George C. Marshall High School (GCMHS) Cheerleading 2016 Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities Contract
GCM Cheer Program Contact Dominic Borello Dominic.Borello@gmail.com Varsity Head Coach: Dominic Borello Varsity Assistants: Ellie Greene & Mandy Vickers JV Head Coach: Skylar Harris JV Assistant: Mandy Vickers Freshman Head Coach: Anne Hoffman Freshman Assistant Coach: Dominic Borello Tumbling Instructor: Dominic Borello
GCMHS Cheerleading Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities 2016 Contract All athletes in the GCMHS Cheerleading Program are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct. This contract is in addition to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) agreements. Athletes and parents must be familiar with, and agree to, these rules, regulations, and responsibilities as this information serves as the foundation for implementing and maintaining a successful program. Marshall High School Cheerleading is a sport. Participants will be treated as an athlete. You are expected to understand the physical requirements, time commitments, and social responsibilities that come along with the privilege of being a GCMHS Student Athlete. You are a representative of GCHMS Cheerleading and must conduct yourself in an appropriate manner in and out of uniform at all times. Information posted on websites, chat rooms, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, etc., are public information. Athletes will be held accountable for any and all information posted to public social media sites. All information, words, and pictures MUST be school appropriate. Chain of Command: The GCHMS Coaching Staff expects both our coaches and our athletes to be mature and accountable for their actions. We encourage an open and honest flow of communication, and should any issue, question, or concern arise, the following chain of command should be followed: Parents Athletes Respective Team Coach(es) Head Coach Director of Student Activities (DSA) The following are strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action: Disrespect towards any member of the coaching staff; Disrespect towards any member of the cheerleading program; Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; Being present while others are using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; Hazing; Fighting; Cheating; Social Media Bullying; Profanity or abusive language; Inappropriate public displays of affection; Deliberate wrongful execution of a stunt, tumbling pass, etc. (i.e., dropping another athlete, cutting others off when tumbling, etc.); Faking an injury (will result in immediate dismissal from the team); Unexcused absences from school (coaching staff will randomly check attendance); Arriving late or failing to attend to practices, games, fundraisers, competitions, etc.; Refusing to cheer at a game; Refusing to sell programs at a home game; Failing to wear the proper team attire to school, practices, games, competitions, etc., when directed to do so; Throwing poms at other cheerleaders, into the air, or onto the ground during games; Play fighting with other cheerleaders during practices, games, competitions, etc.; Allowing others (i.e., members of the student body) to use cheerleader megaphones, poms, bows, etc., during a practice, game, competition, etc.; Use of cell phones and/or any other electronic device during practices, games, and/or competitions. The following are strictly required without exception: Academic good standing All athletes must pass five (5) classes to be eligible to participate in cheer.
Attendance at all scheduled practices, games, fundraisers, competitions, etc. o Absence from practice without prior approval may result in dismissal from the squad/sitting out during games/conditioning sessions, etc.; Good sportsmanship and support of ALL GCMHS Athletics; Respect and support for your teammates and the coaching staff; Respect towards all school faculty; Regular attendance in school; Following practice attire, game attire, and competition attire schedules; Participation in Spirit Week, Community Cheer Clinics, Pep Rallies, Recognition Ceremonies, Cheer Evaluations, Competitions, Fundraisers, etc., and Wearing only the proper/designated attire to school on game/competition days. Disciplinary Action: Disciplinary action is at the discretion of the GCMHS Coaching Staff. GCMHS Coaches may consult with the Activities Director regarding disciplinary action, depending on the severity of the prohibited behavior. Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to: Extra conditioning; Assisting GCMHS Coaching Staff or Activities Office Staff with office work, moving equipment, uniform collection; etc.; Game suspension(s); Competition suspension(s); Team suspension; and/or Removal from team. Proper Uniform Requirements: Cheer shoes, bows, camp gear, poms, bags, etc., will be purchased by each athlete. Proper shoes, socks, bows, uniform, jacket, warm-ups, poms, raincoats, gloves, etc., will be kept in an athlete s cheer bag and will be brought to every game. Hair must be worn up with a bow. All matching uniform pieces must be worn together. Sweatpants, UGG boots, and other non-gcmhs Cheer clothing may not be worn with uniforms. Nails must be trimmed and be free of polish. No fake nails are allowed during cheer season. No jewelry (this includes body jewelry) may be worn while cheering at games, competitions, or practices. No visible tattoos. Makeup may be worn (in moderation no black lipstick, no extremely heavy eyeliner, etc.). No chewing gum during practices, games, and/or competitions. Uniform Care: Uniforms must be clean at all times. Uniforms must be washed inside out and air-dried. Uniforms must be returned in good condition before the end of the year to avoid being placed on the indebtedness list. Cheer shoes, bows, bags, etc., will be purchased by each athlete. School Attendance: GCMHS expects students to be in school all day in order to participate in any extracurricular activity. Excused absences from school are to be reported to the Activities Office before 2:30 pm, so that a message can be placed into the coach s mailbox. If the Activities Office cannot be reached, athletes should contact the Main Office at 703-714-5400. Athletes may also send an email to their coach. If an athlete leaves school before the end of the school day, the athlete MUST notify the coach before leaving and their parent must call to report the absence. Sub-schools will not inform the Activities Office or Coach that an athlete has left school early.
