Season: Fall thru Summer (September -June)
Email: beyondJOY@somdmontgomery.org
Overview: Beyond JOY is SOMO’s Community Outreach and Sideline Cheer Program. Beyond JOY Cheerleaders are ambassadors for our entire SOMO program, representing over 600 SOMO athletes. Our Beyond JOY cheerleaders also have great abilities! Our Beyond JOY program aims to help our athletes showcase those abilities to our Montgomery County community. We want to show everyone what they can do!
Beyond JOY will operate as a true team, with regular practices and community opportunities to demonstrate their abilities in well-rehearsed routines. Beyond JOY team members will need to make a commitment to practice and learn their routines. Athletes of ALL ability levels are welcome on Beyond JOY.
| Coaches | Kike Ayorinde |
| Season Dates & Times | Practices: Tuesday Evenings Starting September 12, 2023 1st Performance October 21, 2023 |
| Medical & Volunteer Expiration Date | Medicals must be current from the 1st Practice through March 1, 2024 The expiration date on an athlete’s Medical form, or a Volunteer’s certification, must be after March 1, 2024 to participate in the upcoming season. Check athlete status here. Check volunteer status here. |
Special Olympics Resources for Cheerleading:
- Special Olympics Competitive Cheer Rules
- ICU Special Ability Rules
- ICU Team Cheer Rules
- Score Sheet
- Skills Reference Sheet
- Reference Sheet
- Game Day Reference Sheet
Equipment: SOMO provides cheerleaders with Poms.
Uniform Requirements: SOMO will provide athletes with the cheer uniform that must be returned at the end of the season or if you leave the program. All athletes are required to purchase a body liner, uniform shorts for under the uniform, white cheer shoes, no-show socks and the SOMO hair bow.
Practice Overview:
- Location: Gaithersburg High School
Events: Beyond JOY team members have opportunities to perform at exclusive community events. Events often include the following ambassadorship opportunities:
- Various High School Football Games (September and October)
- Tribute 21 Gala (November)
- Downs Syndrome Walk (Fall)
Event sponsors sometimes limit the number of cheerleaders who can attend the event. When this occurs, coaches will give first priority to athletes who regularly attend practice and have learned their routines. A commitment to learning the routines is part of being a SOMO ambassador and Beyond JOY team member.
In addition to community events, each Beyond JOY Cheerleader commits to attending at least three of the following SOMO events in accordance with their roles as SOMO ambassadors.
- Landon Youth Program Grand Finale (February)
- Blessed Sacrament Exhibition Game (February)
- Bullis Gives Back (Spring)
- SOMO Spring Games, Landon School (May)
- SOMO Fall Event (to be determined)
The SOMO JOY Cheer team also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/somojoy
Participation in other SOMO Sports: Athletes participating in Beyond JOY Cheer may also participate in other SOMO Sports.
Athlete Participation Contract: None