FHS Cheerleading & Mascot Tryout Info 2016-2017
Dear Parent/Guardian: Your daughter/son has expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Florence High School Cheerleading Squad for the 2016-2017 school year. If selected, there are certain personal and financial obligations that a cheerleader and her/his parents must assume in order to qualify, to participate, and to remain a member in good standing. Please read through this packet with your child. You may contact me with questions at jstrack@flroenceisd.net. The packet should be completed and submitted to the front office on campus by March 4 th at 3:00PM. If we do not have the items listed in the packet by the due date, your child will be unable to participate in tryouts. FHS students please turn your paperwork into the HS front office. FMS students please turn your paperwork into the MS front office, and they will send it to FHS. Thanks you for your interest in the FHS Cheer Program. Sincerely, Jenny Strack Cheerleading Coach jstrack@florenceisd.net
Tryout Checklist To be eligible to try out for the Florence High School Cheer Team, each candidate must submit the following items: A completed FHS Cheerleader Tryout Application A completed Parent Contact information form A signed copy of the FHS Cheerleading/Mascot Constitution A current physical on file in the athletic office * Check with Coach Hood to see if you have a current physical on file. If you do not, you MUST get one before the tryout clinic begins, or you will not be able to participate. Signed concussion acknowledgement form A copy of the candidate s unofficial transcript Signed Cheer Responsibilities page Signed Parent Responsibilities page Completed Financial Waiver Form Signed tryout commitment/ Try-out Waiver Form A check for $100 deposit to cover partial cost of gym time for the year or camp. (this will be returned to girls who do not make the squad) All information must be submitted no later than March 4 th at 3:00pm. You will be unable to participate if do not have all information filled out and turned in by the due-date. Packets turned in on the day the tryout clinic starts will not be accepted. FHS students- please turn your paperwork into the FHS front office. Please write Attn: FHS Cheer on the packet. FMS students- please turn your paperwork into the FMS front office, and they will send it to the High School s front office. Please write Attn: FHS Cheer on the packet.
Tryout Regulations NO PARENTS OR SPECTATORS are allowed during the clinic or tryouts. Only coaches, cheerleaders teaching material and/or judges are allowed. A maximum of 14 girls will be selected. o This will be based on the number of applicants and or point spread determined by the tryout judges and coaches. o The mascot candidate with the top score will be the Mascot. Cell Phones are not permitted during the clinic or tryouts. If you have a forwarded balance from the previous year, you may be ineligible to try out. If you earn a position on one of the cheer squads, you are expected to accept the position. If for whatever reason, you don t think you can meet the obligation expected of the FHS cheerleader, please do not tryout. All former Florence cheerleaders must tryout just like everyone else and are expected to do the same as the other applicants. They are not guaranteed a spot in the Florence Cheer Program. Boys who would like to be considered for yell leader positions on the squad must try out and meet a minimum score determined by the judges and will be added as an additional spot if the minimum score is met. Each candidate will be assigned a number for judging purposes. Scores will be computed for cheerleader candidates based upon the following areas: Entrance/Cheer/Chant/Dance/Jumping/Stunting/Tumbling *Tumbling skills are not required but HIGHLY encouraged to receive a position on the squad. Citizenship will be considered and tabulated into the score (see the constitution for more information) Mascot candidates will be judged based on a 1 minute self-prepared skit (see constitution for details) Candidates are to wear t-shirts, shorts and tennis/cheer shoes to each day of tryout clinic. Sweatpants, yoga pants, tanks, cut off t- shirts, slip on/converse shoes are NOT allowed during the tryout clinic. Candidates will be asked to change or to leave the tryouts or clinic if they are not wearing the proper attire. There will be no make-up tryouts unless arrangements have been made with coaches prior to tryouts. Tryout Attire will be a white t-shirt, black soffe type shorts, tennis shoes, and no show white socks. Hair should be pulled back in a ponytail. Glitter or performance type make-up will not be allowed. Make up should be natural. Nail polish should not be worn. The judging panel will be made up of 4 people. The FHS and FMS cheer coaches will be on the judging panel. Any candidate who does not make the squad may schedule an appointment with the cheer coach to receive and discuss the judges score cards and comments when available on his/her performance. The candidate will only be allowed to view his or her own card. No other candidate s score cards will be viewed or discussed. The placements of the team are FINAL and will not be changed for any reason.
Important Info and Dates Deadline to submit packet: Friday, March 4 th at 3:00PM Cheer Tryout Clinic: March 7-10 from 4:30-6:00pm in the Florence Middle School Gym ***The cheer, chant, and dance instructional videos are posted on the FHS and FMS cheer websites. Please work on them prior to the clinic! The clinic is not long enough to prepare stunts, jumps, tumbling, and learn all three components! Official Tryout and Team Selection Day: Friday, March 11 th at 2:00PM in the Florence Middle School Gym At 6:30PM, the same day, results will be posted on the doors to the middle school main entrance. Any Child who does not make the squad will have his or her deposit check returned to them on Monday, March 21 st when we return from spring break. Tryout Attire: white t-shirt, black soffe type shorts (basketball shorts for boys), tennis shoes, and no show white socks. Hair should be pulled back in a ponytail. Glitter or performance type make-up will not be allowed. Make up should be natural. Nail polish should not be worn. On the day of tryouts: You must attend school the entire day. Leaving school early to get ready for tryouts will be considered an unexcused absence and you will not be eligible to try out.
2015-2016 Estimated Cheerleading Expenses Please understand that we make every effort to keep costs reasonable for our cheerleaders. This requires participation in fundraising events by ALL members of the team and their parents. If your child is not able for ANY reason to participate in a fundraising activity, it may be necessary for you to cover the cost of the equipment or event that the fundraising activity was intended to pay for. Camp or weekly professional lessons- $350 per girl. ($100 due before tryouts) Remainder will be paid in two $125 installments in April and May. Cheer Shoes (due to safety concerns) must be purchased from brand/style list chosen by the coach- $35-70. Uniform sleeves $40-70 Depending on style chosen after uniform selection. Yearly Fuel Expenses $2000/squad ($150 per person) Fundraising will pay for this Uniforms and accessories $300 per person- Uniforms and accessories are owned and provided by FISD Total out of pocket expenses (with full participation in fundraising) $350.00 per person plus the cost of shoes and sleeves. We will be purchasing new uniforms for the 2016-2017 season!
Florence High School Cheer 2015-2016 Tryout Application Name: Age: Grade for 2016-2017 school year: Which position will you be interested in? Please circle all that apply: BASE BACKSPOT FLIER I DON T KNOW Please list any prior cheerleading/gymnastics experience you may have:
Please fill out the following completely: Parent/Contact Information Parent/Guardian Name(s): Cell Number(s): Emergency Contact Name/Number (in case we can t reach you): Candidate Cell Phone: Please list any contact information here that you feel we may need but have not asked for:
Tryout Commitment Form I have read the Florence High School Cheerleading try out packet and handbook in its entirety and understand its contents. I understand the responsibility my child is undertaking by becoming a FHS cheerleader. I agree to fully support my child and will encourage them to fulfill their commitment. I understand that being a FHS cheerleader is a commitment on the part of the parent as well. I realize that when representing FHS I must always conduct myself with class. I understand that any athlete or parent who does not abide by the rules and regulations contained in their contract, that is consistently negative, or acts in a manner that jeopardizes the name and reputation of FHS Cheer Program will be subjected to removal with no refund. Cheer Candidate: I have read the cheerleading packet, handbook, understand the tryout procedures and the operating principles of the cheerleading team and agree to abide by them; furthermore, if selected, I agree to accept the position and to follow all cheer team rules/guidelines. I will give 100% in order to make our team the best possible. I am eagerly looking forward to becoming an active member of the FHS Cheer team. Candidate Signature: Date: Parent: I have read the cheerleading packet given to my daughter/son, understand the tryout procedures and the operating principles of the cheerleading team, and agree to abide by them. If selected, my daughter/son has my permission to become an active member of the cheer team. I am aware that cheerleading requires an enormous time commitment and dedication from both the parents and the cheerleader. I will support the program and my daughter/son 100%. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: Tryout Clinic Parent Release Form Parent Release: I hereby state that my child is in good physical health and is capable of participating in the activities involved in the tryout clinic. I hereby waive and release any liability and hold Florence High School harmless, the organizers, directors, sponsors and coaches from any injuries that may occur while my child attends these tryout clinic dates. She/He is participating at her/his own risk and will abide by all safety guidelines in place during the tryouts. Parent/Guardian signature: Date: