Dear Parent/Guardian:
Your daughter/son has expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Atascocita High School cheerleading squad for the 2016-2017 year. The main purpose of the tryout process is to select the best overall individuals to represent Atascocita High School. When selecting the cheerleading squad, we are looking for individuals who can generate school spirit and pride, demonstrate proper technique skill, and model positive student behaviors to the student body. Cheerleading tryouts are not based on performance alone, but also on qualities of cooperation, teamwork, leadership, academic performance, attendance, and being a positive role model.
Tryouts for the Freshmen, JV, & COED Varsity teams will be in the small gym the week of February 29th – March 4th. We will teach all tryout material at the MANDATORY clinic on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, February 29th, March 1st, and March 2nd from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the small gym. Tryout material will be performed in front of judges on Thursday, March 3rd and Friday, March 4th starting at 4:00 p.m. There is a small fee of $10 CASH associated with trying out to offset the cost of the judges and is due on Monday, Feb. 29th.
In the meantime, fully review the information in this packet with your son/daughter or attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, January 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the Red LGI (the meeting is optional), as there are several items that cheer candidates must complete prior to tryouts. If I do not have the items listed in the packet then your child will be unable to participate until I receive them, no exceptions. If your child makes a team there will be a Mandatory Parent Meeting & Uniform Fitting on March 29th at 6:00 p.m. in the Red LGI. Your first payment of $350 dollars will be due!!!
Thanks you for your interest in the AHS cheerleading program and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me!
Go Eagles!
Cindy Marches
Cindy Marches
Email:
AHS Tryout Information/Requirements
Anyone interested in trying out for an AHS Cheer Squad must meet all the requirements outlined in the HISD Cheer Handbook. The following are excerpts taken from this handbook.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP - Squad membership will exist from tryout date to the last day of the subsequent school year. A high school campus may have four separate cheerleading squads. Selections may include the following squads: Freshman, Sophomore, JV, and Varsity.
· Tryouts for the freshman squad are open to students currently enrolled in the 8th grade.
· Tryouts for the sophomore squad are open to students currently enrolled in 9th grade.
· Tryouts for the Junior Varsity Squad will be open to students currently enrolled in 9th and 10th grade. In the event there is no freshman squad, current 8th graders would be allowed to tryout.
· Tryouts for the varsity squad may be open to students currently enrolled in the 9th, 10th and 11th grade. NOTE: 11th graders who were on the varsity squad during the current school year AND are in good academic and behavior standing WILL NOT have to try out for their senior year. This DOES NOT guarantee a position on an extra competition squad if that high school chooses to field one.
· Each HS will determine the number of squads they field. High schools will have a minimum of 8 cheerleaders on each squad.
ARTICLE V – QUALIFICATIONS - Each candidate must be enrolled in and attend school at a Humble ISD campus to be eligible for tryouts. Students who move or transfer to a school after tryouts MAY be added to the squad pending the head coach’s discretion if they meet the following criteria:
1. Were selected as a cheerleader at their previous school and provide written documentation.
2. Good standing academically and behaviorally at their previous and current school.
3. Previous schools status will not determine squad placement. The head coach will determine squad placement
4. A required skill for a VARSITY cheerleader is a standing back handspring. Any cheer candidate that cannot perform a standing back hand spring will not be selected for the Varsity squad.
Section B –Special Candidate Approval
1. Cheerleader candidates who have been academically ineligible for two or more grading periods during the current school year are subject for approval by the athletic council.
2. Any current cheerleader who has resigned or been removed from the squad will not be allowed to tryout unless approved by the athletic council.
ARTICLE VI – TRYOUTS - In order to better determine the selection of squad members, all cheer candidates will try-out over a TWO day period. On Day One, candidates will try-out in numerical order. On Day Two, candidates will try-out in REVERSE numerical order.
