TRHS CHEERLEADER CONTRACT

Cost & Payment Schedule:

Pay to Play District Fee

$100.00

Nike Practice (2 tanks/2 shorts) / Varsity Practice (1 shirt/1short/1 dress)

$305.00

Game Day Uniform  x2

$370.00

Competition Uniform

$180.00

Pom Choreography Camp

$40.00

Camp

$400.00

Stunt Camp and Show Choreography Camp

$150.00

Crew Neck Hoodie

$55.00

Sweatshirt & Sweats

$85.00

Jacket 

$145.00

Liner under uniform (blue +black)

$30.00

Backpack

$80.00 

Bows (comp bow, game bow, 4th of July, Christmas) & headband

$40.00

Music/Props/Entry Fees for Comps

$100.00

Banquet/Holiday/Birthday Gifts

$100.00

Tumbling (Summer & School Year)

$200.00

Poms

$40.00

Nike Socks (3 pairs- white) 

$15.00

Cheer Shoes (Mat) 

$100(ish)

TOTAL (Estimated)

$2535.00

*2 pairs of white cheer shoes are required (track shoes + mat shoes.) You will be required to get them approved through a coach prior to practices starting. You will be in charge of purchasing Black Nike pros to wear under uniforms*

May 7th (“Made It” Meeting): $250 deposit due

August 1st: $575 payment due

September 1st: $575 payment due

October 1st: $575 payment due

November 1st: $560 payment due

FUNDRAISING

We will take part in many fundraising events throughout the summer and school year. It is essential to note, all cheerleaders will be expected to take part in fundraising. Our program cannot survive without some very important materials. We hope to reduce the cost to each cheerleader, but we are also expected to generate funds for the program to buy needed materials. We have a sponsor program where the first $50.00 is given to the general cheer fund and all other money goes directly to athletes (see attached sponsor packet). We sell “daily deal cards” where 100% of funds raised go to cheer fees. We have put together a “PICK A DATE” calendar where 100% of the funds raised go to cheer fees (see attached calendar). During the season, we will run concessions and sell blankets which goes directly into the cheer fund. We will also be hosting a “mini cheer” camp and a “students vs. teachers” basketball game which goes directly into the cheer fund as well.

ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

To assure the success of our cheer team, we expect all participants to treat one another with genuine respect. It is the cheerleader’s responsibility to make cheering a positive and enjoyable experience for self, fellow students, and school staff. All participants are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of conduct, courtesy, and consideration toward others and present themselves as leaders/role models for the school and community. This includes those on your team, as well as anyone else with whom you may come in contact.

We expect each cheerleader’s cooperation and commitment to the following rules and regulations to help us meet this goal.

1. Cheerleaders will run laps or do conditioning with the coach for any of the following:

   1. Tardy for any practice and/or game

   2. Not being in appropriate attire for practice 

   3. Chewing gum at practice, games and/or competitions

   4. Excessive talking at practice or games 

   5. Wearing jewelry at practice, games and/or competitions

   6. Long nails at practice, games, and/or competitions

   7. Not having hair in a ponytail (or other specified hair-do) for practice, games and/or competitions

   8. Not performing to standards during practice and/or games (ie: jumping, tumbling)

   9. Use of cell phones during practice, games and/or competitions. 

2. Cheerleaders will sit out at a game for any of the following: 

   1. Leaving any practice, game, performance and/or competition early

   2. Leaving a game and/or practice before coaches break the team

   3. Receiving school-issued detention or a trip to the principal's office 

   4.  Poor grades (less than a 2.0 GPA and/or with an F)

   5. Unexcused school absence on game day 

   6. Not being fully ready for game and having the correct uniform on (this includes: uniform, spanks, liner, bow, shoes, socks and poms.) *You may NOT lend any part of your uniform pieces to another girl on the team. 

*PLEASE NOTE: If you miss a game due to any of these infractions, you will not be eligible to attend the state tournament at the end of that particular season of sports. For example: If you have to sit out a game during football season due to poor grades and our football team makes it to state….You will not be able to travel with the team to that state tournament. State trips are a lot of fun, but they are earned- not given.

RULES

1)  Cheerleaders are expected to be role models within the school and community. This means following rules and keeping grades acceptable. Remember that cheerleading is a privilege not a right. Everything you do and say reflects Thunder Ridge High School and our cheer team. The actions, words, posts, and texts you do, speak, type and send should never be rude, disrespectful, demeaning, and/or negative.  

 2)  Attendance: Cheerleaders are expected to attend ALL cheer practices and events. With illnesses such as headache/nausea/menstrual symptoms or any injuries (unless stated by Dr.) you are expected to come and sit out in the correct practice attire or do as much as you can.

1. Cheerleaders have 3 EXCUSED ABSENCE TIMES for the season. Excused absences are including, but not limited to, contagious illness, bereavement, birth of family member, homecoming of direct family and out of town specialist appts. Our Athletic Director is the ONLY person that can excuse a game day absence from class. (Ex: 3 days out for surgery = 1 excused absence). Every absence after is 1 demerit per absence. 

2. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Typical or routine Dr. appts, notifying coach AFTER missed practice or event, or no-shows/no-calls, family vacations and work. 

3. TARDINESS: 5 minutes past our start time is considered tardy. For every minute late to practice, games and/or a competition you will owe one minute of running. For example: 45 minutes late to practice would result in 45 minutes of running. 

**Every situation is different and we are sensitive and understanding to that, please come talk with coaches as issues arise to discuss as needed.

 3)  Uniforms – Cheerleaders will wear their uniform or gear at every practice, game, performance, competition, or event as scheduled unless otherwise stated by the coach. No member may alter their uniform in any way other than instructed by a coach. Every member must adhere to the coach's dress code at all times. Every piece of uniform must be on and performance ready including but not limited to; shoes, bow, hair, socks, skirt, liner, shell. You are expected to be prepared with all items needed at least 24 hours before every practice, game, performance, competition or event. 

**If you have lost an item it will be your responsibility to have that item re-ordered with the coach. Additional charges may apply as it cannot be ordered in bulk.

4)  Social Media – All cheerleaders are expected to abide by the same standards of behavior both at school and in social media communications. Example – we expect no cyberbullying behavior, profane, lewd or inappropriate pictures, comments, posts, videos, or texts and no illegal paraphernalia or acts pictured at any time. There should be no put downs or insults to other classmates, cheerleaders, adults, or teams. Any illegal behavior is an immediate dismissal from the team after investigation.

5)  No jewelry and nails must be athletic length at all times. (Nails not visible when palms are facing out). Acrylic nails are ​never acceptable. We do not allow jewelry at practices, games or performances. This includes but is not limited to, ear piercings, facial piercings, belly piercings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets. New ear piercings will need to be covered completely with bandages. ALL JEWELRY MUST BE COMPLETELY REMOVED FOR COMPETITIONS (no exceptions will be made.)

6)  Suspension from school will result in possible removal from the team after investigation. 

7)  Cheerleaders will not be involved in any way with smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, vandalism, theft, or any other type of behavior that is judged by the cheer staff to be detrimental to the health, well-being, or safety. (ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM THE TEAM AFTER INVESTIGATION.) 

8) Do not complain, gossip, or talk badly about another cheerleader or a coach to a teammate.

Competitions/Games/Events Expectations

1)      Practicing cheers in uniform or not knowing material is never acceptable. We aim to look professional at every performance. Any cheerleader who does not know material will be asked to sit out. 

2)      Any member who is absent from a practice directly before a performance, competition, assembly can be benched from that event. Students must be at school on game days or will sit out for that game unless approved by AD and/or coach. 

3)      You are always “on duty” at events. No cell phone usage during practice, fundraisers, competitions and games, excessive chatting to other members, socializing with friends during games, eating during games, gum chewing or not participating in cheers.

 4) Boyfriends/girlfriends are OFF LIMITS while in uniform or otherwise representing. 

*Thunder Ridge Cheer: There is no hugging, "hanging on", sitting in laps, flirting, kissing, piggy back rides, holding hands, etc. with other students while in uniform.*

MAT EXPECTATIONS:

Being placed on the mat or in a routine is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. Your placement on the mat is at coaches discretion and will depend on work ethic, attendance, grades, knowledge of material, attitude and being “mat ready”. YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SPOT in any competition for the following:

1. Frequent absences at practices or repeated scheduling conflicts

2. Frequent behavior issues at school, games or practice 

3. Not knowing material (practicing at home will be crucial)

4. Consistent poor attitude to coaches or fellow team mates

5. Not practicing fully or consistent excuse making

6. No marked progress from month to month

Showing up and working hard at practices, spending time at home and at practice learning all material, having a good attitude to the team and coaches, being a great role model and striving to reach your goals will guarantee you a spot on the mat!

