Practices
Summer Practices: Practices will be held throughout the summer at
the discretion of the coach. A schedule of exact times and days will be distributed as needed.
Pre-Season Practices: Mandatory pre-season practices will be held in August two weeks prior to the start of school. The exact dates and times of these practices will be distributed at a later time. The purpose of these practices will be to prepare for sidelines and performances during football season.
Regular Practices: Practices will be held throughout the year
approximately 2-3 days a week. Practices will be from 3:30 - 6:15 p.m. Additional practices may be added as needed during Homecoming and Special Occasions.
Competition Practices: Approximately 3 times per week. *Remember NNHS dance practices come before any other obligation, especially during competition season!
Practice Uniform: t-shirt or leotard (no sports bras)
shorts or sweats
supportive tennis or jazz shoe (not performance shoes)
socks
no jewelry
hair must be pulled off face
no performance outfits (i.e. jazz pants, etc)
Tardy Policy:
Practice will start promptly at 3:30. You must have eaten, changed, moved all tables, and be ready to stretch at this time, if not you will be given a demerit. You are expected to make all teacher appointments before school or during a study hall. If this is not possible, late arrival will be excused with a teacher’s pass that includes leaving time. You must notify your captain or coach if you are going to be late. Report to practice first with your pass; you will then be allowed five minutes to change.
Attendance
If you are not in school for at least four periods, you will not be allowed to come to practice. This, of course, excludes field trips. If you stayed home from school or if you went home from school, it is your obligation to contact the coach prior to practice. You must contact the coach by e-mail ereiten@ncusd203.org / Reiten).
Excused Practice/Football and Basketball:
Absences from practice will be excused for the following reasons:
*Death in the family
*Wedding in the family (permission 3 weeks ahead)
*Illness (provided attendance policy was followed)
*Doctor’s Appointment (only 2 allowed)
*Special school or religious activities with permission from
coach at least two weeks ahead of time
*Vacations arranged 3 or more weeks in advance (use this
privilege sparingly-may result in not performing due to missed practices)
Excused Camp/Competition Performance & Practice:
Absences from practice will be excused for the following reasons:
*Death in the family
If you have any unexcused absence during the week of a game, you will not be allowed to perform in that week’s game. Your attendance at that game, however, is mandatory. If you miss more than 1 excused practice during the week of a game it will be at the coach’s discretion as to whether you will perform in that week's game. If you miss the last practice before a performance, it is at the coach’s discretion as to whether you will perform in that week’s game.
*In order to participate in Competitions, perfect attendance is required 2 weeks prior to competing. (this includes Spring sport practices).
*Please remember that all of the absences listed as excused are subject to the coach’s discretion as to whether or not they are labeled "excused"
*Please remember that no matter whether you are performing or not, you are still a part of the team and must demonstrate team spirit by being in attendance of all team functions.
*You will not be allowed to sit out of practice for more than one hour a week. If you are sick or injured, it is best to be off your feet completely. If you cannot practice, you cannot perform. If you get injured during the season, please take the time to treat the injury and let it heal.
Behavioral Expectations
At all times, you will:
*Maintain pride in yourself as a member of NNHS Dance Team
*Show respect and consideration to the students and faculty of District 203 and to the members of the community
*Show respect and give cooperation to the coach, captains, officers and members of the team both in and out of school.
*If any member receives an “F” on a weekly grade report, they will need to write a plan, which includes the following:
1. How they plan to get their grade up
2. Signature of Coaches
3. Signature of Parent
4. Signature of Teacher
*Any member receiving an “F” for two weeks or more weeks, in that class, will be benched for the following game, event, or scheduled activity until the grade is brought up. This member will also have to write a plan.
