Rancho Mirage High School Cheer Tryout Information Packet and Application 2018-2019 Here is what must be turned in on or before Friday, April 13 th, 2018 at 3:30pm to Coach Myers box at Rancho Mirage High School: 1. Tryout Application and Acknowledgements Form 2. Waiver 3. Financial Commitment Contract 4. Personality Card 5. Teacher Recommendations (will be turned in by the teacher) If you have any questions please feel free to contact Coach Myers at mmyers@psusd.us.
Important Dates Returner Meeting Monday, April 23 rd from 3:15-4:00 Large Dance Room Welcome Potluck and Team Meeting Come join us for dinner and meet the other families in the program! This is mandatory for ALL cheerleaders that make the team and at least one parent/guardian. We will distribute the first fundraisers and review summer practice schedule and camp, uniforms and attire, and upcoming deposits for camp/uniform, as well as uniform fittings. Monday, April 23 rd at 6:00 pm *Rancho Mirage High School Cafeteria Pot luck assignments TBD Camp Deposit of $100 due. Cash or Check made payable to RMHS ASB. Varsity Uniform Fitting Tuesday, April 24 th Beginning at 3:30pm in the Girls Locker Room Campwear Deposit of $227 due. Credit card or money order payable to Varsity Spirit Fashions. If you pay by credit card and it is declined, it will hold the entire order up. Money orders preferred. Completed Physicals Completed Physical must be on record in the athletic office before the first practice for your team. Physicals will be offered at RMHS day and time are TBA. Information will be provided as received. Cheer Camp UCA Cheer Camp at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage Monday, July 23 rd Thursday, July 26 th Summer Practices We will be practicing the week before camp: *Monday, July 16 th Thursday, July 19 th from 8am-12pm * Pending facility approval
Expectations Purpose The purpose of the RMHS Cheer to: Create school spirit, pride, good sportsmanship, and loyalty within school and the community. Serve as a positive representative of RMHS both on campus and off, as well as be a good role model in regards to behavior and academics. Promote interest in school activities and perform at school assemblies, games, and functions. Develop responsibility, teach self-respect, encourage honest effort and a drive for personal excellence, and develop character. Teach teamwork and pride in a quality performance through maintaining high standards. Code of Conduct Rancho Mirage Cheerleaders are ambassadors of not only the program, but also the school. They are expected to display positive sportsmanship and take pride in their position as a Rancho Mirage cheerleader. Members of Rancho Mirage Cheer will behave in a way that exemplifies respect, ethical behavior, and attitude, and remain in good standing at Rancho Mirage High School when in uniform. The organization s goal is to work in harmony with the administration, faculty, ASB, athletic teams, and all other organizations. Our primary goal is to support interscholastic athletics and promote school pride, spirit, and unity. Academic Standing This program is an extracurricular activity. Your purpose at Rancho Mirage High School is to learn first, cheer second. All Rancho Mirage cheerleaders must maintain a 2.0 GPA. If a members GPA is less than a 2.0 (quarters or semesters), they will be benched from games and practices until their grades have improved on the next reporting period (quarter or semester). If a student is placed on academic probation for two consecutive reporting periods, the participant will be removed from the squad and ineligible to try out the following year. Students on academic probation may not wear any part of their uniform (including warm-ups, jackets, and t-shirts). Students must have a 2.0 GPA on their 3 rd quarter grade report in order to make a team. Public Image Cheerleaders are campus leaders and are constantly in the spotlight. They need to be aware that their actions and behaviors are under scrutiny from administration, teachers, students, parents, and the community. With this in mind, members of Rancho Mirage Cheer are held accountable for their actions in class, on campus, in the community, and online. Their actions and image need to uphold the tenants of the PSUSD and RMHS Code of Conduct at all times, but particularly when in uniform. Team members must wear their required school lanyard, cannot chew gum per school-wide expectations, and must follow PSUSD and RMHS Dress Code at all times. When in class, you are expected to treat your teachers and other classmates with respect. If there is an athlete in your class, whether it be a baseball player or a golfer, wish them good luck on their game days. Please be aware that what goes online becomes public property. Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, etc. are checked by the school and by other students. Please make sure what you post represents the program and more importantly, you respectfully.
Discipline It shall be squad policy that disciplinary action will only be invoked as a last resort, and that every reasonable attempt will be made to avoid situations likely to lead to such action through squad discussion and positive encouragement, leading by example, and by finding ways and means to correct negative trends. Merits Merits are a way to earn credits (merits) and reduce any accumulated demerit by members who go above and beyond. Merits are given at the discretion of the coaches and can be based on any of the following: Attending an additional event or game in uniform when not required Attending other community service events Good reports from another teacher on campus Actively helping at another team s practice or game Working extra hard at practice or game Merits are not limited to what is listed. The coaches may give a merits for any reason that they see fit. Demerits Demerits will be used as a disciplinary tool that will only be invoked as a last resort. Every reasonable attempt will be made to avoid situations likely to lead to such action through team discussion, positive encouragement, leading by example, and by finding ways and means to correct negative trends. Only coaches will give demerits. Demerits will be given for: Tardiness (without notice) at any squad activity. This includes practices, performances, games, or functions. Chewing gum at practice after repeated warnings. Disrespect toward Coaches, other squad members, or student body and staff. This includes poor attitudes, talking back, or eye rolling. Inappropriate practice, work out wear, or uniform. This would include any piece of the uniform, shorts/t-shirts, or footwear. This would also include inappropriate hair for performances and school activities. Forgotten accessories, and/or uniforms. Inappropriate performance makeup. Use of inappropriate language in practice, uniform, or while at any performance, activity, or school function. Gossiping at practice, in uniform, or while at any performance, activity, or school function. Unsportsmanlike behavior within teammates or other teams that poorly represent the Cheer Team including things that could be classified as bullying either verbally, physically, or through social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) Inappropriate acts of PDA on campus and especially in uniform. IMMEDIATE REMOVAL for: Smoking, drinking, or doing drugs. Suspension from school, including other disciplinary action. Demerits are not limited to what is listed. The coaches may give a demerit for any reason that they see fit. Merit records will be kept on all members. Merits will determine placement at games and in routines. Merit scores may transfer over to the following years tryout score. Anyone on varsity with negative merits will not receive their varsity letter, graduation stole, or any other team honors.
Commitment year- Being chosen as a member of Rancho Mirage cheer involves a comprehensive, Practices: 2-3 days/week round commitment. Members must attend all scheduled games, practices, CIF Games: 1-2 days/week events, fundraisers, and any other event deemed necessary by the coaching staff. Rallies: 4-5 per year to the time commitment, Rancho Mirage Spirit Teams members may not Fundraising: Year round participate in fall or winter sports. Participants who are unable to meet the demands and voluntarily quit the program will not be eligible to try out the following year. Due Required Events All members must be at all practices, games, and other events as noted on the calendar. All Rancho Mirage Cheerleaders will be required to attend any CIF playoff games for any sport at Rancho Mirage High School. Community service events will occur throughout the year. This may include the Patriot Ride For Our Heroes (Oct) and Tour de Palm Springs (Feb/Mar). Games Varsity Cheerleaders will attend all Varsity Football games home and away and all home basketball games both boys and girls. Junior Varsity Cheerleaders will attend all home JV and freshmen football games and all home JV basketball games both boys and girls. Cheerleaders will also be cheering at volleyball games and wrestling meets in their level, as well as all home CIF playoff games. Varsity cheer will be attending away CIF football and basketball games. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED AT GAMES. Cheerleaders will be allowed two absences from games for the year. On the third absence, they may be removed from the team. Summer Commitments All summer commitments must be listed on page two of the tryout application. Summer practices and camp will occur in July. Exact times and dates are posted on the cheer website. This time will be used to build technique, condition, and to work on routines for football season. The squad cannot grow as a whole when people are missing, so please plan any vacations accordingly. Camp is not mandatory, but highly encouraged. Camp is tentatively scheduled for July 23 rd -26 th with UCA at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. You may opt out of going due to financial reasons or previously scheduled vacations. Please note that we reserve the right to arrange stunt groups based on who is going to camp so that the participants that do attend can get the most out of the experience.
Attendance Policy From the RMHS Student Handbook Pg. 7: We encourage all students to tryout regardless of their ability or talent. Students are encouraged to talk to the coaches of the sport, PE teachers, or the Athletic Director at any time during the year, if interested in participating in athletics. Students participating in the sports programs must ride the bus to and from all athletic activities. A student must be present on the day of an event if they wish to participate. It is absolutely vital that every person is at every practice! We can practice more effectively if everyone is always present. Please make sure your son/daughter is getting rest to stay healthy so they can be at all practices. All doctor appointments, other activities that the student is involved in, and/or jobs should be scheduled so they do not interfere with RMHS Cheer Team activities and performances. Emergencies would be the only exception. All students who participate in school activities must adhere to the attendance policies as outlined in the RMHS student/parent handbook. This must be fully documented with the attendance office. If a medical appointment is scheduled during the day it will be excused as long as it is fully documented. All members will attend all practices, games, or events unless pre-approved by advisor a week in advance. We will not be differentiating between excused and unexcused absence. An absence is an absence. If you are home sick from school and do not come to practice, it still counts as an absence. Each member is allowed two absences per sport academic quarter. If absent, you need to call the team captain to ask what you missed. If a member misses ANY practice the two weeks before a performance, he/she may have to forfeit the upcoming performance or activity. On the second absence, the coaching staff will contact the parent to inform them their child has missed two practices. On the third absence, they may be removed from the team. Exceptions include: Prolonged illness or injury (doctor s note required) Vacations (need to be cleared at least two weeks in advance) Religious observances and holy days Death in family Legal business Unacceptable absences include: Holding a job and other extracurricular activities is not a valid excuse. Plan your work schedule around practices and games. Homework. If you can t balance school and cheer, then you need to reconsider whether you can be a cheerleader. Being grounded or any other punishment by parent (see page 7 for explanation). Any student who is not in attendance for a minimum of four class periods during the school day may not to participate in any games, activities or practices that same day.
Uniform and Dress Code All uniform orders are final. A parent or guardian should be present at uniform fittings to ensure proper fitting. If a parent decides not to come, fitting judgments will be made by the Varsity Spirit Fashion uniform representative and the coaching staff. There are not exchanges made if the uniform doesn t fit on arrival, so make sure your son/daughter orders the appropriate size. All teams will have assigned practicewear as part of summer practices. Please note on the calendar what should be worn. Participants need to wear a plain shirt or any Rancho Mirage shirt in that color. Please make sure the shirts are appropriate for working out in and have no brand logos. You represent the school, program and yourself every time you put on your uniform. Please behave in a way that is becoming. Additionally, remember that you are still a leadership figure on campus when not in uniform. You daily dress and habits should reflect highly on yourself, as well as this program. WHEN IN UNIFORM Cheerleaders in uniform or wearing any item of squad or team identification must always conduct themselves in a manner becoming to a Rancho Mirage Spirit Team member. Uniform will only be worn for events as designated by the coaches. Only official squad jackets or RMHS spirit sweatshirts may be worn over uniform. If you are wearing jeans or warm up, the jacket/sweatshirt MUST be something representing the spirit program (not UCA, USA, UDA or ASB, football, baseball, etc). Uniforms must be worn with team cheer shoes. CLOTHING Cheer briefs are recommended to be worn under shorts (particularly for flyers and tumblers) No sweatshirts with pockets. No low cut tops. Please do not wear clothing with inappropriate logos or sayings. If you do so you will be asked to change or turn your clothing inside out. Cheer shoes must be worn. No flip flops, skater shoes, platforms, bare feet, or loose laces while in uniform or at practices. Shorts may only be rolled once. ACCESSORIES NO JEWELRY! No exceptions! This includes ear, nose, tongue, toe, eyebrow and belly button rings. Please remove before coming to practice. If you get your ears pierced before the season too bad, so sad. No cell phones. If a parent needs to get a hold of you, they can call the coach. HAIR AND MAKE UP Hair must be pulled away from the face and left alone during practices, games, & events. Fingernails must be kept short. Makeup should be natural and not excessive. No fake fingernails allowed. No decals/tattoos on face or any other part of your body allowed; unless specifically designated as RMHS related on game days.
