WALLED LAKE WESTERN SIDELINE CHEER TRYOUT INFORMATION PACKET Optional Open Gyms: May 23, 24, 25-6-8pm Clinics/Tryouts: May 31, June 1, June 2-6-8pm Location: Wrestling Loft inside the Main Gym Email: wlwcheercoaches@gmail.com *If there is a conflict with middle school sports or other events just send us an email we will work around it. www.wlwcheer.com
What is Sideline Cheer? Sideline Cheer is the Fall portion of our cheer program. Athletes are expected to attend all practices (usually 3-4 days/week), team tumbling, stunt and team camp, all football games, as well as team fundraising functions. Highlights of the fall season include the Pinkout Football Game and the Homecoming halftime show. Although sideline cheer is not an official MHSAA sport, it is exceptionally athletic. Our fall cheer season is devoted to acquiring incredible stunts, jumps, flexibility, and tumbling skills that we use to pump up the crowd at football games. The summer and fall season are also heavily devoted to conditioning to ensure that all of our athletes are in tip-top shape to perform these skills. Faces, voices, excitement, presence, and great motions are extremely important for excellent sideline cheerleaders and those will also be emphasized during this season. Tryout Week & Team Schedule: Registration: Please register online, by May 30th Link to register is available at wlwcheer.com. Clinic and Material Days: Tuesday May 31 st, Wednesday June 1 st, 6-8pm Tryout Days: Thursday June 3 rd 6-8 1 st Tumbling Session: The first week after school gets out. 1 st Team Meeting/Practice: This will vary by team and will be indicated in your letter. Tryout Process: Tryout participants should arrive on time, in athletic apparel (t-shirt/shorts/tennis shoes) with no jewelry or acrylic nails, and their hair up (out of their face and off of their shoulders). They must bring: 1) A copy of their most recent report card 2) A physical form dated after April 15, 2016 3) The last page of the tryout packet, signed by their parent/guardian. Tryouts will consist of clinic days, where we ll 1) teach the tryout chant 2) teach the jump technique we want to see used during scoring and 3) give the participants a chance to warm up any previously mastered tumbling skills. We emphasize safety in our tryouts, which is why we do not let girls do advance tumbling skills without spotters until we trust that they have mastery of those skills. So if an athlete has never (or has only very rarely) thrown a backhandspring by herself, we will not allow that athlete to work on or tryout with her backhandspring. We do not allow practice of any skills without proper matting. Safety is our priority! Instead of verbally announcing the participants who made a specific team, envelopes announcing teams will be distributed. Athletes will line up outside of the cheer loft door, in order of tryout number. At 8:30, each athlete will receive a sealed envelope containing a letter that states if you made a team, which team it is, and when your first team meeting will take place. In order to avoid excessive celebration or embarrassment caused by making or not making a team, envelopes must not be opened until the participant leaves school premises. This restriction is for the good of all participants involved, so the violation of this rule will result in disciplinary action, up to and including sitting out the first game. We will hand out envelopes to those present. If you are not able to pick up your envelope at that time, we will contact you by email. Please do not call the coaching staff to find out if you have made a team, and as always, the 24 hour rule is in effect when contacting the coaching staff. Envelopes will only be released to the athlete themselves or their parent/guardian. You cannot pick up an envelope for your friend. Parents must know their daughters assigned tryout number.
