2021-2022 Sideline Cheer
Practices (@ Central Office/come in through side door ONLY)
Thursday, March 18th 4-5/OPEN GYM
Wednesday, March 24th 4-6/Try out Clinic
Thursday, March 25th 4-5/Open gym
Wednesday, March 31st 4-6/ Try out Clinic.
Thursday, April 1st 4-5/Open Gym
Tuesday, April 6th 4-6/Try out Clinic
Wednesday, April 7th 4-5/ Try out Clinic
Tryouts:
When: Friday, April 9th, 8:00 AM
Where: @Commerce High School.
Middle School cheerleader candidates can be dropped off and will be picked at 7:30 in the bus lane at CMS to be transported to the high school. We will get middle schoolers back to Middle School when we are finished. They should pack lunch in case we miss school lunch.
What to wear for tryouts:
Anything orange, black or white.
It must be solid prints with no writing.
You can wear Nike shorts, Nike pros, brand logos are okay but no CHS cheer, etc
Bows are not required but strongly encouraged. Returning cheerleaders are not permitted to wear any bow distributed by Tiger Cheer.
Gameday make up is preferred but not required (no glitter).
Masks will be worn until cheerleader candidates enter the gym for try out. Then they can pull down to their chin.
Lipstick should be worn, no flashy red but something that stands out.
Keep in mind cheerleaders will be required to stay to the standard they try out, and some changes will need to be made and are necessary for cheer. Cheerleaders should look the same at tryouts at every cheer event, games, etc.
If parents have any questions or concerns about anything, please feel free to reach out or come to the first tryout practice, and I can answer them.
While we understand there may be questions or concerns about team placements after tryouts, we will not answer any phone calls, emails, social media messages, or any other communication form regarding tryouts until April 19th. Do NOT use personal cell phone numbers to try and discuss tryouts.
Cheerleaders must have a physical on file before coming to the first practice, after making the team!
Commerce Cheerleading Guidelines
Sideline Cheer Team
Being a cheerleader is an honor and a privilege.
It is the purpose of a cheerleader to be a LEADER in the school, to promote school spirit, to develop a sense of good sportsmanship among the students, and to build better relationships between schools during all athletic events. Cheerleaders are cheerleaders for the whole school and all athletic/academic teams.
Selection of Cheerleaders
A student is eligible to tryout for cheerleader if they are enrolled in Commerce ISD and will attend a Commerce ISD School the next school year when the cheerleading applications are made available. Students who are new to CISD will be granted the opportunity to try out for the sideline cheer team at the sponsor’s discretion.
Citizenship requirements shall be interpreted by the sponsor under the general guidelines as follows: Students who have been in DAEP, off school suspension or been in ISS more than twice will not be eligible to try out.
Students who have been removed for the remainder of the year from a CISD cheer team will be ineligible to try out, but they may regain eligibility in subsequent years. Students who have quit a CISD cheer team at any point during the year are ineligible for one year but may also restore eligibility in following years.
Grade Requirements
To be eligible to try out for Tiger Cheer, he or she must meet the following requirements. The student must not have a recorded grade lower than 70 in any course for the preceding grading period. A student may regain eligibility to try out for cheerleading at the three weeks before tryouts if he/she is passing all courses. If a cheerleader candidate fails for any of the two nine weeks during the school year of tryouts, the student will not be eligible to try out to be a cheerleader.
Tryouts
Make-up of Team
High School
The results will be based on a natural score break. The score break will determine the numbers placed on each team. There is no set number for JV or Varsity. Placements will be based on 50% judges scoring and 50% Mrs. Cunningham’s scores.
Middle School
The results will be based on a natural score break. The score break will determine the numbers placed on each team. There is no set number for 7th or 8th grade teams. Placements will be based on 50% judges scoring, 25% Mrs. Cunningham’s scores and 25% Mrs. Vaught’s scores.
High School Only
Cheerleaders who have not cheered before will be required to tryout for JV only. The only exception is if a participant has been on a CHS competition cheer team, then will then be eligible for Varsity. Cheerleaders may move between JV and Varsity based on the needs of each team.
Cheerleaders who make Varsity and do not perform at a Varsity level will be moved down to JV or dismissed at the sponsor’s discretion. Cheerleaders who make JV and who are not performing at a similar level with JV could be dismissed. Cheerleaders will be held responsible for how they perform at tryouts and should improve over the year. For example, if jumps are hyperextended during tryouts, that will be the expectation throughout the season. If candidate tumbles at tryouts they will be expected to have same level of tumbling throughout the year. Sideline cheering is separate from the competition team.
Results
Tryout results will be posted on the Commerce ISD website the evening of tryouts. Cheerleaders who make the 2020-2021 any Commerce ISD cheer team should not involve themselves in ANY negative posts regarding tryouts via social media. Once results have been posted, if you have been selected for a team, you should uphold the standards and leadership of a CISD cheerleader. Please refer to the guidelines for appropriate communication with sponsors regarding placement on teams.
Responsibilities
Payments should be paid on the dates given. Excessive missed payment(s) may result in dismissal from the team without a refund.
All funds must be paid before anything is received. If you do not have camp clothes, you will not participate in camp or be worked into the routines learned.
Being late is unacceptable. When a time is given you are expected to arrive 10-15 minutes early and be ready to start practice prior to the start time. This means: dressed and out of the locker room, hair in ponytail, shoes on and tied, absolutely no jewelry of any kind. To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is unacceptable. If cheerleaders do not drive, parents have to understand it is their responsibility to get cheerleaders to and from practice/games/etc.
Being a cheerleader means being a leader at all times. A poor attitude and disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Drama, attitudes, or any form of disrespect may result in dismissal.
Posts made on any type of social media MUST be appropriate and uphold the social media contract guidelines or could result in dismissal.
Posts made on social media made from parents, grandparents, family or friends in regards to Tiger Cheer should be appropriate and never display poor sportsmanship.
If any cheerleader is dismissed for any reason, expenses are non–refundable. Being dismissed or quitting forfeits your rights to wear ANY Commerce Tiger Cheer apparel.
Remember that children learn by example and parents must be a role model for proper and courteous social interaction at all events and in times of conflict.
Parents MUST wait 24 hours before contacting the sponsor if there is an incident or concern; unless there is a serious injury/incidence. Emotions often run high during a game, practice, or event, and a 24 hour waiting period allows both parties to reflect on the issues at hand.
Appropriate channels of communication: If there is an issue with the sponsor, the cheerleader shall contact the sponsor first via email/text. If the issue is still not resolved, the cheerleader needs to contact the campus principal. If there is still no resolve, a parent conference can be set up. It is essential that cheerleaders take initiative and ownership in any given situation to learn to work out issues on their own.
Being a cheerleader requires you to be in the cheer class period, which is 5th period. Failure to be in the class period will result in dismissal. Missing 3 class periods to sign out and go to doctors appointments will result in 1 strike. While we understand sometimes things come up, we function as a team. Stunts can’t go up with one person missing. Please make doctors appointments after school or over breaks but not in the cheer class period. (HIGH SCHOOL ONLY)
Cheerleaders will cheer at basketball events, send-offs, etc. and any other events assigned. Cheerleading is not over after football season.
This guide is our discipline system. It is not meant to be inclusive of, or exclusive of any situation. If the sponsor deems an offense severe enough, the cheerleader can be removed from the team immediately. Overall dismissal is at the discretion of the sponsor. Being a part of the team is a privilege, not a right.
**Being a sideline cheerleader and being on the competition cheer team are two different things. Making the cheer team does not guarantee a spot on the competition team. The competition team will be selected at the coach's discretion.**
Honorary Cheerleader
Honorary cheerleaders will be permitted to cheer at all home games for the first quarter and 2 pep rallies. Honorary cheer uniform, shoes, and any other expenses needed will be parent responsibility.
HIGH SCHOOL ONLY Information
Cheerleaders will be given a daily work out for the entire summer of things they are supposed to do at home to supplement these workouts. They are required to run 3 miles a week and log it on an app like Nike run. Once you make JV or Varsity cokes, sodas and sugary beverages are strongly discouraged. Cheerleaders who make the competition team are not allowed to drink them so it makes transitioning into competition season easier to start now.
PARENTS: Please help us and be supportive of this. Support them at home and encourage them to do what is asked of them on the work outs, don’t let them cheat, hold them accountable! Please encourage healthy diets! What they put into their bodies is fueling them so please help them make healthy choices and encourage lots of water! We want nothing more but your children to be successful long term and in Tiger Cheer and we want their bodies running at their best!
There will be a required tumbling class once a week in the fall. We will make a decision that is best for our new team on what day of the week.
In the fall we will practice weekly on Wednesdays 4:00-6:00PM.
Payment Plans
Payment plans may vary depending on needs. If you would like to order shoes, backpack, black high waisted shorts, leggings, etc. a link will be sent after fittings for those so you can buy as needed throughout the year. We will offer a fundraiser to work off balances. If you wish to pay the full balance at once that is never an issue. We will give updated balances once teams are set. For a new cheerleader it should be no more than $700. For a returning cheerleader it should be no more than $400. If you were a Middle School cheerleader for 2020-2021, prices will also differ because you will not need everything new. Middle School cheerleaders for 2020-2021 can reuse shoes, backpacks, leggings, midriff sleeves under uniform. If you wish to buy new, those will be purchased through the link provided.
Payment dates:
April 21st- $300
May 19th
June 7th
SCHEDULE
April 21st $300 deposit is due, cash or checks accepted. Checks made to CHS Cheerleading. This is needed to hold cheerleaders spot on the team.
Uniform fitting will be done online, you will be sent the information. It must be completely filled out and done by April 21st however if deposit is not paid your cheerleaders stuff will not be ordered.
NCA home camp will be June 7th-9th from 8AM-4PM. More information will be made available once teams have been made. These are mandatory dates. If you cannot attend you will be removed from the team.
Spring Practice Schedule @ CAB
Wednesday, April 21st 4-6
Wednesday, April 28th 4-6
Wednesday, May 5th 4-6
Wednesday, May 12th 4-6
Wednesday, May 19th 4-6
Wednesday, May 26th 4-6
Summer Practice Schedule @ CAB
Monday, June 7th-9th NCA HOME CAMP
Wednesday, June 23rd 9-12
Wednesday, June 30th 9-12
Wednesday, July 7th 9-12
Wednesday, July 14th 9-12
Wednesday, July 21st 9-12
Wednesday, July 28th 9-12
Wednesday, August 4th 9-12
Tuesday, August 10th 9-12
Wednesday, August 11th 9-12
ALL practices are closed to parents. Parents should not enter the gym unless asked to do so.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY Information
April 21st $200 is due, checks made to CMS Cheerleading. This is needed to hold cheerleaders’ spot on the team.
Uniform fitting will be done online; you will be sent the information. It must be completely filled out and done by April 21st. If a deposit is not paid, your cheerleaders stuff will not be ordered.
Camp will be July 26th-28th @ CAB. This is MANDATORY.
Spring Practice Schedule @ CAB
Wednesday, April 21st 4-6
Wednesday, April 28th 4-6
Wednesday, May 5th 4-6
Wednesday, May 12th 4-6
Wednesday, May 19th 4-6
Wednesday, May 26th 4-6
Summer Practice Schedule @ CAB
Wednesday, June 23rd 12:30-3
Wednesday, June 30th 12:30-3
Wednesday, July 7th 12:30-3
Wednesday, July 14th 12:30-3
Wednesday, July 21st 12:30-3
Wednesday, July 28th 12:30-3
Wednesday, August 4th 12:30-3
Tuesday, August 10th 12:30-3
Wednesday, August 11th 12:30-3
***This is a tentative schedule, things do come up but we will do our best to stick to these days.
ALL practices are closed to parents. Parents should not enter the gym unless asked to do so.
Payment Plans
If you would like to pay all at once, that is never an issue. If there is an issue making payments, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will offer a fundraiser to work off balances.
New Cheerleaders price will include:
Camp
Uniform
Briefs
Leggings
Sleeves
Poms
Back Pack
Nike pro type shorts
(3) t-shirts
Bows (2)
Sweatshirt
Shoes
Payment plans will vary depending on needs. If you would like to order shoes, a backpack or anything needing something new who is a returning cheerleader a link will be sent after fittings for those so you can buy as needed.. We will offer a fundraiser to work off balances. If you wish to pay the full balance at once, that is never an issue. We will give updated balances once teams are set. For a new cheerleader it should be no more than $600. For a returning cheerleader it should be no more than $300.
Payment dates:
April 21st- $200
May 19th
June 7th
If there are any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to make contact. If your child makes a team please send an email to either emails with one parent contact phone number and the cheerleader’s phone number. We will be sending a google form for information after team placements. Please fill these out immediately.
Thank you,
Sawyer Cunningham- Commerce High School
Whitney Vaught- Commerce Middle School
sawyer.colvin@commerceisd.org whitney.vaught@commerceisd.orgPrintable Version:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ij_DmKHEGAmhmAx13GxagadHHdg258p1NrVw_VyxY7I/edit?usp=sharingPaper packets will be available at CHS and CMS front offices 2/5/21
Cheerleader candidates are not required to fill out form and paper packet. Please choose one. Form must be done before March 18th at 3:30, if you are using a paper packet please bring with you to the first practice.
