1 Olathe South High School Cheer Constitution 2017-2018 Olathe South Cheerleaders lead the student body by demonstrating school spirit and good sportsmanship at athletic events, encouraging attendance at school events, developing leadership qualities and skills, and representing Olathe South High School with both pride and excellence. This cheerleading constitution is used as a guide for cheerleaders and coaches. Communication: 1. Calendar of events handed out prior to start of season. 2. An email will go to parents and cheerleaders at the beginning of the week with all scheduled games/practices. 3. Any change of uniform, location, etc. communication will come from a coach only. 4. In the event there is question about any information regarding cheer (i.e. time, location, uniform, etc.), cheerleader and/or parent should take the following actions before communicating with coaches: a. Ask other squad teammates. b. Ask squad captain(s). c. Ask Varsity squad captain(s). d. Email assigned coach. General Rules and Expectations: 1. Each cheerleader will be an active, thriving member of the team, as well as their squad. This is of utmost importance and will continually be evaluated. It is each cheerleader s responsibility to represent Olathe South in a positive manner. 2. No phones during class/practice. 3. Coaches reserve the right to make decisions that are in the best interest of the team to ensure safe and successful performances. Cheerleaders and parents will respect the decision made by coaches. 4. All practices are closed to the public. No interruptions will be made during 7 th hour practices and/or after school practices by parents, guardians, siblings, etc. unless prior communication has been made or an absolute emergency takes place (i.e. a death in the family or hospitalization). 5. Captains will be selected for each squad by a voting process, interview with coaches, and the coaches discretion. 6. Concerns with social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) will be addressed. As a representative of the OSHS cheerleading squad, any media that appears to question one s character also puts in to question the character of the squad. Depending on the severity, coaches and/or administration reserve the right to take disciplinary measures.
Expectations of Attendance: 1. Cheerleaders will attend all games, events, practices, fundraisers, class, camp and competition that their squad is assigned to. This includes substantial time commitment outside of the regular school day. 2. Absences: Coaches will determine excused and unexcused absences. Excused absences include, but are not limited to the following: sickness, a funeral, religious observance, family emergency, school-related activities directly related to or sponsored by Olathe South or pre-approved once-in-a-lifetime opportunities (i.e. 50 th wedding anniversaries, 100 th birthday party, etc.). Any absence must be discussed with a coach at least 48 hours prior to the absence and be submitted in writing. Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to the following: work, forgetting, family vacation, outside club activities not related to OSHS (i.e. competitive cheer practice), not having a ride, etc. First Unexcused Absence: Warning/deduction of points Second Unexcused Absence: Deduction of points and benching of next 2 events Third Unexcused Absence: Deduction of points and meeting with both parent and cheerleader to discuss status 3. A yearlong commitment has been made to cheerleading. This commitment may make it very difficult to have time for a job. Work does not qualify as an excused absence. 4. A maximum of 6 event absences (excused and/or unexcused excluding 7 th hour class) will be allowed throughout the cheer season which includes all post season (with the exception of extreme illness or at the coaches discretion). Cheerleader s electing to miss more than 6 total events outside of 7 th hour class will forego membership on the squad for the remainder of the year. 5. Each cheerleader receives two Personal Day passes to use towards games during the year. The Personal Day Form is available on the website. 6. In the event the cheerleader is sick, all coaches must be notified prior to the event via email. 7. If a cheerleader will be absent from 7 th hour practice, communication with the head coach must be made via email immediately. Word of Mouth is not an acceptable form of communicating an absence. If going home from school ill, you must notify a coach prior to departure or immediately following in order to be excused from game/practice/event/class. 8. A cheerleader may switch nights with another cheerleader on the same squad when the squad is split. The Game Switch Form is available online and must be turned in to Coach Schultz 1 day prior to the event. If using a Game Switch Form, communication with all coaches must be made the day of the event via email. If communication is not made, cheerleader will be considered unexcused. 9. It is expected to be present 4 hours out of the 7 hour school day in order to participate in that evenings events. 10. Cheerleaders have the opportunity to participate in one school-sponsored sport/activity that will conflict with the cheerleading season. It is strongly advised to consider the time commitment that both cheerleading and the sport/activity will require (ex. volleyball, basketball, school play). Committing to another school-sponsored sport/activity may result in the cheerleader not being able to compete and be a part of sets. 11. If cheerleaders are involved in sports/activities outside of school (i.e. KC Cheer, Club Soccer, etc.) the cheerleader must notify coaches immediately after tryouts in the spring. The commitment to OSHS Cheer should come first. Committing to another sport/activity may result in the cheerleader not being able to compete and be a part of sets. 2
Eligibility: 1. Cheerleaders must maintain a 2.5 GPA for the entire school year. 2. Grades will be checked at each midterm, quarter, semester, and other times as deemed needed. 3. Cheerleaders must be passing all classes throughout the school year in order to participate in cheer. 4. An Olathe District Schools Substance Abuse Policy form, Transportation Guidelines and Parent Signature form, KSHSAA Concussions & Head Injury form, and Physical (all dated after May 1 st, 2017) must be on file for each cheerleader in the main office at OSHS. Cheerleading Grade/Points: 1. All cheerleaders will be tested over cheers/chants/band chants before cheering at any event/game. Cheerleaders are expected to learn the material with their cheer families over the summer break before the first practice in August. 2. Each regular day class period is worth 10 points and block days are 15 points. Points will be deducted if the following expectations are not met: proper workout clothing and shoes, hair pulled back, no jewelry, in assigned spot on time, good attitude, and proper work ethic. 3. Games and events are worth 25 points. This is broken down into categories on the Game Evaluation Rubric. 4. Just as when a student misses a class or event for another academic course, cheerleaders will need to make up the points they miss when absent. This can be done in various ways. Please see Make-Up Points Form. When form is completed, the form needs to be turned in to Coach Schultz. 5. If a cheerleader is benched, she is expected to still come to the event/game in uniform. She will have to make up the points for being benched for scheduled event/game. Uniforms: 1. While in uniform, cheerleaders are to wear school-issued items only. A sheet with uniforms and coordinating pieces will be handed out at start of the year. This includes shoes that were ordered for OSHS cheer, white no show socks, correct blue briefs, and the correct jacket and pants. 2. Hair can be down during the school day. If worn up, correct bow must be worn. 3. Cheerleaders are expected to have all required items at each event (i.e. poms, outerwear, gloves, headband, etc.). If the cheerleader is missing an item, she will be benched from the event and receive no points. She will be required to sit with the supervising coach (no cell phones will be allowed if benched). She will be required to make-up points. 4. Jewelry will not be allowed during events or practices. Piercings that can t be removed should not be done during the cheer season. Piercings are not allowed in order to participate, as ruled by KSHSAA. 5. School uniforms, pullover, and warmer (swishy) pants will be provided. These must be taken care of and returned in original condition. Costs to replace or correct will be applied. Financial Obligations: 1. The intent is that all individual cheer balances be paid in full prior to camp (June 6 th, 2017). 2. The expectation is to make payments on scheduled dates. In the event that payment cannot be met on time, written communication with Coach Carroll is required to establish a new plan. However, all account balances must be paid in full prior to tryouts the following year to be eligible to tryout. 3. If the cheerleader is dismissed for disciplinary reasons or decides to leave the team at any point during the cheer season (even before camp), she is financially responsible for any and all outstanding balances and will not be refunded for any amount that has been paid. 3
4 Transportation: 1. Transportation to all out-of-district away games, all varsity football games, and Old Settler s Parade will be provided by the school. 2. All cheerleaders will ride school transportation (bus and/or school suburban) to and from varsity football games, Old Settler s parade and out-of-district games. 3. Only parents or legal guardians can take a cheerleader from a game after notifying and signing off with the coach on duty. 4. Transportation to all home and in-district games (excluding varsity football games) is the responsibility of the individual unless otherwise stated. Cheerleaders will need transportation to in-district soccer games. Injury: 1. If injury or illness occurs and prevents participation, the member must have a written doctor s/trainer s statement to be excused from cheerleading activities and/or to be allowed to participate again following an injury. If the cheerleader does not have a doctor s note, she will have to make up the points she missed for the game/practice/event. 2. If a cheerleader is injured, she is expected to attend all practices, games and events and sit with the coach in uniform (unless a doctor s note states otherwise). A doctor s/trainer s statement will be required to clear a cheerleader injury. 3. Cheerleaders who are not seriously injured will be expected to dress out and practice as much as they are physically able. Discipline: 1. Cheerleaders will follow all discipline rules of the team at all times. 2. Cheerleaders will always uphold the rules and reputation of the organization as well as the school handbook and the Olathe District Schools Substance Abuse Policy. Please refer to the nonathletic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities on the Substance Abuse Policy (second bullet under each offense). 3. In addition to the Substance Abuse Policy, cheerleaders are expected to leave an unlawful situation (i.e. underage drinking party) immediately. 4. Cheerleaders are NEVER to engage in any of the following: drinking, smoking, drugs, and inappropriate behavior with boys. These are not only rules of the team and Olathe South, but also KSHSAA policies. Cheerleaders will follow the rules as set up by the KSHSAA and Olathe South. 5. Cheerleaders will not post anything to a social media site (including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) that is deemed inappropriate or demeaning to the organization, to any other individual, or personally inappropriate according to the rules of the organization. Coach and/or Administrator will determine action based upon the offense. If asked to take something off social media, cheerleader will do so immediately. If this is not met, cheerleader will be benched for a minimum of 2 events. 6. If a cheerleader is dismissed for disciplinary reasons or decides to leave the team, she is financially responsible for any and all items she has ordered as well as all school property that has been checked out to her. 7. Removal from the team requires a conference with the coaches, the cheerleader, the cheerleader s parent/guardian, and the spirit activities director. 8. A benched cheerleader will be in uniform and will sit with the coach(es) on duty, not in the fan section or with their parents. No cell phones are allowed while benched. With each benching, an increased number of games benched will be applied. 9. Discipline for the year will affect the following year tryout evaluations. 10. Cheerleaders who quit after making the team or are removed from the squad will not be allowed the opportunity to tryout the following year.
5 Your signature and that of one parent/or guardian assures the coaches of your understanding and willingness to adhere to the Olathe South Cheerleading Constitution for the 2017-2018 school year. Printed Name of Cheerleader: Squad: Signature of Cheerleader: Date Signed: Printed Name of Parent/Guardian: Signature of Parent/Guardian: Date Signed: