Cheerleading

Rhea County High School

Cheerleading Rules and Regulations

Purpose:

All cheerleaders shall develop a sense of good sportsmanship among students, administration, faculty, other clubs and athletes, other schools, and the community. They should strive to accomplish four main goals:

1. Promote school spirit.

2. To set a positive example among their peers.

3. To support and encourage the effort of the school athletes.

4. To function as a representative of Rhea County High School at both sponsored activities and in the community.

Eligibility:

To try-out for cheerleading you must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Eligibility will be checked at the end of each quarter/semester and must be a 2.5 or higher. Team members who quit, or are dismissed during the season for any reason will not be eligible for next year’s tryouts, and will abide by the consequences that come with dismissal or withdrawing from the squad.

Team Leaders:

1. The selection of team leaders will be up to the coaches.

2. Duties:

   1. To set an example for the rest of the squad by following rules and regulations for the cheerleaders. The team leaders should be willing to do more than his/her share.

   2. To select cheers and chants or dances to be used at games and pep rallies.

   3. To act as a peacemaker.

   4. To keep the cheerleaders in proper formation during games.

   5. To help organize pep rallies with coaches.

   6. To lead the squad in a quality warm up before the games and/or practices.

   7. To notify the coach if rules and regulations are violated.

Uniforms:

1. Each member will be expected to be prepared with practice clothes/cheer shoes on days practices are held.

2. Performance uniforms will be provided and will be the property of Rhea County High School. The uniforms that you receive are rentals. You may not cut the material in any way. They can be altered, and that expense is your responsibility. They must be altered in a way that it can be undone.

3. Each member will be required to maintain good condition and cleanliness of his/her uniform at all times. Each member will be required to have all uniforms cleaned and in good condition before the end of the year.

4. Shoes and accessories such as poms, bloomers, warmups, bows, etc. will be purchased by the coach and paid for as part of the total cheerleading fee.

5. Absence of a uniform piece will result in the cheerleader sitting for that game.

Appearance:

1. Uniforms and shoes must be kept spotlessly clean at all times.

2. Cheerleading shoes are not to be worn unless it is with your uniform or at practice.

3. No jewelry will be worn AT ANYTIME while wearing cheerleading uniform or cheerleading related clothes. This includes belly-button rings and nose rings.

4. No nail-polish, unless clear or natural in color.

5. Hair must be out of your face or up in a ponytail with the correct bow as designated. No exceptions.

6. No unnatural hair colors will be allowed during the season.

7. Cheerleaders may not have any Visible tattoos.

Attendance:

All absences are UNEXCUSED including, work, vacation, college visitations, and appointments. Cheerleaders are expected to schedule around games and practices.

Excused absences include but are not limited to: field trips, school related functions, severe illness, or death in the family. A Parent or athlete should call the coach as soon as possible regarding an illness or death in the family.

Injured cheerleaders excused by a Doctor from normal participation are required to still dress for games, attend practices, and attend any other scheduled activity while a member of the team.

Cheerleaders must notify the coach if they are absent from school on the day of a practice or a game.

If a cheerleader misses practice, where they will be working on a stunt, they will be taken out of that stunt.

Tardies to Game and Practice:

“On time” is defined as being dressed in the correct uniform with all jewelry off and hair up, stretched and ready to cheer. Tardiness will not be tolerated.

Games:

For football games, cheerleaders must arrive ready to cheer 1 hour before the game. For basketball games, cheerleaders must arrive 30-45 minutes before a game. Cheerleaders must ride with an adult to all away games. It is your responsibility to make transportation arrangements before the event. By signing this form, you agree to not hold the school or other party responsible if an accident occurs if riding with someone else.

A FINAL NOTE ON ATTENDANCE:

We do not have alternates who will take the place of absent cheerleaders in stunts and formations, especially when stunting for safety reasons we cannot constantly change stunts to accommodate cheerleaders who miss practice. It is imperative that every cheerleader is present at every practice and every game.

If a cheerleader misses a practice, that cheerleader will not be included in any formation, stunt, and pep rally routine or half-time that is learned during that practice.

