Competition Cheerleading

SEMS

Competition Cheerleading

Guidelines

2018-2019

Contact Information

Coach: Jeannie Dukarski

Email:

Assistant Coach: Lisa Grassi

Email:

South Effingham Middle School

1200 Noel C. Conaway Road

Guyton, GA 31312

Phone:912-728-7500

Fax: 912-728-7508

If you are mailing in the teacher recommendation forms, please mail them to the school address listed above and write to the attention of Jeannie Dukarski.

Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting and working with you and your cheerleaders!

2017-2018 Cheerleaders

I. QUALIFICATIONS

A. Grades

1)Athletes cannot turn 14 during their 6th grade year, 15 during their 7th grade year, or 16 during their 8th grade year.

2)The coaches will contact the administrators’/counselors’office for grade verification as often as required to monitor eligibility.

3)Any candidate interested in trying out for the team must have passed 3 out of 4 academic classes in the semester preceding the tryout date.

4)Any cheerleader who isfailing 1 or more academic class at progress reports will be suspended from the team for the remainder of the 9 weeks grading period.

5)Any cheerleader who does not pass 3 out of 4 academic classes for the grading period will not be eligible to cheer the following 9 weeks.

6)Coaches may ask students to get weekly grade and behavior reports filled out by their teachers. Cheerleaders who are not passing and behaving in their classes may be put on probation, at the discretion of the coach, until the grades/behavior improves.

B. Physical Fitness

1)Each cheerleader must be physically able to participate in long periods of strenuous activity.

2)No one will be allowed to try out for cheerleading without having a CURRENT physical on file with the school. If your physical runs out during the season, it is your responsibility to get a new one. Cheerleaders will NOT be allowed to participate without a current physical. This includes tryouts, practices, and competitions. Cheerleaders without current physicals are still required to dress out and attend each event, but may not participate in any way.

3)The physical is good for one calendar year and must be signed by a doctor. You must also have on file the parent consent form, travel form, and insurance information.

4)Warm-ups and fitness training are a regular part of every practice.

5)If a cheerleader requires medications, such as asthma inhalers or EpiPens, she must have it with her at ALL practices and competitions or she will not be allowed to participate in any way.

II. RULES AND REGULATIONS

A. Attitude and Leadership

1)Each cheerleader must maintain a desirable attitude and a spirit of cooperation in all classes. If a teacher has to meet with a coach about a cheerleader’s behavior in the class, the coach will take corrective actions, which may include conferencing with the cheerleader and/or parent, suspending the

cheerleader from a competition, recommending that the teacher follow handbook rules as they apply to the infraction, or remove the cheerleader from the team, depending on the severity and frequency of the incident. Teachers will be asked to speak to coaches regarding issues in class and teachers will

regularly check with teachers to see how the cheerleaders are behaving. Coaches may choose to discipline the cheerleader in addition to the teacher’s disciplinary actions.This is at the coach’s discretion.

2)Each cheerleader must realize that by being chosen to be a member of the team, she is making a commitment to the school and student body to be a school representative and leader. Behavior, attitude, and conduct should reflect this at all times.

3)Cheerleaders must be able to control, to the best of their ability, any unsportsmanlike conduct of fans, and will not participate in any unsportsmanlike conduct. Doing so will result in punishment or suspension from a competition.

4)Each cheerleader must be willing to cooperate fully with the coaches.

5)Any cheerleader involved in inappropriate behavior, such as bullying, frequent misbehavior, disrespect, or similar actions, will be placed on probation. If another incident occurs the cheerleader will be suspended from the team for either a set time period or the remainder of the season, depending on the seriousness of the infraction.

6)Actions that are mean or cruel to another student, on or off the cheer team, will not be tolerated in any way. The first time this happens the cheerleader will be put on probation. If another incident occurs, the cheerleader will be dismissed from the team for the remainder of the season.

7)Cheerleaders may not demonstrate any inappropriate behavior on social media (Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.). Inappropriate behaviors on social media will result in the cheerleader being punished by the coaches, being placed on probation, or dismissed from the team, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. Inappropriate social networking behaviors include, but are not limited to, mean/hurtful comments about peers, inappropriate pictures, inappropriate comments, bullying, harassment, or any activity that will reflect negatively on the team or school.

B. Fundraisers

1)All cheerleaders are expected to participate in fundraising activities since this is a part of being on a team. Each cheerleader should be willing to help plan, coordinate, and work at fundraising activities which will provide the financial backing for all members of the group. Every cheerleader must attend every fundraiser.

C. Absences from Athletic Events, Practices, and Summer Training

1)Each cheerleader will be given a copy of the schedules for all competitions and practices. It is the cheerleader’s responsibility to verify the time of each competition/practice with the coach, as there are occasional time changes or cancellations.

2)In the event that a cheerleader should have an unexcused absence from a competition or practice, she may be benched for the following competition, where she will sit (in uniform) with the coaches. Excused absences include personal illness, death in the family, or religion. Personal illness must be documented with a note from a physician or parent/guardian.

3)If a cheerleader cannot attend a competition or practice, or must leave early, the coaches must be notified prior to the event and must be notified by the cheerleader herself or her parent/guardian. If the coaches cannot be reached, contact the school office and leave a message for the coach. A written excuse must be presented to the coach the following school day. No one other than the coach may give a cheerleader permission to miss a competition or practice. Failure to notify the coach in advance may result in the cheerleader being benched for the following competition, where she will sit with the coaches (in uniform) during this competition. In addition, any cheerleader leaving school early on the day of a competition or practice must notify the coach herself before leaving.

4)Any competition cheerleader who misses all or part of apractice excused or not, may lose her starting spot to an alternate. This may be a temporary or permanent change, and is the coach’s decision.

5)If a cheerleader is absent from a practice the day before a competition, and isnot able to perform any new parts of the routine that she missed, she will not be allowed to participate in that week’s competition. If a cheerleader is not allowed to participate, for any reason, she must still dress out with the team and sit with the coach for the entire event.

6)Cheerleaders may not leave a practice early for any reason other than personal illness, death, or religion.

D. Tardiness to Practice and Competitions

1)Cheerleaders must be dressed in practice clothing and ready to begin the warm-up routine/stretches at 4:05. The mats should be set up and ready to perform on, as well. All cheerleaders are responsible for setting up and putting away the mats.

2)Cheerleaders must be dressed in full uniform and ready to depart for competitions at the time given by the coach.

3)Cheerleaders may not leave school during the day and then return for cheerleading practice or competitions unless they have been present for at least half of the school day. Students must be counted present (cannot leave before 12:00). Cheerleaders must attend school for half of the day to be counted present, and a cheerleader who is absent may not practice or perform with the team on the day of the absence, regardless of the reason for the absence. If an absence occurs the day before a competition, the cheerleader will not participate in the competition. If a cheerleader needs to leave school to attend a doctors’ appointment, she must stay long enough to be counted present and if possible return to school after the appointment. The coach must be notified by the cheerleader if she is leaving school early or arriving late.

4)Cheerleaders should be picked up from practices at the time and place set by the coach. Cheerleaders should be picked up from competitions as soon as they arrive back at the school. (Parents will be given an estimated time of arrival when returning from competitions). Any cheerleader who is not picked up on time and at the designated place will be punished at the coach’s discretion.

E. Rules at Competitions, Practices, Summer Training, Etc.

1)Cheerleaders may not use their phones, without prior permission from the coach, during a competition or practice.

2)Cheerleaders may not eat or chew gum during a practice or competition.

3)Cheerleaders must stretch and practice the routine at home on a DAILY basis.

4)All cheerleaders will help set up/put away the necessary equipment for each practice, such as mats, straps, etc.

5)Cheerleaders will conduct themselves as “ladies” at all times. She must not cheer against other teams or make rude or hurtful comments to other teams. Doing so will result in probation or suspension from the team, depending on the seriousness and frequency of the infraction.

6)Cheerleaders will stay together at all team events. They may not leave the designated area for any reason, unless given permission by the coach. Cheerleaders should sit together at all competitions.

7)Family, friends, boyfriends, etc. are not allowed to sit with or directly behind the cheerleaders at competitions.

8)Cheerleaders will maintain a positive, friendly attitude toward teammates, opponents, and school peers. Infractions include, but are not limited to, bullying, disrespect, physical violence, harassment, spreading rumors/gossip, causing emotional distress, and cruelty. Any cheerleader found to be participating in these infractions, directly or passively, disrupting the team environment, or failing to maintain a positive and friendly school/team environment will be placed on probation or dismissed from the

team, depending on the seriousness and frequency of the infraction. This applies to infractions at practices, competitions, in the school environment, or any place you are a representative of South Effingham Middle School.

9)All student handbook rules apply at all times.

10)Cheerleaders will ride the bus to and from events with the coach. The school will provide transportation. There will be no loud talking on the bus. Cheerleaders who exhibit behavior on the bus, at another school or event, at a restaurant, or anywhere they are representing South Effingham Middle School that is not acceptable and doesnot reflect our school in a positive light will be placed on probation, or be removed from the team, depending on the seriousness and frequency of the infraction.

F. Uniforms and Appearances

1)A cheerleader must have her FULL practice uniform at every practice. This includes cheer shoes with socks and hair being secured tightly in a high ponytail. She must also have EVERY part of her uniform at every competition. If the cheerleader does not have any part of her uniform, she is officially not in uniform and will not be allowed to participate in the competition.

2)Cheerleaders must take excellent care of their uniforms at all times. It is the responsibility of each cheerleader to care of her uniform. DO NOT DRY YOUR UNIFORMS.

3)Shoes should be cleaned before each competition. Competition cheer shoes may not be worn anywhere other than practices and competitions.

4)Cheerleaders may not wear any part of their uniform (including bows, socks, shoes, etc.) anywhere that is not a practice or competition for SEMS. Cheerleaders should not wear their cheer bows or any other part of the uniform to school, for other cheer teams, or anywhere else unless specifically directed to do so by the coach.

5)All cheerleaders are responsible for wearing a sports bra, in the color the coach designated at the beginning of the year, with their uniforms. The sports bra should not be visible when wearing the cheer uniform.

6)All cheerleaders are responsible for having the bloomers/spandex shorts the coach orders for the team at the beginning of the season. They must be worn under their uniform skirts.

7)Cheerleaders may not have their uniform permanently altered in any way. Uniforms may be taken in, but only using methods that do not cut the uniform, alter its appearance, or modesty in any way, can easily be removed, and donot leave any holes, seams, or markings of any kind visible on the uniform.

8)The cheerleader is responsible for buying all “personal” uniform parts unless otherwise directed by the coach. The school will assume the cost of the items that will be handed down.

9)If the cheerleader should lose her uniformor any other school paid items, the cheerleader is responsible for the cost of the lost items. Any and all school paid items must be returned at the end of the cheer season or paid for if lost.

10)Cheerleaders’ hair should be pulled away from the face so that it will not hang in the eyes. All members of the team must wear the same hairstyle. Any type of beads, hair clips, headbands, pins, etc. will not be worn in the hair. The only exceptions are for those with extremely short hair that cannot be worn in the style the coach decided on. State and national rules state that hair must be out of the face and off of the shoulders in order to meet safety guidelines. Cheerleaders must wear the designated hair accessory (such as cheer bows); it is part of the uniform. Cheerleaders may not dye their hair (all or part of it) any unnatural color as this is a school rule.

11)Cheerleaders may not wear any jewelry of any kind to practices or competitions. Cheerleaders may not get their ears pierced right before or during cheer season, as the new piercing will have to be removed on a regular basis. Cheerleaders who do not remove their jewelry will be considered out of uniform and will not be allowed to participate in the competition. Cheerleaders are encouraged not to bring any jewelry with them to practices or competitions, as this will prevent loss/theft.

12)Cheerleaders will maintain a neat, well groomed appearance. All grooming will be done in the restroom area only and should not interfere in practices or competitions in any way.

13)All fingernails must be active length (very short) so as to not cause injury to yourself or other team members. No nail polish may be worn during cheer season. Any cheerleader wearing nail polish at a competitionwill be considered out of uniform and will not be allowed to participate in the competition.

G. Evaluation and Dismissal

1)A cheerleader may be placed on probation, suspended from the team, or dismissed from the team at the discretion of the coach or school administration for any behavior deemed inappropriate for a student who has been elected to a leadership or prominent school position. Such actions would include, but are not limited to, office referrals, ISS, smoking, use of improper language, drinking of alcoholic beverages, drug use, cheating, fighting, being disrespectful to school personnel, or other behaviors that would reflect badly on the rest of the team, student body, or school.

2)As a representative of SEMS, a cheerleader is expected to behave in an appropriate manner when she is off campus, both at school and non-school related events. Failure to do so will result in probation, suspension from the team, or dismissal from the team, depending on the severity and frequency of the incident.

3)Any cheerleader suspended from the school will be automatically dismissed from the team permanently. Suspensions from the bus will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

4)When a cheerleader is put on probation or suspended from the squad, she must attend all practices and competitions, in full uniform and sit with the coach. When a cheerleader is placed on probation, breaking the conditions of the probation will result in dismissal from the team. If a cheerleader is dismissed from the team, she may not try out for any school cheer team the following year.

5)Any cheerleader who quits the team may not return to the team that year. Any cheerleader, who quits the team, may not tryout for another school sponsored team that season.

6)Any cheerleader interested in returning to the team the following year must tryout again. Present membership on a squad does not guarantee a position on the squad the next year.