Martinsville High School Cheerleader’s Constitution
2006-2007
Article 1 – Purpose Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and uphold school spirit, to develop a sense of good sportsmanship among the students, and to foster a positive attitude toward athletics. We, the football and basketball cheerleaders of Martinsville High School, dedicate ourselves and our services to endeavor and maintain enthusiasm and school spirit at all athletic events and other cheerleading activities.
Article 2– Membership Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
1. Membership of this organization shall consist of all duly elected cheerleaders. Each member must be passing in four solid subjects. If more than one failing grade is received, you will be ineligible for the following grade period. Incoming freshman do not have any grade requirements, but they will be taken into consideration.
2. If absent from school the entire day of a game or practice, you are not to attend anything that evening. However, if you have recovered, you are still expected to fulfill weekend responsibilities. A phone call must be made to the coach in event of an absence prior to the cheerleading activity scheduled.
3. An eligibility card will be carried mid-way through each grading period if requested by the coach. Copies of mid-terms and report cards are always given to the coach.
Article 3 - Requirements Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
There will be up to 8 freshman cheerleaders, 10 JV cheerleaders, and 12 varsity cheerleaders chosen for each season. An alternate may be chosen as well to replace any member that quits, is suspended, or is injured. Each girl will be judged on attitude, a spirit essay, and teacher evaluations. During clinic and try-outs the coaches will be judging 4 jumps, a cheer and chant, the school song dance, and overall spirit and attitude. The coaches have the final say in who makes the squads. Score sheets will not be shown to anyone.
Article 4 – Lettering Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
Only Varsity cheerleaders and stuntmen are eligible for a varsity letter. If a JV cheerleader cheers during a Varsity game, it is considered a privilege. Excessive demerits, quitting the squad, or being dismissed from the squad will forfeit the cheerleader’s letter as well. All outstanding payments must be paid in full prior to receiving a letter as well as turning in all uniforms.
Article 5 – Absences Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
All absences are to be reported prior to the scheduled cheerleading activity, to the coach.
Unexcused Absences and tardies (this list is not all inclusive): vehicle trouble, babysitting, work, concerts, dates, any ticketed event, extracurricular church or school activities, family vacation, pre-set dentist or doctor visits, dance class, other cheerleading classes, driver’s ed, or any type of class taken outside of the high school. MHS cheerleading must come first.
Excused Absences: death in the family or personal illness
Article 6- Demerit System Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
The demerit system will take place immediately following try-outs and will go to the end of the final season you are cheering for. This may be the banquet or a practice. The last game is not considered the end of the cheerleading season. A log for each cheerleader will be kept to keep track of demerits. The coaches reserve the right to implement other consequences on top of the demerit system. Demerits will be issued for the following, but are not limited to others being issued at the coaches’ discretion:
1 Demerit
*Incorrect uniform (including ribbons, lollies, bodysuit, and shoes)
*Not in uniform by arrival time
*Each excused practice
*Being tardy to any cheerleading activity
*Chewing gum
*Hair not in ponytail and all bangs out of the face
*Improper practice clothes and shoes
*No binder
*Missing locker room duty, sign session, or any other activity
*Jewelry not off before coming to a cheerleading activity
*Cell phone usage (texting, checking voicemails, making and receiving calls)
*Not performing assigned equipment or locker room duty
*Socializing with a boyfriend/girlfriend, friend, or acquaintance
*Not sitting with the squad in the bleachers during assigned time
*Not learning material that was missed during an absence before the next practice and/or game
*Not turning in material or money by a deadline, unless approved by the coach prior to the deadline
*Trash being left on a bus (demerit goes to everyone who rode the bus)
2 Demerits
*Not calling a coach prior to a missed practice, game, locker room duty, sign session, or any other cheerleading activity
*Getting a piercing or visible tattoo
*Not participating in fundraisers
3 Demerits
*Each unexcused practice
*Each excused game
*Disrespect to a coach, squad member, or adult attending a cheerleading activity. This includes gossiping, arguing, or talking while the coach is instructing
5 Demerits
Each unexcused game
1 Merit: Only 1 merit per season can be earned. Others may be considered at the coaches’ discretion
*Attend a freshman squad practice
* Earning the Artie Bear or Spirit Megaphone
*Character Count's winner
Guidelines for accumulated demerits:
3 demerits – sitting out 1 quarter of a game
6 demerits – sitting out 1 game
9 demerits – sitting out the next 2 games
12 demerits – permanent suspension from the team
Article 7 – Uniforms Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ___
Uniforms are the property of the school. It is the responsibility of each
cheerleader to pay for the cleaning of the uniforms and warm-ups throughout the
season. No altering is allowed without the permission of the coach. At the end
of each season, the uniforms are to be cleaned and returned to the coach in the
manner that they were issued. If a uniform is stained, altered, or damaged, it
is the cheerleader’s responsibility to pay for the cost of a new one. If this
is not done, the cheerleader will be ineligible to try out the next year and
will lose their varsity letter.
Each cheerleader will be required to wear a complete uniform to each game or activity. When one girl is in uniform, all are in uniform. This shall include matching shoes, socks, bodysuit, hair accessories, lollies, pants, jacket, and/or rain gear when necessary. NO GUM OR JEWELRY WILL BE ALLOWED DURING GAMES OR PRACTICES. Do not get any piercings during the cheerleading season, because it must be taken out for a game or practice, no exceptions will be made. Hair is part of being uniform, and this must be completely up in a ponytail and ribbon, with ALL bangs out the face. Keep spares of everything in your cheer bag to prevent forgetting anything. Uniforms and warm-up jackets should never be worn unless the coach tells you to wear them.
Article 8 – Responsibilities Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
Dress should be in uniform, but cheerleading uniforms and warm-ups are not to be worn unless the squad’s designated team is playing or unless requested by the coach. In case of personal illness or emergency, the cheerleader must notify the coach prior to the game or practice.
Summer practices will be scheduled and will be mandatory. All cheerleading squads will be attending a 4-day summer cheer camp as well, and this is mandatory. A summer clinic will be held and is mandatory too. Family vacations that are already planned need to be approved by the coach immediately before try-outs to be excused. After July 26, 2006 all practices and cheerleading activities will be mandatory, and family vacations will not be excused.
If cheerleaders are members of other organizations, they are expected to put cheerleading first. Other activities cannot interfere with practices, games, or other cheerleading activities. If you are suspended from the team, or quit the team, you are ineligible to try out for the remainder of your high school career, and forfeit your varsity letter.
A. Football Squads Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
Varsity cheerleaders will cheer at all home and away Varsity games. They will be required to attend some home JV and/or Freshman games at the coaches’ discretion. JV cheerleaders will cheer at all home and away JV and Varsity games. JV and Varsity squads will be required to attend all called practices, locker room decorating, clinics and camps, and sign sessions. Freshman squads will cheer for all home and away freshman games and will be required to be at all their practices, clinics, summer camp, and home Varsity games.
Article 8 – Responsibilities continued
B. Basketball Squads Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
Varsity cheerleaders will cheer at all home boys’ and girls’ Varsity games. They will be required to be present and in uniform at all home JV games cheering in the front row of the student section, with the JV squad. JV cheerleaders will cheer at all home boys’ and girls’ JV games. They will be required to be present and in uniform at all home girls’ and boys’ Varsity games cheering in the front row of the student section, with the Varsity squad. Practices, locker room decorating, clinics and camps, and sign sessions are also mandatory. Freshman squads will cheer for all home boys’ and girls’ freshman games. They will not cheer for away games. They are required to attend all freshman practices, clinics, summer camp, and various home JV and Varsity games to help sell fundraising items.
Varsity and JV girls’ and boys’ away games will be cheered for on a rotation basis.
If a Varsity or JV cheerleader has an excused or unexcused absence from any cheerleading activity, they must make this up by going to an extra game at the coaches’ discretion. A freshman cheerleader will be required to go to extra home varsity games to sell fundraising items.
Article 9 – Fundraisers Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
There will be several fundraisers planned to help offset the cost of decorations, candy, spray paint, and other things required in a cheerleading program. Uniforms, pom poms, megaphones, and warm-ups are also bought with fundraising profits. These will belong to the school. Each member of the Varsity, JV, and Freshman squad will be required to raise a specified amount to help the cheerleading fund purchase these items. If they do not meet the requirement, they will be benched until it is met. After missing 3 games, they will be dismissed from the squad. There will also be fundraisers that each member will get to keep their profit that they made to help pay for camp, shoes, bodysuits, pants, ribbons, campware, and cheer bags. If they did not meet the required amount to help the cheerleading fund, they will not get to keep their profit from these types of fundraisers. Each fundraiser has mandatory participation. To not participate will be deemed as defiance and unwilling to help the squad and themselves, and proper consequences will be issued.
Article 10 – Conclusion Cheerleader’s Initials____ Parent’s Initials ____
Cheerleaders are to be expected to have and maintain character above reproach: personal appearance and habits, of which there should be no criticism, are required since cheerleaders are constantly representing the school and in the eyes of the students and public. Cheerleaders are expected at all times to be a credit to the school. “They must not create a disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, morale, or educational environment in their school.” (IHSAA)
The following items are specifically included in the type of behavior expected:
- Courtesy and friendliness to other teams
- A pleasant and respective attitude wherever you go, being careful of all conversations that might be overheard
-Absolutely no profanity
- Being respective and courteous and considerate to others members of the squad and to all coaches
-What happens in cheerleading, stays in cheerleading, we are a family
-Getting a good night’s sleep and meal before each game and cheerleading activity
-Being neat in appearance at all times
-Obeying school rules so that disciplinary actions for such things as truancy, misbehavior in class, etc., is not necessary
-Being on time to all activities with the team or as directed by the coach.
-Cheerleaders are to be at school for games and practices at the set time by the coach
-Disputes arising team members are to be kept confidential and not to interfere with any cheerleading activity
-Listening and obeying the coaches’ directions without complaint and bad attitudes
Failure to abide by these rules will bring a warning or demerits being issued for each offence, and then a permanent suspension from the squad
Smoking, drinking, or illegal use of drugs is absolutely prohibited and will result in immediate release from the team. If you are released from the team, or quit at any time, you will be ineligible to try-out for the rest of you high school career and will lose your varsity letter.
I have read and agree to abide by the statements in this constitution.
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Cheerleader’s Signature Date Parent’s Signature Date
I am trying out for: Football Basketball Both
I am willing to be an alternate for: Football Basketball Both
Next year I will be a: Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior