1. Heritage High School Cheer & Dance
Pre-Tryout Parent/Participant Meeting

2. Welcome! Varsity Cheer Coach: Tatum Garcia
JV Cheer Coaches: Crystal Rice & Allison Cardoza
Dance Coach: Jenny Iniguez
Cheer & Dance (Rally Squad)
Cheer & Dance (Rally Squad) Website:
Here you can find information regarding:
Squad Expectations
Tryouts
Competitions
Camp

3. HHS CHEER & DANCE
PHILOSOPHY/EXPECTATIONS

4. HHS Cheer & Dance Squad Philosophy/Expectations
1. Very different program because we are school affiliated
Our program is year around
Competitive team that also does sidelines, so school spirit and involvement
is expected
You attend school with your teammates, you spend a lot of time together
Age range from 13-18
2. Students First
Cheerleaders & Dancers are expected to attend all classes on time and everyday. Academic achievement is paramount in being a well-rounded and successful student, cheerleader and dancer.
3. Cheerleaders and Dancers
As a cheerleader or dancer you are always expected to be a leader and role model. Having a positive attitude is essential in creating a successful cheer/dance team and achieving individual and team goals.
Whether you are wearing your uniform or in plain clothes everyone knows you are an HHS Cheerleader or Dancer; therefore, you are expected to conduct yourself in a positive manor at all times. You represent Heritage at ALL times!

5. Cheer and dance expectations
Attitude is everything! We are a team first! You are expected to be a positive team member!
Conditioning is essential to being a successful cheerleader or dancer. You are expected to participate in conditioning at cheer/dance practice as well as in your physical education course. (If you have a note for PE then you will not be participating in cheer or dance)
Attend all practices (including summer), games, competitions and other cheer and dance events (mandatory).
Show up to games READY to cheer and wearing the correct uniform. If you are not at school do not expect to participate in cheer or dance practice or games.
Keep up those grades! Your placement on this team affects everyone, we can’t lose people mid season. Tutoring is available if you need it in any subject 

6. Rally Squad Organization
Cheer & Dance are separate
Participants may be on the JV OR Varsity Cheer Teams OR the Dance Team.
You may not be on a Cheer team AND the Dance Team
Members of the JV/Varsity Cheer and Dance Teams will be expected to cheer at games and compete at cheer/dance competitions. There are no separate “game” and “competition” teams. There may be alternate positions where competition is not expected. This will be at the coaches discretion.
Who is eligible to tryout for each team?
All grades levels are eligible for JV and Varsity Cheer and Dance. Members will be determined by skill level and position.

7. Varsity Cheer Cheer Season: “There Is No Off Season”
Squad Requirements
Advanced level stunting
Tumbling isn’t required but highly suggested. Advanced tumbling skills: Standing tucks, layouts, and fulls.
Confident performer, lots of energy.
Flexibility and height in jumps
Ability to condition, run, we are athletes!
Cheer Season: “There Is No Off Season”
April 2016 (tryouts) – April 2017 (banquet)
Varsity Cheer and (possibly) Dance will be attending UCA/UDA Nationals in Orlando FL, Dance: End of January Cheer first week in February 2017
Varsity Cheer and Dance will be attending USA Nationals in Anaheim, March 2017

8. Year long season……you have to love it!!!
“Cheerleading is more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle.” “I can’t I have practice”
Year long season……you have to love it!!!
All practices, home and local
Varsity football and basketball games including playoffs
competitions and rallies
squad fundraisers
Varsity Dance and JV will have a home camp TBA July 2016
Summer Camp – UCA Elite Camp July 16th to the UC Davis
Not mandatory, but strongly encouraged Cost: $450

9. JV Cheer Cheer Season: Cheerleaders will be expected to attend:
April 2016 (tryouts) – Feb 2017
JV will be attending 2-3 USA competitions
Squad Requirements:
Effort level and coach-ability
Previous stunting experience is suggested
Front/back walkovers, back handsprings, and tucks.
Cheerleaders will be expected to attend:
All practices, home and local JV football and basketball games, various other athletic team events, competitions, rallies, squad fundraisers, various squad events
UCA home camp TBA July 2016 $250

10. Dance Team Squad Requirements: Dance Season:
Technique is expected!
Multiple turn sequences, fortes, jumps, and flexibility.
High performance level
Dance Season:
April 2016 (tryouts) – April 2017
UDA Nationals in Florida Jan 2017 and USA Nationals in Anaheim March 2017
Dancers will be expected to attend:
All practices, home and local Varsity football and basketball games, including playoffs, various other athletic team events, competitions, rallies, squad fundraisers, various squad events
Dance Camp UDA home camp(s) Cost: $300

11. Should you decide to purchase
Estimated Cost
Should you decide to purchase
your uniform

12. ESTIMATED COST for NEW CHEERLEADERS (should you choose to purchase)
Please see New Cheerleader & Dancer uniform cost handout for details
We will be paying Varsity directly, you will have your own account to manage. Deadlines will still be in place to make sure you receive items in time for camp, games, and competitions. Items need to be paid for before the order is in process.

