HUSKY MASCOT

Transcription

1 HUSKY MASCOT OFFICIAL APPLICATION

2 Husky Mascot Application The Husky Mascot is a tradition among University of Washington sports fans. Born ten years ago, Harry the Husky, as a member of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, helps create excitement for and promote Husky Athletics at a variety of different sporting and community events. Harry is expected to work alone and with the cheer squad to get the crowd involved, as well as to interact closely with fans at these events. The Mascot plays an important role in promoting Husky Athletics and building strong community relations. Mascot positions are awarded on an annual basis and the University of Washington Department of Athletics is currently seeking qualified applicants for the school year. Applicants should be: -Leaders -In good physical condition -Creative -Dedicated -Entertainers -Responsible -Spontaneous -Disciplined If you meet these criteria and have a great love for Husky Athletics, then you are encouraged to apply. Mascot responsibilities and duties are divided among all students serving as mascots. Appearances are made at all home football, men s basketball, and women s basketball games, as well as at a majority of Olympic Sport events, including soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, softball and several post season events which require travel. Other appearances will be made for a variety of charity and community events. Mascots are also required to attend UCA cheer camp or another training session during the summer (specifics yet to be determined for this season). Benefits of serving as Harry the Husky include the following: An annual book scholarship Husky apparel and merchandise Husky football season tickets Husky men s and women s basketball season tickets Access to the Husky Athletics Varsity Weight Room If interested in serving as a Husky Mascot, please submit the attached application by 5:00 pm, June 1, 2005, to the Athletics Department Receptionist and Marketing Assistant, Janet Sukraw, at the Tubby Graves Building. *You must sign-up for an interview time upon submittal of your application. The sign-up times will be on a first come first-serve basis. The interview and tryout will take place on June 2, 2005 between Noon and 4 pm (if additional time slots are needed then we will add another date).

3 University of Washington Harry the Husky Mascot Candidate Application Please Print Name Address City State Zip Code Day Phone Evening Phone Address UW Student Number Projected Major Expected Graduation Date GPA Height Weight Shoe Size Shirt Size S M L XL Pant Size S M L XL (Circle) (Circle) I. Serving as a Husky Mascot requires a considerable commitment of time, energy, and effort. This includes attendance at monthly Mascot meetings, practice sessions, Husky sporting events, and other special events. Your signature below indicates that you understand the nature of this position and you are willing and able to make the commitment to the terms of the contract stated below. I certify I meet all of the following requirements: 1. I will be a full-time undergraduate student (taking a minimum of 12 credits) at the University of Washington for the entire fall, winter, and spring quarters. 2. I currently have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and do hereby release my academic transcripts to the Mascot Coach / Supervisor if requested. 3. I am in good standing with the University of Washington or my high school and not on any type of academic or disciplinary probation. 4. I have no health or physical defects, which would hamper my ability to perform as the Husky Mascot or which might cause performing as the Husky Mascot to be unsafe to my health. 5. I am covered by a personal medical insurance plan and a vehicle insurance plan.

4 Furthermore, I understand: 1. If selected, I agree to serve as Harry the Husky for the entire academic year, including the summer of 2005, unless alternate arrangements are made with the Coach or Supervisor. The majority of appearances as Harry the Husky, will be during the school year, break periods, on weekends, or in the evenings. 2. I am expected to participate in all practice sessions, team meetings, team projects, pep rallies, games, and all other school activities as designated by the Coach or Supervisor. 3. I must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a I must maintain an account and check it daily. 5. The physical demands of being the Husky Mascot require that I maintain an adequate level of physical fitness and that I pass a physical administered by a University of Washington Athletic Department trainer. I must also be covered by personal medical insurance while I serve as Harry the Husky (you will need to provide proof of insurance at the time of your physical). 6. Being the Husky Mascot is a major personal commitment of my non-academic time and cannot be placed secondary to any other non-academic activity. Furthermore, last minute appearances/events may typically arise in which Harry must be present. (Schedule flexibility is a MUST year round.) 7. I must have a note from a family or school physician to be excused from any assigned function, unless approved in advance by the Advisor or team captain. (If for any reason a Mascot is unable to attend a function they have committed to, he/she is responsible for finding another team member to replace them.) 8. I will maintain a satisfactory level of performance throughout the entire year as prescribed by the Coach or Supervisor. 9. I am responsible for the care, cleaning, and upkeep of the Mascot costume, uniforms and props. The University of Washington is responsible for all the financial obligations regarding these items, as well as transportation costs to and from Mascot appearances when they are off the UW campus. 10. The Husky Mascot plays an important role in the entire athletic department and its athletics programs and community. As such, I will always know I am an official representative of the University of Washington, its student, faculty, staff, and alumni. I will always conduct myself in a manner to uphold the character, tradition, integrity, and spirit of the University of Washington. 11. I will adhere to all Pac-10 Conference and NCAA rules pertaining to mascots. 12. Failure to adhere to any of the items within this contract will result in the suspension or dismissal from the Husky Mascot Team. IF SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AS THE HUSKY MASCOT, I WILL FULLY ADHERE TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS CONTRACT. SIGNED DATE

