CHEERLEADING EXPECTATIONS
2013-2014
The primary role of our cheerleading program is to support athletics and school participation in community
activities. We will spend the majority of our time developing ways to increase school spirit and crowd involvement at
games, pep rallies and other school functions. Cheerleaders will develop responsibility, self-respect, strive for
perfection, set goals and work hard to achieve goals. Members of our squad will build self-confidence and take pride
in themselves as well as their school.
The squad’s first responsibility is their academic career. Cheerleaders must maintain a passing grade and
abide by the rules and regulations set by the rules, coaches, teachers and principals.
A cheerleader must demonstrate responsibility and leadership at all times. They must promote and maintain
good relationships with faculty, administration, student body, and the general public.
Cheerleading is a privilege, not a right, with expectations more rigorous than that of regular students.
Cheerleaders must exhibit good taste in appearance and social behavior at and away from school.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
1. All members will adhere to all rules as set forth in the Perry County School District #32 Student Sports and
Activities Manual, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Cheerleading Manual,
and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Book.
2. Cheerleaders will be good role models and conduct themselves in a respectable manner at all times.
3. Members will treat each other and people of authority with respect at all times. This means treating others as
you would want to be treated. This includes all teachers, coaches, administrators and peers.
4. Show up prepared and on time for every cheerleading event. Please refer to the Absence and Attendance
Policy.
5. All uniform pieces will be brought to every game due to the inconsistent weather. If at any time during the
season a member does not have a piece of uniform that is needed, it will be discretion of the coach as to
whether the cheerleader will cheer without it or sit out.
6. Cheerleaders will keep their fingernails short (so they cannot be seen if looking at the palm side of the hand),
and their hair will be off the shoulders and out of the face for all practices, games and school functions. This is
a MSHSAA rule. Artificial nails are not appropriate.
7. No jewelry will be worn in practice or at games. This includes naval, ear cartilage, and tongue piercings.
Again, a MSHSAA rule and safety hazard.
8. It is expected that all cell phones will be turned off for practices and ANY cheerleading function. If there is an
emergency, parents may call the coach. If there is a continued problem with cell phone use, cell phones will be
confiscated until the cheerleading function is over.
9. All equipment should be labeled with your name on it.
10. If you have a doctor note excusing you from practice you are still required to dress out and attend
practices/games.
11. Volunteer services will be required to make signs, birthday cheers, paint curbs and various other duties as
necessary to promote school spirit and Pirate Pride!
ELIGIBILITY
1. Please refer to the PCSD #32 Sports and Activities Manual for basic eligibility requirements, including grade
and legal expectations.
2. A candidate must submit a completed application form and parental consent/medical release form before
tryouts.
3. Acceptance of a candidate shall be on the basis of ability, character, school attendance, compliance with the
squad rules, and without prejudice of race, creed, color, or sex.
4. All candidates must turn in a medical physical before being allowed to practice. If you already have one, but it
is dated prior to February 1 and you make the squad, it is required that you have another physical before
August 1.
TRYOUTS
1. Tryout packets will be provided in advance and an informational meeting will be held prior to tryout clinics. All parents
are expected to be in attendance and any questions will be answered at this time.
2. The format of the tryouts will be decided by the coaches and will be held in a fair manner conducive to allowing each
candidate to show his/her best abilities and potential.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. A list will be provided to each candidate before tryouts. It is important that each candidate understand the costs of
being involved with the cheer squad. We will conduct a fundraiser to assist with these costs and make every
reasonable effort to work with members and their families.
2. All fees are to be paid in full by the last day of school.
3. If financial obligations are not met in a timely manner, your child will not be allowed on the squad.
4. If a cheerleader is dismissed from the squad or resigns before the season is over, all issued equipment must be
returned within one week. If all pieces are retuned but not within the one week time limit, a fine will still be assessed.
UNIFORMS
1. Uniforms are bought by the school. Members are expected to pay for certain personal items. These include bloomers,
socks, shoes, hair bows, body liners, camp wear etc. A list will be provided to each candidate before tryouts.
2. The uniforms are school property and it is expected they will be treated as such. They will be required to be
maintained in a good and clean condition throughout the cheerleading season.
3. All uniform items will be properly cleaned before being turned in at the end of the season. Failure to do so will result in
a fine equal to the amount of a professional dry cleaning or complete replacement, whichever is deemed necessary.
4. Uniforms must only be worn when approved by the coach.
ABSENCE AND ATTENDANCE POLICY
1. Cheerleaders are required to be at every practice and cheerleading event, including games. Unexcused absences from
games are grounds for dismissal. Texting a coach regarding an absence is not acceptable. A phone call to a coach is
REQUIRED THE MORNING OF OR NIGHT BEFORE notifying them of the absence.
2. The only excuses for absences are illness, emergency, or death in the family. Work or nonschool functions are not
excused. You will be given a schedule in advance and are expected to know when and where you are supposed to be.
Every attempt will be made to schedule around other school activities, however this may not always be possible. It is a
reality that certain circumstances may arise and these may be excused by the coach. It is the member’s responsibility
to learn what they missed by the next practice, whether it is routine or important information. There is a mandatory
no contact period from Saturday, July 30 through Sunday, August, 7. This means we will not have any cheer functions
at all for those 10 days. Beginning Monday, August 8, the state mandated practices will begin.
3. Cheerleaders will arrive at school 15 minutes before the scheduled event, in uniform and ready to cheer.
4. All cheerleaders will be back in their lineups at least TWO minutes before the buzzer.
5. If a cheerleader goes home early from school on the day of a cheerleading function, a signed note from the school
nurse is required. It is the cheerleader’s responsibility to get the note and leave it in the office for the coach.
6. If a cheerleader does not attend school the entire day, he/she cannot attend or participate in practices or games
unless it is excused by an administrator.
7. Any student that does not participate in gym class on the day of an event without a doctor’s excuse will have physical
consequences.
CHARACTER AND CONDUCT
1. Cheerleaders should conduct themselves with behavior that is beyond reproach, both in and out of school. They
should be leaders within the school and set a good example at all times. A member must be courteous, polite, and
friendly, and treat EVERYONE within the school and community as they would want to be treated. This includes fellow
cheerleaders as well.
2. Team members should maintain good personal hygiene and clean appearance inside and outside of school.
3. There should be no public displays of affection (PDA), especially at school and at school functions. This includes kissing
and snuggling. Failure to abide by this rule will result in disciplinary action. There is a time and a place for affection,
and school and/or school functions are not acceptable times.
4. There will be no videos or pictures of explicit content of a member of the squad on cell phones, email, camera,
Facebook or any other networking website, electronic device or social media of any kind.
5. All tattoos will be covered before being seen in public in uniform.
6. If at any time a grade falls below a C in any class, the cheerleader will be subject to physical consequences before each
game or practice.
7. Late assignments are subject to physical consequences as deemed appropriate by the coaches.
8. Any inappropriate conduct on the bus or at school will be subject to physical consequences as deemed appropriate by
coaches.
Discipline
1. Please refer to the PCSD #32 Sports and Activities Manual for general disciplinary guidelines. Those listed below are for
the use of the Perry County Middle School Cheerleading squad only and does not necessarily apply to other sports.
Please note these consequences will be IN ADDITION to reprimands issued by any teacher, school administrator, or
parent and are subject to be changed to other physical consequences as deemed necessary by the coaches.
2.
OFFENSE
CONSEQUENCE
a. Late to any event (1-29 minutes)
Five jumps per minute
b. 30 minutes or more late
Wall sits, 5 sets, 2 minutes each
c. Not in game spots by 2 min.
Run laps, time duration
d. No advanced notice of absence
Grounds for dismissal, physical consequence set by coach
e. Lack of needed equipment
Coach discretion
f. Not picking up trash (ENTIRE TEAM)
2 min. running for each piece
g. Bad attitude/lack of respect
30 toe touches
h. Displaying poor sportsmanship
30 toe touches
i.
Talking during the National Anthem
30 toe touches
j.
Chewing gum at practice or game
30 toe touches
k. Hair not pulled back
30 toe touches
l.
Violation of fingernail rule
30 toe touches
m. Using cell phone without permission
30 toe touches and loss of phone
n. ISS for any reason
Wall sits, 5 sets, 2 minutes each
o. Explicit content on any accessible medium
Grounds for dismissal, physical consequence set by coach
p. Law Enforcement involvement
Grounds for dismissal, physical consequence set by coach
q. Unexcused absence from game/practice
Grounds for dismissal, physical consequence set by coach
r. Late assignments
Wall sits, 5 sets, 2 minutes each
s. Any other offense will be handled with consequences as the coach seems fit.