Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Make-up classes and/or refunds are not given for missed classes or team practices due to vacations, illness, injuries, poor weather, personal scheduling conflicts, etc.. In the event of an unexpected gym closure (e.g. for unsafe travelling conditions), cancelled skill-building classes will be rescheduled but practices will only be rescheduled at the discretion of the coaches. If your athlete cannot make the rescheduled skill-building class, you are entitled to a program credit, but no refunds will be issued.
Alpha Cheer reserves the right to combine or cancel classes or teams at any time due to insufficient enrolment.
Payment plans are provided for our competitive program. Payment for other programs, including skill-building classes and private lessons, must be made in full prior to participation.
All accounts must be in good standing for athletes’ continued participation. Athletes with past-due accounts will need to sit-out of practices. For each incident when payment is to be applied but sufficient funds are not available, there will be a $30 charge. If your athlete is removed from the program due to a violation of our Financial Commitment or Code of Conduct (e.g. non-payment, inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behaviour etc.), no refunds or credits will be issued.
Withdrawal requests must be made in writing via email to info@alphacheer.ca - refunds will be issued within 2 weeks of the receipt request. All refunds are subject to a 5% transaction processing fee to cover merchant (credit card fees) and administrative fees.
Athlete Injuries
If your athlete is injured and can’t participate fully in a class or team practice, our coaches can provide safe conditioning and flexibility training to allow them to continue to train in a modified way. There are no credits or refunds for competitive team fees for athlete injuries. Skill-building classes will be credited only for athlete injuries sustained in-gym.
Recreational & Skill-Building Classes
For session-based registration, a full refund will be issued if a written request to withdraw is provided via email to info@alphacheer.ca after only one class, less a 5% transaction processing fee. Beyond the first class, if an athlete wishes to withdraw, there are no refunds, but we will provide program credits for outstanding classes.
There are no refunds for drop-in class registrations; however, if provided at least 48 hours notice, we can apply your registration to a different drop-in date for the same, or equivalent, class.
Private Lessons
There are no refunds for private lessons. If given at least 48 hours notice, we can reschedule your lesson in an available timeslot within the same session but it may be with a different coach. If you do not reschedule your lesson within the same session (ie. summer, fall or winter), you forfeit any credit. If you are unable to attend one of your private lessons, you are welcome to arrange for another athlete to take the lesson instead, but any financial reconciliation with the other athlete is your responsibility, and you must inform your coach of the switch in writing with at least 12-hours notice so they can adjust their lesson plan accordingly.
Open Gyms
There are no refunds or make-up classes for Open Gym bookings, except in the case of an unexpected gym closure.
Day Camps
If given at least 1 week notice, we will provide a full refund for day camp bookings (session-based and single days), less the 5% transaction processing fee. There are no refunds or credits for cancellations within 1 week of the start of camp.
Competitive Cheer Teams - Novice, Prep & All Star
Competition entry fees are the responsibility of the rostered athlete, regardless if an athlete is injured or absent and their role is substituted for competition.
If we receive written notice that your athlete wishes to withdraw from our Novice, Prep or All Star Competitive Program within 30 days of the registration deadline, you will provided a refund less: the $200 administrative fee, any fees paid out on the athlete’s behalf (including but not limited to insurance, competition fees, training gear and uniform orders, choreography and music fees), and any tuition fees incurred to date.
If we receive written notice that your athlete wishes to withdraw from our Prep or All Star Competitive Program after 30 days of the registration deadline but before September 1, you will be provided a refund of 50% of the remaining tuition fees for the summer session only. There are no refunds for training gear, uniform orders, insurance, or any other fees paid out on the athlete’s behalf beyond 30 days past the registration deadline.
There are no refunds for Prep or All Star Competitive teams beyond September 1 in a given competitive season, and no refunds for Novice teams beyond October 1 in a given competitive season because teams will be preparing their competitive routines at this time and roster changes will require choreography adjustments.
Clothing & Merchandise
All uniform, clothing and merchandise purchases are final sale. If there are issues with the quality of your item, please email meg@alphacheer.ca and we’ll work to resolve it.
Uniforms and competition jackets cannot be refunded or credited once the order has been submitted to the supplier. In the event that an athlete requests a size exchange, we will try our best to accommodate, but availability will depend on apparel inventory and will only be considered for items that are new, unused, not damaged, and with all original tags and packaging.
If you misplace your competitive hair accessory, you will need to purchase a replacement at your own expense from our Pro Shop.
Special Events & Workshops
Fees and tickets for special events hosted by the gym (e.g. showcase, banquet) are non-refundable unless the event is canceled by ACT.
When you join a competitive team, you make a commitment to prioritize team practices. Cheer is a unique sport in that the absence of one athlete greatly affects the productivity of the team. Regular attendance at practices helps us ensure athletes progress safely, builds trust among teammates, and fosters confidence in routine elements. Athletes are expected to arrive on time and fully prepared to start training at the start of their practice.
Practice absences must be reported through our online portal and they must be for valid excused reasons. Competitive breaks and gym closure dates are listed in our Information Package and we encourage families to book vacations during these times. Athletes are expected to attend all competitions and any conflicts with competition dates need to be disclosed during placements.
Athletes must prioritize their All Star cheer team as their primary extracurricular activity and use time management to balance academic demands and other pursuits. Schoolwork is not a valid excuse for missing practice.
Parents - please do not withhold practices as punishment as it negatively influences the entire team.
Repeated absences (4 or more in a season) and/or the inability to fully participate in practices may result in an athlete’s role being substituted and is grounds for removal from the team.
