoors) and other potential indoor locations in the Downers Grove or surrounding area. Exact dates of moving are determined by the Downers Grove Park District and dependent on indoor availability. Schedules will be communicated via email prior to the season start and are subject to change. Ample notification will be sent out as needed. 

Panthers is a non-profit organization. Registration fees help cover fees such as league fees, administrative costs, park field usage costs including lights, and insurance costs. Registration fees do not cover uniform pieces.

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. 

Our Sideline Cheer is meant as an opportunity for those that are interested in learning about the sport Cheerleading in a fun environment with minimal commitment.

The squad is expected to sideline cheer at the scheduled home and away games along with performing a halftime routine.  Additionally, there is the Panther Flag bowl and BGYFL Playoffs at the end of the season where they would also sideline cheer and perform a halftime routine.

In order to keep registration costs down, cheerleaders will be able to participate in one fundraiser totaling $100 which is included in the registration fee.  The raffle tickets will be distributed during registration and must be turned back in the first week of practice in order to be entered in the raffle.