Season 11. Squad history

Transcription

1 Handbook

2 Season 11 Squad history The squad was set up in September 2006 as an extra-curricular dance club at Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College by, Charlotte Robinson, Claire Greenwood and Lauren Evans, who at the time worked as P.E assistants in their gap year prior to attending university. Cheerleading soon became the dance style of choice for a group of 21 girls, and the squad was born. They started to perform in school and were invited to numerous dance festivals to showcase this new dance style. The squad grew from strength to strength and now has over 100 squad members. Towards the end of the year the squad attended the UKCA National schools championships at Manchester Velodrome, where they gained their first victory, becoming National Schools Champions in pom dance for The coaches continued to train the squad whilst attending university, and this commitment lead the squad to its second consecutive title of National Schools Pom Dance Champions This victory gave them the opportunity to compete at the highest level as they were invited to the Americheer International Championships 2009 in Disneyworld, Florida. They fought hard against some very strong American squads and gained 6th place, an amazing achievement for such a young squad. Since 2007 the team competed at several regional, national and international competitions, collecting numerous trophies along the way, part of this success was down to the support of the school. Following the schools closure and the loss of financial help, the squad still wanted to continue so Coach Charlotte agreed to run the squad on a voluntary basis in her free time. In their first year on their own the team found training facilities at Bradford Gymnastics Club, where they trained every week. They also competed in 3 large competitions that season receiving several titles as a team and individually, both nationally and internationally. The squad s success is down the unwavering support of parents, friends and family, who ultimately helped to keep this squad alive. Coaches Head Coach Charlotte Charlotte's aim is to provide her time and knowledge of cheerleading as long as there is a demand for it. She is constantly looking at ways to improve the team to ensure that she can provide the best possible service for everyone. She has been dancing since the age of 7 attending weekly lessons in ballet, tap and modern working towards becoming a BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dancing) Associate Ballet teacher which she achieved in Currently she works as a dancing teacher at Barbara Mann Dance Academy on evenings and weekends which is the school at which she trained and qualified. During high school she began cheerleading commercially and competitively and it quickly became her passion.

3 Alongside coaching Yorkshire Martyrs she has gained level 1-4 cheerleading coaching awards and Basic Tumbling through UKCA (UK Cheerleading Association). She has used these to coach within numerous schools around the country both primary and secondary. While attending Manchester Metropolitan University she gained a BA (Joint Honours) in Sport and Dance and also achieved a NVQ Level 2 in dance activity leadership during her first year and became chair/coach for the university cheerleading team, taking them to several competitions and becoming National champions in Currently she is self-employed through her own coaching company, the Cheer and Dance Company specialising in delivering dance and cheerleading to the schools and communities in the area. This ensures she is fully CRB checked and up to date on all child protection training and issues and is also first aid trained. Coach Emma Emma is the new assistant coach who has cheered with the squad since 2009, and has been very proactive with her leading skills. She is currently studying a degree in dance and is a qualified sports leader, level 1 and 2 cheerleading coach and has recently qualified as a sport first aider. She has represented England at the European Cheerleading Championships in Glasgow in the senior freestyle doubles category. She also secured a place on an all-girl level 6 team, Aviator Allstars, in which she represented England at the World Cheerleading Championships in Florida which has been her biggest accomplishment yet. She hopes to continue building upon her cheerleading hobby and to inspire the younger cheerleaders to reach their goals and aspirations just as she has over the years. Coach Danielle Danielle is one of the original members of Yorkshire Martyrs and has competed in over twenty competitions representing the squad in many categories. She is currently a level 3 cheerleading coach and has taken an active coaching and choreographic role for over 4 years. She is a fully trained first aider and is working towards her level 4 cheerleading coach qualification. Dancing from the age of 3 she has extensive knowledge and experience in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance styles. This has gained her a place at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) studying for her 3 year degree in dance. On her breaks from university, Danielle helps to condition and train the squad. Danielle has represented England along with Emma as YMCS at the ECU European Championships in Glasgow in the senior freestyle doubles category. She also secured a place on an all-girl level 6 team, Aviator Allstars, in which she represented England at the World Cheerleading Championships in Florida which has been the highlight of her cheer life so far. She has been secured a place on a coed level 5 and all girl level 6 Aviator Allstar squad and has the chance to compete at Worlds 2015 alongside achieving a 1st class honours degree from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

4 Code of conduct General Rules Always be punctual arrive 5 minutes early before practice is due to start Always attend every training session Always have a good warm up Always participate to the best of your ability Always dress properly for practice (YM Training kit) Take pride in your appearance always be neat Hair must be tied back Jewellery MUST NOT be worn for safety reasons No sweets, gum or snacks when in training unless agreed by the Coach No swearing behave appropriately Maintain a positive attitude Treat yourself and each other with respect this includes other squads Talk to your coach if you have any problems And most importantly, ALWAYS HAVE FUN Uniforms & Practice Wear Uniforms will be decided upon by the coach. Practice wear must consist of Yorkshire Martyrs Training kit (available from the Coach.) If a cheerleader is not wearing correct kit they will be subject to extra conditioning. Clean Trainers must be worn at all times. Uniform will only be worn for events as designated by the coach. Cheerleaders in uniform or wearing any item of squad or team identification must always conduct themselves in a manner befitting to a Yorkshire Martyrs Cheerleader. Uniforms will be provided to members of the squad who have not purchased their own. All members are responsible for the uniform whilst it is in their care. Any uniform that is damaged and deemed unusable by the coaching staff must be repaired/replaced by the cheerleader in whose care it was given. Appearance For safety reasons jewellery or watches will not be worn with uniform or at practice. This includes Belly rings/bars. Uniforms must be kept spotless at all times. Makeup and tan should be natural and not excessive. All hair styles must be neat and secured up out of the face, not needing attention (combing etc) whilst performing, long hair MUST be in a high ponytail. Cheerleaders should look their best at all times, especially when in uniform. Conduct Squad members and parents are required to maintain and uphold the reputation of the squad through their own conduct and squad spirit at training, events and social media.

5 Members are required to be courteous, polite, friendly, and try to have a smile for everybody. Members will make every attempt to ignore or dissuade negative responses at events and not become involved in such action themselves. Anti-Bullying Code Every squad member has the right to be free from intimidation, both in the squad and in the surrounding community. The Squad will not accept and will question unkind actions or remarks, even if these were not intended to hurt. Any wounding action or comment will be called bullying and will be dealt with seriously. We are a listening squad. We all have a duty to report bullying. Bullying is too important to ignore. Fundraising Activities All cheerleaders will participate in as many fund raising projects as they can. The money raised will be used to fund additional agreed expenses during the year such as extra items of kit or equipment. Donations to, and fund raising for, team funds or charity projects may be conducted as agreed by the squad and coach. All fund raising activities will be approved by the majority of the squad with the approval of the coaches and fundraising committee. Membership Members must attend regularly and participate fully in squad activities All subscriptions must be paid on time The squad will be divided into appropriate groups depending on age and ability Insurance is mandatory and will be arranged through the coach. No Exemptions Attendance requirement Competitions The squad as a whole will decide which competitions to enter but the coach has the final decision. Once a cheerleader agrees to participate in the competition all practices must be attended (including extra ones). Other Performance From time to time the squad will be asked to take part in fetes, parades and other charitable events. All members are expected to participate in such events, unless holiday or illness prevents them doing so. Social Events From time to time the squad will arrange social events. All members are encouraged, but not required to attend. The Coaches will give reasonable notice of all upcoming events, through the website, word of mouth and separate letters (if necessary). Squad Captains Will set an example to the rest of the squad by following the squad rules at all times and by being at training and events early. Act as peacemaker in the event of disagreements.

6 Be responsible for setting a good example of friendliness to other cheerleaders. Helping to organise the squad at events to ensure they are in the right places at the correct times. In the event the Squad captain does not perform his/her duties correctly a new captain will be appointed. Will assist in extra training sessions as an assistant coach. Practice Schedule This will be arranged by the coaches Training will be held at Bradford Gymnastics Club, St Columbas Primary School and The Barre Studios During competition training or other important events, full day training may be required. All squad members are required to attend ALL training sessions unless valid reasons are notified to the coaches Disciplinary Action It shall be squad policy that disciplinary action will only be taken as a last resort, and that every reasonable attempt will be made to avoid situations likely to lead to such action through squad discussion and positive encouragement, by example and by finding ways and means to correct negative trends. A squad member may be suspended from performances/competitions for the following reasons:- Unexcused absence, excessive absence, (3 STRIKE RULE) failure to cooperate with coaches or failure to abide by the squad rules and regulations (Including Stunt guidelines) both at practice and out. Stunt Safety Code Stunting often forms a significant part of practice sessions and displays; however an unplanned dismount situation can occur at any time. Avoid unnecessary risks by seeking correct training in both stunting and spotting techniques. Stunt MUST be treated seriously. If you have not been shown how to stunt then don t stunt Ensure clothing and footwear is suitable (see Code of conduct section 1) No hoods, baggy sweaters, hats, jewellery, or low grip materials Avoid unnecessary frills, trim, and pockets Check the floor surface Check the surrounding area for dangerous obstructions such as chairs or railings Check overhead for ceiling height, light fixtures or low roof beams Practice with crash mats, especially when indoors If you are feeling tired or unwell DO NOT STUNT Always warm up and stretch before any practice sessions or performance Only one person should be talking during stunt building practice, and then only to count The keyword DOWN is an imperative, called by any person it initiates an immediate controlled dismount Beginners should start by mastering basic stunt techniques before being lead into advanced stunts

7 Before practicing a stunt or pyramid, talk through each stage, especially the dismount Practice building a stage at a time, and dismounting from each stage. This generates good control for bringing the stunt down safely at any point Get stage one right before moving onto stage two Bases should be set, and where applicable locked, before the flyer starts to mount Every stunt or pyramid should be practiced with spotters Use step lock technique for climbing All stunts should be practiced to a count sequence. You can add music or chants later The final set should be held for a count of two to aid dismount timing Always dismount from the top down whilst continuing the count Concentrate, Be alert Practice makes perfect, but beware that repetition can make for complacency Fund Raising Due to cheerleading being a relatively expensive sport to take part in and the squad currently being selffunded, all fundraising efforts are extremely important. All cheerleaders are expected to take part in all fund raising activities. How Can I help? Asking in local supermarkets, etc for bag and pack opportunities Family/Local businesses interested in sponsorship? What can we do for them? Keeping an eye open for any local events to raise awareness of the Team Competitions Generally the squad aims to compete at two to three competitions each season. Each competition requires lots of preparation with training routines, entries, travel, accommodation and general preparation for the squad. The competitions usually run over two days (Saturday and Sunday), one day being all cheer categories and the other dance. If competing in both categories the cheerleader will be expected to stay overnight. It is required for every cheerleader under the age of 12, a parent or guardian must accompany them throughout the whole competition. It is the responsibility of the cheerleader and parent to organise their own travel and accommodation unless otherwise specified by the team. In previous years a minibus has been used as the squad was only small. As the squad is increasing rapidly in size we will require as much help and support from parents/family members for travel to and from competitions. Each cheerleader will be informed of the categories that they can compete in however as the fees for competition can be expensive this will ultimately be the choice of the parents. All fees must be paid before the deadline or the cheerleader will not be able to participate in the competition, unless other arrangements have been made with Head Coach Charlotte or the treasurer (Tracy). The most important factor of the competition is to try your best, have FUN and cheer your team and others on, however I feel it always increases the standard of performance the more supporters we have cheering on the team.

8 Merchandise All products can be ordered through the squad, however companies have been listed if you would prefer to order directly. The squad aims to provide for everyone s budget, therefore cheerleading uniforms are loaned to all cheerleaders participating in a competition. All other items can be borrowed depending on availability. If there are any issues regarding finances or the products please do not hesitate to contact Coach Charlotte Contact Information I hope you have found this booklet useful. The squad also has a website that is frequently updated with information regarding the squad, events and pictures etc, however if you have any further questions at any time please don t hesitate in contacting Coach Charlotte via or phone number. info@ymcheerleadingsquad.co.uk Mobile