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Table of Contents Constitution and Purpose. Page 3 Membership and Eligibility Requirements Page 3 Membership Requirements and Tryout Guidelines for Cheerleaders...Page 4 Duties of Cheerleaders... Page 5 Performance Eligibility.. Page 5 Competition.. Page 6 General Conduct/Attendance Expectations and Consequences Pages 6 & 7 Uniforms.Page 8 Financial Duties and Responsibilities Page 8 Lettering Page 8 Captains/Officers.. Page 8 Page 2 of 9
I. CONSTITUTION This constitution is drawn and adopted for the Alexandria Senior High Cheerleaders. The Alexandria Senior High Cheerleaders and this constitution are governed by the Rapides Parish School Board s rules and regulations, the Alexandria Senior High administrative staff, and the team directors. II. III. PURPOSE A. The purposes of the Alexandria Senior High Cheerleaders are: 1.To create school spirit, pride, and loyalty 2.To promote interest in school activities and perform at school events 3.To develop responsibility, teach self-respect, encourage honest effort, strive for perfection, and develop character 4.Teach teamwork and pride in a quality performance through maintaining high standards MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND TRYOUT GUIDELINES FOR CHEERLEADERS & TROYDOLLS A. Membership Any student of Alexandria Senior High School is eligible to try out for Cheerleader if he/she meets the following requirements: 1. Must meet the academic requirements of the LHSAA: a. Must have at least a 2.0 GPA b. Must be currently passing enough courses to earn at least six (6) units 2. Must not have had any out-of-school suspensions or more than one in-school suspension during the current school year 3. Must be in good health. Cheerleaders may not be pregnant and must not have a recurring illness or injury. Each Cheerleader must participate in the medical release checkup each year. 4. Must carry school insurance 5. Must participate in clinic prior to tryouts 6. Must have no outstanding school debts, including Cheerleader debts 7. Candidates must obtain character references from all current teachers. Cheerleaders must obtain an evaluation from the coach of the Troyan organization of which the candidate has been a member. A copy of the student s current schedule should be submitted with the tryout application (may be obtained from PowerSchool). 8. Cheerleaders of the current school year must be in good standing (no debts or major discipline problems) within the organization in order to try out for Cheerleader. 9. Transfer Students: a. Students transferring from another school prior to Cheerleader tryouts must have met equal membership requirements at previous school in order to be eligible for the upcoming tryout. b. Students transferring from another school after Cheerleader tryouts have occurred must abide by the guidelines specified by the LHSAA. Page 3 of 9
10. Must not have voluntarily quit or been dismissed from JV or Varsity Cheerleading in the previous school year. B. Eligibility: 1. Academic Requirements: Must meet all academic eligibility requirements of the LHSAA, which includes maintaining a 2.0 GPA and passing enough courses to earn six (6) units. a. Academic eligibility will be checked at the end of each semester. Additionally, grades will be monitored by coaches each grading period. b. Cheerleaders may be required to turn in progress reports and/or report cards to coaches when they are issued. 2. Disciplinary Requirements: a. Cheerleaders must not attain any out-of-school suspensions or more than one in-school suspension during each academic year of membership. 3. Health Requirements: a. Cheerleaders must not be pregnant and may not have a recurring illness or injury. 4. Failure to maintain eligibility requirements will result in the Cheerleader being dismissed from the organization. C. General Membership Requirements: 1. Varsity Cheerleaders a. Must be entering 10 th, 11 th, or 12 th grade for the next school year b. Must have successfully completed one year as a member of Pomline or other Troyan organization c. Must meet all requirements for membership 2. Junior Varsity Cheerleaders: a. Students entering 9th or 10th grade for the next school year b. Must also join Pomline and fulfill all Pomline obligations c. Must meet all requirements for membership D. Tryouts dates for Cheerleaders will be announced and information provided at Alexandria Senior High School. E. All candidates must complete required paperwork, pay judges fee, and attend tryout clinic in order to try out. If a candidate must miss the clinic, the student must have approval from the coach at least 48 hours prior to the beginning of the first day of the clinic. Absences will only be approved for school-related functions, personal illness, and death in the family. A doctors note will be required for absences due to illness. F. Tryout clinic and tryouts are closed to all spectators, including family members, friends, and other teachers. G. Candidates will be informed of appropriate attire for tryouts and will not be allowed to try out unless they meet requirements. H. A parent meeting will be held prior to tryouts to discuss expectations, finances, rules and guidelines, and other pertinent information. All candidates must attend with at least one parent/guardian. I. Candidates and their parent(s)/guardian(s) must be willing to adhere to all rules and guidelines, as well as financial requirements. Contracts will be signed by both parties prior to tryouts and kept on file. J. Candidates will be evaluated by a panel of impartial, qualified judges. They will be identified by number only to the judges. Numbers will be assigned during the tryout clinic. K. Judging Criteria for Cheerleaders: Page 4 of 9
Skills Demonstration Jumps Tumbling/Entrance & Exit Routine Projection/Voice Crowd Involvement Motions/Sharpness Dance Memory Cheer Memory Neatness and Appearance 5 points Teacher/Coach Evaluations 25 points TOTAL 100 points L. How squad selections are made: 1. Candidates will be judged by UCA judges that are unaffiliated with ASH. Candidates are ranked from highest scores to lowest scores. Major breaks in scores are noted. The judges and coach, using their discretion, may select any number of squad members using breaks in the scores. Squad selections will be approved by ASH administration. 2. Once squad members have been selected, their candidate numbers will be posted. 3. Concerns about squad selections should be directed to ASH administration. 4. Scores will be kept on file at Alexandria Senior High School. 5. Candidates can see their scores by making an appointment with an administrator no sooner than ten days but no later than thirty days after team selections are made. No one other than the candidate whose scores are being viewed and the administrator is allowed to be present. No copies of the score sheets will be made. II. DUTIES OF Cheerleaders A. Cheerleaders: 1. Must abide by all school rules and the Troyan Constitution at all times, while in and out of uniform 2. Cheer at all designated athletic and community events, including playoffs 3. Participate in all competitions designated by the coach 4. Plan and conduct all pep rallies 5. Make signs and banners to support ASH students and events 6. Attend summer camp 7. Attend and actively participate in all practices 8. Teach chants and traditions to Pom Squad 9. Participate in all designated fundraising activities 10. Attend and participate in all other Troyan functions and meetings as designated by the coach 11. Be able to take athletic P.E. during school if it is available 12. Participate in community service activities as designated by coach or administration III. PERFORMANCE ELIGIBILITY A. The coach has the right to conduct an audition prior to each performance. Those members who have not mastered the material may be pulled from the routine for the upcoming event. Page 5 of 9
B. Cheerleaders with excessive absences leading up to a routine may also be pulled from the routine. C. If a cheerleader misses 2+ football games and/or 4+ basketball games, they will be dismissed from the team. D. If a Cheerleader is not performing the specific routine for one event, she/he may still be eligible for the performance at a later date given that the routine is mastered by the next performance of the specified routine. E. Any member not performing is still expected to attend the event in full dress, actively participate and engage herself/himself in sideline or stand routines, and maintain a positive attitude. F. Not attending the event the Cheerleader is pulled from will be considered boycotting the event, and consequences will be given. IV. COMPETITIONS A. Competition is mandatory for all members of ASH Cheerleading. B. The coach has the right to limit participation of team members in competitions. For example: All team members may not perform in all routines at the LA State Competition or National Competition. Limitations may occur because individual skill levels are not up to overall team standards. Limitation decisions are final and not subject to questioning. C. The coach will choose both the competitions and divisions in which the team will participate. V. GENERAL CONDUCT/ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES A. General Expectations: 1. Follow all school rules, the Alexandria Senior High School Student Handbook, and the Discipline Management Plan of the Rapides Parish School Board 2. Be respectful of coaches, administration, faculty members, other school organizations, and other students at all times 3. Will not commit any act or deed that harms the reputation of the school and/or team, including (but not limited to) inappropriate Internet behavior and postings 4. Will conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to represent Alexandria Sr High and the coaches of the team. This includes (but is not limited to) refraining from PDA and disrespecting others. 5. Set a positive example of school spirit for other students to follow 6. Be willing to sacrifice personal gain/wants for good of squad/school as a whole 7. Be punctual: Arrive prior to the starting times for events. Consult squad calendar for upcoming events. 8. Be responsible: Come prepared for practices and events. Make payments on time. Know what the rules are and follow them. Know when games and practices are and what to wear. 9. Wear uniforms/hair appropriately and as designated by coaches. Come dressed fully for practices, games, and pep rallies. 10. Travel to and from events using transportation approved by the coach 11. A Cheerleader may participate in other school sports. It is the responsibility of the Cheerleader, not the coaches, to keep all coaches informed and attempt to work out any conflicts. B. Conduct at Games/Pep Rallies: 1. Show good sportsmanship at all times, including attitude, actions, and words Page 6 of 9
