FALL Dance TeamInterpretations and FAQ’s

There have been many questions in regard to what can and cannot be done with a fall dance team program – either managed/sponsored by the school; or managed/sponsored by someone outside of the school. Listed below are answers to questions and issues that have been brought forward.

Please share this information with coaches. I would also ask that any questions from coaches or parents be routed through the school AD. Your cooperation is appreciated.

General Information:When determining what can and can’t be done with Dance Team, use other current sport programs as examples. For instance, if you ran a fall basketball program or a winter volleyball program, how would it have to be run? As a school you could have a program, but the coaches could not be members of your regular season staff. The kids involved could not play games against another schools or any other team outside of your school. Some sort of club or intramural program could be run. A booster club could provide funds for such a program. You could use school uniforms as this would be an “in-house” program.

The other example is to compare fall dance to programs currently run outside of your school – AAU Basketball, or JO Volleyball. In either case entities outside of the school may sponsor a team. They may charge the players to play, they can have try-outs and create their own rules and they can compete against other teams. However, they cannot be a school team, cannot use school uniforms, and coaches cannot be members of the school staff in that sport. They could be allowed to use school facilities, but that would have to be done under the same guidelines and restrictions as any other outside organization. Booster clubs that support school programs could not provide funding for these teams or for individuals to be on these teams. Students could not participate with these teams during the MSHSL season for that activity. The same could be done for Dance Team.

Local Control:Keep in mind that many of the issues can be dealt with by decisions made by your school or district – if this is a school sponsored/managed program. The following would come under local control or decision making:

  • To allow booster club financing of school sponsored programs
  • To allow kids to letter for a school sponsored program
  • Whether or not school uniforms or equipment is used.
  • Who is allowed to participate
  • Whether the group can perform at events
  • Who is allowed to perform
  • When the program begins and ends
  • What eligibility rules apply to this club/activity
  • And many others. . . .

Specific Questions:

  1. Can I use the spring try-out time frame to select members for our fall dance program?

Yes and No – Fall coaches may conduct try-outs for the fall team during the spring try-out time frame if it is specific to fall team selection. Winter competitive coaches may not be involved in the selection of team members for any spring or fall programs. Winter team members cannot be required to participate in fall programs. Winter team tryouts cannot be used to choose members of the fall team.

  1. Who determines the policies and procedures for a school or a non-school program?

The school may determine policies and procedures for programs managed by the school. Whatever organization sponsors the non-school team wouldbe able to develop the rules and policies for that group.

  1. May fall groups continue to participate at football games or other events throughout the fall?

Yes – that is up the school to decide. This can be determined in the same manner that decisions are made on whether or not to allow other groups – either school-sponsored or not – to perform at school events. The school regulates this as they choose.

  1. May these groups continue to perform at events after the Dance Team winter season begins?

Yes – as long as the group/activityis school sponsored, that group could continue to perform as long as a team is still participating in the state tournament series. However, in-season athletes are not allowed to compete on non-school teams during the season, so if the Dance group is sponsored outside of the school and they compete in Jazz or High Kick, members of the winter competitive team could not perform after October 24, and could no longer be a member of that non-school team. If the non-school team is Pom, Tap, Lyrical or some other dance style this rule would not apply – same as the current rule that governs the winter season. Once the winter season starts, the winter competitive team would also be eligible to perform, as that team would now be “in season.”

  1. What are the limitations on booster club spending?

Booster clubs may give money to the school. Schools can then use that money to fund coach’s salaries or other expenses of running either the fall or winter program. The MSHSL does not and cannot govern booster clubs, so the booster clubs can choose to spend their money however they wish. HOWEVER – what the booster club does can affect the eligibility of the participants. If booster clubs provide funding for individuals to go to camps; if they funded $100 cash awards to the best dancers; or if they gave money to a program run outside of the school -- and members of the winter competitive team accepted any of these “benefits,” those students would be in violation of eligibility rules – Bylaws 201, 203 and 204.

  1. Our coaches will not be coaching in the fall program. However, can they coach or train the coaches that will be running the fall program?

Yes – there are no rules that keep coaches from working with or training other coaches. They could teach other coaches drills and techniques and also teach them how they would like skills taught. They could also instruct on how to conduct practices. However, they could not attend practices and then offer critiques or other feedback to the coaches. This would be looked at in the same manner that coaches in other sports can instruct and work with coaches who are coaching teams/groups/programs that are outside of the school.

  1. May our school provide uniforms for a school-sponsored club/group?

Yes – as long as it is a school-sponsored group, school uniforms may be used. A non-school sponsored group cannot use school uniforms and also cannot use school colors, nicknames, etc. Schools may follow their local policies for the disposal of obsolete equipment, and if non-school groups obtained uniforms in that manner, those uniforms could be used.

  1. Our school runs or would like to run a Pom Squad or Hip Hop group (or any other style of dance) in the fall. If the dance style is significantly different, can the winter competitive team coaches coach athletes who are members of their winter program?

No – while some styles of dance may be significantly different it is very difficult, if not impossible to distinguish these differences and to separate the dance skills, elements, movements, etc. So winter competitive team coaches may not coach their athletes in any style of dance except during the summer waiver period and the winter competitive season.

  1. May we have try-outs and cut students from a fall performance group?

That is a local decision. As mentioned previously the school may develop policies in this area for a school sponsored team, and the non-school sponsored team could of course do the same.

  1. We want to have a school sponsored fall program. We know that anyone can participate. Do we have to allow everyone to perform?

No, you could select those who are capable of performing at a reasonable level. You could also run different levels – such as an A team and a B team.

  1. Can “teams” participate at another school’s revue?

Yes – A “fall team” or group could perform in a revue if winter coaches are not involved in coaching, planning, organizing or running the event.