Knight’s Sideline/CompetitionCheerleading
Participant Information Packet 2017
“If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown
unless he competes according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5
THE KING’S ACADEMY KNIGHTS
The King’s Academy Knight’s (TKA) athletic program is a not-for-profit organization established in 2005 for the benefit of TKA studentswho are interested in participating in competitive sports programs. We offer a wide range of sports programs for student athletes including cheerleading, cross country, baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swim, tennis, and volleyball. Our team name/mascot is the Knights, and our colors are navy and silver. For more information regarding sports programs, please visit
We strive to provide consistent and biblical reinforcement through athletic competition. Parents work with us to help their child build character and a strong work ethic through athletics, and encourage them to accept growing responsibility as they mature. We provide a vital athletic experience that facilitates encouragement, confidence in one's ability and discipline. Parents play a vital role in their student's athletic performance, and in their emotional, social and spiritual development. In cooperation with parents, we seek to help build strong, confident, yet humble servants for Christ.
STAFF
Michelle Rutledge serves as the Athletic Director at The King’s Academy. She has years of athletic managerial experience and has served at several levels including coach, committee member and board member prior to taking on the director position.
The King’s Academy Executive Board works closely with the Athletic Director to organize and direct the programs. Each member serves as a liaison for one or more of the athletic programs. The cheerleading program Liaison is Sandra Breaden. The King’s Academy Executive Board members are actively involved at The King’s Academy and their local churches. Each member has demonstrated leadership skills, a servant heart, and interest and experience in various sports.
A cheerleading committee is made up of participating volunteer parents and will be established after tryouts. These members are nominated and contacted by the Athletic Director to confirm their willingness to serve in this capacity.
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
Our Statement of Faith is based on fundamental Christian beliefs that we strongly support as the foundation of our organization. The King’s Academy does not promote or endorse any particular denomination. We desire to remain united in the salvation and love of Christ, avoiding any dissension that may be caused by denominational distinctive.
†We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. (II Timothy 3:15; II Peter 1:21)
†We believe there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30)
†We believe in the deity of Christ (John 10:33)
†His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35)
†His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26)
†His miracles (John 2:11);
†His vicarious and atoning death (I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9);
†His resurrection (John 11:25; I Corinthians 15:4);
†His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19);
†His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11).
†We believe that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ and that only by God’s grace and through faith alone we are saved. (John 3:16-19; 5:24; Romans 3:23; 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
†We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28,29)
†We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26, 28).
†We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by who’s indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. (Romans 8:13-14; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18).
Statement on Marriage, Gender and Sexuality
†We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139.)
†We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
†We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
†We believe that any form of sexual immorality, including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography, is sinful. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)
COACHING STAFF
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Varsity Head Coach: Michelle Coleman
Assistant Coach: Ginger Knowles
Assistant Coach: Julianna Knowles
Bottom of Form
MSHead Coach: TBD
Assistant Coach: TBD
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The King’s Academy offers Varsity and Middle School football/competition cheerleading. Girls making the cheer squad are committed to both sideline and competition cheerleading during the season. Participants are not offered the option to cheer for one or the other. Summer camp and weekly group tumbling lessons are a required part of the programs.
The TKA Knight’s Cheer program has worked hard to earn and maintain a reputation of excellence and high character among the cheer community within Christian Cheerleaders of America (CCA), Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders (FCC), the King’s’ family and the local community. Earning a place on a Knight’s Sideline Cheer & Competition squad is not only a great personal accomplishment; it is a privilege. TKA Knight’s cheerleaders are “Ambassadors” for the Knights on the sideline and at competitions. Therefore, the coaches will have high expectations of each girl which includes but is not limited to: attendance, work ethic, a positive and willing attitude, Christ-like behavior, good sportsmanship, respect for their coach and teammates and a passion for the sport of cheerleading.
ELIGIBILITY
The Knight’s varsity cheer program is a Division II member of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association (GICAA). The Knight’s cheer program is open to TKA students with a limited number of spots available for non-TKA students who live within a 30-mile radius.
GICAA rules applying to non-TKA varsity students:
†Non-TKA students must live within 30 miles of the member school.
†The King’s Academy will become the non-TKA student’s “home base” for all sports.
†Non-TKA students have four years of eligibility beginning in the 9th grade assuming they make the cut at tryouts each season.
†Once the non-TKA student begins the 9th grade playing for a TKA, they must out for one year if they transfer to another GICAA school without a legitimate move.
