Cheerleading Rules and Policies

(2005-2006 Season)

Attendance:

Attendance at all events and functions is mandatory unless otherwise announced.  The attendance policy is as follows:

• Each cheerleader is responsible for their own rides to games and practices.  If there is an emergency please contact your coaches.
• When a cheerleader is benched for a game she is still expected to attend practices and games, dress in full uniform, and sit with the coaches for the entire game.
• No vacations will be excused starting August 1^st 2005.
• Examples of excused reasons for missing a game:
  • Illness (need a doctors note if miss more than one practice)
  • Death in the family
  • Injury (need a doctors note, cheerleader still expected to attend the event and sit with coaches)
• Examples of unexcused reasons absences:
  • Babysitting
  • Sports outside of North
  • Family parties
  • Weekend trips or vacations

IHSA Regulations:

It is an Illinois High School Association rule that no cheerleader shall be allowed to participate/compete in another sport or activity in or out of school, throughout the duration of her competitive cheerleading season.  This includes participation in another NNHS sport or activity as well as club cheerleading/dance/tumbling outside of NNHS.  Students are still allowed to partake in school clubs, but cheerleading obligations take precedence.

Academic Eligibility:

Academic eligibility will follow the IHSA Eligibility Requirements.  You must be passing three classes and not failing more than one.  If you are considered academically ineligible, you will be suspended from competition or game participation (not practice) until the ineligibility is cleared up.  Additionally, ineligible cheerleaders will be given a form to have signed by their teacher and parents.

Substance Usage:

Any cheerleader caught or reported to have been in the use or possession of any drug or alcohol, in or out of school, will be penalized according to the NNHS Co-Curricular Code.  That cheerleader will also be asked to provide an explanation and an apology to the rest of the cheerleading program.  This is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Attire:

Appropriate clothing for cheerleading practice will follow the school dress code.  This means that no spaghetti strap tops or short shorts will be allowed.  You must also have midriff covered.  NO jewelry what-so-ever.  All earrings must be out, no taping will be allowed.  Hair must be pulled up and fingernails must be kept short (jazz hand rule).  If you are caught breaking this policy, you will be first asked to change.  If you chose not to change, you will be sent home resulting in an absence to practice.  Please be sure to wear appropriate shoes and form fitting clothing.

Demerit Policy

Demerits will be issued as follows:

• Late for practice – 1
• Late for game – 1
• Late for return of half time or start of second game – 1
• Missed game or practice with no phone call – 2
• Unexcused absence from practice or game – 2
• No phone call/email by 11 am if missing a game or practice - 1
• Not prepared for game or practice – 1
• Unnecessary conversation with crowd during game – 1
• Undesirable language or attitude problem – 1
• Not wearing appropriate clothing to school on game days – 1

Consequences for demerits are as follows:

• 3 demerits: benched for ½ game
• 5 demerits: benched for entire game
• 10 demerits: permanent termination from team

Every time a cheerleader receives a demerit she will receive a sheet stating why she received it, how many she received, and how many demerits she has total.  She will have to sign and return it before attending the next practice

Miscellaneous

This policy has been created in the best interest on the NNHS cheerleading program and each of its members.  It is not expected or anticipated that any one member will be removed from the program for any reason mentioned above, but it is necessary to have a strong policy in place so the cheerleaders, their parents, and the coaches are in complete understanding with one another.

If, for any reason, a practice time or game/competition time is changed and that results in a cheerleader missing part of or all of the event, that cheerleader will not be punished according to the above policy.

The team’s job as CHEERLEADERS is to cheer games first and compete second.

I agree to the above policy and will do my very best to represent NNHS in every cheerleading function that I am a part of.

Cheerleader (print name):____________________________________________________

Cheerleader (sign name):____________________________________________________

I agree to the above policy and will do my very best to help my daughter represent NNHS in every cheerleading function that she is a part of.

Parent (print name):__________________________________________________________

Parent (sign name):___________________________________________________________