Academic Magnet Varsity Cheerleading Overview and Constitution

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1 Program Mission: Academic Magnet Varsity Cheerleading Overview and Constitution The purpose of the Academic Magnet High School Cheer Squad is to increase the school spirit at Academic Magnet High School, encourage and support the athletic program and the athletes within that program, develop leadership skills, foster an environment of teamwork within the squad, entertain and motivate sports spectators, improve individual physical well-being, and have fun. A member of the cheer/stunt squad must demonstrate responsibility and enthusiasm, have high morals and a genuine concern for other students, and desire to work cooperatively within a team. Team Expectations: Uphold and reflect the goals and image of Academic Magnet High School Support Academic Magnet High School athletic teams and promote crowd involvement at games and events Serve as an ambassador for Academic Magnet High School and Athletic Department Attend all practices, tumbling, games, workouts, cheer camp over the summer, and cheer competitions Maintain a positive attitude and strong work ethic Adhere to all academic requirements and team policies Season Overview: April: Tryouts for the upcoming season will be held April Tryout Clinics will be April 24-25, 2018, 4:00-5:30 in the AMHS gymnasium. Final tryouts will be held Thursday, April 26, 2018 in the AMHS gymnasium and will begin at 4PM. Please note times. May-August: Team members will be expected to maintain the skills demonstrated at tryouts over the summer months through attending summer practices, choreography dates, and cheer camp in order to be able to successfully and safely perform those skills during the beginning of the season. Camp plans are scheduled for June so as best to work within existing schedules. All team members are expected to attend camp. August-November: Preseason practices begin approximately 1-2 weeks before football games begin. Practice is typically held 3 times per week and is mandatory for all team members. Failure to attend practice may result in the loss of privileges or earn extra conditioning. September-November: This is our competition season. Competitions are held on Saturdays, and those are located in various cities around our state. We usually attend 4 to 5 competitions a season. December-February: Regular scheduled practices will continue to support our Academic Magnet High School Basketball schedule for all Friday night home games. AMHS Cheer Constitution Article I. Role of Cheerleaders Cheerleaders are expected to perform at a number of functions at Wenatchee High School. The various roles can be described as: 1) a leadership role; 2) a performing group; 3) a crowd participation leader; and 4) a competitor. A. Leadership: Cheerleaders are seen as school leaders and are thus required to act in a manner befitting such a position. B. Performing Group: Cheerleaders will be expected to fulfill a performing function at assemblies and athletic football and basketball. They will be expected to function as a team in presenting a variety of routines to entertain and help motivate spectators and athletes at appropriate times during the year. C. Crowd Participation Leader: Cheerleaders will plan and execute a set series of activities designed to include spectators in the support of our various teams. These activities will include dance routines, short chants, cheers, and stunts. A close working relationship with the band is crucial. D. Competitor: Each year, the coaches will decide if they have the ability to be a competitive team. This will have a great impact on the level of commitment of all involved.

2 Article II. Description of Cheer Squad The Cheer squad will consist of one group of girls and boys for the full year. The size of the varsity squad will be girls with a number of boys to be determined. Athletes must be on the squad for the full year, including all varsity football (home only) and basketball games (home Friday night games with exception of B.E.). Members of the Cheer/Stunt squad will not be able to participate in a sport during the season they are part of the squad. All cheerleaders would be able to and are encouraged to participate in a sport anytime they are NOT fulfilling obligations as a member of the cheer squad. Article III. Cheer Standards A. Be polite and respectful to everyone at all times. You are in the public eye at all times. B. Show all teachers and coaches the proper respect. C. Always accept the responsibility for your actions. How you respond to your circumstances defines your character. D. Believe in discipline, conditioning, commitment, teamwork, high standards, yourself, and your teammates. E. Always put your team first. F. Do not ever let yourself give or be less than your best! G. Be mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared to handle the responsibilities of being an Academic Magnet High School Cheerleader. H. Take pride and feel honored to be an Academic Magnet High School Cheerleader! Article IV. Regulations and Guidelines A. Academics 1. All members of the squad will maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.0. Failure to comply with the academic standards set forth will result in suspension of eligibility. 2. Squad members must attend all classes in order to participate at a practice or athletic event. B. Conduct Members of the squad must always demonstrate exemplary conduct on and off campus and adhere to the standards of good citizenship. A squad member s actions represent the squad, student body, school, and community. Cheerleading is a year-long commitment. C. Relationship With Coach The coach is responsible for all cheerleading activities. All planning (i.e. practice schedules, fundraisers, summer camp, uniforms, etc.) will be coordinated through him/her. The coach has the final say in any decision. Cheerleaders are responsible for keeping the coach abreast of anything that could impact the effectiveness of the squad. The coach will be responsible for keeping the administration and faculty informed of cheer/stunt activities and concerns. There is to be no stunting or tumbling without a coach present. D. Appearance 1. Uniforms should be presentable at all times: ironed, cleaned, and ready for use. 2. The complete and correct uniform must be worn to school the day of the game, as well as at the game. 3. Uniforms should only be worn as uniforms when representing Academic Magnet High School and may not be loaned to nonmembers. 4. Neatness in appearance will be expected. All hair must be of natural hair colors, off of your shoulders and face, and neatly secured. Game day hair styles will be determined by the coach and captains. Uniform game hairstyles may be determined by captains. 5. Jewelry or glitter of any kind is not allowed. All piercing should be removable; therefore, all new piercings should be schedule around the cheer season. (SCHS rule; AMHS fined if an athlete competes with jewelry).

3 6. Any damage to the uniform is the responsibility of the cheerleader. Uniforms may not be loaned to any nonmember. This includes warm ups, shoes, and/or camp clothing. 7. Cheer shoes may only be worn during cheer activities such as games and practices. Always wear socks and cheer shoes. 8. Each cheerleader must be uniform in appearance and wear a team-designated outfit on game days and practices. Always wear socks and cheer shoes. 9. Always wear any necessary braces and tape. You should be braced and/or wrapped before practice begins. E. Practices 1. Cheer practice is after school twice a week. Weekly tumbling is mandatory. Aa absence form is required for any class missed. 2. All practices are mandatory unless you are seriously ill or have a family emergency. Please make every effort to schedule doctor/orthodontic/dentist appointments around practice time. 3. Absences from summer practices will be discussed at the parent s meeting. 4. If a cheerleader is late to practice for an unexcused reason, they will have to make up any conditioning that they missed at the end of practice, as well as extra conditioning. 5. The assigned practice wear must be worn to every practice. Failure to do so will result in extra conditioning. 6. NO JEWELRY may be worn during practice, games, or competitions. It is an SCHSL rule. 7. Always wear socks and cheer shoes at practice. 8. Always wear any necessary braces and tape. You should be braced and/or wrapped before practice begins. 9. Attending summer camp is strongly recommended. If camp is missed, the coach must be informed so that an alternate can be arranged. We do not receive refunds therefore we can not give refunds. F. Game Behavior 1. Failure to comply with the behavior guidelines listed below will result in being pulled from the game. Repeated behavior will be addressed by the coach and the Discipline Action Chart. 2. Personal grooming in front of the crowd is not allowed. Make sure your hair is set before you go in front of the crowd. 3. Do not chew gum or eat while performing in front of the crowd. Water bottles only are acceptable. 4. All members are to stand as a team at attention and be respectful of the flag at the beginning of each game. 5. All members must be present in their formation during all games and organized cheers. You must be in position two minutes before the end of half-time. 6. Do not quarrel, swear, or make negative comments to officials, players, coaches, or the crowd. 7. Avoid coziness with boyfriends or girlfriends during games. 8. Know all dances, chants, and cheers. A cheerleader who is not fully proficient in cheers and chants will not cheer until he/she is ready. 9. Know and understand the rules of the game for which you are cheering. 10. If a player is injured on the field or court, give player recognition by kneeling with poms behind your back.. No cheers should be done during an injury time-out. 11. Pay close attention to the action of the game and other squad members. 12. Follow the captains and do not tell them what chants you want or do not want to do. You may offer suggestions, but the final call is up to them.

