Warren Central Cheerleading 1
WCHS Basketball Cheerleading 2 2017-2018 PLEASE RETURN THESE FORMS TO: Head Coach Jessica Thomas Warren Central High School 9200 E. 16 th Street Indianapolis, IN 46229 2017-2018 WCHS BASKETBALL CHEERLEADING CONTRACT MISSION Promote and uphold school spirit, unity and pride. Represent the school to the highest degree. Set an example of good behavior and sportsmanship at all times (whether in uniform or not) Promote friendship with each other and with schools with whom we compete, perform and go to camp with. Promote the development of lifelong values and skills. WCHS CHEER PROGRAM RULES AND REGULATIONS Cheerleaders understand that teamwork and the maintenance of discipline is the key to the success of the spirit program. Cheerleaders are dedicated to promoting spirit, enthusiasm, and a positive winning attitude through example. Adherence to the Cheer Program rules and Regulations is vital to achieve these goals. All members realize that the manner, in which they conduct themselves in our out of uniform, directly reflects on the entire team, squad and school. It is recognized that these rules and regulations are necessary to maintain morale, discipline and effective learning. Consistent enforcement of these rules and regulations is also necessary to ensure the safety and general well-being of each individual cheerleader. Participation in the Cheer Program is voluntary, not mandatory. It is a privilege, not a right and may be revoked by the school personnel when a cheerleader violates the rules and regulations, WCHS/IHSAA/NFHS by-laws as outlined in the student handbook. NFHS SPIRIT rules apply first and foremost.
ELIGIBILITY All cheerleading candidates and parents must sign a contract stating that they agree to and are aware of the amount of time, expense, expectations, commitment and responsibility required and expected. Please read the WCHS Student Handbook for athletic eligibility as they take precedence. Junior Varsity spirit squad (fall and/or winter) may consist of students entering the 9 th, 10 th, or 11 th grade. Varsity spirit squad (fall and/or winter) may consist of students entering the 9 th, 10 th, 11 th & 12 th grade. GRADES 3 A minimum of 2.3 GPA must be maintained throughout the cheering season. Because cheerleaders are students first and athletes second, weekly progress reports will be turned in so the coach can monitor academic progress. If at any time you are failing a class, you will be required to attend mandatory study tables, and failure to attend study tables will result in benching until you are passing the class. Freshmen must attend study tables for each season for the first 9 weeks. From the time the F is written on the progress report, you have one quarter to pull the F up before a more severe consequence is given. CONDUCT By being a member of an athletic team, you are accepting that your actions are more prominent than those not associated with such an activity. Because of this, exemplary behavior is mandatory at all times, anywhere in the community and at all school functions where you are recognized as a representative of WCHS. Promoting good sportsmanship by way of example is required at all times. Members must not use foul language at practices, in school, at games, camp or competitions, etc. Excessive public displays of affection are never considered appropriate, especially in uniform, at games or in school. Proper appearance is required at all times, with clothing appropriate to the occasion. Members must cooperate with all faculty members, squad members, game officials and coaches. Cheerleaders must display proper behavior in class, including being on time, not skipping and not cheating. Every attempt will be made to discipline fairly/equally, and to make consequences of actions known ahead of time. Parents will be kept informed of problem situations. Severity of, or repeated offenses may dictate harsher action. Safety is our first priority. No excessive horse-playing. Never stunt or tumble WITHOUT the coach present. All safety rules of the National Federation of State High School Assoc. and the Indiana High School Association are enforced and followed at our practices, games and competitions. Cheerleaders are responsible for a certain amount of their own safety and protection during practices, games and competitions. Wraps, braces or tapes are to be worn when needed. Cheerleaders are expected to present a positive attitude at all times. Any cheerleader displaying inappropriate behavior and/or presenting a negative attitude at school, practice, camp, or game may be benched for part or an entire game, and could be removed from the squad entirely. Any pictures that imply negative or inappropriate behavior will be dealt with in the same manner. Please be careful
4 of pictures and/or conversations that you post on Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat, Twitter, GroupMe and all other Social media outlets! Promote a positive image for the school community your peers, parents, teachers, and community members While representing WCHS, cheerleaders must not: o Drink alcoholic beverages o Use controlled substances o Use tobacco or vapor products o Show unsportsmanlike conduct o Use profanity o Physical altercations (Fighting) We implement the 3 Strikes program to our existing cheer contract. This will insure that everyone is given an equal opportunity to follow the guidelines set forth. The consequences are more detailed and contoured to fit the nature of what we expect from every cheerleader, every time. You will notice from the examples below that the infractions will consist of conduct, attendance, safety, and respect. The following items are a few examples that will lead to a warning towards our 3 Strike system. These infractions will lead to an automatic strike. No warnings will be given: Not showing up ready to cheer on time due to missing items. (i.e., missing uniform, shoes, hair, poms, backpack etc.) A parent dropping these items off does not remove the offense nor consequence. Showing up LATE to practice or games. (Late means any time after a specific time is given) Unexcused absences. Not wearing the proper game attire. Jewelry Wearing unapproved fingernail polish or nails at an illegal length (i.e. henna, ink, sharpie my friend did it) Chewing gum Eating during designated practices or games. (You may eat before or after practice. During games you may eat at half time.) Not wearing the chosen outfit to school on game day. Being on cell phones during practice and/or games. (Not including half time.) Bad Attitude (1 warning to fix the problem the 2nd warning is towards a strike (i.e., talking while Instructions are being given, talking over coaches, negative attitude). Strike Policy 3 strikes = Sit out 1 game. Additional strikes up to (3) = Sit out 1 game. After a student has missed 2 games due to strikes, any additional infraction will result in a performance agreement being signed by the athlete, parent, and coach. Any student in violation of the performance agreement will be dismissed from the squad. Students who are dismissed from the squad or quit will not be allowed to try out for the subsequent season. Seniors who are dismissed from the squad will not receive a varsity letter at the end of the season.