If an athlete is injured and can’t participate fully in their team practice, our coaches can provide safe conditioning and flexibility training and athletes are still expected to attend to learn choreography and be part of practices.
Final Four Policy
The last four practices before a competition, usually held over a 2-week period, are mandatory. If an athlete misses a Final Four practice and/or a competition that is within 2 weeks of an upcoming competition, their position may be substituted or altered. This policy is in place to prioritize the team’s preparedness and success, and ensure that teammates are aligned behind a common goal of commitment and teamwork.
Inclement Weather
We monitor weather forecasts and will close the gym for all programming if local conditions surrounding the gym are unsafe for travel. On weeknights, we will make a decision to close the gym by 3:00 PM before families start their commute for evening training. Gym closures will be communicated on BAND and occasionally on email or social media to notify skill-building class participants. If we opt to keep the gym open, we recognize that weather conditions vary regionally and understand if families do not feel comfortable commuting. Practices are not typically rescheduled for gym closures but may be coordinated at the discretion of the coach.
Our club philosophy is founded on the principle of mutual respect. We uphold a “team-first” philosophy and all members of ACT must be committed to representing the club in a positive light. ACT members must abide by the Code of Conduct & Ethics policy as well as the Respectful Conduct Policy outlined by Cheer Canada.
ACT members must treat all athletes, parents, coaches, competitors, officials, and guest instructors with respect and uphold our values of sportsmanship and integrity at all times.
Inappropriate behaviour that violates our policies, including (but not limited to) unsportsmanlike, aggressive, bullying or disrespectful behaviour, in-person or online, substance use, etc. is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
Social Media Policy
ACT members must not post:
Any negative comments about Alpha Cheer, its members, or any other team, program, or event on any social media platform
Any content that is discriminatory, harassing or bullying
Images of themselves using, or appearing to be under the influence of, drugs or alcohol while wearing ACT apparel
Videos of routine content without permission from coaches
Any content that would reflect poorly on Alpha Cheer or its members (e.g. “fail” videos)
Competition and Travel Expectations & Etiquette
Athletes must complete waivers for events as required.
Athletes and parents must represent ACT with the highest standard of behaviour, respect competitors and event officials, abide by competition rules and demonstrate sportsmanship
ACT members must be respectful in the fan zone and competition area, being mindful to not block the view of fellow spectators or judges and refraining from using excessively loud noisemakers that disrupt the experience for other audience members
Athletes are prohibited from possessing or using drugs, alcohol, tobacco or vaping products, or being under the influence of such substances, at ACT practices, competitions or travel events.
Athletes must follow hair and makeup standards for all performances and competitions.
If a rostered athlete is injured or unable to perform, they are expected to attend competition unless given permission from a coach. The substitute / performing athlete will receive any awards that are earned (medals etc.).
Athletes who violate our code of conduct and travel policies may be sent home at parent’s expense.
Athlete waivers, including disclosure of medical concerns and emergency contact information, must be completed before an athlete participates in any programming.
Athletes must wait in the lobby area before their training starts and may only use equipment under coach supervision.
The gym floor and training area is restricted to athletes and coaches only. Siblings, family members, and friends must stay in the lobby area unless given expressed permission of an owner or coach.
With the exception of water bottles, food and beverages, including chewing gum, are prohibited from the training area.
Patrons of our lobby area must be courteous stewards of our shared facility by maintaining a clean and tidy space, including placing trash in bins.
Parents may not use the gym or online team chat groups to promote personal business or sell unauthorized items.
We encourage athletes to leave valuable items at home. Alpha Cheer is not responsible for lost, missing or stolen items. Lost items will be placed in our “Lost and Found” and it is the responsibility of athletes to retrieve them. Lost and Found items will be periodically given to a donation centre.
Athletes must remove all jewellery, have hair tied back, and nails trimmed to an appropriate length to participate.
Athletes must wear appropriate athletic gear, including clean, soft-soled, indoor cheer shoes for training and must be in ACT-branded gear for competitive team practices once it has been distributed for the season.
Unless permission is granted by a coach, phones must remain in athletes bags and not used during practices.
Athletes must report any injuries, medical concerns or situations that make them feel uncomfortable to a coach in a timely fashion.
Only qualified ACT coaches are allowed to spot tumbling.
ACT parents and athletes must review and understand Ministry-approved Concussion Awareness resources and commit to the Ontario Cheerleading Concussion Code of Conduct
Communication
We value open, positive and solution-oriented communication and encourage athletes to communicate with coaches directly.
We use BAND as our official communication app for competitive teams and competitive families are required to have at least one parent with an account and notifications turned on. It is your responsibility to be informed of club notices.
Please ask other team parents and/or your coach for general team-related questions. Financial, merchandising and policy concerns should be directed to Meg or Pat (info@alphacheer.ca).
We strive to respond to messages within a 48-hr period. Please respect our coaches’ “right to disconnect” from work-related communications (e.g. emails, calls, messages) during their personal time.
Branding Policy
To protect the integrity of our brand, individuals are not permitted to create custom apparel, merchandise, promotional or sponsorship materials using the Alpha Cheer and Tumbling name, logo, slogans, team names, or other branding elements for personal use or for sale without explicit written permission. This includes, but is not limited to:
Printing or embroidering the gym logo or team names on personal clothing, accessories, or merchandise
Creating designs that resemble or mimic official team gear (e.g. wolf logos, using slogans like “ACT like a Champion”, “Leader of the Pack” etc.)
Using the gym’s branding for third-party sales or fundraising efforts without prior approval
We offer a variety of official gear that can be purchased through our Pro Shop and official online store. These items ensure brand consistency and allow our families to show their support while maintaining the professional image of our gym.