• To represent BMS to the highest degree by promoting school spirit, unity, and pride.
• To maintain enthusiasm, good sportsmanship, and crowd response through the performance of cheers.
• To develop lifelong values, leadership skills, and friendships with continued academic success.
• Enhance BMS cheer program by competing at regional, state, and national levels.
• To exemplify respect for opponent's team and cheer squad, officials, and spectators.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Follow the Fairborn Athletic Code of Conduct
• Each year prior to their first game or performance, cheerleaders must have a physical examination form completed and signed by a physician and parent, and put on file at BMS.
• Cheerleaders must have accident or medical insurance.  Student insurance is available upon request.
• Parents must sign a permission form stating that they have read and agree to this cheerleading policy and are familiar with the requirements as well as authorize their child to become a cheerleader if selected.
• Once your season is in session, cheerleading must take priority over all other extra curricular activities, for the entire time of commitment (games/practices/tumbling classes/competitions).

GENERAL RULES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Promote good sportsmanship at all times.
• Show a willing attitude to work and to be instructed by coaches.
• Use of appropriate language at practices, games, or competitions.
• Be an active listener and accept constructive criticism.
• Cooperate fully with squad and coaches to create and modify cheer material.
• No public display of affection.

TRYOUTS

• Private 3-5 day clinics are mandatory. Each girl must have signed forms turned in to tryout.
• Wear dark shorts, plain white t-shirts, hair up, and tennis shoes to clinics.
• Squads will consist of 8 members.
• Coaches will decide if a candidate can be selected for more than one season.
• Selection may be based on, but not limited to; areas of performance, character, creativity, ability, and neatness.
• ALL DECISIONS MADE BY COACHES ARE FINAL AND WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED WITH ANY PARENTS OR CHEERLEADERS.

APPEARANCE

• The regulation uniform is to be worn at all performances.  The uniform may include: shell top, bodysuit, skirt, socks, shoes, hair bow, poms, warm ups, spankies, and for competition-hair pieces.
• Uniforms are to be worn ONLY at games, pep rallies, competitions, or on specific spirit/game days.  This includes warm-ups.
• Uniforms must be cleaned and returned at a date specified by coaches.  If uniform is damaged, cheerleader is responsible for the replacement of the uniform.
• Cheerleaders are required to purchase shoes, socks, bodysuits, spankies, sports bras, hair pieces, bows, or andy other clothing determined necessary.
• Bra straps must be pinned so that they are not seen.
• Hair is to be in a ponytail and away from the face for all performances.  If hair is too short for a ponytail, hair must be pinned back and sprayed so that hair is out of face.
• If hair in not high enough on top of the head, we will have the cheerleader re-do her ponytail to make it high enough, even if the cheerleader already has a hair piece sewn in.
• Colored hair must be of a tasteful color-no rainbow colors!
• Make-up must be natural and not excessive.  Only clear nail polish is permitted.
• No jewelry may be worn during any performance OR practice-including: any earrings, belly rings, facial jewelry (nose, lip, tongue, brow), watches, bracelets (including baller bands), or rings.
• Cheerleaders will not be reminded to remove these items and should come to performances/practices with the items already remove. Consequences will be issued to cheerleaders who need to be reminded.
• For competition-cheer shoes may NOT be worn outside.

PRACTICES

• A schedule will be given at the beginning of the season.  All efforts will be made by coaches to adhere to this schedule.  All events on this schedule are MANDATORY. A coach must be present at all practices.  Squads cannot practice anywhere, anytime, without the supervision of a coach.
• Cheerleaders MUST ARRIVE ON TIME (if not early to stretch) and wear appropriate clothing (shorts, T-shirt, NO jewelry, hair up, wearing cheer shoes). NO sports bras or spaghetti strap tops.
• Practices are closed to parents/friends unless otherwise noted by coaches.
• Attitude at practices should always be positive.  Do not bring your personal problems with you to praces, games, or competitions.
• No eating food or chewing gum is permitted.  Drinks should be limited to water or sports drinks only... NO POP! We usually practice in the auditorium and drinks must be left in the hallway... NO DRINKS at all are allowed in the auditorium.
• ALL CELLPHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING PRACTICES. If there is an emergency and parents need to reach a member of the squad they should contact a coach to deliver the message.

ABSENCES

• Students who are absent from school are not permitted to participate in after school events according to O.H.S.A.A.
• No cheerleader may leave early for any other extra curricular activity or other activity unless previous permission has been awarded by coaches.
• Coaches must be notified ahead of time if you must miss a practice.  If not, consequences will be enforced.
• Cheerleaders who miss practice, even with a medical excuse, are expected to learn the material that was missed BEFORE the next practice.  If not, the cheerleader can be benched during a performance.
• Cheerleaders who go home early due to illness must contact a coach.  Messages should not be relayed through other squad members.
• If a cheerleader receives a medical excuse from a doctor saying they cannot participate, they must have a medical release in order to participate again.
• Injured cheerleaders will be evaluated by a trainer and the extent of participation will be determined by coaches, not cheerleaders or parents.

GAMES AND PERFORMANCES

• All games and competitions are MANDATORY.  Arrive dressed in complete uniform, hair done, make-up applied, and ready to cheer. Decisions on what to wear to school on game days or days before competitions will be determined by squad AND coaches.
• Coaches will determine arrival time to games. Tardiness will result in a consequence.
• Squads are to maintain enthusiasm the entire game/performance.  If a cheerleader is not performing to the best of her ability, they may be issued a consequence.  Cheerleaders should not have to be prompted to begin a chant or cheer.
• During games/performances, cheerleaders will refrain from socializing with parents and friends in the stands as well as other squad members.  Horseplay and goofing off will not be tolerated.
• Squads should return to the field or court one minute prior to second half of game.
• Before and after games and competitions, cheerleaders are to remain in uniform and sit together as a squad.

TRANSPORTATION

• Cheerleaders must ride bus to all games and follow all the bus rules.
• For competition, parents will carpool-a cheerleader must be in a vehicle with their parents unless given permission to ride with another adult.
• Cheerleaders who miss the bus or carpool will not be permitted to attend the game or performance and will sit for the next game or performance.
• Dismissal form must be signed by parent or guardian BEFORE leaving an away OR home game. Cheerleaders may ONLY leave an away game with OWN parent or guardian. NO friends or friends parents are allowed to sign a cheerleader out.
• Coach should be notified in advance (with a written note) if you will be riding home with a parent.

COMPETITION

• We hold competiton tryouts along with football and basketball cheerleading.
• Squad will consist of 10-24 members. 
• Cheerleaders on this squad are required to fundraise for uniforms, bows, hair, spankies, shoes, competition fees, dance instructor, music to be made, and more. 
• Each member of this squad is required to attend a MANDATORY tumbling class at Premier athletics each week. This class must be paid for at the begininning of each month by the responsibility of each competition cheerleader or consequences will be made.
• If a member of the squad quits the competion team after making the squad, they will not be able to make the competiton team the following year. Each member of the competition team relies on eachother to keep the routine the same with no changes. It is also not fair for the girls who tried out for the team and did not make it.
• Competion Cheerleading is a priority- it comes before other competition cheer and dance teams, along with other extra-curricular activites.

CAMP

• Cheer camp is highly encouraged and all camp fees are the responsibility of the cheerleaders.
• If not attending camp for any reason, cheerleader is responsible to learn all material learned at camp prior to their season.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• If a cheerleader is removed from the team or chooses to quit the team, the cheerleader WILL NOT be refunded for any expenses or participation fees.
• GOOD COMMUNICATION WILL BE EXPECTED BETWEEN PARENTS, CHEERLEADERS, AND COACHES.  IF A PROBLEM ARISES, PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT THE COACH FIRST IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE IT.  UNRESOLVED ISSUES WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BY THE COACH. PARENTS SHOULD NEVER CONTACT THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL, OR SUPERINTENDENT, WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING THE COACH.

XI. DISCIPLINE AND CONSEQUENCES

• Each case of discipline will be judged individually.  The coaches, with the assistance of the school administration, if necessary, have the final decision in any discipline situation.
• Coaches will determine if a cheerleader does not cheer at an event.
• If a cheerleader is benched for and event, they must sit in uniform with coach for the entire performance.  Being benched for 2 entire games or 2 competitions may result in dismissal from the squad.
• With each discipline action that needs to be taken, the coach will determine what is necessary.

Consequences of tardiness to practice/tumbling/games/performances

5-15 min.=5 laps or stair climbs, 20 push ups, 50 crunches

15-30 min.=above plus benched 1/4 game

40-45 min.=above plus benched 1/2 game

45+min.=above plus benched entire game.

Any violation of team expectations may result in consequence. Violations include (not limited to)...

Uniform neglect, Personal appearance, Attendance, Personal conduct, and other violations determinded by coach.