Dutchtown High School Cheerleading Contract 2015 Please READ this entire document CAREFULLY. This document outlines the requirements, rules, regulations and general information governing the DHS Cheerleading Program. Eligibility Guidelines: 1. Academic Requirements A. Student must have passed 6 out of 7 subjects on the January and June semester report card in order to participate. B. Failure to pass 6 out of 7 subjects on semester report card results in immediate squad dismissal. C. The coach will evaluate each student s grades at the mid- week progress report. Low grades (Ds or Fs) may result in benching/suspension until grades improve. 2. Insurance Coverage Each student must have either school or a private policy that will cover the student if injured while participating or traveling involving the sport. 3. Parent Consent The parent /guardian must sign the Application Form and Athletic Information Consent Form before student is eligible to tryout and participate. 4. Physical Requirements A. A physical exam is required prior to the beginning of tryouts and must remain current throughout the duration of the season. B. All students are expected to maintain an optimal level of physical fitness throughout the season. Physical conditioning will be integrated into all practices. C. All students are expected to progress in tumbling skills throughout the season. A skill performed at tryouts should be able to be performed at any time during the season. Working hard to get a tumbling skill for the week of tryouts and not being able to perform it thereafter will not be tolerated. Regression of any type of skill may result in losing a squad position to a replacement cheerleader. 5. Behavior A. In-School Suspension Policy from the time the student makes the squad until season is over: 1 st ISS assignment = punishment at coaches discretion. 2 nd ISS assignment = benched for the next event (game or competition). 3 rd ISS assignment = immediate dismissal from squad. B. Out-of-School Suspension Policy and/or Alternative School Policy from the time the student makes the squad until season is over = immediate dismissal from squad. C. The following conduct is strictly prohibited on school grounds, at a school function, or in uniform and will result in immediate dismissal from the squad: smoking, use/possession of alcohol or other drugs, and fighting. D. Refer to Discipline Procedures Section for specific procedures regarding other behavior infractions. 6. Financial Responsibility A. It is the financial responsibility of the parent/guardian to pay all money owed by the designated due dates during the season. Failure to pay for cheer costs will result in the student not receiving items/services. As a result, the student will not be able to participate until money is paid. B. Failure to pay all cheerleading costs will result in the County Athletic Director handling the situation and possibly taking legal action. C. Cheer costs can be paid in the form of cash, cashier s check, or money order only. D. Once a student has made the squad and all merchandise has been ordered for the season, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to pay any outstanding money owed whether the student stays on the squad, is injured, benched, suspended, dismissed, or quits.
Practice Guidelines: 1. Attendance A. All practices are mandatory. Choreography camp is mandatory. Summer practices are mandatory unless a scheduled vacation prevents the student from attending. Parent notification (phone call or e-mail) of the scheduled vacation must be given to coach at least 2 weeks prior to the vacation in order to be excused from a summer practice(s). B. A practice/game/competition schedule will be e-mailed to parents/guardians on a monthly basis. Practices can be any weekday. C. Excused absences are for the following circumstances only: student illness (required notification from parent prior to absence), family emergency (required notification from parent prior to absence), and unavoidable medical appointment (required notification from parent at least 2 weeks prior to absence). Parent notification to coach should be done through e-mail or phone call. Refer to the Discipline Procedures Section for specific procedures regarding unexcused absences. D. In order to attend practice, the student must be counted present for that school day. E. No outside activities should interfere with a student s attendance at practice, games, or competitions. Organize all personal, social, family events so they do not interfere with cheerleading. Remember, you CHOOSE to tryout and therefore are expected to be in attendance. F. All-star cheerleading: the participation on all-star cheerleading squads during the cheerleading season is not advised. However, a student who decides to participate on an all-star cheerleading squad is expected to note priority of commitment to their DHS squad. Students participating on all-star cheerleading squads are allowed to miss up to 30 minutes of practice per a week for all-star practice (not for tumbling classes). This is completely at the discretion of the coach and may not be possible on weeks prior to competitions. If your all-star coach is not okay with this policy, then you should not cheer for an all-star squad. Students participating on an all-star squad must submit a practice/competition schedule ASAP to the coach. Failure to abide by this policy will result in benching, suspension, or dismissal. 