Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Cheerleading Policies 2017 2018 As a member of the Blessed Trinity Titan Cheerleading Program, you are expected to adhere to the following rules and guidelines. These rules are to provide you and your family with an understanding of the expectations of your participation as a Blessed Trinity Cheerleader. The coaches will be responsible for evaluating a cheerleader s compliance with the policies. If you make a squad, you will have a squad-specific contract to sign before the beginning of your season. I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Spirit Cheerleaders: pre-determined commitment to your team, for both Football and Basketball seasons (essentially a 7-month commitment) or either Football or Basketball seasons; Competition Cheerleaders: two-season commitment to your team, for both Competition and Football, which run simultaneously 2. Attend all team practices and any tumbling practices stipulated by the Competition Coaches 3. Performances: Spirit Cheerleaders games and pep rallies; Competition Cheerleaders Competitions, games, and pep rallies II. GRADES Coaches will monitor their cheerleaders grades. Coaches may require cheerleaders to attend extra help with their teachers. III. APPEARANCE For safety purposes, the following rules will be strictly enforced: 1. Hair must be worn up and off the shoulders at all practices, games, and competitions. 2. No jewelry of any kind may be worn at practices, games, or competitions. 3. Nails must be trimmed to the tip of the finger. No polish may be worn at games or competitions. IV. PRACTICES 1. ALL practices are mandatory. Any cheerleader who will be missing practice (excused or unexcused) must contact their primary coach(es) personally prior to practice time. 2. Arrive on time and dressed properly to start practice. This includes removing jewelry, having hair fixed appropriately, and all food and drink consumed prior to practice time. 3. WATER BOTTLES are to be brought to each practice and game. 4. Practice attire: only t-shirts are allowed; no tank tops; no inappropriate wording on the t-shirt, no midriffs showing; no cropped tops, no rolling your shorts, no wording on backside of your shorts or pants. Cheerleading shoes will be worn at all practices. If you violate any of these at any time you are involved in a cheerleading activity, you will be disciplined by the coach. 5. Practice schedules will vary according to season and game schedules. Each coach will set practice days and times. The coach if necessary may call additional practices.
6. Excused absences from practice will include: a. Excused illness from school; illness during the day at school requiring the cheerleader to leave school. b. Death in the family c. Making up a test with a note from the teacher stating that this is the ONLY makeup time available to the student. d. Any other absence that the coach authorizes. NOTE: Detentions and suspensions are NOT excused. 7. All other missed practices are considered unexcused. Cheerleaders who choose to hold jobs or participate in outside cheerleading squads must arrange their work or practice schedules so as not to interfere with required cheerleading activities and practices. Keep in mind that some cheerleading responsibilities only receive very short notice (for example, playoff games or additional practices). Work is NOT considered an excused absence from a cheerleading activity. When you try out for cheerleading, you are making a commitment to set cheerleading as your number one extracurricular priority. 8. Practices and other cheerleading functions are closed to spectators and friends. 9. The coach will discipline cheerleaders who are late to practices, games or activities or are inappropriately dressed for the function through other disciplinary measures which may include running laps, additional conditioning, or being benched. 10. Competition cheerleaders are expected to attend weekly tumbling classes at a gym of their choice. Verification forms will need to be turned in to the competition coach on a monthly basis. 11. Any cheerleader that has been injured, either during or before cheerleading season, will not be allowed to cheer without a written note from a doctor clearing her to resume cheering. 12. Any cheerleader that chooses to participate on an All-star Cheerleading Squad will not allow that squad s practices or competitions to interfere with BT practices or competitions. The cheerleader will have to negotiate with her All-star coaches so as not to miss, be late or leave early from any BT cheerleading practices or competitions. V. UNIFORMS Uniforms should be kept clean and pressed. Pleats should have creases and lie flat. The uniform consists of: 1. Current cheerleading shoes 2. Cheerleading socks 3. Specified Bloomers (e.g., competition bloomers are not to be worn for games) 4. Cheerleading skirt and top 5. Hair ribbon 6. BT warm up Cheerleaders must be dressed in the appropriate uniform or the cheerleader will sit out of the game. Cheerleaders should change out of uniform if they will not be going straight home after a game. Uniforms should not be worn at any other function other than for games and pep rallies.
VI. TRANSPORTATION Buses will be provided for transportation to and from MOST games. If a bus is provided, cheerleaders will ride TO and FROM the cheering event on the bus. Seatbelts must be worn at all times while on the bus. All cheerleaders will be responsible for making sure the buses are left clean prior to leaving for the night. VII. GAMES 1. Cheerleaders must attend all games of the season. The coach must be contacted prior to the game in the event a cheerleader will miss a game. a. Excused absences from games will include illness and family trips due to a serious illness or death in the family. Other trips considered unexcused will be dealt with on an individual basis. Coaches may require a doctor s excuse if deemed necessary. b. Cheerleaders who are benched for either disciplinary or academic reasons must sit in uniform with the coach, not with male/female friends. c. Cheerleaders may be benched during a game in progress. Remember, this is a sport and athletes who bring down the level of team performance can be taken out of the game. Being chosen as a member of the team does not mean that an athlete gets to perform every minute of every event. d. Cheerleaders who are not cheering due to illness or injury will sit in uniform with the coach, not with male/female friends. 2. Uniformity will be stressed for all parts of the uniform. a. Hair will be worn up, off the shoulders, and secured out of the face in a ponytail. b. Fingernails must be kept short (GHSA rule) and NO POLISH worn. c. Hair ribbons must be uniform. d. NO jewelry can be worn while cheering (GHSA rule). 3. At games, the cheerleader s job is to CHEER. a. NO gum, eating or drinking during cheering. The only exception is the water you are to bring in your water bottle. b. NO socializing with spectators, etc. c. Good sportsmanship is expected at ALL TIMES. d. At away games, girls must remain together for safety purposes. e. Cheerleaders may leave the playing area at half times and between games for refreshments, restrooms, etc., but must return to the cheering line one minute before play resumes. At any other time, cheerleaders must have permission from the coach to leave the cheering line. f. Cheerleaders are to remain in line at attention during the playing of the game. They may sit and watch the opposing squads perform during half times at Football games and quarter breaks during Basketball games. They may not sit down during other time outs. g. Cheerleaders may not access their cell phones during the game, except during halftime. This includes timeouts and quarter breaks. h. Cheerleaders must be at all home games one (1) hour prior to the starting time of the game in order to stretch out and practice. Be dressed and prepared to cheer BEFORE this time. THIS INCLUDES EATING! i. Cheerleading area must be cleaned up prior to leaving for the night.
VIII. ATTENDANCE 1. State rules concerning school attendance will be followed. 2. State rules concerning in-school suspension will be followed. 3. GHSA rules concerning out-of-school suspension will be followed. IX. GENERAL CONDUCT 1. All cheerleaders must abide by Blessed Trinity Catholic High School policies governing participation in EXTRACURRICULAR activities as well as Georgia High School Association rules and regulations. 2. Cheerleaders must exemplify high standards of conduct both in the classroom and out. Good attendance is a must! 3. Cheerleaders should refrain from using inappropriate language. 4. Cheerleaders must be a credit to the school at all times. This includes: a. Being friendly and courteous to other teams and cheerleaders. b. Being neat in appearance at all times. c. NOT primping in public. d. NO public displays of affection with boyfriends. 5. All Blessed Trinity Cheerleaders are expected to serve as role models both in and out of their cheerleading uniforms. Any athlete exhibiting an attitude or behavior that detracts from the team s success may be removed from the program. 6. Students, coaches, and parents are expected to set examples of good sportsmanship and be positive role models for others to follow. This especially applies when attending events and representing Blessed Trinity. Any inappropriate behavior or remarks made toward other teams will result in disciplinary action. 7. Cheerleaders should never participate in any type of bullying behavior. Bullying behavior will not be tolerated, whether it is happening on or off of the squad. If a cheerleader participates in any type of bullying behavior, she will not be eligible to participate as a BT cheerleader. X. AWARDS AND LETTERING 1. Only Varsity cheerleaders are eligible to letter. Varsity cheerleaders will receive varsity letter (or bar) and a participation certificate for the season completed in good standing. JV Cheerleaders who complete their season in good standing are eligible to receive a participation certificate. 2. Cheerleaders must attend all practices unless excused by the coach in order to letter. 3. Varsity cheerleaders must attend all games and competitions in order to letter unless excused by the coach. 4. In the event that a serious injury during the season prevents a cheerleader from completing the cheering season, awards and letters will be at coaches discretion. 5. Cheerleaders who are repeatedly benched for either disciplinary or academic reasons may be jeopardizing her award. 6. If a cheerleader quits or is removed from any team during the year, the cheerleader is NOT eligible to receive ANY awards, honors, letters, or attend the post-season banquet. 7. If a cheerleader quits any squad during the season, they will NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRY OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. They will also be removed from any other cheer squad that they are a member.
XI. DISCLAIMER The coaches of the BT cheerleading program reserve the right to make additions, deletions, and modifications to the policies in this contract. If significant changes are made, the cheerleader and parent will be notified of the changes. Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Cheerleaders 2017-2018 These rules are set up in the best interest of the athlete and total program. It is the objective of this program to build character and values which will carry over into all aspects of life. With these thoughts in mind, strong guidelines must be observed so that these values can be taught. The following violations may be cause for suspension or dismissal from the squad. The coach and/or administrator on an individual basis will evaluate each case. 1. Use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco 2. Missing practice, games, or required squad activities 3. Cutting school or classes 4. Acting in an unsportsmanlike manner when representing your school 5. Any act which results in suspension by the school administration 6. Leaving school without personally letting the coach know that you will not be at practice, a game, or required cheering activity 7. Any act at school or away from school which, in the opinion of the coach and/or administration, reflects in a negative manner on the athletic program or the school 8. Being late to games, practices, activities, or returning to the line following breaks 9. Failure to wear appropriate cheerleading attire to games, practices, or activities 10. Improper conduct in the classroom In addition, cheerleaders should be knowledgeable of all school policies regarding student behavior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School (see student handbook). Cheerleaders should excel academically as well as athletically. Those who have difficulty maintaining appropriate grades may be temporarily relieved of cheerleading duties to allow more study time. Thank you for your cooperation. Working together, we will have a successful program.