5 School Discipline Policy All incidents are forwarded to the coach at the time of the infraction. Any student who is given a referral, or sent away from class to their cohort office will sit out 1 game. If an additional referral is given, a performance agreement will be signed by the athlete, parent and coach. Any student violation or referral given after the performance agreement has been signed will result in dismissal from the squad. As with the strike policy, students who are dismissed from the squad or quit will not be allowed to try out for the subsequent season. Seniors will not receive a varsity letter at the end of the season. ***The Warren Central Cheerleading program has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for fighting. Any cheerleader who is involved in a physical altercation will be removed from the squad. This includes altercations taking place at Warren Central AND all organized taking place outside of the school. Cheerleaders represent the school wherever they go, they are expected to behave in a manner that promotes the program and school as premiere student-athletes. *** PRACTICES All scheduled practices are mandatory. Athletes are expected to be present and ON TIME to all practices and games. Illness or other extreme emergencies are the only valid reason for missing practices or games. Illness with doctor s note, extreme emergencies, preplanned school functions or family events will be excused. 2 unexcused absences (from practice/games/events) will result in removal from squad. Absences due to work schedules are unexcused. GAMES All games are mandatory for which you are assigned. If a cheerleader should need to miss a game for any reason, it is their responsibility to have their game covered by another team member. All covered games must FIRST be approved by a coach. o JV Football - All JV home games. o Varsity Football - All home and away varsity games. o JV Basketball - All home boys and girls basketball games. o Varsity Basketball - All home and away boys varsity games. Home varsity girls and away MIC and in addition to all tournament basketball games. o ***Basketball tends to be a VERY busy season with multiple games during the week and weekend. Just as the athletes on the court are expected to attend every game, we are expected to attend as well. We will do our best to make sure schedules are evenly distributed so that the cheerleaders are not being overwhelmed with games. *** UNIFORMS Uniforms are provided by the Athletic Department and must be cared for properly. DO NOT DRYCLEAN! Machine wash in warm water, hang to dry or tumble dry on LOW heat. Each cheerleader received a uniform and warm-up with a designated number. Cheerleaders are NOT to switch skirts or tops without the approval of a coach. All cheerleaders not returning for basketball season will turn in their uniforms and must have the number that was assigned to them at the end of the season. Any cheerleader who does not turn in their assigned uniform will cover the cost for the missing or damaged uniform.
AWARDS Football Season Cheerleading and Basketball Season Cheerleading are considered separate sports. A letter/numeral may be earned for each season you participate. 6 Season Awards two awards are presented by the coach to each squad for each season. May consist of: Most Valuable Cheerleader, Most Improved Cheerleader and Highest GPA awards. FINANCES CHEERLEADING PROGRAM FINANCES Fundraisers performed by the cheerleaders are primarily utilized to assist Cheerleaders with paying their fees and contributing to the Cheerleading Fund. The Cheer fund is used to pay for supplies, decorations, poster boards, markers, tape, competition and entry fees, banquets & gifts, awards and miscellaneous expenses. Cheerleading uniforms and warm-ups are paid for by the Athletic Department. Shoes, Briefs, Hair bows, camp/practice/spirit gear, backpacks, pom-poms and camps/clinics are all at the expense of the cheerleader. Fundraising opportunities are available to alleviate these expenses.