• All cheerleaders must be a student in good standing and attend 6th , 7th or 8th grade at  Parkway South or Southwest Middle School starting Aug 2021.
• All cheerleaders will cheer at home and away games. Cheerleaders will participate in half-time performances where determined appropriate by the parent rep.
• Parents are expected to attend all games if their daughter has any medical issues as we are only volunteers and there is no medical personnel at the games.
• Cheerleaders are responsible for arranging their own transportation to camps, practices, to home and away games, etc.
• Practices are  mandatory to  be eligible to cheer in games. 
• Cheerleaders are  expected to  attend all games.
• Cheerleaders who are ineligible to cheer at a game because of being "benched" or an injury are required to come to games in uniform and sit in a location specified by the parent rep and not with friends, parents or other fans. Injured or “benched” cheerleaders are still expected to attend all practices and games in the appropriate uniform.
• Friends of cheerleaders are NOT allowed to sit with or by any cheerleaders or in the cheerleader section/area during games as this can cause a distraction. Friends of cheerleaders are NOT allowed to wear any part of the Jr Patriot Cheer uniform (including the hoodie).
  
• School suspensions (in-school and out-of-school) must be self-reported to the parent rep. Suspension from school will result in disciplinary action ranging from benching to removal from the squad. If a cheerleader does not self-report and the parent rep. is made aware of the suspension by other means, severe disciplinary action will occur, up to and including spension and/or removal from the team.
• Bullying of any kind, cyber, mental or physical, will not be tolerated while a member of Jr. Patriot Cheer. Any type of bullying will be dealt with on individual basis and will result in disciplinary action which could include removal from the squad.
• Cheerleaders who miss learning new material at practices are required to learn that new material as soon as possible after the missed practice. Squad practice time will not be used to cover missed elements for individual cheerleaders. Cheerleaders must demonstrate that they have mastered the cheer or skill before they will be allowed to perform at games.
• Any cheerleader wishing to participate in another sport or activity must realize that cheerleading practices and games come first! 
  • The parent rep reserves the right to “bench” a cheerleader with one unexcused absence from practice and/or a game. An unexcused absence includes missing a practice or game due to attendance at another sporting event instead of any cheer events. Unexcused absences will result in benching.
• During the cheer season, cheerleaders must have natural hair colors (hi-lights, low-lights and natural color are allowed.) No cheerleader will be allowed to cheer if their hair is fully or partially dyed unnatural colors including, but not limited to pink, purple, green, blue or orange.
• The following items need to be kept in your cheer bag at all times. If we decide to  wear any of these items and your daughter doesn't have them, she will not be able to cheer.
  
  • Uniform (shell, midi, skirt and briefs)
  • Bow
  • Poms
  • Jacket and leggings
    
  • Extra hair ties and socks
    
  • Bottle of water
  • Shoes
    
• Parent reps. and the Program Chairperson reserve the right to remove cheerleaders from the squad who are in violation of the rules, behavior expectations, the code of conduct and/or the social networking agreement.

Cheerleaders are expected to cooperate with parent reps and volunteers, cooperate with and support fellow cheerleaders, implement suggestions, and work with everyone to resolve issues. All parent reps should be treated with the same regards and respect as teachers and classmates. Should a conflict arise, every attempt will be made to counsel the cheerleader. However, if further steps are needed, parents will be contacted. 

As a representative of your school and the Jr. Patriots Cheer program, cheerleaders are expected to be good role models both during and outside of Jr. Patriots Cheer activities. A cheerleader may be benched for one or more games for actions witnessed by any member of the Jr. Patriots Cheer program that include, but are not limited to: 

• Actions unbecoming to a Jr. Patriots Cheerleader (including school discipline actions)
  
• Disruptions, including excessive talking or disrespecting parent reps during practices and/or games
• Being out of uniform and/or missing required uniform pieces or accessories
• Unexcused absence from a practice or game (this includes missing a practice or game to play another sport)
• A missed Practice or game without  notifying the Parent Rep will result in automatic benching of the next  game.
• Violation of the Social Networking Agreement or any other portion of the Code of Conduct 

If a cheerleader is benched repeatedly for similar behaviors, it may result in removal from the Jr. Patriots Cheer program. Parent reps reserve the right to bench girls when and where they feel it is appropriate; it may not always fall on the next game date.

The Code of Conduct is a contract which covers the expectations of the cheerleaders, parents, guardians and volunteers with the Jr. Patriots Cheer program. Since this is a developmental league, expectations will be higher than what is typically required in a recreational league. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may lead to discipline and/or possible termination of membership as deemed necessary by the Jr. Patriots Cheer program. Termination of membership does NOT relinquish financial obligation to the program/squad. All cheerleaders, parents, guardians and volunteers must agree to the rules and conditions set forth in the Code of Conducts as part of registration to the program. It is the responsibility of all cheerleaders, parents, guardians and volunteers to be familiar with the guidelines set forth in the Code of Conducts at all times. Specific code of conducts can be reviewed at any time during the season, which includes having to resign the contract, as deemed necessary by any Parent Rep. and/or the Program Coordinator.

Please see the individual tabs above for the corresponding Code of Conducts.

Basic cheerleading skills are taught beginning in the 6^th grade and are intended to be the foundation for further skill building during the 7^th and 8^th grade seasons following specific safety guidelines. There will be no stunting during 6^th grade. Stunting will only be introduced and performed in 7^th and 8^th grades AFTER all other skills are mastered by every squad member (i.e. cheers, jumps, motions, facials, etc.) and at the discretion of the Parent Rep. Cheerleaders with prior cheer, gymnastics or tumbling experience may be allowed to use their skills at the discretion of the Parent reps and must  be accompanied with a note from the parent  giving permsision to  perform the specific  skills outlined.