A few key points for the tumbling portion of the tryout for athletes: What tumbling skills you perform are your choice. However, all tumbling must be warmed up with a spot so that we can ensure you are capable of doing that skill on your own. If, however, during warm-up, the spotter feels that you are not capable of safely performing a skill on your own, we will ask you to do an easier skill. For example: if you can do a backhandspring, but only do it safely with a spotter, you may NOT show us this skill for one of your tumbling skills. We do this for the safety of our participants. Teams: All teams plan to take 16-24 athletes (or more) this season based on the athletic talent and attitude of the participants. Number taken is at the discretion of the coach after viewing the tryout and tryout scores. Varsity cheerleaders are expected to be strong athletes, dedicated to being exceptional sideline cheerleaders. They must be strong tumblers (backhandsprings are required to cheer at football games), with solid motions, and great jump technique. Flexibility should be top notch. They should be dedicated to perfecting themselves in all aspects of sideline cheerleading and must positively represent their team, their school, and their community at all times. Junior Varsity cheerleaders are expected to have strong athletic ability. They must have the ability to perform basic tumbling skills and basic jumping and motion technique, while working on mastery of these skills. They must have a positive attitude and be dedicated to improving themselves in all aspects of cheer. They must positively represent their team, their school, and their community at all times. Freshman cheerleaders must show potential for becoming exceptional sideline cheerleaders. This is demonstrated through excellent leg and back flexibility, the ability to retain high school level cheer material, and a willingness to learn and be coached. Freshman cheerleaders must be prepared to adapt to all aspects of the lifestyle of an athlete including attendance, effort, and self-discipline. They must positively represent their team, their school, and their community at all times. REMEMBER: Tryouts are a necessary step for choosing our sideline cheer teams, but we also hope that participants have fun and stay safe. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the coaches. Remember, that everyone during tryouts is equal, and will be judged equally, so please show other participants, coaches, and judges respect and a positive attitude at all times.
What does it Cost to Cheer Sideline? WLW Fall Cheer Season Tentative 2016-2017 Costs Incoming 9th Graders and New Cheerleaders Costs Due Date Cost What June 15th $100 4 Practice Shirts, 4 Shorts, 2 Bows $298 Camp (JV July 14-16, Varsity August 12-14) First Choice Dates with the Camp * Backup dates JV July 20-22, 26-28 - based on availability * Backup dates Varsity Aug 7-9, July 31-Aug 2 - based on availability $15 5:30-7:30 PM Sports Physicals available at Western June 20th $36 Tumbling Costs to be paid up front June -2 Days a Week $25 Gymnastics Registration Fee July 11th $144 Tumbling Costs to be paid up front for July, August - 2 Days a Week July 11th $10 Royal Blue Spanks YOU PURCHASE ON YOUR OWN July 11th $40 Poms July 11th $90 Warmups July 11th $28 Black Nike Pro Shorts YOU PURCHASE ON YOUR OWN August at Registration $425 Pay to Participate $15 Warriors for Warriors T-Shirt September 5th $80 Tumbling Costs to be paid up front September, October, 1 Day a Week Total to Do Football Season $1,281 Optional Items you may be offered during the season- $35.00 Duffle Bag $15.00 Car Decals $35.00 Hoodie with name on back $20.00 Long Sleeve Shirts
WLW Sideline Cheer Tryout Permission Slip Please print, sign, and return this page of the packet at the tryout clinic on May 31st. Please also bring your most recent report card and a physical dated after April 15, 2016. For Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Please Sign after reading the following statement: I,, (print name please) understand that by signing this form, I am agreeing to let my child tryout and participate in sideline cheerleading. I am aware that there are a limited number of spots in the program and not every child will make a team. Furthermore, I understand that my child will be supervised at all times by qualified individuals. However, as with any physical activity, there is risk of injury. I will not hold Walled Lake Western High School and or the Walled Lake Western Coaching Staff responsible for any injuries that may occur during clinics or tryouts. Finally, if my daughter earns a spot on a team, I understand that there are many costs associated with sideline cheer, (above and beyond the $425 pay to play) and that my daughter will have to abide by all of the team rules and all aspects of the athletic code of conduct. I also understand that Sideline cheerleading is a large time commitment and that athletes are expected to attend all practices, games, tumbling sessions, summer camps, and other team activities. Signature of Parent or Guardian Date For Athletes: Please Sign after reading the following statement: I,, (print name please) understand that by signing this form, I am declaring my intention to fully participate in sideline cheerleading for the Fall 2016 season. I am aware that there are a limited number of spots in the program and not every athlete will make a team. I also understand that if I make a team, it may mean that another person does not. Therefore, if selected, I commit fully to giving 100% participation in any and all team related activities. I also agree to push myself to give maximum effort at all times academically and athletically, knowing that failure to do so could result in disciplinary action. I certify that I have read the rules stated within this packet, and understand that additional rules, responsibilities, and regulations may be put in place throughout the season. Finally, I understand that if I choose to tryout for Competitive Cheer, my placement on a team during the sideline season has no bearing on whether or not I make a particular team (or any team) during competitive season.
Signature of Athlete Date