Ladue High School
Cheerleading Guidelines
2013-2014
Philosophy
The Ladue Cheerleaders will serve as the primary support group to lead and direct spirit for fall and winter sports. Members shall encourage school pride, good sportsmanship, and a positive image in ALL school activities. Good personal conduct is not limited to the sidelines. Members will strive to project an image of high standards, morals, and goals for others to follow. Ladue Cheerleading is a progressive athletic program, which offers levels of cheerleading that include a freshman, JV and Varsity team. Cheerleaders are spirit leaders, role models, and athletes. This program is designed to facilitate personal growth in the areas of responsibility, dedication, teamwork, self-confidence, and basic life skills.
Purpose
1. Promote and uphold school spirit.
2. Represent LHS to the highest degree.
3. Set an example of good behavior at all times (whether in uniform or not) this includes: in class, at games, and at all school functions, whether cheering or not.
4. Promote friendships between freshman, JV and Varsity cheer squads.
5. Promote friendships among other schools.
Priorities
1. A cheerleader’s main responsibilities are his/her academics. The educational process should not be compromised by participation in cheerleading.
2. The primary function of a high school cheerleading program is to support interscholastic athletics.
3. A high school cheerleading squad has the responsibility to uphold, reflect, and project the goals and ideals of their school community.
4. Cheerleaders incorporate gymnastics, jumps, partner stunts, arm motions, pyramids, and dance movements to keep the crowd’s attention/direction focused on the field/floor where the athletic contest is taking place.
5. Cheerleaders have a responsibility to put forth an athletic and dedicated effort at all times.
6. All cheerleaders have a commitment to the athletic season and schedule they are assigned. Cheerleading will be a priority over any other commitments, functions, and obligations a cheerleader would choose to do.
Requirements
1. For each semester, cheerleaders must maintain appropriate grades, credits, and citizenship.
2. Cheerleaders must maintain good citizenship marks, attendance, class performance, and teacher recommendations, which can be asked for anytime during the year.
3. All cheerleaders must have a physical before the first August practice. Cheerleaders will be benched from all cheerleading activities until a physical is turned in.
4. If you are injured during the summer or regular season and have received medical attention, which results in restricted activity, you must be cleared by the school’s athletic trainer to be reinstated.
5. All cheerleaders must maintain a cooperative and positive attitude.
6. Cheerleaders are responsible to have all proper attire with them at all times, which include games and practices.
7. Cheerleaders must be fully prepared or ready at the start of any cheerleading activity. Ex. Games, practices, fundraisers, performances.
8. All cheerleaders must have fourteen full cheerleading practices before they can cheer the first game for each season.
Conduct
1. By accepting the privilege/honor of wearing a LHS uniform, a girl accepts the fact that her actions are more prominent than those not associated with such an activity. Because of this prominence and because cheerleaders represent the school, exemplary behavior is mandatory at all times, anywhere in the community of LHS and at all functions where the girls are recognized as representatives of Ladue.
2. Proper appearance is required at all times.
3. Cheerleaders must not use foul language at practice, in school, at games, camp, etc.
4. Cheerleaders must not post inappropriate pictures or use foul language on internet sites.
5. Excessive public displays of affection are never considered appropriate, especially in uniform, at games or in school.
6. Drug use (including alcohol) is not allowed at any time according to Ladue’s Athletic/Activities Code of Conduct, either on or off campus. The consequences are explained in the Code of Interscholastic Athletics/Activities, which all parents and cheerleaders must sign. In addition, LHS cheer coaches reserve the right to impose additional consequences based on the circumstances of the offense, ranging from being benched to dismissal from the squad.
7. Cheerleaders must display proper behavior in the class including: being on time, not skipping and not cheating. If grades are not meeting the Ladue Athletic Standards a cheerleader may be required to be benched until her grades are back up.
8. A demerit system to deal with minor infractions such as: tardiness, missed practices, wearing nail polish, missing uniform items (including poms and ribbon etc.), is put into place to ensure all cheerleaders are held accountable for their actions.
9. Respecting coaches, fellow cheerleaders, and property is vital to insure a successful program.
Attendance
1. Regular attendance at school and practice is
expected.
2. Cheerleaders are required to be present at all assigned games, spirit events and fundraising activities.
3. Each cheerleader will be given one opportunities to miss per season. The second time a cheerleader misses she will be given a demerit.
4. If you are absent the practice before the game you will not be allowed to participate during the quarter cheer.
5. If you will not at a practice coaches need to know by 12:00 pm of that day or it is a demerit.
6. You must be present at school for a half of a day to be able to participate in practices and games.
ABSENCES:
1. Illness: Call your coach if you are going to be absent.
2. Doctor Appointments: If a doctor appointment is unable to be scheduled around practice or games a doctor’s note is required upon the return of the cheerleader. All doctor appointments that interfere with practice or a game should be discussed with the coach prior to the practice.
3. Make-Up Tests: You are to schedule make-up tests on days other than practice days if possible. If the only time a teacher will give a make-up test is during practice, you need to have a note signed by the teacher stating that you were there taking the test.
4. Chronic absences: may result in dismissal: If absences become disruptive to the team, the coach may choose to dismiss a cheerleader from the team for not adhering to expected guidelines and commitment.
