Attendance and Practice Policy

Attendance and Practice Policy It is very important that every child attends all practices. Because cheerleading and football are team sports, it is imperative to have all members of the team present for a productive practice. There is also a Safety Concern. Football players learn assignments which can vary depending on the opponent. New plays are also constantly introduced. Not knowing their assignment or plays may increase the risk of injury to the player or teammate. Cheerleading is a team sport where attendance is also critical. Poor attendance diminishes the effectiveness of every single practice, the continuity of coaching and is detrimental to team spirit. When one cheerleader is missing from practice or a game, the girls may not stunt. Because of this, the Hilton Raiders have instituted the following attendance policy: Illnesses are excused absences. However, all practices missed due to illness must be accompanied by a Doctor’s note for the attendance to be considered excused. Also, school or religious functions will be excused. Dance classes, family vacations, other sports and birthday parties are not excused. Your child has made a commitment to be part of a team, and it is important to place that team high on their list of priorities. It is league policy that if a child, football or cheerleading has two (2) missed practices in a week (excused or unexcused), they will not be allowed to participate in that weekend’s game. They are still required to be at the game, in full uniform, to support their team. August Practice- The month of August is critical for the player to learn the fundamentals of football and cheerleading. It is league policy that a football player must have 10 hours of conditioning practice before they can participate in full contact with pads. Also for the month of August if a player has more than four (4) unexcused practices they will have to sit out the first regular season game. In August, if a cheerleader misses five (5) or more practices with an unexcused absence their head coach has the authority to pull them from the first competition of the season. September & October Practice- For the months of September and October if a player has two (2) unexcused practices they will have to sit out the next regular season game. Again, League policy will still not allow a player who has missed two (2) practices in a week to play in that weekend’s game whether excused or unexcused! Tardiness: We understand that life circumstances may occasionally prevent a child from arriving to practice on time. However when a pattern develops it impedes the entire team from practicing effectively. Therefore, our policy states that any player that is >15 min late to practice will be marked as an unexcused absence unless the reason for tardiness involves one of the above excused reasons (i.e. doctors appointment, school activity…) Attendance will be taken by the coaches and collected by the board 15 min after the beginning of practice. Players and cheerleaders must be on the field in full gear required for that day and ready to begin in order to be considered “present”. Practice starts the first week of August.

For the month of August:

Practices will be held Monday- Thursday 6 pm – 8: 30 pm for A/B/C football and Tuesday- Thursday 6-8pm for cheerleading each night until school starts. Flag football and cheer will practice Tuesday-Thursday 6-8 until school starts. Once School Begins:

Practices will be reduced to 3 days per week as follows: A/B/C Football and Cheerleading: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6-8pm Flag Football and Cheer: Tuesday, Thursday 6- 7:30 pm

We do practice in all weather, except lightning and the presence of thunder. Section V Rules requires a 30 minute delay of play with the presence of thunder and lightning. Heat, wind, rain, mud, snow and cold conditions very rarely lead to a cancellation of practice. Any decision to cancel a practice will be made at the field by the President or another board member.

While you are not required to stay and watch practice, please be ready to pick your child up immediately should the weather merit the cancellation of practice. All parents, relatives and siblings must stay off the playing field and remain in designated areas.

It is also very important to have your child to practice on time, and to pick them up on time. The coaches are required to stay until every child has been picked up. In most cases, the coaches are volunteers that have worked a full day at their jobs and are anxious to get home to their family. Please be considerate in picking up your child in a timely manner. . I have read and agree to the Hilton Raider’s attendance policy:

______(Player/Cheerleader signature)

______(Parent/guardian signature)