Welcome to BHS Cheerleading!!

1. Welcome to BHS Cheerleading!!

2. Agenda • Coaches • Program goals • Cheerleader expectations for 2008-2009 • BHS Athletics • Monetary Obligations • Fall vs. All Squad, Varsity or JV • Tryout requirements/ expectations • Teacher Recommendations

3. Coaches Laura Meehan- Head Coach • Varsity coach, head of program • Beginning 5th year as head coach • 6th /8th grade teacher in Lake Zurich Caroline Adams- JV Coach • JV coach • Beginning 4th year as JV coach • Biology teacher at BHS Jason Pike- Tumbling Coach • Tumbling coach for JV and Varsity teams • Beginning 3rd year with our program, 8th year coaching at BHS

4. Program Goals Our program focuses on the all- around athlete. We work hard to promote teamwork, responsibility in our community and dedication from all our athletes.

5. TEAMWORK Our definition of teamwork is a group of athletes who: • Are dedicated to doing their personal best and helping others do the same. • Are dedicated to bringing a positive attitude to practices, games and competition. • Are dedicated to working towards individual and group goals. Have you noticed the word “DEDICATED”?!?!?!

6. COMMUNITY The Barrington community provides our program with much support and we are excited to provide our time in return. Over the last few years, BHS cheerleaders: • Collected items from the community to benefit Barrington Giving Day. • Raised money to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina • Supported local troops in Iraq through local organization. • Hosted clinics for elementary and middle school students in Barrington.

7. Cheerleader Expectations WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS!! • All of our returning cheerleaders know that we aim high in order to fly high. • Your teammates expect 100% effort every day! • We work hard so we can play hard. Cheerleading will give you some of the best memories you will have from high school!

8. Cheerleader Expectations • Full practices means 4-5 times per week plus games and volunteer activities within our community. • Full practices also means running, weight lifting, tumbling, jumping and conditioning at EVERY practice!! • Varsity cheerleaders practice over winter break! (Assigned days will be published in May for parents to sign off on.) • Full participation is expected at every practice, unless you have a doctor’s note excusing you from participation. Be prepared to work hard, take a few bumps and bruises, pick yourself up and keep going! • You are responsible for visiting the trainers and going to the doctor when you are injured. You are also responsible for keeping your coaches updated on ALL doctors visits related to cheerleading injuries, and for sharing with us any injuries that have occurred both in and out of cheerleading.

9. Time Commitment • It’s a big one! Here is what our January calendar looks like!

10. Summer Expectations- VARSITY • After tryouts, varsity will begin practices each Wednesday: • April 30th, May 7, 14, 21, 28 from 6-8 pm, gymnastics gym

11. Summer Expectations- Both Teams • In June and July, both teams will have summer practices through BHS summer school: • Sessions run Monday-Thursday, 12:30-2:30 pm at Prairie • Session I | June 9 - June 27 • Week 1- ALL • Week 2- JV only • Week 3- Varsity only • Session II | July 7 - July 25 • Week 4- JV only • Week 5- Varsity only • Week 6-ALL MANDATORY- TIMES TBA for in house private camp • Practices are mandatory with 2 permitted absences without consequence. • Pink summer conflict form due tomorrow!

12. Summer Expectations- Both Teams • Varsity members who have cheered on varsity in the past may receive volunteer hours for assisting at the JV summer camps. • All cheerleaders will begin full practices on August 18th that are mandatory attendance to cheer the first game.

13. Participation • We cheer for football, soccer and boys/ girls basketball. We also have our own competitive season during basketball. • Making the team does not guarantee that you will be on the field/ court for the first game or every game. • Clear to cheer • We clear each girl to cheer prior to the start of each season to ensure she has met expectations for our team and that the team can be 100% safe during performance.

14. Competition Team • Competition team • Making the team does not guarantee that you will be on a competition team. • We have a varsity and JV competition team. • There are alternate positions on each team due to limits of # on the mat. • There is the possibility of movement between the teams at this point depending on advancement in the fall. • We hold tryouts for competition teams at the end of October among our members.

