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Contents:

Season 3: 2017-18

Contents: 3. Welcome to White Rose Cheer!

4. The Process of placing athletes onto our teams

5. Our Program – Cheer Teams/Crossovers

6. Our Program – Dance, Tumbling, Privates

7. International Team – Chicago, USA

8. International Team – Bottrop, Germany

9. Competition Schedule 2017-18

10. Payments - Overview

11. Payments – Cheer and Dance breakdown

12. Payments – Uniform, Spectator Tickets and Coach Travel

13. Fundraising, Attendance Policy

14. Communication Policy

15. Key Dates for your Diary

16. Key Dates cont.

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Welcome to White Rose Cheer!

Established in September 2015, White Rose Cheer was first based in Tingley, South Leeds to provide local children with an opportunity to try the UK’s fastest growing sport. We are now based in The White House in Bruntcliffe Academy in Morley, and have grown to approximately 170 athletes. Our venue houses four separate training spaces, a full size competition sprung floor, and numerous gymnastics equipment. Our first two seasons have been a fantastic learning curve for us. We have seen some amazing team results, won our first Grand Champions title, attended our first nationals, and seen athletes growing in confidence and strong friendships forged through weekly training sessions. We are hoping that our third season will be our best yet!

Competitive cheerleading is an exciting hybrid of acrobatic stunting, gymnastic floor tumbling, jumps and dance. Our teams are all competitive teams and spend their season perfecting a routine that is 2:30m long. We have very high expectations of our athletes in terms of their attitude, behaviour in class, dedication, and ability to continue to progress their skills. Athletes who progress quickly within the program will find themselves being accelerated onto one of our higher level teams.

We find competitions to be very friendly environments, very exciting, and filled with adrenaline! Each team will compete in around 3/4 competitions per year – all details for this year’s domestic competition schedule are on pg9. Teams are judged against other teams around the country based on the ages of the athletes, the size of the team, and how advanced they are. Both Program Directors are UK certified judges and use this experience to build competitive routines that the athletes can execute well.

Each athlete that comes to us at the start of each season will take part in our Team Placement event, this year to be held in w.b. Monday 24th July. Any athletes that join mid-season will be invited to do so at a mutually convenient time, and we will assess their skills on an individual basis when they come to us to decide which team they will fit in best with.

In this Handbook, you will find everything you need to know about cheerleading, and White Rose Cheer’s upcoming season. We understand that it can be daunting if you are completely new to this sport! Your Program Directors, Coaches and Team Reps are always here to help you understand anything you are not sure of.

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The Process of Placing Athletes onto our Cheerleading teams

All athletes will be expected to be able to provide a positive contribution in both stunting AND tumbling to be placed on a particular team. Below are some of the basic skills for each level that we are looking for to help us make placement choices (this is not exhaustive):

Level of Team Stunting Requirements Tumbling Requirements

Level 0/Level 1 Prep

Below prep level (level 0), prep, single leg stretches below prep

Handstand, Cartwheel, Forward & backward roll, round-off, drop back into bridge.

Level 1 Prep, cradle, single leg stretches below prep, single leg stretches at prep (braced)

Forward walkover, backward walkover

Level 2 Extension, single leg stretches at prep level

Back handspring (flick), front handspring, Round-off back handspring

Level 3 Single leg extension, twist cradles, full twisting skills

Jump to back handspring, Series back handspring, round off tuck, Front somersault (punch front)

When your athlete arrives at the gym they will initially be placed in the beginner team (Level 0/Level 1 Prep) for their age group, and we will informally assess them. If we feel they need to be placed in a higher group, either by age or level, we will make that recommendation.

New athletes may be placed on our wait list and asked to return at a more convenient point in the season. Competition routines take time to learn and perfect, and we always want to ensure each athlete can be fully involved in choreography and skills.

All athletes in all teams are expected to abide by our Code of Conduct (which can be found electronically when you sign your athlete up to be a part of our club).

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Our Program 2017-2018 – Cheerleading Teams

Below are a list of cheerleading teams that we will be offering this season at White Rose Cheer, alongside their training times and days.

Team Name

Coaches Team Age Team Division

Training day and time

Ospreys Sophie Tiny (3-6) Prep 1 Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm

Orion Katie Tiny (3-6) 1 Tuesday, 5.30-6.30pm

Origin Kelly, Tinni Mini (6-8) 1 Tuesday, 6.00-7.30pm

Opal Helena, Sophie Mini (6-8) Prep 1 Tuesday, 6.00-7.30pm

Odyssey Allie, Katie Youth (9-11) 1 Monday, 6.00-8.00pm

Oblique Katie, Helena Youth (9-11) Prep 1 Thursday, 6.00-7.30pm

Orbit Kelly, Vanessa Youth (9-11) 2 Thursday, 6.00-8.00pm

Oasis Allie, Tinni, Sophie

Junior (12-14) Small 1 Wednesday, 6.00-8.00pm

Ovation Kelly, Beth, James

Junior (12-14) Large 1 Wednesday, 6.00-8.00pm

O2 Allie, Kelly, Laura

Junior (12-14) 2 Thursday 7.30-9.00pm

Omega Kelly, James Open(age 17+) 1 Tuesday, 7.30-9.00pm

Obsession Kelly, Allie, James

Senior (age 10+) 3 Monday 7.00-9.00pm

Crossover Athlete Opportunities

A crossover athlete is one who trains and performs with a second team within the program. Crossover athletes are very reliable, dedicated, and capable of managing two routines. They will only be offered in cases where the athlete in question can make a positive, different contribution to their second team (e.g. a base in a Mini team may be asked to fly in a Youth team). All crossover athletes will be required to add £5 to their monthly fee to cover the extra cost of training. They will also be required to pay for all their competition crossover fees up front. Details of this and all other fees can be found on page 11.

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Our Program 2017-2018 - Dance Teams

Our dance program has gone from strength to strength this year and we will be offering Jazz (Contemporary/Lyrical) this season, to compete with our cheer teams at competition. Competitions usually compete their dance sections on a Sunday. Below is the list of our projected dance teams for this season:

Team Name Team Age Team Style Training day and time

Oracle Mini (under 9) Jazz Monday, 6.00-7.00pm

Oculus Junior (under 15) Jazz Tuesday, 6.30-7.30pm

Athletes are permitted to cross over to one additional dance team within the program, provided they meet the age requirements.

Regular Tumble Classes

Everyone at White Rose Cheer is encouraged to attend a weekly tumble class. Once we begin routine choreography we do not have much time to practice these very important skills. Our tumble classes combine drills and spotted skills to enable our athletes to reach their next goal safely! All classes are pay-as-you-go although there is a monthly payment option. Please see our timetable for our tumble classes which has changed slightly:

Mini/Beginner Tumble

Tuesdays, 5.00-6.00pm Aged 3+ No required skills Tiny athletes 5.00-5.30pm = £2 Mini athletes 5.00-6.00pm = £4

Open Tumble Wednesdays, 5.00-6.00pm Aged 6+ No required skills £4 for whole hour This class is not taught – athletes will come to work skills they wish to work under the supervision of coaches.

Intermediate/ Advanced Tumble

Thursdays, 5.00-6.00pm Aged 5+ Solid back walkover and round off required £4 for whole hour

Private Sessions

All our cheerleaders can benefit from half hour one-to-one classes with any of our coaches, working on their tumbling. flying, or dance. These are extremely popular and must be booked online using Shedul. You’ll find the link in our Facebook group and they are £10 each.

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International Teams

U.S. Finals, Chicago, USA

16th-24th April 2018* (approximate dates)

This is a prestigious event and is always very popular in the USA. We have chosen the Chicago due to contacts in the region - we will be training at some big gyms during our time in the USA. We are hoping this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for the athletes and we are working at getting the trip partially funded.

We will build the level and age group of the team upon seeing the level of interest. We will be looking to place athletes who are very strong all-rounders for the chosen level of the team, alongside the usual attributes of dedication and maturity.

Training dates for this team are as follows: Saturdays 16th September, October 14th, November 18th, December 9th, January 13th, February 17th, March 3rd, April 14th, all from 11am-3pm. You must be able to make all training dates – our three strikes policy does not cover teams travelling internationally.

