FPC Cheerleading Constitution

Philosophy
The cheerleading program at Flagler-Palm Coast High School (FPC) will provide its cheerleaders with many opportunities involving leadership, spirit, and teamwork. The objectives of this program are to promote school spirit and support all athletic teams at FPC. Cheerleaders will also work on their personal cheerleading abilities and techniques such as safe stunting, jumps and dance to work towards improving at competitions in our area including the FHSAA States Competition.

The FPC Cheerleading Program is part of the Athletic Department. In addition to the rules outlined in this constitution, cheerleaders are also subject to the extracurricular code of conduct and all policies of the FPC Athletic Department.


I. Purpose
  • To promote and encourage school spirit, enthusiasm, loyalty and good sportsmanship.
  • To foster support among all athletics organizations.
  • To provide leadership opportunities.
  • To promote unification of the crowd’s involvement during an athletic event.
  • To build relationships between schools.
  • To be respected as an athlete.
  • To encourage the “spirit of competition."

II. Tryouts
  • Tryout clinics will be held prior to tryouts. Each potential cheerleader will learn a cheer and dance.
  • Candidates will try out in front of the FPC coaching staff and/or other qualified judges.
  • Tryouts are closed to the public; this includes friends, family, etc.
  • The coaching staff and/or other qualified judges have the final say in who makes each squad.
  • The coaching staff will use a judging rubric and take extensive and specific notes on each candidate. The judging rubric will be tallied to create a final score.
  • The judging rubric includes, but is not limited to, categories such as:
    • Cheer (execution, motion placement/sharpness, energy)
    • Dance (execution, sharpness, energy)
    • Stunts
    • Jumps
    • Spirit/Confidence
    • Athleticism
  • For any athlete to try-out they must go to the Athletics Office and have a GA7 form completed, that GA7 form must be given to the coach before anyone can try-out.
  • Potential candidates must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible to tryout.
  • A candidate must be in excellent physical health and have a physical on file with the athletic office.
  • Physicals are good for 1 calendar year
  • All paperwork must be completed and turned in prior to participation in any part of tryouts.
  • Due date is determined by the Head Coach. The coaching staff has the right to turn a candidate away at the time of tryouts because of incomplete paperwork.
  • The coaches will determine tryout material.
  • Current 8th and 9th, 10th grade girls are eligible for the JV Squad.
  • Current 9th,10th, and 11th grade girls are eligible for the Varsity Squad.

III. Cheerleading Safety Regulations
  • Cheerleaders are athletes and therefore must adhere to all physical eligibility requirements, safety precautions, and rules/ regulations governing athletics in accordance with Flagler County Public Schools policy.
  • At no time will stunting, mounting or tumbling be permitted without the presence of an AACCA certified coach.
  • All cheerleaders must abide by AACCA, NFHS and FHSAA rules as they are clearly stated in this constitution.
  • If you are sidelined for injury or illness, you must have a doctor’s note stating you may return to practice. You are still required to attend all activities and events.
  • Drugs/Alcohol Influence: If any cheerleader is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at a cheer event (practice, games, pep rallies, ect) she may be compelled to take a drug test, for the safety of the rest of the squad. If someone is under the influence while stunting, girls can get seriously injured. If a cheerleader tests positive she may be asked to leave the squad, she may not return/try-out until she can prove that she is clean of all substances.
  • Stunting: Stunting will not take place without a coach present
  • If FPC cheerleaders are found to be stunting without a coach, disciplinary actions will take place at the coaches’ discretion.
  • Injuries: Any injuries that occur under supervision of cheerleading coaches/advisors must be reviewed and evaluated by the FPC High School athletic trainers.
    • Procedure:
    • Athlete gets injured
    • Coach will send athlete to athletic trainer
    • Coach will follow up with athlete and athletic trainer
    • If the injury is severe, parent contact will be made by either the athletic trainer or the coach
    • If athlete is being treated by athletic trainer, coaches must receive medical clearance from the athletic trainer before athlete will be allowed to practice or participate in any cheerleading event.
    • If athlete is being treated by a medical doctor, coaches must receive medical clearance in writing from the doctor before athlete will be allowed to practice or participate in any cheerleading event.
    • Medical clearance will require a follow-up visit with the doctor in order for the doctor to properly evaluate and clear the athlete.
    • Any injuries that occur outside of FPC cheerleading practice/events, are to be dealt with privately with a medical professional if needed
    • A written notice of limitations must be provided to the coach
    • In order to be cleared for participation, the athlete will need to follow up with the doctor so he or she can properly assess the injury and provide medical clearance in writing.
    • Student-athlete will not be allowed to participate until after the coach(es) have received written notice of medical clearance.
    • Participation includes, but is not limited to, stunting, jumping, running, tumbling, and cheering.
    • Depending on the nature of the injury, the student-athlete may be physically able to perform one or more of the above.
    • This will be solely based upon medical clearance, and the coaches’ discretion
    • Student-athlete will not be allowed to stunt, regardless of clearance, until stunting has been practiced with the specific team members prior to the event. If medical clearance is obtained the day of an event, the student-athlete will not be permitted to stunt since he or she has not been able to practice with the team.
    • Unless the athlete is physically unable to attend school, the student-athlete is still required to be in attendance at all practice, games, or other events.
    • If a doctor’s note states “No Cheerleading,” the athlete is still required to attend all practices/games/events for the team. They will not be participating, but they WILL be in attendance. Failure to do so will result in demerits and eventual removal from the squad.