4 G. Game Attendance 1. Football: All cheerleaders will attend every varsity home game, including post season play-offs. 2. Basketball: All cheerleaders must attend every home varsity game. In the event of post season play-offs, all cheerleaders will cheer at home games. 3. Cheerleaders must be at all meets, matches, and games 45 minutes before they begin and must stay until the event concludes. H. Competitions 1. You will have a call time for every competition. That means that you are at the designated meeting location at that time. You should be dressed and your hair/makeup should be done in the appropriate style. 2. You will arrive to the competition site in the assigned uniform and/or warm-ups. 3. All athletes are required to stay with the team until awards are announced. I. Team Discipline In order to keep a cohesive team and to be the best possible squad, a discipline plan is necessary. Possible infractions include unexcused absences from practices, games or fundraisers; defiance; verbal abuse; tardiness; truancy; and abuse of controlled substances. The attendance and tardy policy is stated below. All other infractions are addressed in the Charleston County District Student Code of Conduct. The following behaviors are nonnegotiable: 1. Tardies: A tardy is defined as being up to ten (10) minutes late to a practice, a game, a fundraiser, or any other scheduled activity. a. Being on time includes being dressed and ready to go for the activity. Squad members should arrive at practice/games/competitions in the proper attire. b. If a late arrival to practice is inevitable due to school, family, or medical issues, the coach must be informed as soon as possible. This notification must come from a parent or the individual squad member. 2. Absences: The only excused absences from practice, a game, a fundraiser, or any other scheduled activity will be for illness, injury, family emergency, or, in some cases, a school activity. The coach must be notified as soon as possible for a school related activity. Only the cheerleader or his/her parent may notify the coach. Messages delivered by another squad member will automatically count as unexcused absences. Emergencies will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. a. An unexcused absence will result in suspension from the week s activities, no matter what week it is. This may include Homecoming, Coming Home, etc. b. Three unexcused absences will result in expulsion from the squad. In the unlikely event that a member of the squad is suspended from an athletic event, that person must still attend the event dressed in warm-ups, but will sit with the coach and perform miscellaneous activities to be determined by the coach. c. An unexcused absence during the summer months will result in the squad member missing the first home football game. d. If a squad member is absent from school, he or she may not participate in any event that evening. A message must be left at the school specifically for the coach. The attendance office does not automatically notify the coach of a cheerleader s absence.

5 J. Travel 1. If a bus/van has been scheduled and filled, cheerleaders are required to ride the bus/van to and from events Parents may be asked to assist with transportation or vans will be driven by the coach and/or other faculty members to cheer events. 3. Food expenses for regular season games are the responsibility of the squad members. 4. Cheerleaders may not transport themselves to away events. K. Fundraising All members of the squad are required to participate in raising funds to pay for items such as competition entry fees, poms, uniforms, promotional items, etc. 1. All items to be kept by each squad members must be paid for by the member. 2. Fundraisers include, but are not limited to, bake sales, Yankee Candle, car washes, etc. L. Squad Officers Several officer positions will be available to all members of the squad. If a squad member wishes to hold one of these positions, then he/she must submit a letter to the coach explaining why he/she would be a good candidate for the position. The position of Captain will be decided upon by the coach. An officer s duties remain constant year-round. Officer s meetings will be held on an as needed basis. 1. Captain 2. Co-Captain(s) M. Resignation and Dismissal If an athlete resigns or is dismissed from the squad, that athlete is required to pay any remaining balances for any gear that the squad bought for that athlete. This balance is to be paid within two weeks of resignation or dismissal. N. Varsity Letter Each member of the Varsity Cheer Squad is eligible to receive a varsity letter as this is a sport. To earn a letter, each cheerleader must complete and attend all their scheduled events and games. Excused absences are the only exception. A varsity letter cannot be earned if the member has not fulfilled his/her duties in an acceptable manner. If a cheerleader is injured but still attends the games/competitions, this counts as cheering at the game for lettering purposes. If a cheerleader misses more than one football game or two basketball games, the cheerleader will not be eligible for a letter. Violating the athletic code will result in automatically losing eligibility to receive a Varsity letter. I have read the above constitution and rules, and I agree to abide with its enforcement. I fully understand the responsibilities, requirements, and rules stated above. I agree to abide by all the rules, responsibilities, and conditions herein and understand the penalties if I do not. Student Signature: Date: As a parent, I am aware of the above restrictions and responsibilities entailed in being a member of the Academic Magnet High School Cheer Squad. I agree to assist my child in this endeavor and to offer my support to the squad when needed. I also agree that my child will be fully bound by this contract and abide by the rules therein. Parent Signature: Date: Please keep a copy for your records.