15. Conflicts • You will always deal with time conflicts for other sports, activities and clubs. That is the reality of being a high schooler!! Being a cheerleader is a great privilege and you must be ready to take this responsibility. This means that other activities may not conflict with cheerleading commitments without a consequence. This includes: • BHS clubs • Outside/ club sports • Orchesis • These activities may not conflict with practices and games. If they do and you choose to participate in the other activity, there will be a consequence.

16. Other Sports • FALL:Volleyball, Girls Tennis, Cross Country, Swimming, Golf, Poms • WINTER:Basketball, Gymnastics, Poms • SPRING: (May participate in spring sports, WHEN CHEERLEADING SEASON IS 100% COMPLETE) Softball, Track and Field, Soccer, Badminton, Water Polo, Lacrosse

17. BHS Athletics You will receive a copy of the following documents. By assuming a spot on a team, you assume the responsibilities outlined in these documents. • BHS code from 2007-2008- online • Cheerleading Constitution- you have a copy, please review! • Parent Constitution- you have a copy, please review!

18. Varsity or JV?? • Varsity members may be freshman- seniors. • JV members may be freshman- seniors. • Almost every first year cheerleader at BHS is on JV.

19. WHICH TEAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?? • This is partially your decision and partially our decision. • If we feel that your talent level is exceptional and we feel that being a member of varsity will be a great fit for you, we will put you on the varsity team! • If we feel that your talent is exceptional, but we also feel that there are skills that you need work on, JV may be the best fit for you!

20. PREFS • Prefs will be designated on your information form (blue form). • Pref sheets are due the first day of clinics. • Girls must choose a team. • Team requirements can help you see where you might best fit. • If you are worried that JV is not going to be a challenging experience…….

21. Tryout Elements Junior Varsity Requirements- even if you fit these requirements, that does not guarantee a spot on JV. • May be a freshman- senior • Standing flip flop and roundoff flip flop thrown in tryouts. • Toe touch flip flop combination thrown in tryouts. • Jump combination of cheerleader's choice including from 2-4 jumps. • Cheer (to be taught at tryouts) • Dance (to be taught at tryouts) • We will look to take 24-25 members total.

22. Tryout Elements Varsity Requirements- even if you fit these requirements, that does not guarantee a spot on varsity. • May be a freshman- senior • Minimum standing flip flop thrown in tryouts. • Minimum roundoff 2 flip flops thrown in tryouts. • PREFERABLY round off flip flop tuck • Double toe touch flip flop combination thrown in tryouts. • Jump combination of cheerleader's choice including from 2-4 advanced jumps. • Cheer (to be taught at tryouts) • Dance (to be taught at tryouts) • We will look to take 24-25 members total.

23. Evaluations • Score will be 70% tryout, 30% evaluations • Evaluations • Returning cheerleaders will receive an evaluation completed by their ’07- ‘08 coach. This will count as 30% of tryout score. • New candidates will need to have a teacher/ coach evaluation filled out and returned by clinics on Wednesday night. This will count as 30% of tryout score. • Teacher/ coach evals help us learn about your work ethic, dedication, leadership skills and ability to represent our school positively.

24. Tryout Format • Cheerleaders will tryout on a rotating basis at clinics. • Tryouts will not be open to friends or parents. • Tryout forms are in your packet. • Judges will be BHS coaches. • It is important for us to pick our own teams based on the potential we see in tryouts. • After tryouts, we will meet with each candidate to discuss the tryout. • We will provide further information about meetings/ practices with candidates who do make the team. • We can share constructive criticism at this time if a candidate did not make either team.

25. Some Helpful Tips Some items to bring to clinics: • Water bottle • Cassette tape/ recordable CD to record tryout dance music (we will do this for you) • Please remember to wear gym shoes/ cheerleading shoes to all clinics and tryouts. • Your hair should be up, no jewelry and no loose fitting clothing. Please be sure to remove all belly button rings (or other piercings) before arrival to tryouts. • WE HATE WISPIES!! Pin your hair back! • We are not responsible for any lost items.

26. Some Helpful Hints • DO YOUR BEST, NOT BE THE BEST!! Please do not let these tryouts stress you out and consume your whole week. If you do not do your best, make it a goal to work on your skills for next year. • We are looking for POSITIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC representatives of BHS! Please remember that your attitude at clinics can effect your position as a potential BHS cheerleader. Smile, smile, smile!! • We have an experienced, well- trained coaching staff! Please listen to their advice and comments at clinics and trust that their constructive criticism is in your best interest.

27. Some Helpful Hints • If you have any serious previous injuries or medical conditions, they must be shared with coaches on your medical release form. If you have a serious medical condition that could require medical assistance as a result of physical activity, please touch base with coaches on the first day of clinics to share any procedures or precautions.

28. How to prepare for tryouts: • Watch yourself in a mirror • Videotape yourself • Teach a family member or friend the material to help you practice • Practice with friends • Ask a senior/ team member to help you during breaks at clinics

29. What if I don’t make it? • We will not reveal tryout scores/ teacher’s evaluations/ coach’s evaluations to any cheerleader or parent. If you do not make the team, please do not contact us regarding scores. We will be happy to share with you what you may need to work on to be successful at tryouts next year via email. • We encourage this contact to be done by the student athlete, instead of a parent. • Our individual meetings should help provide information to help you continue to work on your skills.

30. Money!! • Summer Camp- BHS Summer School Camp = $120, Ultimate Camp is $200,NOT INCLUDING CAMPWEAR. • Uniforms- Varsity uniform is $240. JV uniform is $281. • Warm- ups- Mandatory for all cheerleaders. Will be the same for all teams to keep consistency. If you have one from last year, no need to purchase new. $60 • Camp Wear- Mandatory camp clothes will be approximately $75-$100 total. Optional clothing, such as sweatshirts will be extra. • Uniform Accessories- Each girl must purchase 1 pair of game shoes, 1 pair of competition shoes, BHS cheer socks, spankies, 1 bodysuit and 1 warm up suit.

31. Money • Payment Plans available- We will send home information with your daughter after tryouts. If you plan on needing a payment plan, YOU MUST follow the directions listed to contact us about this. It takes a lot to focus our small budget around doing this for our families and we need to plan ahead. • Share the responsibility!!! Make a plan with your child to share the costs through after school jobs, babysitting or chores around the house. • Individual fundraising that can be applied to your costs.

32. Money • NEXT MEETING- 5/5/08! You will need 2 checks! • 1. BHS camp $120. Check to CUSD 220, paid in full. • 2. Remaining balance to BHS Cheer. • If on payment plan, payment #1 due this day. #2 due on June 5th, #3 due on July 5th. • Cannot participate in Ultimate camp in week 6 without balance paid.

33. Important Dates • Information Form/ Prefs, Medical Form/ scores waiver, Summer Conflicts- DUE FIRST DAY OF CLINICS, Tuesday, 4/22 • Teacher Recs due- Wednesday, 4/23 • Clinics- in GYMNASTICS GYM unless otherwise told at clinics. • Tuesday, 4/22, 6-8 pm • Wednesday, 4/23, 6-8pm- Tumbling/ jumps tryouts • Thursday, 4/24, 6-8 pm- Cheer/ dance tryouts • Friday, 4/25, 4-6 pm will only be used if necessary. • Teams- will be notified on Thursday/Friday after tryouts.

34. Contacting Us • If you have questions between now and tryouts, please email us at Barringtoncheer@hotmail.com. • If you have further needs or need to contact us, please call the AD’s office at BHS. • For returning members, we are no longer reachable via cell phone.

35. Big Commitment = Big Decision • Go home tonight and read this whole packet several times. • We recommend that you discuss this commitment as a family. This is not only a commitment for the student- athlete, it is a commitment for your family. • Make sure that you are 100% dedicated to being a high school athlete. If you are, we’ll see you tomorrow!

36. Any Questions???