Practice Sessions:

1. The coach is to schedule all practices and cancel all practices.

2. All practices will start promptly at designated times.

3. Valid reasons for missing practices are as follows: illness of individual or death in family.

4. Cheer shoes must be worn at every practice. (No bare feet, flip flops, etc.)

5. Parents, all practices are closed unless announced otherwise.

6. We will start practicing on Mondays in June from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It is mandatory you are there. Work schedules need to be made so that you can attend these practices. The practice schedule is below unless otherwise noted at that day’s practice.

   1. 10 minutes - stretching

   2. 10 minutes - jumps

   3. 10 minutes - motions

   4. 30 minutes to 1 hour - cheers/chants/dances

   5. 30 minutes to 1 hour - stunts

Games:

1. No cheerleader shall ever participate in unsportsmanlike cheers, gestures, or other inappropriate actions, including inappropriate dancing to basketball warm-up songs.

2. Cheerleaders are to be on the football field at least 45 minutes before the football game begins.

3. Cheerleaders must be on the basketball court 5 minutes before the game begins.

4. All cheerleaders must return to their positions two minutes prior to the start of the second half.

5. Any “bad mouthing” towards teammates will result in “benching.”

6. Any “back talking” or rolling of eyes towards coaches will result in immediate dismissal from the game and/or team.

7. Laziness will not be tolerated.

8. Everyone is equal on this team no matter how experienced you are as a cheerleader.

Miscellaneous:

1. If a cheerleader is dismissed from or quits the squad, she may not try out the following year.

2. All fundraising is mandatory to attend.

3. No PDA in uniform (including holding hands). Little girls are looking up to you.

4. Summer practices are mandatory for everyone. There will be a “2 week time off period” during summer. If vacations cannot be scheduled during this time, I will allow 1 week of excused absence.

5. If your child is caught doing or rumored to be drinking or doing drugs there will be a meeting between the parent, the cheerleader, the coaches, and principal to discuss the future of your child being a cheerleader at RCHS.

6. If a cheerleader is removed or quits the team, she is to turn in ALL cheerleading clothing.

7. Working together is very important. We do not need bad feelings between members of this squad. A TEAM THAT DOES NOT LIKE EACH OTHER WILL NOT SURVIVE!

Discipline:

1. Leaving practice early or arriving late to practice will result in running laps.

2. Coaches have the right to remove a cheerleader from the team for insubordination at any time.

3. If a cheerleader is involved in criminal activity at any time she will Immediately be removed from the team and will not be able to try out again.

4. If suspended from school, the cheerleader will be immediately dismissed from the squad.

Consequences:

Violations of the Cheerleading Rules and Regulations are as follows:

1. Probation-cheerleaders whose grades drop below the minimum will go on probation. This means the cheerleader must attend all games and practices, but will not be allowed to participate in any cheer function until grades meet requirements.

2. Benched-cheerleaders who are benched are required to sit with the coach in uniform for the game. No socialism during the event.

3. Cheerleaders can be benched for missed practices, missed games, poor attitude, and failure to comply with rules or other infractions at the coach’s discretion.

Removal from the squad-cheerleaders will be removed for using drugs, tobacco, or alcohol in or out of school, and/or anything that is inappropriate for cheerleaders. Bullying, inappropriate social media posts, vaping will not be tolerated.

Demerit System:

Points:

Points or demerits will be used as a disciplinary tool.

1. Three points will result in being benched for 1 game.

2. Six points will result in being benched for 2 weeks.

3. Nine points will result in dismissal from the team.

One point will be given for:

1. Tardiness or absence from team activity.

2. Chewing gum in uniform.

3. Not wearing the correct uniform.

4. Not having required items. This includes signs, candy, etc.

5. Not listening.

6. Not being back on the field on time.

7. Wearing jewelry (game or practice)

8. Not showing appropriate behavior.

Two points will be given for:

1. Disrespect for the coach, teammate, or teacher.

2. Inappropriate clothing, piercing, or action.

3. Missing practice, or game without notifying the coach.

4. Inappropriate language.

5. Leaving the field/court without permission unless of an emergency.

Six points will be given for:

1. Bad behavior in or out of school. We will act as good role models.

The following violation will result in automatic dismissal:

1. Drinking in or out of uniform.

2. Drug use in or out of uniform.

3. Smoking in or out of uniform.

4. Bullying of any type.