Canton Chiefs Cheerleading

Tryouts

1. When are tryouts?

   Football season cheer tryouts are usually held the 2nd week in May each year.

   
   

   Competitive cheer tryouts are held the 2nd week in November.
   

2. How many girls will make the team?

   Canton Cheer never sets a number because the philosophy is quality over quantity. The numbers are usually 10-12 on Freshman, 14-16 on JV, and 18-24 on Varsity but that isn't to say that more or less will make it.

3. What grades are allowed to make each team?

   The Freshman team is comprised of only 9th graders, JV can have 9th-11th graders, and Varsity 10th-12th grade. Freshman cannot make Varsity during football season, but they can during competitive season.
   

4. Why don't you take freshman on Varsity during football season?

   As a coaching staff, we feel that being a freshman and trying to adjust to a new school, new surroundings and a new school workload, it is best that during football season they are able to do so by either cheering on the Freshman or JV teams. Also, it allows for them to fix any issues with motions, tumbling, etc. before they get to the Varsity level. During competitive season freshman are able to be on Varsity.
   

5. What is being judged at tryouts?

   Motions (Chants, fight song, jumps): 

   There are lots of factors that go into great motions.  The first of those is motions must be CLEAN.  That means no broken wrists, no thumbs sticking out, the correct “O”’s showing at all times, and correct claps.  Second is having correct motion placement. Once in the right spot the motion must be “stuck”.  Sticking motions means they don’t wobble but stay stationary and are not too wide or narrow.

    

   Jumps (Toe Touch & Herkie): 

   There is no jump height requirement, but the higher the jumps the better.  Technique, no matter what your leg strength, can always be perfect.  This includes motions before, during, and after the actual jump, as well as the timing of the jump.  Finally the position of the jump in the air falls into the category of technique.  Pointed toes, straight legs, etc.

    

   Flexibility Skills:

   
   

   Splits:

   Perfect Splits are flat to the floor, on the correct counts, and with clean and correct motions all the way through.  The knuckles should be on the ground, not flat hands, knees straight, and should have the ability to perform them with a smile and not look uncomfortable.  Pointed toes!!!

    

   Heel stretches: 

   Like jumps, regardless of leg height, motions during the heel stretch can be perfect, even if your leg is not.  Concentrate on placement of your arm, and tightness.   Toes should be pointed.  Legs should snap down and not just placed at the end of the skill.  To get points for the heel stretch, you must grab your foot not your ankle.  If you cannot kick it up, then pull it up, but realize there will be a point deduction.

    

   Voice/Facials: 

   Has a clear understanding of tempo, pitch, volume, and inflection.  Has conscious control of facial expressions at the same time while is moving the rest of your body.  Does not look afraid, but has a natural confidence and don’t forget to smile!

    

   Tumbling: 

   Each participant can decide whether or not to perform the tumbling skills listed.  If the participant chooses to perform a tumbling skill, and that skill does not go or you perform it with a spotter, only a portion of or no points will be awarded.  Just because you perform a tumbling skill does not mean that you will get the maximum amount of points. Listed below are the tumbling skills that can be performed:

    

   -Back Walkover

   -Back Handspring

   -Back Tuck

   -Tumbling Pass (round off  backhandspring, roundoff backhandspring tuck, etc.) 

    

   All of these skills need to be warmed up prior to trying out!! Please do not try to perform a skill that you are not comfortable with doing!! Cheerleading is about SAFETY!

    

   
   

6. What do I wear to tryouts?

   Tryout attire will consist of black or red shorts and a plain white t-shirt or tank top. Sports bras must be worn. A white or red ribbon may be worn in hair. Cheer/athletic shoes and no-show socks are required. No jewelry may be worn. All piercings must be removed.

Sideline (Football and Basketball) Cheer

1. What is sideline cheerleading?

   Sideline Cheer is the Fall portion of our cheerleading program. Girls are expected to attend all practices, team tumbling, all home football games, as well as any other team functions.

   
   

    

   Though sideline cheer is not an official MHSAA sport, it is exceptionally athletic. Our fall cheer season is devoted to acquiring incredible stunts, jumps, flexibility, and tumbling skills that we use to pump up our crowd at football games. The summer and fall season are also heavily devoted to conditioning to ensure that all of our athletes are in tip-top shape to perform these skills. Faces, voices, excitement, presence, and great motions are extremely important for excellent sideline cheerleaders and will be emphasized during this season.

   
   

2. What is the time commitment during football season?

   Usually practices will be twice a week in the evenings, and gymnastics will be one night a week during the evening as well. Football games will either be on a Thursday (Freshman/JV) or Friday (Varsity) nights.
   

3. Do the teams attend summer camp?

   Yes. During the summer the Freshman, JV and Varsity teams attend Champion Cheerleading camp which traditionally falls in mid to end July, early August. The Varsity team goes to "Beast" camp while the Freshman and JV teams attend "Classic" camp. Attendance at camp is strongly encouraged because it is a great learning and team bonding experience as well as a lot of fun!! All of the skills that are used during the season will be learned from camp and summer practices.
   

