Guidelines
ATHENS ACADEMY
2008-2009
JUNIOR VARSITY/VARSITY CHEERLEADING GUIDELINES
Coach: Haley Whitley
Assistant Coach: Nita Woodruff
We the cheerleaders of Athens Academy, dedicate ourselves to promoting school spirit and to leading and guiding spectator participation at athletic events. We realize how that being a cheerleader is an honor that carries with it the responsibility of leadership, maintaining character worth emulation, as well as demonstrating positive and supportive loyalty to our school. Our program inspires young women who pride themselves as exemplary student-athletes, both in the classroom and on and off the field, to be the best that they can be.
ARTICLE I: Membership
• Upon making the Athens Academy Cheerleading squad, all cheerleaders are eligible to remain on the squad provided they:
1. Meet the academic requirements
2. Follow all rules and guidelines
• Each cheerleader must be fully committed to her responsibilities and maintain a positive attitude!
“We don’t HAVE to cheer, we GET to cheer!”
ARTICLE II: Officers
• Those eligible are girls who have been a varsity cheerleader for at least one year or two seasons, for that particular sport (football or basketball).
• The CO-CAPTAINS share the leadership responsibilities of the squad. They will have the following responsibilities:
1. Serve as a liaison between the coach and the squad.
2. Make decisions for the squad when necessary.
3. Keep up the morale of the squad.
4. Call the cheers and chants during each game.
5. Greet the opponent’s cheerleading squad.
6. Prepares and leads practices.
ARTICLE III: Practice for Summer and Regular Season
SECTION I: Dress
• Practice clothes do not have to coordinate unless otherwise specified by the coach or captains.
• Hair must be pulled back off of the face and shoulders and no jewelry is allowed.
• Tennis shoes and practice clothes must be worn to practices, regardless of the activity for that practice.
SECTION II: Time and Location
• Practices are scheduled from 4:15-6:00, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, unless otherwise specified by the coach.
• Practices will be held in the Spartan Center, unless otherwise specified by the coach.
• The practice schedule will be on the website, so that you know in an adequate amount of time.
• Please remember that the practice schedule is subject to change. I will post changes on our cheerleading web site.
SECTION III: Attendance for Practice
• All practices are MANDATORY. The coach must approve any absence in advance. You will know the practice schedule prior to; therefore, it is your responsibility to plan AROUND our practices.
• If a cheerleader is absent from school, it is HER responsibility to let the coach know, BEFORE practice, for that particular day.
• If a practice is missed during the week, for an unexcused reason, the participant will sit for HALF a game that particular week.
• Excused absences will not result in the participant being benched. An excused absence consists of sickness, emergencies, or family emergencies. Please try to schedule ALL doctor, dentist, and hair appointments on our off days, unless there is a medical emergency.
• An unexcused tardy to a practice, will result in the participant running 2 extra laps around the track that day. Please note that school tutorials or academic functions would be an excused tardy or absence from practice, although, the coach WILL NEED a note from a teacher as well as a call from the cheerleader to let us know she’ll be late.
ARTICLE IV: Games
SECTION I: Dress
• On the day of a game or pep rally, cheerleaders are required to wear the assigned uniform to school. The only jewelry that will be permitted while you are wearing your uniform, during school time, are small stud earrings. While cheering at any event, absolutely NO jewelry will be allowed, even small earrings. This is a violation of GHSA rules.
• Hair must be pulled into a ponytail, out of face and off shoulders, while cheering at any function. A ribbon must be worn as well.
• NO DARK FINGERNAIL POLISH is allowed while cheering. A neutral color or clear polish is fine. Please note, for safety, fingernails should not be longer than tip of finger.
• Cheerleading shoes must be worn with uniforms and/or warm-ups. Other shoes such as flip flops, are not apart of the uniform, which would violate Athens Academy dress code as well.
SECTION II: Time and Attendance
• Cheerleaders are to arrive to HOME games 1 hour (no later), before the game.
