Cheerleader Tryout Information Packet

2013 - 2014

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your interest in the Ryan High School Cheerleading Program. It is important that you are aware of what is expected from each candidate during the week of tryouts, as well as what will be expected should your son/daughter be selected a squad member. There is a great commitment on the part of each student and parent that is selected as a Ryan Cheerleader. We hope you will find your experience rewarding.

The tryout dates for the RHS cheerleading squad will be as follows:

  • Monday, March 18th to Wednesday, March 20th (4:30 – 6:30 daily) – tryout clinic
  • Thursday, March 21st (4:30 – approx 7:00) – mock tryouts
  • More information will be given as to time prior to Thursday
  • Friday, March 22nd– tryouts (applicants will be given time, starting at 4:15 pm for warm ups. Applicants are expected to be in the commons area by 4:35 with tryouts will begin promptly at 4:45)

Every candidate, unless academically ineligible or suspended, will attend all daily practices. Tryout clinic is mandatory unless you were absent from school or academically ineligible.During practices, the candidates will learn the tryout routines and procedures. On the day of tryouts, each candidate must stay for the full tryout period for the squad she is trying out for in order to allow for judging callbacks. Tryouts are closed to the public. Only the sponsors, administrators/staff, judges, and graduating cheerleaders will be allowed in the gym. Cheerleaders for the 2013-2014 school year will be posted on the Ryan High School cheer website immediately following tryouts.

There will be a mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:00pm in the Ryan High School Renaissance Hall. Parents of all candidates who wish to tryout must attend. This meeting willprovide you additional information about the program as well as the tryout process.

The application attached must be completed by you and your son/daughter and turned in to the main office or the cheer sponsors (Christie Weir, Sara Terry, or Jayme Hunt) no later than March 8th by 4:10pm. A copy of your son/daughter’s report card from the 4th six weeks, a completed physical packet,and a 4x6 or larger headshot of the applicant must be attached. These items will not be returned. Late applications will not be accepted.The office referral form should be submitted by your son/daughter to his/her alpha principal by March 6thto allow time for that principal to submit the referral by March 20th. This referral form should be sent directly to Christie Weir via inter-campus mail by the principal. Your son/daughter should NOT receive this form back!

This year, physicals will be required of all applicants prior to tryouts. Physical packets will be due with the tryout packet. Denton ISD will be offering physicals at the ATC on Wednesday, March 6that 5:30 PM, for $10. Although we will not receive the completed physical until after tryouts, your son/daughter may participate in this. This packet has a “clearance” sheet that must be signed off prior to leaving the physicals that Wednesday. If your son/daughter plans to get the physical done elsewhere, please make sure that the doctor fills out the physical packet (available through campus trainers and online). ALL applicants MUST turn in a current physical packet to tryout.

Cheerleading is a full year commitment and requires many hours outside of regular school. This commitment requires enthusiasm and dedication, not only from the cheerleaders, but from the parents as well. The team can be at its best only if we have your support. We hope each of you will be willing to give your support to your daughter/son and the squad as they prepare for a successful 2013-2014school year!

If you have any questions, please contactChristie Weirat (940) 369-3213 or .

IMPORTANT DATES

February 26th Parent Meeting 6:00pm in the RHS Renaissance Hall.

March 8thTryout applicationwith attached report card, physical, and picturedue!

March 18th- 20th Tryout routines taught

March 21stMock tryouts

March 22ndTryouts begin promptly at 4:45PM(warm ups at 4:15)

March 25th Required uniform fitting for 2013 – 2014 squad members (time TBA)

March 26th Required parent meeting for ALL parents of the 2013-2014 squad members

*$100 non-refundable camp deposit due at this meeting*

June 8th-June 11th Summer Cheer Camp at Great Wolf Lodge(MANDATORY for all 2013-2014 squad members)

ELIGIBILILTY

  1. Anyone who meets the set qualifications will not be discriminated against because of race, creed, education, or handicap.
  2. Prospective candidates shall be entering grades nine (9) through twelve (12).
  3. The varsity squad will consist of juniors and seniors. The junior varsitysquad will consist of sophomores and juniors. The freshmen squad will consist of freshmen only.
  4. Application must be turned in prior to or on the designated date (Friday, March 8th by 4:10 PM) in order to attend workshops and tryout. No late forms will be accepted! Do not show up at the clinic with your tryout packet, you will be turned away!
  5. Physical packets must be completed and turned in with the tryout packet.
  6. To be eligible for tryouts, candidates must have passed all classes during the fourth (4th) six weeks period. If academically ineligible, candidates will not be able to attend clinic. However, they may participate in tryouts.Videos will be placed on the internet that contain the tryout material. The first day of clinic, academically ineligible candidates may come pick up a handout that has the website of where to find these videos. After this, ineligible candidates will not be allowed inside the gyms during clinics.
  7. Candidates must reside with their parent/guardian(s) within the Denton Independent School District or show proof of future DISD residency and must reside within the RHS attendance zone, unless they are cleared with DISD and an approved transfer request is on file with the RHS principal.
  8. All candidates must attend school half of a day on the workshop and tryout dates in order to be eligible to participate.
  9. Candidates will be expected to perform required routines. A panel of three (3) qualified judges outside of DISD will judge the performance of the candidates during a closed tryout session.
  10. A panel of one (1) to two (2) qualified scorekeepers (different from the three qualified judges) will tabulate all candidates’ scores during a closed tryout session.

TRYOUT CLINIC

  1. Each candidate will learn a cheer, two to three chants, required jumps, and a dance routine (dance may be replaced with stunting for the male applicants).
  2. All candidates will wear proper work out attire. Shorts must be of an appropriate length and tops must be in dress code. Candidates must wear tennis shoes approved for a gym floor. No jewelry can be worn during the workshop and hair must be up and out of the eyes at all times.
  3. Gum, canned beverages, and food are not allowed in the gym. Candidates can bring a closed container of water.
  4. Any candidate academically ineligible is required to learn the routine on his/her own time. In the event that the candidate is selected as a cheerleader, they will be placed on a probationary status. If he/she does not regain their eligibility during the next grading period, they will forfeit their membership.
  5. Seniors will not be available outside of the 4:30 – 6:30 workshop hours to assist ANY applicant!

TRYOUTS

  1. Tryouts are closed to spectators. Those eligible for attendance include the sponsors, judges, RHS administrators, RHS staff, and graduating cheerleaders.
  2. Each candidate must wear a plain white t-shirt (no v–neck), plain navy shorts (no short/tight shorts), tennis shoes, plain white socks, hair in pony tail, and awhite ribbon (optional). No jewelry will be allowed.
  3. Each candidate will be issued a number during the workshop and this will be their order number for tryouts.
  4. Candidates will be scored by judges on the following basis:
  5. Cheer technique and motions
  6. Spirit (showmanship) – projection, smile, enthusiasm, poise, and confidence.
  7. Jumps (technique and form)
  8. Tumbling (technique, form, and difficulty)
  9. Dance technique (in groups of three) – precision, rhythm, and memorization
  10. For males trying out, this category may be replaced by stunting. He will choose a female that is also trying out. He will have three (3) opportunities to show the judges any partner stunts that he is capable of. Graduating cheerleaders, other male applicants, and sponsors will be available to act as spotters.
  11. Selection of the members will be based on judges’ scores (80%) and Assistant Principal Recommendations, which will be based ongrades, discipline referrals, and attendance/tardies (20%) for a total of 100%.
  12. The judges’ decision is final!
  13. Announcement of the new cheerleaders will be made following the conclusion of the tryouts, any callbacks, and final tally of all scores. The results will be posted on the Ryan High School cheerleading website.
  14. All appeals about the selection process will be in writing and must address the specific written aspect of the selection process to Mr. Joel Hays, Associate Principal. Initial appeals must originate at the campus level and must follow DISD policies and procedures for student/parent grievances.
  15. Any candidate that is unable to attend tryouts will need to submit a video tryout. He/she must video the tryout in the gym during the week of clinic. He/she will have ONEopportunity to perform the required cheers, dance/stunts, and jumps. There must be a sponsor present when the tryout is filmed. Reasons for the absence must be approved by the sponsors prior to the tryout date.

THE SEASONS OF CHEERLEADING

1.Spring – Tryouts, captain tryouts, preparation for camp, fundraising, baseball, softball.

2.Summer – Fundraising, summer practices, camp, sign painting.

3.Fall – Practices, pep rallies, football/volleyball games, road rally, homecoming, fundraisers.

4.Winter – Practices, pep rallies, football playoffs, basketball, soccer.

FINANCES: PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY!

Below you will find an itemized list of some of the expenses that you will encounter this year. Hopefully, this will give you an idea of what to expect financially. The largest sum of money will be paid in the beginning. However, some items may be purchased over a period of time. Great care is taken by the coaches to keep the cost as low as possible.

