After choosing which program you want, please review the expectations and guidelines for the season. Both cheer programs abide by our
Communication Methods
Who Provides What
Attendance and Behavior Policy
Program Guidelines
Cheer Uniform Policy
Organizational Expectations (Click Here To See Those)
Platform: BAND app.
We aren't responsible for missed information.
Two emergency contacts may join the group.
The "going/not going" option is for personal reminders and not used for attendance.
Some events may have a CIC, meaning a specific group will be created for them.
If we have a special event including all 3 teams, we may add a new BAND for that.
Sign ups for specific events.
Parents/Guardians can use BAND to contact coaches.
"The 24 hour rule" ; The coaches may take up to 24 hours after concern to respond unless it is injury related.
Refrain from asking coaches engage in custody battles. We are not accountable for such legalities. Parties should remain on site to ensure children leave with proper units.
Coaches are not required explain routine changes.
Cheerleaders can use BAND to contact coaches.
Cheerleaders should not text coaches about routine changes.
The first bow.
You are responsible for purchasing a replacement if they lose it ($10)
A formal uniform to be worn at certain away and public events.
The refundable equipment fee can be refunded if the equipment is returned in good condition and all fees are paid. Checks are given out at the banquet.
Black spanx. You can buy these anywhere! Purchase a pair that are short enough to wear under cheer skirts, but long enough to wear with a t shirt.
A team T-shirt. We wear these for certain events and games. They cost approximately $16. We will order through All Pro (a vendor in Collinsville). The link will be posted on BAND when the time comes
White shoes.
Black no-show socks.
For the cold weather, only black attire (black gloves, hats, etc) or gear approved on the All Pro Link
Optional: During October, you can purchase pink gear to match the football players to support breast cancer awareness.
Optional (Especially for older girls): cheer bag with these items plus ponies, deodorant, hair brush, snacks, money for food, water bottle, black frame sunglasses, sunblock, and bug spray.
Sideline Cheer involves learning all the cheers and halftime performances, with a total of six weeks dedicated to preparing these routines. For home games, where performances take place, cheerleaders are required to arrive one hour before game time to re-block the halftime routine. Sideline Cheer serves as an introduction to cheer, so there are no mandatory practice attendance requirements, but it is essential for your cheerleader to be on time for games. To perform at halftime, cheerleaders must arrive promptly. If a cheerleader is more than 15 minutes late, the coach is not obligated to rearrange the routine to include them.
Cheerleaders enrolled in the All In Package are held to a higher standard because of the end-of-season competitions. The competitive season begins the first week of September and spans roughly 8-10 weeks. These will be intensive practices. Attendance and good behavior are critical to team progress, as they directly affect stunts, tumbling formations, motions, and more. Just as football teams enforce rules to maintain cohesion, we have implemented guidelines to ensure commitment, safety, and unity within our cheerleading teams. A competition routine is significantly more advanced than weekly halftime performances. To keep our team safe and effective, everyone needs to show up consistently and really engage with the direction staff provides. Every cheerleader’s role is essential and timed to avoid missed beats that can lead to injuries. Our volunteers dedicate countless hours to your child’s team. Consistent attendance and a positive attitude are necessary to maintain mutual respect.
While we support multi-sport participation, consistent attendance and appropriate behavior are mandatory. Absences impact both the team’s progress and the coaching staff’s planning. If poor behavior causes your cheerleader to sit out, that is counted as a missed practice. Excessive tardies or leaving early can also be counted as a missed practice. For example, if your cheerleader is 20 minutes late 3 times, that counts as 1 hour of missed practice.
If you are unable to meet these standards, we kindly ask that you consider the Sideline option for your cheerleader.
Commitment & Safety Guidelines for the season:
September: Cheerleaders may miss up to five practices (up to 10 hours of any comp practice/stunt clinic), regardless of reason. Missing more than five will result in a reassignment and loss of core membership within stunt, tumbling, or jump groups moving into October.
October: Cheerleaders may miss up to three practices (up to 6 hours of any comp practice/stunt clinic), regardless of reason. Missing more than three will lead to a reassignment and loss of core membership within stunt, tumbling, or jump groups moving into November.
November: Any absences may result in your cheerleader being removed from the routine entirely. This is a crucial period. The team’s routine and team member safety depends on reliable attendance.
Your athlete is needed on this team for one or more roles. Your cheerleader may not get the role that you want, or the role they had in past years, but that’s part of learning how to be a good teammate. Your cheerleader will learn new skills and be a more valuable teammate to future teams. Coaching decisions are made based on many factors that include, but are not limited to, stunt positions and choreography positions. These decisions are modified based on skill, consistency, attendance, performance, and attitude. Please refrain from threatening to quit based on whether or not a coach changes a coaching decision in your favor. That is not how we will conduct business. Threatening to quit will cause your cheerleader to have a less significant role to prevent affecting the other cheerleaders. A Conflict Resolution Agreement form will be filled out in a meeting before the cheerleader can cheer at a game, competition, or performance.
See below for expectations for games, practices, performances, etc. Failure to meet these expectations can lead to interference in the child’s placement in a routine, interference with participation, added conditioning, and/or a meeting with the Cheer Director or Athletic Director.
Practices
Parents must notify a coach by 5:45pm for an excused absence. No snacks at practice unless medically necessary. Attire: tennis shoes (flyers wear cheer shoes), gym clothes, hair up, no jewelry, short nails (NO ACRYLIC nails) and bring water. Coaches may require a doctor’s note for injuries.
If a cheerleader wears acrylic nails, they will be sat out and it is counted as an unexcused practice. This is a safety issue.
If a cheerleader takes time out of practice to remove jewelry, it will be an unexcused tardy. Minutes used to remove jewelry may also result in additional conditioning time at the next practice.
Games
Games will be posted in the group. Since we have 3 cheer teams for multiple football teams, cheerleaders will cheer for more than 1 team pending their coaches’ availability. Cheerleaders are not promised to cheer for their registered athlete either.
Text/call a coach no later than 15 mins prior to the arrival time to be considered excused for arriving or departing. Don't leave right after halftime. Arrive on time at the coach's meeting location.
Cheerleaders should only attend in uniform if they are scheduled to cheer. Make sure their spanks are appropriate and their bras are black. Correct uniform issues promptly to allow participation.
Your cheerleader will not get a snack break. They only have half time to snack. Please prop the snack and have it ready for your cheerleader. Cheerleaders are expected to start cheering at the start of 3rd quarter.
Mentors from the Explosion team, chosen by coaching staff, can help other teams and learn leadership skills.
Each parent must volunteer at one game per registered athlete to avoid over $300 in forfeits. If you cannot help, someone can sign in for your athlete as long as they are 16+. Jobs include concessions, scoreboard, announcing, grilling, and more. If parents do not volunteer, this can disrupt your athlete's performances.
Game Attire: announced at the head coach's discretion.
Casual Attire: Long spanx or solid leggings, team t-shirt, and bow
Formal Attire: Raiders Uniform (shell, skirt, undershirt)
Spanx
Black or no show socks with all white shoes
Bow with hair up
Black sports bra
No acrylic nails. They will be sat out and it will be counted as an unexcused practice. This is a safety issue.
No jewelry. If a cheerleader uses game time to remove jewelry, it will be counted as an unexcused tardy. Minutes used to remove jewelry may also result in additional conditioning time at the next practice.
No dramatic makeup or glitter. It destroys the uniform.
Water
Cold Weather: Only black gloves, ear muffs, and hats. Or, if approved by a coach before the game, other Raiders' gear
Competition for our All In Package
For competition/performing week, we practice every night that week unless told otherwise.
Competition/performance practices are mandatory.
The coaches set the look and the girls are expected to follow it. You will hear more about competition/performance as the date approaches.
We cannot control the our performance time slot.
Performances demand a higher level of maturity, expectation, safety, and skill set. Your cheerleader may be asked to step out of competition if coaches believe that it is for the best.
Injuries
We teach athletes how to safely fall, jump, catch, and tumble, but accidents happen. You can break an ankle from landing wrong in a jump or you can break an arm from a stunt fall. Speak to your doctors about concussions - they do happen.
How to Take Care of Your Uniform
The uniform you are issued is the property of the Collinsville Raiders and its cheer program. Each cheerleader issued a uniform is responsible for properly handling and caring for it throughout the season. All cheerleaders must abide by the following terms and conditions while in possession of a Raiders uniform:
You are responsible for any stains, tears, or other damages to the uniform that was not listed on the night-of handout.
You are to keep the uniform clean and in its issued condition. Follow the washing instructions you have been provided. Do NOT dry clean your uniform!
Uniforms are to be worn for designated cheerleading activities/events only. Do not wear your uniform unless a coach has given you permission to do so. The uniform is not to be worn as a Halloween costume.
Do NOT alter any part of your uniform. Any and all alterations must be approved by a head coach ahead of time. Alterations must be done by our seamstress.
Any individual misusing their uniform, which includes not properly cleaning it, will lose the privilege to wear it.
How to Wash the Skirt, Crop, and Shell
Hand wash cold using mild detergent with no dye.
Lay flat to dry
Do not bleach
Do not use fabric softener
Do not use dryer sheets of any sort.
Do not iron
Do not dry clean.
Do not dry in the drier
If you wish to risk the uniform's integrity and wash it in a machine, wash it in cold water. However, know that you are doing so at your own risk. The uniform vendor recommends hand-washing only.
If there are any stains on the white parts, use a small amount of laundry soap and hand scrub before washing the entire uniform.
Do not let your uniform rub against rough surfaces or be clawed/snagged by animals