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Lamar High School Cheerleading Squad Contract
I. Organization
A. This Contract has been written and adopted for the Lamar High School
Cheerleading Squad in addition to the team Constitution. The team and its Constitution
and Contract are governed by Lamar R-1 School District, Lamar High School
Administration, and the Cheerleading Coach.
B. The purpose of the Lamar High School Cheerleading Squad is to:
1. Create school spirit, pride, and loyalty.
2. Promote interest in school activities and perform at school games.
3. Develop responsibility, teach self-respect, encourage honest effort, strive for
perfection, and develop character.
4. Teach teamwork and pride in a quality performance through maintaining high
standards.
C. A Coach will be hired by the Lamar R-1 Board of Education upon recommendation of the
Principal.
1.The Coach will be responsible for the daily running and activities of the Lamar High
School Cheerleading Squad.
2. The Coach will be responsible for administering all disciplinary procedures in
conjunction with School Administration as needed.
3. The Coach may place certain restrictions on team members.
II. Tryouts
A. Tryouts are open to all students at Lamar High School who meet eligibility requirements.
1. Candidates must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
2. Candidates must meet MSHSAA eligibility requirements as outlined in the Lamar
High School Extracurricular Activities Handbook.
3. Candidates must submit a completed Application Form and Parental Consent/Medical
Release Form before the annual tryouts take place.
4. Candidates must have a complete physical exam on file with the Front Office prior to
tryout practices.
B. Cheerleaders are chosen based on a point system that looks at poise, voice projection,
coordination, quality of cheer, jumping and acrobatic ability, teacher recommendation,
school discipline records, cumulative GPA, and interview questions.
C. Cheerleaders will be chosen for a football season squad and a basketball season squad.
Candidates may tryout for either football or basketball season, or both seasons.
D. A panel of judges will judge the tryouts and provide scores; these scores will be used in
conjunction with other requirements outlined in the tryout packet to make the final
scores, but the Coach and School Administration will have the final say on who is
chosen for each squad.
E. Squad membership numbers will vary based on scores and need.
III. Member Eligibility
A. Cheerleaders must maintain a minimum “C” grade in all classes. Grades will be checked
on a weekly basis.
1. If a cheerleader has a “D” grade, they will be required to attend tutoring sessions either
with the teacher or another student (approved by the Coach) until the grade has
Cheerleading Squad Contract
improved to the minimum “C” requirement.
2. If a cheerleader has an “F” grade, they will be benched and will be required to attend
tutoring sessions until the grade is improved to the minimum “C” requirement.
B. Academics are a priority, however cheerleaders need to balance their time so that
cheerleading does not interfere with academics.
1. Time to work on homework or study for tests will not be an acceptable excuse for a
cheerleader’s inability to meet the cheerleading responsibilities and duties.
C. Each cheerleader must complete a minimum of 10 full practices prior to the first game in
each season as required by MSHSAA.
IV. Attendance
A. All cheerleaders must attend four full class periods of school on the day of games or
special events.
1. Full class periods means from the beginning of the hour through the close of the hour.
2. Special circumstances may be permitted with prior approval by School Administration
and the Coach.
B. To participate in a practice, a student must also attend four full class periods of school.
1. This must be fully documented with the Front Office.
C. If a cheerleader is ill and misses ANY scheduled activity, they must be at HOME or
seeking medical appointments.
D. If a cheerleader misses ANY scheduled activity, it is their responsibility to have their
parent(s) inform the Coach of the reason BEFORE the activity begins.
1. Failure to inform the Coach prior to the start of the activity will result in an unexcused
absence.
2. If the cheerleader, not the parent, is the one who informs the coach of an absence, the
cheerleader must bring a note from their parent to the next scheduled activity or school
day or the absence will be unexcused.
E. Acceptable excuses for being tardy or missing a game include sickness, death or birth in
the immediate family, or other instances approved by the Coach in advance.
F. Acceptable excuses for being tardy or missing a practice include sickness, death or birth
in the immediate family, staying late after school with a teacher or approved student for
required tutoring sessions (note from teacher or approved student is required), or other
instances approved by the Coach in advance.
G. A cheerleader will be counted tardy if they are not completely ready to begin on time (i.e.
hair is not up, shoes are not on, they are eating, etc.).
H. Doctor’s appointments should be scheduled when no cheerleading activities are
conflicting if at all possible.
I. Scheduled activities include all practices, regular season games, play off games, pep
rallies, clinics, and other activities that have been assigned by the Coach.
V. Traveling
A. All cheerleaders are required to ride to and from games and events on the approved
transportation provided by the school.
B. Cheerleaders can be signed out by a parent/guardian and leave the event with them.
C. Special circumstances that require a cheerleader to ride with someone other than a parent/
guardian or school transportation must be approved by School Administration by the day
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before the event.
D. Traveling to events is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Transportation
will not wait for tardy cheerleaders. If a cheerleader is not present at the time of
departure, they will be left behind and will be considered an unexcused absence. It
would be wise to arrive with plenty of time to spare.
VI. Uniform
A. Lamar High School Cheerleading Squad requires all members to maintain good condition
and cleanliness of their uniform on a weekly basis.
B. The uniform includes shell, skirt, crop, shoes, pompoms, briefs, warm-up, camp gear,
misc. cheerleading shirts, bag, hair ribbons, and other misc. accessories purchased strictly
for cheerleading use.
C. Cheerleaders will be financially responsible for some, if not all, of the above mentioned
uniform items. The approximate cost of these items is $500.
1. Financial responsibilities will be outlined by the Coach after the squad members have
been chosen. Payment options will be presented at this time as well.
D. Cheerleaders are prohibited from wearing any part of their uniform outside of scheduled
cheerleading activities.
E. Any part of the uniform that is purchased by the Lamar R-1 School District must be
returned, clean and in good condition, at the end of the season. Cheerleaders are
financially responsible for any cleaning or mending that must be made to the uniform
upon inspection when returned. Cheerleaders will also be financially responsible for any
part of the uniform purchased by Lamar R-1 that is not returned at the end of the season.
VII. Medical
A. Cheerleaders must have a complete physical exam on file with the Front Office before
tryout practices.
1. If the physical expires before the season ends, the cheerleader will be benched until a
current physical is on file.
B. Each cheerleader is required to provide the Coach with a copy of their valid medical
insurance card and maintain medical insurance throughout their eligible season.
1. Failure to maintain insurance will result in being benched until proof of coverage is
provided.
C. Cheerleaders are required to stay fit and healthy, as practices will contain conditioning
workouts that include aerobic, strengthening, and cardiovascular activities.
D. Cheerleaders are expected to treat their bodies with respect, as a lot is expected from
them performance-wise. Cheerleaders are expected to eat regularly and nutritiously.
Drinking pop on game days and practice days is prohibited, as it is performance-
prohibiting. Drinking pop on all other days is strongly discouraged. Drinking water or a
sports drink is the best option.
VIII. Character
A. Cheerleaders should be leaders within the school and set a good example at all times.
B. Team members should maintain good personal appearance and habits that cannot be
criticized.
1. Smoking, drinking, and/or drug use are grounds for suspension or dismissal by the
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Coach.
2. Each cheerleader must abide by the standards set by Lamar High School which are
outlined in the Student Handbook.
C. Cheerleaders must be courteous and friendly to all other team members as well as the
student body.
D. Cheerleaders must be courteous and friendly to other teams and visitors.
E. Cheerleaders must be respectful to the Coach, Captain and Co-Captain, and authority
figures inside the Lamar R-1 School District.
IX. Points
A. Points or demerits will be used as a disciplinary tool.
B. Points will be given by the Coach.
C. Three points will result in a minimum of being benched for one full game.
D. Six points will result in a minimum of being benched for 25% of regular season games.
E. Nine points will result in a minimum of being benched for 50% of regular season games.
F. Twelve points will result in a dismissal from the squad.
G. One point will be given for:
1. Tardiness at any scheduled activity.
2. Chewing gum at practice or in uniform.
3. Failure to keep a clean uniform.
4. Drinking pop on a game or practice day.
5. Disrespect toward the Coach, Captain or Co-Captain, School Staff, or visiting team
members.
6. Forgotten props or accessories or inappropriate uniform (hair not up properly, etc.).
7. Cell phone usage during practice except during designated break times or with special
permission from the Coach.
8. Wearing uniform items outside of scheduled activities or times designated by the
Coach.
H. Three points will be given for:
1. Unexcused absence.
2. Use of inappropriate language in uniform (curse or derogatory slang words).
3. Defiance.
4. Lying about an excuse for missing a scheduled activity.
I. Other inappropriate behavior may result in points at the Coach’s discretion.
X. Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use
A. Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco use and felonies including but not limited to theft, vandalism,
assault, and weapons that occur outside or inside school property will result in being
benched for a minimum of 50% of regular season games, mandatory counseling, and a
meeting with the Coach, parents/guardians and School Administration if needed.
B. Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco use and felonies that occur while the cheerleader is in uniform
will result in immediate dismissal from the squad.
XI. Benched
A. Benched cheerleaders are required to attend practices as usual.
B. Benched cheerleaders are required to attend games in uniform as usual.
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C. Benched cheerleaders are required to sit in a seat designated by the Coach for the entire
scheduled activity.
XII. Camp
A. All cheerleaders are required to attend summer camp.
B. Summer camp location and dates will be decided upon by the Coach.
C. Cheerleaders will be financially responsible for summer camp. The cost is approximately
$300.
D. Behavioral problems will not be tolerated during summer camp and may result in the
cheerleader being sent home.
XIII. Fundraising
A. Fundraisers will be provided to help offset the financial responsibilities of the
cheerleaders.
B. Cheerleaders are required to participate in all fundraisers provided by the Coach, as
proceeds will be divided among all squad members.
XIV. Lettering
A. Cheerleaders may letter for the season if they meet the minimum requirement of 85%
attendance rate at all scheduled activities and have no more than six points.
B. Three tardies will equal one absence.
C. Failure to attend at least ½ of any scheduled activity will result in an absence.
D. Cheerleaders who cheer for both football and basketball have a chance to letter both
seasons.
XV. Captain/Co-Captain
A. A squad Captain and Co-Captain will be chosen by the Coach.
B. The Captain and Co-Captain’s responsibilities include:
1. Starting and ending cheers and chants or assigning a squad member(s) to do so.
2. Making sure all stunts and cheers are warmed up and satisfactory before each game.
3. Keeping the squad on target at practices and games.
4. Helping the Coach with various cheerleading duties.
5. Making sure all cheerleaders are fulfilling their responsibilities and assigned duties.
6. Other responsibilities to be decided by the Coach.
C. The Captain has authority and should consult with the Co-Captain and Coach when
making decisions.
D. In the event of an absence, the Co-Captain will act in the Captain’s place.
E. The Coach has the right to overrule the Captain and Co-Captain’s decisions.
F. Failure to be a responsible leader could result in dismissal from the Captain or Co-Captain
position by the Coach.
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