Auburn High School Constitution
2006-2007

This constitution for Auburn City Schools cheerleaders has been established to provide a basis by which the cheerleaders may function in/out of uniform at the discretion of the coach.

Article I
Section I: Name
Auburn High School Varsity Cheerleaders
Section II: Purpose
The purpose of cheerleading is to direct the student body in school spirit sportsmanship, and enthusiasm in all activities.  The cheerleaders will function as a support group for the sports teams at Auburn High School as well as participate in state and national competitions at the coach’s discretion.

 Article II
Section I: Tryout Academic Requirements |

1.      Tryout participants must have an overall 70 average.

2.      Tryout participants must be enrolled in the Auburn City School system the semester they tryout.

3.       Anyone showing an unwillingness to conform to basic manners and compliance with established rules will be notified of their ineligibility to finish the clinic process.

4.       Anyone who has a past history of school offenses (Type II or III) or anyone who does not meet the academic requirements will be notified of the ineligibility to finish the clinic process prior to the last day of clinic.

5.      Any candidate removed or intentionally withdraws from the cheer program the previous year is ineligible to tryout the next year.

Section II: General Requirements
Participants must:

1.      Be planning to attend Auburn High School for the FULL 2008-2009 school year, which will be determined by looking at the student registration forms. 

They must meet AHSAA course requirements.

 You cannot cheer and graduate early.

2.      Have a permission slip signed by parent or guardian.

3.      Attend cheer clinic practice.  Anyone with an unexcused absence will not be allowed to tryout.  Absences can only be excused by coach.

4.      Have a current physical form on file in the central office, or have a new physical before tryouts.  Physical Clinic will be held March 3, at 4:00.

5.      Have all forms signed by parent/guardian and turned in by March 4 to Room 516.

Section III: Tryouts

1.      There will be a panel of three highly qualified judges.  The candidates will be judged on their technical merit, enthusiasm, skill and attitude, ability to help the squad, and overall impression during tryouts.

2.      Scoring will be based on 70% judge’s score and 30% coach’s evaluation.

a.       The following criteria will be used in coach’s evaluation:  dress, attitude, punctuality, shoes, respect, and interaction with other candidates and instructional staff.

3.      Candidates will be asked to complete a jump series, cheer, group chant and dance, entrance, and/ or standing tumbling.

4.      Candidates must wear a plain white shirt, royal blue shorts, tennis shoes, socks, hair pulled back, and no jewelry on the day of tryouts.

5.      The new squad will be announced by 10:00 pm the night of tryouts.  The sign will be posted on the front doors of the new gym

Section IV:  Team

The 8^th grade team will consist of 12-15 team members in grade 7.

The JV team will consist of 12-15 team members in grade 8.

The Varsity team will consist of 15-20 team members in grades 9 to 11.

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Article III
Section I: Leadership Positions for Auburn High School Varsity Team

            The coach will select a captain for the week based on the following criteria:

1. Definition: Captain: Must be person/persons with experience, good leadership qualities and skills, high academic performance, and a cooperative spirit.
2. Role:  The captain/captains are responsible for working with sponsor/coach on practice organization, plans for pep rallies, and plans for game activities.   The captain/captains should be individuals that show respect to their teammates and can lead by example both in-school and out of school.  The captain/captains will notify sponsor/coach if problems develop during an athletic event.
3. Selection:  based on ability, experience and responsibility, time to devote to the cheer squad, good leadership qualities and skills, and high academic performance.

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Article IV
Section I: Academic Requirements

1.      Cheerleaders may not fail any course and must maintain an overall 70 average.   

2.      At mid-quarter, if a cheerleader either is failing a course or does not have a 70 average, he/she will be placed on academic probation

3.      Definition of academic probation: cheerleader must be monitored, turn in a weekly progress report till grade improves, and one afternoon of physical exercise at coach’s discretion.  Refusal to any part of probation is immediate removal from team.

4.      They will have until the end of the nine weeks to bring up their grade. 

5.      At the end of the nine weeks, if grades have not improved, the cheerleader will not be able to participate in pep rallies or games until the next grade check. 

6.      At the next grade check, if grades still have not improved, the cheerleader will be removed from the squad.  In other words, cheerleaders will be allowed only one academic probation period before being removed from the squad. 

7.      If a cheerleader is removed from the squad for grades, he or she will not be able to try out for the following school year.

