CONSTITUTION OF THE FLORIDA HIGH CHEERLEADERS

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1 CONSTITUTION OF THE FLORIDA HIGH CHEERLEADERS NAME The Florida High Varsity, Junior Varsity and Middle School Cheerleaders. Cheerleaders will either be assigned as full-season or single season members depending on whether or not they participate in an additional sport such as volleyball, football, soccer or basketball. This is for MS and JV only. If chosen for Varsity, you cannot do other sports, and competition is NOT optional. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of the cheerleaders shall be to support all athletic teams and to direct and lead the student body/fans in cheers and chants at games and pep rallies. We show support for other sports such as soccer, softball, tennis, baseball and track with game attendance occasionally as a squad. The cheerleaders also participate in school and community activities. UNIFORMS The uniform will be furnished by Florida High School and funded from the athletic budget. Uniform accessories which include, socks, shoes, briefs, sports bras, turtlenecks, hair ribbons an all camp wear will be the responsibility of the cheerleaders. No accessories may be acquired without sponsor approval. Each member will be required to maintain good condition and cleanliness of his/her uniform on a weekly basis. Each member will be required to have all uniforms cleaned and in good condition during the cheer seasons. At the end of the season, the uniform must be cleaned before being returned. Each cheerleader will be charged a replacement fee for a uniform that is lost or damaged. CODE OF CONDUCT Cheerleaders are representatives of Florida High and at all times must conduct themselves in a manner which will reflect the dignity, pride and high standards of our school. Team members should be leaders within the school and set a good example at all times. Team members should be above reproach maintaining good personal appearance and habits that cannot be criticized. Smoking, drinking and/or drug use are grounds for suspension or dismissal by the coach. A member must be courteous and friendly to all other team members as well as the student body and faculty/staff at FHS. A member must be courteous and friendly to other teams and visitors. A MEMBER MUST BE RESECTFUL TO THE COACHES AND A CREDIT TO THE SCHOOL. A cheerleader will be relieved of all cheerleading responsibilities if unable to control his/her

2 behavior in an orderly manner. Cheerleaders shall not abuse the uniform at any time and shall not wear the uniform to any public place at which they are not in the full capacity of a cheerleader. They shall be in complete uniform at their activities. Each cheerleader shall be neat and clean at all times with a clean uniform and hair held back out of the face in a ponytail. In accordance with the Florida High School Athletic Association guidelines, no jewelry will be worn while cheering, including belly button rings. No glitter on the body, face, hair or uniform. No bright colored hair. For safety purposes, no beads will be worn in the hair. Fingernails shall be kept at a length appropriate for safe participation. The State rule states: The appropriate length means the nails are not visible beyond the end of the fingers when viewed from the palm side of the hands. No artificial nails. No cell phones allowed at practices, the bench or sidelines during cheering time. No gum or other foods shall be chewed or eaten during performances. Cheerleaders shall not lead cheers while an injured player is on the field or court, or during opposing team s foul shots. Each cheerleader shall extend all manner of welcome to visiting teams and their supporters. GRADE REQUIREMENT All varsity and junior varsity cheerleader candidates must have at least a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA, grades 6 th through 12 th. Middle school cheerleader candidates had to have had a 2.0 GPA or higher at the end of the last nine weeks. ATTENDANCE AT PERFORMANCES/PRACTICES/GAMES Cheerleading is a team sport. If the squad is to achieve its goals all members must be committed to the cheerleading team and give 100% effort at all practices and games. Therefore, all practices and games are mandatory. This includes playoff games that may go past the regular season scheduled games and during the holidays. Each coach and squad will determine specific days and times for practices. The Middle School and Junior Varsity teams will attend tumbling at an off campus gym once a week. The Varsity team will attend gym twice a week. These are considered practices and therefore the cheerleader is required to be there. Occasionally, additional after school or weekend practices will be held for special activities and only with the coach s approval. During the summer, all cheerleading squads will attend camp. This is a wonderful opportunity for the cheerleaders to learn new material, improve their skills in cheerleading, dance, and stunt and to learn to work as a team unit. All squads will have 3 or 4 days of camp. All camp sessions are mandatory for all cheerleaders. Camp fees are due one month before camp and is non-refundable. If a cheerleader decides not to do cheerleading after this grace period, they

3 are still required to pay the fees and for any clothing items that are already ordered or received. Any cheerleader absent from practice the day before a game will not be able to cheer at that game. Cheerleaders must be present and officially signed in for 4 academic periods on the day of a game in order to cheer at that event. If not present for more than 4 academic periods on game day will result in a forfeiture of cheerleading privileges for that game. However the cheerleader must attend the game and sit with the coach unless excused from the game by the coach. If a cheerleader signs out of school due to illness on the day of a game, he/she may not cheer at that event. Cheerleaders must notify the coach if they are sick or if an emergency arises before a practice or game. This includes leaving school early. It is the cheerleader s responsibility to contact the coach, not the parents. No games or practices should be missed because of doctor s appointments. All appointments of any kind should be scheduled on days when there is no activities with cheerleading scheduled. You must also show a doctor s excuse in writing for absences due to being sick. Work, outside activities or other sports are not considered an excuse for missing any FHS cheerleading activities. Please schedule these activities around the cheerleading calendar. Unexcused absences, tardiness, and not being dressed appropriately for practice are situations that impede the smooth operation of the squad and make it difficult for the squad to achieve its goals. Consequence for being absent to practices, games or events per season are: A. With the first unexcused absence, the cheerleader will be benched for the game that week. B. A second unexcused absence will result in suspension from the squad for one week. They will be required to come to practices and events, but may not participate. C. A third unexcused absence will result in removal from the squad for the remainder of the year. Consequences for being tardy or leaving early for practices, games, or events are: A. The first violation will result in extra conditioning. B. Three (3) tardies are considered excessive. Such a situation will result in one week suspension from the squad. *If you are late to practice because you are with a teacher, you need a note from the teacher to be excused. Consequences for not dressing appropriately for full participation in practices, games, or events are: A. For practice, occasional occurrences will result in extra conditioning.

4 B. For games, will result in suspension for that game. C. Frequent occurrences (3 times) will result in a one week suspension. In the event of a suspension or injury, the cheerleader will still be required to attend all games, practices and events. The suspended or injured cheerleader will fully dress out and sit with the coach in the stands. All coaches may have other ways of discipline. The decisions are up to the coaches. If problems persist, the consequence is removal from the squad. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT Each cheerleader must have a physical examination in order to tryout. If they make the team then an up to date physical has to be turned in on the FHSAA EL2 physical form. No cheerleader will be allowed to participate in cheerleading activities until the required forms are in. INSURANCE A copy of a cheerleaders insurance has to be on file with the cheerleading coach. EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION Each cheerleader must submit parental consent authorizing emergency medical treatment in the event that a cheerleader is injured and parents are not present or cannot be notified. TRANSPORTATION Each cheerleader must be responsible for getting transportation to and from all local Tallahassee games. Transportation to and from out of town games will need to be provided by parents, school or charter bus when available. When the cheerleaders transportation is by bus, ALL cheerleaders travel to and from games on the bus. At no time will cheerleaders be transported by other cheerleaders, other students, or anyone under age 25 driving the vehicle when traveling to out of town games. Failure to be on time to depart for games will result in the cheerleader not being permitted to cheer. We anticipate and post both the departure and return times for out of town games, pre-game practice times, and ending times for local games. We ask that parents get cheerleaders to school on time, and to be waiting for them when the games are over, or at the time that the bus is anticipated to arrive back to school. We will only be responsible for the cheerleader fifteen minutes after we arrive back to the school. This eliminates the danger of students waiting at school for rides late at night. We need ALL

5 parent s participation in transporting cheerleaders to all out of town games when a bus is not available. OFFICERS If officers are chosen, there will be 1 to 3 captains on each squad. The sponsors will determine which cheerleaders are eligible for this positions based on their past leadership and performance. Leadership criteria includes the following (1) the ability to get along with others. (2) The ability to organize and lead cheers. (3) Attendance at games, and (4) creativity in cheer making and pom routines. The Seminole Captain 1. Is responsible for posting in advance announcements regarding which uniform will be worn, bus departure and return times, practice schedules, game times or changes in these events so that all cheerleaders will get the information. Changes must be cleared with a sponsor and posted in advance. 2. Shall be in charge during every performance, and determine which cheers will be performed and when. 3. Is the official host at all home events. 4. Shall fulfill all duties assigned by the coaches. 5. Shall be in charge of contacting all cheerleaders when needed with the coach s permission. COMPETITION Competition is one of the main priorities of the Florida High Cheerleading squad. The competition squad will also be the Varsity squad. All competition practices and events are mandatory. If selected as an alternate, practices and performances are also mandatory. PARENTAL COMMITMENT Parental commitment and participation to the team is critical. 1. Parents should schedule all appointments, family activities, and vacations around the practice schedule. 2. Parents are periodically asked to assist in volunteering for activities or events and are expected to be supportive. 3. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to all camps, practices, games, fundraising events, competitions and other activities.

6 4. Parents are responsible for purchasing uniform accessories and camp wear, as well as paying for camps and other cheer events by announced deadlines. 5. Parents are required to sign a release form when taking a cheerleader home from an athletic event where transportation has been provided by the school. (Prior approval by the coach is required) 6. Parents are required to provide paperwork by announced deadlines. 7. Parents will be responsible for all information given on the cheer website and through Parents should let the coaches coach. Unlike other sports, in cheerleading all squad members participate; however, by the nature of the sport, some cheerleaders will be more visible than others, especially in dances and routines. As a result, parents have the responsibility to support the coach on decisions of routine placements, stunt positions, and formation placements. 9. If parents have any questions or concerns, please follow the appropriate chain of command: Coach Athletic Director Administrator Director TRYOUTS Teams will be selected similar to most other sports at FSUS. The coaching staff will use personal interviews, cheer, dance, and jump evaluations, along with stunting and tumbling evaluations to place athletes in a way that will make the strongest teams possible. A scoring process will not be used, as we do not feel it is most effective to quantitatively evaluate athletic ability. The final decision will always belong to the head coach. The decisions of the coaches are final. They will be based on the evaluations throughout all three days. Cheerleaders are chosen based on talent, ability, attitude, and overall need for positions (stunting). Decisions will be supported by administration.