5 II. Please address the following questions on a separate piece of paper and attach it to this form: 1. Why do you want to be Harry the Husky? 2. In your opinion, describe the role of Harry the Husky at sporting and community events. Give at least one example of how you would fulfill the role at a sporting event. Give at least one example of how you would fulfill the role at a community event. 3. What type of mascot or other relevant experience do you have that you feel would help you as Harry the Husky? (i.e. high school mascot, leadership, tumbling, etc.) III. In order to determine your eligibility we may need to confirm your cumulative GPA with the University of Washington or your high school. Please indicate your consent by signing the statement below. I permit the Washington Athletics Department, for the purpose of determining eligibility, to obtain my grade information from the University of Washington or my high school. Full name (printed) Signature Date Deliver completed application by 5:00pm pm on June 1, 2005 to: Graves Bldg. Receptionist and Marketing Assistant, Janet Sukraw Department of Intercollegiate Athletics For more information, contact Janet Sukraw at 206/ or jsukraw@u.washington.edu The University of Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

6 Husky Mascot Tryouts Sample of Scoring Sheet Candidate: Date: INSTRUCTIONS: Rank each assessment factor on a scale of one to five as follows: 1 (poor), 2 (low), 3 (average), 4 (good) and 5 (very good). 1. Variety of body language gestures displayed. (walk, personality, exaggerated steps and pantomime) 2. Level of athletic ability displayed 3. Ability to influence audience behavior (prompt actions & emotion) 4. Ability to interact with individual audience members 5. Effective use of props 6. Ability to improvise (originality/creative) 7. Overall crowd appeal Comments Overall Score: Audition Ranking: Judge s Name/Signature

7 Harry the Husky Mascot Policy NAME: Purpose Harry the Husky represents the Athletic Department and the University of Washington as an ambassador and an entertainer at sporting events and in the community. The Husky Mascot team consists of three (3) or four (4) individuals. Being a Mascot is a MAJOR PERSONAL COMMITMENT of one s non-academic time and must be treated as a top priority. Advance planning should be made to schedule academic classes and study groups in a way as not to conflict with scheduled Mascot activities as well. Necessary arrangements with work, sororities, fraternities, etc., concerning required activities or expectations of one s time must be made immediately following selection to the team. Eligibility A. Must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 undergraduate credits or 10 graduate credits unless approved by the dean) at the University of Washington and must maintain this status throughout membership on the team B. Must maintain a 2.0 GPA at all times; advisor/marketing director may check this at their discretion C. If at any time a member does not meet these qualifications, their membership may be terminated at the discretion of the advisor/marketing director. D. If a Mascot is removed from the team for disciplinary reasons or voluntarily quits he/she will be ineligible to participate in tryouts for the following year s team. The advisor/marketing director approval will be required to become eligible for tryouts after a one-year suspension. E. Must be in good physical condition as certified by a University of Washington Athletic Department trainer. F. Because of the dimensions and costs of the Mascot costumes, applicants should meet a weight requirement of between pounds and have a height of between 5 5 and If the applicant does not meet these criteria, it shall be up to the discretion of the advisor/supervisor as to whether or not the applicant can adequately fit into the suit.

