2015-2016 TEAM PLACEMENT PACKET
Welcome to South Jersey Storm Cheerleading! We are very excited about the upcoming season and to have you as a member of our Storm family! While the obvious way that we help the youth in our program is by bettering their cheerleading skills and helping them reach their athletic potential, we believe our program serves a much higher purpose. Our program’s primary goal is to teach growing young adults how to work together as a team. Whether in their professional or social life, teamwork is a lifetime lesson much more valuable than tumbling skills. The hours, weeks, months even years of work that go into improving stunts, tumbling, jumps, and motions will improve your fitness, skills, and your chances of cheering in college but, more important are the lessons you will learn about sportsmanship, team, working together towards goals and striving to win!
Why South Jersey Storm? South Jersey Storm (SJS) is a well-established and professionally run, yet fairly priced, All-Star Cheerleading program. We are world renowned, not only for our success in competitions, but for producing the most admired athletes in the industry. Since 1997, we’ve been molding athletes ages 2 years and up into champions both on and off the competition floor.
Also… We have the option of our Heat program. This is a Full Year Non-travel team that will compete in the “all-star prep” division! If you would like to join our successful All-Star Cheer Program that is less of a commitment, but no less in quality, this is the team for you!
Our World Class Coaching Staff... The key to our continued success has and always will be in our “World Class Staff”. Storm knows that the key to success starts at the top. This is why we have focused on and selected the most talented, energetic, positive, and knowledgeable staff. Safety has and always will be the number one priority in training our athletes. Our staff is certified in First Aid, CPR, ACCAA, USAG and are credentialed through the United States All-Star Federation (USASF). When it comes to cheer and dance knowledge and experience, Storm is unparalleled, which makes our coaching staff the most highly sought after instructors in the industry.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a South Jersey Storm member and for becoming a part of our Storm Family!
Cheers,
Rachael Merryfield & Jenna Varano
SOUTH JERSEY STORM
TEAM PROGRAMS, PLACEMENT DATES
Intensity: TRADITIONAL ALL STAR! Storm Intensity Program is our original program dating back to 1996! A 12 month program, our Intensity teams make up a traditional all-star cheerleading program for boys and girls ages 7-18 years old. Intensity teams practice 2 to 3 times per week, for 2 hours per practice. Intensity teams attend approximately 8 local competitions and 2 overnight competitions. Teams range from beginner to advanced, levels 1 through 5.
AGE / PLACEMENT DATE(S)7-11 / May 11, 6:00pm
12-18 / May 13, 7:00pm AND May 16, 10:00am (must attend both dates)
Heat: FULL YEAR, NON TRAVEL! Storm’s Heat Program was launched in 2011 and has been growing since! Our Heat Program is an all-star prep program, designed for families who are seeking a more lenient time and financial commitment. Heat teams are made up of cheerleaders ages 7 to 18 from beginner to intermediate! Although this is also a 12 month program, our Heat teams only practice 1 time per week, for 3 hours. Teams will attend 6 to 8 LOCAL competitions only! Looking for a program more advanced than recreation cheerleading, but not ready for the full all-star commitment? This program is PERFECT FOR YOU!
AGE / PLACEMENT DATE7-18 / May 12, 7:00pm
Tiny: FULL YEAR, AGES 2-5! The South Jersey Storm Tiny Program is made up of beginner cheerleaders ages 2 and a half to 6 years old! Consisting of 3 teams, Tiny Exhibition, Tiny Prep, and Tiny 1, the teams practice 1 to 3 hours per week depending on age! Our tiny teams attend 4-5 competitions throughout the 12 month program. Tiny Level 1 will also attend 1 overnight competition.
AGE / PLACEMENT DATE2.5-6 / May 12, 6:00pm
SOUTH JERSEY STORM
TEAM PLACEMENT PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES
Team Placements are a stress-free environment! Athlete’s should wear proper athletic clothing, and arrive 30 minutes prior to their scheduled placement time. Athlete’s will be grouped by age and asked to display tumbling, stunting, and jumping experience. We will always encourage athletes to re-do their skills if they are not satisfied with their first attempt. After team placement week is complete, team assembling will begin.
