Midland High Pom Pon Fall 2017 JV Evaluation Day Tryout Packet Dear Prospective MHS JV Pom Pon Member: Thank you for your interest in the Midland Pom Pon Squads! We are excited that you are considering our team. This packet contains information about our teams and our tryout process. Tryout schedule, requirements and evaluation criteria Expectations, key dates, estimated costs and FAQ s Midland Pom Pon Team Application The Midland JV and Varsity Pom Pon Teams are high school programs that have continued to generate a great deal of statewide recognition. We are competitive teams and are proud to represent Midland High School at home football and basketball games, as well as Mid-American Pom Pon High Kick, Regional and State competitions. Our teams are full of pride and passion for our school and for Pom Pon. We look for talent, potential, dedication, enthusiasm, positive attitude and HEART! There is no experience required! If you love to perform, are dedicated and motivated and want to be a part of a TEAM in every sense of the word, then Pom Pon is a tremendous opportunity available to you during your high school years. Please read through this packet, contact us with questions and be sure to complete and return the enclosed form at the JV Evaluation Day (Saturday, April 29th). Pre-Tryout Informational Meeting An informational meeting for parents and prospective pommers will be held Monday, April 17, 7:00-8:00 pm in the MHS Cafeteria. Please join us if you are interested in Pom and want to learn more about our program, team member expectations, expenses, calendar, tryouts, and more! This is an opportunity to get all your questions answered before coming to tryouts! We hope you find everything you need in this packet, but if not please contact us with any questions you have at ChemicJVPom@gmail.com. Thanks again and good luck! We can t wait to meet you! The MHS Pom JV and Varsity Pom Coaches
JV Evaluation Day Bring: Date/Time: Water Saturday, bottle, Midland April 29 Pom from Pon 9 Team a.m. to Application, 12:30 pm. check Check-in that begins you have at 8:45 a current am. school year Location: physical Midland on file High New Gym (Enter by Tennis Courts & Weight Room) Overview The JV Evaluation Day will be jam-packed with fun workouts, learnings and activities to help the current MHS Varsity and JV coaches assess your skills and determine who will make the MHS JV Pom Pon team for the Fall 2017 season. Throughout the day the MHS pom coaches will be assessing all those in attendance. We are looking for those who try hard, exemplify a positive attitude, and have potential to grasp pom basics. If you are brand new to Pom, don t worry! Our evaluation approach takes that into consideration. A final team will be compiled after the evaluation day and all participants will be notified by phone call by the end of the day. While we would love to take everyone on the team, we do have team size limitations and minimum skill requirements. Cuts may need to be made depending on how many girls tryout and assessment scores. For everyone who makes the team, there is a mandatory Parent/Pommer meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 7:00-8:00 pm. Please bring your checkbook. Credit cards also accepted (a $1 fee is collected for every $25 charged). Summer Camp and Fall season expenses are detailed in the Team Expectations section of this packet. Paperwork & Fee Requirements (IMPORTANT!) There are no fees required to participate in JV Evaluation Day and tryout for JV Pom on April 30. MHS Gold Cards & Activity Fees won t be due until July, 2017. More information can be found on chemics.net, and will be shared at our Parent meeting on May 4. In order to participate in JV Evaluation day, you must to bring the following to check-in. NO EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE. 1. MHS Pom Pon Team Application (attached at back of this packet). Fill out completely. Must be signed by both student and legal guardian. 2. Current Physical - If you have a physical on file at Northeast, the Northeast office staff will make a copy to bring with you. Please stop in and get one! If you have a current physical on file at MHS, please stop in the Athletic Department and ask for a
copy. Updated physicals for the 2017-18 school year will be due with your MHS Gold Cards in July. If you don t have a physical on file, you will need to bring a completed physical form, signed by a doctor, with you. IMPORTANT! It is best to get new physicals after April 15 so it is valid for the 2017-2018 school year. Physicals are quick and easy to get at the Urgent Care centers in town ($25) if you are unable to get an appointment on short notice with your personal doctor. What to Bring Water bottle MHS Pom Pon Team Application (last page in this document) Copy of a recent physical (see instructions above). What to Wear Practice attire (e.g. sports bra, t-shirt, tank top, athletic shorts, leggings, yoga pants) Athletic shoes Hair must be pulled back Please ensure to dress appropriately: Shorts should not be too short, midriff should not show, necklines should not be too low, etc. Inappropriate dress will result in point deductions. What to Expect Please arrive at 8:45 a.m for checkin! At 9:00 we will begin with introductions and assign groups. We will then jump into about a 1/2 hour warm-up and stretch. After warming up, we will teach and practice a kickline routine and some jumps. This will take us about 1/2 way through the morning. Then, we will be teaching a short routine and allow time for practice. At the end of the day our groups will perform for each other. Pick up time is 12:30. Our judges will discuss the evaluation and select the team immediately following. Phone calls will be made by 3:00 pm that afternoon to let each participant know whether or not they were selected for the team. Scoring