MS Grade Eligibility: Girls in Grades 6-8
Minimum Tumbling Requirement: Round-Off
Jumps: Toe Touch, Hurdler and Pike
Varsity Grade Eligibility: Girls in Grades 9-12
MinimumTumbling Requirement:Running Round-Off Back Handspring or Standing Back Handspring**
(assist permitted)
Jumps: Toe Touch, Hurdler and Pike
**The Varsity coach may make an exception to the back handspring based on positions needed, however, all cheerleaders are expected to work toward mastering the minimum back handspring requirement for the Varsity team at mandatory tumbling classes.
MANDATORY CLINIC AND TRYOUTS
All candidates are required to attend clinic and tryouts. Any exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the Athletic Director. All chants, cheers and other instruction needed for tryouts will be covered during the clinic.
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CHEER CLINIC
Monday and Tuesday, April 17 18
3:45 - 6:00 pm
MS (grades 6-8) TKA Gym
HS (grades 9-12) TKA Gym
SIDELINECHEER TRYOUTS
Thursday, April 20 @ TKA Gym
MS (grades 6-8) 3:45-6:00 pm
HS (grades 9-12) 6:30-8:30 pm
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All participants must bring the following to the Clinic:
- A non-refundable clinic participation fee of $40.00 (please make checks payable to TKA Athletics).
- 4x6 head shot photo
- Clinic & Assessment Registration forms
- Front and back copy of insurance card
What to wear to Clinic and Tryouts: White bike shorts, blue soffe shorts, white tee-shirt, blue hair bow, and tennis shoes. No jewelry or gum. A panel of outside judges will be at both tryouts and will score the girls using a numbered scale for each element including jumps, tumbling skills, mastery of an 8-count and cheer, stunting, spirit and projection. Mastery of any of these elements is not a guarantee to make the team.Cuts will be determined based on needed positions and the level of experience of the team. An exact number cannot be set until these elements are determined at assessments.
RESULTS AND DECLARATION OF INTENT
Results will be posted on the website at after 5 pm on Friday, April 21st.
Cheerleaders will have 24 hours to withdraw from the program by sending an email to their coach. If a cheerleader decides within the 24-hour declaration period to withdraw from the team, the coaches will then have the option to reconsider those girl(s) who were not chosen based upon position needed and their scores.
Once the squads have been determined, all participants are required to register online. Payment can be made with a credit card or participants may choose to make installment payments (see individual budgets for installment payments and due dates).
CHEERING UP
The Varsity cheer coaches have the option to invite 8th graders to cheer up to fill positions on the Varsity sideline/competition cheer squad. The coaches may only invite girls who have indicated on the Clinic and Tryout Registration form that they are committed to “cheering up” if chosen. By indicating that your daughter is willing to cheer up on the Clinic and Tryout Registration form, you are making a 100% commitment to the Varsity sideline and competition squad. Please discuss this with your daughter before tryouts and prayerfully consider this option before signing the tryout form. There will not be an opportunity, once chosen, to reconsider this decision.
High school students have eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade. This means that once a student designates they are in the 9th grade, the four years of eligibility “clock” starts ticking. (Please note that students may take 9th grade level courses while in the 8th grade and not be considered a 9th grader.)
Students must not “walk” during Senior Recognition at games until they are graduating from high school.
Seniors will be required to complete a “Senior Exit Form” once these eligibility limitations have been met, and this will serve as communication that their participation with The Knights has ended.
DUAL SPORTS
Cheerleaders are not eligible to participate in fall or winter sports or other activities that may conflict with the practices, games and competition and must abide by the attendance policies set forth in the information packet and/or scheduled by the coaches. Cheerleaders who desire to participate in spring sports are committed to cheerleading through the end of the cheer season and must give cheer practices and competitions priority.
TKA Knight’s Athletes participating in dual sports must make every effort to fulfill their commitment to the first program they join while participating in a second program. If there is a conflict, coaches of both programs must work together to coordinate tryout, practice and game schedules for the benefit of the athlete and program.
ALL-STAR CHEER POLICY
Year-roundand ½ yearAll-Star Cheerleaders are eligible to try out, however, year-round All-Star cheerleaders should carefully consider whether they will be able to fulfill the attendance requirements of TKA Knight’s Sideline/Competition Cheer Team.All TKA competitions are mandatoryand All Star Cheerleaders are expected to compete with TKA should there be a conflict with their All-Star competition schedule.Though every effort will be made to keep our scheduled competitionsand practice dates,those dates are subject to change and attendance policies will be enforced if changes are made to the TKA competition schedule.
Year-Round All-Star Cheerleaders will be required to turn in their complete practice and All-Star competition schedule to the TKA coaches on or before the Mandatory TKA Choreography Day, August 5 & 6th.
Once All Star practices and/or competitions begin, the committee and/or coaches will take into consideration the All-Star schedule when making plans for parties, socials and banquets, however, the committee and/or coaches will finalize those plans based on what works best for the majority on the team.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES
Attendance is REQUIREDatALL practices to prepare forthe sideline and competition seasons.Cheerleaders are expected to be on timefor all practices, tumbling practices, games, competitions and team activitiesincluding fundraising and team building. Cheerleaders who are late to any cheer event are considered Tardy. 3 Tardies = 1 Unexcused Absence.
Excused Absences:Severeillness or family emergency are considered excused absences.In these instances, the cheerleader should contact her coach as soon as possible to let them know of the situation. We request that if a cheerleader is only mildly ill, that she attempt to come and observe practices so that she will not miss any new material being presented.The Cheerleader must notify her coachwell in advance of the absence (minimum of 24 hours) when she plans to miss any cheerleading function. This is very important, as the entire routine changes when one person is out. Time is needed to rearrange formations and routines based on the number of cheerleaders that will be present.
Unexcused Absences:Church activities, family vacations,school activities and All-Star cheer competitions and/or practices that conflict with TKA cheer camp, cheer practices, games or cheer competitions and practices are consideredunexcused.
TKA Knight’s Cheerleaders will be allowed 1 unexcused absence during the cheer season which begins July 17th through Nationals.
The TKA Knight’s Cheer Attendance policieswill be enforced during the season. The coaches, at their discretion, may use alternates, to sub for or replace a cheerleader for excused and unexcused absences.An unexcused absence from a competition practice or a competition may result in dismissal from the team and may also make the cheerleader ineligible to try out for the TKA Cheerleading in future seasons.
SPORT’S PHYSICALS
With over 300 student-athletes participating in sports, the TKA Athletic Department and Administration believe that the health and safety of our student athletes is very important. All TKA athletes will be required to pass and submit a signed Sport’s Physical to the Athletic Department before the first day of practice of each sport’s year. Physicals may be done at your health provider’s office, CVS and/or other practices that offer sport’s physicals. Most medical facilities offering sport’s physical request or require that the athlete provide a “Pre-participant Physical Evaluation” form. This form is available for download at go to sports, football and forms/documents.
ALTERNATES FOR COMPETITION
The coaches may release or replace a cheerleader from the squad, should she become injured or not progress in her tumbling or cheer skills required for competition, and/or have more than 2 unexcused absences. The coaches will then have the option of pulling up alternates who have indicated on the Clinic and Tryout Registration form that they would be willing to cheer as an alternate and incur the costs of competition if chosen.
MANDATORY CHEER CAMPS
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VARSITY SQUAD:
NCA, Destin Florida
July 27-30
MIDDLE SCHOOL SQUAD:
Middle School Camp, TKA Gym
June 27-28
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REGULAR SEASON PRACTICES
Middle School CheerBegins Tuesday, August 1st
TKA Chapel 4:00-6:00
Rock Star Gym Thursdays12:30-1:30 - Tumbling & 2:00-4:00 Practice (bring sack lunch)
Varsity CheerBegins Tuesday, August 1st@ ROCKSTAR 4:00-6:30 pm
Thursdays tumble/stunt @ ROCKSTAR 2:00-4:00 pm
Fridays after school at TKA 4:00-6:30
Additional practices may be added to prepare for competitions
VARSITY SQUAD COMPETITION DATES (Subject to Change)
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FCC Regionals
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Lambert High School
October 21
FCC Regionals
Johnson Ferry Baptist
November 4
GICAA State Championship TBD
FCC Championship
Greater Atlanta Christian School
December 9
FCC Nationals
Orlando, Florida
January 4-6, 2018
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MIDDLE SCHOOL SQUAD COMPETITION DATES(Subject to Change)
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FCC Regionals
Johnson Ferry Baptist
November 4
FCC Championship
Greater Atlanta Christian School
December 9
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ESTIMATED PARTICIPATION FEES
Middles School:$650
Varsity:$625
Additional Out-of-Pocket fees, payment plans and deadlines are included in the individual breakdowns for Middle School and Varsity at the end of this packet.