13. Uniform Loan program
The Heritage Rally Squad will purchase JV, Varsity and Dance uniforms for you to “borrow” for the season at no cost to you (unless the uniform is damaged) which must be returned to the Heritage Rally Squad in good condition at the end of the season
Does not include camp/practice clothes, shoes, bow or briefs or summer camps
Uniforms will be standard sizes, not custom fit
or see me for details

14. How do we pay for everything? Fundraisers!
We will be participating in as many fundraisers as possible to help offset the following costs
Drought Friendly Car Wash May 7th
Choreography & Clinics
Competition fees
Entry Fees for Nationals
End of Year Banquet
** Anytime we do not have enough funds to cover the costs of the events above we will be asking for donations
Fundraisers include:
PDP Fundraiser (online and through mail)
Fashion Show
Candy Apples
District Showcase

15. Tryout Information

16. Pre-Tryout Cheer & Dance Clinic (Optional)
When:
Saturday, April 9th
Registration/Check-in 8:30am, Clinic 9:00am-12:00pm
Cost - $40.00
What you will learn:
Warm-up/Conditioning techniques
Basic Cheer & Dance motions and drills
Jumps (Cheer)
Turns & Leaps (Dance)
Work with various stunt groups, learn all stunt group positions, learn stunting basics
Tryout Dance – first three 8-counts w/music

17. Tryout Format First Cuts April 11th 13th and 14th 4-6pm HHS MU
Notification of first cuts will be on – Thursday April 14th th
Will be based on our evaluation of specific skills, stunting, tumbling, jumps, cheer and dance.
– April 19th – 21st 4-6pm HHS MU
Run like practices
Will be working with remaining candidates to see appropriate placement. These positions will be based on needs of competition routines.
Final Evaluation on Thursday, April 21st. Final Cut based on our evaluation of stunting, tumbling, jumps, cheer and dance.
Final Squad announcement will be posted on Website.

18. Dance Tryout Expectations
Technique & Showmanship!!!!
Turns, Jumps, Leaps
You will need to demonstrate these skills during drills and in the tryout dance
You will demonstrate your own turn sequence as well
You will demonstrate a right, left, center, and switch-leaps
Dance
Knowledge of choreography and showmanship in tryout routine

19. When are tryouts? Pre-Tryout Clinic (optional)
Saturday, April 9th
8:30am; Clinic 9am – 12:30pm
HHS Multi-Use Rm.
Cheer & Dance Tryout Clinics (mandatory)
First Section – April 11th, 13th, & 14th
4pm - 6:00pm
First Cuts notification – Thursday April 14th
Second Section - April 19th-20th
4pm – 6:00pm
HHS Multi-Use Room
FINAL CALL BACKS
Varsity Cheer & Dance Team Tryouts
Thursday April 21st
4:00pm - ???

20. WHEN/HOW DO WE FIND OUT IF WE MADE THE CHEER OR DANCE SQUAD?
The candidates who made the team will be posted on the Rally Squad website in the evening on Thursday, April 21st.

21. What do I need to do to tryout?
Visit the HHS Rally Squad (Cheer & Dance) website to download and print an HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packet
Review all HHS Cheer & Dance handouts Pre-tryout meeting & on website)
Complete HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packet
HHS Cheer & Dance Application Checklist
HHS Cheer & Dance Application
Coach/Teacher Recommendation(New members only)
This will be ed directly to Coach Garcia.
Completed Medical Release (Physical Form) – must be completed BEFORE tryouts
ALL HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packets are due to
Coach Garcia by Friday, April 8th by 3:30pm
(mailbox or classroom ES 103)

22. What to expect if you make the squad?
Post-tryout Parent/Participant Meeting
Monday April 25th – 6:00pm in cafeteria (mandatory)
Uniform Fittings
Tuesday, April 26th - 3:15pm & 5pm
Car Wash May 7th @ Willy’s
Practices Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Wednesdays beginning on Tuesday, May 3rd
Summer Practices – Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays beginning June 21st
Summer Camp (Var Cheer) – July 16th – 19th
JV & Dance Home Camp TBA July