Evaluation Day assessment & scoring is based on the following scale: 0 = Did not try. Unable to assess. 1 = Attempts skill, but struggles to grasp concept of the skill 2 = Skill displayed, shows good potential 3 = Skill displayed, meets/exceeds JV standards Prospective Pommers will be evaluated throughout the day on the following foundational pom skills. Remember, we are looking for potential not perfection! Skills Evaluated Rhythm and Timing Moves are performed to the beat of the music. Hitting moves strongly to the beat is preferred over flowing through them, and the ability to keep time to the music is essential. Form and Execution We look for good posture, sharpness, straight arms, snappy heads, pointed toes, and proper form. Movements should begin and end in correct positions, per choreography taught and with the timing of music. Smiles and Showmanship Pommer expresses energy & enthusiasm, wears a big smile and proud chin, and shows confidence in learning, practicing, and performing. We love it when Pommers smile through mistakes :) Flexibility - Flexibility is demonstrated through stretches, splits, kicks and jumps. Note: While we will try the splits, full splits are not required to make the team. ************************
Team Expectations & Key Dates/Times Team Contract There will be a list of rules and regulations in the team contract that the members and parents must sign. If team members do not follow the rules listed, it is at the coach s discretion to pull any girl(s) from the specified routine and/or competition(s). This contract will passed out at the Parent meeting. Academic Expectations Academics should always come first. All team members must maintain a cumulative GPA that meets the requirements set by the MHS Athletic Department Handbook at all times. Grades will be checked periodically by coaches, if at any time grades fall below the requirements, team members will be placed on academic suspension. Summer Camp Each year our Pom teams attend Mid-American Pom Pon summer camp. We take an original, competitive routine to camp that we learn and practice in June and July. This year s camp is scheduled for July 24-27 at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. We know Summer Camp is expensive, and it is not required to attend. Although, we highly encourage it! Mid-American runs a very high quality camp experience, and the girls significantly increase their pom skills by attending. The team bonding experience is also extremely valuable. At camp, we learn 3 routines that we perform during Fall football season. Pommers who don t go to camp will be required to learn the routines outside of our standard practice times. Tentative Practice Schedule - All Practices are MANDATORY Spring: Spring conditioning begins May 9 and continues through June 1. Exceptions are made for students participating in a conflicting spring sport. Both JV and Varsity will condition together: Tuesdays, 3:45-4:45 Thursdays, 4:15-5:15 Summer: Summer practices with teams begin the week of June 5. However, there will be no practices the week of June 12 (final exams and last day of school).
The schedule for JV is tentative, but currently planned for 3 days/week in June and July up until camp, at ~5:00-7:00 pm. After camp, we will take a break the first 2 weeks of August. This is a great time to plan a vacation! :) When practice resumes in mid-august, we will begin on our 4 day per week (Mon - Thurs) academic year schedule. Our first football game performance will be in late August, before school starts. Academic Year: 4 days per week (Mon-Thurs), schedule is TBD and dependent on practice space and coach availability. In the past, we have practiced from either 5:00-7:00 or 4:00-6:00pm. Attendance Policy Attendance is mandatory for all pom-pon team practices and functions! Missing practice, leaving early or arriving late due to outside activities will be handled on an individual basis. The following must be planned outside of practice time in order for pommer to remain eligible to perform: Drivers Training Segment 1 classes. (Note: We can usually work around Drivers Training Segment 2 if there is minimal overlap). Family vacations Appointments Other clubs or extra curricular activities, such as dance classes, theatre, church group meetings, or volunteering. Illness, injury, and other unexpected situations are handled on a case-by-case basis. If a pommer needs to sit out for more then one practice due to serious illness or injury, a doctor s note is required to be excused. Fundraisers We will have several fundraisers, starting in May and continuing through the pom season. Fundraisers help us go to camp and contribute program expenses. Examples: car washes, pop can drives, sponsorships, little girls pom clinics, Mixed Bag Designs sales, and MHS Booster Bash ticket sales. Parent Volunteering There are many ways for parents to get involved with our team. We have numerous needs through the season and depend on parents and families to help. Examples include: helping with fundraisers, completing fair share hours in the concession stand at events (MHS Booster
requirement), sewing & crafting, driving, supplying food/snacks/goodies at team dinners, games, and events. Estimated Expenses Below is the approximate breakdown of costs by season for our new JV team members. Uniform pricing and Camp/Competition fees may vary slightly. Summer Camp ~$425 Camp Fee - all-inclusive camp, room & board ($100 deposit due at Parent/Pommer meeting on May 4. Balance due in June.). $40-50 Camp Attire - 3 theme-day practice outfits (t-shirts & shorts). Payment due at parent meeting. Note! A fundraiser will be kicked off at the Parent/Pommer Meeting on May 4 to help out with camp expenses. It s not unusual that Pommers can earn enough money through our Spring fundraiser to cover the full cost of camp. Fees and Uniforms $75 MHS Athletics Activity Fee* per season for participation in athletics at Midland High. To be paid in July, 2017 $50 Team Fee* per season to be paid at the Parent/Pommer Meeting. ~$100 Uniform - uniform items, shoes, and poms. Due at Parent/ Pommer meeting on May 4. Note: We have some gently used inventory available for 1/2 price. Sizes and quantities vary. ~$25 High Kick Competition / Rhapsody Costume. Due in October. High Kick Competition Fee: If we enter, the cost is $35 per pommer. * MHS Activity Fees and Pom Team Fees may be waived for Free and Reduced Lunch Students.
Other Required Items Pommers are expected to also supply their own no-show sports bras (black, white, nude - no colors), and their own socks - white no-shows and tall black (calf or knee-high). Optional items such as Pom Fleeces, Duffle Bags, Window Decals, Yard signs, and Spirit Wear are also available and can be ordered at the Parent Meeting on May 4 through either MHS Pom or the Sports Boosters. ************************** Frequently Asked Questions Who judges tryouts? We will have at least 4 judges at tryouts, consisting of JV and Varsity pom coaches and/or Pom alumni. Guest judges may also be invited from other schools. Is Pom considered a sport? Yes-the pom team is grouped under the athletic umbrella at Midland High and practice, train and compete in a similar manner to many other Chemic sports. New Varsity pommers receive their Varsity letters after their first Varsity season, as with all MHS sports. We do not receive funds from the athletic department we will do our own fundraising events. However, Pom does receive a fair share of financial support from the MHS Sports Booster Club, based on our participation in Booster Club volunteering and fundraisers. Can I Play a Second Sport While Doing Pom? As per Athletic Department policy, students can now participate in two sports at Midland High, assuming the coaches of both sports agree its workable. This is difficult to do in Pom. In order to participate in another sport during the same season, practices and events cannot overlap. All practices are mandatory in Pom, otherwise a pommer can lose eligibility to perform. And, pom does not have a bench like other sports, i.e. all pommers perform in every routine and formations are dependent on every pommer being in the performance. How many spots are there on the JV and Varsity teams?
There are no set numbers. The number of new members each season depends on talent level and the number of girls trying out. Although, we do like to take as many girls as possible! The last two Fall seasons we had 26 JV pommers. Are there grade level requirements to be on JV or Varsity? No, the difference between JV and Varsity pom is based on skills, not grade level. We have had Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and a Senior on our JV team all at the same time! We welcome ALL grade levels on JV. Anyone can start pom at any time during their high school years. Is any previous Pom, Dance, or Gymnastics experience required? No. We are looking for basic skills and potential at the JV level. If you don t know Pom, we will teach you everything you need to know! Some of the skills and conditioning learned in Dance or Gymnastic may be beneficial to you in Pom. However, the skills and movement requirements are different. Pom is much stiffer and sharper than most dance styles, and many of the stunts and acrobatics that you may have learned in Gymnastics or Cheer are not allowed in Pom. Can I tryout next season if I do not make the team this year? Yes! There is no limit to the number of times that you can tryout for our teams. ****************************
JV Fall 2017 Midland Pom Pon Team Application This form MUST be filled out in its entirety and turned in on Saturday, April 29 at JV Evaluation Day. Don t forget to also bring a copy of a current physical! Please write legibly and make sure to include a VAILD email address and phone number, as this is how the coaches will communicate with the team and parents. Name: Birthday: 2017/2018 Grade Level (circle one): Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Student GPA (applicable only to students already at Midland High): Verification of Grades: Please attach a copy of your Home Access Center Grades to this application. Student Phone Number: Student Email: Parent Name/s: Parent Email/s: Parent Phone Number/s: I can attend practices/games (Monday-Friday) during the school year: I can attend practices in the Summer: I can attend Mid American Summer Camp (July 25-28): I am interested in playing other sports at Midland High: Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No > If Yes, please indicate sports / seasons: VERY IMPORTANT! If you have summer conflicts, such as family vacations, trips, other camps, drivers training, a job or any other commitment that will (or potentially could) overlap with practices or summer camp, we need to know! Please note ALL conflicting or dates and times on the back of this form or on a stapled attachment. We request you answer the above questions honestly. If you reveal after tryouts that you are unable to attend or participate in the listed practices or camp, or other sports you may be removed from the team. I have read the tryout packet and give my permission to tryout for the MHS JV Pom Team. I understand the mandatory time commitments as well as the monetary expense. Parent/Guardian Signature Participant Signatur