Cheerleader must be in Kindergarten thru Eighth Grade during the Fall season of the current year.  Cheerleaders 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.

The season typically starts the first Monday in August of the current year.   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 (1) time per week for a maximum of two hours between the hours of 5:00-8:00 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.  In addition to providing the following cheer items as demonstrated in the chart below, registration fees help cover league fees, administrative costs, park field usage costs including lights, insurance cost, etc.

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 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 warm ups 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.**