Sideline
Weekday evening practices, and cheer on the sideline for football every Saturday — home and away. The sideline season runs alongside football, roughly late July through the first or second week of November.
Sideline & Competition
Cheer
Ages 5–14. Sideline squads cheer every game; competition teams compete from October through Nationals.
Two Paths
Sideline or Competition
Competition
Competition cheerleaders also cheer sideline from August through November while competing. Competitions run in October, November, December and January/February, with additional weekend practices on top of weekday practices. The season begins at tryout week and runs to Nationals in late January or early February.
A tryout is required to make a competition team.
Levels
Squads
Squads need a minimum of five cheerleaders. Final squad sizes depend on sign-ups, ability, experience, age level and how scores break down at evaluations.
| Squad | Age |
|---|---|
| Jr. Pee Wee | 5–8 |
| Pee Wee | 9–10 |
| Jr. Varsity | 11–12 |
| Varsity | 13–14 |
Mandatory
Cheer Camp
Camp is required for every registered cheerleader, sideline and competition alike. 2026 dates and times are to be announced — camp usually falls between July 26 and August 10, depending on the JAMZ schedule.
Silver Creek High School
3434 Silver Creek Road
San Jose, CA
John H. Pitman High School
2525 West Christoffersen Parkway
Turlock, CA
Costs
What Fees Cover
Sideline registration includes
- League registration fee
- Cheer camp fee and shirts
- Misc. fees — hello gifts, socks, sashes, homecoming and banner supplies, bows
Competition registration adds
- Competition fees and music
First-year cheerleaders also purchase
- Custom jacket and backpack
- Pom poms and white cheer shoes
- Sideline uniform and competition uniform
Cheer camp and uniform fees are non-refundable. Uniforms are replaced every three years. East County no longer facilitates uniform exchanges — if an item no longer fits or is lost, it must be replaced by your family. All listed items are required to participate each season.
Offset Your Fees
Yearly Fundraisers
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Parents sell and keep 50% in cash; the other 50% goes to RMC. That cash can be put straight toward your fees.
Double Good Popcorn
Credit goes toward any remaining balance owed. Anything raised beyond your balance stays with East County.
Mrs. Fields Competition only
Sales fund gym fees across both competition teams.
Cheer with the Lions
Competition tryout registration is open through TeamSideline. Sideline registration opens later in the year.