West Deptford High School Cheerleading

Procedures and Expectations Contract

Cheerleading is a team sport and all members are needed to achieve success

Eligibility

1. Paperwork

a. Paperwork must be turned in no later than the last Wednesday in July (refer to the appropriate bins in the Main Office).

i. For any questions regarding paperwork completion, please schedule to stop by the Main Lobby during one of the summer “paperwork nights.”

b. Failure to do so could inhibit your ability to practice once the official fall season begins—that being said, this is not an excused absence.

2. Grades

a. All student athletes are expected to maintain a ‘C’ average.

i. 76% is the lowest percent, but athletes will be warned at 80%

b. Unacceptable academic performance will result in an athlete/coaches conference, parent/guardian notification, and potential dismissal from the Squad.

c. Squad study hours are MANDATORY, like practice, unless otherwise excused by a coach.

Financial Responsibilities

1. Fundraising

a. All fundraising is mandatory to alleviate the various expenses throughout the season that exist in this sport. Spirit pack, shoes, bow, and warm up can all be sponsored through fundraising as to not require any out-of-pocket expenses.

b. Fundraisers occur all season and are an individual and team responsibility. If individual funds are unable to be raised, it MUST be paid.

2. Uniforms

a. Uniforms are distributed to each cheerleader. However, they are on LOAN—they are not to be kept from season to season. Any alterations MUST be approved.

b. Uniforms WILL NOT be worn by anyone who is not a member of the WDHS Cheerleading Squad. In season, the spirit pack is part of this expectation.

c. What is signed out, will be signed in at the end of each season in order to receive Varsity/JV letter.

d. If an athlete forgets to pack/wear any part of their uniform, they are unprepared for participation in the game and are, therefore, benched. An athlete's warm up is part of their uniform.

Conduct

1. Any action that is detrimental to the team moral or unity WILL NOT be tolerated.

a. First action will result in a warning.

b. Subsequent offenses will be dealt with disciplinary action (i.e. sitting out 1 game, performance suspension, dismissal from Squad).

2. Appropriate behavior is expected both in and out of school—refer to WDHS Student-Athlete Handbook.

3. Both words and actions should:

a. Uphold the reputation of the program

b. Represent in the school in a positive light

c. Be courteous, polite, and sportsmanlike at ALL times… “You are always wearing your uniform!”

4. Athletics have found that group chatting leads to toxic interactions and unsportsmanlike conduct within teams. Therefore, group texts/messages involving program members are prohibited UNLESS it is a message that Coaches are also added to/made aware of. This goes for team group texting/chatting of any kind, via iMessage, GroupMe, Facetime, etc.

a. Coaches must be notified when a group chat has been created, be it by adding us to the chat and/or sending an email to a coach with the type of chat created (GroupMe, iMessage, etc), why it was needed (carpool, stunt group, grade level help i.e. chatting with people the same age as you on the team), AND members of the chat.

b. No more than 7 people per a small-group group chat of any kind (that is about the size of a car pool/stunt group).

c. Coaches must be included on any large-group group chat (full grade level, full team, etc).

d. In order to keep up a positive environment within our team and school, anyone who is discovered group chatting/video messaging in way that was not known about by coaches, or chatting in a way that is disrespectful, inappropriate, and unsportsmanlike to a teammate(s)/WDHS, will be benched for a full quarter at the next Varsity game-- this goes for all participants of unsanctioned groups.

a. Multiple offenses will result in a parent/athlete meeting and potential dismissal from the squad.

5. If a coach tries to contact an athlete by email, phone, text, and/or social media (if absolutely necessary) without receiving a response for 14 consecutive days, the athlete will be dismissed from the Squad and removed from the program roster.

6. Athletes’ social media presence will be monitored during tenure in program (not just seasonally).

a. All Twitter, Instagram (main AND “finsta”), Facebook, VSCO, TikTok, etc. should be kept clean with age appropriate photos (no alcohol/other illegal activities) and captions/posts.

i. Posts slandering teammates, other WDHS students/staff, or opposing sports teams unacceptably disregard the philosophy of our program and WDHS (see WDHS Student-Athlete Handbook).

b. Should inappropriate content be discovered, the athlete will be contacted to remove the post/photo.

i. Multiple offenses will result in a coach/athlete meeting, parent notification, and potential dismissal from the squad.

