Parent/Child Handbook to Rockaway Rockets Football and Cheer

Football Cheerleading Addendum to Parent/Child Handbook

1) Cheer Attire – All cheerleaders must have the required attire in order to participate in the football cheerleading program. Cheer attire sizing and ordering shortly after tryouts, typically before the end of May. Due to the extensive set-up required for attire, typically only one order date is available, so parents must make every attempt to attend this date or send someone to place the order on their behalf. The Cheerleading program provides a uniform which typically consists of a shell/jacket and skirt. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing supplemental items considered to be part of the standard cheerleading uniform. The supplemental items for Grades 2 through Grades 8 cost approximately $130 if a cheerleader has no attire items from the previous year. Every attempt is made to maintain consistency in cheer attire requirements year after year to keep incremental costs to a minimum. 2) Practices – mandatory practices usually begin the first week of August and are typically held 4 days per week. Parents are encouraged to take vacation prior to this date. If you know you will be out during August, you should advise your Coordinator immediately. Once the school year begins, mandatory practices are held before each game and during the week at the discretion of the Coordinator. Cheerleaders are expected to arrive on time for practices, generally 30 to 60 minutes before game time (as determined by the Coordinator). Late arrival is considered to be an absence from a portion of the mandatory practice/game. At the discretion of the Squad Coordinator, any cheerleader who is not in attendance for the cheer camp in August may not be included in a stunt group. 3) Pep Rally – a pep rally is held before the beginning of the season, typically the weekend before Labor Day. All cheer squads perform at the pep rally, and attendance is mandatory. 4) Games – Football cheerleaders’ primary role is to cheer the football teams on to victory. Football cheerleaders also perform at halftime of each game. Football games typically begin Labor Day weekend and end sometime before Thanksgiving. Attendance at games is mandatory. Most football games are played on the weekend (Friday night through Sunday); however, occasionally football games are held during the week (Monday through Thursday). Football game schedules are maintained on the website at www.rtrockets.org Football schedules are subject to change; therefore, parents are required to check the website frequently to ensure they are aware of the latest game time and location. 5) Cheer Competition – The MCYFL upper division cheer squads may be invited to participate in a cheer/dance competition toward the end of the season. Additional, mandatory practices may be required to prepare for this competition. Football cheerleaders meeting the eligibility requirements will be permitted to participate (attendance and behavior expectations met, etc.). 6) Uniforms – Uniforms should be washed in cold water with basic laundry detergent that contains no bleach. Stains can be treated with Oxiclean or other standard stain removers that do not contain bleach. If necessary, a non-abrasive brush can be used with the stain remover to remove stubborn stains. Uniforms should be air dried. All uniforms must be cleaned and turned in prior to the awards ceremony. Uniforms are not for sale; parents will be billed for missing uniforms and/or for uniforms returned in unclean condition. 7) Weather Considerations - Football is a sport played in rain or shine. Accordingly, the cheerleaders cheer when the football players are playing. Please call the Recreation Hotline at (973) 983-2853 if you suspect a football game may be cancelled or postponed. If a football game is not cancelled, cheerleaders are required to attend. If a football game is postponed, cheerleaders are expected to attend on the new date/time. 8) Other Activities - Children involved in other activities or sports during the cheer season must inform the Coordinator in August, or as soon as practicable. Football cheerleading is a sport of commitment and dedication. If your child participates in another sport or activity, she should make every effort to make football cheerleading her top priority. An absence of even one girl negatively impacts the entire squad since the choreography of our cheers, dances and stunts are designed to the specific number of girls on each squad.

Visit www.rtrockets.org regularly for schedules and other information.