HSE Football/Competition Cheerleading Program 2017 - 2018 Information

PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Hamilton Southeastern Football/Competition cheerleading program is a combination of sideline and competitive cheering. As a HSE Cheerleader you will be in the forefront as a representative of our school. HSE believes that cheerleading is a rewarding and exciting sport that teaches teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship, leadership, school spirit, and hard work. Being chosen to represent Hamilton Southeastern High School as a cheerleader is both an honor and a privilege. As a Royal cheerleader you will be expected to adhere to the athletic handbook and Cheer Program Expectations with honor at all times, both on campus and off. Members of the program will cheer at football games, participate in community service projects, and compete at a state and national level. TEAMS Varsity Varsity can be made up of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Varsity cheerleaders will attend and cheer at all Varsity Football team events. Cheerleaders will also compete or perform at all approved cheer competitions and showcases. Junior Varsity The Junior Varsity cheerleading team will be made up of freshmen, sophomores and juniors only. This team is a non-traveling team, meaning they will not travel to away games unless decided otherwise by the coaches. JV cheerleaders will be required to cheer for the weekly home football games (Freshmen or Junior Varsity). JV cheerleaders will also compete or perform at all approved cheer competitions and showcases.

• The Junior Varsity and Varsity teams are fluid. This means that at any time during the season, a person could be moved to the Varsity team and/or a person from Varsity could be moved to JV. This could be due to; injury, eligibility issues, skill level change, effort level, not following team rules, etc. This is not a foreseeable action, but if it were, it would be at the discretion of the coaching staff.

• There is no guarantee of cheering or competing time at any level. The coaches will determine who has earned the right to participate. Should alternates be used, the coaches will choose them. Alternates can change at any time during the season and at the coaches’ discretion, your spot is not guaranteed.

• On the Cheerleading Application, the athlete will indicate their desire to cheer Football & Competition or Football only. • An athlete must meet the requirements to be placed on the Varsity or Junior Varsity teams no matter the option

they choose (see below for requirements). • It is understood by the athlete and parents that the Varsity Football & Competition team will continue after the • State competition through February by attending the UCA High School Nationals.

TRYOUTS Key Dates

• Thursday, March 9 – Information Meeting at 6pm – Café D • Monday-Thursday, April 24 - 27 – Tryouts – 6p-8p – Varsity Gym • Friday, April 28 – Tryouts - 4p-6p – Varsity Gym

o If you have a spring sport or Co-Curricular activity that interferes with any day, contact all 3 coaches. Arrangements will be made to accommodate those commitments.

Tryout Expectations

• All athletes must have a sports physical completed • 2016-17 physicals are valid for tryouts only

• 8th graders – must provide a printed copy on a IHSAA physical form (if a current athlete can receive a print out from junior high athletic director)

• 9th – 11th graders – if a current athlete and Rank One is updated (if not a current athlete, must see next bullet point)

• 2017-18 physicals are valid if completed on April 1st or later • Must be turned-in to Coach Johnson (not the athletic office) no later than Wednesday, April 19th

• HSE Athletic Physical Night is May 3rd. • You must have an appointment scheduled to participate. Beginning April 21st at 8am, go online to the HSE Athletic

website, click on the link to make an appointment • Complete tryout information form via link on cheer website by Wednesday, April 19th • Communicate with the coaches, and ask questions if you don’t understand something. • Dress appropriately for tryouts - athletic shorts, t-shirt, athletic/cheer shoes, hair pulled up with a bow, no jewelry, no nail

polish, etc. • Coaches, based on athlete evaluations, determine team placement. Evaluation of each candidate and selection of athletes for

each team (regardless of indicated preference) may include the following criteria: • Clean jumps, good height, pointed toes • Tight motion, correct motion placement • High level of difficulty and execution of tumbling • Ability, willingness to stunt in any position • Intangibles (being a team player, coachable, attitude, desire, commitment, work ethic, etc.) • Natural facial expression • School spirit • Ability to maintain good grades • Character and citizenship (school and community) • Dedication, ability to fulfill commitment as first priority

• Tumbling: VARSITY - Jump combination to back tuck, standing tuck, round off back handspring back tuck/layout/full; JUNIOR VARSITY – standing back handspring, round off back handspring.

• Team Placement Announcement • The decided members of each team will be announced and posted on the HSE Cheer Website by 11pm on Friday,

April 28th. Please be available between 10-11pm if needed.

SEASON OVERVIEW – Once you’ve made a team… All parents and athletes must attend the team meeting Tuesday, May 16th at 6pm in the cafeteria. Required Paperwork 2017-18

• Due 5/4/17 • Physical dated April 1st (or later) completed and turned in to Coach Johnson • Electronic Online Athletic forms to be completed

https://hamiltonschools.rankonesport.com/Main/Default2.aspx?Type=4 • Due 8/1/17

• All of the above forms should be completed – Royal Cards will be distributed by Athletic Secretary upon completion. • Athlete must present Royal Card to coaches before practices begin in August. • No Royal Card = No Practice

Fundraising All cheerleaders are required to participate in fundraising activities as directed by the coaches.

Fundraising Date of Event Benefitting

Car Wash(es) August Pom, Flags & Signs

Sponsor T-Shirt August Pom, Flags & Signs

Car Dealership September VROC & Nationals

Fashion Show October / November VROC & Nationals Program Expectations

• All athletes will uphold the rules and expectations of the school Athletic Handbook. • Attendance

• All cheer events as outlined by coaches are mandatory. It is expected that all athletes arrive on time, dressed and ready to cheer. Should an athlete arrive late, disciplinary actions determined by the coaches will be implemented.

