Clay Middle School 2009-2010 Cheerleading Information Packet for FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL Includes: Philosophy Constitution Coach s expectation Tryout information Preference sheet Personal contact Parental Permission Important Dates
Philosophy The cheerleading program at Clay Middle School will provide its participants with many opportunities involving leadership, spirit, teamwork, enthusiasm and support. Objectives of the program are to promote school support, spirit, and enthusiasm for the athletic teams at Clay MS. They will also be working on their own abilities as cheerleaders with regards to technique and other skills. Cheerleader Constitution The Clay MS Cheer program is part of the Athletic Department. Therefore, ALL cheerleaders are subject to all policies in the Clay MS Athletic Handbook for students and parents. I. Purpose of a cheerleader A. The purpose of a cheerleader is: i. To provide leadership ii. To help promote school spirit, enthusiasm, and good sportsmanship iii. To promote unification of the crowd s involvement during the athletic event iv. To strive to uphold the highest personal, as well as cheerleading standards v. To strive to build better relationships between the schools vi. To contribute to the self-growth of the cheerleader in the following areas: 1. leadership 2. emotional maturity and self-confidence 3. social competence 4. mental, moral and ethical values 5. decision making skills 6. cooperation 7. spirit of competition (being a good loser as well as winner) 8. character 9. self-discipline and self-control II. Selection of Cheerleaders A. A clinic will be held prior to tryouts i. Each girl will learn a cheer, dance and chant ii. Each girl will perform the following jumps 1. toe touch 2. side hurdler (right) 3. a combo jump (2 jumps together) iii. Each girl will be asked to perform the following tumbling skills 1. cartwheel or round off 2. any other tumbling pass that they would like to show B. You will tryout in front of the Clay MS cheer coaches. They will be judged with a scoring sheet that is a numerical range for each category. 1.
III. IV. Athletic Eligibility A. All cheerleaders are athletes and must meet all the eligibility requirements stated in the Clay MS handbook. B. All cheerleaders must be in attendance by 11:30 in order to cheer that night. Attitude and behavior A. A cheerleader is responsible for her actions both on and off the field/court. i. Cheerleaders are expected to follow all rules as outlined in the Clay MS athletic handbook and student handbook. ii. Cheerleaders must maintain good rapport with the Clay MS staff and administration both on and off the school grounds iii. The coaches reserve the right to: 1. Suspend from participation 2. Release from squad 3. Move a cheerleader from one squad to another iv. A cheerleader is a role model for the fans and must remain positive and display good sportsmanship toward the other cheerleaders, teams, coaches and officials at all times. v. A cheerleader is responsible for her actions on the floor at all times. She is to cheer for her own team, never against the opposing team. B. Grades i. Cheerleaders must maintain at least a 2.0 with no more than one failing grade ii. Failure to maintain a passing grade point average will result in suspension from the squad until the required grades are achieved. C. Cheer Seasons i. Fall cheerleading football ii. Winter boys and girls basketball V. Responsibilities of the season A. Athletic games i. Attendance at all home games, practices and camp. ii. Duties of the games: 1. Keep chants flowing at all times 2. Pay attention to the game (not social time) 3. Never cheer against or boo the opposing teams or officials 4. NO food or drink while you are cheering 5. Water only on the sidelines 6. Return to bench 2 minutes prior to the start of the game 7. Be ready to cheer 8. No jewelry, gum, fingernail polish, heavy makeup or glitter is allowed. 9. Must have all parts of uniform on at all times for game--bows, socks, etc 10. Must arrive to and leave from game in your proper cheer attire which is your uniform and cheer warm-ups. 11. Absence from a game for a personal reason, besides illness or approved by coach will result in not receiving recognition for this football/basketball season. 2.
B. Practices i. Practices will be arranged by the coach and shall be held as needed 1. May be held before the start of a game 2. Can be at least 2 times a week ii. iii. Practices start promptly, tardiness is unacceptable Except for an emergency, absence is unexcused without prior approval from the coach. The coach will determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Giving notice to the coach does not make the absence excused. Please schedule appointments at a time that does not conflict with practice. iv. Excessive absences or tardiness to practice may result in removal from the squad. v. The coach reserves the right to schedule extra practices if necessary. vi. Proper shoes and clothing should be worn at every practice 1. appropriate length in shorts 2. no tank or thin strap tank tops 3. stay with the school dress policy 4. tennis shoes and socks C. Uniforms i. All uniforms are to be turned in at the time stated by the coach 1. uniforms must be cleaned as per label before returned 2. uniforms must have the name of the cheerleader on the bag 3. return both poms ii. Each cheerleader is responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items and will be charged according. iii. Uniforms are to be worn in conjunction with school activities only. Uniforms will only be worn at school if the coaches specifies. Warm up pants must be worn under skirts during school hours. iv. D. Physicals You are not to allow other people that are not cheerleaders to wear any part of your uniform or spirit wear. v. Each cheerleader is responsible for the care of her uniform 1. It must be clean for every event 2. No jewelry or colored nail polish is to be worn while cheering 3. Makeup is kept to a minimum 4. hair off face i. Cheerleaders must have a current physical on file. This means that they must have a physical dated after May 1 st. Failure to comply will result in the athlete s inability to tryout and/or practice until the proper forms are on file with Clay MS. ii. Cheerleaders must also have an Emergency Medical-Consent Form on file in the athletic office prior to trying out for the team. iii. After seeing a doctor for an injury, a cheerleader must have a written note from the doctor allowing her to participate. 3.
VI. Attendance Requirements and Discipline A. Practices: i. Must attend all practices scheduled by the cheerleading coach. Practice times will be given to you in advance. You must be dressed and ready at the designated times. D. Games: i. Must be at the game you are designated to cheer at by the coach ii. Must be at school by 11:30 that day or you will not be able to participate E. Demerit system: as soon as practices begin a demerit system will be enforced in order to help the girls maintain their sharpness and remind them of their commitment to cheerleading i. Demerits are assigned for the following reason: 1. Not cheering at an assigned event without consent sit out next game 2. Stunting, mounting or tumbling without a coach present 10 3. If you miss a called practice for any reason besides illness 5 4. Incorrect uniform (practice or game) sit out game 5. Wearing jewelry during practice or game 5 6. Use of inappropriate language at any time 5 7. Failure to return to the bench w/n 2 min of game 3 8. Breaking formation to talk to friends 3 9. Wasting time during practice (talking or goofing off) 3 10. Each 5 minutes late to an event or game 3 11. Failure to be picked up within 15 min or practice/game 5 12. Additional demerits or benching will also be assigned at the coach s discretion for other disciplinary problems within cheerleading or within school ii. A cheerleader will be benched for one game if she accumulates 20 demerits ii. An additional 10 demerits will result in removal from the squad. iii. Benching for disciplinary reasons will consist of attending the games in uniform and sitting with the coach F. A cheerleader may be removed from the cheerleading squad when she fails to meet the expectations or requirements of a cheerleader G. Captains will be chosen in a method determined by the cheer coach H. All cheerleaders are required to travel to and from contest and events in school-approved vehicles under adult supervision provided by Clay MS. Extraordinary circumstances should be submitted in writing to the Athletic Director for review ONE DAY prior to the day of the event. I. All cheerleaders are responsible for finding rides to and from practice and our home games. Parents must be willing and able to pick their child up promptly after an event. V. Other non-school Participation A. A cheerleader participating on a CMS cheer team may practice and compete with an out-side All Star program or non-school team provided the practices do not conflict with any scheduled games or practices at the middle school. B. Absences due to participating in a non-school activity will be counted as an unexcused absence and the coach will assign demerits. C. Absences due to another Clay MS school related event is to be excused AFTER talking with the coach and other staff member. 4.