Fairfax County Public School requires that athletes be in attendance at school for the entire date to be eligible to participate in activities and events. If an athlete has any type of medical appointment, it must be cleared with the Sub-school and with the athlete s coach. Athletes ARE NOT to have another athlete inform a coach of missing practices, leaving early from school, being late to practices/games, etc. Academic Standing: Athletes are REQUIRED to pass FIVE classes EACH semester. GCMHS is committed to having athletes maintain and/or improve their academic grades. Coaches may monitor and require grade and progress reports at any time. If grade/progress reports are not provided as requested, reflect a non-passing grade, and/or are deemed unacceptable by a Coach or the Activities Director, disciplinary action may be taken. An athlete MAY be suspended from participation for a period of time or removed from the team as determined by the coach. Practice/Game/Fundraiser/Competition Attendance: Practice days and times are subject to change due to fall/winter schedules, weather, facility availability, and/or changes or alterations to activity schedules and events. Athletes are expected to be at, and participate in, every practice, game, fundraiser, and competition. Written notice is required TWO WEEKS before a pre-planned absence unless there is an emergency situation. An Absentee Form must be filled out and provided to the athlete s coach. Pre-planned absences include important personal and/or family events. As practice schedules are provided well in advance, athletes are asked to reschedule any doctor s appointments that may interfere with practices, games, competitions, etc. Vacations, work, college visits, All-Star practices, and All-Star competitions, etc., will not be accepted as an excused absence. (Absentee Form can be found at the end of this document). Chronic / Excessive tardiness will result is dismissal from the team. Athletes MUST have a note from a teacher or administrator to have an excused tardy. If an athlete misses a practice the day before a game, that athlete may not be permitted to cheer at the game. If an athlete is benched for any reason during the season, that athlete must attend all games, practices, competitions, fundraisers, etc., in proper attire, sit with the coach, and support the event. Practice will begin at designated times. Athletes are expected to be prepared and ready to begin ON TIME. Athletes should arrive to practice EARLY to ensure they are ready to begin practice ON TIME. Fundraising Requirements: Each athlete is required to participate in all fundraising events. Game Performance Requirements: All athletes will respect the American Flag during the singing of the National Anthem THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. Athletes must stay in formation at all times. Athletes will avoid excessive talking with other teammates and/or with ANYONE in the stands or standing by the fence. Athletes will not throw poms at other cheerleaders, into the air, or onto the ground; Athletes will not play fight with other cheerleaders; Athletes will not imitate other cheerleading teams, dancers, band members actions; All food and drink (except for water) will be kept off the track or playing surface. Athletes will ride the bus to and from all away games with their teammates and coach. Written approval to ride with the athlete s parents must be obtained from the Director of Student Activities and provided to the athlete s coach. Freshman and JV cheerleaders are required to attend all home varsity games and sell programs. Varsity cheerleaders may be required to sell programs as determined by the GCMHS Coaching Staff.
Athletes selling programs MAY not sit in the stands, wander the parking lots, and/or visit with friends until ALL programs are sold and money is given to the coach. *** Athletes should be aware of conduct before, during, and after athletic events. GCMHS Cheerleaders are on display and are being watched by members of the community. Inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from the team. Dismissal from the team is at the discretion of the GCMHS Coaching Staff. *** Competition Information: For competition purposes, GCMHS may not perform with more than 20 athletes. Members of the GCMHS competition cheer team will be chosen at the discretion of the GCMHS Coaching Staff. All remaining athletes will be considered alternates and are required to attend all competition cheer functions. Substitutions will be made at the discretion of the GCMHS Coaching Staff. All athletes are required to attend practice (especially during the two weeks prior to a competition) in order to be eligible to compete. All athletes must attend other team competitions to show their support.
GCMHS Cheerleading Contract Agreement Form I have read and fully understand all rules, regulations, and responsibilities as outlined in this agreement. I understand that I or my child may be restricted from participating in certain aspects of the program, or that my child may be dismissed from the program, due to disciplinary/attendance issues that are listed in this agreement. I am aware that there are disciplinary issues that may require immediate restriction or dismissal from the program that may not be listed in this agreement, to include, but is not limited to: insubordination, stealing, bullying, defamatory language, words or actions that harm GCMHS and/or GCMHS Cheer s reputation, relationship, or participation with vendors, sponsors, the community, and/or other programs. I understand what is expected of me as a parent and what is expected of my child as an athlete at GCMHS. I understand what is expected of me as an athlete and as a GCMHS Cheerleader. I have read the GCMHS Cheerleading Contract for the 2016 Cheer Season. My signature below verifies that I understand and agree to this Contract. Student s Printed Name Student s Signature Date Parent s Printed Name Parent s Signature Date