  1. Required uniform items purchase by the cheerleader:
  2. Socks/Shoes – $75.00
  3. Ribbons - $20.00 - $35.00
  4. Briefs - $10.00 each (2 pairs required)
  5. Warm ups -$150.00
  6. Camp Clothing - $200.00
  7. Bag - $30.00
  8. Megaphone - $50.00
  9. Sweatshirt - $30.00
  10. T-Shirts - $30.00
  11. Events
  12. Camp - $400.00
  13. Stunt Clinics – up to $30.00
  14. Big/Little Sis Functions/Gifts
  15. Christmas Party
  16. Breakfast/Dinner Socials
  17. Road Rally - $70.00
  18. Football Dinners/Snacks - $75.00
  19. Miscellaneous
  20. Pep Rally Items - $12.00
  21. Pictures - $20.00 - $40.00
  22. Tumbling classes (Highly recommended, but not required)
  23. Fundraising
  24. Ad Sales - $200 commitment (can be paid for through selling ads)
  25. Car Washes – Donation of about $30 if a car wash is missed
  26. Flower Cards - $60 commitment (can be paid for through selling cards)

*A $100.00 non-refundable deposit will be due at the first parent meeting (3/26). The remaining amount for summer camp will be due the first week of Apriland no later*

Unfortunately, no scholarships will be given for cheerleading. If you need to make arrangements to pay out the cost of camp in increments, please contact the sponsors before the due date. The balance for camp and camp clothes must be paid prior to attending camp. No items will be given out until they are paid in full! The school provides the official field uniforms. These uniforms are issued to the cheerleaders and returned at the end of the school year.

Please remember that prices may vary slightly.

RYAN HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING TRYOUT CHECKLIST

  • Read entirety of this tryout packet
  • Attend required tryout meeting on February 26th, 2013
  • Turn in completed Tryout Application by March 8th, 2013
  • Application(signed by applicant AND parent/guardian)
  • Copy of Current Report card
  • GradeSpeed reports are accepted but MUST show six weeks’ grades for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, AND 4th six weeks)
  • Completed Physical Packet
  • If the physical is done at the Denton ISD physical, the “Cheerleading Physical Pass” must be turned in with the rest of the physical packet.
  • 4x6 (or larger) Head Shot
  • Blank CD (not required)
  • Turn in Office Referral Form to Assistant Principal by March 6th, 2013(due to RHS by March 20th, 2013)

RYAN HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERSTRYOUT APPLICATION

Name: ______T-Shirt (regular) size:______

Address: ______Cell #: ______

E-Mail Address: ______DISD Student ID #: ______

MOTHER’S INFORMATION

Name: ______E-Mail Address: ______

Cell Phone: ______Best Form of Contact: ______

FATHER’S INFORMATION

Name: ______E-Mail Address: ______

Cell Phone: ______Best Form of Contact: ______

Emergency Contact Information (include name & number): ______

Position trying out for (Please Circle):

VarsityJunior VarsityVarsity OR Junior VarsityFreshman

Reminder: Seniors can only tryout for varsity; juniors can try out for varsity or junior varsity; sophomores can only tryout for junior varsity; freshmen can only tryout for freshman

List other clubs or activities you plan on being a part of next year? ______

My daughter/son, ______, has my permission to tryout for the Billy Ryan High School Cheerleaders for the 2013-2014 school year. My daughter/son and I understand the financial obligations that must be met as set forth in the Constitution if selected as a cheerleader. We also understand that the school and/or coaches assume no responsibility for accident or injury that might occur during any cheerleading activity, including tryouts.

We have read the tryout information concerning the cheerleading organization and the tryout procedures. We are satisfied that it is a privilege and not a right to be chosen as a RHS cheerleader for the 2013-2014 school year. We also understand that not everyone can be chosen.

Signature of Candidate

______Date: ______

Signature of Parent

______Date: ______

*Please attach a copy of the 4th six weeks report card, completed physical packet, and headshot*

*If you want a copy of the music, please submit a blank CD with your name on it with this application*

OFFICE REFERRAL FORM

This portion to be completed by the Cheerleading Candidate

Name:______ID #:______

Alpha Principal:______

************************************************************

This portion to be completed by the candidate’s Alpha Principal

How many discipline referrals has the above mentioned student had: ______
______

Please indicate how many of the following disciplinary actions this student has received:

Tardy Detention:______

Thursday Night Detention:______

ISSC:______

Suspension from School:______

Signature of Alpha Principal: ______

Please attach a copy of the Student’s attendance record.

************************************************************

Please return this form to Christie Weir at Ryan High School by March 20th, 2013. Please do not give this form back to the candidate.

CHEERLEADER PHYSICAL PASS

This form is for applicants participating in the Denton ISD physicals at the ATC on March 6th, 2013. When the applicant completes his/her physical, a staff member/doctor will sign off that the physical has been completed. Please have the name portion of this form filled out PRIOR to entering the physical. If the applicant is selected as a member of the 2013-2014 squad, a copy of the physical will be retrieved from the trainers at RHS.

Applicant Name: ______Physical #: ______

This cheerleader was cleared during the high school physical.

______
Doctor/Checkout SignatureDate