CHEERLEADING RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Buckhorn High School cheerleading program is designed with the following tenets in mind:

  1. A cheerleader’s first responsibility is to her academic program. The educational process should not be

compromised by cheerleading.

  1. The primary function of a high school cheerleading program is to support interscholastic athletics.
  1. A high school cheerleading squad has the responsibility to uphold, to reflect, and to project the goals and ideals

of the community.

The cheerleader at Buckhorn High School has received an honor and a privilege—not a right. A cheerleader is in a very influential position in her relationship with the student body. Parents and the public look upon her as an example of ALL Buckhorn High students. In such a capacity, high standards must be met and maintained.

  1. Attendance:
  1. Cheerleaders must attend all practices, projects, games, and fundraisers. If a cheerleader misses a mandatory practice (before camp, school), she will be suspended from a pep rally and/or game. Girls who do not attend camp will not be allowed to cheer at Buckhorn High.
  1. Cheerleaders must attend at least half the school day on the day of an event in order to cheer. Per administration, cheerleaders will not be allowed to cheer if the student checks in/out the day of an event without a doctor’s excuse.
  1. The student must check out with the sponsor before leaving school if it is necessary to check out the day of a practice or game. Otherwise it is an unexcused absence.
  1. In case of an absence, the cheerleader must inform the sponsor one day prior to the activity or an unexcused absence will be recorded. Absence due to job, dance competition, drama, incomplete homework, etc. is unexcused. Each cheerleader will be given only ONE or TWOmisses per year, depending on the specific team. Every miss after this point will result in a letter grade drop for the nine weeks. Also, if she plans to tryout the next year, points will be deducted from her sponsor score. If she is a senior, she will not be allowed to participate in cheer tryouts.
  1. Cheerleaders are to leave out of town games with the sponsor or parent. The only exception will be if the cheerleader has written parental permission to leave with a relative or other school related parent. Written permission must be given to the sponsor at least one day prior to the game.
  1. If selected, the cheerleader must make arrangements to be at every practice, even if she is already enrolled in other activities.
  1. Tardiness:
  1. Cheerleaders must be on time to all practices, projects, games, and class.
  1. You must be at games according to the following time table:

Football = 45 minutes prior to game

Basketball = 30 minutes prior to game

Other Events = 15 minutes prior to activity

  1. Three tardies to any event will result in disciplinary action.
  1. Cheerleaders late to any away game will be left behind and will assume responsibility for transportation to the game by parent.
  1. Behavior and Attitude:
  1. Cheerleaders should observe all school rules and regulations. A serious violation may result in disciplinary probation or dismissal from the squad. Violations of school rules will result in captains losing their positions.
  1. Profane language, smoking, and drinking are not permitted at school related functions, whether the cheerleader is in uniform or not. If this occurs, the cheerleader will be suspended from the squad.
  1. A member who is insubordinate to the cheerleading sponsor may be placed on disciplinary probation or may be dropped from the squad.
  1. Scholarship:
  1. Cheerleaders must maintain a 75 overall average.
  1. If this academic average is not met, the cheerleader will be put on probation until grades improve. If the cheerleader receives a D in any subject regardless of overall average, she will be placed on probation for 2 weeks. If the cheerleader receives an F in any subject regardless of overall average, she will be placed on academic probation for 5 weeks. The cheerleader will be restricted from all activities and will use cheer class as a time to study in order to bring up the grade. (The sponsor will decide length of restriction based on grade.)
  1. If a cheerleader is placed on probation, the sponsor will periodically check grades to determine whether or not she will cheer. If the standards are not met, the cheerleader will be dropped from the squad.
  1. Uniform:
  1. A RIBBON must be worn in the hair AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN UNIFORM. This is considered a part of the uniform.
  1. Each cheerleader will be responsible for keeping her uniform neat and clean, or she will be required to replace damaged pieces.
  1. If a uniform is not suitable either in size or condition, the parents are responsible for the additional expense of a new uniform.
  1. When altering uniforms, DO NOT CUT!!!!!!
  1. Jewelry is not apart of the uniforms. Earrings, necklaces, and CELL PHONES will not be allowed during cheerpractice or events. Girls should have all new piercing done during the summer when there is no practice.
  1. Expense:
  1. Cheerleaders are responsible for keeping their account paid in full. If after 3 weeks an account is not paid in full, the cheerleader will be suspended from pep rallies and games until the account is cleared.
  1. Fundraisers are used as a means to raise funds. EVERYONE will participate in fundraisers. Failure to do so will result in suspension from a pep rally and/or game.
  1. Average cost to cheer per year = $2,500.00. This expense can be decreased through fundraising.

