1. Laker Elementary Cheerleading
Season
Laker Elementary Cheerleading

2. Welcome Mission of PLAY Competition Cheer:
Participation in PLAY Competition Cheer helps athletes grow, learn, and enjoy themselves. We aim to teach the pursuit of excellence through personal development and teamwork, ethical and responsible behavior on and off the mat, adherence to our behavioral standards, leadership, strength of character, sportsmanship, acceptance of victory with humility, and acknowledgement of defeat with grace.  We aim to instill habits which will lead athletes to better and healthier lives upon leaving our program.  While winning is not an end in itself, we believe the efforts by our athletes to be their best will lead them to success on and off the mat.

3. Prior Lake Elementary Comp
Laker Elementary Comp Cheer is a competitive program that competes locally and has a track record of success. Our Squad is open to current 2nd -5th grade athletes who live in or attend a school in District 719.
Last season, our team had many first place finishes!
Girls learn and grow!
Elementary competition cheer is a great program to transition to the PLHS middle school, JV and Varsity teams in the future!

4. Who we are: Coaching Staff: Janell MacGillivray & Abby Kucera
Janell MacGillivray: 2nd year elementary Comp Coach, 5 years of experience sideline coaching
Abby Kucera: 1st year elementary Comp Coach; 5 years of experience sideline coaching
Talli Dorf: Competition Coordinator, liaison to the board, available for any questions, concerns, etc. .

5. Cost:
Approximate costs (final costs will be based some final numbers coming in):
$550 due in three installments: May 15, July 1st and Sept 1st
Cost includes non-refundable registration fee, practice and mat space, coach training and safety certs, Liability insurance for P.L.A.Y., tumbling, chorography, stunting camp, local competition entry fees, music fees, etc.
Cost does not include uniforms:
New athlete: $221 includes: shell, skirt, bodyliner , bow, poms, and shoes. Optional Warm ups $120
Returning athlete: $22 for new bodyliner
If returning athletes have outgrown or need new pieces, those pieces will need to be ordered at new athlete prices.

6. Tryout Dates and Timeline
5/4 Tryout Clinic at TOMS from 5pm-8pm
5/5 Tryouts at TOMS starting at 8:30am- 11:30
Tryouts time slots will be assigned at the end of the clinic and and will be posted on our Playinfo.org website and PLAY cheerleading Facebook page.
The tryout process is designed to be low pressure and a positive experience for our athletes. This is an opportunity for athletes to highlight their skills and work ethic.

7. Tryout Information
Athletes will be grouped at clinics and rotate through clinic stations.
On tryout day, athletes will try out in groups assigned by coaching staff. Tryout will take approximately 10 minutes per group.
Athletes will be encouraged to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to their tryout time to practice material with their assigned group.
Panel of 4 judges include elementary comp coaches, and 2 outside judges, a varsity coach and a tumbling instructor.
Cheer - taught at the clinic and evaluated during formal tryout
Jump - toe touch taught and evaluated during the formal tryout
Tumbling - standing and running tumbling pass evaluated at tryout
Stunting - evaluated during Tryout Clinic and formal tryout

8. Team Selection
Athletes will be evaluated on the following: toe touch jump, stunting ability, tumbling, cheer (energy/performance/voice projections/sharpness of motions).
When putting together the team, coaches take many things into consideration such as stunting position and coachability. Having tumbling skills does not guarantee you a spot. Coaches will be looking for the overall level of each athlete’s skills, making all demonstrated skills important.
Returning athletes will also be evaluated on prior year’s performance, sportsmanship, teamwork and willingness to work hard.

9. What You Need to Tryout
Tryout Packet: Can be found on the Playinfo.org cheerleading website and must be turned in on the first day of the clinic. Please arrive early on clinic day to check-in and receive tryout number.
Prior Lake Commitment Agreement
Application
What to wear to tryouts:
Athletic clothing with no zippers, buttons, etc. Fitted tank top or t-shirt.
Athletic shoes or cheer shoes.
Hair pulled back out of the face and no jewelry.
Athletes will be assigned a tryout number on the first clinic day.
Number should be worn at clinic day and to tryouts.

10. You Made a Team… Now What?
Announcement of the team will be made via “PLAY Facebook” and posted on our website PLAYINFO.ORG by tryout number
Teams will be announced by 8pm on 5/6
Team Size: approximately athletes
2018/19 school year: 3rd - 6th Graders
Practice Schedule:
Spring/Summer: Wednesdays 5:00-6:30
Fall/Winter: Wednesdays5:00-630/Fridays 5:00-7:00
Competition Cheerleading is 100% all in; we need each and every cheerleader to be committed 100% to be at every practice, and every competition. When one girl misses, her whole group is affected
Timeline if you make a team:
Date TBD: Mandatory athlete and parent meeting at TBD
June 13th: 1st practice Summer schedule starts
Date TBD (July/Aug): Uniform Fitting TOMS gym during practice
Payment for uniform items DUE at uniform fitting. Please bring a checkbook
Sept 14th: Fall practice schedule starts.

11. Important Mandatory Summer Dates
Choreography
July 20-21
Dates subject to change based on available gym space. Times and any changes will be communicated ASAP.

12. Choreographer
Jeff Stein- 4th season with Laker Cheer. Former Gopher cheerleader, tumbling instructor, former All Star coach, choreographer, and cheer judge.

13. Competitions
2 Comps in Nov.
1 Comp in Dec
2 Comps in Jan

14. STATE
GOAL: To be the FIRST Prior Lake Elementary Competition squad to make it to STATE!
State comp will be at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium on Feb. 2nd