Dear Air Capital Spirit All Stars and Parents,

Welcome and thank you for being a part of our program.  We are excited about this new year and are pumped for the new upgrades that are underway. We would like you to know that we are making every effort to make a program of excellence and quality. In this new competitive year, there will be changes and expectations that will be necessary in order to enhance the quality of this program. As you already know, Non-Competitive Novice teams have been introduced for future growth of the All-Star program. In the following handbook we hope to answer most of your questions for the coming year. Please take careful consideration to the handbook in that it will give expectations and rules that must be followed in order for our teams to be prepared for the competitions they will attend. This year the expectations are higher, and we want to see each All-Star continue to excel throughout the year. This sport, and make no doubt this is an athletic event, is highly demanding and the coaches are prepared to see the program grow in all aspects, and this includes the discipline and management of the individual participants. The staff, for the Air Capital Spirit teams are under great conviction to make a difference in the lives of the participants at any level, and have high hopes for the year. Please remember that this year is a team effort and we will all be responsible for its outcome. I know and have the utmost confidence that we are in route to becoming the premier All-Star Cheerleading program in the surrounding area. Thank you for your support and dedication.

 Sincerely,

 Cheerleading Program Director
Blaine Huslig

Air Capital Spirit

Handbook

2007-08

Can I be a Middle/High school cheerleader and do All-Star Cheerleading

Absolutely! School cheer is a great avenue for learning how to truly cheer for a team and lead school spirit.  We try to support our kids doing both as much as possible. There are times when All-Star Competitions and practices must be a priority. We want to be balanced and flexible as much as possible in this situation. Communication is key.  We want to see our All-Stars as the cheerleaders for their individual schools, and we want to train them to better their school cheer as well.

All-Star time demands

The average time an All-star will spend in the gym will be eight and half hours per week. This amount of time is very limiting given the amount of categories that an all-star will practice on and compete. Compared to other sports with similar types of demands, all-star cheerleaders practice very little. The average gymnast or dancer will dedicate 15 to 20 hours per week in order to get to the level to compete. We do support school and religious events first; however, missing practice because of homework is not excused. We ask that homework be worked out around practice and competitions. With good organization on your part, we can have a wonderful year of competition. 

Practice Times:
April 2008
             Monday            6:00-8:30pm
             Wednesday       6:00-8:30pm
             Saturday           10:00-12:30pm

Attendance

Practice and competitions are a mandatory attendance situation. Most appearances and fundraising events will be considered a mandatory event. We do recognize that people have things come up, and we, through communication, will do what is necessary to make the situation as smooth as possible. There are certain events that warrant excusable. These are:

            Contagious illnesses
            Death in the family
            Graded school events

Please realize that once you are an all-star you commit to an athletic event that is extremely physically demanding, very time demanding, and very team oriented. We trust that you will take your role as a team member as serious as we do. Coaches, participants, and parents are all considered a part of the teams, so lets be there for each other. Any other situations that regard attendance or absence will need to be presented to the Cheer Director.

Absences

Please report any upcoming absences at least two weeks prior to the absence. Any time an absence occurs without the proper notice the absence will not be excused. Missing practice during the competition season will jeopardize your spot in the routine if not the team. Please make careful consideration if you must not attend practice during this time. Tardiness will also have repercussions. The first two offenses will be given a warning, after the third offense it will be considered an unexcused absence. Each participant will be given three unexcused absences. The first will receive a warning. The second offense there will be a participant/ coach meeting. The third offence will be a parent/coach meeting. Any more unexcused absences will warrant termination from all-star status. See Cheer Director for further explanation in these matters.

All Star Tumbling

This is a new added hour of practice time to the all-star program. We are excited about these tumbling classes. As you may know, tumbling has a very important role in all-star cheerleading. Competitions are structured around this very discipline. With this in consideration, we have created special all-star tumbling classes that will last the whole year, in order to continue the participants tumbling skills through the competition season.

Please make efforts to schedule now which class you will attend. This one hour of additional tumbling is mandatory. If you are unable to attend these particular all-star tumbling classes, you may attend one or more of the gymnastic tumbling classes. This gives you six possible times to have one hour of additional tumbling. Any classes that you attend outside of the mandatory hour of tumbling will cost an additional $10 per month. (See pricing list at the end of the handbook.)

All-Star Tumbling Class Times:

Tuesday           5:30-6:30
            Friday              4:30-5:30

Additional classes

Along with the additional tumbling classes we have offered a new class to the gym that will enhance flexibility and strength to all who attend. We are calling this class Stretch/ Core class. This class will mix stretch and Pilates style conditioning. This class has been proven to quickly enhance a persons flexibility and strength in a permanent manner. This class is designed for the dancer, gymnast, and/or cheerleader that wishes to better their core strength and flexibility. Perfect for all levels of conditioning.

SPIRIT CLUB 

Air Capital Spirit Club has a very active parent support group. The purpose is to support the gym, coaches and teams. The spirit club is committed to keeping it fun, organized and exciting for all. There will be a meeting scheduled after tryouts to discuss policies and election of board members. We also prepare for fundraising and the purchase of uniforms and other wear. This program would not have been as successful this season without the enthusiasm and support of our parents.

Communication

Communication is very much a two way street. It is your obligation to stay informed. It is the cheerleader’s obligation to help keep their parents informed. We will use as many avenues as possible to deliver information to the parents in a timely manner. We will make the information available, so please respect our efforts and do your part by listening to or reading the information.

Cheer folders – Each cheerleader has a folder with their name on it in the lobby. The cheerleaders are expected to check it EVERYTIME that they leave the gym and DELIVER the papers that are enclosed to the parents.

E-mail – Please check your e-mail frequently as we will use this method of communication the most. It you’re your duty to keep us informed of address changes. It is much easier for our unpaid volunteers to write one note and mail it than to call every family.

Hotline – We will be setting up a hotline that will be administered by the President of the spirit club. It will be most important during competition season for keeping team members informed as information updates daily or even hourly. When this has been completed we will hand out refrigerator magnets to all team members with the hotline number.

Air Capital Rules and Regulations

Any member may be reviewed for any infractions of these rules. 

Rules and Regulations
1. No smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages or use of drugs. This will warrant immediate dismissal from the squad.
2. Challenging the authority of the coach or person in charge, by student or parent, will be automatic dismissal from the team.
3. Abusive behavior, lying or any other negative form of behavior is grounds for dismissal.
4. Each member will follow all rules and guidelines given by the coach or person in charge.
5. Any negative behavior towards an Air Capital member or to another gym, via any medium (i.e. internet); will result in dismissal from team.

Leadership
1. Each member must be aware that no person has a right to be on Air Capital Spirit. It is a privilege.
2. Each member and parent must be aware of the responsibilities required and the commitment he or she is making to the team.
3. Each member must be willing to cooperate with and be helpful to the coach or any person in charge.
4. Each member must realize the manner in which they conduct themselves while representing Air Capital Spirit or not, directly reflects on the entire squad and coach.
5. Each member will be willing to work hard, take directions and strive for excellence.

Expectations
1. Members will set and maintain the highest examples of behavior.
2. Members will maintain the proper appearance with no extremes in apparel, hair, make-up, piercing or tattoos. Coach’s decision is final.
3. MEMBERS WILL BE ON TIME TO ALL ACTIVITIES!
4. Members will do everything in their power to achieve personal and squad goals.
5. Each member is responsible for finding out any missed information.

Attendance
1. All practice session are mandatory.
2. Members must be on time to practice. Continual tardiness will be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.
3. If an absence must occur, an absence request must be given to the head coach two weeks in advance.
4. Two unexcused absences will warrant disciplinary action, a third will be grounds for dismissal.
5. Continuous failure to be productive at practice is grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.
6. If you are sick or injured, you must still attend practice. You will not be required to participate. You will watch any changes that directly affect you. (This does not pertain to contagious illnesses)

Competitions
1. Members are required to attend all competitions. Arrangements must be made in advanced if a participant will be planning on leaving early.  See cheer director for further directions in this matter.

Safety
1. Jeopardizing the safety of oneself or any other member is grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.
2. During practices, performances, and competitions; gum, candy, and jewelry will not be permitted

Parental Obligations
1. Any negative behavior towards an Air Capital Spirit member, Air Capital gym, Air Capital Spirit staff or to another gym, via any medium, will result in dismissal from team.
2. To make sure your son or daughter is on time and attends all practices and events.
3. Parents are to inform the coach if the student is to be late or absent form practice. Never send information through someone else.
4. Parents are to fulfill any financial obligations on time.
5. Parents are to encourage and support your student to be the best they can be.