​​

• Full Season Training & Instruction w/ State Title Qualified Coaches & Junior Coaches 

• Dance Instruction & Training with Pro Choreographers

• Complete Cheer Uniform & Accessories (Uniform, Socks, Shoes, & Bow)

• MCCA Sponsor T-shirt

• (4) Regular Season ICA Competitions 

• (1)  In-House Family and Friend Showcase 

• (4) Customized Competition Gifts 

• Competition Medals

• Competition Music 

• End of Year Banquet Dinner & Dessert 

• Program Insurance

• Practice Facility Rental

• First Aid Supplies

​

​   EVENTS/ FUNDRAISERS/ TEAM BONDING... OH MY!​

​

• Team Bonding Alert: Pool Party @ Coach Jenna's in Woodstock (Swimming, Eating, Games, and more!)

• Event Alert: Float Decorating (Bring the balloons, glitter, arches, & streamers! It's almost parade time.)

• Event Alert: Breast Cancer Walk (Walk for an amazing cause! Lets stop the fight against breast cancer. Wear pink!)

• Event Alert: Parade Participation (Ride the float with us at the McHenry Milk Days Parade & Settlers Day Parade)

• Fundraiser Alert: Barn Dance w/ Gift Raffle Baskets (Food & drink tickets available- try your luck at winning an array of amazing gift baskets)​

• Fundraiser Alert: Fill My Bow (Help our athletes raise funds for competitions throughout the year along with helping them practice in a safe and comfortable environment).

• Fundraiser Alert: Little Caeser's Pizza (Buy a pizza and help support our athletes qualify for state this year!) 

• Fundraiser Alert: Cheerleader Car Wash (Come on out and get your truck or car washed at Com24 Heating And Air Conditioning! 1193 Eastwood in Woodstock- Date TBD).

​

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS​

​

​

• Cheer Season will run June through November 2026 

• Practice location: TBD

• Practices will be held 2–3 days per week, and coaches will post their specific practice schedules in late May.

• All practices become mandatory three (3) weeks before any competition. Please keep this in mind when planning vacations, weekend activities, or other time away.

• MCCA reserves the right to refuse registration if they see fit.

• Practices are CLOSED to parents or guardians.

• All important season details are on the Band App. Parents must check the app daily and acknowledge  posts.

• Registration fees do not include state fees, state gifts, or MCCA practice wear.

• MCCA is a proud registered member of the Illinois Cheerleading Association (ICA).

​

​

ATTENDANCE​

​​

​

• Attendance is required. Extra practices may be added to improve the team, and families must be flexible.

​

• Attendance is mandatory. Be on time, plan around practices, and treat MCCA as a full-season commitment. Plan all other commitments, sports, and appointments around MCCA.

​

• Athletes may have no more than 4 unexcused absences per season. All practices during the 3 weeks before a competition and all competitions, including showcases, are mandatory. Vacations during competition season are not approved, and conflicts must be reported before the season starts—failure to do so may result in suspension. Routines and stunts are carefully planned, so missing athletes make it difficult to fill positions.

​

• Parents signing up their athlete for competitive cheer must understand the full commitment. Athletes may have no more than 4 unexcused absences and must stay home if sick. Practices are held 2–3 days per week. Families must make timely payments, support their athletes at fundraisers, contribute at least 6 volunteer hours a season, and participate in at least half of assigned fundraising events to help raise funds, build community, and support the organization.

​

​

WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?

​​​​

•  Option 1: 5 (five) Installments of $210/month (start making payments as early as January 2026)

​

• Option 2: 6 (six) Installments of $175/month (upon registration) until paid off.​​

​

• Option 3: Cheer for FREE--- Get A Sponsor!

  • Ask a family friend, your employer, or a local business to sponsor your athlete. Great options: pediatricians, dentists, restaurants, bakeries, vets, auto shops, gas stations, flower shops, grocery stores, and more. Sponsorships help cover costs and make cheering possible!​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Option 4: Can’t find a payment option that works? MCCA works with every family—we don’t turn anyone away. If you need a different payment plan, contact jenna@mchenrycountycheeracademy.com or mauri@mchenrycountycheeracademy.com.

​

• Option 5: Pay in Full ($1050)

​

POLICY & PROCEDURE

​

• No Refund Policy: MCCA does not allow refunds. Once an athlete registers, all payments are non-refundable, even if the athlete withdraws or does not participate. Families may not stop payment, dispute charges, or cancel checks. Violating this policy will result in removal from the program and a $50 fee for any stop payments or disputes. Providing false information that leads to a chargeback will also place the family in negative standing.

​

• Auto Payment Policy: Families must submit an automatic payment slip before the season and can start payments immediately. Payments more than 5 days late incur a $35 fee and an additional $35 for every 5 days past due. Repeated missed payments place the account in negative standing, preventing athletes from practicing until the balance is resolved.

