Gatesville Junior High Cheer/Mascot Team Guidelines Coach Amanda Thompson & Assistant Coach Tracey Stovall Cheerleading is an intense physical activity based upon organized routines. The cheers, which contain many components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers and stunting, are done in order to direct spectators of events to cheer for sports teams at games. The highly energetic athletes involved in cheerleading are called cheerleaders. Cheerleading takes an extreme amount of physical work as well as practice. The Mascot is an energetic character that helps promote school spirit. Mascots cannot talk, but need to express themselves through active movement and props. Note from new coach: There have been changes made this year. Jana Carpenter and Jackie Aguilar have stepped down and will be replaced by Amanda Thompson & Tracey Stovall. Please also take note that there have been changes made to this constitution. Contact information for Amanda Thompson is athompson@gatesvilleisd.org or Tracey Stovall is tstovall@gatesvilleisd.org, number for both 254-865-8271 (Junior High Office). School hours are from 7:30am to 3:45pm. Questions will not be answered individually unless by email, but will be answered within 24 hours. This will prevent any confusion and allow me to reach all parents by email at once. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them through email. Grades and Behavior Each member must maintain passing grade in ALL classes. If a member fails for the six weeks, they will be ineligible until the 3 week grade check: at this time they must be passing all classes to regain eligibility. They will still be required to come to practices, but will not participate in game or pep rallies during the 3 weeks period. Each member must have a current physical (7th grade athletic physical will work) before starting physical activity (practices included). Physical Exam Paper is located on Junior High Website, under cheerleading. POSITIVE attitudes and EXEMPLARY behavior will be required to participate in cheerleading. Anything lower than an S in conduct is not acceptable! Each member will be held to high standard; there is zero tolerance for lying, cheating, or stealing. FORMS: ALL signed forms due by Wednesday, April 8 to front office at your campus!!!! Handbook/code of conduct is due to front office Physical forms Emergency Information/ Release of Liability/ Directory Statement forms UCA Camp medical/release form
Cheer Team Try-out Requirements Future 7th and 8th grade enrolled students of Gatesville ISD have the opportunity to try-out for 2014-2015 cheerleader or mascot. All candidates must be able to fulfill the following requirements: Have passed all 6 weeks grades all year from beginning 2013-2014 school year, also must maintain through the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Must have nothing but an S in conduct for this school year. If a student has been sent to ISS (lunch ISS not included), the student s disciplinary record will be reviewed by Mrs. Venable, Mrs. Register and/or coaches. Depending on the violation, the decision will be made as to whether or not the student can try-out for cheerleader or mascot. Must have returned all forms to front office by April 8 th, 2015 Try-out information can be found on junior high website (fight song, score sheet) (cheer & Chant will be added on Monday, April 10) Be in good financial standing with the school. Mandatory: Must attend UCA & Gatesville cheer camp. UCA cheerleader camp Thursday, June 25 thru Saturday, June 27 8:00-4:30 pm will be held at Gatesville Junior High. This year cost is $179.00 for the three days. Candidate must bring a lunch. Gatesville Cheer Camp will be held August 13 & 14 from 9:00-4:00. Try-out for Cheerleader or Mascot The cheer candidate will perform a chant and fight song with group, an individual cheer (can have one incorporation and cannot change any motions), jump series, running tumbling, and standing tumbling. Mascot will be performing a maximum of a 2.5 minute routine with less than a 3 minute set up and take down of props. Mascot may use any props they would like to bring, but cannot use real people and must be able to set props up on their own. All candidates must have attended GISD for at least 1 full semester in order to try-out. Cheer candidates must wear school colors (black, gold and white) and be in school dress code. School logos and letters can be used. Hair must be in high ponytail, braids can be used. Make sure everything is secure in hair. Any falling items can result in a deduction. Mascot may be creative with costume to help execute routine. Try-outs are conducted with outside judges. The cheerleader will be scored and the top 8 from 7th grade and the top 8 from 8th grade will be selected for the team. One mascot will be chosen from the 7th or 8th grade. Try-outs are closed to everyone except the cheer coaches, judges, candidates, and principal or principals. Candidates will stay in nearby classroom. Everyone else must wait outside off of school property until candidate is ready for pick up. Candidates will have access to school phone to call parent. Candidates must turn in cell phones as they enter the school or leave them at home. If there is a medical problem candidate must let the adult know on site and they will be allowed to use cell phone. If candidate or parents are not compliant candidate may be disqualified. This is a private try-out. Future 8 th graders will begin at 4:00, future 7 th graders will need to be dropped off at front door of junior high at 5:00pm, and mascots 7 th & 8 th will need to be dropped off at front door at 6:30 The result will be posted on front door of Gatesville Junior High after all try-outs are complete. Approximately at 9:00 pm Score maybe revealed to a parent, by an appointment only and scores can be seen at the Junior High office on that Tuesday thru Friday only after try-outs are complete. Copies cannot be made. In case of a tie or close scores the principal and/or coaches can agree to take candidates, have them called back or anything else, which is up to their discretion.