• Excused absences will be reserved for a justified illness or family emergency. This must be communicated to the coaches in a timely manner before any cheer event (practices, games, competitions, etc).

• Unexcused absences may result in removal from the team. • Communication

• Playing time/position/alternate status are all topics that coaches will not discuss with parents. Playing time is earned. Coaches will communicate with the athlete of things that he/she needs to improve on.

• The first step is for the athlete to talk to their coaches about the problem. • Only after the first step fails, the second step is contacting the coach via phone call or email, to set-up a face-to-face

meeting time with the coach, athlete, and parent(s). • If a concern still exists after these steps, the third step is a meeting with the athletic director, parent(s), athlete, and

coach all together. • If you have any questions concerning the HSE Football/Competition Cheer Program, please contact all of the coaches

directly.

• Extracurricular & Co-Curricular Activities • Athletes are able to participate in other activities outside of HSE football/competition cheerleading. It is the athlete’s

responsibility to provide all schedules and information to the coaches in a timely manner. These activities should not interfere with practices, games, competitions or any other required cheer events.

• Academics • Schoolwork comes first and grades should be a priority. If an athlete has a D or lower, study tables or tutoring will be

required. • Appearance

• Athletes are ambassadors of the school and therefore should uphold a certain standard of appearance. • No jewelry at any time during practices, games or competitions • No nail polish while in uniform unless it’s a “neutral” color approved by coaches • Hair MUST be pulled up in a ponytail with a bow during practices, games and competitions – it’ll be the

coaches’ discretion on how hair should be worn should a decision need to be made • Social Media & Cell Phones

• There should be no social media posting, texting, email, etc, communication in a negative way. Bullying, gossiping, or arguing over electronic communication does not demonstrate respect. A "24 hour rule" is strongly recommended for all parties; do not make a phone call or send an email/text until you've had a chance to reflect and collect your thoughts. What you say cannot be taken back once it is sent. Anything that is posted online not only reflects you but also the HSE cheer program and HSE High School as a whole. This not only goes for the athletes, but the parents as well.

Awards

• See HSE Athletic Code of Conduct for details.

SCHEDULE Camp & Practices

• Tuesday, May 16 – Practice - Aux gym #6, Parent Meeting to follow at 6 pm • Thursday, May 18 – Practice - Aux gym #6 • Saturday, May 20 – Stunt Clinic at Jay County

o Leaving HSE at 11:15am and leaving Jay County by 4:15p. • Tuesday, May 23 – Practice - Aux gym #6 • Wednesday & Thursday, May 31 & June 1 – Stunt Camp • Monday-Friday, July 24-28 – Season Kick Off Practices & Camp - Aux gym #6 • Monday-Friday, July 31-August 4 – Camp - Aux gym #6 • Regular practices begin Tuesday, August 8th - Aux gym #6

o Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3:15p – 6p o Athletes participating in Camp Tecumseh as a counselor in the Fall will be asked to attend the first session of camp.

This will be an excused miss from the Tuesday practice. o Fall break will be observed 10/14-10/18/2017. Athletes are expected to attend their games the first weekend, there

will not be a practice on 10/17 and athletes must attend practices/games again starting on 10/19/2017. Tentative Competitions & Showcases

• Greenfield Central Invite (JV & Varsity) – September 16th • New Palestine – September 30th • CICC at Pendleton (JV & Varsity) – October 7th • HSE State Showcase – October 19th • JV State Competition – October 21st (tentatively) • Varsity Preliminary Competition – October 28th (tentatively) • Varsity State Competition – November 4th (tentatively) • UCA Hoosier Classic (Varsity)– November 18th or 19th • UCA Competition (Varsity)– December (TBD) • Indiana University Showcase – January 7th (tentatively) • Basketball Half-Time Performances – December & January • UCA Nationals – February 9th – 13th *All competitions and performance showcases listed above are subject to change **Following State, it will be at the Coaches’ discretion to institute the fluidity rule by asking JV members to move up and/or Varsity members to become an alternate. Coaches may also implement a re-selection process if needed.

EXPENSES

Expense Date of Event (if applicable)

VARSITY Football &

Competition

VARSITY Football

ONLY

JUNIOR VARSITY

Football & Competition

JUNIOR VARSITY

Football Only Due Date Attire $500.00 $500.00 $500.00 $500.00 6/1/17 Incentives/Meals $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 6/1/17

Stunt Camps 5/20 & 5/31 -

6/1/2017 $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 6/1/17 Game Day Camp 7/27 - 7/28/2017 $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 7/28/17 State Choreography & Music 7/31 - 8/4/2017 $100.00 $100.00 8/4/17 V!ROC Choreography Week of 11/6/2017 $295.00 11/15/17 UCA Nationals (approx.) 2/8 - 2/12/2018 $1,200.00 TBD $2,645.00 $1,050.00 $1,150.00 $1,050.00

Attire - shorts, shirts/tanks, sports bras, warmups, shoes*,backpack*, Royal blue spanks*, socks & bows. *Indicates can be reused from previous season and future seasons if in good condition. UCA Nationals – includes athlete’s airfare, hotel stay, park hopper passes and coaches travel; parent fees additional.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Laura Carr - Varsity Cheer Coach - lcarr@hse.k12.in.us • Kaylee Johnson - Varsity Cheer Coach - kjohnson@hse.k12.in.us • Hannah Hunt - Junior Varsity Cheer Coach - hhunt@hse.k12.in.us