Spirit and Parents Notes for Parents 1. Cheerleading is a team sports. When one person is missing, practice sessions and games cannot be totally successful Punishing your child by taking away practice, games etc. also punishes the whole team. If you feel taking cheer away from your son/daughter is necessary, please discuss with the spirit advisor or team coach first 2. The same things go for illness. We realize people get sick, but the whole team suffers when one person is out. Please make sure your child is resting if they are starting to feel ill so they can recover quickly. 3. Please refrain from gossiping. This includes other schools, squads, or any other Rancho Mirage Spirit Teams member. 4. Profanity or abusive language will not be tolerated by any Rancho Mirage Spirit Teams staff. 5. Practices may be changed throughout the season, especially during game season and before rallies. These practices will count the same as any other practice and are to be attended. Please be prepared to be flexible. 6. All Rancho Mirage Spirit Teams parents, relatives and accompanying friends will show good sportsmanship during RMHS events at all times. This means no challenging officials calls, bad mouthing opponents, yelling at opponents as the prep for a free throw, etc. 7. Do not call your son/daughter during practice time. If you do, don t expect them to answer. If an emergency arises, call the coach. 8. No one is allowed in the practice area other than cheerleaders and coaches. Parents visiting a practice may sit on the sidelines and observe. Please hold any team business questions for the coach either before or after practice time. 9. If you ever have a problem with anything, please do not hesitate to contact the coaching staff. 10. If a serious issue arises, please allow 24 hours for all parties to cool down so the situation can be handled calmly and effectively. 11. Follow the chain of command. Contact the Spirit Advisor first, then if the issue isn t resolved, contact Assistant Principal Chris Calderwood. 12. The Rancho Mirage Spirit Teams Staff may add or revise any rule at any time.
Financials and Fundraising Financial Obligation Being a member of the cheer includes various financial obligations. The APPROXIMATE cost for uniform and camp is $1,000, plus an additional money if we choose to compete. The uniform company we use allows you to pay the company directly (rather than through the school) and you may pay by credit card. You will receive a statement after fittings. Uniform orders must be paid in full by ALL participants before the order is placed. All parents and guardians are required to sign a contract agreeing to all the financial commitments set forth by the Rancho Mirage High School Cheer. Cost should NOT be a deterrent as every effort will be made to provide all members with assistance through fundraising. Every attempt will be made to keep items from year to year to help minimize cost. When possible uniforms can be resold at 50% their original cost to new, incoming members. Financial concerns and/or issues should be addressed with the coaches, so that arrangements can be made. Members will be expected to participate in fundraising and/or seek donations/sponsorships to help fund their participation. The school may provide a uniform if you opt out of purchasing a custom uniform. However, if you choose to use a school uniform, the uniform must be checked out and returned to a coach prior to and after use. The uniform cannot leave campus. If the uniform is not returned, lost, or damaged, the parents will be responsible for the cost of the uniform. Additionally, if one person opts out of purchasing a custom uniform, no one will be able to get their name embroidered on their uniform or warm ups. Fundraising ALL members are required to participate in ALL fund raising, which is generated by the team. Please do your part so this program can grow. Your participation will help keep money in your checking account. Any funds raised by a member will go directly into the cheer account and is nonrefundable