2. Do everything as a squad, a team (including during halftime) 3. Get permission from coach before leaving field/court or stands, including when using restroom 4. Will not talk with spectators/fans during game/pep rally 5. Follow instructions of captains, co-captains, and coaches 6. Will pay attention to game/pep rally and not talk when you should be cheering or dancing 7. Will not eat or drink while in uniform, unless given permission by coaches 8. Keep poms/bags/megaphones/warm-ups neat and organized 9. Return to assigned position in stands/on sideline at the time designated by the coach C. Attendance: 1. A Cheerleader who expects to be absent for an event must clear it with the coach at least 48 hours prior to the event. 2. Cheerleaders that miss 2+ football games and/or 4+ basketball games will be dismissed from the team. 3. If a cheerleader misses 3 or more COMPETITION practices, they may be dismissed from the team. 4. Cheerleaders should never leave campus without informing the coach. 5. Cheerleaders must be present at school on game day, as well as the day following a Troyan event. 6. Cheerleaders must attend all pep rally practices in order to perform in that pep rally. Excused absences are not an exception to this rule. 7. If a Cheerleader has an excuse from a doctor not to perform, she is still required to be present and in uniform at all practices and events. 8. It is the responsibility of the Cheerleader, not the parent/guardian, to inform the coach (not the captains/officers) about an absence. A Cheerleader should never have anyone else tell the coach why she is not at a designated practice or event. 9. The following absences are excused and should be cleared by the coach: a. Illness b. Family emergencies c. School-related activities d. College visits *Note: Doctor s appointments (routine health, vision, dental, orthodontic, etc.), family reunions, births, vacations, weddings, etc. are not considered excused. 10. Missing a practice or event without prior 48 hour notification (including phone calls the day of practice/event), or an unexcused absence from practice for any reason, will result in consequences. 11. If a member misses practice, for any reason (excused or unexcused), he/she is expected to know all missed material before the next scheduled practice. D. Consequences: Failure to meet any of the above-mentioned expectations will result in the Cheerleader being disciplined by the coach. Disciplinary actions may include (but are not limited to) demerits, suspensions, punishment exercises, and dismissal from the team. i. The coach works with the team and acts in the best interest of the team. All decisions are final and are to be respected and upheld by all parties involved. ii. Should the coach choose to use a demerit discipline system, he/she makes all final decisions and assigns all demerits. Demerits, as well as merits, are the responsibility of the coach. Every cheerleader may be allowed to run 1 lap around the track for each demerit received in order to work off demerits. Page 7 of 9
iii. Members experiencing problems should work with the coach in finding suitable solutions. VI. UNIFORMS A. Each team member will rent and wear the regulation uniforms. He/She should arrive at Cheerleader functions fully dressed and ready to go with hair done and uniform on correctly. B. The selection of the uniform will be determined by the captains and coaches with the administrator s approval. C. Uniforms are to be worn correctly at all times. D. The care of each Cheerleader s uniform should be excellent at all times. E. No jewelry is to be worn at practice or in uniform. This includes (but is not limited to) watches, rings, bracelets, necklaces, chokers, earrings, anklets, and any other body piercing. This is for safety purposes and for squad uniformity. Hair color should be natural, in accordance with the school handbook. Cheerleaders should have naturally-colored, short nails for safety. F. Cheerleaders must wear their hair in a ponytail on the back of the head at all functions, including practices, games and pep rallies. Proper bows/ribbons should be worn. Hair should be completely pulled back out of the face, with the exception of bangs. G. In the event of cold or wet weather, Cheerleaders will wear regulation bodyliners, warm-ups, and/or rain gear. Other items may be approved at the discretion of the coaches. H. Uniform shoes are to be worn at all times with uniform. Cheerleaders must wear white no-show socks. I. Cheerleaders will purchase camp clothes that will be worn for summer camp and practices throughout the year. VII. FINANCIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES A. All Cheerleaders are responsible for payment of all designated items. B. Mandatory fundraisers will be held as deemed necessary to pay for bus trips, private coaching, competition, and other events. C. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will receive an estimated expense list prior to tryouts and must sign a financial obligation contract in order for their child to participate. VIII. LETTERING A. A Cheerleader will letter after completing two (2) consecutive years in Cheerleading. B. A $100 deposit must be made for a letter jacket when ordered. C. Cheerleaders will not receive letter jackets until paid in full. D. Cheerleaders entering non-participation status or missing several events may affect lettering eligibility. E. Cheerleader coach approval must be given in order to letter. IX. CAPTAINS/OFFICERS A. Selections of captains/officers will be made by the coaches with input from the squad members and current teacher evaluations. There will be an application process for Troyans interested in serving in leadership positions. Captain/officer selections will be made within one month after tryouts. Page 8 of 9
B. Duties of Captains and Officers: 1. Carry out the instructions of coaches/administration 2. Lead warmups, practice, rehearsal, and conditioning 3. Notify team members about practice times, game schedules, and what uniforms to wear 4. Notify coach of any violations of Cheerleader Constitution/school rules 5. Set an example for the squad in attitude and behavior 6. Act as a spokesperson for the team 7. Be the first one to arrive at, and the last one to leave, all practices and events 8. Responsible for needed materials (stereo, music, signs, etc). Page 9 of 9