4. How many basketball games will the teams cheer at?

   Since basketball and competitive cheer season run at the same time, the girls will only cheer at a few home basketball games, while most of the time will be spent preparing for competitions.
   

5. What are the requirements for earning your Varsity Letter?

   Requirements for Earning a Varsity Letter or Sub-Varsity Certificate:

    

   1. Must fully participate in 8 out of the 9 scheduled games for the season at the team level.

    

   2. Complete the season as a team member in good standing.

    

   3. Return all uniforms and equipment in good condition.

    

   4. Have no outstanding debts owed to the cheer account.

    

    

Competitive Cheer

1. What is competitive cheerleading?

   In 1994, the Michigan High School Athletic Association voted to make Girls Competitive Cheer an official Michigan sport. Since that time, Competitive Cheer had evolved into the fastest growing female sport in the State of Michigan.

    

   Each competitive team around the state competes in 4-12 competitions a year before heading to the district tournament (Varsity). The top four teams from each district advance to Regional Finals and then the top four teams from there advance to State Finals.

    

   The Varsity team competes in 10-12 competitions each season, usually begining in late December or early January.

   
   

   For more information on competitive cheer, visit: http://www.cantoncheerleading.com/competitivecheerinfo.htm
   

2. What is the time commitment during competitive season?

   The competitive teams practice 5 nights a week with competitions on Saturdays. They also attend league meets on Wednesday nights.
   

3. What are the tumbling requirements for making JV & Varsity Competitive Teams?

   Varsity

   - Solid back walkover

   - Solid back handspring

   - Standing back tuck (w/ one spot)

    

   JV

   - Solid back walkover

   (if you do not have this skill you are still eligible to make the JV team as an alternate until you aquire the skill)

Boosters (CCBC)

1. What is the CCBC?

   All parents of Canton Cheerleaders are considered part of our boosters organization.The Canton Cheer Booster Club does not require any membership fees. All parents are requested to attend the meetings. We consider all input valuable and appreciate any ideas that you may have. We also need volunteers to help in the many projects that we have throughout the season. Even a few hours of your time can be very helpful.
   

    

2. When are booster meetings?

   Booster meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM in Room 121 in Canton High School.
   

3. What are the parent expectations?

    

   1. Follow the guidelines established in theParent-Coach Communication Guide.

    

   2. Participate in the cheer program by volunteeringfor various committees.

    

   3. Understand that by volunteering you do not have anyexpectation of personal benefit. It will not promote your athlete’s standing inthe program. Athletes themselves earn their position through hard work.

    

   4. Realize that team levels are established by abilitynot age. The freshman team is the exception. This team is based on ability andage. As a general guide, the Varsity Team may be comprised of 10-12 gradeathletes. The JV Team may be comprised of 9-11 grade athletes and the FreshmanTeam will consist of 9th graders only.

    

   5. If you have a concern it is your responsibility toaddress it with your team coach. Do not ask others to do it for you. It is nottheir issue. Your best source of information is the coach.

    

   6. Communications between the coach and parent arejust that-between the coach and a parent. These communications do not impactthe athlete/coach relationship. Do not share private communications withothers.

    

   7. The purpose of the Cheer Booster Club is to giveparents a positive way to support the program through volunteering on variouscommittees.  All plans must be approvedby the coaching staff.

    

   8. The best way tosupport your athlete is to support the program and coaching staff. Athletesbring their attitudes from home. If a parent is negative, demeans the abilityof other athletes and questions the authority of the coach, the athlete willmirror this. Negative begets negative, positive begets positive.

    

   9. Do not compare your athlete to others. Celebratetheir accomplishments and applaud the achievements of others.

    

   10. Let the athletescheer, let the coaches coach, let the parents be positive. Remember that thisis not about you or your individual athletes; it is about the team and ALL thegirls on it. The coaches are in charge of developing and implementing theprogram. The parents should help in ways that make it easier for the coaches tofocus on coaching the teams.

    

    

    

   
   

4. What are the fundraising policies?

   1. Opportunities for individual credit may be available to offset some of the expense for theindividual.

    

   2. Team fundraisers are to fund things that will directly benefit the program.

    

   3. No fundraising may take place without permission of the booster club.

    

   4. No funds are spent without the consent of the coach.

    

   5. For individual opportunities for credit, the funds go directly into the Canton Cheer account. Each team member has a personal fund record kept by the booster club treasurer.If the team member leaves the team before spending the funds on camps orclothing, the funds become property of the cheer program.

    

   Team fundraising efforts are mandatory.  Individuals that do not participate in teamfundraisers will be charged for their fundraising obligation on each event.This will be calculated either on a set amount or based on the total amount earned per individual that participated in the fundraiser, depending on the nature of the fundraiser itself.