Merrillville High Schl Cheerleading Rules 2012-2013 As a Merrillville High Schl cheerleader, yu have accepted many respnsibilities. Yu have agreed t represent yur schl by displaying gd sprtsmanship and by setting a psitive example fr ur fans and fans frm utlying cmmunities. Yu have taken n the respnsibility t care fr yurself in such a way that will allw yu t cntinue t be a psitive and valuable part f ur team. As an athlete, yu must make every effrt t attend practices, games, and events. The fllwing rules will be set in mtin t insure ur success as a team. These rules are in additin t thse in the MHS Pirate Planner. Attendance True athletes d nt miss games r events. Yu are expected t attend every event, practice, r game. Mst absences are unexcused. If fr sme reasn yu will be absent frm a practice, game r event, yur parent/guardian must telephne yur cach and explain yur absence r tardy. It is nt acceptable t have anyne but the parent/guardian relay the message and remember that in mst cases these absences are UNEXCUSED. When yu are absent frm schl, yu are nt allwed t attend the practice r game n that day. If the absence frm schl is excused, it will nt be held against yu. Hwever, d nt make a habit f being absent. Make every effrt t get t schl s that yu can attend the fllwing practice r game. In additin, in the event that new material is created while yu are absent, yu will nt be included in new rutines fr that week. When time permits, yu will be added t the rutines. It is yur respnsibility t find what yu missed at the practice and learn any new material n yur wn time. If yu knw in advance that yu will have t miss a practice, game, r event and believe that it shuld be excused, (Example: death f a family member) it is yur respnsibility t submit a written letter signed by yur parent/guardian t the athletic directr fr her apprval. It is the cach s/athletic directr s discretin whether that absence will be excused. Unexcused absences may result in a ne game suspensin. Fr example, if yu chse t attend a cncert r dance instead f yur game then yu will be suspended fr the fllwing game. D nt let yur team dwn. Once a cheerleader has missed 3 practices r ne game she/he will be required t meet with the Athletic Directr t discuss being remved frm the team. Yu are expected t be n time fr all practices, games, and events. Being n time means that yu are dressed apprpriately, hair is up, jewelry is ff, phne is ff, water bttle is full and yu are stretched. If yu knw ahead f time that yu will be tardy, please infrm yur cach prir t the practice, game r event. (Example: make-up exam) Summer Practices are nt ptinal. We spend ur summer practices wrking n material that will be used during the ftball and basketball seasns. Cheerleaders are expected t attend all practices and t be n time. There are tw weeks f Mratrium fr athletes t take vacatin. Please refer t these dates when planning yur summer vacatins. Once a cheerleader has missed 3 practices she/he will be required t meet with the Athletic Directr t discuss being remved frm the team. In the event that a cheerleader must miss practice, a letter f explanatin must be written t the athletic directr. The athletic directr will deem the absence excused r nt excused.
Pick Up Time Cheerleaders need t be picked up n time at the end f practices, games, r events. Cheerleaders wh are picked up later than 20 minutes after the designated time will sign an infractin sheet stating that they were picked up late. Parents need t be prepared t pick up their teen r make arrangements in advance fr carpl. Chrnic prblems will be reprted t the Athletic Department and will result in being benched r dismissal frm the team. After 3 infractins, the cheerleader will meet with the athletic directr. Dress Cde fr Practice The MHS Athletic Department has put in place a specific dress cde fr all athletes during practices and wrk uts in the fitness areas. Failure t adhere t the dress cde will be dcumented and can be cause fr remval frm the cheer team. By mid-summer there will be a clthing schedule fr practice. Yu will be expected t wear the assigned clthing n the assigned day. Cheerleaders wh d nt wear the prper clthing t practice will sign an infractin sheet. Depending n the infractin, a cheerleader may nt be allwed t participate in practice due t safety cncerns. Fr example, imprper shes, versized shirt Girls must nt shw their midriff r bra straps f any kind. Girls may nt wear thin spaghetti strap tank tps but may wear fitted sprt tanks that have straps that are at least 1 inch wide prvided their bras straps d nt shw. Shes must be wrn and shrts shuld be rlled nly nce and nt shw yur rear. All cheerleaders will have their hair tied back in a sft hair device and bangs must