Cheerleader's Code of Conduct

VCYFC CHEER RULES 

MASCOTS:
Mascots are not allowed to participate. No one except registered cheerleaders and coaches are permitted on the practice or game fields. 

 Mandatory Cuts:
 Mandatory cuts can occur for the following reasons:

A. Cheerleader cannot fulfill registration requirements (see registration policy).
B. Cheerleader refuses to abide by league rules.
C. Once a cheerleader quits she may not return for that season, for that town or any other town.       D. Excessive unexcused Absences.
 

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. 
C. Proof of Age – a copy of birth certificate.
D. Parents Code of Conduct – signed by parent/guardian
E. Proof of residence; ie utility bill or school issued ID.                                                                             F. Volunteer bond - A $20.00 volunteer bond will be paid at registration and will be refunded upon completion of a volunteer duty.

  Practices:
A. Pre-season practice shall not begin until August 1st.
B. Every cheerleader must complete at least 15 minutes of warm up exercise prior to participation in any practice or game.
C. Practices shall not exceed the following                                                                                                 > No more than 10 hours per week during pre-season.                                                                             > After pre-season practices are limited to 6 hours per week.
>No more than 2 hours of practice may be scheduled on any one day.
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 Cheer Sneaker ONLY.  NO JEANS of any kind!  Hair, Nails, Jewelry issues are NON-NEGOTIABLE                                                                                F. Girls must be checked in with a coach and picked up promptly at the end of practice.                    G. Each player will be issued a sports water bottle with their name on it. This will be the ONLY acceptable bottle allowed on the practice or game field.

 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.                                     5. A minimum of 10 practices must be attended prior the first 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 or missed practices the Cheerleader will not perform Hello Cheer, Halftime or participate in any stunting at that weeks game.

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 activities your child will participate in. We understand the difficulty of getting your child to practice. Please consider making carpool arrangements with another family to assist in getting your child to practice when transportation is a problem. Lateness is also 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.Athletes are expected to attend all practices. Religion class requirements are excused. A practice session missed by athletes has an ill effect on the entire team. Please do not use practice time as a method of punishment.  It is the team that suffers. We do not intend to dismiss the expectations that your child needs to be responsible in all aspects of their life. We too agree that all the girls need to perform well in school and it needs to come first. We are just asking that another form of punishment is given. The stress that is created by possibly pulling an athlete from the squad during the season is immeasurable. That stress is not only felt by coaches and teammates but by other families as well. We are asking this consideration to be given in the best interest of the team

 Appearance:
A. All cheerleaders must wear the required uniform as determined by the town in order to cheer that week’s game.  The uniform is to be worn only at VCYFC organized functions.

VCYFC uniform requirements

>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.

>During colder weather the sweat suit purchased thru the league will be the ONLY acceptable addition to the uniform. (Layering under is recommended)

>Complete uniform should be carried at all times to be prepared for any changes ie weather.

>There is NO EATING in a VCYFC uniform. It is recommended a change of clothes be brought to every game or event.

B. All hair must be pulled back in a neat like fashion (safety). Use hairspray or gel to keep back growing out bangs.
C No Jewelry. ALL piercing must be removed (Medical ID’s are allowed but must be taped to body)
D. Makeup is prohibited for all youth functions other than Cheerfest.                                                      E. Glitter of any kind is prohibited.                                                                                                        E. Nails must be kept short, NO false nails or nail polish while in uniform.

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. Back spotters are required for all stunts. Front Spotters are required for all stunts higher than a thigh stand. Spotters must remain in position until the dismount is completed.                                    E. Mighty Mites may not exceed Thigh stand level. Division 1 may not exceed Prep level.       Division 2 & 3 all 1 leg stunts (lib, arabesque, scale etc) may only be done at prep level.                    F. No stunting or tumbling during rain or on muddy ground.
G. Coaches, trainers or helpers are not allowed to participate in stunting.

In general, All stunting is at the discretion of the cheer director.    

 Games:
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 to be shared by both cheer teams                                                                                            E. At half time the visiting team will use the field first for their routine.
     >Each team’s performance should not exceed 2:30.
     >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. No eating or wandering the field during the game or halftime.

G. During an injury of a player on either team, all cheerleaders will stop and take a knee while the player is being administered to.
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.                                                                                J. Must arrive 1 hour before the start of a game to practice, and set up for that day’s game.

 Camps:
A. All cheerleaders 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.

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

 Competitions:  VC will  sponsor a squad at the discretion of the director.

A. Must be a current season registered cheerleader. B. Try-outs will be held. C. Teams will be grouped according to competition divisions. D. League uniforms may be used.

Appointment to the competition squad will be made by the director and current coaches 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)