RHS VARSITY COMPETITION/ FOOTBALL CHEERLEADER TRY-OUT PACKET

Transcription

1 RHS VARSITY COMPETITION/ FOOTBALL CHEERLEADER TRY-OUT PACKET Important Dates Parent Meeting (mandatory): Mon. March 7 at 6pm in the Media Ctr Open gym (optional): March Try-outs (mandatory): March Results posted: April 1 after 5pm on the RHS website To Try-Out Must have a physical on file good until April 1 Passed all classes first semester Cheer fees from last year must be paid in full Return information sheet and parent-signed release forms before try-outs

2 RHS STUDENT & PARENT CHEER INFORMATION: Your coaches this year are Hope Hulsey and Misti Freeman. They are dedicated to excellence, both athletic and academic. Your daughter s education and cheer experience is of the utmost importance to the coaches, and they are dedicated to helping your daughters have a successful high school career. The 2016 Varsity cheerleading program will consist of ONE team who will BOTH compete and cheer football. The size of the teams depends upon the talent level present at tryouts. (Just like any other sport, it is necessary to have alternates. Alternates will not be decided until later in the season, and are not necessarily permanent. Just as a basketball team needs players on the bench, a cheer squad NEEDS alternates in case of injury, sickness, or poor attitude!) Contact info: hhulsey@polk.k12.ga.us, mfreeman@polk.k12.ga.us I. GENERAL OBJECTIVES Rockmart High School Cheerleaders are student-athletes and must uphold the highest standards, both academically and physically. They must be dependable, responsible, cooperative, disciplined, enthusiastic, and willing to devote time to their teams while continuously striving to improve their skills. Disrespect of any kind does not reflect the image we encourage and will not be tolerated. Cheerleaders are leaders at RHS and must conduct themselves as such both on and off campus; both

3 in and out of the classroom. Cheerleading at Rockmart High School is a privilege, NOT a right. II. ELIGIBILITY In order to be eligible to participate in the RHS Cheerleading Program, cheerleaders MUST... A. Have passed all classes 1st semester B. Have a current physical on file C. Have paid cheer fees from previous season D. Have a good discipline record E. Return attached forms signed before try-outs III. What to expect at Try-Outs Open Gym (March optional)- students can work on jumps, motions, tumbling and stunting Mon & Tues March 28, 29- all candidates will learn a chant, a cheer, and a dance as a group. The second half of practice will be split between tumbling, stunting and perfecting your jumps and tryout dance. Wed March 30-overall review. This will be a good time to review and perfect your jumps, cheer, dance, motions and tumbling skills. You may attend the entire time (which is recommended) or when you are able to come. Thurs March 31 Tryout Day- candidates will perform material for the judges. All cheer candidates will perform their tumbling, jumps, cheer, chant, and dance in pairs. Try-Outs are CLOSED. Only the coaches and judges will be allowed to watch.

4 IV. CHEERLEADING ATTENDANCE As a member of the RHS Cheerleading Program, you are required to contribute to the program and your team. When one person is absent, the whole team suffers and this causes ineffective practice time. As a result, the following attendance rules are necessary and will be enforced: A. Cheerleaders MUST schedule work schedules around all cheerleading activities. Work is NOT an excuse to miss or be late for practice. Please plan accordingly. B. All appointments such as doctor's, orthodontists, etc. MUST be scheduled around all cheerleading activities. Early release from or late arrival to practices and/or performances is unacceptable. C. Cheerleaders MUST be present at all practices, performances, fundraisers, pep rallies, sign painting sessions, camp, tumbling classes and any other activities designated by the coach. D. The ONLY absences that will be deemed excused are: 1. Death in the family 2. Signed doctor s excuse that indicates time and date of sickness (original excuse, not a copy of an excuse) 3. School-related field trips: These events MUST be approved by the coach prior to the missed event. 4. If a student is injured, and cannot compete, then they cannot cheer at football games or pep rallies, but must dress out and sit with the coaches. *If you are absent due to a family emergency or illness, you (the cheerleader) must call the coach to notify them as early as possible. We want to hear from the cheerleader; not the

5 parent. It must be a phone call, not a text. This is a part of growing up and being responsible. V. Costs (returning cheerleaders can use shoes,warm-ups, & bags from last year if in good condition) all costs are estimates A. Competition shoes= $60 B. Football shoes= $60 C. Warm Ups=$100 D. Uniform= $150 (if uniforms from last year work, we may not order a new uniform) E. Pom-Poms= $20 F. Practice wear= $40 G. Cheer bag= $35 H. Bow= $15 I. Tumbling/EJ Practice (2 hours week)= $45 month J. Choreography/Music=$130 K. Camp= $100 L. Hotel room for State Competition!=??? M. End of the year Bucket= $50 VI. Fundraisers (all cheerleaders must participate) A. Yankee Candle Sale (April) B. Princess-Parent Night Out (May) C. Car Wash (TBT) D. Ad Sales for Football Program (June) E. Golf Tournament (June or July) F. T-shirt sales (Aug)

6 VII. Cheerleader Rules A. As a cheerleader, you are expected to TRY whatever position the coach asks you to try. If you are one of the smallest on the team, you can expect to be a flyer because that is where you are needed. If you are not willing to try new positions with new people, then you probably shouldn t try-out! B. You are expected to take a separate tumbling class at least once a week. We have scheduled team tumbling with EJ or you can take private tumbling. C. You are strongly encouraged to take a weightlifting class. D. No jewelry, snacks, candy, or gum is allowed on the track at a football game. Only bottles of water are allowed. E. Be ON TIME to all practices, games and competitions. ON TIME means 15 minutes prior to scheduled time. If you are supposed to meet at 6:00, you should be there at 5:45 warming up. F. At a game, cheerleaders are expected to provide an outstanding example that reflects credit upon themselves, their family, their coaches, their school and the RHS Cheerleading Program. No horseplay or unsportsmanlike behavior, such as putting a megaphone on your head, kicking over another megaphone, not paying attention to cheers being called, throwing pom-poms or water bottles at one another, calling out insults to the players, coaches or referees, etc. Behavior on the field must be enthusiastic and disciplined, and will be expected! G. If food/candy is brought to practice, it must be in the trash BEFORE scheduled practice. No snacking throughout practice.

7 H. No long fingernails allowed at practice or games. No fingernail polish at games or competitions. I. No jewelry, including belly-button or nose rings at practice, games,or competition. This includes plastic spacers at competitions. J. Cheer duties go above & beyond the field and mat. ALL cheerleaders must make run-thrus, signs, goodie bags, clean the gym after pep-rallies, pick up run-thru paper on the field, load/unload poles, roll and unroll mats, etc. Every cheerleader will help with these duties. K. Homework: Cheerleaders must be flexible and have good core strength, especially flyers. You must work on these skills at practice and at home. Likewise, bases must have good leg & core strength and should work on those exercises at home. L. Uniforms can only be worn for cheer responsibilities. It cannot be worn as a Halloween costume or loaned to anyone. M. You must ride the bus to & from away games. N. No glitter. O. ISS or OSS students cannot participate in practice or games, and can be grounds for dismissal. P. You must attend school 1/2 of the day to participate in any cheer activity. Q. Uniforms must be clean at all times. Wash separately in cold water and hang to dry. (DO NOT put in the dryer.) R. When not in a group, cheerleaders will always walk with a cheer buddy for safety reasons. S. No cell phone use is allowed during practice or games.

8 T. You are a role model for hundreds of little girls. While in uniform, no show of affection, like kissing or hand-holding. Even when not in uniform, conduct should be lady-like and appropriate with friends and significant others. Failure to cooperate will be reviewed and could cause dismissal from the squad. U. Social Media must be clean of all foul language or pictures. No drama on social media! V. If you have to stay after school with a teacher, the teacher must ME the time that you arrived and left their room. W. If you have a problem with another cheerleader, refrain from discussing it for at least 24 hours to cool down. Then talk to the coach first. Sometimes it s best to forgive & move on. If not, a meeting with the coach and students involved will be arranged. If the outcome is still not acceptable, the Athletic Director is to be notified before a parent calls the Principal. X. No alcohol or drugs. CHEERLEADERS ARE GOVERNED BY THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLK SCHOOL DISTRICT. Y. In the case of a violating a civil or criminal law, she will be governed by the Polk School District discipline policy.

9 VIII. Discipline Policy Tardy to practice & games Disrespectful behavior ISS OSS Fingernails, jewelry, gum, food offenses unexcused absence from any practice or cheer event including fundraisers Social media violations Failure to help with clean up after pep-rally or load/unload run-thru Unladylike behavior in public Repeated violations 2-5 laps 3-5 laps (depending on severity, possible suspension) Run the whole practice; if game day, sit with coach + 10 laps after next practice Suspension from game, pep-rally, or competition & possible dismissal from team 2-3 laps 10 laps & possible suspension from game & pep-rally 5-10 laps (depending on severity, possible suspension) 3-5 laps 5-10 laps (depending on severity, possible suspension) 10 laps, Placed on cleaning detail & possible dismissal from team IX. We will not practice the following dates this summer: (You are encouraged to plan family vacations during this time) June 3-12 July 1-10 July 28-31

10 Cheerleader Information Sheet Cheerleader Name Grade level next year Phone Number Parent/ Guardian Name Parent/ Guardian Phone Number Parent/Guardian Did you cheer middle school? If so, where & how many years? Have you cheered competition in High School & if so, how many ears? Did you cheer All-Stars? If so, where & how many years? Are you currently taking a tumbling class or private tumbling lessons? If so, where? What tumbling skills do you have? Extracurricular Activities

11 Parent Permission Sheet My child,, has my permission to try out to be a cheerleader for Rockmart High School. I understand that he/she must abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the coaches, Athletic Director and Principal of RHS. She/he must also be present for all practices (including tumbling) and games and will be penalized if the coaches have not been made aware of absence beforehand. I have read the tryout packet and understand what is expected at tryouts and what is expected if said child is selected to be an RHS Cheerleader. Any violation of expectations may lead to temporary or permanent suspension from the squad. I understand and give permission for my son/daughter to ride with a coach and/or other parents when necessary.**i understand that my child will be evaluated by qualified judges and we agree to abide by the decision of the coaches. **I understand that by the very nature of the activity, cheerleading and gymnastics carry a risk of physical injury. No matter how careful the participant and coach are, how many spotters are used or what landing surface is used, the risk cannot be eliminated. The risk of injury includes minor injuries such as muscle pulls, dislocation and broken bones. The risk also includes catastrophic injuries such as permanent paralysis or even death from landing or falls on the back, neck or head. I understand these risks and will not hold Rockmart High School or any of its personnel or coaches responsible in the case of accident or injury at any time. **I understand all costs involved as stated on the financial information sheet. **I understand that I will notify the coaches of any prescription medication that my daughter may take during the course of the cheer season. If emergencies were to occur and I am unable to be contacted, I give my permission for the proper medical care to be given to my child by qualified professionals. Parent or Guardian Signature and Date I am interested in being a cheerleader at Rockmart High School. I understand the risks stated above. If selected, I promise to abide by the RHS Athletic Code and the rules and expectations set forth by the coaches, Athletic Director and Principal of RHS. I promise to cooperate and follow the instructions of the coaches and to display positive school spirit at all times. Student Signature and Date

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