in the event that a member quits the team or is dismissed. If a team member quits or gets kicked off due to accumulation of demerits or breaking any part of the constitution, any owed money is still the responsibility of the cheerleader and parent(s)/guardian(s). Any balance owed will be placed on their student record with the school and will remain until the balance is paid as a requirement of graduation. Payment Schedule DUE DATE AMOUNT Notes Items 1 Tue, April 17 $100 Pay by cash or check made out to RMHS ASB Camp Deposit 2 Tue, April 24 $227 Pay be credit card or money order made out to Varsity Spirit Fashions Campwear 2 Tue, May 15 JV - $352 Price will vary for returners. Pay by credit card. Cash Varsity: $361 payments will need to be turned in earlier. Game Day Uniforms This price is for the commuter camp rate. The overnight rate balance will be $400 but we will only 3 Tue, June 5 $150 do the overnight rate if we meet a massive Camp Balance fundraising goal. Pay by cash or check made out to RMHS ASB. 4 Tue, July 17 $180 Pay by credit card. Cash payments will need to be turned in earlier. Warm ups 5 Tue, August 14 Approx. $50 Pay by credit card. Cash payments will need to be turned in earlier. Breast cancer pack, misc Balance statements will be emailed out the week before each payment is due (except the first payment) to show any change in amount due based on fundraising efforts, changes in price, or to reflect returners not needed certain items. Tryout Expectations & Procedures The Tryout Process
Clinics and Tryout will be conducted by the Rancho Mirage High School coaching staff. Private coaching by these individuals is not allowed and will get you disqualified from tryouts. Each day of clinics is mandatory. Please plan for appointments accordingly. Each participant is assigned a number the day before tryouts and will perform for the judges in groups of 3-4. The judges will be evaluating the number, not the name. The judging panel will include two or three cheerleading professionals. Clinics and Tryouts Schedule Tryout Attire For the clinics, please follow dress code guidelines. For the tryouts themselves, all cheer participants must wear RMHS colors. Other guidelines: Ladies must wear a sports bra! RMHS PE shorts will work fine for males; however, they hide movement from the female participants. Athletic shoes, preferably white No clothing can be worn that recognizes you as part of any cheer program (including RMHS, USA, UDA, UCA, all-star clothing). Midriffs must be covered. Hair should be pulled back in a ponytail. Scoring Applicants will be scored based on a points system. Candidates will be scored based on a score sheet of 80 points per judge (average judges score). The score sheet is broken down into the following: Sideline cheers (sharpness, rhythm/timing, voice, showmanship) Sideline dance (sharpness, rhythm/timing, memory, showmanship) Jumps & tumbling (technique, form) Overall impression (energy, confidence, and enthusiasm), Appearance (posture, neatness). Monday, April 16 th Warm up, learn tryout chant and dance Thursday, April 19 th Review, Mock Tryouts Friday, April 20 th Tryouts. Tryouts will be closed to everyone. Students need to arrive at their designated groups time and be picked up when finished. Results of tryouts and the team list will be posted at 8pm on the school website (www.ranchomiragehighschool.org) under Athletics, Sport by Sport, and Cheer. Teacher evaluations will be given to four current teachers. Each evaluation is worth 5 points, for a total of 20 points. The evaluations need to come from the following teachers: One from Math OR Science One from English OR History One from PE teacher*or current coach (returners). If student is not taking PE, they need to get an elective teacher (ASB, yearbook, AVID, choir, etc.) or a coach for another sport. One from teacher of choice Team Composition Teams will be determined based on a natural break in the scores within the grade levels listed below: Varsity Cheer 11 th and 12 th graders JV Cheer 9 th, 10 th and 11 th graders