be ff f the face. Guys must have a shirt n at all times and shrts must be wrn s that undergarments will nt be seen. Appearance When in unifrm, a cheerleader must have a neat and clean appearance. Yur unifrm must be clean! All cheerleaders are expected t wear the prper unifrm r assigned attire t schl n the day f a game. This will include ribbn and shes. Please d nt wear jeans under yur skirt r flats with yur unifrm. Only white, black, r nude undergarments are t be wrn under yur unifrm. D nt wear clred r printed bras. Bra straps shuld never be seen hanging ut f yur unifrm. Yu will need t invest in a bra that has racer back straps. The team sck is a slid white quarter length sck. It cvers the ankle with a ne inch band. The package shuld say quarter length. Anytime girls are in a MHS cheerleading unifrm, they will wear their hair in ne high pnytail with bangs ff f the face. Bys will nt have facial hair; hair passed the tps f their ears, r hair tuching their cllars. A slid purple, white, r ther team bw will be wrn when in unifrm. Each team will decide prir t game day the clr f ribbn t be wrn with the unifrm. NO earrings f any size are allwed while in unifrm! Jewelry f any kind will nt be wrn during games r practices including navel rings. (Medical medals must be taped t the bdy.) Watches may be wrn t schl. Tats that shw utside f a unifrm will need t be cvered with a band-aid r large gauze pad and medical tape. In accrdance with the Natinal Federatin fr High Schl Sprts (NFHS), girls and guys will have their nails trimmed s that they can nt be seen frm their palm. Yu will nt be permitted t cheer if yur nails extend beynd yur fingertips. This includes gel nails, artificial nails, and press n. Dances are nt an exceptin. Plan t have yur nails dne after game day and plan t remve them befre the next practice. This is a safety issue and again is a Federatin Rule. When in unifrm (this means at schl), cheerleaders are nt permitted t wear nail plish.
N ne is permitted t wear their unifrm utside f games and events scheduled by the MHS cheer caches. This means after a game yu need t change clthes befre ging ut t eat r t meet with friends. Senirs will be permitted t wear their unifrm fr senir pictures. Please keep in mind that letter jackets and cheerleading jackets signal yu ut as a representative f ur schl and cheer prgram. Behave prperly when wearing clthing that represents Merrillville. This rule includes website such as My Space r Face Bk. Inapprpriate items n Face Bk can and will be held against yu. Cheerleading Unifrms All cheerleading unifrms are the prperty f the high schl. Yu may wear them when given permissin by the MHS caching staff. While these unifrms are in yur pssessin, they are YOUR respnsibility. Yu must keep them clean. Use Oxy Clean when laundering unifrms; d nt use bleach. Repairs are yur respnsibility. (i.e. zippers, buttns, hles in seams) Yu may nt alter the unifrms in any way ther than mving the buttns. If yu lse r cause permanent damage t any f the pieces, yu will be expected t pay fr a replacement. Unifrms will be turned in prmptly at the end f the seasn. It is yur respnsibility t launder yur unifrms befre turning them in. Debt slips will be filed fr the cst f the unifrms nt turned in r fr damage t ne f the pieces. Keep in mind that ne unifrm csts apprximately $170.00. Injuries If yu becme injured at a practice, game r ther cheerleading event, it is yur respnsibility t infrm the cach/caches in charge. It is imprtant fr yu t be hnest with yurself, yur team mates, and cach abut the injury. Cntinuing t perfrm while injured will likely make the injury and recvery time wrse. Yu will need a dctr s release t resume cheering after incurring an injury in which yu went t the dctr r emergency rm. The Athletic Trainer will make decisins regarding injuries f a less serius nature. Fundraising MHS Cheerleaders are expected t participate in fundraising thrughut the year. Mney shuld be turned in n time and items delivered in a timely manner. Fundraising may include brchure sales, MHS Cheer Camps, Patrn Ads, candy, T-shirts etc. Discipline Plicy Upn being selected fr the MHS cheerleading prgram, a cheerleader will be placed n a team under a prbatinary status and will sign a cntract t cmply with the MHS Cheerleading Rules. At the beginning f August, a cheerleader will be placed n a team based n attendance, talent, respnsibility and character. Her/his placement n the team will be flexible and will depend n the previusly stated criteria. Fr example, a cheerleader may mve frm JV t Varsity r Purple Varsity t White Varsity. Infractins f the MHS Cheerleading Rules and the MHS Athletic Rules will be dcumented by the cheerleading cach and signed by the cheerleader. A cpy f the infractin will be kept n file. A cheerleader will be required t meet with the athletic directr t discuss dismissal frm the team if ne r mre f the fllwing ccur Unexcused absence frm a game 3 dcumented infractins Blatant disrespect twards cach Blatant disregard fr safety rules
Cyberspace MHS Cheerleaders are expected t cnduct themselves in a psitive manner in regards t texting, Facebk, MySpace, YuTube, email and ther frms f media. Yur actins and chices can and will be held against yu. Academics Yu are a student befre yu are an athlete. IHSAA rules require athletes t pass fur ut f five slid subject classes. Please make sure yur schedule has five slid subject areas. Once a grading perid is cmplete an athlete culd be deemed academically ineligible. Trimester grades rule ver 6 week grades. An athlete remains ineligible fr the entire 6 weeks t fllw. Once a cheerleader has been ineligible tw times in ne year she/he is remved frm the team. Yur grades are yur respnsibility. Take care f yur grades daily and d nt wait until they are lw t try t raise them! Refer t the MHS Pirate Planner fr additinal infrmatin. Awards Cheerleaders wh are in gd standing at the end f the seasn will earn their apprpriate award. Gd standing means that a cheerleader is academically eligible, has attended all games and events, and has displayed respect and strng character thrughut the given seasn. Awards are as fllws: Junir Varsity Numerals r Certificate Varsity Pirate Head and Letter r emblem Schlar Athlete Award Yu must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA r higher t earn this award. Freshmen are nt eligible until after first trimester. Varsity Award: T earn this award a senir must have earned fur Varsity Cheerleading letters. Other awards vted n by peers and caches at the cnclusin f basketball seasn include and given at the Winter Banquet: P.E.P. (Pride-Enthusiasm-Patience) Mst Valuable Mst Imprved Leadership Sprtsmanship Cmpetitin Team MHS cheer caches will determine if the prgram will have the privilege f entering cmpetitins. The MHS cheer caches will determine wh will be part f the cmpetitin team. Excellent cheerleading skills such as tumbling, jumps, dancing, and mtins will play an imprtant rle in chsing the team. The caches will als take a clse lk at strng character traits, dedicatin, attitude, respnsibility, and attendance, as well as, fundraising effrts. Members f the cmpetitin team will be expected t attend additinal r extended practices. Members f the cmpetitin team will be expected t d extra fundraising t pay fr cmpetitin csts including fd and travel expenses. Cmpetitins are expensive and may require the individuals t pay their wn entry fees and expenses if funds are nt available.
Merrillville High Schl Student and Parent Cheerleader Cntracts Cheerleader Cntract: I have carefully read the rules and regulatins fr being a member f the Merrillville Cheerleading Team. I understand the imprtance f cmplying with the rules t maintain my status n the team thrughut the 2012-13 sprts seasns. If fr sme reasn I am nt in cmpliance with the cheerleader rules, I understand that sme frm f punishment will be the result f my lack f respnsibility. I als understand that nt fllwing the rules thrughut the seasn may jepardize my ability t earn the awards assciated with cheerleading. I knw that ultimately I culd be remved frm the squad if my actins warrant such a firm punishment. I understand that the athletic directr will be invlved in the decisin f remval frm the team if my actins ever exceed what is expected f a Merrillville Cheerleader. I realize that fllwing the cheerleading rules is my chice and I chse t be held respnsible fr my actins as I represent Merrillville High Schl. I nt nly understand the rules but I pledge t accept any cnsequences that ccur if I fail t fllw them as they are written. (Cheerleader Signature) (Date) Parent/Guardian Cntract: My daughter/sn and I have carefully read the rules and regulatins fr being a member f the Merrillville Cheerleading Team. I understand the imprtance f my child cmplying with the written rules and I sign this cntract knwing that his/her status n the team r an end f the year award culd be jepardized by his/her actins during the seasn. I understand that the cach will cntact me if there is a serius infractin that culd cause my child t be remved frm the team. I understand that the athletic directr will be invlved in the ultimate decisin t remve him/her. My child has chsen t be a member f the, 2012-13 Cheerleading Team, fully knwing the respnsibilities that are expected f him/her. I understand the rules and I sign this cntract knwing that it is my respnsibility t help my child cmply with the written expectatins. (Parent/Guardian Signature) (Date)