FOSSIL RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING TRYOUT INFORMATION & EXPECTATIONS

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1 FOSSIL RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING TRYOUT INFORMATION & EXPECTATIONS VARSITY AND JUNIOR VARSITY CHEERLEADING SEASONS Thank you for your interest in trying out for cheerleading. In this packet, you will find the following: tryout information with a list of important dates, an information sheet, the Cheerleading Constitution, and the Statement of Permission and Agreement. You will also need to complete and turn in a tryout application online. These forms can be found on the FRHS Athletics website. If you have any questions about the Physical, Insurance or Eligibility, please contact the Athletic Secretary (Christine) at cfox@psdschools.org or call Please read and understand all the enclosed information before tryouts. Varsity Cheerleading Team Junior Varsity Cheerleading Team CHEERLEADING TRYOUT DATES: Parent meeting for all candidates who make the team will be at 6:30pm in the FRHS Roundhouse on Wednesday April 6 th. Tryout packets will be due Thursday April 7 th by 3:30pm in the FRHS Front Office. (This packet read through and signed, online application filled out, blue card from athletic secretary, $15 cash for tryout shirt, and Fall 2015 report card [NON FRHS Students Only] need to be handed in - in ONE envelope with candidate s name on it) Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 11 th -14 th 5:30pm-8:00pm and the final day will be April 15 th starting at 3:45pm and ending whenever the candidate is finished with their tryout. Tryout material and stunt technique will be taught, and tumbling, stunting and interviews will be scored during the first four days of tryouts. SUMMER SCHEDULE (STARTING MAY 1): FRHS Varsity cheerleaders practice from 5:45-8:00pm Tues-Thursday with Tumbling Mondays at 3:30pm at NorCo Elite FRHS JV cheerleaders practice from 5:45-8:00pm Tues & Thursday with Tumbling Mondays & Wednesdays at 3:30pm at NorCo Elite Camp is June Stunt Camp is August 5-6 Choreography for both teams is August 9-13 ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible in the fall/spring of for cheerleading, a student must have: Achieved a 2.5 grade point average for the previous semester Must not be failing more than one class at the time of tryouts The following must be turned in to the athletic secretary prior to tryouts: Athletic packet The following must be turned in to the Front Office by April 7th: Tryout Application Online at FRHSCheer.com Athletic Clearance Card (given to you by athletic secretary once you turn your athletic packet in) Signed Statement of Permission and Agreement (in this packet) $15 Cash A copy of your fall 2015 report card (non-current FRHS Students ONLY) SELECTION OF THE CHEERLEADERS WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:

2 A cheer and dance that will be taught to you during the clinic. The ability to learn quickly, adapt, and transition to different positions in a stunt during the week. Tumbling skills standing and running Jumps (A toe touch, a hurdler, and a three jump combination. Descriptions and pictures of these jumps can be found on the Varsity website ( Athleticism and physical fitness Scholastic achievement and eligibility Attitude, initiative, teamwork, leadership, work ethic, enthusiasm, and coachability RESULTS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AT FRHSCHEER.COM BY SATURDAY AT NOON (APRIL 16TH) Results are final. Please hold questions if your child does not make the team until April 25th. Nikki will then be available by to answer your questions and review the score sheet with your child over as well. We need to get through fittings, parent meetings and fundraisers with the new team and handle new team member questions before we can address those who did not make the team. WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO TRYOUTS? During clinic days please wear comfortable, length appropriate shorts and a t-shirt. Dress as if you would dress for cheerleading practice. Sports bras must be worn. No basketball shorts or pajamas. No denim shorts, jewelry, or artificial nails. Your hair should also be off your shoulders. On official try-out day, you will need to wear black shorts and the T-shirt given to you. Your hair should be off your shoulders, and no jewelry should be worn or artificial nails. IMPORTANT - FOR THOSE WHO MAKE THE SQUAD: Fitting for all cheerleaders and parent meeting, deposit is due Monday April 18th at 5:30pm in the FRHS commons Practice begins the first week of May. A schedule will be given to you at the parent meeting. ESTIMATED COSTS Varsity and alternates attend UCA Nationals in Orlando each year. UCA Nationals are at Disney World in Orlando, FL the first or second weekend in February. This is mandatory for all Varsity team members although some will travel as alternates. We will do a lot of fundraising this year to offset the cost of nationals. Please speak with a coach if you have a financial hardship and we will work with you to make paying for the season possible for your family!!! Dues for a Brand New Cheerleader Include Payments for the following: Shoes (game day and competition), Bows, Undergarments, Bags, Uniforms (2), Camp, practice wear (worn at each practice all year long), competitions, poms, Warm Ups, & Choreography total about $1,200. This does not include Nationals. NorCo Athletic Facility dues are around $95/month. We practice there 2 times per week all year long. You will keep the uniforms and warm ups so next year s cost will be much less. A deposit of $250 must be made on Monday April 18th if you make the team so we can order your child s uniforms & secure camp. Uniforms take about 8 weeks. Your child should have their uniforms in time for camp and other community events throughout the summer. Please be prepared to have this amount of money in the event that you make the team.

3 Cheerleading Expectations and Guidelines Purpose The objective of the Fossil Ridge High School cheerleading squad is to effectively support the athletic teams and promote the school itself. Cheerleaders will serve as positive role models and leaders for FRHS and should promote sportsmanship within our school and among other schools. The highest priority should be to display and encourage spirit and pride for FRHS. Squad Members, general expectations and practices Members will be chosen at a formal tryout session. The JV squad will consist of up to 20 students who will cheer at JV football, volleyball and basketball games and will participate in some pep rally events and competitions. JV cheerleaders act as alternates to the varsity team. The Varsity team will consist of up to 24 sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will cheer at all Varsity football games, Volleyball games, Basketball games, competitions, and pep rally events. Freshmen typically do not make a Varsity squad; however, exceptions can be made at the coach s discretion. Competition teams will be selected after the two day Stunt Clinic that occurs August 5 th and 6 th. Some Varsity members will compete on JV, while some JV members may be alternates for the JV competition team if they are not ready to compete. If a member of a squad is removed from a position, a replacement will be determined by the coaches. Cheerleading and sideline dance check-offs will be required before Football and Basketball season. Any cheerleader who does not pass check-offs with a 90% or better will be benched until they check off. They will be given two additional chances after the first check off. If the cheerleader cannot pass the check off after three sessions they will be removed from the team. Cheerleaders who need to make up a check-off will be expected to stay late at practice the Monday after the game they were benched to check off their cheers and dances. Squads will have practices each week. A tentative schedule for the next month will be distributed by the 20 th of the month. All practices are mandatory, and other schedules should revolve around cheerleading practices. Doctor s appointments and dentist/orthodontist appointments may not be scheduled during practice time. Prompt arrival to practice and games is expected. Shoes on, hair up, jewelry out and stretching at the time practice begins will be expected each practice. Team conditioning and possibly further discipline will be considered for tardiness at the discretion of the coach. Cell phones will not be allowed for any reason during practice. If seen on your cell phone during practice, you will be asked to leave. If you need to contact a parent, always speak to a coach before using your cell phone during practice. Weekly tumbling is required for all FRHS Cheerleading members. Varsity will tumble during practice at HC, while JV has one hour of tumbling each week at NorCo. Participation of another sport during the cheerleading season must be approved by the coach and Ken Denning, Athletic Director prior to the athlete committing to the other team. If conflict arises, FRHS cheerleading will need to become the priority in most cases. Coach Nikki is willing to work with students in more than one sport during most times of the year but cheerleading must remain the priority. All Star Cheerleading must never conflict with high school cheerleading. Injuries: If sitting out for an injury, a Doctor s note from an MD must be obtained with the nature of the injury, what the cheerleader pay participate in at a limited level, and a date that the cheerleader will return to full participation. If this is not obtained then the cheerleader will be removed from the competition team and could be considered absent if not participating. Games During football/volleyball season & basketball season, games are usually held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. JV and Varsity will be split up into two teams for Volleyball & some basketball games, and the entire team will cheer football. If you have to miss a volleyball game, you may make up one game during each season by cheering at another game with another team. The rest cannot be made up without an attendance penalty. Attendance Requirements

4 Cheerleading is a huge time commitment May-February. There are two Varsity letters given because of the lengthy commitment. Before trying out for the team, I recommend looking at the schedule and making sure that this is a sacrifice that your family is willing to make. Attendance to FRHS cheer practice and events needs to be the priority for all team members. Here is the typical schedule in the fall for a Varsity and a JV team member once school starts. Example schedule: Varsity Schedule Fall Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday NorCo 3:30-5:30 FRHS 3:30-5:30pm Team A Cheer Volleyball 6:00-8:00pm NorCo 3:30-5:30 FRHS 3:30-5:45pm Conditioning 3:30pm-4:30pm Football vs. 7:00pm (arrive at 6:00pm) Practice 9am- 11am NO CONTACT JV Schedule Fall Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday NorCo 3:30-5:30 Team A Cheer Volleyball 4:00pm- 6:30pm NorCo 3:30-5:30 JV Football 3:00pm Check In, Game 4pm- 6pm FRHS 3:30-5:30pm NO CONTACT ABSENCES CAN BE THE DOWNFALL OF A GREAT CHEERLEADING SQUAD! If one or more squad members are absent from a practice or game, the other members are forced to make last minute changes. This can be both stressful and dangerous to squad members. You will be expected to be at all games and practices. Jobs, club activities, extracurricular activities, doctor s appointments, etc. must not interfere with cheerleading. If you commit to cheerleading you are committing to attend every game. Unexcused absences are those caused by anything other than illness or family emergencies. In addition, just because a cheerleader asks to be excused doesn t mean that the excuse will be granted. If you are ill or have a family emergency, the coach needs to be notified by a parent or guardian in order for this absence to be excused. Please notify the coach before the absence or as soon after as possible; only under extreme circumstances will prior notice not be expected. Please call Nikki Rodriguez (970) to notify the coach of any excused absences. If the coach is unavailable, please leave a message. If a cheerleader must be late to practice for making up a test, they need to give the coach 24 hours notice and bring a note from the teacher for whom they are making up the test. Practice begins at 3:30 so students making up a test are expected to be no more than 15 minutes late to practice. As stated in the Guidelines for FRHS Athletes, students must be present half the school day (2 full class periods) to be eligible for practices and games scheduled for that day. If a student is assigned to ISS, the student may not participate in any scheduled event for the time the athlete is assigned to ISS. In addition, the athlete will be benched for ISS counseled and/or dismissed from the squad for OSS. TENTATIVE JV/VARSITY PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2016/2017 SEASON: Daily from 3:30pm-5:30pm, and Saturday Mornings starting in October. Competition Schedule: Starting the last two weekends in October, all of November, and the first two weekends in December the FRHS Cheer Teams will be competing. Please block out those Saturdays. Cheerleaders must attend EVERY competition NO EXCEPTION. If one cheerleader misses, the entire team must pull from a competition. Both JV and Varsity compete during the season. Not every Saturday during that time will we be competing, but we do not know the dates until fall. Grades A minimum of 2.5 GPA must be maintained throughout the cheering season. Because cheerleaders are students first and athletes second, weekly progress reports will be turned in so the coach can monitor academic progress. From the time the F is written on the progress report, you have two weeks to pull the F up before a more severe consequence is given.

5 If you have two F s, you are not eligible to cheer. Coach Nikki receives progress reports on Thursday afternoons. Cheerleaders who have two F s will have until 3 p.m. the next day (Friday) to have raised a grade to passing and must have it cleared by Ken Denning, the Athletic Director, who will give the coach permission to allow the athlete to cheer. A written note from the teacher to Ken with the % the child has the class is required before he will allow them to become eligible. Uniforms A cheerleader may not represent another sport (soccer, track, baseball, etc) while in uniform. Only stud earrings for jewelry and FRHS Cheerleading apparel may be worn with the uniform during the day (at school). Always wear your cheerleading shoes with your uniform. JV Cheerleaders choosing to stay for a Varsity game must change out of the cheerleading uniform and into regular clothing. Cheerleading uniforms are to be worn for cheerleading events only and designated by the coach. Fund Raising Every cheerleader will be expected to support all fundraising events which support the team. We will be doing a lot of fundraising this year and each team fundraiser should be treated as a practice. These are mandatory! Failure to participate and meet your quota of fundraising can result in dismissal from the squad. Turning in fundraising money after the due date will result in being benched. Transportation Cheerleaders are responsible for their own rides to and from away games For state and any other activity where cheerleaders must ride the bus; you must ride to and from an event in the bus. Parents may not drive you home from any event for which you took the bus. Expected Behavior All Fossil Ridge High School guidelines must be followed at all times. Consequences will be issued for misbehavior or poor conduct Promote a positive image for the school community your peers, parents, teachers, and community members Respectful self-image on all Social Media outlets. Must friend FRHS Cheerleading on Facebook, and to follow you on Twitter. Access to any social media account may be requested by the Coach at any time and must be given by the cheerleader. WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE WEB IS WRITTEN IN INK! If you wouldn t want your coach, teachers, and parents to read it, don t post it. Discipline for social media will be considered on a case by case basis. While representing FRHS, cheerleaders must not: Drink alcoholic beverages Use controlled substances Use tobacco products Show unsportsmanlike conduct Use profanity Show displays of affection Be academically dishonest Treat others with disrespect Bully peers Post distasteful pictures Cheerleaders must wear the designated uniform to school on the day of a game. This includes cheerleading shoes and bow. Warm ups and team sweatshirts are the only apparel allowed to be worn with the uniform to school. Failure to abide by this rule will result in benching from that night s game. Attend all practices and games, on time. There will be team discipline for individual tardiness. Your attitude and ability to work with different personalities must be exceptional. You must always come to a coach with a concern before a parent addresses the concern with the coach. Lying or fabricating the truth will not be tolerated and can result in immediate termination from the squad. Part of a coach s job is to know where you are at all times during practices, games, and special events. Consequences will be issued for failure to follow the coach s direction or to stay in assigned areas during events. While safety is our number one goal, please understand that you should expect bumps, bruises, and other occasional minor injuries. This is all part of cheerleading. Cheerleaders can not wear or loan FRHS cheerleading uniforms/outfits when attending non-cheerleading activities. All official cheerleading decisions and activities will be made by the coaching staff. All coaches and captains are to be given respect and cooperation by cheerleaders and parents at all times. Lack of respect from parents or cheerleaders will not be tolerated and can be grounds for dismissal.

6 *Being in correct uniform means wearing the appropriate uniform sports bra, bloomers, hair ribbon, socks, shoes, having hair pulled up. Complete uniform also means wearing no jewelry, glitter, or fingernail polish. Your nails must be trimmed short, and no acrylic nails or tips will be worn (CHSAA RULE). Coaches reserve the right to make changes/additions to the rules as needed. In addition, if you have any questions or concerns, please respect the following chain of command: Squad Coach (Lindsey first in the case of a JV question or concern), Coach Nikki, Athletic Director Ken Denning, School Principal Will Allen. ALL TRYOUT QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO COACH NIKKI. Nikki responds quickly to at: nrodriguez@psdschools.org Statement of Permission and Agreement If you make the cheerleading squad, realize that you are making a commitment to Fossil Ridge High School, your coaches, your teammates, and yourself for the complete season (full year). The decision to tryout should not be taken lightly. You will be expected to put cheerleading as one of your top priorities. Furthermore, as a representative of Fossil Ridge, you must maintain proper behavior at all times. You must follow the cheerleading guidelines set forth in the Fossil Ridge High School Cheerleading Expectations. Students who break the rules will be disciplined. By making this commitment to the Fossil Ridge High School Cheerleading program, you will receive many valuable and rewarding educational experiences that you will remember long after you graduate from high school. These activities will not only channel your enthusiasm and spirit in a constructive and beneficial manner, but will give you a sense of pride and accomplishment in being a part of a group that has earned the reputation as one of the finest in the state of Colorado. Student Agreement I,, have read and understand the CHEERLEADING EXPECTATIONS. I agree to abide by the policies described if I am chosen as a member of the squad. I am agreeing to the information in the packet and understand that failure to adhere to these rules policies could result in dismissal from the squad. Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Agreement I,, the parent or legal guardian of, have read and understand the CHEERLEADING EXPECTATIONS and the TRYOUT INFORMATION. I agree to abide by the policies described if my child is chosen as a member of the squad. I also agree to the financial obligations as they are described in the information provided. I understand that failure by me or my child to adhere to these policies could result in dismissal from the squad.

7 Parent Signature Date