8 Selection Process A. Tryouts will be held annually each April or May on a date chosen by the Assistant Director of Marketing B. There will be there (3) or four (4) people selected annually, unless determined otherwise by the Assistant Director of Marketing C. Tryouts will consist of: 1. An personal interview 2. A 3-5 minute skit/routine while in Harry Costume (please bring any props, music/cd, and your enthusiasm to present to the committee REMEMBER, Harry does not speak, so actions/gestures are what you need to communicate.) Program Structure A. In the absence of a senior member returning to the squad, the Assistant Director of Marketing will select a captain for the Mascot Squad. This will be selected on the basis of seniority, experience, and overall performance. B. The Assistant Director of Marketing will oversee the overall Mascot program, with assistance from the Marketing Assistant, Band Director, and Cheer Advisor. C. When the Mascot travels with the Husky Band and Cheer Squad, he/she will report directly to the Band Director on the trip or the Husky Cheer Advisor. The Mascot will also need to coordinate travel plans with the Band Director before leaving on the road trip. Responsibilities and Duties Athletic Functions 1. Summer 2005 a. Football Picture Day- One mascot will be present at Husky Football Picture Day in August 2005 at Husky Stadium. b. Volleyball, Men s Soccer, and Women s Soccer- Mascots will also be present at all volleyball matches and most soccer games. The majority of these events occur on evenings and weekends, beginning in late August or early September. c. Football- At least one mascot will be present at each of the six home football games, including the following two, which take place before school starts: September 10 vs. California September 24 vs Notre Dame Additionally, Harry may attend the game on Sept. 3 vs. Air Force at Qwest Field, for which we are the visiting team. 2. Fall Quarter 2005 a. Football- At least one mascot will be present at each of the six home football games, including the following four, which take place during fall quarter 2005: October 22 vs. USC November 5 vs. Oregon State (Homecoming) November 19 vs. WSU November 13 vs. California Mascots may also have an opportunity to travel to an away football game. b. Volleyball, Men s Soccer, and Women s Soccer- Mascots will be present at all volleyball matches and most soccer games. The majority of these events occur on evenings and weekends.

9 c. Men s and Women s Basketball- At least one mascot will be required to cover each men s and women s basketball games that are scheduled during fall quarter (about five or six games) including the exhibition games. These games will most likely take place in the evening or on weekends. d. Other Events- Mascots may also appear at special Husky events. 3. Winter Break a. Bowl Games and Playoffs- At least one mascot will appear at any postseason playoffs or bowl games for football, and possibly soccer or volleyball. b. Men s and Women s Basketball- Mascots will be required to attend all men s and women s basketball games that are scheduled during winter break ** NOTE: Because of the last minute nature of playoffs and bowl games, Mascots may not make unchangeable plans during winter vacation unless he/she finds a substitute for all games, appearances and other commitments. initials 4. Winter Quarter 2006 a. Men s and Women s Basketball- At least one mascot will be required to cover each men s and women s home basketball games. Most of these games are scheduled for Thursday evenings and Saturdays during this quarter. Class schedules will need to be compatible with these events. b. Gymnastics- One Mascot will be present at all home gymnastics meets, which are generally scheduled on Friday evenings. c. Other Events- Appearances will be made sparingly at selected tennis matches, swimming meets, and other events. 5. Spring Break 2006 a. NCAA or NIT Tournaments-One mascot will appear at all post-season tournament games that the Husky men s and women s basketball teams attend. b. Softball and Baseball- Mascots may be required to attend softball and baseball games that are scheduled during spring break. ** NOTE: Because of the last minute nature of playoffs, Mascots may not make unchangeable plans during spring vacation unless he/she finds a substitute for all games, appearances and other commitments. initials 6. Spring Quarter 2006 a. Softball and Baseball- Mascots will be present at most softball and baseball games. b. Playoffs- One mascot may have the opportunity to travel to postseason tournaments with the baseball and softball teams. c. Other Events- Special appearances may be made by a Mascot at Spring Fling/Husky Football Spring Game, Windermere Cup, tennis, track and field, and other events.