Practice

1. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays practice will begin at 2:30pm, unless otherwise told. Expect to be at the school until 4:30pm each day.

a. Prior to every Monday, the specifications for each week will be announced based on different responsibilities or events in the school (i.e. decorations, dinner prep, Homecoming week).

i. Post-practice conditioning for attire/preparation/tardiness infractions will be enforced.

ii. Failure to comply with the expectations outlined in team communication 3x will result in being benched for a full quarter of the next Varsity game.

2. Tuesdays DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR are the only day off. It is suggested that dentist/doctor appointments and after school help be scheduled for that day as not to interfere with practice. HOMECOMING WEEK is the ONLY EXCEPTION.

3. Any videos of practice material can be posted in a team chat that the coaches are part of, sent 1-on-1 individually, shared on the WDHS Cheer Facebook group page , and our YouTube channel (there are individual playlists of every type of material, for practicing at home).

4. In case of inclement weather, an update will be sent through REMIND Text Updates, Twitter, Teamsnap, GroupMe and will be said during the end-of-day Athletics announcement.

5. Jewelry is NEVER allowed at practice. ONLY small post earrings may be worn to GAMES.

6. Arrive early, and stretch/warm-up as a team— 2:30pm will begin the day’s plan.

7. If you have to stay after with a teacher on a practice day, you MUST return with a pass from them.

a. If staying after school during our peak season (September-Homecoming), please aim to be dressed, stretched and ready to jump into practice no later than 3pm.

8. Rides must be arranged, beforehand.

9. If you need to see Gabby Prendergast, the trainer, a pass must be obtained from a coach BEFORE you go.

Attendance/Tardy

1. Attendance will be taken. Practice and games are MANDATORY.

2. Tardies will be recorded (both excused and unexcused).

a. 3 times late (unexcused) to practice will result in a cheerleader sitting out the first half of the next Varsity game on the schedule.

b. Tardiness to a game (report time) will result in sitting out the subsequent minutes of that game (if inclement weather, post-practice conditioning will be implemented).

3. 2 unexcused absences will result in a cheerleader sitting out the next Varsity game on the schedule.

a. Missing a benched game results in 2 benched games.

b. Beyond 2, the cheerleader will be dismissed from the Squad.

4. Team activities/fundraisers will be treated with the same attendance expectations (mandatory).

5. Any absence for vacations/other obligation must be cleared by a Coach 2 weeks prior to the absence.

a. Doctors’ notes must be brought in to excuse an appointment.

Parents/Guardians: it is encouraged that cheerleading is not used as a punishment as it effects the entire squad. If the athlete must miss practice/events/games due to punishment, please contact a coach so the athlete’s whereabouts are recorded.

Program Expectations

1. All FIRST YEARS accepted into the program are expected to cheer every JV game—Varsity uniform, or not.

a. 1 missed game will result in 1 benched Varsity game (see above).

2. Choreography camp for the Homecoming routine is MANDATORY. If a cheerleader is unable to make it for an unexcused reason, they will not perform in the pep rally.

3. If an athlete is assigned to make a dessert/poster for the week, it is not a suggestion and is MANDATORY. School spirit is part of the job expectation and desserts are the ‘ticket’ for our invitation to the Football dinner, hosted by the Football parents prior to each game. Please see a coach, the week of, if other arrangements must be made.

4. When attire is decided for practice/school/games/community events, cheerleaders are expected to wear what/how they were told. Team attire represents the school and the Squad, so dress code must be followed.

a. Cheerleaders MUST change for gym on days when uniforms are worn to school. Failure to do so will result in being benched for the first half of that day’s game.

b. Avoid wearing spirit wear during the week while in the season, unless told to do so.

c. Contract infractions at practice will be disciplined with post-practice conditioning (i.e. wearing jewelry).