RAINDROPS: Our beginner team offers an introduction to the exciting sport of cheerleading. This is the youngest team (typically preschool through 1st graders new to cheer) and novice squad, focusing on basic tumbling, simple cheers and stunts, chants, dances and jumps, and learn age appropriate cheerleading skills to prepare for performing at exhibition events. The Raindrops team practices for 60-90 minutes once a week at Larchmont Elementary School in Mount Laurel. Additional practices may be added on the spring floor to prepare for competitions. 

LEVEL 1 COMPETITIVE TEAM(S)
FLURRIES & THUNDER:
Our intermediate teams will transition from exhibition to competitive and are designed to continue building on fundamental entry level cheer skills including tumbling, motions, stunts, chants, jumps, and dance. Emphasis is placed on correct technique, form and building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. It is recommended that cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class. Basic tumbling for this team includes: forward rolls, cartwheels, bridges, round-offs, and working toward front and back walkovers. These teams practices at Larchmont Elementary School for 1 - 1.5 hours twice a week from September – early March. Occasional spring floor practices to be added to prepare for competitions.

ELITE LEVEL 1 TEAM
STORM: (Evaluations required for team placement)  Our competitive Level 1 team is designed to continue building on appropriate level cheer skills including tumbling, motions, stunts, chants, jumps, and dance. Emphasis is placed on correct technique, form and building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Attention is directed toward developing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to master the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is required that Level 1 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; a MLCA tumble class is available at a group rate. Level 1 tumbling skills: forward rolls, cartwheels, bridges, round-offs, front and back walkovers (working toward back handsprings). The squad practices two days during the week: 2 hours at Larchmont Elementary School and 1.5 - 2 hours at a local gym (1 hour of spring floor practice, and may include 1 hour required tumble class the same night). Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September.

ELITE LEVEL 2 TEAM(S)
LIGHTNING: (Evaluations required for team placement) Our Lightning team won the National Championship at the 2021 Recreational Cheer Championships in Orlando, FL!  Our competitive Level 2 team focuses on continuing to build cheer skills including tumbling, motions, stunts, chants, jumps, and dance. Emphasis is placed on correct technique and form, plus building the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Additional emphasis is directed toward developing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to master the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is mandatory that Level 2 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; MLCA offers a team tumble class at a group rate. Levels 2 encompasses connected tumbling; skills include cartwheels, round-offs, standing back handsprings, jumps into back handsprings, connected running tumbling (e.g. round-off into a back handspring). The squad practices two days during the week including 2 hours at Larchmont Elementary School and 2 - 2.5 hours at a local gym (1 – 1.5 hours of spring floor practice, and may include 1 hour required tumble class the same night). A third day of practice may be added as needed at Larchmont School and additional spring floor practices during the season to prepare for competitions. Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September. 

*If there are enough skilled athletes, this level may be divided into two teams:
• Level 2 – these athletes demonstrate level 2 skills in stunts, jumps, and tumbling
• Level 2.1 - these athletes demonstrate level 2 skills in stunts and jumps, but have level 1 tumbling skills: forward rolls, cartwheels, bridges, round-offs, front and back walkovers (working toward back handsprings)

ELITE LEVEL 3 TEAM
HAIL: (Evaluations required for team placement) Our Hail team came in 2nd in the Nation the 2022 Recreational Cheer Championships in Orlando, FL!  Currently, this is our highest-level team that focuses on executing previously learned skills including tumbling, motions, stunts, chants, jumps, and dance. Emphasis is placed on excellent technique and form, plus knowledge of the proper foundation for safety and advancement. Additional emphasis is directed toward increasing the necessary strength and flexibility to enable the cheerleader to execute the skills and to provide the physical basis needed for more advanced skills. It is mandatory that Level 3 cheerleaders are enrolled in a tumbling class; MLCA offers a team tumble class at a group rate through local gyms (in lieu private classes are permitted however group class encouraged). Levels 3 encompasses more connected tumbling; skills include, jump hurdle round-off/front walkovers into back handsprings, standing two back handsprings, jumps into back handsprings, connected running tumbling (e.g. round-off/front walkover into multiple back handsprings or back tuck). This team requires more advanced stunting and tumbling including tucks. Athletes on the Level 3 team are expected to have mastered a majority of level 2 skills and be prepared for the next level of stunting and tumbling at the beginning of the season. The squad practices two days during the week including 2 hours at Larchmont Elementary School and 2 - 2.5 hours at a local gym (includes 1.5 hours of spring floor practice, and 1 hour required tumble class, which may be on a separate night). A third day of practice may be added as needed at Larchmont School and additional spring floor practices at a local gym during the season to prepare for competitions. Athletes must attend a 2-hour stunt clinic and a 2-day Cheer Choreography Camp at the beginning of the season in late August/early September.

Please note the elite teams are an additional time commitment. If placed, each athlete and parent will receive an agreement, committing to the time required to make this a successful season. The contract will act as guidelines for the season and will be enforced as outlined.