​

• Volunteer Policy: All families must complete 6 volunteer hours per season. A $100 deposit check will be collected at registration and held until volunteer hours are fulfilled by November 1; checks will be cashed after November 1st if volunteer hours are incomplete. Families who complete their volunteer hours will have their deposit returned after the season in December. Volunteer hours must be recorded and approved by the board. Parents do not determine or self-report when hours are fulfilled.

​

• Guide To State Policy: If our squad earns a Bid to State, families are responsible for state fees, athlete gifts, and hotel accommodations. This is a huge accomplishment, and MCCA will assist with fundraising whenever possible. State fees and gifts ($265) are not included in the registration fee, and a separate check will be collected at registration. Hotel fees are not included in the $265. If the team does not make State, the check will be returned in December. State fees and gifts are required for every athlete who qualifies for State.

​

​

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

​

Competition Attendance: Coaches, managers, and board members will decide which events each team attends based on availability at registration. Registration fees cover your athlete’s entrance to each event—no refunds for missed competitions. Please reserve the entire day, as exact performance times are not released until the week of the event. All teams will receive performance times the week of each competition or as soon as ICA publishes the final schedule.

​​​​​

• Friday, May 15, 2026 >>>> MCCA Informational Night- A Guide to the 2026 Season!

  • Location: TBD

  • 6-7pm​​

​

• Friday, June 5, 2026 >>>> Meet the Coaches/ Athlete Orientation (All Squads)

  • Location: TBA

  • Time: 530pm-730pm

​

• Monday, June 8, 2026 >>>> 1st official Day of Practice ALL SQUADS

• ​​(K-3rd) Practice Days TBA

• (4-5th) Practice Days: TBA

• (6-8th) Practice Days: TBA

• (High School Cheer) Practice Days: TBA

​

• Monday, June 15, 2026 >>>> Fill My Bow Fundraiser

  • Squad who completely fills their bow gets ICE CREAM PARTY!​​​​

  • Fundraiser due on July 20, 2026

​

• Saturday, June 27th thru July 12, 2026 >>>> (Gym Closing)

  • ​Mandatory 2 week Break per ICA

​

• Monday, July 13, 2026 >>>> Practices Resume 

​

• Saturday, July 18, 2026 >>>> Uniform Fittings 

  • 1324 Oakview Terrace, Woodstock, IL. 60098​

  • Time: 9am-1pm​​​​​

​

• Sunday, July 25, 2026 >>>> Pool Party (Team Bonding Event)

  • 1324 Oakview Terrace, Woodstock, IL. 60098​

  • All Squads Welcome 

  • Pool Party from 12-4pm

  • MCCA will supply snacks, dinner, and drinks (juice-water-soda).

  • Bring swimsuit, sunscreen, swim arms/ life jacket (if needed), towel, and an extra pair of clothes to change into.

  • We'll be swimming, dancing, playing team bonding games, and havin' a lot of fun!​​

​​

• Saturday, August 8, 2026 >>>> MCCA Car Wash & Lemonade Stand Fundraiser 

  • Come on out and support your LOCAL MCCA CHEERLEADERS!

  • Tell EVERYONE! Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Neighbors, Co-workers!

  • Location: Com24 Heating and Air~ 1193 Eastwood Drive, Woodstock, IL.  60098

  • Time: 9-3pm

  • Outside Wash Only (no interiors)- Cars $10, Trucks $15, Motorcycles $10

  • Fresh Lemonade for $1.00​​​​

​​​

• Friday, August 28, 2026 >>>> MCCA In-House Showcase Performance​​

  • Time: 6:30pm SHARP  Athlete Arrival: 5:30pm***

  • Location: TBA

  • In-House Performances: Entry is $5 per guest (children under 5 are free). Drinks and light snacks will be served. These performances are just as important as ICA competitions and are open to the public. Athletes will showcase their group routines and what they’ve learned this season—come out and support them!

​

• Saturday, October 17, 2026 (TENTATIVE DATE) >>>> Care4 Breast Cancer Hybrid 5K

  • Time: 9am-12pm (Please arrive by 8:30am)

  • Woodstock North High School- 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL.

  • Join our Walk against Breast Cancer! MCCA will walk as a team! Wear Pink!

  • Registration Required: https://www.care4breastcancer.org/  

  • The Care4 Breast Cancer 5K is not only a day of celebration, inspiration and hope, it actually makes a huge IMPACT in our community.  Our Care4 Community raises funds to support Family Health Partnership Clinic in its mission to Care4 our neighbors that do not have access to health care services providing breast cancer screenings, early diagnosis, preventative care and breast health education to the uninsured adults of McHenry County!  ​

​

• Friday, December 4, 2025 >>>> MCCA Awards & Dinner Show Banquet 

• Time: 6-9pm

• Niko's Grill & Pub- 7509 South Grant Highway, Marengo​

• Appetizers, Dinner, & Dessert

• Coach's Season Recap, Slideshow, Awards Ceremony, & Special Guest

• Parents $25/each, Kids 4 and under FREE, Kids 5-14 y/o $15/each, Athletes FREE

​

​

​​

​