Cedar Park Christian Schools

Colossians 3:16, 17 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and teaching spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatsoever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

The CPCS cheer team will glorify God by representing CPCS through pursuing athletic excellence, developing spiritual growth, servant leadership, and promoting school spirit.

II. PHILOSOPHY

Our philosophy is to build Christ-like character into the life of every cheerleader. God can operate through the cheerleading organization to produce desired character qualities of leadership, loyalty, love and faithfulness. Members of the squad will learn to be under authority as well as in authority, aware of their individual responsibility to each other and to the Lord. We are all one body; when one hurts, we all hurt. Similarly, when one rejoices, we all rejoice. Each girl will learn what it means to make a commitment to the Lord and to her squad.

III. MEMBERSHIP

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

A. Selection

Squad members will be selected by the cheer coaches based on the following criteria:

1. Academic ability, citizenship

2. Positive attitude, dependability, enthusiasm both during and beyond the school day

3. Teacher evaluations

4. Christian witness

5. Ability to work with others and be a "team player"

6. Coach-ability

7. Leadership ability

8. Physical ability, strength and endurance, enthusiasm and performance, motion technique, precision, timing, jumps,

B. Eligibility

Each candidate must:

1. Meet the requirements outlined in the Cedar Park Christian School Student-Athlete Handbook

2. Be enrolled for the upcoming school year at the time of try-outs

3. Maintain a 2.00 or better GPA

4. Attend informational meeting with parent/guardian prior to cheer try-outs

5. Have current physical/medical forms on file prior to cheer try-outs

6. Have completed candidate application/parent consent form turned in by the designated due date

7. Answer personal questionnaire and interview with the cheer coach by the due date

8. Attend all cheer clinics and try-outs as well as meet specific try-out requirements designated by the coaches during

C. Conduct

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, etc.

Cheerleaders will demonstrate character exemplifying integrity. Squad members will:

1. Behave in a Christ-like manner, respectfully representing CPCS both in and out of school

2. Be servant-leaders, putting other ahead of themselves

3. Be a representative of Christ in actions and words both in and out of school

4. Control her temper and use of inappropriate language

5. Work hard at practice and give 100% effort in all activities

Athletic Excellence and Discipline. Squad members will:

1. Maintain a healthy diet and good physical condition

2. Get proper rest

3. Treat injuries promptly: see a doctor if necessary

4. Maintain good grades, study hard, and use time wisely

D. Attitude Expectations

Cheerleaders are expected to maintain a positive, cheerful, and cooperative attitude towards:

1. Coaches/advisors, other squad members, their school, players, fans and opponents

2. A squad member exhibiting a negative attitude or behavior will be given a warning (informed of impending probation). Upon a second offense, the member will be put on probation; upon a third offense, the cheerleader may be released from the squad

E. Commitment Schedule

Cheerleading is a year-round, athletic leadership commitment All squad members should be aware that cheerleading duties must have priority over other extracurricular activities. This could create a necessity for rearranging vacations, jobs or other extracurricular activities

Junior Varsity - The JV Cheerleaders will be expected to cheer at the following:

JV Home Football Games

JV Boys Home Basketball Games

JV Girls Home Basketball Games

Varsity - The Varsity Cheerleaders will be expected to cheer at the following:

Varsity Football Games (including all District and State games)

Varsity “Home” Boys Basketball Games and select “Away” games

(Including all District and State games)

Varsity “Home” Girls Basketball Games and select “Away” Games

(Including all District and State games)

All Varsity District and State “Home” and “Away” Basketball games

Pep Assemblies

Senior Cheer Squad members will be required to assist Coaches during the Cheer Try-out Clinic to be held in the spring.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Corinthians 14:40 "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."

A. Coaches Responsibility

1. Provide a safe environment for the athlete to train, compete, and achieve a reasonable level of success

2. Instruct in all areas of the technical aspects of cheerleading

3. Instill the Christ-like values of sportsmanship

4. Ensure that all cheerleaders conduct themselves in accordance with the Cheerleading Constitution

5. Coordinate all cheer related activities consistent with the policies of the Athletic Ministry at Cedar Park Christian

6. Accept responsibility for the behavior of all athletes as they are a part of the program.

7. Review and approve all:

• Music, moves, cheers, and sidelines

• Merchandise purchased to be worn while cheering or as a group

• Game and pep assembly plans

• Any activities done as a group

C. Cheerleader responsibilities – practices and meetings

1. Be on time to all practices and meetings

2. Come to practice dressed in appropriate attire with hair pulled back

3. Keep nails trimmed and do not wear jewelry

4. Inform the coach if they are going to be absent or late to a practice

5. When a member is absent or tardy, it is her responsibility to find out the information, material covered

6. Snacks must be eaten before or after practices and games. Water is the only beverage allowed

7. Yoga mats must be brought to each practice (inexpensive mats are available at Target)

8. Cheer homework (stretching, practicing and conditioning at home – parents will confirm completion)

D. Games and Competitions

1. Cheerleaders are expected to be dressed and ready one hour prior to the game or competition

2. Have clean uniforms, hair pulled back and nails trimmed to a short length

3. Inform the coach if they are going to be absent or late to a game or performance

4. Eat before they arrive at a game. No food or drink during the game unless approved by coach

5. Travel to the event with the squad and return from the event with the squad

(Members may ride home with their parents with written permission)

6. Pay attention to the game and are not allowed to excessively talk to other squad members or friends

7. Members must remain on the game site premises at all times

8. No gum chewing allowed

9. No stretching or practicing in front of the crowd

10. No jewelry, glitter, or nail polish allowed during competition

V. DISCIPLINE

A. Absences

Parents must notify the coach in advance of an absence from all or part of a scheduled activity.

Excused Absences:

• Personal illness, serious illness or death in the family or school activities approved in advance

Unexcused Absences:

• Out of town trips and vacations, work, lessons, non-emergency Doctor/Dentist appointments

• Social gatherings

• Failure to inform coach and receive approval in advance of absence

B. Tardiness

• A tardy is recorded when a cheerleader is late by ten (10) minutes or more

• If half of an activity is missed it will be counted as an absence

• Three (3) tardies will be counted as an absence

• Leaving early will be counted as one (1) tardy

C. Benches

1. The cheerleader may be benched when not in compliance with any part of this constitution. A full or partial bench may be given upon discretion of the coach. During a bench, the cheerleader will sit in uniform with the coach during the entire game. She must support the rest of the squad with sidelines and cheers during the game.

2. An unexcused absence equals one bench.

D. Cheer Probation

A cheerleader will be placed on probation if she is benched three (3) full benches during one season. Partial benches will be cumulative. A squad member may also be placed on cheer probation when not in compliance with any part of this constitution, upon discretion of the coach.

1. When a member is placed on cheer probation, the member and her parents will be notified.

2. The length of cheer probation is 10 days.

3. The cheerleader must complete an assignment as specified by the coach.

4. When on cheer probation, the member will not be able to participate actively in the group, but must attend all group functions and may not be in uniform.