Question 1

My athlete can’t make one of the placement dates. What do we do?

Accepted Answer

We strongly encourage all athletes to attend our group placement sessions whenever possible. These sessions are a critical part of our evaluation process, as they allow coaches to assess athletes in a team setting including stunting ability, timing, group chemistry, and how skills are executed alongside other athletes.

Nonetheless, we understand that conflicts can arise. Here’s how to navigate them:

Phase 1
U8 Athletes:
If unable to attend their group placement, they only need to book one individual assessment to replace Phase 1.

U12 / U16 / U18 Athletes – Jumps & Dance + Stunt & Tumble:

If your athlete can attend at least one of the required sessions, please register them for that group placement.
If they have a non-flexible conflict that prevents them from attending one or both sessions, they will need to book an individual assessment to replace each missed component.
Please include a note in your booking indicating that the individual assessment is replacing a group session.

Worlds Athletes:
Please register for Worlds placements online and send a video (max 5 minutes) of your stunting, jumps and tumbling skills (preferrably as part of a recent competitive routine) to info@alphacheer.ca to replace your in-gym evaluation.

Flyer Evaluations:
Athletes who cannot attend the group flyer placement but wish to be considered as a flyer must book a separate individual flyer assessment.
Please note: Individual flyer assessments are ground-based only, as we are unable to coordinate full stunt groups in a private setting.

Important:
All athletes must still complete the intake form, even if replacing group sessions with individual assessments.

Phase 2 (Training Groups)
Each athlete will be assigned to a training group with three scheduled evaluation sessions.
If your athlete misses one or two sessions due to a conflict, coaches will make note of this and ensure they are thoroughly evaluated when present.
In some cases, an alternate evaluation opportunity with another group may be offered—but this is not guaranteed.

Additional Notes:
Placement fees are not prorated or refundable, regardless of attendance.

Our goal is always to ensure every athlete is evaluated fairly and placed in the best possible environment for their success—even when schedules require some flexibility.

Question 2

How can I reschedule my placement booking?

Accepted Answer

To request a change to your athlete’s placement booking, please email info@alphacheer.ca and include:
Your athlete’s name and/or the name under which the placement was booked
The current session date and time
The new session you would like to transfer into

Please note that many of our placement sessions have sold out, so transfers are only possible if there is availability in the requested session. We recommend checking current availability online before submitting your request.

If you are unable to attend your scheduled session, placement fees are non-refundable.

To help families manage scheduling conflicts, we offer a BAND buy & sell group, where you can connect with other members to swap or sell spots in placement sessions and other classes. To request an invitation, please email info@alphacheer.ca

Question 3

Can I be put on a waitlist for one of the sold out placement dates?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we do not offer a waitlist for placement sessions.

We recommend registering early to secure a spot in your preferred time, as many sessions fill quickly.

If you’re looking to change your booking, we do offer a Buy & Sell group through the BAND app, where members can connect to swap or transfer placement times. To request access to the group, or to notify us of a confirmed swap, please email info@alphacheer.ca

Question 4

Can my athlete try-out for a specific team? Can she specifically try-out for a non-tumbling team?

Accepted Answer

Athletes do not try out for specific teams—including non-tumbling teams—at Alpha. We specifically don’t establish the teams we will be having for the upcoming season before placements as many clubs do - rather we build our teams to optimize their structure based on the athletes who come out to placements. There are many teams that we know we will offer each season (e.g. U16 L1 Prep, U16 L1, U16 L2, U16 L3) but the level and age division of some teams may depend on the athletes at placements. For example, in Season 3, we had a U18 L2 NT team and the previous season we had a U18 L3 NT team.

During placements, we ask all athletes to perform any and all tumbling skills they currently have, and they are then evaluated holistically and considered for all appropriate teams based on their overall skill set.

