Pontiac Township High School Cheerleading Program TRYOUT INFORMATION: Pontiac Township High School sponsors one cheerleading team for the football season and one cheerleading team for the basketball season. Number of athletes chosen will be based on skill. A prospective cheerleader may tryout for just one season or for both seasons. I highly encourage everyone to tryout for both seasons if he/she is not involved in another sport. DATES: Tryout Practice Tuesday, May 30 th and Wednesday, May 31 st from 3:30-5:00pm Official Tryout Thursday, June 1 st from 3:30-5:00pm *Cheerleading tryout practices and tryouts will be held in the PTHS gym. Prospective cheerleaders must have this signed permission slip to tryout. Due to conflicts with practice times and games, prospective cheerleaders that participate in a fall sport cannot be football cheerleaders and cheerleaders that participate in a winter sport cannot be basketball cheerleaders. Cheerleaders may, however, participate in band, flags, and cheerleading. Participation in both basketball cheer and Madrigals is discouraged due to scheduling conflicts. Athletes trying out for cheerleading will be required to demonstrate the following skills at tryouts: dance, sideline cheer, jumps, tumbling, and stunting. See attached tryout rubric for more details. IF YOU TUMBLE AT TRYOUTS YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO TUMBLE DURING THE SEASON! My son/daughter has my permission to try out for a cheerleading position at PTHS for the 2017-2018 school year. (Signature of parent/guardian) (Signature of prospective cheerleader) In case of an accident, I waive all responsibility and will not hold Pontiac Township High School responsible for any accident or problems that may occur during cheerleading tryouts. (Signature of parent/guardian) (Signature of prospective cheerleader) If you have questions, please contact us via the PTHS Cheer Facebook page.
PONTIAC CHEERLEADING GUIDELINES 2017-2018 PHILOSOPHY: The cheerleading program at PTHS strives to enhance each individual s strengths and personal goals through hard work and dedication to their team and the teams they cheer for at PTHS. We recognize our team s diversity and each individual s unique abilities. We endeavor to display our best school spirit at all times while remaining humble in our demeanor. We attempt to act with integrity and inspire others through our effort and dedication. We challenge ourselves to lead with creativity and ingenuity. We believe in open and candid communication to achieve the teams goals. We strive to grow as both individuals and as a team. We celebrate our victories and gain strength from our mistakes. We encourage personal growth for each cheerleader to be physically fit, emotionally strong, and socially comfortable. We create fun and excitement for the fans and our teams. We represent PTHS with positive attitudes and set a good example for our peers. These skills and attitudes will last a lifetime. We are Pontiac Cheerleaders. ELIGIBILITY: You must have the following on file with the coach: Consent for medical treatment form Proof of insurance or an insurance waiver form Signed copy of the PTHS cheerleading guidelines Signed copy of the drug and substance abuse testing form Signed copy of the concession consent form Valid physical You are required to meet or exceed IHSA eligibility standards, which state that you must not have two Ds or one F at any time. You will be ineligible if you fall below IHSA standards or a standard set by the coach. You must be passing PE with a C or better. If you are on academic suspension, you may not cheer at the game(s) the week following the notification. You will continue to be suspended until your grades improve to meet the minimum standards. You will, however, be required to attend all games and practices during your suspension, sit with the cheerleaders, and cheer from the stands. If you are required to attend the supervised study sessions, you MUST attend three sessions in that week. Failure to do so will result in suspension from that week s game(s). All Freshmen and Sophomore Football/Basketball Cheerleaders will earn a JV letter. All Junior and Senior Football/Basketball Cheerleaders will earn a Varsity Letter. All Basketball Cheerleaders on Competition will earn a Varsity Letter regardless of year in school.
