BYFO CHEERLEADING HANDBOOK
2020
WELCOME TO BYFO CHEERLEADING PROGRAM
Cheerleading can be one of the most fun, valuable,
and rewarding experiences. Being a cheerleader
not only teaches children the physical skills of the
sport but also can teach leadership skills,
confidence, public speaking, how to work with
others, and being a positive role model. As we go
through the season you will see many different
ways that we try to build these skills in each child.
We look forward to a successful season and
welcome you to our BYFO Cheer Family.
This handbook has been prepared to give you a general idea of the obligations,
rules and responsibilities involved throughout the season.
Please be sure to read through the entire handbook and inform us of any
questions or concerns you may have.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide for the youth of the
Bastrop area a safe, healthy, and
enjoyable environment in which to
learn football and cheerleading basic
fundamentals, sportsmanship, self-
pride, discipline and team spirit.
CHEER SQUAD DIVISIONS
Pep Squad Cheer - 2yrs to 4yrs
Mascot- 5yrs to 13 yrs
Flag Cheer – 4 yrs to 5 yrs
Peewee Cheer - 5yrs to 6yrs
Rookie Cheer – 7 yrs to 8 yrs
Juniors Cheer – 9 yrs to 10 yrs
Seniors Cheer – 11 yrs to 13 yrs
Select Cheer- 5yrs to 13years
Our goal is to have a competition squad in each
of these division and then at least 2 sideline
only cheer squads. This will all depend on the
amount of participation in cheer and football
VOLUNTEERING
Since our entire program is run by volunteers
we are always looking for extra hands. If you
are interested in volunteering throughout the
season, coaching, or joining our board please
let us know. We ask that you do volunteer for
at least one concession stand shift per athlete
of your family through the season. Every home
game our organization will have a concession
stand up and running. They only way for that to
work is to have parents and guardians step up
and volunteer for at least one shift.
COACHES
Every coach has to be certified through BYFO
and CTYFL. They will have to pass a background
check and a Training through CTYFL and a
training with BYFO. Please remember that ALL
coaches are volunteers. They are volunteering
their time away from their families and trying
their best to ensure your cheerleader has a
great season. Please be respectful of their time.
There is a lot of time spent not only during
practices and games but also outside of them.
They spend time behind the scenes creating
routines, planning cheers and practices and
much more. Please be respectful of the Practice
times, game info, and events that your coach
decides is best for their squad.
CHEER FOLDER/COMMUNICATION
Every cheerleader will be given a cheer folder. They may
decorate it any way that they please. Inside each folder will
have different things such as, a list of cheers, cheerleading skill
handouts, practice and game schedules, contact info,
conditioning list, competition routines and more. Most of these
items will be added throughout the season. We ask that each
cheerleader has this folder on them at every practice and every
game. This folder may also be used to send home information,
flyers , and upcoming dates for parents to remember. This
helps keep all info in one place, teach the cheerleaders
responsibility, and independence. Each coach will use their
folder how they see best fit their squad each season.
Coaches may also decide to use the GROUPME app to
communicate. When using this app please refrain from idle
chat and use the app to get information from your coach or to
plan snacks, directions to games, ride sharing ect.
You may also see our private BYFO Cheer for information that
applies to all squads and to share photos/videos of BYFO
cheerleaders.
PRACTICE - Practices can be anywhere from 1 day a week to 3 days a week. This
will depend on the preference of the head coach and the age of the
cheerleaders.
- Practice may not exceed 2 hours a day
- Competition Team practices may be a closed practice. This means
that only coaches and cheerleaders will be allowed inside the school
during this practice time. Parents may wait outside the doors, outside
facility, or drop off. If you choose to drop off the coach must be aware
that you are not at the facility and contact number to reach you in
case of an emergency.
- Cheerleaders will not be released into the parking lot or out of the
cheer practice facility without an adult. This means that if you have
dropped off your child for a closed practice you will have to come
inside to pick them up at the end of practice. A coach must release
each cheerleader to their guardian.
- Please arrive no more than 10 mins prior to practice. You may not
drop off your cheerleader at practice without making contact with a
coach of their team.
- It is very important that every cheerleader shows up to every
practice on time and reading to perform. - Every Cheerleader will
need to be picked up no later than 10 mins after practice.
PRACTICE ATTIRE
Clothing -- Please have cheerleader wear leggings or shorts.
All clothing worn at practice may not have zippers, buttons or
rhinestones. Make sure tops are not to bagging or long. No tops
that show the belly. Make sure bottoms do not have bottoms
showing. If shorts are to short when tumbling or performing
jumps please be sure to wear a pair or spandex shorts under.
_________________________________
Footwear ---Every Cheerleader must be wearing a pair of
closed toe shoes. If a cheerleader shows up in sandals, flip
flops, or without shoes they will not be able to participate in
practice. Athletic or cheerleading shoes are preferred. Please
make sure they are the correct size and can not slip off easily.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Hair -- All hair must be pulled up out of the face and off of
the shoulders.
PRACTICE SUPPLIES
Food & Candy--- Make sure to eat before arriving at
practice. Food and Gum is not allowed at practice.
______________________________________________
Drinks--- Make sure to bring plenty of water to every
practice. Please do not bring sports drinks or sodas. We prefer
water only during practice.
___________________________________________________________________________
Extra--- Make sure to bring any supplies needed for
practice. Example- Cheer Bag, Cheer Folder, Megaphone,
Pompoms.
GAMES - It is your responsibility to transport your cheerleader to and from every game.
We will have several home games which may be played at Bastrop Memorial
Stadium, Erhard Stadium, or Bastrop Intermediate School. Away games will be
played at any of the other locations of the other CTYFL Organizations which you
can see on www.CTYFL.org - Anyone without an official CTYFL certified Badge on
them will not be allowed on the field. Please do not walk onto the track,
sidelines, or field at anytime.