5. Tardiness: Will be handled through disciplinary action of the coach. Frequent tardiness will result in a demerit.
6. Leaving Practice Early: must be pre-approved by the coach before the day of practice. If the cheerleader fails to approve the early dismissal she will receive a demerit.
Uniforms
1. Cheerleaders will wear the appropriate uniform on all game days and spirit events. It is the responsibility of the member to find out which uniform is to be worn from a captain.
2. A uniform not only consists of the actual uniform itself but also includes proper color of briefs, ribbon, shoes, poms, liner, proper sports bra, as well as the warm-up.
3. Cheerleaders not in proper uniform in school or out will receive a demerit. Cheerleaders should wear precisely what the captain or coach specifies for school and the game.
4. At practice and games cheerleaders are not allowed to wear any jewelry. This includes body piercings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, watches, pony tail holders around the wrist, etc. This is for the cheerleaders’ protection and mandated by the Missouri Cheerleading Association. During the school day a cheerleader may wear a watch and small earrings.
5. Hair longer than shoulder length must be pulled back in a ponytail. All cheerleaders must wear a ribbon regardless of their hair length.
6. Cheerleaders may not wear bright nail polish. Clear, light pink or a neutral color is allowed. If not sure if a color is acceptable ask the coach before you paint your nails.
7. Cheerleaders should come to practice dressed in appropriate clothing: shorts, t-shirt, cheerleading shoes, and hair up. Cheerleaders not dressed properly could possibly receive a demerit and not be able to participate in practice.
8. All uniforms provided by the school are the cheerleader’s responsibility to take care of. All uniforms should be turned into the coaches at the end of the year in the same shape the uniforms were issued out in.
9. At the end of the season all uniforms and pomes need to be turned. If anything is not turned in the cheerleader is financial responsible for the price of the item.
Financial Obligations
Cheerleaders and their parents/guardians are responsible for fulfilling their financial obligation.
1. Financial obligations include shoes, liners, camp, cheer bags, cheer fee, camp clothes and possible costs throughout the school year.
2. Half the financial obligation is due on parent night on April 8th and the full payment is due by May 9th.
3. For any reasons why payments cannot be made in full by May 9th, please speak with the coaches.
4. A cheerleader may not tryout for cheerleading if they have an open balance. Seniors must pay their balance to the cheerleading program before graduation.
5. Each Cheerleader is expected to fundraise a specific amount for the team. This money is use for a variety of things. Some examples are: try-out judges, awards, special bows, prizes and activities throughout the season.
6. To help lower the total cost of the financial obligations any fundraising sold over the expected amount can be taken off the obligation cost.
Game Rules and Etiquette
Each Cheerleader should become familiar with the game rules and procedures for each sport for which they are cheering:
1. No visiting with friends.
2. Watch the game and be aware of what’s going on
3. Learn your cheers/chants and support your players. Failure to know cheers and chants adequately can result in a benching.
4. Cheerleaders must stay the entire game, except in an emergency (which is pre-approved).
5. No fussing with hair or makeup during games
6. Hair must be worn out of your face and off your shoulders.
7. No jewelry allowed.
8. Cheerleaders must be in proper uniform with proper equipment.
9. Be consistently positive and spirited and strive for a professional appearance and performance.
10. If you do not know the chants/cheers you may be benched until you are ready.
Camp
1. All Cheerleaders are expected to go to camp. No expectations.
2. All camp participants must purchase their squad’s specific camp attire.
3. If a cheerleader misses any practices before camp, they might not be in the performances.
Squad Assignments
1. Freshman level is for freshman only.
2. JV level can include freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
3. Varsity level can include freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
4. Once a cheerleader is assigned to her appropriate squad she must commit fully to that squad.
Schedule Commitment
Upon signing the cheerleading guidelines you are agreeing to and will be supportive of the provided cheerleading schedule. The schedule is subject to change at the coach’s discretion.
Demerit System
Examples of how cheerleaders can receive demerits (Please note: all examples are not included):
1. Any absence from fundraising or kids’ clinic. (1 demerit)
2. Excused absence not followed up by a note with an explanation (1 demerit)
3. Excessive tardiness or early dismissals (1 demerit)
4. Not in proper uniform or with proper equipment at practice or games (includes bow, poms, shoes jewelry etc.) (1 demerit)
5. Inappropriate conduct: posting inappropriate language, pictures on social media sights ( 2 demerits)
6. Low grades and poor citizenship grades could result in benching until grades are acceptable. Possible dismissal if too many practices are affected.
7. Failure to contact coach when absent. This includes all excused and unexcused absences. (1 demerit)
8. Not pre-approving absences or early releases prior to the date of absence (1 demerit)
Demerits can be issued at the coach’s discretion. Any infraction of a rule in this packet could result in a demerit(s).
The demerit consequences are below.
1= warning
2= warning
3= benched for 1 game
4= benched for 2 games
5= benched for 3 games
6= benched for 4 games
Please Note: Any major infraction could result in a dismissal, as well as excessive demerits. All infractions not stated in this packet will be dealt with on an individual basis.
I read and understand the cheerleaders’ guidelines. I hereby agree/support the rules and regulations established for the Ladue High School Cheerleaders.
Cheerleader’s Signature______Date______
Parent’s Signature______Date______