Selections: A panel of TWO outside judges and the campus head cheerleading coach will judge each day of tryouts. There is NO SET number of cheerleaders! Please refer to pages 5 – 7 of District Handbook for further information.
Scoring: Candidates will receive a score for each day and the scores will be averaged. The tryout score will then be added to the principal evaluation score for a final score that will be used to determine team placement.
Section A –Required Forms & Physicals - All candidates must fill out and submit the required forms in the cheer handbook and give to the appropriate campus personnel before the designated deadline. All cheer candidates MUST have a physical on file with the trainer.
· If you currently have a physical on file, they can tryout in March without a new physical but you MUST have a new physical before June 1 or they cannot participate in any summer activities.
· Anyone who does NOT have a physical on file with the trainer must turn one in to the trainer by February 26th. The correct document will be available after February 5th.
Section B – Clinic
1. A campus tryout clinic will be conducted during the week of cheerleader tryout. The format of the clinic is established at each campus and will be distributed in writing to all candidates.
2. The tryout clinic will include each campus specific instruction for the routines and skills to be evaluated by judges during the selections process.
3. Attendance at the campus clinic is MANDATORY in preparation of tryouts. In the event there is a scheduling conflict due to another UIL activity the candidate must notify the coach by the first day of tryouts.
4. Spectators are not permitted to watch or videotape clinic practice or tryouts.
Section C – Tryout Guidelines
1. All candidates must be physically present, on both days, before the judges and able to compete in order to be eligible. In the event there is a scheduling conflict due to another UIL activity the candidate must notify the coach by the first day of tryouts. Candidates will then be expected to perform in front of the judges twice in the same day and those scores will be averaged.
2. Bring the following forms, in THIS order, to the FIRST day of tryouts; February 29th
· General Information Form (found in this packet)
· $10 cash stapled to front of the General Information Form
· Proof of physical on file with trainer
· Report Card
3. Random numbers will be used to identify candidates during tryouts and to declare squad placement. Teams will be announced on the team website.
4. The attached score sheet will be used during the tryout process.
5. Cheer Candidates MUST wear BLACK Nike/Spandex or BLACK cheer shorts, a WHITE tank top, BLACK sports bra, appropriate shoes, hair in pony tail, and white ribbon. NOTHING you wear should have an emblem, school name, etc. Everything should be plain!!!
6. Electronic recordings will not be permitted for tryout purposes unless approved by cheer coach with a confirmed documented injury.
7. The head cheer coach will review, tally and certify each candidate’s tryout scores or may designate a person to do so.
8. Cheer candidates will be prohibited from using any type of communication device during the designated campus tryout hours. In the event of an emergency situation, staff will be responsible for establishing communication with the parent.
9. All clinics and tryouts are closed to spectators (parents, siblings, etc. may NOT be in the building).
AHS Required Fees
1. The total cost for a FEMALE VARSITY Member will be approximately $1,400 this fee is for camp, camp clothes, new uniform, etc. Some uniform pieces for the VARSITY SQUAD have been purchased by the school, and will be returned at the end of the season. Female members will be assigned one red skirt and one red vest. The total cost for a MALE VARSITY Member will be approximately $800.00 this fee is for camp, camp clothes, new uniform top, etc. Male members will be assigned: a pair of cheer shorts, pants and a vest. The required fee for the Varsity squad covers a uniform, warm-up, camp clothes, bows, female cheer shoes, back pack, sports bras, spankies, bus to camp and camp. There is also a $50 activity fee which covers two parties (Back to School & Christmas).
2. The total cost for the JUNIOR VARSITY SQUAD for camp, camp clothes, new uniform, etc. will be approximately $1,200. The required fee for the Junior Varsity squad covers a uniform, warm-up, camp clothes, bows, shoes, back pack, sports bras, spankies, bus to camp and camp. There is also a $50 activity fee which covers two parties (Back to School & Christmas).
3. The total cost for the FRESHMAN SQUAD for camp, camp clothes, new uniform, etc. will be approximately $1,200. The required fee for the Freshman squad covers a uniform, warm-up, camp clothes, bows, shoes, back pack, sports bras, spankies, bus to camp and camp. There is also a $50 activity fee which covers two parties (Back to School & Christmas).
4. All uniform and camp costs (camp & clothing) must be cleared by June 3rd. All uniform/camp cost payments must be made according to the payment schedule.
5. All cheerleaders are ENCOURAGED to take an outside tumbling class. We are a competitive program and it is hard to make the varsity squad without tumble skills.
Tentative Payment Schedule
March 22 $350
April 15th $350
May 15th $350
June 3rd *Varsity $350 *Jr Varsity/ Freshman $150.00 *Returning cheerleader last payment will vary.
AHS Cheerleader Duties
Varsity Cheerleaders
a) Will cheer all Varsity football games, home and away.
b) Will cheer at all designated boys and girls Varsity basketball and volleyball games.
c) Will cheer ALL playoff games. These will be tentatively scheduled from the beginning of the season and confirmed with only a few days’ notice.
d) Will cheer at designated baseball, softball, soccer, etc. games.
e) Will perform at all pep rallies and designated events.
f) Will attend all summer practices.
g) Will attend summer camp.
h) Will compete at the UIL State Game Day Competition in January.
i) May compete on the Nationals Team.
j) As per HISD Athletic Policies, it is understood that at the high school level, playing time is at the discretion of the coach.
Junior Varsity / Freshman Cheerleaders
a) Will cheer all home district freshman / JV football games.
b) Will cheer at all designated boys and girls basketball and volleyball games.
c) Will perform at all pep rallies and designated events.
d) Will cheer at all designated playoff games. These will be tentatively scheduled from the beginning of the season and confirmed with only a few days’ notice.
e) Will cheer or attend any event as designated by the head coach.
f) Will attend all summer practices.
g) Will attend summer camp.
h) May compete at the UIL State Game Day Competition in January.
i) May compete on the Nationals Team.
j) As per HISD Athletic Policies, it is understood that at the high school level, playing time is at the discretion of the coach.
Mascots
a) Are required to attend summer camp.
b) Will perform at all Varsity football games, home and away.
c) Will perform at all designated playoff games.
d) Will perform at other games requested by the coach.
e) Will attend other events (spirit, fundraising, community service) requested by the coach.
UIL State Competition Team: We will compete in the UIL State Game Day competition in January. All VARSITY cheerleaders will be required to compete on this team and Jr Varsity/Freshman cheerleaders may compete as well. There will be NO additional cost to you and I anticipate no more than one day of practice after school per week during the months of November, December, and January.
Nationals Competition Team: The AHS National Competition team is composed of cheerleaders within the AHS Cheer Program. Each year this team competes at the UCA Regional & State Competition as well as the biggest high school competition in the Nation; the NHSCC or National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. Participation on this squad is OPTIONAL and this squad is chosen by Coach Marches. The decision to have a Nationals Competition squad will be made in the month of June by Coach Marches. Months of participation on this team is May 2016 – February 2017 and this team will practice daily including holidays. The Nationals Competition team will attend Woodlands Elite during class time on Wednesday. Transportation to and from Woodland’s Elite is NOT provided.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 19th 7:00 p.m. Tryout meeting (not mandatory)
February 29th – March 2nd 5 - 7:00 p.m. Tryout Clinic & All Forms Due
March 3rd & 4th 4:00 p.m. Tryouts Begin for current high school
5:00 p.m. Freshman report to AHS
March 22nd 5:00 p.m. All cheerleaders report for handbook
review. Bring a copy & highlighter!
March 29th 6:00 p.m. MANDATORY New Team Meeting
for cheerleaders and parents
Practice Begins April 5th 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Varsity will practice every Tuesday & Thursday
Freshman will practice every Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.