8.       Cheerleaders must meet the AHSAA rules of eligibility.

Grades Checks at:

ü  4 weeks ( Mid-quarter)

ü  9 weeks ( end of first grading period)

ü  13 weeks (mid-quarter)

ü  18 weeks ( end of semester

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Section II: Attendance
A zero tolerance policy will be enforced for unexcused absences see below:

Removal from team based upon attendance:

1. 3 excused absences- See below
2. 2 unexcused absences-See below
3. In case of surgery or death in the immediate family the coach and administration will decide on a case by case if the cheerleader can remain on the squad. 
4. In regard’s to doctors excuses attendance is mandatory unless cheerleader is on orders to stay at home.  The cheerleader can at least come to practice and watch so that they are not behind on the material. 
5. Notify coach in writing when possible but minimum by phone or email, of expected excused absences no later than noon on the day of the athletic or school event.
6. In order to participate, cheerleaders must be in attendance at school at least one half of the day on the day of the athletic event.  In an emergency situation the coach has the final decision about the eligibility of a cheerleader for the event.
7. Definition:
   1. Excused absences:  School policy: 

Personal illness with a doctor’s note, emergencies, death in the immediate family, wedding in the immediate family, court subpoena, board approved religious holidays, legal quarantine and pre-approved school sponsored functions (within reason – these should be limited).  When possible, official college trips should be planned around dates that will not conflict with cheer responsibilities.  Make sure that all absences are cleared with the coach or an unexcused absence will be given.  The coach has the right to make a final decision concerning these matters.

2. Unexcused absences:  Student council, Church activities, Dances, Gym, Competitive Cheer, Work, Vacations, Family Trips, Other athletic events, Chorus/Choir, Other extracurricular clubs, etc.  Coach reserves the right to define unexcused absences throughout the course of the year

Section III: Team Rules

1. During football season the cheerleaders should remain on the field to watch the school band and then they make a short break, while staying on the field, or leave the field with coach’s permission. 
2. During basketball season the cheerleaders should pay attention to the game and remain in the stands until dismissed by coach.  There is no food or open drinks in the cheer area during the game.  Anything that results in a distraction will result in consequences.
3. Cheerleaders will attend a short meeting at the end of each game or event.  The squad will be dismissed from this meeting. The cheerleaders should not put on jackets or pack up before the event is over.

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Section V:  Benching or Removal

Cheerleaders may be benched and/or removed from the squad for ANY of the following reasons at the discretion of the coach.

Benched:

            Attitude towards coach, teammates, classmates, and teachers

            Work Ethic

            Classroom Behavior- Excessive tardies, talking out, and Type I offenses

            Irresponsibility

            Excessive Absences- Excused or Unexcused

            Breaking Team Rules, Policy and Procedure rules, and class syllabus

            Sitting in an undesignated area while under coach’s supervision

            Assignment to ISS- benched for 2 weeks

            Grades – first offense, until end of grading period

Failure to comply with rules set forth in these policies and proecedures, first offense

            Any Type II or III offense

Removal:

            Attitude towards coach, teammates, classmates, and teachers

            Defacing property of teammates and coach

            Classroom Behavior – Type II or Type III offense

            Excessive Absences – Excused or Unexcused

            Breaking Team Rules, Policy and Procedure rules, and class syllabus

            Second offense for being in the wrong place while under coach’s supervision

            Second assignment to ISS

            Grades- after benched

            Suspension from school

Leaving a required academic event before completion without permission from coach.      

            Smoking or drinking at any school event will result in removal.

Being caught with drugs on campus or at a school event will result in immediate removal

            Failure to comply with rules set forth in these policies and procedures

            Any Type II or Type III offenses

Definitions:

1.      Benched: 

a.       If a cheerleader is benched for behavioral or academic reasons they must come to all cheerleader events dressed in warm-ups and team shoes. 

b.      They will sit with coach for the entire event.

c.         They may not participate in any cheer related activity until the benching period ends.

d.       If benched for grades, cheerleader should not attend games that are played on school nights in order to study and work on brining grades up. 

e.       For games that are not played on school nights, cheerleader will follow the protocol for being benched.

2.       Removal:

a.        Removal from the squad will be for the reminder of the academic year. 

b.      The individual will not be allowed to tryout the following year.

c.       If cheerleaders are removed and/or quit the cheer squad, he/she will be taken out of cheer class and placed in a fourth period gym class. 

d.        If a cheerleader quits the squad at any point during the year or they are removed for any reason other than grades, they will not be given the opportunity to participate in the clinic selection process for the next year or participate in any other cheer squad activities for the reminder of the year, including the end of the year banquet.

3.      Definition of academic probation:

a.      Cheerleader must be watched, turn in a weekly progress report till grade improves, and one afternoon at coach’s discretion physical exercise. 

b.      Refusal to any part of probation is immediate removal from team.

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Article V
Section I:  Spring and Summer Practices

1. All spring and summer practices, including camp, are required.  If a cheerleader is not able to attend a spring or summer practice, they must call by 7:00 am.  Plans should be made around set practice dates and the mandatory Little Girl’s Camp

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Section II: Cheer Class

1. All cheerleaders will have cheer class fourth block alternating day first and second semester.  Cheerleaders are expected to treat cheer class as any other class, thus they must attend all classes, unless they are absent from school.  Cheerleaders will be held to the same standard as other general education classes and a syllabus will be given the first day of cheer class explaining grading and other assignments.
2. On Tuesday afternoons, we will have cheer practice after school, 3:30 until 4:30.  You will be expected to attend ALL Tuesday afternoon practices.  Unexcused absence will result in a zero.
3. See attendance policy regarding cheer class.

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October 2008