The team selection process is complicated and time consuming for management. Many factors are considered when placing athletes and making team decisions. Our goal is to create well-rounded teams that will be successful in the all-star industry. More than majority of athlete’s on each team need to show a MASTERY of ALL level appropriate skills in that level. Athlete’s age is first considered when placing them on a team, followed by skill. Exceptions are sometimes made to complete a well-rounded roster. Divisions are based on the following ages:
Tiny- Ages 6 and under
Mini- Ages 7-8
Youth- Ages 9-11
Junior- Ages 12-14
Senior- Ages 10-18
Team placement results and practice schedule will be posted on our website on Sunday evening, May 17th by 8:00pm. Team practices will begin immediately the week of May 18th.
Please use the chart below to set team placement expectations according to tumbling. An athlete is considered level specific when they have a mastery of all basic skills, and a mastery of at least 2 specialty skills. Specialty skills in red are highly favored.
BASIC SKILLS / SPECIALTY SKILLS1 / Double back walkover
Double front walkover
Roundoff
Cartwheel
Forward roll / Cartwheel back walkover
Cartwheel front walkover
Back extension roll
Front walkover, roundoff, back walkover, half turn, forward roll
2 / Back handspring step out, back walkover, BHS
Back walkover, BHS
Front walkover, roundoff, BHS, BHS
Jump, back walkover, BHS / Back walkover, BHS step out, front walkover, roundoff, BHS step out, BHS
Front handspring
Front walkover, back handspring
3 / Standing triple back handspring
Punch front
Jump, back handspring
Front walkover, roundoff, BHS, tuck / Quad toe touch, BHS, BHS step out, roundoff, BHS, tuck
Punch front, forward roll, step hurdle, roundoff, BHS, tuck
Front handspring, roundoff, back handspring, tuck
4 / Standing tuck
Quad toe touch, back handspring, tuck
Roundoff, BHS, layout
Front walkover, roundoff, BHS, layout / Back handspring, layout step out
Jump, BHS, whip, BHS, layout step out
Tuck, BHS, tuck
Layout step out through to layout step out
Punch front step out through to layout
5 / Quad jump tuck
Jump, BHS, BHS, full
Roundoff, BHS, full / Standing full
Round off, BHS, double full
Full through full
Whip punch full
BHS, BHS, double full
SOUTH JERSEY STORM
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Tuition & Fees: South Jersey Storm is a 12 month All-Star cheerleading program. Our tuition is an annual fee divided into 12 monthly installments. These fees cannot be pro-rated or reduced. Once you accept a position on one of our teams, you will be responsible for all fees for the season. Every dollar that you pay at South Jersey Storm is accounted for and paid out on behalf of your child. Any “returned checks” will be subject to a $35 returned check fee. In addition, SJS will no longer be able to accept a check as payment from any customer that has previously submitted a returned check. All payments will need to be made via money order, credit card or cashier’s check.
Additional Expenses: In addition to your tuition, cheerleaders are required to pay for items such as Practice Clothes, Bows, Music & Choreography, Competition Uniform & Accessories, Competition Fees, Team Camp and Administration Fees. Again, once you accept a position on a team, you are responsible for all fees, including competition fees, for the season. For those that cross-over to one or more teams, you are responsible for all cross-over competition fees. Any athletes that are out due to an injury, or any extenuating circumstance, must still pay all Competition fees, etc. These additional expenses vary by team. *For all teams, we will not know the exact amount due for competition fees until our competition schedule is set. The amount listed on your payment schedule may have to be adjusted accordingly. This amount is subject to change if competitions are added, deleted, or in any way changed. There will be NO REFUNDS of any kind (competition fees, trip fees, clothing costs, tuition, administrative fees, choreography, etc) to anyone who quits or is dismissed from the program. Anyone who leaves or is dismissed is responsible for all season expenses, debts and legal fees.
Invoicing: Invoicing is done on a monthly basis and payments are usually due by the 1st or 15th of each month. Any monthly fees not paid within our 5 day grace period, will receive a $30 late fee. All bills must be paid through our online parent portal, “JackRabbit Class”. This program will allow for you to log on and view your statement online as well as pay your fees online.
BRACELET NIGHT: Each month when payments are due, we will be utilizing our bracelet system. One week before bracelet week we will be sending home pink slips with Cheerleaders who have balances. Cheerleaders will need to stop at the accounting office to get a bracelet on bracelet night. If balance is not current, cheerleader will not get a bracelet and will not be able to participate in practice. Please make sure all invoices are current and that your late payment/credit card information is filled out to avoid missing any practice time.
Stormwatchers: You may utilize our Storm Watchers Fundraising Program to help defer your expenses by participating in a variety of fundraisers that are held throughout the season! There will be optional fundraisers throughout the year. There is an optional $30 per child Stormwatchers fee due at the beginning of each season should you wish to participate in all that Stormwatchers has to offer.
INCENTIVES & DISCOUNTS:
Intensity Program Benefit: Every Cheerleader that is part of our Intensity Program will receive one FREE open tumble class per week! This is for the entire season!!! This totals 48 Free Open Tumble Classes throughout the year! Total Savings = $480.00
Family Discounts:
Sibling Discount - 2nd Child 20% Off Monthly Training / 3rd Child Free Monthly Training (1st & 2nd Child Full Price)
Military Discount - 20% Off Monthly Training for those families with a parent or guardian on active duty.
Loyalty Discount - Cheer for the following number of consecutive seasons, and receive:
6 years: $100 off / 7 years: $300 off / 8 years: $500 off / 9 years+: No monthly fee!Scholarship Discounts:
Standing Full Scholarship - Successfully compete your standing full & receive a one-time $250 credit! This credit is only applied once per cheerleader regardless of how many years he/she cheer.
2 to a Double Scholarship - Compete a two to a double in competition, & your monthly fee will be waived (beginning the month after it is competed)! This skill must continue be performed consistently for the discount to continue.
SOUTH JERSEY STORM
INTENSITY & HEAT ATTENDANCE POLICY
1.Beginning June 1st of each season, all practices, competitions and team events are mandatory for each team member.
2.Members must be on time to practice. Continual tardiness will be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.
3.If an absence must occur, an EMAIL must be sent to Jenna for approval at least one week in advance. Vacations must be submitted 2 weeks in advance. If you will be missing practice with less than 1 weeks’ notice, please see the procedure for calling out that is listed below. You are not permitted to call or text team moms and/or coaches to call out of any practices.
4.Each unexcused absence will be charged a $20 fine.
5.If at any time you will be missing a practice (excused or unexcused) you must find a replacement base, backspot or flyer that is approved by the coach of your team. This is mandatory for all Intensity Teams. Failure to comply with this rule will result in an additional $10 fine.
6.Three unexcused absences will result in disciplinary action or dismissal from the team.
7.Continuous failure to be productive at practice is grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal from the team.
8.If any athlete is sick or injured, they must still attend practice and wear the proper practice attire. The athlete will not be required to participate but will watch the practice.
EXCUSED absences include only mandatory school events or functions that require a grade, extenuating family circumstances and mandatory religious functions with documentation that are approved by the owners.
UNEXCUSED absences include, but are not limited to high-school/rec cheer, work, homework, birthday parties, and vacations during the school year, concerts, punishment, etc.
NO missed practices are allowed during the months of November through March. This is our National competition season and we will be training extra during these months. Cheerleaders that miss practices during these months will not participate at their National Competitions.
SUMMER ATTENDANCE is very important to the development of the team. You must attend all practices. Summer vacations are only approved if submitted to Rachael or Jenna two weeks in advance. Practices are a high priority during this time; low attendance will effect team placement and can result in being removed from the team.
THE STAFF has family and outside lives also. We want time from the gym as well. If extra practices are scheduled, they are for the benefit of the team and a coach deems it necessary for that team’s confidence level and success. The staff is committed to your kids! They are willing to go the extra mile for them. Please keep this in mind as we ask for 100% attendance at extra practices. It is a must!
PROCEDURE for missing practices: