Cheerforce Arizona

★★★★★Samantha Gobeille

As we head into our 7th season at CheerForce, I wanted to share our experience as a long-time cheer family. Both of my daughters have been raised in this gym. CheerForce has been their first and only experience in cheer and tumbling, and over the years we have watched them grow not only as athletes, but as confident, resilient young people. What I appreciate most about CheerForce is that nothing is simply given. Athletes are challenged, expectations are clear, and skills are earned through hard work, consistency, and patience. At the same time, the coaches do a great job of helping athletes progress at a pace that is both challenging and attainable. I've never felt like my children were put in situations where they were set up to fail or rushed before they were ready. Safety and proper progression have always been a priority. Knowing that coaches are background checked provides peace of mind as a parent, and the attention to detail in skill development is evident throughout the program. Dee's attention to detail when it comes to technique and execution carries through the coaching staff, creating a level of consistency that athletes can expect at every level. One thing I especially appreciated during tryouts was the clear expectation-setting around levels and skills. Providing videos and examples of what athletes should be able to demonstrate at each level helped create realistic expectations for both parents and athletes. It reinforced that development happens in stages and that athletes do not need to rush to the next level. There is value in mastering skills, building confidence, and trusting the process. Another thing CheerForce does exceptionally well is creating meaningful experiences for the athletes. From Signing Day to team bow reveal, showcases, and other milestones throughout the season, there is a level of thought and intention behind the moments that make the athletes feel valued and celebrated. The annual showcase alone is clearly a labor of love and far more than what most people would expect from a cheer gym. It's easy to see how much effort goes into making even the small moments feel special, and those memories become a meaningful part of the athletes' experience. Cheer is not always easy. There are disappointments, challenges, and moments where athletes have to learn patience. But if you trust the process, seek constructive feedback, and focus on long-term development, CheerForce provides a great environment for athletes to thrive. We are grateful for the coaches, staff, and community that have been part of our family's journey for the past seven seasons, and we're excited for many more.

★★★★★Sunny Dunlavey

We are going into our 4th season with CFAZ. My daughter was 10 when she started competitive cheer. Prior to that, she tried dance and gymnastics. I could tell she was bored, and she was not progressing. I had a friend whose girls had just finished their first year at CFAZ and she suggested I have my daughter go to some "level up" clinics and try out for a prep team. From the first day my daughter went to one clinic- she was HOOKED! She got into my car and I asked, "so how was it?" She replied,"I LOVED it!" She said she learned more in that one clinic session than she had all year in the other classes we had her enrolled in. We never did end up doing that prep team, as she was placed on an elite travel team from the get go and we haven't looked back since. From that point on, she has progressed year over year. Started on a L1 youth and will be competing on a L5 Sr Coed this season. For any newbies thinking about getting their kiddo involved in this sport-- like many other travel sports...your schedule will live and die by the schedule, it takes about a year of really settling in and figuring things out- But the growth you will see in your kids is unlimited. For veterens who are thinking about coming over to CFAZ. We have friends now who have athletes at the other D1 programs in the valley and even the D2. The general consensus is that most D1 programs have a similar level of expectation when it comes to commitment. 3 years in...here are all the positives that we have experienced that I think sets CFAZ apart from the pack. - The size CFAZ is large enough to be competitive and pull in talented athletes and coaches-- but small enough where you can develop a 1:1 relationship with the owner and coaching staff. They will get to know your family and your athlete. This leads to proper placement, progression and just a better experience for your athlete to be seen as an individual and feel valued, rather than a number. - Scheduling CFAZ typically does choreo late Aug/Sept which means we get to actually enjoy summer as family time. We get so little time off during the school year and especially during comp season. I love that summer (while the teams still practice) is not as intense and you won't get penalized for missing a day or two. Also, this could change- but we seem to travel less frequently for out of state comps, which saves time and money - Family and community focused culture Some of my daughter's best friends were made through cheer and I can say the same for my husband and I. CFAZ cheers for each other's teams at each comp and this fosters a sense of unity amongst the families and athletes at the gym. There are numerous team bondings that are scheduled early in the season so the girls get to know each other on and off the mat. The older teams started doing some community projects like running a toy drive for PCH. It allows them to give back, but also gives the younger kids at the gym positive role models to look up to. - Recognition for special moments This one sometimes I feel like is extra-- but I do appreciate the fun surprises they do for the "little things" like theme reveal, uniform reveal, summit bid reveals, ect. This is a hard sport and these kids are often left to face disappointment and challenges, so I love that the small things are celebrated in addition to the big things. All in all, the world of competitive cheer is not for the faint of heart. Raising an All Star cheer athlete can be tough. There will be highs and lows. There will be some drama (EVERY gym has this), but I can personally say- the physical gains are evident- but the real value is in the intangibles. Cheer teaches the importance of team, discipline, navigating disappointments, humbly celebrating your successes, and most of all developing the mental toughness that every young child/adolescent needs to become a successful adult.

★★★★★Cole Falls

My daughter did 2 years of travel cheer at another gym. The last year, she was questioning cheer. Which was horrible to see because she is so talented and loves cheer. Long story short, it was a toxic gym. Fast forward to Cheerforce. Trying out, to signing day was a blast! It was like a breath of fresh air. They make the girls feel so special and excited for their cheer adventure. You get sized, take pictures, meet coaches, meet teammates. It's a blast! It's like a pro signing day. With this year coming to an end. I wish it could keep going. We are also already looking forward to next year. My daughter has grown tremendously! She has progressed so so much. Her cheer passion has come back! She is more confident in herself. This has been an amazing year. I love seeing my daughter have fun and passion for cheer once again. DeeDee has been an amazing owner. She comes to each competition and you can see she is passionate about cheerforce and each team. Marissa and Jermaine are phenomenal coaches! They bring the energy every practice and competition. They do an outstanding job preparing the girl's. They make it fun and exciting. The communication and preparation has been second to none. At the same time they get down to business and grind. They know how to push the team. They made changes to the routine after the first competition. They give us extra practices to perfect the routine. They put in the extra time and effort. I could go on and on. It's a commitment for sure! 100% worth every penny and memory. I highly highly recommend Cheerforce. It's a very well put together organization. Communication is amazing, the coaches are amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better gym.

★★★★★Shelley Ferraris

Cheerforce is a phenomenal gym - my daughter is 16 and she has grown leaps and bounds! She respects the coaches, and the coaches respect her and have for 3 seasons/years now - we are just starting our 4th season here! The coaches know what they are doing and I let them do their job! And I can't argue, this gym is winning at comps, and really moving up to the top quickly - and we love being on the ride up with them. This is more like a family than a gym. My daughter and I have made lifelong friends here, and I am so thankful for my "cheer family". After the seasons are over, there are a few weeks where we all just miss each other like crazy and we can't wait for the kids to get back in the gym! I highly recommend this gym, and I thank them for the kindness AND hard work that they have shown my daughter since day 1!

★★★★★Claire Otto

Absolutely love this gym!! All of the coaches and staff are professional, kind, and experienced. My 9 year old daughter looks forward to open gym every Friday and her tumbling practices every week. She truly enjoys every minute at Cheerforce and is so excited for the 2023-2024 cheer season. We are grateful and feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this wonderful gym. It has easily become our second home over the past couple of years. Highly recommend!!