PHS VARSITY CHEER TEAM CONSTITUTION
2017-2018
WHAT IS A CHEERLEADER?
A cheerleader is expected to be one of the most loyal supporters of Pisgah High School. Her enthusiasm should be portrayed in every action and word. Cheerleaders are highly regarded because of the time and dedication they contribute to the betterment of PHS. It is her job to hold her position with respect.
Expectations
All cheerleaders must maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and realize that it is not your squad but Pisgah High School’s squad. The sponsors have the final say in all matters. You must accept the rules given and follow them throughout the entire year. Work hard and enthusiastically to improve jumps, tumbling, and stunts. You must do your part to prepare for and clean up after pep rallies and games. You must work hard in the summer to cut down on cheer work after school.
Participation Requirements
Cheerleaders are required to attend all practices, summer camp, all assigned athletic events, and any play-off games after the regular season. Cheerleaders will also support the other athletic teams of PHS by attendance of games, or in other ways as specified by the sponsor, principal, or athletic director.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Eligibility for tryouts will be determined using the MHSAA REGULATIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY. Girls entering the 7-12 grade the following year must have a 70 average at the semester before tryouts. Students may not be 19 years of age before August 1 of the 2016-2017 school year. Returning cheerleaders must have cheered the entire season to tryout the following year and have all fines paid. Members will be chosen from the 9-12 eligibility list with the exception of up to 3 at large spots that can be available to 7-12 students with comparable scores. Outside judges will be used to select the team.
2. Candidates must be in good physical health. If selected, each cheerleader must pass a mandatory physical. If she does not pass the physical, she will be removed from the squad. Candidates must inform the sponsor immediately of any medical condition that may cause direct or indirect physical injury to self or any other person. If at any point a cheerleader receives an injury that causes her to be unable to perform her duties as a PHS cheerleader for an extended period of time, she will be removed from the squad.
3. Candidates and a parent/guardian must sign an agreement stating that they have read, understand, and will abide by the cheerleading rules and regulations. Failure to sign this agreement will result in being ineligible for the squad.
Purpose, Responsibilities, and Conduct
1. Maintain good academic standing. You must remain eligible per MHSAA rules.
2. Boost the school spirit of Pisgah.
3. To encourage and lead crowd support at athletic events.
4. Serve as role models for other students and others in the community.
5. Attend all functions: practices, cheer block, pep rallies, assigned athletic games and events, or fundraisers scheduled by the sponsors or principal.
6. Be on time and prepared at all practices, games, and events.
7. Remain with the squad at all practices, games, and events.
8. Inform the sponsor immediately of any changes in or developments of medical problems.
9. Keep the sponsors informed of all vacations or situations that may result in absences or limited participation.
10. Show good sportsmanship at all times.
11. Cheerleaders are required to practice/perform to their full potential (aka FULL OUT) for the DURATION of EVERY practice/performance. This means NO MARKING (tumbling, jumps, stunts, facial expressions, etc.).
12. Showing disrespect for the coaches, teammates, or anyone who is facilitating a practice, performance, or meeting (i.e. all argumentative behavior such as talking back or rolling eyes) is not allowed.
13. Cheerleaders are expected to work as a team. Cheerleaders are also expected to work with other school teams and organizations (i.e. dragonettes, football team, etc.). If a personal relationship creates a conflict of interest, causes a conflict in the program, interrupts the work/goals of the parties involved or other cheerleader, or causes a negative practice/performance environment, one or both parties may be asked to resign from the team.
14. Insufficient knowledge of performance material may result in suspension from performance.
15. Represent the team AT ALL TIMES. Cheer team members are subject to scrutiny and can easily be the object of criticism for their behavior and actions. Remember that our performances are only a small reflection of our team, while the manner in which we conduct ourselves is a larger reflection of our commitment, discipline, and image. Any actions that compromise the image, reputation, or goals of the Pisgah High School cheer program are subject to immediate dismissal from the team. This includes all forms of profane or inappropriate conduct in school and at school functions.
16. Every effort will be made to work with any other extracurricular activity that you participate in, but if your extracurricular coaches/sponsors refused to work with our mandatory practices and performances, you will have to choose which activity you will continue.
17. Letting someone who is not a member of the team borrow any equipment/uniform without the cheer sponsor’s approval is not allowed.
FOR PARENTS:
1. Make sure your cheerleader arrives on time, is wearing appropriate attire, and has all necessary items.
2. Be supportive of the coaches, allowing them to give any instruction or feedback to the team.
3. If there is a need for a conference with the coaches, make an appointment to meet via e-mail: or .
4. Non-participation regarding practices and performances ARE NOT to be used as punishment for your child’s actions outside of cheer. You will not only punish you child, but every other child and parent on the team.
Practice Information
1. All practices will be scheduled and supervised by the sponsor.
2. All cheerleaders will have a cheer block built in to their academic schedule. This practice time is mandatory and should not be used to make other appointments, check out from school, or make up missing assignments from other classes. Because many of our girls are involved in other sports, the bulk of our practice happens during this time. It is crucial for every girl to be present.
3. Extra practices may be scheduled before summer camp, before Homecoming or special events, or at the sponsors’ discretion.
4. All practice sessions are closed. Parents, friends, and other students will be asked to wait outside of the gym or away from the immediate area where the cheerleaders are practicing. This is for the safety of the cheerleaders.
