C-Character H-Heart E-Enthusiasm E-Effort and Attitude R-Respect Purpose In accepting a place on the cheerleading squad, you will need to understand the following personal responsibilities in order to remain a member in good standing. Please read these policies and expectations carefully before signing. Mission Statement It is our goal as an organization to: Increase each cheerleader s skill level throughout the year Build strong character in student athletes Promote school and community spirit Serve as ambassadors of Olentangy Orange High School and the Olentangy Local School District. **Note: Cheerleading is a high profile activity. The school name, mascot, and colors emblazed across uniforms serves as a beacon to draw attention to your actions. Cheerleaders are viewed as a reflection of Olentangy Local Schools on and off the field and in or out of uniform. Because of the visibility of all squad members, it is important that cheerleaders place themselves in high esteem and always act accordingly. They must be role models for all students. As an Olentangy Orange High School Cheerleader, your first priority is academics and your second priority is cheerleading. - 1 -
Eligibility Each student on an athletic team at Olentangy Orange High School must be eligible under the conditions set forth by OHSAA and Olentangy Orange High School. The major requirements for eligibility are: 1. Completion of all sports paperwork via Final Form Website. 2. Grades Please watch your grades! Your administrators, teachers, and coaches will all work together to check grades and ensure that all cheerleaders are eligible to cheer. 3. Guidelines set forth by Olentangy Local Schools Athletic Code of Conduct AND OOHS Cheerleading Policies and Expectations Objectives and Values-C.H.E.E.R C-Character: Be committed to personal and team excellence and establish ourselves as role models and leaders for the youth athletes of our community. Be honest and loyal to parents, coaches, teachers, classmates and yourself. Our goal to strive to be our best and to reach out to others. H-Heart: Give 100% effort at all times. Provide encouragement and push your teammates and yourself to do the best. Be mentally and physically tough to continually improve to be the best student/athlete we can be. E-Enthusiasm: Promote enthusiasm, good sportsmanship, and school spirit among the student body on and off the field. Strive to maintain good sportsmanship, and school spirit at athletic events through the leading of chants and cheers. E-Effort and Attitude: Being a student athlete is a personal commitment; it s an attitude; it separates excellence from mediocrity. Give everything you have to everything you do. Have a positive attitude during games, practices, conditioning and spirit events. R-Respect: Exemplify respect for the opposing team and cheerleaders, the game officials, and all spectators on and off the field at all times. Have a mutual respect, responsibility and tolerance for your teammates, coaches, teachers, and classmates. Academics Cheerleaders must meet the requirements of all athletes according to the athletic handbook. Those we do not meet these grade requirements will be ineligible. Your administrators, coaches, and teachers will all work together to check grades and ensure that all cheerleaders are eligible to cheer. Remember: you are a student first and an athlete second! - 2 -
Responsibilities and Duties All cheerleaders are responsible and expected to take part in the following: 1. The leading of chants and cheers at all assigned athletic events. 2. Attend all practices, cheerleading camps, games, cheer/youth camps, and meetings, remembering that OOHS Cheerleading is a commitment and after school priority. 3. Sign making and hanging. 4. Participation in Spirit Weeks. 5. Participation at school/community events as determined by the coach, such as Pep Rallies, Homecoming events, etc. 6. Fundraising projects. 7. All special events designated by the coach. A. Game day Arrival/Departure Procedures a. Cheerleaders must arrive to all games and practices ON TIME no excuses! i. Arriving early = on time ii. Arriving on time = late b. Cheerleaders are to arrive at the scheduled time for games/practice ready. (Ready= arriving in practice clothes or uniforms/warm-ups with hair/make-up done.) B. Appearance/Attire a. Uniforms include: Warm up jacket and pants, shell, skirt, liner, briefs, white socks, shoes and poms. b. Practice Attire-proper apparel must be worn to practice. Cheerleading shoes, socks, shorts (finger tip length) and supportive top-no jewelry or gum. c. Game Day Attire- All elements of your cheerleading uniform and warm ups are required for EVERY game. Cheerleaders missing all or part of uniform on game day will be required to sit. As a team we will look uniform and neat in order to best represent Olentangy Orange High School. i. All cheerleaders need to have a clean uniform and shoes, cheerleading socks, and a WHITE sports bra, and a proper cheerleading bag. ii. Cheerleaders are expected to be neat and well groomed, especially at games. iii. No jewelry!!! iv. Neutral nail polish is acceptable and absolutely no markings on your skin. v. Hair is to be pulled back in a pony tail and bows must be worn. vi. Make-up must be in good taste. - 3 -
C. Uniforms a. All squads are responsible for the purchase of their uniforms (i.e. warmups, body liners, briefs, shoes), except those parts of the uniform owned by the school. b. Each cheerleader is responsible for the cleaning of his/her uniform c. Shoes bought for cheerleading shall be worn only at practices, games, and other scheduled events. Shoes must be kept in good condition. d. If alterations are needed, please let the coach know before alterations are made. Parents are responsible for having those alterations completed by a professional. If alterations are necessary, they must be reversible!! e. All uniforms must be cleaned before returning to the coach at the end of the season. D. Skill Responsibility a. Cheerleaders are expected to give 100% effort and perform full out tumbling, cheers, jumps, and routines. Tumbling skills that are displayed at tryouts will be mandatory to perform on the track for football and basketball floors for basketball. If a cheerleader does not perform/attempt the tumbling skills they tried out with (except in the case of an injury) the coach reserves the right to have the athlete sit with them at the next game. Attendance and Absences Punctual attendance is mandatory at all practices and games, as well as specified activities, fundraisers, and special events. All tardies and absences (excused or unexcused) will be recorded. Cheerleaders who must arrive late or miss an event are required to give a coach 24-hour notice by email correspondence. Anyone who does not give proper notification will be given an unexcused absence or tardy. EXCUSED ABSENCES Consideration will be given to those who are ill and not in school or who have a family emergency (death in the family). For doctor s appointments, cheerleaders must present a doctor s note. If you are absent from school on the day of a game/practice, you are not permitted to participate in that day s game/practice, and you must notify the coach of your absence. UNEXCUSED TARDIES & ABSENCES Unexcused tardies to practice/games will result in conditioning after practice. Missed Practice for an unexcused absence(s) will result in the cheerleader sitting for the first quarter of the game following the absence. **(Coaches will use their discretion to increase sit time if attendance becomes an issue). Missed Games due to an unexcused absence will result in automatic sitting for the first half of the game following the absence. **(Coaches will use their discretion to increase sit time if attendance becomes an issue). - 4 -
Cheerleader Expectations Team Travel: Check and pack all your uniform. Please be prompt, if you are late you will be left behind. You are not allowed to eat or drink on the bus. You can take a snack, as long as you eat it off the bus. Good conduct should be displayed at all times. Stay in you seats and keep the noise level down. o Ineligible cheerleaders are expected to attend all events in uniform and support their team. The X Rule: The X rule states that if a situation arises that is not mentioned in the rules, the coaching staff, at its discretion, will have the right to determine whether the situation will be tolerated and what the consequences are for the situation. Promoting a Positive Image: Because the actions and conduct of cheerleaders directly reflects upon the image of you as an individual and the school, cheerleaders must realize that they are representative of school pride and leadership. Each cheerleader must accept the responsibility for positive participation in school and community activities. o Cheerleaders MUST demonstrate good sportsmanship, school spirit, cooperation, dependability, responsibility, leadership, respect, friendliness, enthusiasm, and poise at all times. o Conduct should model a good example for other students. o Cheerleaders must be conscientious at all times of how they conduct themselves with their female and male friends. o Public display of affection, including handholding, kissing, and touching in general is prohibited at all cheerleading activities. o Undesirable language or conduct is not permitted in or out of uniform. o Disrespectful language, conduct, and cheerleading pictures are not permitted on any individual social media pages (ex. Facebook or Twitter) o Uncooperative behavior and disrespect for the coach or team members will not be tolerated. Sportsmanship: Cheerleaders should exemplify respect and courtesy for all individuals involved in athletic competition: Home team, visitors, coaches, game officials, and spectators. o When the National Anthem is playing, the cheerleaders must be at attention in their correct positions, facing the flag. NO TALKING! Socializing/Cell Phones: Conversations during the game should be kept at a MINIMUM. If a cheerleader excessively talks they will be subject to disciplinary measures as determined by the coach. o Cheerleaders should return to sideline positions with 2 minutes remaining in the half. o No cell phones at practice or during games. Cheerleaders will be permitted to use their cellphones ONLY during halftime at games, but phones must be put away prior to the 2 minute report time. - 5 -
Crowd Leading: All chanting and cheering should be appropriate to the game situation. All cheerleaders should observe the plays of the game. o Unfavorable spectator reaction at any time should be stopped through the use of positive chanting. o During games, always remember that you are there to boost the spirit of the team and the fans and to support them. o You need to pay attention to the game and keep a continuous flow of cheers/chants going. o Your purpose as a cheerleader is to get the crowd into the game by leading cheers. Transportation: If you are traveling home from an away game with a parent, you are expected to have a signed note from the athletic director. o Transportation to and from the school for practices, home games, etc. is the responsibility of each cheerleader and their family. Parent Expectations Attend cheerleading parent meetings. Sign and return all paperwork on time. We encourage all parents to cheer along with squads and encourage and support all athletes at sporting events. If negative attitudes persist and disrupt the actions and conduct of the team and coaches, parents will be asked to leave. If a parent at any time would like to meet with a coach in regards to cheerleading skills, performance, policies and procedures, or squad conflicts please contact the coach to request a meeting. It is important to not approach the coach at practices or events since our attention needs to be on our athletes at all times. Please make the coach aware of the purpose of the conversation. The coach has the option to invite other coaches and athletic director to the meeting to ensure a positive outcome. Confidentiality between coach, parent and athlete is upheld and respected at all times. Dismissal/Removal from the Squad The coaches hold the right to sit a cheerleader for disciplinary reasons. A reoccurring negative/uncooperative attitude will result in the suspension or dismissal from the squad. The coach holds the right to dismiss a cheerleader from the team if there is excessive tardiness and/or absences from practices and/or games. Any cheerleader that is dismissed from the squad is ineligible to receive a Varsity letter or participation award for the school year. Any cheerleader that is dismissed from the squad will not be permitted to attend tryouts for the following season. - 6 -
After you have read and understood the policies and expectations, please sign the form below and return it to the coach on the first day of mandatory clinics. Signing the form shows you understand the policies and expectations of the cheerleading program. We, and, (name of cheerleader) (name of parent) have read and agree to follow the Olentangy Orange High School Cheerleading Policies and Expectations for the school year. Signature of Cheerleader Date Signature of Parent/Guardian Date - 7 -