Special Needs Team - Cobras

Vipers offers a special needs team for all ages, both boys/girls, any disability included but not limited to Downs Syndrome, Autism, PDD, Emotional/Behavioral/Learning Disorders, or Physical Disabilities. Routines are choreographed just like all the other All-Star teams with music, dancing, cheering, tumbling, stunting, and pyramids. All levels are welcome, no experience necessary - there is no tryout, just come in to join! Practice is once a week starting in Aug-May for an hour (day/time is TBD). There are no fees to participate on the team! The team competes at local All-Star Cheerleading venues with the other VIPER teams (3-4 local competitions). Cobras also perform at special needs dances in Harford County known as the 3rd Fridays Dance. To finish the season Cobras represent Harford County at the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games in June at Towson University. The team won Gold 2 years in a row competing in the Elite Unified division!

Cobras is not just cheerleading...it's a place where a child can grow as an individual and learn to be motivated, to be challenged, to set and reach goals and to try new skills. More importantly, being a part of a team builds up self-confidence and self-esteem, it teaches them about teamwork and builds on their social skills. The theme of our performance routine is celebrity/superstar because each individual on Cobras is a superstar. The mission of Cobras is to have an extracurricular activity, social meeting place for special needs children to feel at home, where they are accepted and valued, for each individual to perform to the best of his/her ability in cheerleading and to have FUN!

Experienced Coaches

• Coach Nicole - This will be Coach Nicole's 3rd year season coaching the Cobras. She has a background in dance, cheerleading, and gymnastics. She is a former Viper Cheerleader and was also a member of the Stevenson University Dance Team for 4 years. Nicole has experience working with children with special needs and has been working in Special Education at Kennedy Krieger Institute for 4 years. She is currently a graduate student at University of Maryland, Baltimore for Clinical Health Social Work.
• Coach Megan has also been part of Cobras for 3 years. Megan has experience working in special education as well in a public school. She is currently going to school to obtain her Bachelors in Special Education.

For more information please contact Nicole Dover at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (410-688-3057) or Megan Raulie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (443-564-2611)