Contract 

Sideline and Competitive Season

Cheerleading requires a HUGE time commitment not just from athletes, but from their families as well. Our season begins in May running through end of February of the following year. Commitments include but are not limited to games, performances, homecoming week events, competitions, fundraising, community service, and mentoring. Summer/ School Year practice schedules will be posted once team is established. 

Tumbling Partnership

Tumbling is a large part of our competitive cheer season, however due to time restraints during practice we do not have time to teach tumbling skills. Therefore we have partnered with a competitive Cheer Gym to improve our skills. We will attend outside tumbling sessions with this group once weekly June - February.

Summer

The summer will consist of summer practices, team camp, fundraising, and community events. There will be breaks and we strongly encourage you to plan your vacations when possible around those. If you have previously scheduled vacations please let us know as soon as possible.

• Summer Practice/conditioning schedule to be discussed at parent meeting.

• Cheer camp dates are TBD. 

Commitment over the summer is imperative to the success of the team, please ensure you are able to commit to summer conditioning. We are looking for outstanding team members with a high level of commitment!

Fall & Winter

Once school starts we will adjust practice schedules accordingly to accommodate games and allow for time for studies. We will be coordinating schedules with multiple sports, so we ask for your patience and flexibility as we may iterate slightly as the year progresses.

• Both cheer teams will support all of the following sports/teams:  JV & Varsity Football,  JV & Varsity Boys & Girls Basketball.

  1. • Varsity will be expected to be at all home AND away Varsity football games. JV will be expected to be at all home games. We will look at travel when necessary for further games such as East Idaho. District and State games will be addressed as they arise. For Basketball, both JV and Varsity attend home games until, until the District Tournament in which all games, both home and away are attended.

Cheer Competition Season

• Our competitions start in November and end in late Feb.. We are allowed 4 competitions, not to include Districts and State. - Additionally we on a "Nationals Year" (which happen Bi-Annually) so we will attend USA Nationals in Anaheim, CA.

• We start training and learning skills/routine starting in the summer and build throughout the season. 

• We will be selecting our Varsity competition team over the course of the season based on skill, performance, behavior, attitudes, respect, work ethic, energy, etc. All current KHS cheerleaders will be considered for these positions. We are allowed 24 on the mat and will select a few alternates as well. These selections will be at the coaching staff discretion. Competing is a privilege. Selections can be changed at any time based on what is best for the teams competition success. Both JV and Varsity will be competing this season in some aspect.

• Excessive attendance issues or excessive sitting out without medical documentation from a healthcare provider may determine a cheerleaders placement on a competition team. 

• Varsity will be working for a Nationals Bid- Should bid be received additional parent meeting with fee information and schedule will be held.

Varsity Lettering Guidelines:

• Complete a full season on the Game Day Varsity cheer team and/or Compete in 2 Varsity Competition Routines

• Minimum participation requirements met.

• Must be in compliance with the KHS Cheer Contract. (To include all eligibility requirements.)

Athlete Participation 

• Athletes are expected to be at all cheer practices and assigned activities. 

• Unexcused Absences: After 2 (two) unexcused absences, the cheerleader will be on probation and  considered for suspension and/or dismissal from the team. The 3rd unexcused absence is an immediate dismissal from the team. 

• Excused Absences: Excessive excused absences negatively affect our team and performances. Only 2 excused absences a month will be allowed that do not accompany a doctors note, or notification from a school teacher/advisor/coach for any school sanctioned activity, or previously cleared vacation dates with the Coaches by the parent/guardian. 

• Tardies: We have a limited amount of practice time each week so it is crucial that everyone is ON TIME to EVERY practice. 5 tardies (more than 5 minutes late) over the duration of the season will result in 1 unexcused absence. 

• If an athlete is to miss practice, game or activity, a parent private message to the Coaches in the Band app is to be sent BEFORE roll call of the event or it will be considered unexcused. 

• Excessive tardies, leaving early, excused absences, and sitting out without medical documentation from a healthcare provider will result in consequences, probation, or possible dismissal from the team. Athletes much attend a minimum of 90% of all practices.

• Athletes must be in attendance at school at least half of the day of a game/practice in order to participate. This is an IDHSAA policy. 

Social Media

• Athletes will not participate in ANY inappropriate social media postings- to include posts, pictures, comments, or being seen or tagged in others inappropriate posts. 

• You represent Kuna High School and are expected to uphold a higher standard and code of moral conduct.

• This means NO PROFANITY on social media (posts/comments) or posting of inappropriate pictures. 

• The coach will forward any questionable postings to that cheerleader parents/guardian.

• These rules apply to all forms of social media including texting, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tik-Tok, Visco, YouTube......any and all other avenues of social media.

• Spam social media accounts will NOT be tolerated or acceptable by members of the KHS Cheer & Stunt teams.  

Athlete Expectations:

The following are NOT tolerated - NO exceptions:

• Excessive Profanity

• Talking excessively or being unprofessional during games to other cheerleaders or fans

• Leaving performance area during game time

• Showing up unprepared for practice. I.E. Not wearing appropriate clothing, shoes, etc. Arriving in jewelry, hair down, etc.

• PDA with boyfriend/girlfriend while in uniform/cheer gear or during game/practice/performances (no physical contact)

• Profanity, cursing or vulgar language

• Inappropriate social media postings/comments

• Talking during the National Anthem/silent time or while a player is injured

• Talking during instruction time at practice

• Gossip/Disrespect to other squad members or the Coaches

• Smoking, vaping, drinking, or using drugs of any kind

• Failing grades in line with the IDHSAA athletics grade policy

• Inability to get along with other cheerleaders

• Excessive tardies, excused, and unexcused absences

• Disrespect to administration, faculty, staff, or to cheer coaches

• Parents who cause issues such as complaining, gossiping, arguing with coaches, failure to make payments, etc

• Cell phone usage during games, practices, team events, etc will not be allowed

Appearance, Uniforms, and Equipment

• Uniforms will only be worn during designated games and activities (school with prior coaches approval).  

• Uniforms (past or present) are to never be given to non-members to wear for events, costume purposes, etc.

• Hair must be pulled back for ALL games/practices all year. Do not wait to arrive at practice or the game, be prepared ahead.

• NO jewelry of any kind can be worn to any practice/game/competition. This includes earrings, watches, apple watches, fit bits, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, belly rings, tongue rings, plastic plugs and any other piercings. This is a safety rule and is an IDHSAA rule. 

• Nails may not be longer than fingertip length at any practice, games or competition.

Transportation:

PRACTICES 

• It is the athletes responsibility to get to and from practices, home games, events, and bus pick up/drop off locations

• Most teammates/parents are willing to carpool if you live close to each other

GAMES

• Athletes are required to ride the bus TO every game when provided by KHS

• Parents must sign out their child after a game or they will need to ride the bus back to KHS

• If your child is to ride home after an away game with someone else, a parent note or email must be sent/submitted PRIOR to cheerleaders loading the bus at KHS to head to an away game. If not sent by then they will ride the bus back to KHS

COMPETITIONS

• Athletes are required to ride the bus TO every competition

• Athletes are also require to ride the bus FROM every competition 

It is the expectation of parents to pick up their cheerleader immediately after every practice, game or drop off time. 

Parent Partnership Guidelines

• Cheerleading is a competitive and disciplined sport. We coach the same way.

• Do not share negative thoughts about the coaching staff or the program with your child. It is impossible to run a successful program when key members tear it down from the inside.

• The team always comes first- this is NOT an individual sport. 

• We may require your child to be more disciplined than they are accustomed to.

• We expect a high level of discipline and respect. 

• ALL communication is to be done through the Band app or the KHS cheer email. (Don’t worry-we all get the notifications and will respond in a timely manner!) PARENTS will be given a phone number to call ONLY in the case of an emergency. TEXT MESSAGES TO ANY COACHES PERSONAL PHONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. 

• Parents will be required to put volunteer a certain number of hours each year to help with the team. i.e. fundraising, parent board, team dinners, team gifts, etc. (this will be discussed in more detail once the team is selected) 

• All parents must sign the Parent Code of Conduct