CHEER RULES
OVERVIEW:
All personnel decisions that involve cheerleading will be made by each
town’s Cheer Director. Cheering is a team sport, players are under the
direction and supervision of their coaches. During the season
cheerleaders shall follow the rules of the team, town and league. Any
cheerleader who doesn’t follow the rules will be subject to disciplinary
actions.
AGE:
All Cheerleaders must be at least 6 years old by December 1st and
entering 1st grade but not 9th grade of the current season.
Cheerleaders will be placed on teams according to their grade level.
Please see below:
Mighty Mites:
1st and 2nd grade
Division I:3rd
and 4th grade
Division II:
5th and 6th grade
Division III:
7th and 8th grade
MASCOTS:
Mascots are not allowed to participate in the OCYFL league. No one
except registered cheerleaders and coaches are
permitted on the game fields. This is an insurance issue.
(Jr coaches must be in a town issued coaches shirt)
ORGANIZATION:
Team Level:
A. The head coach of each team must be at least 21 years of age.
B. A high school demonstrator may be used to teach cheers, stunts, etc.
However, this individual shall be under the direction and supervision of
the head coach.
Town Level:
A. Each town shall have a board member called Director of Cheerleading
who is an equal voting member of the town’s board and responsible
to that board, and to whom all cheerleading teams report to.
Mandatory Cuts:
Mandatory cuts can occur for the following reasons: (under the discretion
of the town director)
A. Cheerleader cannot fulfill registration requirements (see your town
registration policy).
B. Excessive absences to be determined by each individual town.
C. Cheerleader cheering in another league or on a school or competition team.
D. Cheerleader refuses to abide by league rules.
E. Once a cheerleader quits she may not return for that season, for that
town or any other town.
Registration:
Each cheerleader shall furnish the following in order to be placed on a
team.
A. Registration Form – signed by either parent/guardian.
B. Medical Release Form – signed by physician that the cheerleader is
physically fit to participate. Must be dated no later than spring of
current season.
C. Proof of Age – a copy of birth certificate.
D. Parents Code of Conduct – signed by parent/guardian
Safety:
A. No pyramids shall be higher than 2 persons.
B. NO Tucks or flips may be used when dismounting.
C. No seat, knee or body drops directly onto floor/ground.
D. Spotters are required when engaging in a partner stunt. Front
spotters are required for all stunts higher than a thigh stand. Spotters
must remain in position until the dismount is completed. Back spotters
need to have full footage.
E .No stunting during rain or on muddy ground.
F. Coaches, trainers or helpers are not to assist in stunting.
G. All
stunting is at the discretion of the town cheer director.
H. Coaches
will evaluate to the best of their ability what role a cheerleader will
have in formation. During stunting guidelines are needed to avoid
injury, therefore positions cannot be constantly changed as it takes
many practice hours to perfect each position.
Appearance:
A. All cheerleaders must wear the required uniform as determined by each
town in order to cheer that week’s game. The uniform is to be worn only
at OCYFL organized functions.
B. All hair must be pulled back in a neat like fashion (safety).
C.No jewelry.Earrings must be
removed.Medical ID's are allowed but must be taped to the body.
D. Makeup is prohibited for all youth functions other than Cheerfest.
E. Glitter of any kind is prohibited
F. Nails must be kept short and NO false tips or nail
polish while in uniform.
Additional VCYFC uniform
requirements
A. Vest and
skirt ( included in registration and are borrowed items)
Socks, Spankies, Crop Top, Hair bow and Cheer sneaker are mandatory
personal items purchased thru the league.
B. During colder weather outerwear may be added as follows: Navy Blue Jacket, Nude tights or sweat suit purchased thru the
league.
C. Complete
uniform should be carried at all times to be prepared for change of
weather.
D.
There is
NO eating in a VCYFC uniform therefore it is
recommended a change of clothes be brought to every game or event.
Practices:
A. Pre-season practice shall not begin until August 1st.
B. At least 10 minutes of warm up (to stretch and to limber-up)
shall be included prior to practice, games and competitions.