We strongly encourage athletes—especially younger ones—to continue developing their tumbling alongside their stunting, as well-rounded skill progression is important for long-term development.
It’s also important to understand that placement on a non-tumbling team is not an automatic pathway for athletes who do not have tumbling. These teams are built with the same level of rigour as our All Star teams and typically require athletes who are exceptional stunt specialists. Simply lacking tumbling does not guarantee placement on a non-tumbling team.

If an athlete is still developing in certain areas, they may be placed on a team that better supports their overall growth—such as a Prep team—or, in some cases, considered for a tumbling team where they show potential to contribute at-level.

Our goal is always to place each athlete where they will be challenged, successful, and continue to grow.

Question 5

My athlete is interested in being selected for a flyer role. How can she be placed as a flyer?

Accepted Answer

Flying is a specialized role, and selection is based on a combination of factors including age, physical profile, skillset, and team needs.

Generally, athletes on the younger end of the age division range fill flyer roles. As athletes grow and progress through the sport, it’s common to transition into other stunt positions; it is rare for athletes to fly for their entire cheer journey.
It’s also important to understand that flying opportunities are limited - there are typically three times as many base positions as flyer positions on a team.

If your athlete would like to be considered for a flyer role on a U12 or older team, she must attend our Flyer Placement session, where we evaluate her ability for both primary and accessory flying roles.
If selected as a flyer for the season, athletes are expected to commit to additional training, including:

Mandatory in-gym flyer-specific classes throughout the season
A consistent at-home flexibility and conditioning program

Flying is a role that comes with both opportunity and responsibility. While many athletes aspire to fly, it requires a high level of dedication, body control, and ongoing development.

We introduced this enhanced flyer training approach last season, and athletes who fully committed saw substantial improvement — it’s an important part of building strong, successful teams.

Question 6

My athlete is in the U8 age division and wants to fly. Should she register for the U12 flyer placement?

Accepted Answer

In the U8 age division, athletes typically do not specialize in specific stunt roles like flying. At this stage, our focus is on developing well-rounded, versatile athletes, and roles are assigned based on overall team needs, choreography, and where each athlete can best contribute.

Because of this, U8 athletes are not required to attend flyer placements.
However, there are a couple of scenarios where it may make sense:

If your athlete would like to demonstrate her flying ability, she is welcome to register for the U12 flyer placement session.
If your athlete would like to be considered for a flyer role on a U12 team, attending the U12 flyer placement is required.

For most U8 athletes, we recommend focusing on building a strong foundation across all areas of the sport. As they grow, there will be more opportunities to specialize and pursue specific roles like flying.

Question 7

My athlete is working through an injury and may not be up to peak performance at placements and is worried she won’t be able to fully demonstrate her potential. Can you take this into consideration?

Accepted Answer

We understand that injuries can happen, and we do our best to be fair and flexible in these situations. That said, our placement process runs on a defined timeline, and we must finalize team selections within that window.

Our evaluations take place over a month, which often allows athletes some time to recover and still be assessed in person. If your athlete is dealing with a longer-term injury, we can offer a couple of options:

1. Video Submission for Evaluation

Your athlete may submit a video demonstrating their skills. Based on this, we can offer a team placement with the understanding that:
The athlete will be expected to perform those skills at the same standard before August choreography dates
Placement may be re-evaluated if those skills are not yet competition-ready at that time

2. Delayed Evaluation

We can wait to evaluate your athlete once they are fully recovered. However:
Placement will be based on roster availability at that time
Their preferred or “ideal” team may no longer have space, and they will be placed where there is an appropriate fit

It’s also important to recognize that sometimes the best approach — especially when managing or recovering from an injury — is to prioritize longevity in the sport. This may mean accepting placement on a team that allows your athlete to rebuild and progress on a timeline that supports full, healthy, and sustainable development, rather than rushing back before they are truly ready.

Our goal is always to place athletes in an environment where they can be safe, successful, and continue progressing, while also maintaining fairness across the entire program.

Question 8

What are the potential placement outcomes for my athlete? Is there a possibility that she’ll be placed on a Novice team?

Accepted Answer

In Season 3, Alpha Cheer had about 315 athletes in the competitive program across a range of teams including Novice, Prep, All Star and Worlds divisions. We continue to field new interest and are excited to continue to grow and welcome even more new members in Season 4. As a result, we have the ability to offer a wide range of teams across levels and age divisions, allowing us to properly place athletes on teams where they will be successful and thrive.

On page 10 of Information Package, we outline likely teams that we will field this season. As part of our placement process, athletes may be placed in any of these streams that we offer (Novice, Prep or All Star) depending on their assessment. If an athlete would benefit most from a more developmental year focused on building strong fundamentals, we may recommend our Novice program as the best fit.

Prep division placement requires a demonstration of strong fundamentals including jump and motion technique, basic stunt mastery, tumbling fundamentals (cartwheels, handstands, rolls, backbends), and the ability to pick up faster-paced choreography. We usually recommend that athletes have at least one season of Novice experience before transitioning to the Prep program or a background in gymnastics or dance.

If a family is specifically interested in the Novice program, athletes do not need to attend placements and can register directly. However, if you are considering the Prep stream and are comfortable with the higher level of commitment, we recommend attending placements so we can provide a guided recommendation on the best fit.

We also offer individual assessments (30-minute one-on-one sessions) where a coach can provide more direct feedback.

Question 9

My athlete is eligible for two age divisions. Which one will she be placed in?

Accepted Answer

We try to keep athletes within their youngest age division eligibility if possible because it’s beneficial for athletes to train with their peer cohort for their long-term development. We are fortunate that our program is large enough now to offer a range of competitive teams across streams (Novice, Prep, All Star) in every age division so athletes can be leveled properly within their age division to support opportunities for growth across all ages and levels in the sport.

Question 10

Can I be placed on the same team as my friend?

Accepted Answer

Even if two athletes are both in the same age division, they may be best placed on different competitive teams across streams (Novice, Prep, Elite) or levels. At the same time, we can take into consideration requests for siblings or friends to be placed on the same team. If this is the pairs’ collective strong preference, we can usually accommodate with the understanding that if the athletes are best placed on different teams, we will offer them both a placement on the lower level team together.

Question 11

What size will your teams be?

Accepted Answer

We have wide ranges of team rosters and projected team sizes. We expect that some teams will fill at 30, while others will be smaller, depending on the ebb and flow of athletes at different levels through the program. There are advantages and disadvantages to small and large rosters - for example, there is often less risk on a small team (fewer stunts in the air) but larger teams sometimes have more potential to create a big impact with choreography (although small teams can be really successful on the scoresheet here too!).

The smallest team size that we would likely field would be 10. Our philosophy is to prioritize proper athlete placement and long-term development vs. forming large teams to economize for the gym. Importantly, the size of the team doesn’t really make a difference to their season journey, goals and success but we do try to form teams around multiples of (4-1) to optimize stunt ratios and give some flexibility in stunt roles / positions throughout the routine. We have had a history of success with teams both large and small - Our team that won Level 3 Canadian Finals in 2019 was a small roster of only 11, while our Level 2 team that placed 9th at Summit in 2023 was full at 30!

Question 12

If my athlete masters a new tumbling skill over the summer, can she be moved up a level?

Accepted Answer

This is possible but not likely - when we place an athlete on a team, the decision is based on a holistic assessment of where they are best suited taking into consideration a number of factors, not least of all their own personal growth trajectory and where they are likely to be challenged and successful… it is certainly done with careful consideration. It’s unlikely that there is a single skill (say one tumbling skill) that is the deciding factor in an athlete’s placement. It is also unlikely that an athlete will master a tumbling skill over such a short period of time - typically developing and mastering tumbling skills is a season-long process or more. At the same time, if we determine that an athlete is best placed elsewhere during the summer, we will move them. Sometimes this is to fill a stunt position on another team (i.e. a specialist role) or to offer a crossover training opportunity that will either benefit the athlete or the team.

Question 13

My athlete really wants to level up and is willing to train extra over the summer to ensure she is placed on a higher level. Can you please consider this in her placement?

Accepted Answer

We absolutely love athletes who have ambition and are motivated to grow. That said, placements are based on an athlete’s current readiness at the time of evaluations, not on future plans or intentions.

There is a defined timeline for placements, and while extra training is always encouraged, progressing to the next level often takes consistent development over multiple seasons, not just a short-term push. Importantly, skill development over the summer months this season will be much more limited. The first competitive events this season are scheduled earlier than ever before and we must adapt to ensure our teams are ready to meet the new timelines - this means that teams will need to demonstrate team-wide competition-ready skills earlier.

It’s also important to approach placements with a long-term lens. When we reviewed our data from Season 3, we found that the vast majority of physical injuries sustained in-gym and new mental blocks occurred in athletes who had transitioned to teams with higher practice demands, either by leveling up or aging up into a new division. This correlation reinforces that leveling up before an athlete demonstrates full readiness can significantly increase both physical and mental risks in cheer. This also highlights the greater impact of leveling up in combination with the demands of aging up.

Our placement process is designed to ensure athletes are not just capable of doing the skills in the level and age division at which they are placed but truly prepared to succeed and thrive in their team environment to ultimately build confidence, and foster physical and mental health, and athletic longevity.

We ask parents to be our partners in helping athletes maintain realistic, healthy expectations. Wanting to level up is a great goal but it’s part of a long journey, and growth doesn’t always happen on a fixed timeline.

Last season, we offered structured “check-in” opportunities throughout the year, including multiple assessment sessions and coach-guided goal setting. These are designed specifically to help athletes work toward future level progression in a sustainable way and we strongly encourage families to take advantage of these opportunities moving forward.

Because ultimately goals without consistent action are just dreams. Progress happens over time, with patience, dedication and commitment.

The expectation should not be to level up each season… and in fact, the standards for leveling each season do increase. Not leveling up should not be viewed as failure. Athletes can make tremendous progress and be challenged within the same level across seasons. A season at the same level can allow athletes to build confidence and consistency, have an opportunity to play a more prominent role on a team or develop into a leadership role — all of which set them up for long-term success as individuals in sport and life!

Our priority is to develop athletes who are confident, healthy and enjoy the sport so cheer stays fun, rewarding, and sustainable.

Question 14

My athlete is going to be away for training. What is your attendance policy?

Accepted Answer

Please review our full Competitive Attendance Policy here for detailed expectations.

Consistent attendance is essential for both athlete development and team success and is an expectation of athletes on high performance competitive teams. If your athlete will be away for an extended period of time, it’s important to understand that their role and position within routine choreography may be affected. We offer reduced training through the summer with practices only once a week to accommodate travel and vacations, but regular attendance is still expected for athletes who wish to be part of our competitive program, and we ask that you prioritize attending weeks where choreography is planned for your team. We build our season schedule with several planned breaks, and we strongly encourage families to schedule vacations or extended absences during those times.

The competitive season is starting earlier this year than in previous seasons, which means we’ve had to adjust our timeline accordingly. Choreography and skill development will begin earlier in the summer to ensure our teams are fully prepared and confident heading into competition.

As a result, consistent attendance through the summer is more important than ever. If your athlete will be away for an extended period, it’s important to manage expectations around team placement. Progressing to higher-level teams requires participation in these critical early practices, where we establish foundational skills and routine structure.

It is also critical to understand our Final Four policy. The final four practices leading into a competition (typically over a two-week period) are mandatory. These are key practices to prepare teams during which routines are finalized and cleaned and athletes build confidence and consistency.

If an athlete misses a Final Four practice, their position in the routine may be adjusted or substituted.

Our goal is to balance flexibility with accountability, while ensuring every team has the best opportunity to perform at their highest level.

Question 15

Should I try out for Worlds?

Accepted Answer

Ultimately, this is a personal decision that each athlete and family needs to make.

Worlds teams require a significant level of commitment, including:
An elevated standard of training, consistency, and accountability
A willingness to commit to additional practices and preparation
A clear understanding of the financial investment involved

From a selection standpoint, Worlds placements follow a similar philosophy to our All Star teams. Athletes with strong, well-rounded, at-level skills across all areas of the scoresheet are placed first, with additional spots filled by athletes who bring specific strengths needed to round out the roster.

If you’re unsure, it’s important to ask:
Does my athlete currently perform skills at the level required consistently?
Are we ready for the time and financial commitment?
Is this the right step for their long-term development and enjoyment of the sport?

Importantly, on your Placement Intake form you can indicate whether your athlete would like to be considered for an All Star team if they are not selected for a Worlds team.

For athletes who are ready, Worlds can be an incredible and rewarding experience but there are lots of other valuable experiences in the sport at other levels and in other streams.

Question 16

When are your choreography dates?

Accepted Answer

New this season, we will be implementing dedicated choreography windows throughout the summer. During these weeks, our gym owners, team coaches, and guest choreographers will work collaboratively to build and finalize key sections of each team’s routine.

With the competition season starting earlier this year, it’s important that routines are established sooner to allow teams adequate time to build confidence, consistency, and mastery of their skills.

Specific choreography dates will be shared once your athlete receives their team placement and practice schedule. However, please prioritize availability during the following weeks:
Stunt Choreography: Weeks of July 6 and July 13
Routine Structure & Full Choreography: Weeks of August 10, 17, 24, and 31

Please note that teams may have extended or additional practices during these weeks. Full details will be provided at the time of team placement.

Question 17

When will practices be?

Accepted Answer

Finalized practice times will be communicated along with your athlete’s team placement on June 1st. Once teams are established we consider factors like coach availability, athlete crossovers and overall gym scheduling to optimize our practice times. In general however, our Novice teams will practice once-a-week on Saturday mornings or afternoons. Our Prep and All Star teams practice twice per week, once on a weeknight (Monday-Thursday) and once on the weekend (between Friday and Sunday). Weekday practices generally begin at 5:30 PM for U12 and younger teams and 7:30 PM for U16 and older teams, although exceptions exist.

Question 18

What are options for skill-building training at Alpha Cheer?

Accepted Answer

We strongly encourage athletes to enrol in optional skill-building training throughout the season to supplement their competitive team practices so they can develop their skills. We uniquely offer a “Balanced Elite Training System” or Alpha-BETS program to help athletes comprehensively develop across all skillsets needed to progress in the sport (stunting, tumbling, jumps etc.), as well as more traditional tumbling group classes, flyer training (both ground-based and in-air) and semi-private and private lessons (both single-class drop-in format and weekly recurring lessons - see below). We have lots of opportunities for your athlete to grow and learn! Many of our classes do fill so priority booking is offered to our competitive members.

Question 19

How can I book weekly recurring private lessons?

Accepted Answer

Because our schedule through May and June is inconsistent with placements and the start of team practices, we’re offering single-session (“drop-in”) private lessons only. This gives families more flexibility and helps us avoid conflicts with training groups and team schedules during the season transition.

We will be bringing back recurring private lessons for our summer session (July & August). A Google Form to request those bookings will be shared in June.

In the meantime, we’ll be launching new private lesson opportunities periodically. Check our online portal to secure your spot!

Question 20

How can I book a meeting to discuss my athletes goals and placement?

Accepted Answer

We are offering 40 bookable 15-minute Zoom sessions from May 11- 14. These meetings are entirely optional, and many athletes will not require them.

Please only book one if you have specific things to discuss with the gym owners or directors about Season 4. We've tried to maximize availability - Your meeting will be with Pat, Meg or Nat.

In an effort to have the most productive meeting possible, we ask that you indicate what you’d like to discuss so we can assign you to the best person to assist. Additionally, if you are a returning athlete and would like to discuss your athlete's progress or goals, please connect with their primary team coach from last season first. Team coaches often have the most 'frontline' experience with an athlete's development over the season and their insight is valuable to build from.

Question 21

I’m interested in being a CiT. What are the requirements and how do I apply?

Accepted Answer

CiTs are required to be a minimum of 13 years old and an active member of the ACT program. Otherwise, there aren’t any specific course requirements to apply, although we encourage CiTs to take supplementary courses and take advantage of educational opportunities (including several NCCP courses that are free online). We also provide free in-house coaches training for our CiTs and our entire coaching staff. To apply, please submit a resume to info@alphacheer.ca. We’ll review all the CiT and Jr Coach applications closer to the season transition in late May / June and will reach out to candidates to coordinate interviews.

We want CiTs and Jr Coaches to recognize that coaching at ACT is a privilege and that accepting a position means that they are taking on the responsibility of a staff member. CiTs are eligible to coach levels for which they have a minimum of 2 years cheer experience and most CiT opportunities are working with younger athletes in either the recreational or Novice program. Some school boards accept CiT hours towards high school volunteer hours - If this is the case, we’re happy to sign off on them.

Question 22

Is this a new uniform year?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We are excited to be at the start of a new 2-year All Star uniform cycle … It’s a great time to join Alpha! After placements we’ll do a design reveal! Our Worlds uniforms are unique to each of our teams and are starting the 2nd-year of a 2-year cycle this season, so if you’re interested in securing a used uniform this season that opportunity exists.

Question 23

What Worlds teams will you have?

Accepted Answer

We strongly expect to field 2 Worlds teams again this season in both the U18 L5 Division - “Valkyrie” - and an Open Level 7 team (either IO7 or IOSC7).

Question 24

Should I book an individual assessment for my athlete?

Accepted Answer

Individual assessments are designed for athletes to provide athletes an opportunity to show any skills that they would like to be considered outside of our group assessments. Athletes are not required to book an individual assessment but may choose to if they:

Want another chance to show any of their individual skills (tumbling, jumps, dance or on-ground air positions) from the group assessments if they were not satisfied with their performance
Want to show additional tumbling skills that they did not perform in the group assessments

Individual assessments allow athletes a one-on-one opportunity to work with a coach for 30 minutes. They will record any skills that the athletes want to be considered as part of their placement.

There are additional opportunities to showcase skills during “Phase 2” of training groups as well.

Question 25

If my athlete attends placements, when will I know if they are placed on a Novice team?

Accepted Answer

Athletes who attend team placements may ultimately be placed on a Novice team rather than a Prep or All Star team. Our placement process is designed to ensure that every athlete is evaluated carefully and placed in an environment that best supports their current skill level, confidence, and long-term development.

Phase 1 Outcome — Early Novice Placement
In some cases, our coaching staff may determine following Phase 1 of the placement process (skill assessments) that an athlete is best suited for a Novice team. When this is clear prior to the start of Phase 2 (Training Groups), families will be contacted by phone or email and the athlete will not be required to attend further assessments through Training Groups.

Families in this situation will receive information on our optional Novice training group and will be encouraged to register for our Novice program with team practices starting in September.

Phase 2 Outcome — Continued Evaluation
If additional evaluation is required before a final placement decision can be made, the athlete will be assigned to a Training Group during Phase 2 and will need to register normally to continue the assessment process. This allows our coaches to further assess the athlete alongside peers being considered for Prep and All Star team placements in their assigned Training Group.

If the athlete’s final placement outcome following Training Groups is a Novice team, the family will receive a $200 credit, equivalent to the cost of Novice team registration.

Our goal throughout the placement process is to create the best possible experience and developmental pathway for every athlete while ensuring team placements are made thoughtfully and fairly.

Frequently Asked Questions