1. Gregory-Portland middle school cheer/mascot, 2019-2020
Tryout meeting
Gregory-Portland middle school cheer/mascot,

2. Welcome!
Coach angela McMahan
Coach alex whitaker

3. What we’re looking for Candidates who are… Energetic Athletic
Of good character
School-spirited
Positive
Academically successful
Determined
Loyal
Dedicated
Kind
committed
Respectful

4. Before you tryout… consider
Time commitment
Other costs may incur throughout the year
You are expected to be at every practice, pep rally, game, and appearance
Purpose
Why do you want to be a cheerleader?
Academic issues
Do you view cheerleading as a sport?
Can you make grades every time?
Will you be at all events with a positive attitude?
“no pass, no play” applies to cheer as well
All events = more than just football games
Expenses
New cheerleader costs are approx. $800- $1200

5. Mascots - Before you tryout… consider
Time commitment
Purpose
You are expected to be at one practice a week, every pep rally, every game, and every appearance
Why do you want to be the mascot?
Do you view cheerleading as a sport?
Will you be at all events with a positive attitude?
Academic issues
All events = more than just football games
Can you make grades every time?
“no pass, no play” applies
Expenses
costs may incur throughout the year

6. The year ahead March August April/may The school year June July
Tryouts
New member meeting
Poster making
April/may
Schedule pickup
The school year
Cheer fittings
Physical
Football games
Spring practices
volleyball games
June
Homecoming parade
Pep rallies
Summer practices
Basketball games
Stunt clinic
Christmas parade
camp
competition
July
Vacation!
If you do not believe that you can commit to ALL of these events, please do not tryout. We need cheerleaders who will be able to give 100% to our program.

7. Sports we cheer for Primarily football – Tuesdays from 4:45 – 9pm
volleyball games – Mondays from 5-6
Basketball - TBD
Football – all games. Volleyball – 1-2 games. Basketball – 1-2 games.

8. competition
2018 competition was held in corpus Christi on December 9th, 2018
We competed in the sideline divisions – cheer, dance, and fight song
We placed 1st in all three!
This year, we intend to compete again, but will travel to another major Texas city.
Competition will likely be in November or December in san marcos or Houston.
Will compete in a UCA Game Day competition, likely in San Antonio. Dates will be released later. Competition may be anytime between December and February.

9. Important dates February 26th - Paperwork due
March 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th - tryouts
March 19th – new member meeting
March 21st – uniform fitting
MANDATORY

10. Important dates March 26th, practice, 4-6pm
April 25th, Tumbling team practice, tags, 8-9
March 28th, practice, 4-6pm
April 30th, practice, 4-6pm
First payment due, march 29th
Second payment due, april 30th
April 11th, practice, 4-6pm
April 18th, practice, 4-6pm
April 23rd, practice, 4-6pm

11. Important dates May 2nd, practice, 4-6pm
may 30th, Tumbling team practice, tags, 8-9
May 7th, practice, 4-6pm
May 9th, practice, 4-6pm
May 11th, Stunt clinic
May 21st, practice, 4-6pm
May 23rd, final payment due

12. Important dates June 4th, practice, 4-6pm
June 20th, tumbling team practice, tags, 8-9
June 6th, practice, 4-6pm
June 25th, practice, 4-6pm
June 11th, practice, 4-6pm
June 27th – 29th, camp
June 13th, practice, 4-6pm
June 18th, practice, 4-6pm

13. Important dates - mascots
February 26th - Paperwork due
March 7th – mock tryout. Mascot applicants will be able to practice with costume/pep rally material for tryout
March 1st – tryout clinic
March 8th - tryouts
March 19th – new member meeting
MANDATORY

14. Important dates - mascots
February 26th - Paperwork due
March 7th – mock tryout. Mascot applicants will be able to practice with costume/pep rally material for tryout
March 1st – tryout clinic
March 8th - tryouts
March 19th – new member meeting
MANDATORY

15. Important dates - mascots
Practice, Thursdays, 4-6
March 28th
April 11th
April 18th
may 2nd
may 9th
June 6th
June 13th
MANDATORY

16. Paperwork – due February 26th
Cheerleader handbook confirmation
Gregory-Portland isd athletic code
Parent approval for joining cheerleading
Medical treatment authorization and liability release
Gregory-Portland isd student health emergency information
Read over the handbook and sign the confirmation. Read over the abbreviated Athletic Code given to you, and the full 21 page online if necessary, then sign the confirmation. Medical information and approval as well.

17. Paperwork – due by tryouts
Physical
All 6 completed teacher recommendation forms
No physical, no tryout. Teacher recommendation forms should be given to your teachers NOW to allow an ample amount of them for their completion. Teachers are busy – we know. Let’s be courteous to them.

18. Financial responsibilities
Camp
Megaphones
Camp clothing
Shoes
Bow
socks
Compression shorts (bloomers)
Jacket
Sports bra
Poster supplies
Leggings
Uca stunt clinic
Breast cancer socks
Competition fee
Bag tags
Tumbling classes
Returning 8th graders will not need a new megaphone. We will cut cost this year by having camp clothing made locally rather than paying Varsity. We will attempt to fundraise the money needed to cover these fees.

