TRYOUTS :: Winter 19-20

When: Skills Evaluation Day 1: Tuesday, November 12th, 3 pm - 6 pm. Skills Evaluation Day 2: Wednesday, November 13th, 3 pm - 6 pm. Final Evaluation Day 3: Thursday, November 14th, begins at 3 pm. **Team placements will be made at the conclusion of Day 3**

Where: Green Meadow Elementary School

Attire: black T-shirt, black shorts, cheerleading sneakers or other comfortable athletic shoes, hair pulled back out of face in a high ponytail, short unpolished fingernails, and absolutely no jewelry. There is a judging category on appearance; thus, please dress accordingly.

PLEASE BRING: a completed try-out permission form, cheerleader information sheet, your most recent report card, your own water bottle and a healthy snack. There will be limited time to leave the tryout to get food or drink from a machine or water fountain. Sharing drinks is discouraged.

Eligibility: ALL ATHLETES MUST BE CLEARED BY THE HEALTH OFFICE TO PARTICIPATE!! ★ Have an up to date physical on file in the nurse’s office. Please sign up in the health office before tryouts. A current physical is mandatory to have in order to tryout for a team. No physical will result in no participation until the school nurse notifies one of the coaches in writing. ★ MALES must submit Mixed Competition paperwork. ★ Middle School Students must submit all necessary paperwork in order to meet the athletic placement process requirements put forth by NYS. This must be done prior to your participation in tryouts. This process includes: ○ Obtain physical fitness scores from your P.E. teacher. You must meet specified requirements. ○ Consult school nurse for appropriate paperwork regarding the necessary maturity screening that must be completed by your doctor. ○ Check our APP link on our website for more Information. ■ https://sites.google.com/site/devilnationcheer/fall-2017-tryout-information/athletic- placement-process ★ On the first day of try-out clinics students must bring their most recent report card that includes an attendance record. All cheerleaders are expected to maintain 65 or above in every class.

Preparing for Tryouts: Cheerleading is a sport that requires endurance, stamina, strength and flexibility. In order to prepare for tryouts, athletes must stretch and condition during the off season. Enclosed is a suggested pre-season workout. You can supplement the enclosed workout with weight training and interval training. Running or jogging are also helpful to build endurance and stamina.

Review Winter 19-20 Tryout Material on our YouTube channel DevilNation Cheer before November 12th! Material will be posted no later than November 8th. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don’t hesitate to email: [email protected]

Team Expectations DECIDE. COMMIT. SUCCEED. Attendance: Be ON TIME! Be PREPARED! Attend all team functions. Notify coaches ASAP if you are not attending a team function. Cheerleaders will be ineligible for competition if they have more than five unexcused absences.

Academic Standard: PASS all classes. Change for and participate in P.E.

Safety: No Jewelry. No gum! No long and/or artificial nails. Hydrate. Use proper technique. Notify coaches of injury. Fuel your body with proper nutrition.

Conduct: You are a representative of Columbia High School Cheer. Follow all rules set forth in the CHS Code of Conduct. Violators will compromise their participation on the team. Be on time to school. Attend all classes. Be POSITIVE! Be RESPECTFUL! Be APPROPRIATE! NO PDA!

Respect: Every member of both JV and Varsity teams will show respect for themselves, their teammates and all coaches. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.

Attire: Wear team specified attire on days of games and competitions. Take care of your uniform.

Cell Phones: No cell phones during practices, games or competitions. This includes cheerleaders who are benched or sitting with the coach.

Social Media: As a student athlete, you represent the school district and you are expected to portray yourself, your team, your school and the school district in a positive manner at all times. Everything you post is public information – any text or photo placed online is completely out of your control the moment it is placed online – even if you limit access to your site. Information (including pictures, videos, and comments) may be accessible even after you remove it. Once you post a photo or comment on a social networking site, that photo or comment becomes the property of the site and may be searchable even after you remove it. Carefully consider how you want people to perceive you before you give them a chance to misinterpret your information (including pictures, videos, comments and posters). Similar to comments made in person, the Columbia Cheerleading program will not tolerate disrespectful comments and behavior online.

Follow us on social media for the most up to date information! ★ Check out our Website: https://sites.google.com/site/devilnationcheer/ ★ Like us on Facebook: Columbia High School Cheer ★ Follow us on Twitter: @Columbia_Cheer & Instagram: @devilnationcheer

Outside Opportunities

Tumbling Classes :: All Cheerleaders are highly encouraged to attend on a weekly basis. Listed below are some facilities in the area that offer tumbling classes.

Cheer Intensity All- Northeast Institute of World Class Triple Threat Athletics Stars Gymnastics Inc. Gymnastics Academy LLC 14B Commercial Ave. 1237 Central Avenue 630 Columbia Street Ext. 4 Walker Way - Section 1A Albany, New York 12205 Latham, NY 12110 Albany, NY 12205 Colonie, New York 12205 (518) 459-4547 (518) 785-3481 (518) 272-4337 www.northeastgym.com (518) 280-5763 www.cheerintensity.com 3tallstars.com

Schedule :: Winter 19-20

Practices: Practices will be held Monday - Friday at Green Meadow Elementary School, unless otherwise noted. Varsity :: M-F 3 pm – 5:45 pm JV :: Tu, Th, F 3 pm – 5:45 pm M, W 5-7 pm

Cheerleaders are expected to attend every practice for the entire time. There will be a shuttle available to transport cheerleaders to practice but they will need to arrange for a ride home.

If a cheerleader is unable to attend a scheduled practice, game, competition or other event, ALL COACHES MUST BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING (via E-mail or group text) as soon as possible. Cheerleaders will not be eligible to participate on the competitive/performance team if they miss more than five unexcused practices, games and/or competitions.

Games: Games are held on Tuesday and Friday nights. JV games usually begin at 5:30 pm and Varsity usually begins at 7 pm. A finalized game schedule will be provided as soon as it is available.

Important Practice/Event Dates (Tentative) :: Winter 19-20

NOVEMBER November 12-14 :: Tryouts Meet the Coaches Night & Ziti Dinner 7 pm - 11/25

DECEMBER December 7 :: Choreography 9 am - 2 pm December 14 :: Choreography 9 am - 2 pm December 26, 27, 30 :: Practice 9 am - 12 pm

JANUARY January 21-24 :: Regents Week - There will be normally scheduled practices

FEBRUARY February 1 :: Sno-Ball Dance (including set-up in the am prior to Suburban Council Competition) February 8 :: Devil Nation Invitational Set-up (upon return from Raider Rumble) February 9 :: Devil Nation Invitational February 17 - 21 :: Practice 9 am - 12 pm February 29 :: Sectionals

MARCH March 7 :: States (Rochester)

COMPETITION SCHEDULE 19-20 (Tentative)

Sunday, January 19th :: Big Red Rah Rah (Guilderland High School) Saturday, January 25th :: Blue Streak Challenge (Saratoga High School) Sunday, January 26th :: Bethlehem High School Saturday, February 1st :: Suburban Council (Saratoga High School) Saturday, February 8th :: Raider Rumble (Colonie High School) Sunday, February 9th :: Devil Nation Invitational (Columbia High School) Wednesday, February 12th :: Shaker High School (Varsity ONLY) Saturday, February 15th :: Midnight Madness (Schenectady High School) Saturday, February 22nd :: Ballston Spa High School Saturday, February 29th :: Sectionals (Saratoga High School) Saturday, March 7th :: States (RIT)

COLUMBIA BASKETBALL VARSITY SCHEDULE 19-20 (Tentative)

Tuesday, December 3rd :: 7 pm :: Girls v. Shaker Friday, December 6th :: 7 pm :: Girls v. Niskayuna Wednesday, December 11th :: 7 pm :: Boys v. Schenectady Friday, December 13th :: 7 pm :: Boys v. Averill Park Tuesday, February 11th :: 7 pm :: Girls v. Colonie Friday, February 14th :: 7 pm :: Boys v. Shaker SENIOR NIGHT

We will also be cheering at the Wrestling Senior Night - 1/29

COLUMBIA BASKETBALL JUNIOR VARSITY SCHEDULE 19-20 (Tentative)

Tuesday, December 3rd :: 5:30 pm :: Girls v. Shaker Friday, December 6th :: 5:30 pm :: Girls v. Niskayuna Wednesday, December 11th :: 5:30 pm :: Boys v. Schenectady Friday, December 13th :: 5:30 pm :: Boys v. Averill Park Tuesday, February 11th :: 5:30 pm :: Girls v. Colonie Friday, February 14th :: 5:30 pm :: Boys v. Shaker

Tryout Process

The tryout process includes two days of skill evaluation and a final performance tryout. Effort, work ethic, growth mindset, attitude, reliability, communication, commitment, desire to improve and resiliency will be assessed daily.

● November 12 :: Skill Evaluations Day 1:: You will perform skills including motions, stunts, tumbling and jumps. Coaches will evaluate your skill technique, material mastery and provide feedback to all athletes. Prior to Day 1 you will be given video access to learn the tryout material on your own.

● November 13 :: Skill Evaluations Day 2:: The second skill evaluation day will continue technical evaluation of jumps, stunts and tumbling with feedback from the coaches. This will be done at random in small groups. You will be assigned stunt groups and given time to work on performance material and your assigned stunt sequence prior to being assessed. During the evaluation you will perform jumps, standing and running tumbling passes, and a predetermined stunt sequence with your assigned stunt group. The coaches will utilize these scores in the team selection process.

● November 14 :: Final Performance Evaluation :: The final tryout day will include a final performance assessment and formal feedback sessions. Cheerleaders will be selected at random to perform a randomly selected chant, the tryout cheer and the tryout dance with their peers. The performance evaluation will include assessment of material mastery, execution of the material, crowd appeal, voice and overall effect. The coaches will utilize these scores in the team selection process.

● Team Selection :: The coaches will select the Varsity & JV cheerleading team members using the Evaluation Scores, Final Performance Evaluation, the evaluations they made over the entire tryout process and needs of each team.

Tryout Requirements ::

Stunts: During the second day of skill evaluation you are required to perform a predetermined stunt sequence selected by the coaches that meets your current skill level. You can “add on” one stunt element of your choice. This “add on” can include a creative entry, transition, skill that increases the level of difficulty, incorporation of an inversion or dismount. Choose a sequence that will exhibit your group’s best skills. Keep in mind you are being assessed on technique, execution and mastery.

Jumps: You will be expected to do one single jump and a combination quad jump for your evaluation. You may choose to connect a standing tumbling skill to your quad jump as an “add on”. You will be evaluated on appropriate technique and execution.

Cheer: You will learn a new cheer and five chants throughout the process. The tryout cheer and a randomly selected chant will be performed during your final performance evaluation.

Gymnastics: During the skills evaluation you will perform standing and running tumbling passes in a small group. You will be assessed on execution, technique and synchronicity. You should attempt all gymnastics skills that suit your ability level. There is no minimum skill requirement to try-out for cheerleading; however varsity cheerleaders are encouraged to have a minimum of a standing back handspring, with a preference for a standing back tuck.

Dance: You will be taught a short dance which will be evaluated during the final performance. You will be assessed on mastery of choreography, rhythm, technical and performance skills.

In addition to the final performance and skills evaluations, applicants will be scored on the following categories: Effort/Work Ethic Growth Mindset Adaptability Commitment Positive Attitude Sportsmanship Leadership Ability to Follow Rules and Directions.

Since potential candidates include a significant number of females (and a substantially lesser number of males), it should be noted that to be selected, a female must demonstrate sufficient skills in the required partner stunts and tumbling, as shown on the tryout judging scale sheet. However, the coaches will select only the top candidates who show the most significant experience and skills and who will probably far exceed the minimum requirements.

All Cheerleaders are encouraged to attend Tumbling Classes Once the teams have been selected all athletes are highly encouraged to attend on a weekly basis.

Things to Consider Before Trying Out…

“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” -- Vince Lombardi

Commitment: Teams will attend multiple games, cheerleading competitions and other charitable events. Cheerleading must become your first priority in terms of extracurricular activities. Jobs, other clubs, organizations, etc., must be arranged around practice and activities for Cheer. Failure to do so may result in a cheerleader’s removal from a competition team or benching at games.

“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” -- Vince Lombardi

Hard Work and Dedication: Competition seems to become tougher every year so every athlete is expected to put in 100% effort at all practices, games, and competitions. Cheerleaders will practice 5-6 days per week. Saturday practices may be held in order to prepare for cheerleading competitions. Cheerleaders are expected to work on skills both at practice and outside of practice. In addition to games, practices and competition, cheerleaders will be expected to participate at fundraising events and community service events.

Expenses: Upon making a team Cheerleaders will be required to purchase pre-selected cheerleading sneakers, bluies/hot pants, 2 bows, and a warm-up outfit. The approximate expenses are listed below: ● Cheerleading Sneakers: approx. $79 ● Bluies/hot pants: approx $20 ● Bows: approx $25 ● Warm-ups: approx $190 Total: approx. $314 *These items may be reused in future seasons, depending on the condition and availability of each item. *

Combination packages for sneakers and warm-ups will be available at a discounted rate. Order forms for required equipment will be distributed on the first day of tryouts. Payment will be collected following team selection. Payment must be made in full by November 22nd, 2019.

Columbia Cheerleading Try-out Permission Form Winter 19-20

I ______authorize my child ______Parent’s Name Prospective Cheerleader’s Name to try out for the CHS cheerleading team. Upon making the team, I understand that there are financial obligations in order for my cheerleader to participate, totaling approximately $314. This cost covers cheerleading apparel/equipment for the season which my child can keep. I agree to pay this amount in full no later than November 22, 2019.

Signature: ______Date: ______

The coaches use E-mail, GroupMe and social media pages to communicate team information with cheerleaders and parents. Please be sure to fill out all areas of the contact information below.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Cheerleader’s Name: ______Grade: ______Age: ______Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______E-mail: ______

Parent/Guardian #1 Name: ______Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______E-mail: ______

Parent/Guardian #2 Name: ______Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______E-mail: ______

Please list any medical, psychological, or developmental conditions that coaches should be aware of in order to best meet the needs of your child. (Ex. Diabetes, Arthritis, ADD, Depression, Dyslexia, etc.) ______ADVANCE NOTICE OF KNOWN ABSENCES:

Date(s): Reason(s):