2. Tardiness to Practice A. Tardiness to practice is unacceptable. An excused tardy can only be issued when it falls into one of the categories listed above for excused absences. Refer to the Discipline Procedures Section for specific procedures regarding unexcused tardiness. B. Practice times are as follows. Showing up for practice past this time will result in a tardy. After school practice is from 3:30 5:30 and late practice is from 6:00 8:00 pm. The majority of practices will be after school practices. Late practices only occur when wrestling season begins and practice space must be shared. Summer practices will most likely be in the mornings, from 9:00 am until noon. 3. Appropriate Practice Attire and Appearance. A. A Practice Clothes Schedule will be given out and must be followed. Each student must wear the designated practice clothing at each practice (this includes shoes). Each student will be given an athletic locker to keep these items properly secured in during the school day. Practice clothes, shoes, uniform, and warm-ups should only be worn by the student. At no time should these items be loaned to others for use or wear. B. Hair must be properly pulled up in a secure pony-tail before practice begins. C. No jewelry (including body piercings). D. No artificial or long nails. E. Failure to abide by any of the above guidelines is considered a uniform violation and will result disciplinary action. 4. Eating during Practice A. During each practice, a 5-10 minute break will be designated to consume a healthy snack if needed. Eating at any other time will not be tolerated during practice. B. All cups, cans, trash, etc. should be removed from the practice area. Clean up after yourself. 5. Miscellaneous Practice Information A. No cell phones or other electronic devices should be used during practice. B. Gum chewing during practice is not allowed. C. All students are expected to help in rolling out and rolling up mats during each practice. D. No visitors, family, or friends will be allowed to attend practices. E. No stunting or tumbling may be practiced if coach is not present.
Game Guidelines 1. Attendance A. All games are mandatory. Excused absences from games are for the following circumstances only: student illness (required notification from parent prior to absence), family emergency (required notification from parent prior to absence). Parent notification to coach should be done through e-mail or phone call. Refer to the Discipline Procedures Section for specific procedures regarding unexcused absences. B. In order to attend a game, the student must be counted present for that school day. 2. Appropriate Game Attire and Appearance A. Each student should have the complete uniform (body liner, shell, skirt, warm-up, bloomers, no-show white socks, hair ribbon, and shoes) for each game. The coach will determine what articles will be worn on the day of the game (weather pending). Failure to have correct uniform pieces for the game will result in benching. B. Each student should bring cheer bag to game with any necessary personal items inside (no purses allowed). All personal items will remain in athletic locker during games and can be retrieved after the game is over. C. No jewelry (including body piercings). D. No nail polish, artificial or long nails. E. Hair should be properly pulled back in a secure ponytail with correct hair ribbon. F. Failure to abide by any of the above guidelines is considered a uniform violation and will result in disciplinary action. 3. Miscellaneous Game Information A. No cheer, chant, or routine that has not been perfected and approved by the coach shall be performed at a game. Cheers, etc. should not be practiced or taught during game time. Failure to know material will result in benching. B. No food, gum, candy, or drinks will be allowed in the cheer area. Only water and sports drinks will be allowed and they will be kept in a team cooler during the game. C. Cheerleaders will be required to stay in designated areas/formations during games. D. No conversations with friends or family while cheering is allowed. Lack of focus or participation will result in benching. E. Cheerleaders should stand at attention during the National Anthem facing the flag or music source. No fidgeting, playing, or talking while the anthem is being played. F. Students will have designated spirit clothing to wear on game days. G. No cell phones or electronic devices should be used while at the game field. H. At the conclusion of each game, all students will walk back to the school together, carrying the run-through sign, megaphones, cooler, etc.
Competition Guidelines 1. Attendance A. All competitions are mandatory. 2. Transportation A. All students will ride together on a school bus to each competition. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation from each competition. B. Only competition cheerleaders are allowed to ride the bus (no friends, siblings, parents, etc.) 3. Appropriate Competition Attire and Appearance A. Upon meeting to get on the bus, each student should have on the following: body liner, skirt, bloomers, noshow white socks, shoes, hair ribbon. Each student should also have complete warm-up and any personal items in cheer bag (no purses). Complete hair (in secure ponytail with hair ribbon) and make-up should be ready prior to getting on bus. Items C F under Game Guidelines Section 2 also apply. B. At no time should students unzip body liners or skirts for comfort purposes. Professional appearance is important. 4. Miscellaneous Competition Guidelines A. No cell phones or electronic devices should be used on the bus or at anytime while at a competition. B. Outstanding sportsmanship should be displayed at all times. C. Misconduct while traveling to events or while at events will not be tolerated. Discipline procedures will be enforced as necessary. Miscellaneous Guidelines 1. Any behavior that the coach deems intolerable and/or poorly reflects Dutchtown High School in any way will result in disciplinary actions. Examples are as follows: insubordination, disrespect to coaches, inappropriate language, poor attitude, gossiping, inability to get along with squad members, inappropriate physical contact, etc. 2. In the event that a student is injured, benched, suspended, dismissed or quits the squad, he/she must let a replacement cheerleader use uniforms items as needed. 3. If a student quits or is dismissed from the cheerleading squad, he/she may not try out for the squad the following season. 4. All students must be willing to try various positions in stunting and tumbling as each position is equally important and necessary to have a successful squad. Failure to do so will result in losing squad position to a replacement cheerleader. Disciplinary Procedures All disciplinary procedures will be documented by the coach and initialized by the student in violation. Read over the explanations below for each discipline step. Warning: A verbal warning is issued to the student. Physical Conditioning: The student is given extra physical conditioning (jump-n-jacks, push-ups, running, lunges, etc.) Benched: The student is unable to participate in an event (game, pep rally, competition). The student must attend the event in uniform and sit with the coach, having no interaction with others. A replacement cheerleader will be used as needed. Suspended: The student is unable to participate in practice or events. The student must attend all practices, but may not dress out. The length of suspension will be determined by the coach. A replacement cheerleader will be used as needed. Dismissal: The student is dismissed from the squad with no chance of returning. A replacement cheerleader will assume the dismissed cheerleader s position for the remainder of the season.
Unexcused tardy to practice: 1 st = warning, 2 nd = physical conditioning, 3 rd = physical conditioning, 4 th = benched, 5 th = benched, 6 th = suspended, 7 th = dismissal Unexcused absence to practice: 1 st = physical conditioning, 2 nd = physical conditioning, 3 rd = benched, 4 th = suspended, 5 th = dismissal Unexcused absence to game: 1 st = benched, 2 nd = suspended, 3 rd = dismissal Absence to a competition: 1 st = suspended, 2 nd = dismissal Failure to abide by All-star cheer policy: 1 st = physical conditioning, 2 nd benched, 3 rd = suspended, 4 th = dismissal Practice Uniform Violation: 1 st = warning, each time thereafter results in physical conditioning. Performance Uniform Violation: 1 st = immediate benching, same applies thereafter. Unauthorized use of cell phone or other electronic device during practice, while traveling to competitions, or during an event: 1 st = warning, 2 nd = physical conditioning, same applies thereafter. Insubordination, disrespect to coaches, inappropriate language, poor attitude, gossiping, inability to get along with squad members, inappropriate physical contact, unsportsmanlike conduct: 1st = warning, 2 nd = physical conditioning, 3 rd = benched, 4 th = suspended, 5 th = dismissal Gum chewing/eating: 1 st = warning, each time thereafter results in physical conditioning. Please sign and date below verifying that the Parent/Guardian and Student have read, understand, and agree to abide by this contract. Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Signature Date