2013-2014 Ohio State University Dance Team Constitution Revision Date: Spring 2013 Melissa McGhee Head Coach Patrick Carmichael Volunteer Assistant Coach ARTICLE I: PURPOSE The purpose of this spirit organization shall be: to promote and uphold school spirit, to develop a sense of good sportsmanship among the students and alumni, to enhance relationships between schools by performing and cheering at scheduled athletic events, to rank nationally at a college dance competition. ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP 1. The Ohio State Dance Team is a female organization only. The Dance Team shall consist of up to 20 female members. The final say of the Dance Team Members is at the discretion of the coaches. 2. A dancer s responsibility is to perform and cheer for all assigned games, rallies, and community functions. It is each member s job to motivate the crowd and get them involved in Buckeye Spirit. 3. The Ohio State Dance Team will dance at all home football and basketball games and select women s basketball games and other sporting events. 4. Eligibility A dancer must be a full time student on the main Ohio State campus, maintain 12 hours per semester, and maintain a 2.0 GPA (total accumulation). If a dancer drops below a 2.0 (total accumulation) or 12 credit hours, they are removed from performances until the requirements are met again. (This excludes half time and special event performances) 5. Any member may be dismissed from the team for any of the following reasons as determined by the coaching staff: a. Attitude b. Lack of ability c. Attendance or tardiness d. Personality Conflicts e. Inability to follow rules or procedures f. Coaches decisions for the best interest of the team g. Behavior deemed inappropriate by the coaching staff (i.e. insubordination) 1
6. If a dancer completes four years with the program they may be invited to be a part of the team for a 5 th year. Members invited back to the program will be required to tryout for a position on the team. a. Five/six term participants will participate in selected functions and events. b. Five/six term participants whom have held the role as captain in previous years may not be selected for a captain role. c. Five/six term participants will participate in selected games and Nationals pending team needs determined by coaching staff. ARTICLE III: RULES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DUTIES: 1. All practices are mandatory. A dancer cannot take any classes during our set practice schedule times. NOTE: YOU RECEIVE PRIORITY SCHEDULING THEREFORE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE AROUND PRACTICES. 2. You will not be eligible to cheer games or competition if you have a class conflict with practice. Only approved by SASSO. NEW! 3. Coaches have the right to change practice schedule and performance schedule as needed. 4. It is highly suggested for any dancer s who are employed not to schedule responsibilities during the evening to accommodate unforeseen changes in schedule. 5. The coaches must be told within one week of a scheduled event being announced if there are any conflicts. This will need to be done via email. NEW! 6. The coaches will decide if it s considered an excused absence. Any notice after the one week time period of the event being announced will be automatically be unexcused absence. **REMINDER: Violation of this rule can be removal from the team.** 7. Excused absences include but are not limited to: serious injury/illness (accompanied with a trainer s excuse within 48 hours), family emergencies, class requirements, or a prearranged absence. A prearranged absence has to be approved at least 2 weeks before the absence. All other excuses are unexcused. 8. Tardiness/Absence: a. Late means you are not in the facility and ready at the designated start time for the event or practice session. b. If you are late four (4) times in the season, you will be removed from the team. (Two lates are equivalent to 1 unexcused absence) c. 45+ minutes late equals one unexcused absence, but it will be taken into consideration if you show up to practice instead of not being present at all. 2
d. Failure to complete required study table hours for the week as designated by the coach results in ½ unexcused absence. e. Two (2) unexcused absences result in removal from the team. f. If a dancer does not show up to a practice or event without contacting the coaches, the coaches have the right to immediately remove the dancer from the team. g. If a dancer is not present at the practice before a game or event then the dancer will be removed from that performance. 7. If a dancer quits, or is removed from the team due to a constitutional violation, that dancer will be responsible for all the expenses that The Ohio State University covered and are not permitted to tryout again for one full year. Expenses may include camp, transportation, uniform, shoes, additional attire, and event fees. 8. Dancers are expected to come prepared to every event knowing all material designated during practice. If a dancer shows they are not prepared, the coach has the right to ask them to sit out until the material is mastered. 9. Dancers must ride the designated transportation to and from events unless approved by the coaches and arrive fifteen minutes before the bus/van departs. 10. Team members and coaches will vote to select the captain(s) of the team based on responsibility, years of participation, dedication, and relationship with the coach. 11. Captain s Responsibilities: a. Communicating messages from the coach to the team b. Making team decisions while dancing at an athletic event c. Starting and efficiently running practices while coaches are not present d. Managing and assisting in organization of team fundraisers e. Communicating any concerns concerning the overall well being of the team f. Captains are not allowed to make any decisions about practices or events unless approved by the coaches. g. Captains are not allowed to make any team decisions unless approved by the coaches. h. If the captain does not perform her duties, the coaches have the right to take the captain s position away. A new captain will be assigned. 12. Performance Guidelines and Expectations: a. The following rules must be followed at all times! i. No body piercing and jewelry at all scheduled events (excluding team earrings) ii. No colored nail polish 3
iii. Uniforms must be cleaned and pressed iv. Wear designated attire for all events (includes warm up to and from events) v. Hair styles will be determined by the coaches/captains for each performance vi. All body tattoos must be completely covered b. Expected behavior at games and public appearances: i. Stand in formation during National Anthem ii. Polite and proper behavior at all times iii. No public display of affection while in uniform iv. No talking to other teammates or people/fans in the crowd (socially) v. No gum chewing or eating during an event vi. No swearing/fighting vii. Lead the crowd in cheers and stay focused viii. Never look into a TV camera. Keep dancing and cheering ix. No smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, etc. in any dance attire on or off campus, in or off- season. Infractions will result in removal from the team! 13. All dancers must maintain their skills and remain physically fit in appearance as shown at tryouts. If unable to perform skills or maintain good physical appearance, it is to the coach s discretion to remove them from the team. 14. NEW NO phone policy during all practices and spirit program events. Unless there is a personal family emergency that must be communicated with the coaching staff. Coaches will also provide emergency number to contact coaches during events. 15. Any display of negative publicity displayed through any source of social media may result in suspension or termination from the team! ARTICLE V: ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM POLICY/INJURY 1. All dancers must have their physical forms and insurance forms filled out completely with a parent signature and returned to Ohio State by July 1. Forms will be given after tryouts and available on line (www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com) A dancer may not participate on the squad without both a physical form and insurance form on file. 2. If an injury occurs during the season, you MUST report to the training room that evening if there is an athletic trainer available or report the NEXT day and or contact the coach and athletic trainer by 12:00 noon! THIS IS A MANDATORY PROCEDURE. 3. By participating as an Ohio State University Dancer, you may sustain minor, major, permanent, or possibly catastrophic injuries. It is to your discretion what you can perform. 4
4. If a dancer does not attend a session with an athletic trainer, or a physician s appointment it will be considered an unexcused absence. ARTICLE VI: TRYOUTS (Spring ONLY) 1. Dancers will be selected through a tryout process. Tryout scores will be ranked in order based on each individual s dance technique, performance, interview, and their athletic appearance. From these scores, the team will be announced. The coaches make the final decision on the number of members chosen. 2. If coaches want to add more individuals on the team after the tryout process, the original members do no have to tryout again. 3. If a participant gets severely injured during tryouts (basic sprains, pulled muscles, cuts, and bruises do not qualify), the coaches will decide if there will be another tryout scheduled. The coaches have the right to make the participant continue their tryout if the coaches feel the participant is capable of performing. Positions will not be held. ARTICLE VII: UNIFORMS, FEES, EXPENSES, AND FUNDRAISERS 1. Dance Team Uniforms will be funded by the University. 2. Extra costs may include: Nationals expenses/warm up fee 3. The coaches plan team fundraisers. All dancers must participant in all fundraisers. These will be announced in advance. ARTICLE VIII: PRACTICE & NATIONALS SCHEDULE 1. Summer Schedule: a. UDA College Camp is MANDATORY for all participants. Please notify coaches immediately of specific situations that may prevent you from attending camp. NOTE: Family vacations and jobs are not acceptable excuses. b. Report Date: July 22, 2013. c. MANDATORY practices: July 22 nd July 30 th d. MANDATORY UDA Collegiate Camp Milwaukee, WI: July 31 st - August 4 th e. MANDATORY practices: Begin August 14 th f. First Day of Classes: August 21 st 2. Season Schedule: a. Tuesday /Thursday 6:30p- 10:00p b. Select Wednesdays 6:30p- 10:00p c. Select Sundays TIME VARIES d. Monday/Wednesday AM OR Tuesday/Thursday AM (TBD exact days) 3. National s Schedule: 5
a. Practices for nationals will occur everyday over winter break and are mandatory. No exceptions. b. See schedule for exact dates and times. 4. Coaches will notify the captain in advance if there is a schedule change. The captain is responsible for notifying the entire team. ARTICLE IX: NATIONALS 1. The coaches will select the national s team based on attitude, ability, and team needs. 2. Fourteen to sixteen dancers will be selected to compete with the team in each category (Pom, Jazz, or Hip Hop). Each dance is not limited to the same dancers. 3. Dancers must be present for Nationals Choreography in order to be eligible to perform the routine at UDA College Nationals. NEW! 4. Alternates are required to attend every practice and remain engaged and focused on the team goals. They should strive to learn multiple parts of the routine and be prepared to step in when needed. ARTICLE X: OVERALL POLICY 1. All policies stated in the constitution are up to review under the direction of the coaches and advisory board discretion. I have read the constitution and fully understand the rules and my obligations to the team. I have no questions or concerns over any of the written material. If any of these rules are broken, I will take the penalty given, and I will understand if removal from the team occurs. I will pay all fees charged if I quit or get removed from the team. Signature of Team Member Date 6