Middle school cheerleaders in the West Ada School District are at a disadvantage when competing against teams from other districts due to specific rules that hinder our athletes. For example, the district does not allow our teams to form competition squads in the spring or practice over the summer. These restrictions force our cheerleaders to cram all essential skills into a much shorter time frame compared to teams they compete against. While we understand the district’s athletic philosophy emphasizes participation, we believe that true participation—along with safety and confidence—will only be enhanced if these rules are reevaluated. By lifting these limitations, we can offer our cheerleaders the same opportunities as those in other districts, such as spring tryouts, summer practices, and the chance to attend important skill-building cheer camps.

Coaches, athletes, and parents of middle school athletes ask the district athletic directors to reconsider these policies and help level the playing field for our middle school cheerleaders.