Dear Cheerleading Candidates & Parents/Guardians, Thank you for your interest in the Potomac Senior High School Cheerleading program. We appreciate your enthusiasm and interest. In Prince William County, cheerleading is recognized as a two-season sport, fall and winter, adhering to all rules and policies set forth by VHSL, PWCS, and the PSHS Athletics Department. The purpose of the cheerleading program is two-fold. First, cheerleaders promote spirit at football games, basketball games, within the community, and at other school events. Second, and equally important, varsity football cheer participates in various local, county, regional, and state cheerleading competitions. To participate in spring tryouts, prospective candidates must turn the following completed forms in at the first day of tryouts: Athletic Participation Form Physical Examination Form current and signed by physician Updated Report Card (minimum GPA 2.0, 9 th graders clean slate) Concussion Training Cheer Tryout Information Sheet Cheerleading is fun and an incredibly rewarding experience, but is a huge time commitment on and off the mat. Please be aware of this as you prepare to take on the challenges and responsibilities of becoming a member of the Potomac Senior High School Cheerleading squad. Athletes are required to attend ALL practices, games, appearances, competitions, and other events throughout the season. If an athlete is tardy or absent 3 times, he/she may be dismissed. Athletes are expected to build skills outside of practice (i.e. attend tumbling lessons, conditioning, etc.). Varsity football cheer will participate in a minimum of two competitions during the fall season. Athletes are required to actively participate in fundraisers. 2018-2019 fundraising activities may include: - Media Guide Distribution - Yankee Candle - Fan Cloth Spirit Wear - Chipotle Night - Panera Night - Chick-Fil-A Night - Applebee s Breakfast - Hosting a Competition Teams are listed on the cheer tryout information sheet. Teams may be merged, pending tryout results. I hope you find this letter about our cheerleading program informative. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about tryouts. Good luck! Warm Wishes, Coach Chloé Thomas, M.Ed. Varsity Head Coach Thomasc1@pwcs.edu
Practices Spring Conditioning Meet in the PSHS Aux Gym Tu. & Th. 2:30 4:30pm Summer Conditioning Calendar Available at Parent Meeting Summer Stunt Camp Calendar Available at Parent Meeting Competitions All County, Patriot High School September 26, 2018 All District, Hylton High School October 10, 2018 Football, Competition, and Basketball schedules will be email to all cheerleaders as the information becomes available. Uniform schedules will be included with the game schedules. During May and June, all teams will practice together unless informed otherwise. Practices may be shortened, changed or cancelled during the season based on space availability, holidays, school dismissals, etc. Varsity Football/Competition: Most practices will run 2 hours. Practices may run 3 hours at times during the season. In additional, Saturday practices may be incorporated into the August and September schedules. During the week, please keep this three hour window (2:30-5:30) free of commitments outside of cheer. Saturdays in August and September may be scheduled for 8:00-11:00am. Practices are mandatory. Financial Obligations Cheerleaders must purchase all of the below items to be considered in full uniform, as the program cannot afford to purchase these items for each athlete. Each of your dollars will be used for the following items your cheerleading will be required to wear during the 2018-2019 cheerleading season: Required Items: Cheer shoes: $60 Warm ups (top & bottom): $50 Bloomers (2): $30 Bows (2): $10 Laundry Bag: $5 Total: $155 Order forms and payment for required items will be due by Friday, May 18 th at 2:30 pm Competition Finances Parents/guardians are being asked to contribute money at the beginning of the season to cover competitionrelated costs. Competition finances will be available by August and should not exceed $75/per athlete. Each of your dollars will be used for the following items during the 2018-2019 competition season: Items: Meals/snacks Goodie bags Competition processionals UCA Home Camp Finances Registration Cost $199 Camp Gear (Camp Shirts) $TBD Total $199+ We are very excited to be working with UCA to possibly host camp at PSHS this summer. Tentatively we are looking at dates between July 7 th and August 15 th. All cheerleaders will be strongly encouraged to participate.