C. Practices shall not exceed the number of hours per week permitted for
football practice.
a. No cheer
team may schedule more than 10 hours per week during pre-season.
b. After
pre-season practices are limited to 6 hours per week.
c. No more
than 2 hours of practice may be scheduled on any one day.
d. Water and
bathroom breaks will be given during practices as a squad.
D. No practice, stunting or participation at games shall be permitted
without the head coach or pre-approved adult.
E. Proper attire - T-shirt, shorts, sweatpants and a closed athletic
sneaker only. (cheer sneaker at the request of the coach) NO HEELIES
(even with the wheels taken out) and NO JEANS!
F. Girls must
be checked in with a coach and picked up promptly at the end of
practice.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
VCFYC
needs an attendance policy for several reasons:
1. In fairness to the families that make sacrifices to get their
children to practice.
2. The physical requirement that your child attend practices to prevent
injury.
3. The physical risk that other children are put at because of a child
missing practice.
4. a group in the squad may suffer if a timely substitution is not able
to made.
Any
practice that a coach is not notified prior to the absence is considered
an unexcused absence. (extraordinary circumstances, of course, excluded)
There are many accepted reason for absences: illness, vacations,
and any logical circumstances that are beyond the parents' and the
child’s control. Non-school activities in the Fall are not acceptable
reasons for missing practices. We allow children to finish their summer
time obligations like baseball, but do not want new fall activities to
interfere. It is not fair to the children who attend all the practices
to allow someone to miss practices for another sport or organization.
You will have to make a family decision on what fall sport your child
will participate in. We understand the difficulty of getting your child
to practice. Please make arrangements with another family to get your
child to practice when transportation is a problem.
Lateness is an issue that the coaches have to enforce in order to have
the team ready
to practice on time. Excessive lateness will also be enforced with
benching for all or part of a game.
If a
cheerleader misses one or more practices it is the decision of the
coach and director to allow the cheerleader to participate in that
week's game. As follows:
Late to game = Cheerleader will not perform Hello Cheer or Halftime at
that game
Missed practices = Cheerleader will not perform Hello Cheer, Halftime
or participate in any stunting during that week's game.
Games:
Each town will provide a safe, convenient area to cheer, free of fan
interference and near the bleachers if possible.
A. The home team will do the “Hello” cheer first.
B. A coach from each team will travel with the team during the “Hello”
cheer.
C. Each team will cheer on their own side of the field.
D. Half time is to be shared by both cheer teams. 8 minutes for
Mighty mites. 15 minutes D1-D4
E. At half time the visiting team will use the field first for their
routine.
Each team’s performance should not exceed 2:45.
Each team will watch each other’s routine, cheer and
support each other.
Remaining time is to be spent with coach regrouping for
the next half of the game.
F. During an injury of a play on either team all cheerleaders will stop
and take a knee while the player is being
administered to.
G. No eating or wondering the field during the game or half time.
H. A cheerleader’s job is not only to cheer, it’s to observe the game,
get involved, and know where their team stands.
I. Rain or shine all squads are to cheer at all games. If the football
teams play the cheerleaders support.
J. Must arrive 1 hour before the start of a game to practice, and set up
for that days game.
Coaches:
A. All coaches must be approved by the board of directors each season.
A coach’s application must be completed and filed with the Board of
Directors prior to attending any practices or games.
B. The coaching staff is under the direction of the head coach who will
assume responsibility for actions of any and all assistant coaches and
cheerleaders. Each team must have one adult coach at all practices and
games. Each team may also be helped by “trainers” who must be in at
least the ninth grade.
C. Coaches are responsible for all cheers their team performs. No
negative or inappropriate cheers.
D. Coaches are responsible for completing accident report forms for
every injury that occurs during practice or games.
E. If a team head coach cannot attend a game than they are to notify the
town Cheer Director.
F. Football coaches/Cheer Director/Cheer Coach is to be notified if a
change in schedule occurs.
G. No coaches or trainers may participate in any type of stunt.
Cheerleader Code of Conduct:
A. Be respectful to one another, coaches and opposing team.
B. Follow league rules, town rules and team rules.
C. Positive attitude at all times.
D. When in uniform remember you are representing your town.
E. Hand shake after all games with opposing team.
F. Watch and applaud opposing teams “Hello” cheer and “Half-Time”
routine.
Coaches Code of Conduct:
A. No smoking allowed on school grounds, around players or at any league
activity.
B. No criticizing in front of spectators.
C. Emphasize that good athletics strive to be good students.
D. Strive to make every cheering activity serve as a training ground for
life and good mental and physical health.
E. Refrain from excessive sideline coaching.
F. Together with game officials, be responsible for the conduct and
control of fans and spectators.
G. Abusive and profane language is prohibited.
H. Do not allow an ineligible cheerleader to cheer.
I. Coaches do not receive any monetary payment for coaching.
J. Do not allow unsportsmanlike behavior to occur.
K. Alcohol is prohibited on playing or practice fields or at any league
activity.
L. Remove from the game or practice any player if you are in doubt about
her/his health.
M. Coaches are expected to uphold all league rules and regulations.
Parent Code of Conduct
The
OCYFL has a ZERO Tolerance stance towards Physical or Verbal
Abuse.
A.
Parents and Guardians serve as role models for their children; become
aware of this and work to be a positive role model. Applaud good plays
by the opposing team as well as your child's team.
B.
Parents or Guardians will support the efforts of Volunteer Coaches and
officials
C.
Parents, Guardians, or
Spectators will never physically or verbally abuse Referees or
Officials. This includes before, during, or after a game or OCYFL
event.
D.
Parents, Guardians, or Spectators will never strike, shove, threaten, or
lay a hand upon an Official, Player, Spectator, or Coach for any reason
E.
Parents, Guardians, & Spectators will REFRAIN from coaching or
refereeing from the sidelines.
F. No
one except Players, Coaches, Referees, or OCYFL Officials allowed on the
Fields at any time.
G.
Parents, Guardians, & Spectators will follow the Rules of the Home Teams
Field at all times.
H.
Remember, this is a Youth Game. Show
Sportsmanship at all
times.
I.
Failure to abide by this Code of Conduct & Ethics at any time will
result in a hearing with the OCYFL Board of Directors. If anyone
(Parents, Guardians, Spectators, Guest) is found guilty of any
infraction, it will result in suspensions or ejection from the League.
The Board of Directors will determine all penalties handed out.
The OCYFL will allow 1 parent to sign this Code of Conduct
but it is the Responsibility of all who attend any and all OCYFL events
to know and adhere to the OCYFL Code & Ethics. No one: Parents,
Guardians, Spectators, Family Members, Guests, will be excused from the
code because they didn't know about it!
Camps:
A. All cheerleaders associated with OCYFL may attend camp as an
individual, group, team with or without their coach.
B. Camp is defined as a meeting of one or more training sessions
provided by an outside organization.
C. Camps are optional and not a requirement to be part of OCYFL.
Competitions:
A. Any town may develop a competition team after season ends and the
following guidelines need to be followed:
a. Must be
a current season cheerleader for that particular town.
b. Each
town will hold try-outs for a competition team, giving all the
opportunity to try out.
c. Teams
must be grouped according to competition divisions.
d. Each
town/team will be responsible for their individual fees.
e. League
uniforms may be used for all competitions.
VCYFC will sponsor a squad at the
discretion of the director.
Appointment
to the competition squad will be made by the director and current
coach and will be based on the following criteria that is demonstrated
during the regular season:
1-
Commitment (Attendance, teamwork)
2- Ability
(both natural and the willingness to learn or change)
3- Maturity
(development, progress)
Cheerfest
All regular season rules will apply in addition to those set forth by
the cheerfest directors.
This is an exhibition ONLY. Usually scheduled for early November
Volunteering
As of 2007
season a $20.00 volunteer bond will be paid and will be refunded upon
completion of a volunteer duty.
