Northville Pom Pon Teams 2012-2013 Tryout Packet Dear Prospective JV or Varsity Pom Pon Team Member: Thank you for your interest in the Northville Pom Pon Team! We are excited that you are considering our teams, whether you are a current student at Northville High School or beginning your high school career. This packet contains information about our teams and our tryout process. Table of Contents Page 1: Letter and team overview Page 2: Tryout schedule, dates, locations, and contact information Page 3: Frequently asked questions Page 4: Expectations and key dates Page 5: Northville Pom Pon Team Application The Northville JV and Varsity Pom Pon Teams are high school programs that have continued to generate a great deal of statewide recognition (i.e. Varsity - ranking 1 st in the state for Division II at Mid American Pom Pon State Competition in both 1996, 2005, and 2010 and JV ranking 2 nd in the state for the high kick division at the Mid American Dance Championship in 2006 and ranking 1 st in the state at the Alma Invitational in 2010). We are competitive teams and are proud to represent Northville High School at home football and basketball games, the Mid American Pom Pon Dance, Regional and State competitions, at school and in the community. Each member shares dedication to the team and has passion for the sport, which is evident in their school spirit and Mustang pride. If you love to perform, are dedicated and motivated, and want to be a part of a TEAM in every sense of the word, the Pom Pon Team is a tremendous opportunity available to you during your high school years. Please read though this packet, contact us with questions, and be sure to complete and return the enclosed form (page 5). Forms can be returned in two ways: 1) Bring them with you to the tryout clinics; 2) Mail/drop off the forms to the Northville High School Athletic Office, address below: Northville High School Attn: Pom Pon 45700 W. Six Mile Road Northville, MI 48168 Forms must be received by Thursday, April 26th at the end of the clinic in order to participate in the tryout. Thanks again and good luck, Ashley Oleszkowicz Varsity Pom Coach aoleszkowicz27@gmail.com Malory Mossoian JV Pom Coach mamossoian@yahoo.com 1
Tryout Clinics JV and Varsity Pom Pon Clinic and Tryout Detail Schedule Date/Time: Location: Who can attend: April 24 th, 25 th, 26 th 6:30 PM-8:30 PM NHS Main Gym Current NHS students and incoming freshmen. There will be three clinics prior to the final tryout. You must attend at least two of the clinics in order to tryout for the team on Friday, April 27th. These sessions are where you will learn all tryout material, including skills. The clinic is closed to the public. Bring: water bottle, completed application Wear: practice attire (t-shirt, tank top, shorts, sweat pants) and athletic or dance shoes. Final Tryout Date/Time: Location: Friday, April 27 th from 6:00 PM until tryouts are completed NHS Main Gym Please arrive by 5:45 PM to warm-up. We will allow the girls to practice to the music a couple of times before the tryouts begin. Individuals will tryout in groups of three. Tryouts are closed to the public. Wear: Plain white t-shirt, athletic or dance shoes, and your choice of either black shorts, navy shorts or long black dance pants. Make sure that hair is neat and completely out of your face. If you were previously on the team, make sure that you are NOT wearing any Northville Pom Pon apparel during the tryout. 2
Frequently Asked Questions What skills are included in tryouts for the Northville Pom Pon Team? Individuals auditioning for the team will perform a set of technical skills as part of the tryout. The skill list includes: a kick line (including combinations of low, waist, high, angle and possible fan kicks), splits on both left and right legs, and a toe touch. Other skills may be changed or added. Team members selected usually have a good handle on the majority of these skills, however we do look for potential. We will break down and review the skills at the clinic. Is the Pom Pon Team considered a sport? Yes - the pom pon teams are grouped under the athletic umbrella at Northville and practice, train and compete in a similar manner to many other Mustang sport teams. Members who are on the varsity team do receive a varsity letter. Can I tryout next year 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. How many spots are there on the JV and Varsity teams? It depends we do not always have a set number that we take. Normally, we set our team based on audition score breaks. The number of new members each year tends to depend on graduating seniors and overall talent level of the audition pool. Past JV teams have had approximately 15-24 team members. The varsity team usually ranges from 22-28 members. Expectations, Sample Calendar, and Key Dates Practices: There will be meetings and practices for the new teams before the current school year is over and through the beginning of July. Depending on when football season begins, the teams may begin practice again in August. During the academic year, we will typically practice 3-4 days per week (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) for two hours each practice. Practices will end when basketball season is complete in February or March. Practices will increase and could be held on weekends in the time before competitions in November and February. Summer Camp: Both JV and Varsity teams will be attending Mid American Pom Pon summer camp at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. Camp is mandatory! Camp dates this year are June 21st 24 th. The teams normally arrive the evening before so they can settle in sooner. Football and Basketball Season: During the fall, the teams will perform at all home football games and a few soccer games. In the winter, they will perform at a selected number of home basketball games. Competitions: The teams normally take part in three competitions each year. The first one is the Mid American Statewide Dance Competition in November - typically in the high kick category. The next competitions are the Mid American Regional and State Pom Pon 3
Competitions. The regional competition is Saturday, January 19th. For the past several years, the state competition has been the Sunday after mid-winter break begins (weekend of February 10, 2013). Please make sure to schedule any vacations around this competition. The girls are not to miss practice the two weeks prior to their competitions. Plan to practice on Saturdays the two weeks prior to competition. There will be a list of rules and regulations in the team constitution that the members must sign. If the team members do not follow the rules listed, it is at the coach s discretion to pull any girl(s) from the specified routine. Special Performances: In order to gain important performance experiences and exposure as a team, we will be performing at functions on and off campus. Past performances have included: Pep rallies, Fourth of July Parade in Northville, and exhibitions at middle schools. Attendance: Planned family vacations (NOT during mandatory summer or competition practice time), a contagious illness, injuries requiring medical assistance or a doctor s note, and a death in the family are considered excused absences. Other extra-curricular activities, group meetings, studying, or doctor s appointments will not be excused. Please make sure to schedule any of the above items around practice time. Attendance is mandatory for all pom pon team functions! Academic Expectations Academics should always come first, but other than class, pom pon is the first priority of every member. All team members must maintain a 1.87 cumulative GPA at all times to remain a part of the team. Please see the Northville High School Extra/Co-Curricular Student Activity Code of Conduct for further details. Approximate Monetary Costs/ Fundraising: The Pom Pon season is a ten-month season spanning the fall and winter sports calendar. The approximate fee for Pom Pon ranges between $1,300 and $1,600 a year plus the $375 Pay to Play fee (only need to pay once to the school if participating in more than one sport). Team members in need of a new uniform will pay in the higher range (a uniform resale is offered which can save money, thus the range in fees). Season costs include camp fees ($357), uniform ($100 - $415), camp clothes ($200 - $300), and other items such as: choreography fees, music cuts, costumes for high kick, competition fees, banquet, coach expenses, etc, Important team fundraisers include selling bottled water at the Victorian Festival, car washes, bottle drives and the kid s clinic in the fall which require full team participation to offset some of these costs. Northville Pom Pon elects to participate in the first Mid American camp session. Therefore, if a girl is selected as a team member, payment in the amount of $600 will be due at the first parent meeting May 8 th (camp, uniform deposit and camp clothes). All remaining fees for uniforms or other required clothing expenses will be due by June 5 th. A detailed outline of the costs will be reviewed at the May 8 th meeting. What are we looking for? Talent, potential, dedication, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes! We look forward to seeing you at tryouts and creating two amazing teams for 2012-2013. 4
Northville Pom Pon Team Application Name: Year in high school (2012-2013): (circle one) Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Email address: Phone number (HOME): Phone number (CELL): Address: Street City/State Zip Parent s names (include email/contact info if different from above): Most Recent GPA Date of Birth: Month Day Year I can attend camp practices and summer camp from June 21st June 24th Yes No (If possible, please hold off on any vacations until after June 24th. We understand if vacations are already in place, but anything from June 7th-24th (mandatory practice time) will not be excused. The girls will also be participating for the Fourth of July parade.) I can attend evening practices if necessary (Mon. through Thurs.) during the school year. Yes No Please answer the above questions honestly. If you reveal after the tryouts that you are unable to attend or participate in the listed practices and camp session, you will be removed from the team. I have read the tryout packet and give my permission to tryout for the JV and/or Varsity Pom Pon Team. **Parent/Guardian Signature Short Answer (Use the back or attach a separate sheet if desired) Why do you want to be a member of the Pom Pon Team? What characteristics do you think are important for a team member and someone who is representing Northville High School? Describe/ list previous relevant experience i.e. pom pon team, dance training, cheerleading, competitions, etc. 5
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