Leadership
Captains for the upcoming school year will be selected during our summer camp week. If you are interested in becoming a leader for your squad(s) please let your coaches know that you are interested as soon as summer practices start. Once we get close to camp week, an online application will be available to all interested spirit members.
The captain selection process will include an online application, an interview with coaching staff, and a team vote. The number of captains is not set but there are usually at least two, so that they can share the long list of responsibilities. Captains can be captain for one season, or for both, depending on coach's discretion and desire of applicant.
Each captain has the responsibility to:
Set a good example for the program.
Attend all practices, games, and performances as outlined in the calendar.
Attend all leader/coach meetings as outlined in the calendar.
Lead and motivate squad at practices, games, and performances.
Participate in the production of the new material video for the upcoming year.
The responsibilities of captain(s) are as follows:
Caller: Keep the team “in line” and paying attention during practices/games/performances. Call cheers, snappy clappys, quarter times, crowd pleasers, band dances, and stunts during games.
Liaison: Communicate with the team and coach, band, Storm Soldiers, and the leadership class to coordinate game/assembly plans and foster a happy, healthy relationship. Communicate any school or sport schedule changes to the coaching staff.
School Spirit: Responsible for organizing poster making and neck-sign creating days. Responsible for hanging game posters one week before the game. Responsible for orchestrating handing out neck signs. Responsible for scheduling and organizing cheer attendance to sports outside of football and basketball (i.e. soccer, swimming, wrestling, United, etc.)
Team Bonding: Organize team bonding activities for inside and outside of practice. These activities must always abide by the Bellingham School District Athletic Code and Spirit Program Handbook.
Choreography: Master choreography quickly, assist other members in learning/reviewing choreography (potentially outside of practice time), choreograph original pieces as requested by the coaching staff, and lead warm-ups and stretches at practice as requested by the coaching staff. Must have broad knowledge of technique in the specific Spirit category.
Community Involvement: Help coaching staff to organize and schedule community events such as charity work, Brain Cancer Walk, Ski to Sea, etc. Attendance at these community events is mandatory for captains.
Fundraising: Organize one or more in-school fundraising events such as selling roses for Valentine's day. Captains are also responsible for promoting, organizing, and attending mini cheer camp. Help the PAAC when needed in promoting fundraisers they have planned.