10 Community and Campus Events- Mascots will make special appearances at selected community, Alumni and campus events. 1. Summer- Such as the Torchlight Parade, Emerald Downs Rivalry Day, Emerald Downs Mascot Day, Everett AquaSox Mascot Game, Special Mariners appearances, Central Area Community Festival, Husky Football Picture Day, etc. 2. Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters- Special appearances at elementary and middle schools, rallies, UW campus events, etc. Other Commitments 1. Weekly Practices- All mascots will be required to attend one practice a week with the Husky cheer squad. Practices will begin in late August and run through the academic year. Specific Mascot practice dates will be determined at a later date. 2. Monthly Mascot Meetings- All Mascots will attend monthly Mascot meetings with the Assistant Director of Marketing to build morale, develop consistency within the Mascot program, and address issues or concerns. 2. Mascots are required to attend a formal training session during the 2005 summer (details are pending). 3. Physicals- All Mascots must pass a physical administered by a University of Washington trainer. The physicals will take place sometime in late August, in conjunction with the Husky cheer squad s physicals. 4. Advisor/marketing director will decide travel opportunities with seniority, attendance, and performance in mind. The Husky Athletic Department will be responsible for all costs associated with traveling to/from all Mascot appearances (when not on UW campus). Uniform and Appearance 1. Because of the excessive cost of the costumes, team members should treat the costumes with the utmost care at all times and properly clean the costumes. Specific rules of care will be provided to all mascots at the beginning of the season. Any member deemed to be violating this rule would be disciplined at the discretion of the advisor/marketing director/captain. 2. Under absolutely no circumstance may the costumes be used for personal or recreational use. Violation could result in dismissal from the Mascot team. 3. If the costume is lost or damaged (beyond the normal wear-and-tear expected), the team member will be held responsible for the cost of the repairs and/or replacement. 4. The Husky Athletic Department will be responsible for any costs associated with the upkeep and care of the Mascot costumes, Mascot uniforms, or props. These expenses MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE ADVISOR/MARKETING DIRECTOR. 5. The uniform MUST be washed and returned within two days after your scheduled event, or sooner depending on schedule of events. You MUST be aware of Harry schedule and make sure there is always a clean costume left in time for the next scheduled appearance.

11 Attendance Policies A. Participation in all practice sessions, team meetings, team projects, pep rallies, games and all other school activities as designated by the advisor/marketing director are required. B. Unexcused absences will result in a warning, and if continued, may lead to a dismissal. C. If for any reason a Mascot is unable to attend a function they have committed to, he/she is responsible for finding another team member to replace them; the trade must be approved by advisor/marketing director and/or captain at least 24 hours before the event. Behavior and Conduct A. Mascots should understand that they are serving as public relations ambassadors to the University of Washington and must act accordingly. Any swearing, spitting, crude gesturing, fighting, or otherwise lewd or inappropriate behavior will NOT be tolerated and may be grounds for suspension or immediate dismissal. Mascots must NEVER initiate any inappropriate behavior. B. Alcohol and drug policies: 1. Mascots may NOT, under any circumstance, consume alcohol or illegal drugs while in costume or within 24 hours of a performance; 2. Conversation about alcohol and drug use while in uniform or while representing the University at a game/event is strictly prohibited; 3. Violation will result in immediate dismissal from the team. C. All NCAA regulations regarding Mascots, time-outs etc. must be obeyed at all times. D. In and out of costume, a Mascot s identity should be kept a secret. UCA Competition A. To participate in UCA competition, the mascot squad will need to raise the monies prior to December 1, of any given year. 1. These funds can be raised by participating in the ICA raffle, by outside paid appearances or by obtaining a sponsor to pay the expenses. (To obtain a sponsor, you MUST include a Marketing Department member in any sponsorship agreements.) 2. Individuals may also choose to pay their own way to the event, if funds have not been raised prior to December 1 deadline. 3. If a paid invite is offered, then any funds not covered by the paid invite will also need to be raised before the December 1 deadline. 4. The Mascot Team Captain would be eligible to attend, if funds are raised. B. If funding is raised, the mascot(s) traveling to the competition will be selected based on the following criteria, in priority order: 1. The mascot squad captain 2. Years of participation on squad 3. Class seniority (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman) 4. Random selection C. Additionally, Husky home events will always take priority over competitions. Those events MUST be covered before any mascots travel to any competitions.

12 Liability A. Members must carry personal medical and vehicle insurance coverage (vehicle-if applicable); proof must be submitted to the advisor/marketing director at the beginning of the season before the Mascot is declared eligible. B. Members must sign an Acknowledgement of risk and consent form before participating as a Mascot. C. Members must complete an Emergency Medical Care form before participating as a Mascot. D. Excessive or risky stunts are to be cleared by the advisor/marketing director/captain before the event.