Sideline Cheer – 2012 Information
PHYSICALS: Each athlete must have a sports physical on file at the high school prior to the season beginning in order to participate. The physical must have been completed after April 1, 2012 in order to be valid. If you do not have a physical before camp you will be removed from the team – no exceptions.
COSTS INVOLVED:
GYMNASTICS: $80 per athlete (this is just an estimate until we know how many girls will be on the team)
ALL WHITE CHEER SHOES: Shoes need to be a cheer shoe, not just an athletic shoe. You may use an old pair of shoes as long as they are in good condition and all white in color.
BODY SUIT: Needs to be purchased by August 8th. All teams wear black body suits. If you already have a black body suit you may wear it as long as it is in good condition. ($20-$25)
LOLLIES: All teams wear black lollies. You may purchase briefs or boy cut lollies. You may wear a pair you already own as long as they are in good condition. ($5-$10)
POMS: Each team uses the same pom pons. The same poms will be used each year. This money will need to be turned in by August 13th. ($22)
CAMP: The total camp cost will be $300. A non-refundable camp deposit is due by June 6th of $50 with remaining payments of $100 on June 21st, $50 on July 12th and $100 on July 26th. This payment will include all camp costs, including ribbon, t-shirts and shorts to be worn for camp (and our team shirt for the year) as well as money for our team pizza night.
GYMNASTICS: Gymnastics is mandatory for all cheerleaders. We are very lucky to have coaches that come to us at a reduced cost. This activity helps our team in many ways. Gymnastics enables us to make the sidelines exciting. The coaches also help with core exercises that help with jumps and stunting. The total cost of gymnastics will be $80 for the 10 week contract. This cost must be paid even if your athlete misses a gymnastics practice. Payment schedules will come home this summer when we finalize start dates and costs with the gymnastics coaches; the cost will not exceed $80. (Please note these costs are estimated based on the 2011 season. We will let you know as soon as we have an exact price).
FUNDRAISERS: In order to help your cheerleaders offset the cost of camp and gymnastics we will do fundraisers throughout the summer. Parents may work a total of 5 times at Demorest Field and we will take $50 off the cost of camp. We will also be doing a food type fundraiser (i.e. subs, candy bars) to defray camp costs. If the cheerleaders have an interest we will also do a car wash.
DEMOREST FIELD: All cheerleaders are expected to work at Demorest field a total of 4 times throughout the summer. With the money earned from this we would like to be able to purchase new uniform tops. This is a great fundraising opportunity for our team. Shifts will normally run from 5:00-8:30 or 9. The exception will be Tuesdays and Thursdays in April when we will start at 4:00. You will need to wear your hair back and a hat while working. Only those working are to be in the concession stand. Only adults are to take money. If you signed up to work for a date and cannot fulfill that commitment it is your responsibility to find someone else to work for you.
CAMP: As in the past team camp is mandatory. This year we will be traveling to Davenport University for team camp August 5-7, camp will be run by Victory Cheerleading Company. August 6th is our technical first day of practice so there should not be any vacation conflicts with these dates. Each year we research camps around the area and this is always the best value. We as coaches are very familiar with the director and staff and feel they are the best fit for our athletes. The price of camp will include three days and two nights of camp activities, room and board and all meals along with all ribbon, shorts and shirts needed for those days. When we get closer to camp we will give more information on what cheerleaders need to bring.
SUMMER CONDITIONING: We will run conditioning throughout the summer. Conditioning is not mandatory but is highly recommended. It is important that you stay in shape throughout the summer so we can be our best during the season. Please take vacations with your family and come to conditioning when you can. If you are not going to be at a conditioning session please let the coach know. You will be making camp payments on these dates and if we don’t know why you are not there we will assume you are choosing not to be part of the team.
PRACTICE START DATE: Practices for the season will start on August 6th. Any time missed after this date will count as an absence.
OUTSIDE GYMNASTIC CLINICS: While we will work on gymnastics during the season it is a good idea to spend some extra time over the summer working on these skills. Below are three different gyms that have open gym and/or cheer classes. We have had girls attend two of these gyms and the other comes highly recommended.
North Star Gymnastics
723 Byrne Industrial Drive, Rockford. (about 25 minutes from Belding)
Open gym from 12:00-2:00 Saturday $7.00
Cheer Tumbling Class April 23-June 16. Wednesday night 7-8 pm or 8:30-9:30pm $112.00 for 8 weeks
Aerials and Baranis Gymnastics
6001 Coit Ave NE (just off Plainfield), Grand Rapids
Open gym 6:30-8:00 Sunday $10
M-Chic Cheerleading Gym
4560 Bowen Blvd. Suite C, Kentwood (blue stripe around the building)
Open gym 6:00-8:00 Sunday $8
Open gym 7:30-9:00 Tuesday $7
Back handspring/Back tuck clinic every Saturday in May from 11:00-1:00 $15.00
Their classes are $40.00 for a 4 week session. They will add some this summer and let us know as soon as possible.