Green Hope JV/V Cheerleading 2015-2016

Green Hope JV/V
Cheerleading 2015-2016
If you have any questions/concerns please email Coach Walls ( bwalls2@wcpss.net).
Follow me on twitter for any updates or new information @GHHS_ CHEER.
Thank you for expressing an interest in being a Green Hope cheerleader. The following forms are very important.
Cheerleading can be a very fulfilling and challenging experience, but it is also demanding and disciplined in its nature.
Please read everything thoroughly and make sure that you and your parents have signed the required documents. In
addition to the signed documents, please submit a recent photo. All of the documents, including your ticket to play
must be turned in by August 1st. Please be responsible and turn the forms in on time. Irresponsibility is heavily
frowned upon and will be taken into consideration at tryouts. You may bring the documents to the PE office before
school is out for the summer, or you may drop it off in the main office during the summer.
Cheerleading tryouts will be held on August 3rd and August 4th at Green Hope High School. Please be aware
that I ask you come prepared to condition as well, which is an extremely important part of our program. During these
two days, you will be taught a cheer, a dance, and two chants. In addition to the material learned, each participant will
have to perform required jumps and tumbling as well as stunting. This material will be performed on August 4th and
will be judged by outside cheerleading professionals. These judges have expertise with college cheerleading both all girl
and coed as well as high school experience. Final cuts will be made on August 4th Those chosen for the squads will be
posted on the front doors at GHHS on evening of August 4h . At Green Hope, 9th – 11th grade candidates are eligible to
be selected for the Junior Varsity and Varsity squads. All candidates (9th – 12th) are eligible to be selected for the Varsity
squad.
Unfortunately, if you were talented enough to make a GH cheerleading squad last year, you are not necessarily
talented enough to make a squad this year. Green Hope cheerleading is highly competitive.
There will only be one tryout for the 2015-2016 cheerleading squads. If you make the JV or Varsity squad, you are
committing to cheering through football, basketball, and competition seasons (August through February/March).
***Please note that practices will begin directly following tryouts with the first varsity football game on August 21st .
Please do not plan anything, trips etc, in the month of August! ****
Sincerely,
Coach Walls
Important Varsity Dates
4 confirmed competitions - NCHSAA States- December 5th, 2015
SWAC at Green Hope December 10th, 2015
Counties at Athens Drive High School January 30th, 2016
NCCA States (*late January)
Routine Choreography – Friday September 11th 3- 6ish and Saturday 12th
8 – 3ish (Mandatory)
Camp- Spirit Express August 5th – 7th at UNC (Mandatory- Varsity)
1st Football Game- August 21st @ Heritage
Tryout Schedule
Aug 3rd 9- 12:00pm:
1 – 4:30 pm:
Aug 4th: 9:00 am
Material will be taught for tryouts from 9-12:00. In addition, we will have an open gym
where you will continue to practice your material, practice tumbling, jumping, etc. During
this time, we will also be watching flyers and bases stunting and performing the required
stunts. Your tryout number will be assigned.
Second practice session
Final Tryout Day
Results will be posted on the doors of GHHS by 4:00 pm. A mass text will also be sent to
everyone who made the team.
Mandatory Parent Meeting at 6:00pm in the Library for 2015- 2016 team members
Aug 5th : New Team Report to Team Camp at UNC
You may bring a bag lunch for tryouts, however if you have transportation you are welcome to leave and come back.
August 3rd and 4th are mandatory. If there are conflicts, Coach Walls should have at least a month notice prior to
August. Tryout material is only taught on August 3rd to give everyone the same opportunity.
Appropriate tryout attire includes black shorts, black tank, white socks, and athletic cheerleading shoes. Hair
must be fully pulled back in a high pony tail and no jewelry should be worn. Jewelry includes clear pieces (if
you cannot take it out, do not get it pierced). Fingernails should be clipped short and no nail polish should be
worn (for the entire season). You will not be judged if rules above are not followed.
Your tryout number – must be written on your RIGHT arm. YOU MAY NOT SWITCH NUMBERS WITH
OTHER CANDIDATES.
Judging System
The following system is the basis on which each applicant will be judged.
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Each applicant will be judged using a scoring rubric.
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Judges will be knowledgeable cheerleading judges.
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Additional consideration will be placed on academic status, tryout attitude, presentation, and overall
attitude.
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Applicants will tryout in groups of about three or four. This is not to intimidate you, but rather to
ensure fairness of the scores and speed up the process.
NOTE: The coach has the final approval of the selection of the squad. Teacher references and comments on
the student’s past behavior and sense of responsibility will be considered when making the final selection.
Tryout Checklist
Each cheerleader must turn in the following items BY AUGUST 1st in order to qualify for participation
in the cheerleading tryouts:
1.
Ticket To Play
The process in which the GH athletic program completes eligibility for all prospective athletes, they will check to
make sure you have a current physical on file, grades and medical background. Follow @GHFALCONS on twitter for
updates on when ticket to play dates will be held.
2.
A Green Hope Cheerleading Personal Skill Sheet
3.
A recent photo
4.
4 teacher recommendation forms completed by current 14-15 Spring semester teachers (Teacher
responsibility)
6.
Statement of Permission and Agreement Signed
Open Gym Dates
We will meet in the small gym. Please bring cheer shoes and running shoes. Each open gym
will be from 9:00am -12:00pm. This is a great time to work on skills and to interact with
each other. ALL Returners are expected to participate in at least 3 of the open gym dates.
Your attendance will add points to your tryout score.
June 23rd
June 25th
July 28th
July 30th
Requirements for GHHS Cheerleading
Please understand that requirements are just that, there are no exceptions on what is listed below. In order for
the program to build and remain successful, these skills are necessary throughout the season in order to be
prepared on the game field and competition settings. There will be no spots on the final tryout day in order to
make it fair to everyone. There will be no light spots nor will anyone stand there. Please be aware during
tryouts, we ask that you have mastered the skill and are prepared .While safety is also a factor, the final
tryout day is not the appropriate time to “try” anything.
See the below list of minimum requirements:
Jumps:
Toe-Touch
Double Jump
Jump of Your Choice from the following list:
o Herkie (right or left)
o Pike
o Front Hurdler (right or left)
Double Toe-Touch Back Handspring (Varsity only)
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Tumbling:
JV
 Standing Back Handspring
 Round Off Back Handspring or working towards
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Varsity
Standing Back Handspring
Standing Back Tuck
NO Exceptions!
Round off Back Handspring Tuck
Advanced tumbling is highly encouraged for Varsity candidates (but advanced tumbling DOES NOT
guarantee a Varsity position)
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Stunts:
JV
Extension straight cradle
Stunt of Your Choice from the following list: Straight or 360 cradle
o Arabesque
o Extension
o Scorpion
o Scale
o Liberty
o Heel stretch
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Varsity
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Extension straight cradle
Stunt of Your Choice from the following list with a 360 cradle:
o Arabesque
o Scorpion
o Scale
o Heel stretch
 Switch up (liberty, heel stretch, etc.)
360’s should not be performed for the first time at tryouts. If you do not have a solid 360 in each of
these stunts, you should not try to attempt this stunt at tryouts. SAFETY FIRST!
A cheer, 2 chants, and a dance will be taught at the clinic and are also required
for tryouts.
Green Hope Cheerleading
Personal Skill Sheet
Write legible
NAME _________________________GRADE ______ (15-16 school year)
Telephone # ____________________
Parents Cell #_____________________
Do you have any cheerleading experience?
Please Circle:
Yes
No
If Yes, How many years? _______
Are you a current all -star cheerleader? ______________
If so, What gym and what team?___________________
Current Tumbling Class/ Instructor:_________________
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Please circle the gymnastic skills that you have mastered (meaning you are capable of doing the skill on a
competition mat BY YOURSELF at any given time). If you circle it, you will be asked to demonstrate it for us. If
you make the team, you will be required to perform this tumbling at practices, games, and competitions. (Skills
on spring floor will not be considered.)
Back Handspring
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Round-off Back Handspring
Standing Back Tuck
List any other advanced tumbling skills in which you have mastered.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Would you like to be considered for a base, flyer, or backspot position? If you are a base, are you a main base, a
secondary base or both_________________________________________________________ ___________
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In your own words what do the following terms mean to you and how could you apply them to our team?
Explain each term and how it relates to your potential place on our team.
Accountability
Dedication
Leadership
Consistency
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rules and Regulations
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Team members cannot be engaged in any afternoon or evening job/activity that interferes with
practice and/or games. Members may not participate in any other sports that are going on
simultaneously. You are making a commitment to the cheerleading program, so this is the athlete’s
first responsibility.
Team members are expected to engage in ALL team building activities without exception. Dates are
given in advance for planning purposes.
Each cheerleader will be responsible for financial obligations such the purchase of the team warmups and other practice gear. We will order as a team through the BSN website early August.
If your uniform is damaged in any way, the member will not participate in games until another
uniform is paid for and received Please do not loan team materials to anyone for any activity or
reason. This is to ensure that Green Hope Cheerleading is being represented in the highest manner at
all times.
*In the event you make the team, you will not receive your uniform unless you and your parents have
signed your attendance contract. This contract is to ensure that everyone is committed to the team.
Our success is dependent on everyone being ALL IN and giving 100%!
*Halftime tardies will not be tolerated. The coach will provide a specific time and meeting place. We
start and begin as a team, for both basketball and football season. In the event, one person ruins the
privilege to leave the sidelines, the whole team will remain in the stands or on the sideline for the
remainder of the season. Plan accordingly for weather, lines, special events and bathrooms.
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*Responsibility starts with being in your ENTIRE uniform. This includes your poms, uniform,
appropriate undergarments and a bow. In the event you hair is not fully up with a bow, you will be
required to sit out for a quarter in uniform.
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Stunt members are expected to promote a positive image for the school community – your peers,
parents, teachers, and other community members.
o Smoking, drinking, and/or drug use will not be tolerated. Team members caught breaking
this rule will be dismissed from the squad IMMEDIATELY. Evidence of drinking or smoking,
including but not limited to photographs, will be grounds for dismissal, based on coaches
discretion.
All official cheer decisions will be made by the coaching staff. All coaches are to be given respect and
cooperation by the team members AND parents at all times. Lack of respect from either parent or
athlete can be grounds for automatic dismissal from the team. Please remember that Cheerleading is a
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TEAM sport and coaches will make decisions that are based on what is best for the team.
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WCPSS requires that athletes be present the entire school day to be eligible for games scheduled for
that day. Athletes must be present for at least half the school day to be eligible to attend practice. If a
member misses school the day before or the day of a game they will not be able to participate in the
game for that week. If an athlete is absent from school, the parent and/or athlete should text, call, or
email both coaches the morning of the absence.
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No refunds will be given if a team member quits or is dismissed from the squad.
Eligibility
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To tryout, each cheerleader must maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Coach Fegeley and I will check grades randomly throughout the course of the season. Please stay on
top of your academics so that your team members are not indirectly affected by your absence. You are
a student before an athlete, handle your course load accordingly.
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Any administrative disciplinary action (ASD, OSS) [does not include lunch detention] will result in
disciplinary action on the squad.
Practices
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We practice three times a week with Monday being an off- day. Homecoming and Competition Season
may require some Monday practices, however they will be announced with plenty of notice.
Football season will require both JV and Varsity to cheer at one game per week. Basketball season will
require you to cheer at multiple games in a week. Please understand that we cheer for men’s and
women’s basketball games, including any post season play.
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Schedule accordingly! Do NOT schedule a doctor’s appointment on a practice day or game day. If a
member misses a practice their spot in certain routines/plays may be replaced. . Note: If our practices
end at 4:30, you will not make it to work at 4:45. Please be realistic, we begin as a team and we end as
a team.
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DO NOT BE LATE FOR PRACTICE. Only tardiness for academic reasons will be excused. You must
inform your coach before practice if you are going to be late for academic reasons. . A members spot
may be in jeopardy if they are late.
 If you are sick and need to miss practice to keep the rest of our team healthy, you must notify your
coaches as soon as possible.
 DO NOT ASK TO MISS PRACTICES OR GAMES! Your team is depending on you and you are expected
to be there unless you are contagious or there is an unfortunate death in the family. Cheerleading is
extremely routine specific and therefore, it will only hurt our team and your position if you miss a
practice.
 Team members are not to participate in any stunts, mounts, or tumbling which might result in
physical injury without a coach present.
 Each member is required to report any injury to the coach immediately. If a team member must see a
doctor due to an injury, they must bring back a note stating that they are eligible to return to
Physical Demands
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If an athlete wears any kind of brace, it is required that you wear it to avoid further injury.
Practices will begin with sport specific conditioning please understand this is to further develop you as
an athlete and the endurance needed to be on this team.
If you need to be taped, it should be done before practice and not at the beginning.
Statement of Permission and Agreement
If you make the Cheerleading squad, realize that you are making a commitment to Green Hope High School
your coaches, your teammates, and yourself for the complete season. The decision to tryout should not be
taken lightly. You will be expected to put Cheer as one of your top priorities. Furthermore, as a representative
of GHHS, you must maintain proper behavior at all times. You must follow the Stunt guidelines set forth in
the 2015 Rules/Code of Conduct, and any team member who breaks the rules will be disciplined
accordingly.
Student Agreement
I, ________________________________________, have read and understand the 2015 Rules/Code of
Conduct for the GHHS Cheer program. I agree to abide by the policies described if I am chosen as a member
of the squad. I am agreeing to the information in the packet and understand that failure to adhere to these
rules and policies could result in dismissal from the squad.
Student Signature: ____________________________________Date:_______________
Parent Agreement
I, ____________________________________________, the parent or legal guardian of
_______________________________________, have read and understand the 2015 Rules/Code of Conduct
for the GHHS Cheer program. I agree to abide by the policies described. I also agree to the financial
obligations as they are described in the information provided. I understand that failure by me or my child to
adhere to these policies could result in dismissal from the squad.
Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________Date:______________
Teacher Evaluation
(Cheerleading candidates must provide each teacher with an envelope)
Cheerleading Candidate Name:
Evaluator Name and Class:
Note: This form must be completed by 4 Spring semester teachers or you will not be allowed to tryout.
Teachers: It is the mission of the cheerleading program at Green Hope High School to select athletes that
exemplify the highest moral, academic, and athletic standards. We thank you for taking the time to provide an
honest evaluation of this candidate. Please place this evaluation in a signed and sealed envelope in Billie
Walls’ mailbox. If you are a teacher from a surrounding middle school, please courier the evaluations to Green
Hope High School.
Rating Scale:
5 – Excellent, outstanding
2 – Fair, needs a lot of work, definitely lacking
4 – Very good, superior
1 – Poor, inadequate, totally unacceptable
3 – Average, good, could be better
0 - Unattempted
Using the scale above, rate this student on the following characteristics listed below. If scoring 0-2, please
elaborate on why the candidate is receiving this score.
______ Attendance (skips class, tardy, number of absences)
______ Capability of leadership
______ Dependable and responsible
______ Self-discipline and motivation
______ General attitude and disposition (text messaging, sleeping, inappropriate comments and displays of
disrespect)
______ Ability to accept constructive criticism
______ Ability to work well in groups and with a variety of students
______ Appearance (dress/hair appropriate, cleanliness, etc. - follows school dress code)
______Good representative for GHHS
______/ 45 possible points
Would this person be a good representative of Green Hope High School? Why or why not?
Any additional comments or concerns about this candidate?
If there is anything specific that you do not feel comfortable sharing in this form, you may direct those concerns
to bwalls2@wcpss.net. Students will NOT have access to these forms, I ask that you are honest in their
evaluation.