*Money paid will not be refunded due to missing events for behavioral/grade infractions.* 

SPORTS/CLUBS/ALL-STAR

Cheerleading is a HUGE time commitment. If a cheerleader has a desire to participate in other sports or activities permission must be received from the coach. However, your first obligation is to Thunder Ridge cheer. If there are consistent conflicts during practice times, games or conflicts during competition or performances you may lose your spot on the mat. We will do our best to work with you and your other coaches’ schedules, but cannot promise a perfect resolution. You are required to provide us with a schedule of your other team’s practices/games/competitions. 

SUMMER SCHEDULE

OVERVIEW:

CHEERLEADING IS A TEAM SPORT THAT RELIES ON THE COOPERATION, TEAMWORK AND THE PARTICIPATION OF EACH MEMBER ON THE TEAM TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER. IT IS IMPERATIVE AND A KEY SUCCESS FACTOR THAT EACH MEMBER IS PRESENT AT ALL SCHEDULED PRACTICES, GAMES, AND EVENTS.

➔ MISSING PRACTICE OR A GAME: CHEERLEADERS (NOT PARENTS) MUST CALL COACH DIRECTLY IF SHE HAS TO MISS A PRACTICE OR GAME: Cheerleaders should contact the coach as soon as she/he knows that she/he is going to be late or miss a practice/game. Cheerleaders must give advance notification if a practice or game has to be missed. Please do not notify the coach a few minutes before practice/game starts!

➔ PLEASE NOTE: If a cheerleader misses practice she is expected to contact another squad member to see what was missed. The cheerleader will need to make sure she is caught up on everything before the next practice. 

SUMMER PRACTICE AGENDA:

• 6am: Warm Up & Stretch (Senior led) *Talk about plan/goals for practice

• 6:20am: Kick & Jump Drills

• 6:30am: Tumbling or Stunting Drills

• 7:30am: Cheers/Sidelines Dances/Dances/School Song/Comp Routines (PREP/CLEAN)

• 8:15am: Conditioning

• 8:45am: Cool Down & Announcements

SCHOOL YEAR PRACTICE AGENDA:

*We will practice before school & during first period (6:45-9:15am).

• 6:45am: Warm Up & Stretch (Senior led) *Talk about plan/goals for practice*

• 7:05am: Kick & Jump Drills 

• 7:15am: Tumbling or Stunting Drills

• 8:00am: Clean what needs to be cleaned & learn/clean any new routines

• 8:45am: Conditioning

• 9:10am: Cool Down & Announcements

➔ Keep in mind as competition season approaches we may have to extend practices or add night practices to prepare. The content of practices throughout the school year will be based upon what needs to be worked on & where we are at in the season.

PRE-SEASON REQUIREMENTS:

In preparation for the season, every cheerleader MUST…

·  Run 1 mile a day (5 days per week), 60 sec. Plank hold, 50 squat jumps, 40 shoulder taps, 30 pushups (regular), 20 v-ups, 10 handstand pops. 

·  Learn all cheers and dances from the cheer youtube page. If you do not know all content by the first practice in June- you will be asked to sit out. 

Cheerleading is a large commitment with both time and finances. During competition season it can be grueling and difficult to manage school, sports, and taking time for yourself. We encourage you to focus on learning to manage your time wisely to make sure you can meet all of your obligations. We have an open door policy as coaches and encourage cheerleaders and/or parents to communicate with coaches as often as necessary. This ensures we work together to create a great experience for your cheerleader and the team.

We have read, understand, and will comply with these rules and regulations.

We understand that if we have any questions or concerns we must first communicate with the coaches to clear up any confusion or issues. If the coaches cannot resolve our concerns, it is your right to request a meeting with the Athletic director and coach(es) together.

Student  _____________________________________________Date _________________

Parent _______________________________________________Date _________________