- Cheerleaders can only have water on the field or track. No sports drinks or
sugary beverages. - No food is allowed during the game. - Please do not take
your child up into the stands during half time. They need to stay with their
coaches the entire game.
- Please arrive at each game 30 mins prior to game time. - It is important that
the coaches have the cheerleaders full attention during the game. Please do not
talk to or distract your cheerleader or coaches during the game.
- Make sure your cheerleader is prepared at every game. It is good for them to
have a cheer bag with leggings, long sleeves, jackets, rain coat, sunscreen, bug
spray, etc.
- We cheer Rain or shine at every game. If a game is not canceled and there is
not a weather advisory that prevents the game from being played we will still
be out there cheering.
- Cheerleaders may not have umbrellas down on the track during games.
- Please make sure your cheerleader has ate and used the restroom
before arriving at each game.
SIBILING RULE
How the sibling rule works is that cheerleaders may sideline
cheer for their football siblings as long as there is a cheer squad
for them to cheer with. This is not guaranteed. It must be
requested at the time of registration and still evaluated off of
how many competition teams there will be and what age
groups they cheer for. As the season goes on practices will be
more focused on competition routines rather than sideline
cheers. We try to keep each competition team in their age
group on a game squad together so that they can work
together all week long and be able to practice and perform bits
of their routine throughout the season at games. If your
cheerleader decides not to participate in competition they will
be assigned to a sideline cheer squad. This will be a mix of ages.
All the cheerleaders on that squad will not be performing at
competition. This helps them be able to work on fun stuff
throughout the week to perform at each game and keeps from
anyone feeling left out of something. We want every
cheerleader to have a fun season while fitting each families
needs.
CERTIFICATION
Every player will have to be certified by CTYFL in order to
participate in the season. This will require Registration info
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- Current physical - Behavior/Spectator form signed
- Liability Wavier
- Medical Release Form Signed
- Current Photo
Not having this info in before certification day will result in
your cheerleader not being able to participate in the Fall
season with us. In the result of this a refund will not be
allowed.
COMPETITION
Every October CTYFL has a Cheerleading competition that we
participate in. Every Cheerleader enrolled with BYFO has an
opportunity to participate in this competition. We do ask that you sign
a Competition Contract committing to the entire season. This means
not missing practices or games and coming with a good and positive
attitude at all times. Competition does have a few extra expenses but
we will try our best to fundraise enough for those costs. Competition
will be October 29th 2017 at the Toney Burger Center in Austin. BYFO
will transport cheerleaders to the Toney Burger Center the day of
competition but Parents and Guardians will be responsible for
transporting them from the Toney Burger Center after the competition.
This is an all day even and a great experience. If you would like more
info on competition please feel free to contact us at anytime.
Competition Divisions
Exhibition- Perform only. Will not be judged. ALL AGES 4yrs-13yrs
(This will include our select squad)
Peewee – 5yrs & 6yrs
Rookie – 7yrs & 8yrs
Juniors – 9yrs & 10yrs
Seniors – 11yrs & 12yrs
COMPETITION FINANCES
This is an estimate that we go off of when planning our
finances needed for competition.
Entry Fee for CTYFL Competition Registration (per athlete) - $3
Transportation to facility - $200 to $300
Hair supplies (per athlete) - $10 to $15
Spirit supplies - $100
Music (per team) - $100-300
Routine Supplies (per team) - $25
Lunch Supplied for competition day (per athlete) - $6 to $10
Competition goodie bags (per athlete) - $10
Competitions outside of CTYFL will have a different cost. That will be discussed
with select squad cheerleaders.
FINANCES
We try out best to keep the cost down as best as
possible. Due to cheerleading uniforms being close
to a custom order and a long processing time all
fees must be paid upfront before your uniform will
be ordered. Cheerleading uniforms take anywhere
from 4 weeks to 8 weeks to arrive depending on the
time frame and detail to it. If an unfortunate
circumstance arises that you will not be able to
participate in our season but your uniform has
already been ordered there will be no refund given.
Here is what we take inconsideration when figuring
our Fall Season prices.
Uniform Cost
Insurance
Trophies & End of the season supplies
Coaches Certification
Season Supplies
SPONSORSHIPS
If you or someone you know has a business or
would like to sponsor our program please let
me know. We would love to build a partnership
with them. Our sponsorship form can be found
on our website: https://www.bastropyouthfootball.org
FUNDRAISERS
We will have one large fundraiser and several
little fundraisers throughout the season. It is
important that everyone participates as much
as possible. We are a non-profit organization
that runs on fundraising and sponsorships. We
want to be able to provide each athlete with as
much as we possibly can so they can have a fun
and successful season. Everything that gets
raised will go straight back into our program for
the children.
SPORTSMANSHIP
We expect BYFO Athletes, Parents, Coaches, Volunteers, and
family members to be respectful at all times. We have a zero
tolerance policy for being disrespectful to volunteers, other
teams, players and facilities. If there is ever a circumstance that
you feel needs to be addressed please contact the cheer
coordinator, BYFO President, or a Board member at an away
game facility to assist you in resolving any issues. We try our
best to keep drama and gossip out of our league.
GRIEVENCES When there is a problem or if you have any concerns please follow
this chain of command to get them resolved.
. - Head Coach
- Cheer Coordinator
- President
Please do not go to others of discuss your questions or
concerns with anyone other than these 3 people. This will keep
from information being misunderstood or not resolved
correctly.
Thanks again for being a part of BYFO
Cheer. We look forward to an awesome
season.
Olivia Patino
BYFO Cheer Coordinator
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