Important dates to remember before making the commitment to be a part of the team: Callout meeting is Tuesday, May 6th at 3:20 pm in the LGI room. Mandatory tryouts at Clay MS: August 3rd clinic to learn all material 10-12 am August 4 th review and try outs 10-12 am Tryouts may run over according to the amount of girls trying out. A closed mandatory practice will be at Clay Middle School on August 5 th from 10-12. At this time we will be fitting the girls for all the clothing and spirit items needed. We will also be practicing in preparation for camp the next day. Mandatory clinic/camp (UCA): August 6 th at Creekside MS Times 8-4:30 You must bring a check for $100.00 to the first morning of camp. The check is 70.00 for camp and 30.00 uniform rental fee. Make check payable to Clay Middle School. Names will be on voicemail by 5:00 pm on Tuesday the 4 th of August. Sheets will be given out at tryouts with the number to call. You must wear a Plain white t-shirt and red shorts with your hair in a ponytail and a white ribbon to all practices and tryouts. ESTIMATED COSTS: Mandatory items: 1. 2 bloomies--rep 10 each Red and black 2. 3 crop tops--rep 24.95 each Red, black and white. 3. football/basketball shoes--rep 70.00 4. spiritwear (est.) 75.00 5. bag 30.00 6. camp fee 70.00 7. 2 soffee cheer shorts 15.00 each Must get yourself for camp (red and black) 8. warm up jacket and pants 100.00 9. rental fee for uniforms 30.00 All prices are estimated If you already have bloomies, warm-ups, bag and crops that are still in good shape you will not need to buy more. 5.
CONTACT SHEET Grade: (2009/10) Cheerleading is a major commitment due to the length of our season. Please look over the schedule before trying out for a position on the team. Printed name: Signed name: Home phone # Cheerleader s email Home Address w/zip: Mom s email Cheerleaders cell number: Mom s cell number Dad s email Dad s cell phone I would like to be considered for the following teams. 1. football 2. ` basketball Please check both if you want to cheer both seasons. Just check one if you are only interested in cheering one season. Checking only one does not assure you of a spot on that team. Grade (2009-2010): 6.
PERSONAL CHEERLEADER CONTRACT I have read the cheerleader s responsibilities and understand the responsibilities and privilege of being a Clay MS cheerleader. I will abide by these rules and regulations if chosen for the 2009/10 season. I understand that if I do not follow the rules I will receive consequences and may be suspended and/or dropped from the cheerleading squad. I will cooperate fully with the coach and all persons and organizations concerned to promote spirit and good sportsmanship at Clay MS. At all times, whether at school or away from school, I will conduct myself in a manner that best represents the students and faculty at Clay MS. Signed: Dated: Printed name: PARENTAL PERMISSION Our daughter has our permission to tryout for the cheerleading team at Clay MS for the 2009/10 season. If chosen she has our permission to participate as a member of the cheerleading team for that school year. We have read and discussed with our daughter the guidelines and we understand the responsibilities and commitment of being a cheerleader. We also understand the role we must assume as parents of a cheerleader and we will assist in every way to see that the rules and regulations are enforced. We will do our best to support the coaches and administration in decisions made throughout the season. We understand that the school and coaches assume no responsibility for any accidents and injury that might occur either at school, practice, an event or away from school grounds at any time. Of course, every attempt will be made to properly supervise all activities to prevent any accidents or injuries. We understand that each cheerleader will be required to have a physical exam form dated after May 1 st and emergency medical-consent form on file in the office prior to practice for tryouts and that these forms are available in the front office as well as the Clay website We understand that vacations must be scheduled as not to conflict with any scheduled games, practices, appearances and camp. All are mandatory for the sport. We understand the cost, time commitment, demerit system and travel time involved with this sport. We do hereby give our consent and support for our daughter, if selected, to be a cheerleader at Clay Middle School for the upcoming 2009/10 season. DATE: Parents signature: Printed Name: Email Cell#: 7.