Tryout Clinic Specifics Tryout Clinics May 1 st -3 rd Time 6:00-8:00 pm Tryout Day May 4 th Time 2:30pm-until Appropriate attire should be worn to clinics each day: Navy/black shorts with bloomers or spandex (no denim) White tee shirt Socks and athletic shoes Hair pulled back from face No jewelry (including new piercings and waist beads) Tryouts - Explanation of Criteria The below criteria will be used to evaluate you during the clinics and during tryouts. Your evaluation starts the very first day attitude, appearance, form, timeliness, following instructions, etc. Candidates will lose points for being late, disrespectful and/or not following instructions. Appearance Confident and enthusiastic Neatly dressed; good posture; hair away from face; No jewelry/gum/nail polish Knowledge Confidently exhibits cheers/chants/jumps/motions/dance Knows the sequence and precision of movements Does not look around to others for help Few mistakes; recovers quickly without drawing attention Jumps Knows four required jumps (Toe Touch (2x/3x), Pike, Left Hurdler, Right Hurdler) Smooth prep, execution, and landing Chant/Cheer Sharp, precise movements, timing Loud, audible voice projection Synchronized with other members Dance Routine Synchronized with other members Energetic and full of enthusiasm Has correct rhythm and timing Does not look around to others for help Few mistakes; recovers quickly without drawing attention Tumbling (strongly recommended for all teams) Standing/Round off Back handspring Standing/Round off BHS Tuck Standing/Round off BHS Layout/Full Specialty pass BHS BHS Tuck, etc Jumps to BHS, Tuck, Full *Multiple BHS to Tuck or Full
Sample Tryout Judging Sheet Candidate Name/Number: Attitude 10 Respectful/follows instructions Good work ethic (score given by coaches from tryout clinics) Past cheer experience if given by candidate Tumbling Skills 15 Round off BHS Round off BHS Tuck/Round off Tuck Round off BHS to Layout/Full Standing Backhandspring Standing Tuck Specialty Passes FWO RO BHS BHS, add Tuck, or Layout or Full, Etc. Jumps 15 Knows four required jumps (Toe Touch (2x/3x V), Pike, Side Hurdler, Front Hurdler) Good height, straight back, exact position of legs Smooth prep, execution, and landing - - Toe- Ball Heel Jumps to BHS, BHS Tuck, Tuck, or Standing Full Chant 10 Sharp, precise movements Loud, audible voice projection Synchronized with other members Energetic and full of enthusiasm Correct arms, length hand position Has correct rhythm and timing Group Cheer 15 Sharp, precise movements Loud, audible voice projection Energetic and full of enthusiasm Few mistakes; recovers quickly without drawing attention Group Dance 15 Synchronized with other members Energetic and full of enthusiasm Has correct rhythm and timing Knows the sequence and precision of movements Overall Appearance 20 Confident and enthusiastic Neatly dressed; good posture; hair away from face; no jewelry/gum/colored nail polish Confidently exhibits cheers/chants/jumps/motions/dance Judge s Total 100
Name: 1) Experience Have you cheered before? If yes, please explain: Cheerleader Information Sheet Yes /No 2) Tumbling Check ALL skills you can perform on the floor and without a spot: Back Walkover Whip Front Walkover Two Back Handspring Layout Front Handspring Standing Back Handspring Layout Standing Back Handspring Punch Front Step Out Round-off Back Handspring Jump Tuck Punch Front Arabian Round-off Back Handspring Tuck Round-off Back Handspring Full Standing Back Handspring Tuck Standing 2 Back Handspring Full Standing Tuck Standing Back Handspring Full Round-off Back Handspring Layout Standing Full 3) Stunting Circle all positions with which you are comfortable: NONE FLYER BASE: Main/Side BACKSPOT Check your most advanced stunting skill level mastered: 1 (no experience or ground level stunts, preps) 2 (preps, extensions, straight cradle dismounts and baskets) 3 (extended one-legged stunts, full twisting dismounts, single trick baskets, tick tocks) 4 (extended one-legged stunts, 1 and ½ ups, switch-ups, kick-full/hitch kick-full basket) 4) Team(s) you are trying out for (do not limit yourself to one team, keeping in mind the seasons you are interested in cheering for): Freshman Football Freshman Basketball Junior Varsity Football Junior Varsity Basketball Varsity Football/Competition Varsity Basketball