1. grade cheerleaders, fourteen (14) cheerleaders, (4) male cheerleaders maximum.
2. Any time the cheerleaders are performing at a school sponsored event and there are over 24 participating, two designated employees must be present.
3. At any time the cheerleaders travel under the authority of the Ocean Springs School District, they must have secured the proper trip authorizations.

Competition Squad

In balancing the need for maximum participation in the sport of cheerleading and the need for supervision and safety, the following policy shall apply to the Competition Squad:

1. The Competition Squad will consist of 9th-12th graders.
2. Members will be selected by the cheer coaches.
3. The number of girls on the Competition Squad will be determined by the coach.

4. Any time the cheerleaders are performing at a school sponsored event and there are over 24 participating, two designated employees must be present.

5. At any time the cheerleaders travel under the authority of the Ocean Springs School District, they must have secured the proper trip authorizations.

All squads will adhere to the following rules and procedures:

Duties

1. All cheerleaders will be expected to attend all practices called by the sponsor.
2. All cheerleaders will be expected to dress for practice in appropriate clothing.
3. All cheerleaders will be expected to participate in all fund raisers for their respective squad.
4. Any extra activities, work, or sports must NOT interfere with cheering at games, practices, or any assigned activities.

 
Attendance

1. Any cheerleader absent from the practice immediately preceding a game/pep rally will not be able to cheer at the game/pep rally.
2. Absences will be excused for the following reasons and must be accompanied by a note explaining why the absence occurred:
   1. death in the immediate family
   2. illness - doctor’s excuse
   3. wedding in the immediate family
   4. sponsor’s discretion (i.e. death of friend)
3. Any cheerleader who is not present for a majority of the academic day on the day of a game or, if the game is on a weekend, the school day immediately preceding game day, will not be permitted to participate in cheering at the game(s).  Administrative absences granted during the school day ends at 3:00 p.m. – cheerleaders must participate in required activities after 3:00 p.m.

Transportation

1. All cheerleaders must ride as a squad on the bus made available by the school to away games.
2. All cheerleaders must provide their own transportation to home games.
3. Failure to be on time for a game will result in the cheerleader being benched for the first-quarter of that game.

Conduct

1. A cheerleader should always be on his/her best behavior at school or away from school.
2. Cheerleaders must be able to cooperate with each other, their captain and co-captains, their faculty, and their sponsor.
3. A cheerleader should not sit or talk to dates, friends, etc. during games.
4. Any disagreements during the game will be settled by the captain/co-captain and the sponsor at an appropriate time.
5. Eating food, drinking soft drinks, or chewing gum will not allowed during the games or at practice.

Appearance

1. Uniforms must be clean and neat whenever worn.
2. It will be the responsibility of EACH individual to find out what uniform will be worn prior to a game, pep rally, etc.
3. Hair must be worn out of the eyes and away from the face.  For the purpose of safety, no jewelry may be worn during games, pep rallies, practices, or special cheering events.  At all other times when in uniform, jewelry must be kept to a minimum so as not to distract from the uniform. The sponsor will make the judgment as to what is excessive.
4. Outerwear for inclement weather is considered part of the uniform and all squad members must wear if directed to do so as a squad.

Demerits

1. Undignified behavior while in uniform – consequences decided by sponsor with the advice of the principal.
2. Undignified Behavior Out of Uniform and/or ISI or OSS - cannot cheer at game or will receive up to 5 demerits.  Sponsor with the advice of the principal can choose based upon severity of infraction.
3. Being late for or leaving early from a practice or a game – 2 demerits.  Being more than 30 minutes late or leaving more than 30 minutes early from practice or a game - 2 demerits.  Being less than 30 minutes late or leaving less than 30 minutes early from practice or a game - 1 demerit.
4. Late from half-time break - 1 demerit
5. NOT present at a performance or required function - 5 demerits. (A boy’s game and a girl’s varsity basketball game are considered two separate performances.)
6. NOT present at a practice - 3 demerits.
7. Failure to participate in a fundraiser - 3 demerits.  The importance of participation in fund raisers to the cheerleading program can no t be over emphasized.  The cheerleader and the parent are encouraged to assist the program as much as possible.  The size and type of the fund raiser may vary from time to time.  Failure to participate in a fund raiser will result in a review by the sponsor and the administrator on a case by case basis.
8. Once a member has 5 demerits he/she will be on probation and will sit out the first quarter of the next game.  Once a cheerleader has 10 demerits, he/she will sit out for two quarters. Once a cheerleader has 15 demerits, he/she will sit out for the entire game.  If the cheerleader reaches the maximum number of 20 demerits he/she will no longer be a member of the squad.  Should a cheerleader be dismissed from the squad or voluntarily leave the squad during the year; he/she will automatically be disqualified from trying out for the next year.

Cheerleaders Booster Club

1. The funds raised by the Ocean Springs Cheerleaders Booster must be maintained under the auspices of the High School in compliance with all directives of the Ocean Springs School District Business Office.
2. The designated parent who handles money for the Booster Club shall be bonded at their own expense.

The following sample may be used to verify receipt of constitution and/or cheerleader selection procedures.

I,__________________________have read the constitution and agree to comply with the guidelines it contains should I make the cheerleading squad.  I understand that if I do not uphold my part of the responsibilities of being an Ocean Springs High School Cheerleader that it could result in my dismissal from the squad.  I have shown the constitution to my parents/guardians and their signatures are below.

Parent/Guardian______________________________________        Date______________________

Parent/Guardian______________________________________        Date______________________

ADOPTED:    07/19/2005

REVISED:     03/13/2007
                      04/13/2010