IV. Behavior and Academics
  • Cheerleaders are expected to follow all school rules as outlined in the Flagler County Code of Conduct and the FPC Code of Conduct.
  • A cheerleader is responsible for her actions both on and off the field/ court.
  • Any type of misconduct during school, out of school, on the Internet, or with law enforcement will be dealt with by the coaching staff. Any type of misconduct is grounds for being removed from the squad and ineligible to try-out for the competitive squad.
  • When a squad member is disrespectful towards the coach, administration, faculty of FPC or another teammate, the member will be disciplined.
  • A cheerleader is a role model for the fans and must display good sportsmanship at all times.
  • Any behavior that is deemed unbecoming and/or reflects poorly upon the squad, school or cheerleader will be handled at the coach’s discretion.
  • A minimum cumulative semester GPA of 2.0 unweighted is required for participation. Cheerleaders who fall below a 2.0 will be immediately removed the squad; and, therefore ineligible to tryout the following year. This is school policy! Please understand that this applies when final grades are released. If the participant’s GPA falls below the requirements upon release of grades in June, the participant will be ineligible to cheer.

V. Practice and Game Expectations
  • Attendance at all practices, home games, and designated away games is mandatory.
  • Cheerleaders will be given schedules well in advance so make arrangements/appointments accordingly!! Please schedule appointments, etc. on days that practice is not scheduled.
  • Practice attire is assigned and the correct practice outfit will be worn on the designated day. Refer to your calendar for this information.
  • An absence is unexcused without prior approval from the coach; the coach will determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
  • Team members must notify their coach at least 24 hours in advance to an absence unless it is a severe emergency.
  • If a cheerleader misses a practice during the week of a football game, regardless of whether it is excused or unexcused, the cheerleader will not be able to stunt at that week’s football game for safety reasons.
  • If a cheerleader is absent from school for more than ½ the school day on a game day, the cheerleader will have to sit out the game per school policy.
  • The absence will still be considered unexcused.
  • Excessive absences or tardiness to a game or practice may result in removal from the squad.
  • If a cheerleader misses two or more games, it will result in removal from the squad.
  • If a cheerleader misses five or more practices (unexcused), it will result in removal from the squad.
  • Unexcused absences are any absence without a note from a doctor or a parent. Family Vacations, shopping trips or other avoidable absences are not excused, even with a parent note. This is the same policy the school uses for excused/unexcused absences.
  • Tardiness is unacceptable and will be dealt with by the coach through conditioning.
  • Practices will be arranged by the coach and shall be held as needed. Practice times or days may be changed at the coaches’ discretion.
  • Practices start promptly and tardiness is unacceptable except for an emergency.
  • The coaches reserve the right to schedule extra practices if needed.
  • Cell phones and pagers are not allowed at practice! This means they cannot be in your possession, in your pocket, on the floor, or anywhere where practice is being held. They must be off and put away in a bag! In case of emergency, parents may call the coaches’ cell phones.
  • Profanity is unacceptable both in and out of uniform!
  • While at the games:
    • Keep cheers and chants flowing at all times.
    • Pay attention to the game (not social time). Absolutely NO socializing during the games. Advise friends and family you may not socialize during games.
    • Never cheer against or boo the opposing team or officials.
    • No food or drinks while you are cheering, except water.
    • Cheerleaders need to arrange to eat before or after games.
    • Return to the bench 2 minutes prior to the beginning of the second half, unless your coach tells you otherwise.
    • Be ready to cheer.
    • The only items allowed at games are poms, water and duffle bag.

VI. Appearance
  • At games, hair is to be worn in a ponytail or half-up with the assigned ribbon. Hair styles for games will be at the coach’s discretion. Hair must be pulled back for practices. This will be designated on your monthly calendars.
  • No jewelry is to be worn at practice, games or while in uniform.
  • Fingernails need to be kept short. The coach will determine an acceptable length. In accordance with AACCA rules and the rules of FHSAA, acrylic nails are prohibited. This includes gels even if it is over your real nail!
  • Cheerleading shoes are the only shoe that should be worn to practices, games or while in uniform.
  • When in practice clothes, your shorts are to remain unrolled. DO NOT roll your shorts up in an effort to make them shorter.
  • No face paint or puff paint is allowed to be worn at games.
  • Keep in mind that you represent the cheerleading squad in the community and around the school. Do not wear any clothing that would be deemed unacceptable or of a suggestive manner. You must abide by the school’s dress code.

