UNF Cheer Team Rules and Guidelines

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1 UNF Cheer Team Rules and Guidelines Spirit promotion at University of North Florida is an athletic activity and subsequently is a part of the Athletic Department. Members of the UNF Cheer Team include cheerleaders, mascots, and coaches. The head coach reports to the Athletics Marketing Director. UNF Cheer Team is budgeted in Athletics and is primarily active at athletic events. These rules and regulations are subject to addition and change when found necessary and beneficial. The Athletics Marketing Director regulates these changes. Philosophy and Objectives Cheerleading at UNF is a demanding activity and must come first before all other extracurricular activities (fraternities/sororities, school clubs, work, etc.) You are a UNF Cheerleader, and are expected to cheer at and be a participant in other athletic/academic/social functions as deemed necessary by the coach and/or Athletic Department. The primary responsibility of a person when acting as a member of the UNF Cheer Team is to support University of North Florida and its Athletic Department. Support is defined as: 1. To lead the cheers; to raise the level of fan support for intercollegiate athletics; to lead in positive vocal support for the team; to solicit that support from UNF fans and to project that support to the University and its teams ; 2. To participate in the athletic activity known as cheerleading by performing dance movements, motions, etc.; to perfect this athletic activity for keeping the crowd s attention/direction focused on the field/floor where the intercollegiate activity is taking place; and for entertainment purposes. 3. To serve as a public relations ambassador of intercollegiate athletics and the University; to uphold, reflect, and project the goals and ideals of the University; to appear at University activities, functions, and programs, at charitable and public causes. Members of the UNF Cheer Team should benefit from their experiences by developing into responsible, mature, and independent adults. For exa mple, members should develop life, leadership, social, and decision -making skills. Priorities Cheerleading is not a team sport in which wins and losses are at stake, but it is an athletic activity in which the very well being of each participant depends on the presence of others. To be successful, you must respect yourself, each other, the coach, the Athletic Department, and University of North Florida. Actions that violate the spirit of this concept will result in disciplinary action and may result in your dismissal.

2 Conduct This document in combination with the UNF Student Conduct Code should guide your conduct as a member of the UNF Cheer Team. It is your responsibility to be familiar with these contents. As a member of the UNF Cheer Team you repre sent the entire team, as well as the Athletic Department and University of North Florida. This is a privilege and something of which you should be proud. In all policy and program matters, members of the UNF Cheer Team shall first be law-abiding citizens of their nation, state, and city; and second, shall be exemplary representatives of University of North Florida. Members must display proper behavior and avoid creating or participating in situations that cause personal, team, Athletic Department, or University embarrassment. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action and potential dismissal from the team. UNF Cheer Team members are expected to be courteous and act as role models in all class situations. This improves the learning process and shows respect for your professors. Class attendance is very important to success. Members may miss some classes due to team travel and appearances, and therefore cannot afford to miss extra classes. Make sure professors know well in advance about any scheduled absences. Most professors, given ample warning, will work with their students with respect to scheduling. Always offer to turn in papers and take tests early and at your professor s convenience. Any cheerleader that is noted for continuous negative behavior and does not appear to be representing the team in an appropriate manner will have one warning along with a meeting with the coaching staff. If the behavior continues she/he will be dismissed from the team. Disciplinary Actions Rules violation, inappropriate behavior, or tardiness after the official start of practice or preparation for an event will result in physical conditioning (time to be decided by coach). After 25 minutes late you are considered to have missed the event. The first event missed will require 6 practices worth of physical conditioning if the coach accepts your excuse. This does not provide you with a freebie. If your excuse is considered to be unacceptable (i.e. putting yourself before the squad), then at the sole discretion of the coach you will be dismissed. In any event the second event missed will result in your suspension and possible dismissal. There is a no tolerance policy on any disrespectful or threatening comments made to a coach or team member, and will result in immediate dismissal. Tobacco / Drugs Use of tobacco in any form while on University business is prohibited. The University is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for UNF Cheer Team. Thus, conduct which involves in the unlawful possession, use, distribution, or manufacture of controlled substances by a member shall result in immediate dismissal. The coach must have knowledge of any prescription medication and the reasons therefore.

3 Alcohol Consumption UNF Cheer Team members are expected to abide by the laws of their nation, state, and city. This expectation is foremost when it comes to alcoholic beverages. The law prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages for those less than 21 years of age. Anyone of legal drinking age may not consume alcoholic beverages while on University business or in the 24 -hour period before a practice or game. Members should never be found to have purchased alcohol for anyone under 21 nor attempted to coerce anyone who does not wish to co nsume alcohol to do so. UNF Cheer Team members are reminded that, as highly visible members of the University community, their actions and behavior are under constant observation. Both in and out of uniform, members are known, subject to scrutiny, and can easily be the object of criticism for their behavior or actions, in particular, for over-indulging in alcoholic beverages. Violators of these rules shall be subject to serious disciplinary measures up to and including immediate dismissal. Schedules and Appearances You are committed to UNF Cheer Team from try -outs until the next squad is selected the following spring. Your weekly commitment is somewhere between hours per week. At a minimum this will require attendance at: 1. Practices: 2. Weight Room: 3. Training Camp: In late July the UNF Cheer Team will be going to Tennessee for the summer cheer camp, funded by UNF Athletics. This camp will teach spirit/cheer skills, as well as serve as bonding time for the team. Please see the coach for information. 4. Games (home or away): Unless the coach designates an earlier or later time, on game day you are obligated to cheerleading 90 minutes prior until 30 minutes after the game. In addition to basic warm-up and preparation (including taping for the game), you may need to make appearances as assigned by the coach. The team will meet at a designated area and go to the arena together, dressed and ready to perform. For away games the Cheer team will travel with the respective sport s mode of transportation. In addition, there will be public relations appearances, pep rallies, community service activities, fundraising activities, and other appearances that will require your attendance. All effort will be made to limit UNF Cheer Team responsibilities to four per week (i.e. 3 practices, 1 game). However, exceptions may occur (i.e. Midnight Madness, Homecoming, etc.) Attendance is required unless dismissed by the doctor, assigned athletic trainer or coach. Practices and appearances are not over until you are not dismissed. Do not exit the area until you have taken steps to leave it in the same or better condition as it was entered. Injury Any injury is to be reported immediately to the coach. In addition, you must seek immediate assistance from the assigned athletic trainer. After an injury, the Athletic Training Staff first, and the coach second, determine when you will return to participation.

4 Limitations of Performance At no time will the UNF Cheer team be involved in any type of gymnastic activity above the shoulders. Tosses, pyramids, or any other risky type of stunting is prohibited. The skillset required is spirit and cheer skills, not competition skills. GPA & Enrollment All UNF Cheerleaders MUST: 1. Maintain a solid attendance record in all of their classes. Excessive absences are grounds for dismissal. A cheerleader s first obligation is education, and the next is cheer team. 2. Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Any cheerleader not maintaining this GPA will be unable to participate in any scheduled event, practice, or game. 3. Be full-time students maintaining a minimum of 12 credit hours. Appearance, Uniforms, and Equipment Females: 1. Must be in complete make -up when in uniform or making appearances. 2. No jewelry of any kind should be worn during games, appearances, or practices. 3. No colored fingernail polish may be worn during games or appearances 4. All tattoos must be covered when in uniform 5. Hair must be kept out of face either half-up or in ponytail 6. Accessories like ribbons, headbands, hats, garters, temporary tattoos, etc. will be worn only if approved by the coach, and all females on team are willing to accessorize in the same manner. Males: 1. No jewelry of any kind should be worn during games, appearances, or practices. 2. Facial hair only permitted if neatly groomed. Face must be clean shaved for all functions except permitted facial hair. 3. Hair must be neatly groomed and kept out of face Uniforms, shoes, and equipment must be kept in a clean, presentable condition for all appearances. Uniforms may be altered as long as no permanent changes are made (i.e. no excess material may be removed) You must wear the clothing selected by the coach for all practices and appearances. Cheerleading attire should not be worn at eating establishments or any non-athletic Department sanctioned function. All cheer uniforms are the property of UNF Athletics unless otherwise noted by the coaches. Any uniform damaged or not returned at the end of the year will be billed to the UNF Cheerleader, and a hold will be placed on your academic record until this payment has been received. Any cheerleader who leaves or is dismissed from the team will have one week before the hold is placed on their student record, until the uniform is returned to the coach only.

5 Practice You are expected to give 100% during practices and games. Poor, lousy practices result in poor, lousy games. Stay focused and intense, loss of focus wastes time and leads to injury. Work hard to make yourself better, do not let yourself or you r teammates be the weak link, you are expected to contribute to the team. Squad members friendship or non-friendship shall not have a negative effect on the team. Listen to your teammates, appreciate their input, and give them credit. Games You are a leader, not an entertainer. When not cheering, you are to stand in your assigned position in the manner prescribed. Confidence and enthusiasm are contagious; therefore you should always look excited and involved in the game. When to cheer: Pre-game, timeouts, halftime, huddles, end of play When not to cheer: Injury, during free throws Do not curse or otherwise show negative emotion to officials, opposing teams, or fans. Instead start a chant or cheer to redirect energy. Be sensitive to the crowd, p roviding a positive release for their emotions, channeling their energies into coordinated positive verbal action. Check booing quickly by redirecting to an appropriate chant. Compliment and show appreciation to your fans, and exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Acknowledgement Portions of this document have been modified or lifted from materials provided by University of North Florida, the National Cheerleading Association, Universal Cheerleading Association, Florida Atlantic University, Arizona State University, Penn State University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and the University of Miami.

6 UNF Cheer Team University of North Florida Rules and Guidelines I, understand fully all of the rules and regulations presented. I will aide by these rules and regulations. I understand that violation of the rules and regulations will result in disciplinary action that may include my dismissal from UNF Cheer Team. Date: Signed (Cheerleader) Date: Signed (Coach) I,, do hereby authorize the officials of University of North Florida to release all records pertaining to my enrollment and Financial Aid at University of North Florida to officials from the UNF Athletics Department and Compliance office. This release may include transcripts from my high school(s), junior college(s), or other four year institutions I may have attended. I understand the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 otherwise protects my records. This release may be in the form of reading my records, making photocopies, or discussing the information with appropriate officials. This permission is granted as long as I am an active member of the UNF Cheer Team. A photocopy of this release shall serve as good as the original. Date: Signed (Cheerleader)