Cheerleading is a unique sport in that it is year-round, and the LHS Cheer Team will be cheering for Football, as well as Men's and Women's Basketball. This requires an enormous time commitment in addition to excellent time management skills. Each athlete is required to balance their schedules in order to maintain their status on the 2012-2013 LHS Cheer Team.
All games, practices, fundraisers, camps, assemblies, choreography, and performances are mandatory
Athletes should attempt to schedule studying, family events, and vacations at times that do not conflict with cheerleading
More than a total of three tardies and/or three unexcused absences will result in probation--a tardy is equal to 15 or more minutes late to a cheer event. Failure to wear assigned practice attire three times will equal one absence/tardy
Probation consists of a two-week period in which the athlete is required to attend all cheer events on time and in uniform and exhibit a positive demeanor and respectful behavior. If the athlete fails to comply with these parameters the athlete will be dismissed from the team
Excused absences include documented illness, death in the family, bereavement, family emergency, religious holiday or event, illness severe enough to warrant a school absence, unavoidable dentist or doctors appointment. If you are unsure if your conflict is excused or unexcused, please ask.
If an athlete feels slightly sick, they are expected to attend practice in order to learn or keep up with material, but will not fully participate
If an athlete misses the practice prior to a game they will be benched from the following game
If an athlete misses a full day of school they will not be allowed to participate in the cheer event that day, but will be required to attend the event
Other sports and activities are allowed as long as cheerleading is the athlete's number one priority of their outside-school activities--jobs are not a valid reason to arrive late or leave early from regular cheer events
It is the athlete's responsibility to personally notify the coach of a late arrival or absence prior to the event or late arrival. It will not be considered excused if another student, friend, or athlete notifies the coach. If athlete is ill or unable to communicate a parent should notify the coach
Coaches reserve the right to assign consequences for tardiness such as extra conditioning
While it is important to attend all cheer events, attitude plays a significant role in the success of a cheerleader. If at any time the coach or other athletes feel repeatedly disrespected, targeted, or endangered or an individual repeatedly displays disrespectful behavior it is up the coach to discipline the individual. The coach reserves the right to bench or dismiss a cheerleader at any point
Disrespectful behavior includes, but is not limited to, talking back, eye rolling, insubordination or refusal to do as asked, name calling, threatening, muttering under breath, or excessive sighing or complaining
Consequences to rule violations will be:
- Verbal warning
- Suspension for one game or practice (presence is still required) in addition to loss of participation in the event that the violation occurs
- Probation, as well as a parent meeting
- Dismissal from the team
Practices and Games
See above for practice attendance policy
The Football and Basketball seasons may run longer than scheduled due to the teams' participation in play-offs
Cell phones must be kept off at practice and should only be checked during break times. Athletes should not answer phone calls during practice and games
Athletes must wear assigned practice attire to all practices and games (see above for penalties)
Athletes should arrive at practices mentally and physically prepared to work
Athletes are responsible for hydrating themselves; they will be given water breaks, but water will not be provided. Please bring sufficient amounts of water to all events!
If it is discovered that any cheerleader is intentionally hurting another member of the team they will immediately be warned. If the behavior continues they will be dismissed from the team without following the above consequences
Neither jewelry nor piercings are allowed at practice or cheer events. This includes, but is not limited to earlobe piercings, cartilage piercings, bellybutton piercings, dermal anchors, tongue piercings, eyebrow piercings, monroe piercings, nose piercings, and spacers. Tape is not considered a safe method to protect piercings
Nails must be kept at athletic length (unable to see nail when viewing from palm of hand and no artificial nails, regardless of length, are allowed at any cheer events
Glitter cannot be worn on hair, body, or face
Hair must be pulled back or clipped out of face in the manner designated by the coach prior to the event. Hair is considered part of the uniform
Subtle makeup shall be worn at cheer events and games, but is not required at practice
Cheerleaders must be knowledgeable about the sport they are cheering for in order to call appropriate cheers and chants
Cheerleaders must stay at their assigned positions during games. They may not sit with friends or family during cheering times, nor are they allowed to move around within a formation
All cheerleaders must return to the field or court at the 2 minute mark, failure to do so will result in benching for the following quarter
No athlete is guaranteed the right to perform. The coach will only select those who are familiar enough with the material to perform it in front of a crowd and the coach can pull an athlete from a performance at any time
Athletes are expected to perform in all types of weather through football and basketball season
Grades
Cheerleaders are required to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average; grades will be checked every quarter
If an athlete fails to maintain the minimum GPA requirement they will be required to attend practice, but will spend the majority of practice time studying rather than participating. Green sheets will be required from those who are unable to maintain the required GPA
Finals and midterms will be taken into account when scheduling practices and cheerleaders are required to attend all "study practices" that are scheduled throughout the year
Transportation
Athletes and their parents/guardians are responsible for their own transportation
Cheerleaders are encouraged to carpool and the coach can provide a list of people living close to one another (if authorized) in order to organize transportation. However, the coach cannot organize transportation or carpools
Financial Commitment
The athlete and their parents/guardians are fully financially responsible for all costs that pertain to the LHS Cheer Program.
Uniforms are custom ordered. Once the cheerleader is personally sized at the beginning of the season and the order is placed it cannot be changed, altered, or refunded
No refunds will be given should you choose to leave the program before the end of the 2012-2013 season
Athletes and parents/guardians are fully responsible for any unpaid balances on items that have been ordered
Camp is non-refundable
Any team member who does not pay on a timely basis may be subject to consequences set by the coach such as not being able to participate in practice and games and not receiving merchandise
The LHS Cheer Program may send out statements as a courtesy, but regardless of whether you receive a statement you are completely responsible for paying the balances in a timely manner
General Guidelines and Behaviors
Cheerleaders act as representatives of Lincoln High School at all times and must always conduct themselves appropriately
Chewing gum is not allowed at any cheer events
Nails must be kept at athletic length (not visible when viewing from palm) and no artificial nails are allowed regardless of length
Hair must be pulled back, with bangs clipped back when participating in cheer events. If hair is longer than waist when pulled in a ponytail it must be kept under control when cheering and dancing (kept out of face) or secured in a way that keeps hair completely out of the face and out of reach of other athletes
All designated uniforms, clothing, makeup, and hair style are required for every event
No Lincoln Cheerleading attire shall be worn outside of team activities or lent out
No clothing or accessories shall be added to the designated uniform
No midriff should ever be shown when wearing cheerleading attire or at cheer events
All athletes must follow the Lincoln Athletic Code of Conduct
Drug and Alcohol use is prohibited
Whether of age or not, cheerleaders are prohibited from using any tobacco product when wearing Lincoln Cheer attire or when identifiable as a Lincoln cheerleader
Any image of Lincoln cheerleaders in uniform or identifiable as Lincoln cheerleaders should be in good taste. Cheerleaders should not use curse words, vulgar language, bully, or gossip
Athletes must refrain from excessive public displays of affection during cheerleading events. This includes kissing, extended hugging, back rubbing, laying on one another, or inappropriate touching
Placement in formations will be based on ability and participation. A cheerleader may be taken out of a routine or formation at any time in order to produce a clean and successful performance
Cheerleaders are expected to participate in all team bonding activities, as well as weekly or monthly projects, community service projects, fundraisers, and sign making
Cheerleaders are expected to respect the coach-athlete relationship. It is imperative that that guidance of the team stems from the coach in order to maintain a safe environment for the athletes. Scheduling information, details, and requirements should only be followed if put up on the website or explicitly communicated by the coach. Any mass texts, e-mails, reminders, phone calls, etc. should be ignored unless sent directly from the coach