5. No stunts or tumbling will be done if the sponsors are not observing the practice. Failure to follow this rule will result in demerits.
6. All stunts will be learned in progressions from beginner to advanced levels. Cheerleaders who have not mastered beginning or intermediate skills may not perform advanced stunts.
Absences
1. Contact Mrs. Treadwell or Mrs. Jefcoat no later than 8:00 AM the day of practice or cheer block. If it is an appointment, club meeting, etc. notification should be at least a day in advance. This should be done via e-mail or through verbal explanation, not through a friend or a text message to a friend.
2. Only cases of sickness with a doctor’s excuse or death in the immediate family will be an excused absence from a game or pep rally. Team members will NOT be allowed to miss games or pep rallies.
3. Exceptions will only be made for emergency situations or a death in the family; but the sponsors must be advised of the situation as soon as possible.
4. A cheerleader must be at school 75% of the school day to participate in any activity associated with cheering (practice, pep rally, games, etc.).
5. Cheerleaders will be allowed 2 excused absences for summer practices and 2 for the school year. This includes cases of sickness.
6. If a cheerleader is sick and claims that she cannot practice as a result, the parent must provide written documentation. If there is no documentation, the cheerleader will receive appropriate demerits/grading for the day. However, in general if you are well enough to be at school, you are well enough to practice.
7. Any cheerleader who sees a doctor must bring a doctor’s release stating that she is eligible to participate in future activities. If a doctor’s release is not received, the cheerleader will not be allowed to participate in future activities until it is received.
8. Cheerleaders will not be excused from practices (unless extreme sickness or death in the family) the week of a pep rally and must attend the function(s) in uniform but will not perform. She must remain with the sponsors at all times.
Cheerleading & Homecoming
1. If a cheerleader is elected to the Homecoming Court, she is still required to participate in the Homecoming Pep-Rally and all practices before Homecoming. Failure to do so will result in sitting out the next pep-rally.
2. Cheerleaders that are elected to Homecoming Court are not expected to cheer at the game, but they are expected to assist with all preparations for and clean up after the Homecoming events as specified by the sponsor. Failure to do so will result in 3 demerits.
Camp
All cheerleaders must attend the mandatory camp practices and every day of cheerleader camp. There are NO absences allowed for camp practices and camp!!! The camp will be held at Southern Miss: June 4-June 7 2017.
Uniforms, Equipment, & Appearance
1. A cheerleader is responsible for the expenses of all cheerleader items.
2. Cheerleaders must wear the previously agreed upon outfit for all practices.
3. Cheerleaders must wear matching uniforms and accessories for all games, pep-rallies, etc. as specified by the sponsors. If a cheerleader arrives at an event not properly dressed, she will not participate in the event. This includes all accessories, uniform, poms, jackets, and hair.
4. Arrive at performances/games fully prepared for any kind of weather – have your raincoat, jackets, and pants always in your bag. We will look uniform at all times.
5. Jewelry other than stud earrings is prohibited. Religious jewelry must be taped to the body under clothing. No piercings other than ear piercings are allowed.
6. No visible tattoos are allowed.
7. No distracting or unnatural hair colors will be allowed.
8. Fingernails must be kept short for safety reasons. When looking at your hand with the palm facing up, fingernails should not be visible past the tips of the fingers.
9. Hair must be kept off of the face and shoulders. If hair is long enough to go into a ponytail, it must be kept up at all practices and events unless otherwise noted by the sponsor. Hair devices should be safe and secure with no pointed or sharp edges.
10. Some articles/props etc. will be the property of the cheer team since they will be purchased through fundraisers. These may be issued to the cheerleaders for the school year. These must be taken care of and returned. In the event that they are not returned, the cheerleader will be responsible for the cost of these items.
11. Cheerleaders must replace a lost or missing piece of a uniform at their own expense.
12. No uniform may be altered without prior approval from the coach.
Cost
The estimated cost for participation in the Pisgah High School Cheer Team will be approximately $2,000. This price will likely fluctuate. This includes: camp, camp clothes, uniform, shoes, poms, undergarments, bag, warm-up pieces, and pep-rally fee. When a student is selected as a cheerleader, a deposit of $350 will be due by March 10, 2017. This will go towards the deposit we will owe for our camp reservations and uniforms. When a student is selected as a cheerleader, any money raised will be non-refundable to the student if the student is dropped or withdraws from the squad for any reason. If a student is selected as a cheerleader and the student is dropped or withdraws from the squad, the student is responsible for paying for every item that has been ordered. There will be no returns or cancellations. If a student is late in paying the remainder of cheer fees, the student can be dropped from the squad. No cheerleader will be allowed to remain on the squad if the cheerleader has not paid in full by September 1, 2017.
Fundraisers
1. All cheerleaders are required to participate in fundraisers throughout the year. The proceeds of these fundraisers will help pay for supplies and equipment, transportation costs, etc. A percentage of these fundraisers will help to cover individual cheer costs for each girl.
2. Any money collected by a cheerleader for a fundraiser is her responsibility until it is turned in to the sponsor. If any money is lost or stolen while in a cheerleader’s possession, it is her responsibility to replace it in full.
3. The sponsor will receipt all money collected by and/or turned in by a cheerleader or parent/guardian. Please keep these receipts for future reference.