To be eligible to try out for Norris High School cheerleading, you MUST:

1. Be currently enrolled and entering 9th-12th grade for the 2022-2023 school year.

2. Complete and return the Cheer Candidate Permission Forms to Coach Krings, Coach Doland, the MS office, or the High School office by Monday, March 21st.

   • Forms may be completed and submitted electronically.

3. Complete the "Candidate Information Form"

4. Have at least a 2.0 GPA

5. Have two teacher evaluations turned in by Monday, March 21st.

• All tryout material will be taught at these bootcamp sessions.

• Attendance and promptness are highly desirable and reflect the character of the candidate, however, we realize that there may be curricular or extracurricular conflicts, and we certainly wish to honor them. Please let us know of any conflicts ASAP so that we may schedule you appropriately.

• Clinic is open to eligible candidates only. No parents, friends, or ineligible candidates are allowed to attend. No videotaping will be allowed.

• You are responsible for learning a chant, a cheer, a dance, how to spirit on and off, jumps, and some basic stunting skills. You will NOT be taught tumbling at the clinic. You should only attempt tumbling skills that you can safely execute without a spot.

• You are not required to attend all the practices during tryout week. However, it is strongly recommended that you attend because new material will be taught each practice.

• Cell Phones and Smart Watches are prohibited during practices and tryouts.

Tryouts are closed to the public.

1. Cheerleaders will perform the chant, the big cheer, and dance in a group of 3-4.

2. Cheerleaders will perform 3 jumps alone - Toe Touch, a jump of your choice, and a double jump of your choice

3. Spirit on and off of the court during tryouts.

4. Tumbling skills will be shown individually. (jump tumbling combinations, running tumbling, standing tumbling, etc.)

Monday (3/21):

6:30am-8:00am- Before school practice

• Introductions, chant and dance

3:30pm-5:15pm After school practice

• Review and learn cheer

Wednesday (3/23):

6:30am-8:00am Before school practice

• Review group assignments

3:30pm-5:15pm After school practice

• Reviewing all material

Thursday (3/24):

6:30am-8:00am Before school practice

• Mock tryouts

3:30pm-5:15pm After school practice

• Mock tryouts

Friday (3/25):

6:30am-8:00am- Before school practice

• Reviewing all material and any final questions

4:15pm-? After school

• Tryouts

Appearance is VERY important. You need to be completely ready upon arrival for all clinics and tryout day. Come “game-ready” each day!

Required dress for Clinic Sessions:

1. Solid color t-shirt (NO NHS CHEER SHIRTS/SWEATSHIRTS)

2. Athletic shorts or leggings

3. Athletic undershorts (like bloomers or Nike Pros) if your shorts are loose

4. Sports Bra

5. Tennis shoes or cheer shoes

6. Hair must be tied up in a ponytail (Bow is recommended but not required)

7. NO jewelry (including body jewelry) of any kind

8. Nails must be fingertip length

Required dress for Tryout day:

1. Solid white T-Shirt

2. Solid black athletic shorts

3. Tennis shoes or Cheer shoes

4. Short white socks

5. Solid black athletic undershorts, Spanx, Nike Pros,

6. Solid black or white sports bra *

7. Hair up in ponytail *

8. Bow (no cheer designations) *

9. NO jewelry, NO long fingernails

The following system is the basis on which each applicant will be judged.

• Coaches will direct tryouts but will not be a part of the judging process. Each applicant will be judged by neutral judges using a rubric.

  • Additional considerations will be placed on academic status, clinic attitude, presentation, and overall personality.

• Score sheets will be evaluated by the coaches and will be kept confidential.

• Teacher evaluation forms will be collected via inner-school mail, online form, or email sent directly to the coach. Scores from the evaluation will be added to the tryout score.

• Parent permission forms must be signed and given to the HS Office, MS Office, or to Coach Krings/Doland by Monday, March 21st at 6:30am. Students will be unable to participate in practice until the forms have been turned in.

• After tryouts, you are free to leave. Results will be emailed to cheerleaders and their guardians on Saturday, March 26th at 1:00pm

Varsity Squad:

1. Football: Cheer all home and away games;

2. Volleyball: Cheer all home games and tournament games;

3. Basketball: Cheer all home and away boys and girls games;

4. Cheer all district and state tournaments for football, volleyball, and basketball

Junior Varsity Squad:

1. Football: Cheer all JV and Freshman home games;

2. Basketball: Cheer all JV and Freshman home boys and girls games;

Competition Squad:

1. Additional Practices

2. Two-Three Competitions

3. State Competition

4. Performances during half-time during the basketball season

All Squad:

1. Participate in community functions

2. Cheer at Pep Rallies (Fight song, jumps, stunts)

3. Practice 2-3 times a week

4. Participate in fundraising (Mini-Clinic and others)

Please note that this is not the full NHS Cheer Constitution.

• Purchase complete uniform and pay in part prior to distribution.

• All cheerleaders are required to attend meetings when scheduled – before/after school and during IAP. Meetings and times will be communicated in advance.

• Attend and support assigned events as scheduled.

• Attend UCA summer camp

• Cheer at assigned Football, Volleyball, and Basketball games.

• Attend all events and performances assigned

• Participate in the Mini-Cheer Clinic

• It is strongly recommended that outside jobs are NOT held during their season of activity. If a job is held, times of cheering cannot be compromised. You are choosing to be a cheerleader; you are expected to cheer when scheduled.

• Provide your own transportation before and after practice sessions and meetings.

• Follow all school policies in regards to drinking/drugs.

Items regarding games:

• Cheerleaders will be at all home and away games 30 minutes Prior to the start of games – cheerleaders are ready – with skirt on, hair ties in, etc.

• Stretching and jumping will occur before each game.

• Cheerleaders will be on the court and ready to cheer when the band begins playing (fight song).

• Cheerleaders will do some form of dance/jumps for band numbers.

• Cheerleaders will know and dance when the fight song is played.

• Cheerleaders will be attentive during the games. Once half time is complete, cheerleaders are back cheering in their spots. This is not optional.

Items regarding practice:

• Mandatory morning practices 2-3 times per week – both fall and winter seasons. Times and days to be determined in May.

• Practices include running, jump rope, weight lifting, toning, stretching (including splits), jumps, chants, cheers, stunting, and learning various dances for the band.

• Have a water bottle with you at practice

• A note/email must be given to the coach 24 hours in advance for a planned absence – i.e. appointment – or it will be counted as an unexcused absence

• You can play a Fall, Winter, or Spring sport and still be on the Cheer Squad! If you may be trying out for a Fall, Winter, or Spring sport in addition to being on the cheer squad, discuss this with the coaches in advance.

Cheerleading is an expensive sport. First year cheerleaders can expect to pay $1,300 - $1,900. After the first year, the continuing costs are about half this amount. There will be fundraising opportunities during the season to help combat costs. Statements will be given to parents periodically. Cheerleaders must have their bills paid in full by the end of the cheer year (on or before March 1, 2023). Should a cheerleader not remain a cheerleader throughout the school year, the remaining balance of the account must be paid in full one month after she/he is off the team. Those who will be graduating in 2023 must have their bills paid in full by/on March 1, 2023, as well.