New to
Hotshots?
Welcome to the family. If this is your athlete's first season with us — or your first experience of competitive cheer or dance — this page is for you. We've put the essentials in one place so you know what happens, when it happens and where to find help.
You aren't expected to know everything.
All-Star cheer and dance has its own terminology, routines, competition formats and way of doing things. Things that seem completely normal after a few seasons can be confusing the first time you experience them.
That's exactly why this page exists. Work through it at your own pace and use Parent Hub whenever you need to check something during the season.
One programme. One family.
Your athlete competes as part of their team, but they're also part of the wider Hotshots family. We celebrate, encourage and support one another across every team and discipline.
Six things to know first
If you read nothing else today, these six points will give you a good understanding of how life at Hotshots works.
Your Team
Your athlete has been placed on a team based on factors including age, division, ability and the needs of the overall team. Training together consistently is essential.
Training Matters
Competitive routines rely on every athlete. Attendance and punctuality matter because one missing athlete can affect stunts, formations, spacing and the rest of the team.
Check Parent Hub
Parent Hub is your main information centre for competitions, calendars, payments, uniform, international events and important season information.
Competition Days
Competition days are structured events. Athletes have designated arrival, preparation, warm-up, performance and awards times. Exact schedules are published when available.
Deadlines Matter
Competition entries, spectator tickets, uniform orders and other items often have deadlines. Please act on information when it is released rather than leaving it until competition week.
Ask When Needed
We want parents to feel informed. Check Parent Hub first, but if the answer isn't there and you genuinely need help, please contact us during our communication hours.
What does everything mean?
Some of the terminology you'll hear regularly during the season.
Call Time
The time your athlete must be with the team and ready to begin competition preparation. This is not the same as their performance time.
Session
Some competitions divide the event into sessions. Spectator access and tickets may relate to a particular session rather than the whole weekend. The exact system depends on the event organiser.
Session vs Weekend Ticket
A session ticket normally relates to a defined part of an event, while a weekend ticket may cover a broader period. Exactly what each ticket includes is set by the competition organiser, so always check the information for that particular event.
Wristbands
Many events use wristbands or another form of admission control. Rules on collection, re-entry and access vary between organisers and venues. We will publish event-specific information when it is provided to us.
Prep & Elite
These describe different competitive divisions and structures within All-Star cheer. They are not simply labels for how "good" an athlete is. Your athlete should focus on developing within the team and division they have been selected for.
Choreography Day
A dedicated session used to build or develop a team's competition routine. These sessions are extremely important because the routine is created around the athletes who make up that team.
Warm-Up
Teams are allocated organised warm-up time before competing. Once athletes are with their coaches, parents should allow the coaching team to manage the preparation process.
Awards
Teams may be required to return or remain for an awards ceremony after competing. Awards timing will be included in the competition information when the organiser releases the schedule.
What actually happens?
Every event is slightly different, but this gives you an idea of the journey through a typical Hotshots competition day.
Before the weekend
Check the Competition Hub. Make sure you know the venue, athlete call time, uniform requirements, ticket arrangements and any event-specific instructions.
Arrive
Allow plenty of travel and parking time. Your athlete should arrive according to the instructions provided and be ready for their designated call time.
Meet the team
Athletes meet their coaches/team at the instructed location. From this point, coaches manage the team's preparation and competition process.
Preparation & warm-up
Athletes prepare with their team and move through the event's warm-up system. Spectators normally make their way to the appropriate viewing area.
Performance time
This is the exciting bit. Get behind the team, make plenty of noise and help create the incredible Hotshots atmosphere our athletes deserve.
Support the family
Where schedules allow, we encourage our families to support Hotshots teams across the programme. We're one academy, not just a collection of individual teams.
Awards & finish
Follow the event-specific instructions for awards and when athletes are released. Please don't assume your athlete is finished immediately after performing.
Competition tickets
Ticket arrangements are one of the biggest sources of confusion for new competition parents, so here's the important bit.
Athlete Entry
Athlete competition entry is managed through Hotshots. Competition entry fees and payment deadlines will be communicated through the relevant competition information.
Spectator Tickets
Spectator admission is separate from athlete entry. How and when spectator tickets are sold depends on the competition organiser. Popular events can be busy, so please pay attention to release information and deadlines.
Ticket Types
Don't assume every event works the same way. Organisers may offer session, day or weekend tickets and may operate different admission systems. Check the Competition Hub before purchasing.
Release Information
When we receive confirmed spectator ticket information, relevant release dates and guidance will be added to the competition information. Please use the latest published details.
Competition organisers control spectator ticketing, venue access and session arrangements. These can differ from one event to another. Always use the information published for your specific competition rather than assuming it will work like a previous event.
Competition day checklist
Event-specific instructions always take priority, but this is a useful starting point.
Athlete
- Correct competition uniform/costume
- Correct competition shoes where required
- Required bow/accessories
- Hair prepared as instructed
- Any required makeup
- Warm layers / team jacket
Bag
- Water bottle
- Suitable food/snacks where permitted
- Hair essentials
- Any personal medication required
- Spare essentials where appropriate
- Only what the athlete genuinely needs
Parent
- Spectator ticket / confirmation
- Venue and parking information
- Competition schedule
- Hotshots team performance times
- Plenty of enthusiasm
- A loud cheering voice!
Fees & payments
We want payment information to be as clear as possible throughout the season.
Regular Fees
Your normal programme fees are separate from additional season costs such as competition entries, uniform and certain events.
Use the Fees & Payments section of Parent Hub for the main explanation of how payments work.
Competition Costs
Where possible, competition-specific entry costs and deadlines will be displayed with that competition so you don't have to search several different places for the information.
Please check the relevant competition information when planning ahead.
New parent FAQs
The questions that aren't obvious until you've actually experienced your first season.
Is my athlete's call time the same as their performance time?
Do parents stay with athletes before they compete?
Do I need to buy my athlete a spectator ticket?
What's the difference between a session and weekend ticket?
Can we leave the venue and come back?
Why aren't exact competition times available months in advance?
Do we have to stay for awards?
Should we support other Hotshots teams?
Where will I find hotel and parking recommendations?
What if I still don't understand something?
Communication hours
Our team needs time away from messages too. Unless something is genuinely urgent, please contact us during the hours below.
Have a quick look through Parent Hub first. Competition information, calendars, payments and other common questions are being brought together here specifically so you can find answers quickly.
Still need some help?
Parent Hub should always be your first stop. If you've checked the information and still can't find the answer, we're here to help.
Get Help