RULES AND REQUIREMENTS: Attend summer practices. Attend practices throughout the football season (August-November) or basketball season (November-March). Cheer at all designated football or basketball games, home and away. Plan pep rallies. Participate in fundraising projects. Attend summer camp(s). Complete Summer Conditioning, including weight lifting and running. Complete in-season weight lifting (I expect you to enroll in weight-lifting in PE class). Assist with Football and Basketball try-outs (Seniors only). Attend tumbling classes (this is not mandatory, but highly encouraged!). Must meet all IHSA academic requirements and abide by the PTHS Athletic Code and coaches rules. Basketball only: Attend the Pontiac Holiday tournament. Basketball only: Attend all competitions. Practice schedules will be announced for the season the first meeting of the season. Please note, however, special practices may be necessary. Cheerleaders will be given as much advance warning as possible when special practices are needed. Practices are mandatory! If practice is missed for any reason, game suspensions may be issued. Complete uniforms will be worn when you appear in front of a crowd or at school. The coach will have the final decision on dress/uniforms. If a cheerleader does not wear the assigned game day attire, he/she will be suspended from that day s game. Appropriate clothing and shoes must be worn for all practices. The school dress code must be followed. No jewelry! This includes belly button and facial piercings! All tattoos must be covered! Nail polish and fake nails are prohibited. This is an IHSA sanctioned rule. Cheerleaders are responsible for meeting the designated departure time for away games. Failure to arrive on time for the bus will result in an unexcused absence. You cannot drive yourself or have someone drive you to an away game if you miss the bus. You may ride home from away events if a parent signature is provided. All cheerleaders need to be in top physical condition. Practices will include: Stunting, Jumps, Dances/Cheers, Tumbling, Weight Training, Running *If you are not in physical condition to meet these requirements, please reconsider your position as a cheerleader. Summer practices and camps are required as well as off-season weight lifting and/or running. Athletes will be excused for family vacations.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES: Prices May Vary Football And/Or Basketball: Bag $30 Poms $30 Bloomers/Briefs $10 Bows $15 Warm-up Jacket $75 Warm-up Pants $55 Team shirt/hoodie $35 Camp Fee $30 Basketball Only: Shoes $50 Total $330 *Students get to keep all items they purchase at the end of the season. If supplies are kept in good condition they will not need to be replaced yearly. Shoes and bows are purchased new each year. PERSONAL CONDUCT: Remember that as a PTHS cheerleader you are in the public eye and representing our school. Appropriate behavior is mandatory at all times! Boyfriends and/or friends may NOT sit with the team at games. When your team is not on the floor, you are expected to support the other squad by watching the game and cheering for the team. This means sitting in a group in a designated area. The Varsity squad will be present, in uniform, and will cheer for all JV games unless excused by the coach. NO public display of affection will be tolerated when in uniform! ATTENDANCE POLICY: Cheerleaders will be allowed excused absences which include school-related absences and illness. All absences must be cleared with the coach 72 hours PRIOR to the event. All other absences will be unexcused. Punishment will be at the discretion of the coach. An unexcused absence from practice will result in suspension from the next game. An unexcused absence from a game will result in dismissal from the team. The coach must approve family vacations. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE VACATION DURING BASKETBALL COMPETITION SEASON.
Cheerleaders are expected to be at any additional unscheduled practices, decorating sessions, pep rallies, homecoming planning, etc. Cheerleading is a large time commitment. It is recommended that cheerleaders do not hold down jobs during the football or basketball seasons. All punishment and final decisions are made at the discretion of the coach. Practice schedules are tentative! We will try to finish on time; however, if we are still working on things, we will continue without question until things are done. BASKETBALL COMPETITIONS ARE HELD ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. PARENT INFORMATION: Volunteers are needed to work the ICCA Cheerleading Invitational at PTHS On December 2, 2017. Any parent who would like to volunteer to plan means/snacks for away games/competitions may arrange a schedule with other parents. I have thoroughly read the Pontiac Township High School Cheerleading Program information sheet, and I am aware of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements for cheerleaders at PTHS. Furthermore, I understand that if I violate these guidelines and/or the PTHS training rules, my parents may be informed and I will be disciplined by the coach, principal, and/or athletic director. (Signature of prospective cheerleader) I have thoroughly read the Pontiac Township High School Cheerleading Program information sheet, and I am aware of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements for cheerleaders at PTHS. I agree to support my child in carrying out these guidelines and/or the PTHS training rules. (Signature of parent/guardian)
*Please provide the following information so that we can communicate team announcements and summer practice/camp dates immediately following tryouts. This information will not affect tryout scores, nor will it affect a student s chances of making the team. Student s Name: Year in School (2017-2018): Student Email Address: Student Cell Phone Number: Parent Names: Parent Email Address: Parent Cell Phone Number: Please list any conflicts student may have with scheduling for Summer 2017. (ie. band/color guard, summer job hours, summer school, family vacation dates). If a cheerleader misses a scheduled team practice/event for a date not listed on this page, it will be considered an unexcused absence.