Demerit System:
½ Demerit
*lack of consideration for team members (VA & JV)
*late to practice (1-10 minutes)
*not helping move tables
*lack of attention
*failure to adhere to rules for practice attire
*excessive talking to visitors without permission of captains or coach
*untidy or unclean uniform
*missing part of uniform or prop at practice or performance
*poor attitude
*not putting away props
1 Demerit
*lack of respect
*lack of cooperation
*loss of team equipment (must also be replaced)
*late to performance
*late to practice more than 10 minutes
*not sitting with members during games/performances
*leaving member section without permission from the coach
*not wearing chosen uniform at the time specified
*not wearing hair in chosen style
2 Demerits
*unexcused absence from practice
*excessive loudness, profanity or inappropriate public displays of affection in or out of uniform
*chronic poor attitude
4 Demerits
*unexcused absence from team activity (fundraiser, performance, etc)
***Meetings may be called to discuss problems with the coach. Team members will be notified of any demerits that are issued. A conference with the coach and captains may result.
***There may be some chances to earn back demerit points that were lost. This will be given out by the discretion of the coach.
***After receiving 6 demerits, a meeting will be called between the coach and the member to remedy the situation.
***Any member who earns 4 demerits will be benched one performance.
***Any member who earns 6 demerits will be benched two performances.
***Any captain/officer receiving 7 demerits will lose their leadership position.
***Anyone receiving 9 demerits will become a permanent alternate.
***After 10 demerits, the member will be dismissed from the squad.
Solo Evaluations
Seasonal Performances: If decided by the coach, solo evaluations will be given in order to demonstrate the ability to do the routine. For these
evaluations you will be judged on your knowledge of the routine,
technique, sharpness, and showmanship. If so deemed by the
coach you may be sitting out for the performance if you do not
meet the requirements listed.
Competition Evaluation: Evaluation of competition team will be judged on the criteria of knowledge, technique, sharpness, and showmanship. Attitude
toward team, coaches, and activity throughout the seasons prior to competition will also be a determining factor in team status. This evaluation will occur after the routine has been learned, according to the coach's discretion.
Performances
Attendance will be taken before the game. Failure to be on time will be counted as a tardy.
Uniforms should be clean for every performance.
All members must sit as a group throughout the entire game. If visitors become a distraction, they may be asked to leave. Only the coach may excuse members for washroom breaks. Only 2 members will be excused at a time and are expected to return within 5 minutes.
All team members are required to attend games in their warm-ups or coach’s chosen uniform, whether performing or not.
All members are a part of a SPIRIT TEAM and are expected to act accordingly. (This means CHEER on your team)
Facials and smiling during any performance and at practice is a main part of our dance team and will be expected of each girl no matter what!!!
Choreography
*The officers will choreograph most routines. At times non-officer members may be asked to assist officers, in order to give variety to routines.
*There will be a new routine made-up for each game.
*Please follow the requirement sheet for choreography whenever creating a new routine.
*At least one-week prior to teach the routine, the coach must see and approve the routine. Please check music with the correct person, before choreographing.
Alternates
If chosen as an alternate, you will be expected to learn every routine. After learning the routine you will then try-out for each routine that the coach asks for you to participate in. You will be expected to be a full team member, just as any other member of the team. This means that you will dress, participate in fundraisers, games, and any other team functions. As an alternate you must also be ready to fill in, when needed.
Fundraising
All team members are expected to participate in all team fundraisers. (car washes, food sales, etc.)
You will be given a specific time and location for each fundraiser and the demerit policy will be used if a member is in any violation of the handbook.
If any team member does not participate in a fundraiser they may be asked to do "double duty" at the next fundraiser.
The help of your parents in fundraising is always appreciated!!!
Miscellaneous
*Each Member is expected to follow the Students Activities Code for District 203.
*Though this team is under the “activities” department at North, in every right and respect it is a sport and will be run as such. This means that the expectation(s) that a sport coach has for its members will be the same type of expectations adhered to on North’s dance teams.
*Members are required to turn in all props and cleaned uniforms before given any awards.
*Effort and attitude affect your ability to perform as a team, so please don’t let this be an issue in your performance as a team member!
***Please remember being an NNHS Dance Team Member is not a right, it is a privilege in which you must work hard to keep!***