Principal or Coaches may explain expectations of judges sheet or answer any questions that judges may have. Principal and/or coaches will double check additions totals on score sheet. Principal and/or coaches will do their best to have try-outs move quickly and thoroughly. Practices- CAMPS-All practices are MANDATORY UCA camp June 25-27, 8:00-5:00 at Gatesville junior High gym. Bring a sack lunch Summer Practice August 13 & 14, 9:00am-4:00pm Cheerleader/mascot practices will be held at the Junior High Gym every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:45-7:45am beginning the first week of school and continuing until the end of football season. Decorate School, Sunday, August 16 th, 3pm-5pm at the Junior High Gym. You will be responsible for all the material learned during practices. If incorporations are added you may be left out of routine if you do not know material. If you are not at practice you will not cheer at the game or participate in the pep rally that week. However, you will be expected to attend and will sit in front of coach during event. If you are unable to attend, you must email coaches and let them know why you will not be there. Illness is the only excused absence. During school days you must be in school 4 consecutive periods in the day in order to participate in that day s events. Please schedule doctor, orthodontist, and/or dental appointments etc. on a day other than a practices/game /pep rally If coach feels an extra practices is needed they can/will call one at any time. Games Cheerleaders will cheer at ALL Junior High Football games. Jr. High Football will have four preseason games; cheerleaders will cheer four games in one night. On all out of town games ALL cheerleaders will leave on bus together. Parent may email Mrs. Thompson at athompson@gatesvilleisd.org or Mrs. Stovall at tstovall@gatesvvilleisd.org or sign them out at the game. The only exception for being late to a game is volleyball practices on games played in Gatesville.
Sideline conduct Cheerleaders will be required to stand, facing the game, hands behind their backs when they are not cheering. During the games cheerleaders are expected to concentrate on cheering and not allowed to talk to friends, family, etc. They are welcome to do so between games or half times. Each cheerleader will have a designated area in the sideline formation. The cheerleader will not walk around, horseplay, talk on cell phones or leave the side line until breaks (breaks will be between games). On out of town games please send food with them on the bus so they can eat before we arrive at game. We will meet at 3:30 at the Front of the new Junior High Gym for all home games. All book/athletic bags will stay in the gym. Only one cheer back pack is allowed on the track. Drinks only will be allowed on the track, no food. All sidelines will be left neat. Pick up and Drop off- Bus will load and unload at Primary School parking lot by Hornet field on out of town games. Uniforms/Appearance Uniform consists of skirt, top, briefs, bow, socks, shoes, poms, warm up suit, and cheer back pack. All members are responsible for bringing items to every game in cheer back pack. Cheerleaders must be in complete uniform before leaving bus or gym. Please bring extra items you may need brush, hairspray, shoe laces, bobby pins, rubber bands, etc. Uniforms and warm ups will be the same as last year. Camp gear will be chosen by coaches. All skirts must be in school dress code. If they are not in school dress code then member will have to replace the item and can t participate until the item is replaced. No jewelry, fake nails, finger nail polish, or belly button rings will be worn to practices, games, or pep rallies. Hair will be worn in a high pony tail with all hair out of face. Coaches will advise team when they can wear uniforms to school. Make up is up to your discretion, but please be tasteful. Lip stick/lip gloss, blush and mascara is encouraged but no eye glitter. Uniform fitting will be at the junior high in life skills class room on May 15th at 3:30pm and a team picture will be taken then for the paper as well. All items and camp fees must be paid for by May 30th. The cost for camp is $179.00 and the approximate cost for uniform, shoes, bow and camp clothing will be $550.00. Cheer uniform, wind suit, and bag will stay the same as last year. All Cheerleaders are to wear accessories in unison. This means that our cheerleaders and mascot need to look like a team at all times. Therefore, hair bows, jackets, poms, etc. all need to be the same and worn at the same time. Bus code All safety rules will be followed on the bus. The bus will be cleaned after each game. Cell phones, video games, and mp3 can be used on the bus as long as the light does NOT interfere with bus driver. Cheerleaders/Mascot may ride home with a parent/guardian. There will be a sign out sheet available during 4 th quarter of last game. Cheerleader/mascot will only be released to parent/guardian.
Corrective Procedures - If a member has committed a counterproductive act, she will be reprimanded by the Demerit System. If the action is deemed serious in nature, or brings discredit or dishonor upon yourself or your school you may be removed from extracurricular activities (cheerleader or mascot) for all or part of the year. The coach can recommend immediate removal from the team at any time during the summer or school year. Fundraiser All cheerleaders/mascot will participate in selling Hornet T-shirts. Each girl will need to sell at least 10 shirts. Fundraiser money will be spent for cheerleader supplies at coach s discretion. Parental involvement Parent involvement is encouraged and welcomed with different opportunities such as pep rally decoration committee, theme day items, and fundraising committee.
Gatesville Junior High Cheerleader Demerit system Demerits will begin after try-outs are complete ONE Demerit = Cheerleader or Mascot will sit out half of a game in full uniform by fence. TWO Demerits = Cheerleader or Mascot will sit out one full game in uniform by fence, plus will sit out one pep rally in full uniform during the pep rally. THREE Demerits = Cheerleader or Mascot dismissed from squad. One demerit will be given for the following Missed Practice (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Missed Game (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Failure to do punishment for demerit Four Infractions Infractions: One Infraction will be given for the following: Chewing gum during practice/game Late to practice (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Late for a game (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Non-compliance of uniform during games/events Leaving early or during practice (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Leaving early or during game (Excused if at a UIL School Event/Game, Dr. note) Failure to complete task assigned by coach (posters, candy bags, signs, etc.) Disrespectful to coach Wandering away from the scheduled area during a game without permission of coach Leaving items at games or practices. Not being in complete uniform. PDA Harmful display to other team members which brings down the morale of the team. If you show up for a cheer event you must stay with your team at all times. Other infractions maybe given at coaches discretion. For each infraction, the cheerleader/mascot will sign an acknowledgement. A copy will be given to the cheerleader/mascot to take home and returned with a parent signature. Four infractions will add up to ONE demerit.
Gatesville Junior High Cheer/Mascot Team Guidelines Return by April 6, 2015 I, have read the Gatesville ISD Cheerleader/Mascot Guidelines and agree to adhere to these rules as a condition for my voluntary participation in Cheerleader or Mascot activities. Student Name Student Signature, Date I, have read the Gatesville ISD Cheerleader/Mascot Guidelines and agree to adhere to these rules as a condition for my voluntary participation in Cheerleader or Mascot activities. Parent Name Parent Signature Date Contact information: Cell Phone # Email