VII. Uniforms
  • One to two uniforms will be issued to each cheerleader at the beginning of the cheerleading season and will be returned at the end of the season.
  • Uniforms are property of the FPC Cheer Program.
  • Uniforms are to be kept clean and in good condition at all times.
  • Spirit days, as specified by the school/coach, cheerleaders must wear a their cheer top, long sleeve under armor and tank top underneath to cover midriff OR the Cheer Program POLO. This combination of uniform OR POLO complies with the Flagler County School uniform policy.
  • When in uniform, whether at school or an event, cheerleaders must abide by ALL uniform policies.
  • This includes, but is not limited to: wearing the correct shoes, not wearing jewelry, wearing hair the correct way with the correct color ribbon

VIII. Squad Leadership
  • Captains will be determined in a method chosen by the coaches.
  • The coach has the right to remove a captain from her leadership position on the team for ANY reason that she deems necessary

IX. Transportation
  • All cheerleaders are required to travel to and from away games in school approved vehicles and under adult supervision provided by FPC, a contract from Flagler County Schools must be signed by the cheerleader parent to allow their child to receive transportation from Flagler County Schools.
  • If a cheerleader will be leaving with a parent from an away game, the parent must find and notify the coach before the game is over.
  • All cheerleaders are responsible for finding rides to and from home games and practices.
  • Parents or designated rides need to coordinate with the ending times of games and practices, and please be on time! There is limited supervision after school/events.
  • Coaches should not be relied on to bring cheerleaders home or to practice and other events. However, in extreme cases coaches can bring home a cheerleader with the parents written or verbal consent.

X. Finances
  • Cheerleading is an expensive sport, however, everything the cheerleader pays for she keeps, either as a material object or a memory (camp).
  • All costs are outlined in our financial obligations sheet (located on our website and in athletics office) and all parents/cheerleaders sign a contract saying they will pay the specific amount.
  • All payments should be made in cash or money order.
  • If a student does not meet financial obligations they will not be permitted to tryout for the squad next season, or until all debts are paid.

XI. Competition Squad
  • The Varsity Competitive squad will be chosen through a separate try out in the fall.
  • In addition to the members chosen for the competition squad, alternates will also be chosen in the case of unforeseen circumstances
  • If an athlete becomes injured, and is removed from the routine, the alternate will be put in immediately. The injured athlete will become the alternate, and will still be expected to be at every practice and every competition
  • Cheerleaders will be given schedules well in advance so make arrangements/appointments accordingly!! Please schedule appointments, etc. on days that practice is not scheduled.
    Practice attire is assigned and the correct practice outfit will be worn on the designated day. Refer to your calendar for this information.
  • An absence is unexcused without prior approval from the coach; the coach will determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
  • Team members must notify their coach at least 24 hours in advance to an absence unless it is a severe emergency.
  • If a cheerleader misses a practice during the week of a competition, regardless of whether it is excused or unexcused, the cheerleader will not be able to stunt at that week’s competition for safety reasons.
  • If a cheerleader is absent from school for more than ½ the school day on a competition day, the cheerleader will have to sit out per school policy.
  • The absence will still be considered unexcused.
  • Excessive absences or tardiness to a competition or practice may result in removal from the squad.
  • If a cheerleader misses one or more competitions, it will result in removal from the squad.
  • If a cheerleader misses three or more practices (unexcused or excused), it will result in removal from the squad per coaches discretion.
  • Please understand that the schedule for the competition squad is very demanding! The student will not be able to be involved in another sport whose schedule/season conflicts with the competition schedule/season.

XII. Varsity Letter Criteria
  • In order to receive a Varsity letter, the cheerleader must meet certain requirements.
  • These requirements will start on the first day of practice for the season, and they will end on the final day of the season in February.
  • Varsity coaches will keep track of all events and the student-athletes who were present.
  • The following criteria must be met in order to receive a Varsity letter:
    • Sideline: Must attend 90% of Varsity Football and Basketball games to receive a Varsity Letter.
    • Competition: Must be selected as a member of the competition team and be present at every competition.
    • If all criteria listed above are not met by the student-athlete, he/she will not receive a Varsity letter at the end of the year.
    • If the student-athlete fails to meet the criteria in one of the areas above, he/she will not receive a varsity letter
    • Absences, whether they are excused or unexcused, will count against the percentage above. Meaning, an absence is an absence, and it will be recorded as such on the varsity letter tracking sheet.