BMS Cheerleaders and Mascots
Tryout Information
2016-2017
Your child has expressed an interest in trying out for a position on the 2016-2017 cheerleading and mascot team. There are many requirements that must be met and specific guidelines that need to be followed prior to becoming a cheerleader or mascot. If chosen, your child will be placed in a role of great leadership and will be expected to represent Baines Middle School with the highest honor and integrity.
Requirements that must be met to tryout
If chosen as a Baines cheerleader or mascot, a student must maintain these requirements. He/she must also maintain a satisfactory discipline record. Dismissal from the squad will be determined using the Code of Conduct/Demerit policy in the handbook and the nine-week grades earned in all subjects. Under current regulations, a student must pass all classes during a nine week period to be eligible for extra-curricular activities for the following grading period.
1. Candidates will follow the no pass/no play requirements set forth by the Texas Legislature and UIL regulations. A student must pass all classes for the nine weeks prior to tryouts (third nine weeks grading period) and must not be failing any class on the grade check to be completed the week of tryouts (4/15-19/2013).
2. Candidates may not have received more than two failing nine weeks grades during the current school year, through the third nine weeks grade report. Students may not try out if they have a current failing grade or “incomplete” in any course.
3. Student conduct in and out of the classroom must be commendable. An accumulation of two (2) or more “Unsatisfactory” or “Needs Improvement” during the current school year will cause a student to be ineligible for tryouts. Students can also be prohibited from trying out if their conduct outside of class is unacceptable.
Important Dates and Times
Event / Date / Time / LocationStudent/Parent Information Meeting / March 9th / 5:00-6:00pm / BMS Library
Tryout Forms Due – NO EXCEPTIONS / April 1st / By 4:00pm / BMS Room 2107
Cheer Clinics / April 5th, 6th, and 7th / 4:05 – 5:30pm / BMS Small Gym
Tryouts / Friday, April 19th / 4:00 – 6:30pm / BMS Small Gym
Practices / Starting April 14th / 4:05 – 5:00pm
Camp (MANDATORY) / August 5th, 6th, and 7th / 8:30 – 5:00pm / Sartartia Middle School
Physicals
Each candidate must have a physical on file with the sponsor before he/she will be allowed to attend the cheer clinic. If you have a current physical on file for athletics, get it from the coaches and turn it in with your packet.) If you don’t currently have a physical, you must complete it by Friday, April 1st at 4:00pm. Please make sure the physical is signed by the doctor and has a doctor’s stamp. If it does not have a signature and stamp, then it cannot be accepted and will have to be redone.
Forms
Each candidate must have the following forms turned Friday, April 1st at 4:00pm are listed below and can be found on the BMS cheer website. Your child will not be allowed to participate in the tryout clinic or tryouts if these forms are not ALL turned in by 4:00pm on Friday, April 1st. They may be turned in at the front office to be placed in Ms. Gilbert’s box, or given directly to Ms. Gilbert in her classroom, room 2107, before or after school. Paperwork will not be accepted in Ms. Gilbert’s room during the regular school day (8:45 – 3:55). If you do not have access to a printer, please see Ms. Gilbert
***Please check your tryout packet before submitting to the office or to Ms. Gilbert. Incomplete packets will result in your child not being eligible to try out.***
Clinics – April 5th, 6th, and 7th
There will be a 3-day clinic where the outgoing 8th grade cheerleaders will teach the new candidates the jumps, cheer, chant, and dance to be performed in front of the judges on April 8th. Parents are responsible for picking up their child promptly at 5:30 each day. The 3-day cheer clinic will begin promptly at 4:05 PM each day in the small gym. Girls should wear sneakers, t-shirt and shorts, no tank tops. Shorts should not be tight-fitting and must reach mid-thigh. Spandex shorts should not be worn unless they are covered by appropriate shorts mentioned above. Hair must be pulled back, and there must be no jewelry worn. Absolutely no food is allowed in the gym. The 3rd day of clinics will be a mock tryout and we will go through the day as if it were tryouts. Candidates will get feedback from outgoing 8th grade cheerleaders. Tryouts and clinics are closed to family, friends, etc. Only candidates, outgoing 8th grade cheerleaders, and the sponsor are allowed in the gyms. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
Tryouts – April 8th
All eligible candidates will individually perform a cheer, chant, jumps and a dance before a panel of judges. The cheer, chant, jumps and dance will be chosen by the sponsor and taught by the outgoing 8th grade cheerleaders during the cheer clinic prior to tryouts. Mascots create their own skit and they will practice it at the clinics with our outgoing mascots. The skit must be between 45 seconds and 1 minute and 30 seconds. They can use props, music, signs, and anything else they would like to use as long as they bring it themselves and it is appropriate. Tryouts and clinics are closed to family, friends, etc. Only candidates, outgoing 8th grade cheerleaders, and the sponsor are allowed in the gyms. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
The team will consist of 12 cheerleaders in a mix of 7th and 8th graders and 2 mascots. The names of cheer candidates who make the 2016-2017 squad will be posted on the BMS Cheer website on the evening of April 8th. This should be completed by 7:00 pm.
Candidates will wear:
· White t-shirt (no writing) or BMS PE shirt tucked in.
· Black or gray shorts (no writing) or BMS PE shorts.
· White shoes/white socks
· Hair back in full ponytail/no jewelry/no colored fingernail polish (clear only)
Cheer and Mascot Camp
We will be attending the NCA Sugar Land Day Camp held at Sartartia Middle School. Camp will be August 5th, 6th, and 7th from 8:30 – 5:00pm each day. Attendance at camp is mandatory. Failure to attend camp will result in dismissal from the team. Parents are responsible for the transportation of their child to and from camp each day. Please make sure your child will be able to attend camp before allowing him/her to try out.
Cost Estimate
Please read carefully and take into consideration the ability to pay these costs by the deadlines below before allowing your child to try out. The cost of participating in cheer at BMS will be approximately $500. These amounts may vary depending on the current cost, availability, tax, and shipping costs. If your child makes the squad, you will be responsible for purchasing your child’s uniform, camp clothes, cost of going to camp, and more. If your child makes the squad, the first payment of $350 is due Friday, April 22nd. The final balance will be due Friday, May 6th. The entire balance must be paid, in full, before I can release any clothing or accessories to your child. If the balance is not paid before May 27th, your child will not be allowed to attend camp. If your child tries out for the team you are agreeing to the financial obligations to being a part of the team.
Handbook and Guidelines
We have a strict handbook from Fort Bend ISD regarding guidelines and rules for middle school cheerleaders and mascots. These guidelines keep our cheerleaders and mascots safe and keep everything fair for all team members in our school and in the district. BMS cheerleaders and mascots are held to a high standard and are in the spotlight at all times because they represent our school. To try out for BMS cheerleading and mascots are required to sign an acknowledgement page agreeing to abide by all policies and rules during the entire time you represent BMS on the team from tryouts and beyond.