Our Purpose is to create and promote school spirit, pride, and loyalty. Our goal is to encourage good sportsmanship by building better relationships between schools, while bringing positive recognition to our school. We will do this through superior representation, public relations, and competition. Furthermore, the NPHS Cheerleading program is designed to promote interest in school activities, while developing responsibility and teaching self-respect through encouraging honest effort. We strive for perfection with character building, as well as teach teamwork and pride in a quality performance.
These guidelines have been designed to build a high caliber cheerleading squad with a respectable and impressive reputation. School and district rules must be followed at all events including off-campus activities. Cheerleaders should be leaders both in the school, in our community and must set a good example at all times.
Qualifications
Grades
Any grade during progress reports or report card showing a “F” is unacceptable and will result in the cheerleader being immediately suspended from cheering until the grades improve.
Physical Fitness
Cheerleaders must be physically fit in order to participate effectively in stunting, jumping, tumbling, and other aspects of cheerleading. Cheerleaders with weak joints are requested to wear braces or other personal protective equipment. Cheerleaders must keep themselves healthy. Any health problem that arises and may become detrimental to the cheerleader or the squad must be addressed. A doctor’s note may be required and/or a period of sitting out may result.
Financial Obligations
Candidates must be and remain in good financial standing with the school.
Participation in select team fundraisers is required.
Cheerleader are required to maintain good condition and cleanliness of his/her uniform(s). Failure to do so will result in being required to replace the damaged uniform.
NP Cheerleaders will be required to purchase certain items out of pocket. The items are listed as follows: briefs, shoes, bows, socks, cheer bags, warmups, and poms and two camp outfits. See attached cost analysis sheet for approximate amount required.
All cheerleaders will be required to participate in our UCA Summer camp. This camp is being held June 26th,27th, and 28th. If they are not in attendance for the whole camp they will not be allowed to participate. The cost of this camp is also on the attached cost sheet.
Cheerleaders will be required to attend at least two tumble classes per month at Roses Gymnastics This is to strengthen our tumble ability as a team. The cost of the class depends on how many team members we have after tryouts. This class should be around $30 per month for two one hour sessions. This is just an estimate and may go up or down depending on team size.
Other Athletic participation
Due to its demanding nature cheerleaders will not be able to participate in any other school athletic sport while on the NPHS cheerleading squad.
Accountability
Each cheerleader will be required to learn all material used for NPHS cheerleading. All material needs to be performance-ready well in advance of first performance. Failure to do so will require the cheerleader to sit out under until they are performance-ready.
Cheerleaders are not permitted to allow a non-cheerleader to wear their uniform, at any time, for any reason.
A cheerleader represents his/her school both in and out of uniform, therefore a cheerleader’s moral conduct should be above reproach at all times. Misconduct includes (but is not limited to) the use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, inappropriate language, any participation in parties/events where the above mentioned are present, lying, fighting, inappropriate use of social media.
Attendance
All cheerleaders must attend every team event in its entirety.
Cheerleaders must be present for at least half the school day on game days in order to cheer. Any exceptions must have prior approval of the coach. It is the responsibility of the cheerleader to notify the coach immediately if they missed more than half the day.
Any cheerleader who is absent from school must notify their coach immediately on the day of the absence if there is an event scheduled for that day. Coaches will decide if the absence is excused or not.
If a cheerleader is ill and must miss a team event, he/she must be at home resting or seeking medical appointments.
If you are able to still come to a team event and sit out or “take it easy”, you are expected to do so.
All doctor’s appointments, college visits, etc., should be scheduled so that they do not interfere with team events.
Tardiness
Being prompt (5-15 minutes early) is expected at all cheerleading events.
All practices will have a sign-in sheet. If you arrive late to a practice, you will be benched one quarter for every 15 minutes you are late. If you consistently arrive late to practice, your spot on the team may be reconsidered by our coaching staff.
Be aware that traffic may be a concern and is not a valid excuse for tardiness.
Coming back late from halftime break (2 minutes prior to halftime ending) will result in the entire team not receiving the halftime break at the next game.
Please notify a coach (not a fellow teammate) immediately if you even think you may be late. Just because you “told the coach” does not mean the absence is excused.
Transportation
Transportation to away games and competitions will be arranged through the school. If NPHS cheerleaders are cheering at an away game, all are expected to ride on the bus to the event and may choose other transportation for departing the away game. If you choose not to ride home with the team, YOUR PARENT must sign you out through a coach before the end of the event.
Work, not having a ride, “I forgot,” studying, outside activities, etc. are not considered an acceptable excuse for missing or being late to any event or practice. Students should understand that only serious illness; very special extenuating family circumstances are legitimate reasons to miss or be late to a cheerleading event.
School attendance is of utmost importance. Excessive school absences are unacceptable and can affect your spot on the team.
Coaches are willing to work with a cheerleader when advance notice is given of a conflict. Last minute surprises are unacceptable and will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Coaches are not responsible for transportation to and from practices or games.
If participants are not picked up on time and this happens more than twice the participate will be up for review by the NPHS coaching staff for suspension.
Practices & Events
Appearance
Appropriate clothing must be worn and information will be given as to what outfits (often including bow, socks, undergarments, etc.) will be worn for all events.
Whenever dressed in “required attire,” you are to remain that way until you are home & fully changed.
Hair must be worn in a secure ponytail for all practices and performances. Please arrive to practice ready to practice and plan for your hair to last throughout the entire practice.
Wearing jewelry is prohibited with the exception of religious or medical medals that are taped to the body under the uniform without a chain. Prohibited jewelry includes fishing line through any piercing to keep the hole from closing and woven friendship bracelets/anklets. This includes new piercings. Eyeglasses must be secured with a strap.
Cheerleaders’ fingernails must be kept short. Only clear nail polish or traditional/plain French manicure is acceptable.
Visible tattoos are not allowed. If tattoos do exist, they must be covered.
No gum is allowed at events.
Light neutral makeup & lipstick is to be worn for all events.
Practices will not be organized around meeting times and dates of other clubs and organizations.
Cheerleaders are responsible for bringing their own water/sports drink to ALL events.
Cheerleaders are to promote good sportsmanship at all events. Showing respect for other cheerleaders, organizations, players, the student body, coaches, officials, and spectators is a must.
At all events, the coach makes all decisions regarding whether a cheerleader participates as well as to the extent of their participation. If parents have concerns about any decisions the coach makes, please contact the coach the next school day following the event (e-mail is preferred method of communication unless there is a dire emergency). [email protected]
Discipline
Discipline can be given by any NPHS cheerleading coach or school administrator.
All issues will be dealt with on an individual basis as they may arise.
Benched means the cheerleader will sit out for a portion of the game, suspended means the cheerleader is not allowed to dress in uniform or participate in the event(s).
Excessive, repetitive, and/or cumulative discipline can result in the cheerleader being ultimately dismissed from the team.
All concerns should always be addressed with the coach first.
Contacting Coaches
Please take into consideration that your coaches have families and their own lives too! J When contacting a coach “after hours,” please consider first if the issue is a dire emergency. If it is something that can wait - please wait.
“After hours” refers to after practices/events and weekends.
Dire emergencies are things such as illness, injury, death in the family, etc.
Please always remember that a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on ours.