IF A CHEERLEADER DOES NOT FULFILL HER OBLIGATION TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE SPONSORS, SHE WILL BE PLACED ON PROBATION OR REMOVED FROM THE SQUAD.

PARENTS AND DAUGHTERS MUST RECOGNIZE THAT CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT. GIRLS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN GYMNASTICS, JUMPS, AND STUNTBUILDING. AT ANY GIVEN TIME A SEVERE INJURY COULD ACCURE. AS THE COACH OF THESE SQUADS AND MATRIX GYM,I WILL DO MY BEST TO TAKE ALL PERCAUTIONS IN PRETECTING THE CHEERLEADERS. HOWEVER, ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN! PLEASE RECOGNIZE THE DANGER OF THIS SPORT AS WELL AS ANY SPORT YOUR CHILD MAY PARTICIPATE IN.

I understand and support all the rules and regulations set forth by theBuckhorn High School cheerleading program.

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Parent SignatureStudent Signature

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(Date)

THE MANDATORY PRE-PARENT MEETING WILL BE APRIL 15, 2014 AT BUCKHORN. TRYOUTS WILL BE HELD APRIL 16, 17, 18 FROM 3:45 – 5:00. APRIL 18 TIME WILL BE EXTENDED DEPENDING ON NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS. POSTING OF TEAMS WILLBE ON THE MATRIX WEBSITE BY 8:00 pm.

HALF OF YOUR DAUGHTERS EXPENSE WILL BE DUE BY MAY 9! THE REMAINING BALANCE MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY JULY1, 2014. IF THE EXPENSE IS NOT COVERED, YOUR DAUGHTER WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE UNTIL BALANCE IS CLEARED. IF YOU CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE INFUNDRAISING YOU CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR SOME OF YOUR EXPENSES. THERE WILL BE TWO REQUIRED FUNDRAISERS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS BACK. MONEY EARNED WILL BE USED FOR YEARLY EXSPENSES. (Car Wash, Cheer Clinic)

ALL CAMPS WILL BE HELD DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AT THE MATRIX GYM.

MANDATORY PRACTICE WILL BE HELD TWICE A WEEK BEFORE CAMP AS WELL AS OTHER DESIGNATED DAYS. PRACTICE WILL BEGIN THE WEEK AFTER TRYOUTS. GIRLS WILL BE FITTED FOR UNIFORMS AND PRACTICE CLOTHES THE TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING TRYOUTS. ONCE ALL DESCISIONS ARE MADE YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE GIVEN A CALENDAR WITH UP TO DATE INFORMATION. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES:

POST PARENT MEETING – APRIL 29

FUNDRAISER – MAY 17 CAR WASH/ JULY 21-29(TBA) CHEER CLINIC

MANDATORY SKILLS CAMP – JUNE 2-16(TBA)

CHOREOGRAPHY SLUMBER – TBA (JUNE)

SUMMER PRACTICE AT THE MATRIX AND BUCKHORN (TBA)

ANY GIRL WHO MAKES THE SQUAD WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKECHEER/GYMNASTIC CLASS AT THE MATRIX FOR TWO HOURS A WEEK.(INCLUDED IN 12 MONTH CONTRACT)

For information regarding BHS Cheerleading, please check our website.