TryOut-InfoPacket

							                                 C.B East Cheerleading

                                      2012 Try Outs!

Dear Parents and Cheerleaders,

We are Stephanie Latronica, Marla Porreca and Ashley Wall, the Central Bucks East
High School cheerleading coaches. We take pride in the program we have built, and put
an extreme amount of time, energy and emotion into all that we do with it.

Every C.B. East Cheerleading hopeful will be receiving this information packet to best
inform all of the expectations at try outs and being on the team. The packet will be read
over and discussed so there is a complete understanding of what occurs in the program.
This information is willingly shared with all hopefuls and parents so as to keep everyone
in the loop.

There is a “Contract of Understanding” at the end of the packet which every cheerleader
and parent are to sign and return in order to try out. This again is to simply make sure that
there is comfort in the participation in our program.

If at any point there are questions or concerns during try out week, or at any other time
we are more than happy to answer them. We thank you for your participation, for your
cooperation and for your understanding. And we look forward to the new season!

For questions, please feel free to email us at Cheer4CBE@yahoo.com .

Thank you,

Stephanie, Marla and Ashley
www.cheer4cbe.com
                                       Try Out Week

During try out week you are expected to be able to learn all of what is taught to you and
perform it to the best of your abilities at the end of the week. There will be a mixture of
things going on throughout the week; here is a breakdown of everything you need to
know!

**In order to try out every cheerleader MUST watch a concussion video. This will occur
on Tuesday May 15 at 4 pm (prior to the start of try out practice at 5pm).
**The signed “Contract of Understanding” MUST be handed in on Tuesday May 15.
You will not be permitted to try out if these two things are not completed.
 In addition, a try out number will be given to you, which you will wear all week long.

Practice During Try Out Week:
    Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of practice in the appropriate
       practice attire
    Pay attention and be attentive, the graduating senior cheerleaders will be teaching
       the try out material
    Position yourself in a manner that you will be able to see the material being taught
       and learn without distraction.
    Ask questions! If you are unsure about what you are learning, do not hesitate to
       speak up so you can be sure you are learning correctly.
    Stay positive, some take longer to learn new things and this is ok. There will be
       review sessions and plenty of time for questions and practice.
    Have good sportsmanship. You may not be best friends with every cheerleader in
       the gym, but you must respect everyone there and their decision to try out.
    You may bring a paper and pen to practice to write down the information being
       taught each day. It is to be kept out of reach until the end of practice.

The athletic trainer, Krista, will be available during the week of try outs. If you require
taping of an ankle or wrist be sure to arrive early to the athletic office in order to arrive to
try out practice on time.

Interview with the Coaches:
As in years past, we the coaches intend on meeting with every cheerleader trying out for
the team. Interviews are conducted with both alumni and new recruits. Each cheerleader
will be given a questionnaire at the try out meeting, and are expected to return it on the
first day of tryouts (Tuesday May 15). The questions asked are related to your past,
present, and future cheerleading experiences. There are no correct answers, only honest.
No points will be awarded according to your answers; they are used so the coaches can
meet all of the cheerleaders that are trying out.

Please also note, the practices during try out week are closed. Therefore, no parents,
friends, etc will be permitted to watch practices during the try out week or the actual try
out.
Proper Try Out (week) Attire:
    Practice shorts, of reasonable length.
    Undergarments are a MUST! bloomers may be worn under shorts if preferred.
    Sweatpants and other long pants are not to be worn; they get in the way and hide
      technique!
    Fitted t-shirts are to be worn. Nothing too big or too small. No mid-drifts
      showing.
    White socks and sneakers are to be worn in the gym at all times.
    Hair is to look clean. It is to be pulled back into a ponytail; no hair is to be
      hanging in your face to be a distraction.
    A hair ribbon may be worn.
    NO acrylic nails
    NO jewelry allowed!

Try Out Week Itinerary: In order to try out and make the C.B. East Cheerleading team,
you MUST participate in the Concussion Video!

Tuesday, May 15th @ 4pm: Concussion Video
May 15th - May 17th @ 5-7 pm: Try Outs begin
Friday, May 18th @ 3pm-? : Try Outs

A bus from Tohickon to East will be available for those who need it. We must submit a
list of the students who will use this service. Please email the coaches by Monday, May
7th if you are in need of the bus.

What you will learn during Try Out Week:
   2 Sideline Chants
   2 Floor Cheers
   1 dance – approx 5 eight counts

Every day, the mats will be rolled out and ready to use for standing and running
tumbling. There will NOT be any spotting available. For your safety this week is NOT
the week to attempt to tumble or try something new for the very first time. This is not a
spring floor, be prepared and go to the gym before this week.

For your own safety, every cheerleader MUST show the coaches the tumbling that they
will perform at try outs.
                                      Try Out Day

What you will be asked to perform:

Tumbling:
JV: No Tumbling requirement
Varsity Requirement: Standing Backhandspring and Running Backhandspring

In addition, each cheerleader will be asked to perform their most difficult/impressive
tumbling trick.
This will be further discussed at each interview with the coaches.

Jumps:
Required: Double Toe Touch and two additional jumps of your choice
    Toe Touch
    Side Hurdler (Right or Left)
    Front Hurdler (Right or Left)
    Pike
    Double 9

Material Learned during the week:
2 sideline chants
2 cheers
1 dance

Try Out Attire:
Shirt: White, proper length, tucked in
Shorts: Dark (red, blue, black, etc)
Hair: Pulled back out of face, ribbon if desired (“competition-style”)
Make-Up: Natural
Nails: Natural color and trimmed, NO Acrylic
NO jewelry
NO C.B. East Cheer clothing

Appearance is your first chance to make a good impression.
Come in looking clean and well kempt – with a smile of course!
A Couple Pointers!
    Keep eye contact with the judges, they are the ones you need to impress
    Have confidence and keep your chin up! You have worked extremely hard to get
     here!
    Have spirit, show your energy and enthusiasm
    Keep a strong, loud voice.
    If you make a mistake, play it off and keep on going!
    Do your very best. Compete against no one but yourself and you will always win!



                              Some things to think about…

There is much to consider when deciding to become a C.B. East Cheerleader. We feel it
is best to hold this try out meeting in order to inform cheerleaders and parents of the
expectations if the cheerleader earns a place on the team. There are great commitment
and financial responsibilities for both the JV and Varsity squad.

Commitment:
As many of you may be aware, cheerleading has become very competitive and exceeds
one season and has become a year-round activity/sport.

Immediately following the formation of the team(s) fundraising and practices begin.
Throughout the summer months, practices are held once a week. These are not
mandatory, though attendance is greatly encouraged; as the team is practicing not only
the cheer and chant material used throughout the school year but is also working on
stunting and such things in preparation for camp. Mid-August, mandatory practices begin
and the team will participate in home and away camps.

Upon the return from camp, the fall season officially is underway. Both teams are
required to attend football games, both home and away. Preparation for competition
begins during this season. In the winter, the cheerleading teams attend biweekly home
games for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. In addition, all cheerleaders will
participate in competition, which begins in December for Varsity and January for JV,
which runs trough the end of February.

In addition, practices are held approximately 3-5 times per week, some of which may
occur on weekend days, all of which are based on gym and coach availability. The entire
team will also attend a weekly gymnastics class at Victory Training Center in
Warrington.

From the time the team is formed, fundraising begins. Every cheerleader is to participate
in team fundraising to assist in the cost of many things throughout the year. The team
also participates in local community services. Some of the fundraisers and community
services may also occur on weekend days, all of which are mandatory.
The schedule for the entire season is regularly posted and updated on our team website
www.cheer4cbe.com . It is the responsibility of the cheerleader and parents to check the
schedule regularly for updates and changes.


Important Dates IMMEDIATELY following the formation of the team:

There are a few important dates to be noted, if you make the team.
    Tuesday May 22nd - Uniform/Clothing Fitting
           o Each cheerleader will receive all of the required participation papers
           o Must bring $50.00 camp deposit or full camp payment
           o Each cheerleader will fill out a clothing order form, with sizes, quantities,
               etc. The order form will be scanned and emailed them to you shortly after.
    Tuesday, May 29th – Kick Off BBQ
           o FULL clothing payment due
           o Hand in required papers (minus physical)
    DATE – First Team Fundraiser
           o Pour House Dinner in Jamison
           o Date Wednesday, June 6 at 4-9pm
           o Information
    Monday August 13th – First Day of Boot Camp
           o ALL required paperwork Due
           o Remainder of camp payment due
Finances:

There is a list of required items that are mandatory to purchase. Please note that all of the
items to be purchased for camp and otherwise are reused throughout the year, during
practices and at fundraising events.

The ordering of these items occurs in a timely manner after the formation of the team,
and payments are expected in full at the Kick Off BBQ.
(Go over order form)

As a team, there may be additional clothing items purchased at later times.

Besides clothing, camp itself requires an early down payment of $50.00 (due at the
Clothing/Uniform Fitting) to secure your spot. If you do not pay this deposit, you will not
attend camp. Camp may be paid in full if you prefer. JV camp total cost $237; Varsity
camp total cost $267. Camp MUST be paid in full by Monday August 13th.

As mentioned previously, the team attends a weekly gymnastics class. The cost of this
will be split into two payments, in September ($195) and December ($150). The
cheerleader/parents are to pay for this additional cost. There will also be additional costs
for the cheerleader for away competitions that the cheerleader is also responsible for.

Fundraising efforts continue year-round to help offset costs paid by the parents. ALL
cheerleaders on JV and Varsity are to participate in these fundraising efforts.
                             “Contract of Understanding”

I, (name of cheerleader, printed) _____________________________________________
Have read the entire C.B. East Cheerleading try out information packet. I have read and
discussed all of the information given to me with my parents and understand the
conditions for the try-outs being held. I am also aware of the rules, regulations, and
financial and commitment obligations for me should I be placed on the cheerleading
team.

I am aware of what is expected of me during Try-Out Week and accept the possibility of
injury during this week. I recognize that I have chosen to participate in this weeklong
event of free will, and should an injury occur the responsibility is my own. I accept that
C. B. East and the Cheerleading coaching staff are not responsible for any injuries
sustained at this time.

I understand that both my signature and my parent’s signature on this “Contract of
Understanding” is required in order to participate in the C.B. East Cheerleading try outs.

Signature of Cheerleader ___________________________________________________

Signature of Parent ________________________________________________________

Date _____________________