Leigh Cheer Program Tryouts
We offer traditional and competitve cheer teams for male and female athletes of all skill levels. While no experience is required, we are looking for candidates with a strong sense of commitment, a great work ethic and positive attitude! Through our sport, each student will build character, practice positive sportsmanship and morale.
Tryouts are Monday, April 15th - Thursday, April 18th, 2024
By attending our program tryouts, you will be placed onto a Varsity or JV Sideline Team. After making a sideline team, cheerleaders may receive an invitation to attend comp tryouts from our coaching staff. To be considered for comp team: stunting skills, commitment level and grades are heavily evaluated.
Sideline Team
By attending our program tryouts, you will be placed onto a Varsity or JV Sideline Team. Those interested in comp will receive an invitation to attend the next round of tryouts.
Sideline cheerleaders attend football and basketball games, perform during halftime, school rallies, and are involved in other school-related spirit activities. In the first semester, athletes will have two practices and one game a week. In the second semester, there will be one practice and two games a week.
Comp Team
Date TBD. Must be on sideline team to tryout for Competition Team. Details will be released to team members.
Comp practices are typically twice a week and every day of the week before a competition. The team will perform at 4-5 regional competitions and 1-2 National competitions. (Please note: athletes must be in town to practice during President’s Week.)
To be considered for the comp team, athletes must participate in a separate tryout where stunting skills are heavily evaluated.
*Please read before trying out. You will submit a signed copy if selected for the team*
Take a look to understand the full time commitment of our program.
OPEN PRACTICES
All students interested in joining the Leigh Cheer program are invited to attend open practices. This is a great way to meet current members on the team and get stunting experience before tryout week begins. All open practices will take place in the Leigh cafeteria from 4:00 to 6:00PM. Students must wear athletic attire and shoes. Before participating, students and parents must read and complete the online safety waiver.
Wednesday March 6th
Monday, March 11th
Wednesday, March 13th
Monday, March 18th
Wednesday, March 20th
Monday, March 25th
Wednesday, March 27th
Monday, April 1st
EXPECTATIONS
Attendance Policy
You have 1 week from the date the cheer calendar is handed out to address pre-existing calendar conflicts. After that.. An excused or unexcused absence may results in cheerleader sitting out of games/rallies the week in which practice was missed.
Excused absence: Illness and family emergencies
Unexcused absence: Appointments for dentist, doctor, hair, nail, chiropracter, birthdays, concerts, extended Tahoe vacation, etc..
ex) If Sally is sick and misses practice on Wednesday, the coaches will remove Sally from the halftime routine that is being performed at the Friday football game. If Sally is healthy and is able to attend cheer again, Sally may cheer on the sidelines but won't be in the halftime performance since she wasn't able to practice that routine.
ex) If Susan decides to celebrate her sweet 16 dinner instead of attending Monday's practice, Susan will sit out and not cheer on the sidelines or perform any halftime routines at the Friday football game.
Responsibility and Commitment
Members of the cheer team will be held accountable for their actions and behavior within, and outside the school environment. Serious violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the team.
Members of the cheer team will be held accountable for academic responsibility by achieving and maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA for sideline team and 2.5 GPA for competition team. (You must possess the minimum GPA at time of tryouts.) Grades will be checked every 6 weeks by our Athletic Director.
Members of the cheer team will attend all practices scheduled. Members will come prepared and ready to work/participate with enthusiasm to the best of their ability. Families must plan ahead to schedule doctor, dentist, tutoring, or other appointments, as well as family vacations/trips to avoid conflicts with practice, games, competition and other cheerleading activities.
An extensive cheer contract is linked above. Please review.
FUNDRAISING AND PROGRAM COSTS
Our coaching staff is finalizing plans for the 2024-2025 season. Program Costs will now be posted on our Parent BAND App.
Please join the groups according to which team your son/daughter wants to tryout for.
CLICK TO JOIN 2024-2025 Leigh Sideline Parents
CLICK TO JOIN 2024-2024 Leigh Comp Parents
We rely heavily on family donations to keep our program running. There are two main goals to our fundraisers:
1) To reduce the overall cost of cheerleading for our cheer families.
2) To be able to invest into the cheer program by purchasing fresh equipment and other program materials.
Parents are encouraged to sign up to volunteer for at least 3 fundraiser duties!
Here’s a list of the fundraisers we typically do throughout the year:
Leigh Stampede - May
Vertical Raise - May
Graduation Leis & Water Sales - June
Program Ads - July
Merchandise Sales - Year-round
Junior Cheer Camp - October
Sees Candy - November
Nationals Showcase - February
TRYOUT SCHEDULE AND FORMS
Mandatory Pre-Tryout Parent Meeting
Monday, April 1st 6:15PM - This meeting is MANDATORY! One parent/guardian of each student trying out MUST be present.
Tryout Week
Monday, April 15th 4:00-6:30PM - We will review motions and jumps and teach you a dance and cheer which you will perform Friday in front of judges. All tryout forms and tasks are due on the first day of tryouts:
✅ 2 Teacher Recommendations (email link to teachers)
✅ Bring printout of most recent grades to day 1 of tryouts (ex: Screenshot of school portal w/ student name visible)
✅ Bring signed Parent Acknowledgement - Form and costs will be uploaded to Student and Parent Band App.
✅ Students and Parents have joined their respective groups on the BAND App.
Tuesday, April 16th 4:00-6:30PM
Wednesday, April 17th 4:00-6:30PM
Thursday, April 18th 4:00-6:30PM - Tryout times will be in groups of 4+ You will be trying out with your stunt group which is assigned at tryouts by coaching staff. Please let us know ahead of time if you have a time conflict this day. Please note: tryouts are closed.
Results will be emails to parent/students and posted in Cheerleader Tryout Band App.
IF YOU MAKE THE TEAM
Uniform Fittings
Wednesday, April 23rd 4:30PM
First Parent and Cheerleader Team Meeting
Tuesday, May 7th 6:00PM - At this time, we will discuss our expectations and the cheer calendar! ALL PRE-EXISTING CALENDAR CONFLICTS MUST BE ADDRESSED WITHIN 1 WEEK OF THIS MEETING! We will be reviewing absence requests through our form *link coming soon*
Practice
Twice a week in May and June, Mondays and Wednesdays
Leigh 5K Stampede
Saturday, May 18th 8:00-11:00AM - This is a big fundraiser for us! Cheerleaders are stationed along the race course encouraging and cheering on participants. Stampede donates 25% of profits to 4 groups: Cheer (Spirit Boosters), Athletics (Sports Boosters), PAPAS, and Home & School Club.
Leigh Graduation
Thursday, June 6th - Cheerleaders and parent volunteers will manage this fundraiser. Siblings of graduates and 8th graders who have made the team are excused from working our booth.
Cheer Camp
July 10-14 Summer Practice to prepare for cheer camp 3:00-6:00PM.
July 15 - 18 USA Cheer Camp at the Hyatt Regency. Cheer Camp will be ALL DAY. Do not schedule any work or other plans on these days.