• Cheerleaders must be COMPLETELY dressed and ready to cheer upon your arrival. This means, uniform is on in its entirety, NO FLIP FLOPS upon arrival!
• For away games, cheerleaders must meet at the designated time for transportation to the game.
• Tardiness to a game will result in FIRST HALF suspension for that particular game.
• Missing a game is unacceptable. The only time there will be exceptions is in the case of an emergency or illness. If a game is missed due to personal reasons, you will sit out the following game in its entirety.
• Transportation to and from away games will always be provided to squad members, via bus. Although I prefer the squad to ride together, as a squad, I understand that parents may want to transport their child home after a game. In this situation, a note needs to be presented to either coach, before the game. Not only is this important for the safety of the athlete, but also for the coach to have an accurate count of girls returning on the bus. Another reason for letting us know early is so the moms, who are providing food for the ride home, also have an accurate number of girls to provide food for.
SECTION III: Game Responsibilities
• Each cheerleader will be required to perform some sort of duty at each game. Duties might include: carrying flag, run-thru banner, trash, food, fence signs and tape, and poms.
• During the game, cheerleaders will lead the crowd by performing cheers, chants and all other spirit boosting activities.
• Attendance at games is MANDATORY, unless there is an emergency or illness.
ARTICLE V: Injuries
• Though safety is the top concern at all times, injuries may occur.
• It is the cheerleader’s responsibility to report any injury to the coach IMMEDIATELY!
• If a cheerleader has been injured, and has seen a doctor, the coach MUST have a written notice, from the doctor, regarding his or her status. She will not be allowed to return to activity without written clearance from the doctor.
ARTICLE VI: Cheerleading Uniforms
• Each cheerleader will rent his/ her cheerleading uniform from Athens Academy.
• Each cheerleader will be responsible for purchasing the following items for their uniform: bloomers, cheerleading shoes, body liner, warm-ups, camp wear, and hair ribbon.
• Anytime a cheerleader is wearing her uniform, she is representing Athens Academy and must act accordingly by complying with all school rules and presenting herself as a respectable young lady.
ARTICLE VII: Varsity Letter Qualifications
• In order to earn a varsity letter in cheerleading, a cheerleader must do the following:
1. Cheer in 80% of the games (including playoffs)
2. Participate in Spirit Camp.
ARTICLE VIII: Financial Responsibilities
• Cheerleaders will rent their uniform from Athens Academy at a cost of $45.00 for the season cheered. If you cheer both football and basketball season, you must rent the uniform each season. This amount will be included in your billing from Athens Academy for that season.
• Cheerleaders will also rent their poms at a cost of $10.00 for each season cheered. If you cheer both football and basketball season, you must rent the poms for each season. This amount will be included in your billing from Athens Academy for that season.
• Cheerleaders are responsible for paying their own cost of Cheerleading camp which will be determined at a later date.
• Cheerleaders are responsible for purchasing the following items: cheerleading shoes, bloomers, body liners, warm-ups (if needed). Previous cheerleaders may use the previous year’s purchases if they are the exact same item. The coach will purchase these and the cheerleaders will reimburse the Cheerleading Fund through the Athens Academy billing statements. This is an estimate of the items to be purchased:
• Shoes- @ $62.00
• Bloomers- @ $14.00 (if needed)
• Body Liners- @ $21.00 (if needed)
• Warm-Ups- price to be determined.
- Other costs would include:
- Cheerleading Camp (Football Squads Only)
- Rental of uniforms for $45.00 per season cheered
- Rental of Poms for $10.00 per season cheered
• All items purchased will be paid for up front through our cheerleading budget then reimbursed as you are billed by your Athens Academy billing statement*
I have read the above policies and am willing to comply with these policies during my membership to the Athens Academy Cheerleading Squad.
_____________________________________________ _____________________
(Cheerleader’s Signature) (Date)
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(Parent’s Signature) (Date)