MacArthur High School
Cheerleading Constitution
2013-2014
Cheerleaders are athletes; therefore, they will abide by all the policies of the MacArthur High
School Athletic Department and IHSA rules.
Practice, Games, Competitions
Team members may NOT participate in any practice or game activity on the days they are
absent from school. This includes attending school on Friday before a Saturday game. If you
miss the practice before a game day, you are NOT allowed to cheer. Cheerleaders are required
to dress for PE at all times, unless excused by a doctor. In this case, you will need a doctor’s
note either excusing from or allowing you to participate in cheerleading activities. If you do not
participate in PE for any reason, you may NOT participate in cheerleading.
All practices are closed. The only people physically allowed to come into our practices are
administrators, athletic director and trainer, principals, or other people asked specifically to
come and help the team. Friends, family and parents are not to attend practices. If there are
any concerns, parents should contact the coach outside of practices. At times, the coach may
ask that a discussion be held in the presence of the principals, athletic director and/or trainer.
All practices are mandatory. Cheerleaders must be at all activities unless they have an excused
absence from school, a doctor’s note, or there is a death or sudden illness in the immediate
family. If one of the above occurs, it is the responsibility of the cheerleader to get in touch
(personally) with the coach. Failure to do so will result in demerits and/or immediate dismissal
from the squad. Cheerleaders must attend ALL home and away football games including
tournaments and playoff games, if applicable.
Gym clothes, socks and tennis shoes are required for practices. All Varsity cheerleaders will be
expected to cheer at all home and away Varsity Football and/or Basketball games. JV
cheerleaders are required to attend all home Varsity Football and/or Basketball games. JV may
ride to and from Varsity away games, if desired. JV must ride home from the away game on the
cheer bus if the cheerleader travels to the game on the cheer bus. ALL JV and Varsity should
report one hour before the start of the game dressed in complete uniform. There may be game
days where cheerleaders will be asked to arrive earlier than the one hour expectation.
ALL MHS Cheerleaders are to remain in their complete uniform for the entire duration of any
and all games.
ALL MHS Cheerleaders will sit together during all scheduled sports events when in uniform or
warm-ups. The coach will designate the area.
The cheerleader will ride to and from away games with the coach unless previous arrangements
have been made with the coach. The only reason for not returning with the coach is a sudden
illness or death in the immediate family. If this should occur, the cheerleader must leave with a
parent only and the coach’s permission must be given. A parent is required to sign a release of
responsibility form prior to leaving.
Academics
District 61 regards cheerleading as a ‘sport’. Therefore, all cheerleaders must maintain passing
grades of a “D” or better throughout the entire cheerleading season. ALL academic work takes
precedence over cheerleading. Failure to meet grade requirements will result in temporary or
permanent disciplinary action. If a member is academically ineligible for two weeks, he/she will
be suspended from the team for the remainder of the season. Members of the team are
excused from practice for educational purposes. A pass signed by the respective teacher must
be given to the coach.
Character
A cheerleader promotes good, sports-like conduct and school spirit through cooperation with
other students, teachers, coaches and administrators. The primary function of a cheerleading
program is to support all interscholastic athletics and motivate the crowd. Cheerleaders should
establish good communication with the faculty, business community, parents, alumni, booster
club, other school clubs, coaches, players and fellow students. Everyone working together as a
team will promote good sportsmanship and positive support. Referrals for any disciplinary
reasons will not be tolerated (coach, administration and athletic director reserve the right to
suspend or dismiss any cheerleaders from the team for disciplinary reasons). Profanity or
abusive language is prohibited and a direct violation of ideas of good sportsmanship. Failure to
cooperate with the cheerleading coach and other team members will NOT be tolerated. Proven
misconduct will result in dismissal. Promoting good character ALSO includes what you say/post
on FACEBOOK or other social/electronic media. Respect yourselves and others. Set a good
example for those around you.
As a member of the MHS Cheerleading team, you WILL be expected to be respectful to all your
teammates. Any personal conflicts/arguments will NOT be brought into practices, games or
other event. If this happens, disciplinary action will be taken. You may not like one of the team
members, but you WILL be respectful.
Benching
A cheerleader may be benched at a practice session or game at the discretion of the coach,
athletic director or administration, for failure to abide by the rules or regulations.
Suspension
A cheerleader may be suspended at the discretion of the coach and upon notification of
administration, athletic director, and parents, for academic ineligibility or failure to abide by the
team rules and regulations. The length of the suspension will be determined by the coach.
Flagrant or repeated violations will result in dismissal from the team.
Violations that may Result in Immediate Dismissal
1. Undesirable behaviors, as determined by coaches, administration and athletic director,
related to fighting, smoking, drinking, alcohol, drugs or other inappropriate actions
committed on or off school campus and in or out of uniform, at any time.
2. An act committed by a cheerleader that would, in the opinion of coaches,
administration and/or athletic director, harm the reputation of the school or program.
3. Missing an event or function without prior approval of the coach.
4. School suspension.
5. Unexcused absences from practices and/or games.
6. Public displays of affection (PDA) in or out of uniform.
7. Chronic tardiness or truancy.
8. Theft, not being honest and telling the truth, insubordination.
Tardiness and Absences
You are to treat this commitment as if it is your job.
You must have reliable transportation to and from games and practices.
It is each member’s responsibility to coordinate their work schedule and personal business
around their cheerleading practices and games. Doctor, dentist, orthodontist, etc. should be
scheduled around practices and games unless it is an emergency. Cheerleaders may not leave
practices early to go to work, nor arrive late to games. The coach will hand out monthly
calendars in advance to provide time to turn it into jobs for scheduling. The coach reserves the
right to determine if an absence is legitimate and/or unexcused.
Examples
Excused - academic help (with signed pass from the respective teacher), family emergencies,
funerals, deaths in the family, serious illnesses (doctor’s note required), and serious physical
injury.
Unexcused – Work, parties, hair/nail appointments, or other personal commitments.