Desert Cheer Athletix (DCA) FAQ
What is All Star Cheer?
All Star Cheer is competitive version of cheerleading where the teams don't cheer for another sport, THEY ARE THE SPORT! Children start as young as 5 years old and the teams generally practice year long, 1-2 times per week, and compete in 6-10 regional and national competitions from September to April. Teams are divided by age and skill level so teams compete against teams from other gyms who are at the same level. All Star Cheer routines are typically 2:30 seconds long and include tumbling, cheer, and dance skills. Cheerleading is a physically demanding sport and is an excellent way for kids to stay in shape (or get in shape). Competitors will gain physical skills, self confidence and self discipline.
Who can compete?
All kids can compete in All Star Cheer. Every child on the team competes every time, every child is important, every child is a Star!! We are working to build teams for as many age and skill levels as possible. Whether your child is 5 or 14....... no tumbling, no problem. It is never too late to start to fulfill a dream!
Where do you compete?
DCA goes to local competitions in Tucson & Phoenix and typically goes to a National Competition in California to help keep costs manageable. The competitions are usually held in a major city convention center such as the Anaheim Convention Center or Phoenix Civic Center. Sometimes the events are covered by local or national news and sports media such as ESPN or local television stations.
What do I need to start?
All you need to start is a great attitude and willingness to learn. Desert Cheer Athletix will teach you the dance, cheer, and tumbling skills you need to compete. Each year you will be placed based on your skills at the beginning of the season. At level one, there are no skill requirements at all. At the higher levels, competitors are expected to have substantial cheerleading and tumbling skills which generally require extensive training. Our Teams start at ages as young as 5 years old with junior teams allowing competitors as old as 14. We also plan to have a squad for the parents of our All Star Cheerleaders which perform at selected regional and national championships against parent squads from other gyms.
How does Desert Cheer Athletix All-Star Cheerleading differ from school cheer or other gyms?
1. We don't cheer for other sports, WE ARE THE SPORT! All Star Cheer is purely for the sake of competing against other squads at a similar skill/age level.
2. Everyone can be a cheerleader in All Star Cheer, not just a select few. Regardless of your age or starting skill level, we have a squad for you.
3. We don't perform in the outdoor heat (usually)! We compete in major venues like the Tucson Convention Center.
4. We have special equipment for a safer training environment. We practice and compete on spring floors which reduce injuries by 85% (school squads generally practice and compete on mats only). We train in a dedicated facility equipped for tumbling and cheer training. This means that our gym is generally a safer and better environment for training cheerleaders.
5. We have current University of Arizona active cheerleaders and USASF certified coaches on our staff. Because we are a professional business, we pay our coaches. This allows us to attract and retain excellent coaches.
6. Most of our teams practice at least 4 hours a week plus included free tumbling. This is more gym time that most cheer gyms offer for similar money.
7. Costs are as low as we can get them. We will have a parent run booster club to raise funds for competition fees to help minimize out of pocket costs. Our monthly fees are equal to or lower than any other Gym in Tucson.
8. The Desert Cheer Center is an open gym, parents are always welcome to stay and watch their children train. We are not only gym owners, we are also parents and our daughter cheers here also. We try to treat parents like we would like to be treated.
9. All-Star cheerleading is a very competitive sport and everybody loves to win. That being said, we train children and children need to have fun or they burn out and don't have happy childhood experiences. We train to win but we do not train to win at any cost. We want the kids to enjoy their experience and have fun making new friends with teammates while also learning important life skills like hard work, discipline, competitiveness, and team work. The children come first at Desert Cheer Athletix !!.
Can All-Star Cheerleading help me get on a school squad?
YES! The skills you learn in All Star Cheer are the same skills you will need to successfully try out for your school squad. With the rising level of competency in both styles of cheer, the sooner you start, the better your chances.
Are there Cheerleading scholarships to help pay for college?
Yes! Many colleges and universities now offer scholarships for cheerleading through the athletic department.
Are there any important credentials or organizations to look for?
Yes, there is now an umbrella non-profit organization that is setting standards for levels, safety, and coach credentials called the US All Star Federation (USASF).
How much does it cost?
There are different costs depending on which team you are on. Fees include those for registration, your team practices, uniforms, competition, music and choreography, etc.
Budgetary costs for some of these items over a full season are:
Team Practices....................................................................................... $80 / Month
Competition Uniform ..............................................................................Approx. $200
Cheer Shoes ............................................................................................$40 - 75
Competition Fees (May be partially covered by Fundraising) .........$35 – 100 per Comp.
Practice Attire (Black Shorts, Red Shirt) ..............................................$15 - 25
Choreography (if we use an outside source) .....................................$100 – 175 per person
Competition Music ...................................................................................Included by DCA
We understand that the cost of these items is not inconsequential and we will do everything practical to space out the costs of these items between now and the 1st competition.
How do I know that DCA is in "Good Standing" with the State of Arizona?
Organizations, like Desert Cheer Athletix, are typically registered with the State of Arizona as either a Limited Liability Company or a Corporation. The Arizona Corporation Commission has an online database that allows you to confirm that the organization is in "Good Standing" with the State. Here is a link (Click Here) to their website that allows you to look up the organization and see their status.