19. Financial responsibilities
Cheerleaders will be removed from the squad if the total expenses are not paid for by may 23rd.
First payment due – march 29th
Second payment due – april 30th
Third/final payment due – may 23rd
All cheerleading expenses/fees are non-refundable.
We are looking into fundraising options.

20. Financial responsibilities - mascot
Competition fee
Poster supplies

21. Tryout clinic and expectations
Friday, March 1st – learn material, 4-6pm
Monday, march 4th - learn material , 4-6pm
Tuesday, march 5th - Review material, 4-6pm
Thursday, march 7th – mock tryouts, may take several hours
Friday, march 8th - tryouts, may take several hours
Dress – blue soffe shorts, white shirt, and white bow – no logos

22. Mock tryouts and tryouts
Mock tryouts are formatted just like tryouts.
Candidates will be given a tryout number, which will be attached to their shirt.
Those waiting to tryout will wait in the brown gym as tryouts are held in the blue gym. Music will be playing and candidates will have the opportunity to practice.
Mock tryouts will be judged by teachers/guests from the community.
Tryouts will be judged by Nca/uca instructors/judges from outside of the community. We have insured that the judges are not staff members or choreographers for local gyms/studios.

23. Day of tryouts 6th & 7th graders will be dismissed at 1:00
Students will check out at front desk, then walk to the Brown Gym to get dressed
(unless checked out by parent to get dressed at home)
No students are allowed to be checked out of school earlier than the time indicated above.

24. Tryout scoresheet 300 points total
Coaches’ evaluation – 25% of tryout score
judges’ evaluation – 75% of tryout score

25. Citizenship and Coaches’ evaluation – 25%
Teacher recommendations – 60 points possible
Each recommendation (one per class)
Behavior at clinic – 40 points possible
Positive attitude
Willingness to learn
Ability to get along with other applicants/coaches 0-10
Overall impression

26. Citizenship and coaches’ evaluation – 25%
Tryout behavior is rated using the following system
Superior 10
Above average 7.5
Average 5
Below average 2.5
Unacceptable 0
Rationale
Coaches determine their teams based on talent, ability, level, and these outside factors outlined above
All other sports choose their teams without the requirement of outside judges

27. Judges’ evaluation – 75% (300 POINTS TOTAL, 100 POINTS PER JUDGE SHEET)​
Individual cheer – 30 points possible
Dance – 30 points possible
Smile and enthusiasm 0-10
Motions
Motions and voice 0-10
Energy and rhythm 0-10
Knowledge of cheer 0-10
Jumps – 10 points possible
Knowledge of dance 0-10
Jump of choice 0-5
Group cheer –
Toe touch 0-5
20 points possible
Tumbling – 10 points possible
Standing tumbling 0-5
Running tumbling 0-5
Different from previous years. Tryout format different as well.

28. Score tabulation and team selection
An administrator will calculate and enter judges’ score sheets
The largest natural break (that provides a squad with an adequate number of cheerleaders) will be used to determine membership.
The highest two mascot applicant scores will determine membership.
THERE IS NO SET NUMBER THAT WE ARE TAKING. We will determine squad size solely by the closest natural break to one of these numbers.

29. Mascot tryout
Mascots will be given a pep rally theme for their skit, as well as a variety of props.
They must then present that skit to the judges.
Theme will be given on the first day of clinics.
Previously we had two tryouts. We anticipate doing the same this year.

30. Judges’ evaluation – 75% - mascot
Creativity (props, skit, music, etc.)
Crowd effective material 0-10
Character definition 0-10
Pantomime (placement of hands, expressions, etc.)
Animation
Proper use of props 0-20
Overall presence (performance preparedness)
Crowd appeal 0-20
Enthusiasm 0-20

31. results
Will be posted on the Gregory-Portland middle school cheerleading website.
This powerpoint will also be posted on the website.

32. Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tumble to make cheerleader?
since the break is determined by a comparison of scores, whether or not tumbling is “required” depends on the skill level of the other candidates. The score sheet reflects standing and running tumbling as a requirement.
Any skill performed at tryouts is expected to be performed on demand at camp, games, and any other events.
While it is important that you execute your best tumbling pass at tryouts, you should not attempt an un-mastered skill.

33. Frequently asked questions
Are spring practices mandatory?
Yes. Spring practices are very important to the development of a new team. We will be working on stunts, jumps, tumbling, cheers, and choreography. Excused absences will be at coach discretion.

34. Frequently asked questions
I have a family vacation, church camp, other camp, etc… scheduled during cheerleading camp. What should I do?
No cheerleader will be excused from cheer camp. If you cannot attend camp, you should not try out.
I have a family vacation, church camp, other camp, etc… scheduled during summer practices. What should I do?
These are unexcused absences from practice. Cheerleaders will be benched one event for each practice they miss.

35. So… now what? If you like what you have heard...
Show up to tryout clinics in march with a positive attitude, ready to work!
If you are unsure of what you’ve heard…
Please read the guidelines given to you and discuss your goals and priorities for the coming year.
Consider the time and effort required.

36. Thank you, and good luck!
Completed packets are due February 26th– no exceptions
Questions?