We anticipate the cost of the trip to cost approximately £800 per athlete – including flights, accommodation, and competition entry. It does not include food and leisure activities. Parents must be prepared for the possibility that funds raised do not cover the entire cost of the trip and must be able to subsidise in this instance.

Families are very welcome (and encouraged!) to attend. The experience of competing in the USA, the home of cheerleading, is something very special. However, athletes will be permitted to travel without parents. Please ensure before allowing your athlete to accept a spot on the team that they are prepared to travel that distance without you.

Athletes will be required to miss school and we are happy to write letters of recommendation to authorise their absence.

There is a possibility that this team will be permitted to exhibit their routine at a UK competition of our choice as a warm-up to competing in the USA. We will keep everyone applicable updated.

A more detailed payment schedule will be provided for parents of athletes attending and any fundraising will be deducted from it as and when.

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Elite Cheerleading Championship, Bottrop, Germany

19-22nd May 2018 (TBC)

We are looking forward to returning to one of our favourite competitions. The ECC is very popular across Europe and some of the best teams on the continent come to compete here. There is a limited amount of divisions and we are hoping to put together a very strong Youth 1 and Youth 2 team – with the Youth 2 eligible to receive a bid to compete at The Summit, Orlando, Florida. It takes place inside a theme park (Movie Park) and there’s lots to enjoy alongside the cheerleading!

We anticipate the cost of being a part of this team to be around £200. This includes entry to the competition, flights, and training fees whilst in the UK. Accommodation will be organised by individual families. A full payment schedule with dates and deadlines will be provided to parents.

Training will be one Saturday a month, on 4th November, 25th November, 16th December, 24th February, 7th April, 5th May, and 26th May. Youth 1 will train from 10am-2pm, and Youth 2 from 2pm-6pm. You must be able to make all training dates.

Families are very welcome to attend the event, and to sort their own accommodation and transport if they so wish.

Please note that the teams will compete on MONDAY and will therefore need time off school then.

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Competition Schedule

Name & Location Date Which teams are competing and additional information

WRC Showcase, The White House

Sunday 3rd Dec 2017

All cheer teams, all dance teams, selected stunt groups, solos and duets. Showcase will be in two sessions –late morning and late afternoon.

ICC Northerns, Blackpool

20-21st January

All cheer teams, all dance teams, selected stunt groups, solos and duets. Tiny/Mini/Youth/Junior divisions = Saturday Senior divisions = Sunday

ICC Nationals 17-18th March

Cheer teams: Origin, Odyssey, Orbit, Ovation, O2, Obsession Tiny/Mini/Youth/Junior divisions = Saturday Senior divisions = Sunday

ICE, North West (exact location TBC - anticipate Manchester)

Sunday 25th March

Cheer teams: Ospreys, Orion, Opal, Oblique, Oasis, Omega All dance teams, selected stunt groups, solos and duets.

U.S. Finals, Chicago, USA.

21-22nd April

International Travel Teams – Revolution and Reign

Elite Cheerleading Championship, Bottrop, Germany

19-22nd May (TBC)

International Travel Teams – Rivals and Rebellion Youth (Peewee) division competes on MONDAY.

Battle of Champions, Peterborough

Saturday 16th June

BID ONLY EVENT: Origin, Odyssey, O2.

ICC Summer Jam, Blackpool

21-22nd July

All cheer teams, all dance teams, selected stunt groups, solos and duets. Cheer divisions, stunt groups, cheer solos/duets = Saturday Dance divisions, dance solos/duets = Sunday

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Payments

All payments for monthly fees, and one-off payments for uniforms, coach seats, and spectator tickets will be taken via our software system, Coacha.

Every new athlete must follow the link below to sign up for our Program: https://my.coacha.co.uk/member_signup/1D9843F826 In the first instance, Coacha will ask you to input your details so we have what we need to contact you in case of an emergency. This is mandatory for our safeguarding and insurance policy. We take all our registers for all classes using this system so it is important we have your child signed up as quickly as possible. You will be expected to tick a box stating that you have read and agree to the Waiver and Code of Conduct. Please ensure you have read them all carefully. Once you are registered, we will send you a Payment Request which you will receive in your email. You simply follow the payment request, enter your card details once, and Coacha will take the sum every month on the 1st (details of payments per team can be found on pg 11). In the event of cancellation, we require 4 weeks payment notice. We will not issue competition fee refunds. Your monthly fee includes ALL competition entry fees for your athlete, coaching fees, hall hire fees, insurance contributions and personalised music for your team. There is NO joining fee. Your fee does not include your custom WRC uniform, or any training kit/shoes. One-off payments will be requested when fees have bounced and are therefore late (a 10% admin charge will be added in this case), and for when you have put in a spectator ticket request, coach seat request, or uniform order.

Non-payment of fees will result in your athlete being “benched” until the balance has cleared in full. We allow 5 working days past the payment date before the payment is classed as late. Each incident of benching will result in an unauthorised absence. I know you will all support us with this rule, as strict as it may seem – we are a non-profit organisation and non-payment hits us hard.

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Payments for White Rose Cheer 2017-2018

Cheer Team Name

Monthly payment from September until April

(inclusive).

Due on the 1st via Coacha – an automatic system.

Monthly fees for May, June

and July

Due on the 1st via Coacha.

For crossover athletes only – competition fees for second team paid by 1st October 2017. Late starters invoiced.

Ospreys £24.50 £16 n/a

Orion £24.50 £16 n/a

Origin £36 £25 n/a

Opal £33.50 £25 n/a

Oblique £33.50 £25 £53

Odyssey £41 £30 £63

Orbit £41 £30 £63

Oasis £38.50 £30 £53

Ovation £41 £30 £63

O2 £41 £30 £63

Omega £33.50 £25 n/a

Obsession £41 £30 £63

Please note that if your athlete is offered a crossover, their main team for the purposes of payment is the younger or lower level team. For example, if Athlete X is offered a place on both Origin and Orbit, Origin as the younger team will be their first team and they will follow Origin’s payment schedule. Orbit will be their second team and they will pay Orbit’s crossover fees in one lump sum (detailed in the column on the right). Crossover athletes must also add £5 to their monthly fee every month for their training.

Dance Payments

Dance Team Name

Monthly payment from September until

April (inclusive)

Monthly fees for May, June

and July

Crossover competition fee for second dance team – due October 1st

Oracle £18 £10 n/a

Oculus £18 £10 £8

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Uniform

Every athlete will compete in a full custom WRC Competition Uniform which costs £87. Uniforms will be fitted to the athlete’s exact size. If your cheerleader outgrows their uniform during the season there may be an opportunity to sell this to a new member. Every athlete must possess their own uniform and any new athletes must ensure their uniform payment reaches us on or before 1st October 2017 to be included for the first competition. We cannot not order uniforms without payment. Please ensure this payment is made separately as a bank transfer, with your child’s name plus “uniform” as the reference. We have a very small number of uniforms for rental but these are initially reserved for new athletes who come into the team mid-season and have missed the payment deadline. There will be other opportunities mid-season to order uniforms for new starters. Club uniforms will be subject to a £5 rental fee per competition.

Each athlete will also need a competition bow and these can be bought at practice for £5.

Spectator Tickets and Coach Seats to competitions

We always provide a coach to every competition which is optional for athletes and parents. It leaves from our training venue and returns again after the competition has finished. Your team rep will be selling spectator tickets and seats on the coach in accordance with the following deadlines:

Competition Adult ticket (under 5s free) Coach seat

Deadline

ICC Northerns £8 (session) £15 01.11.2017

ICC Nationals £12 (session) £15 01.12.2017

ICE North-West £5 session (£2.50 4-11yrs, under 3 free)

£15 01.12.2017

ICC Battle of Champions £10 (session) £15 01.03.2018

ICC Summer Jam £8 (session) £15 01.04.2018

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Fundraising

We understand the cost of cheerleading can be very expensive. We make a conscious effort to ensure cheerleaders are able to contribute to raising money to help towards costly equipment.

Our International Travel Teams will have fundraising events specifically for their own funds and their attendance is mandatory if they are to benefit from the funds.

All athletes that participate in FOUR fundraising events and community performances (popular in in the summer months) will benefit from a special reward at the end of the season.

Attendance Policy

Please know we do not mean to scare anyone with our attendance policy! However, we insist on exemplary attendance for the team – cheerleading is a team sport like no other and even one person missing at one practice can have a detrimental effect on a routine.

Authorised Absence Unauthorised Absence

Sickness with vomiting/diarrhea

Infectious illness (flu, chickenpox etc)

Graded school event (parents evening, Christmas concert etc)

Holidays in the UK or abroad taken in school holiday time

Family emergency

Cold/cough/sore throat

Non-graded school event (seeing a friend in a concert etc)

Birthdays – either their own or a friend’s.

Holidays taken in term time

Other social event

Feeling tired

Not done their homework

Punishment from parent

N.B. The list is not exhaustive – please contact us if you are unsure.

Any athlete that totals three unauthorised absences will automatically face removal from the next competition to allow the team to practice a routine with present members. Any persistent offenders will face expulsion from the competitive program, We keep very careful records of attendance and like to reward our “100%”ers intermittently.

A string of authorised absences will result in a discussion with the program directors and athlete/parent as to any action that needs to be taken with regards to routine or club removal.

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This year we are enforcing a strict three week lock down before any competition. Absolutely no absences, authorised or unauthorised, in the three weeks leading up to any team’s competition – no exceptions. If you are ill (non-contagious) we would prefer you to come and take it easy (no stunting or tumbling) so you can be aware if any positions have been changed. No competitions or lock down period fall in any school holidays this year.

All athletes must be able to make all competition dates with their team. This is to enable the team to continue progression of routine without having to re-choreograph. If they are unable to make a date, we encourage your child to continue with tumbling classes and then to re-join the competitive program next season. If you are aware of any holidays or planned absences that will affect the three week lock down or your child being able to attend all planned competitions, please let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Communication Channels

Any important updates we will “broadcast” via Coacha, which will come to you via email. Please ensure when you sign your athlete up, that their next of kin email is correct!

We will continue to use Facebook and newsletters as our main form of day-to-day communication. However, we have made this information pack as exhaustive as possible so please check this thoroughly for the answer to your questions before asking us! Please request access into “White Rose Cheer – Club Information” where all our club wide updates go. We regularly post videos and updates so even if you don’t have Facebook, it may be worth registering for an account just to be added into these groups. If you are unsure how to do this, please ask a coach and we’ll be happy to help.

Your Team Reps will be the first port of call for any day-to-day queries. All of our Team Reps have a child on the team in question and know the ins-and-outs of their team! You will order spectator tickets to watch your athlete at competitions and order bus seats from them.

Any more sensitive issues can be brought directly to one of the Program Directors, either via email – whiterosecheer@gmail.com or via facebook – on our Page “White Rose Cheer”, which has the option to private message. It is not acceptable to message any of the coaches’ personal facebook accounts, or call them at home. If you wish to meet a coach face to face to discuss something that will take more than a few minutes, you can book an appointment with us outside coaching hours using any of the above methods. No coach will come out of a class to speak to a parent unless it is an emergency.

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Key Dates for your Diary

Date Reason Where?

W/c 24th July Tumble Assessments. At class.

28-30th July Provisional Team Placements sent out. By email and Facebook

Saturday 29th July

End of Year Awards Night Woodkirk Valley Country Club

W/C 31st July Summer Timetable begins – all classes have pay-as-you-go option. No attendance policy will be enforced.

At class.

Friday 1st September (or 15th)

First monthly payment for the season begins.

Via direct debit.

W/C 4th September

New season officially starts. Attendance Policy back in place.

The White House

Saturday 16th September.

Chicago International Team training. The White House

Sunday 1st October

Optional kit order to be with Team Reps – filled in order form and correct cash.

The White House

Sunday 1st October

£80 for uniforms to be paid for by new cheerleaders.

Via bank transfer.

Saturday 14th October

Chicago International team training The White House

Saturday 4th November

Germany International team training The White House

Saturday 18th November

Chicago International team training The White House

Saturday 25th November

Germany International team training The White House

Sunday 3rd December

WRC Showcase – ALL teams. The White House –Sports Hall.

Contact whiterosecheer@gmail.com

Facebook; White Rose Cheer

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Date Reason Where?

Saturday 9th December

Chicago International team training The White House.

w/c Monday 11th December

Christmas Week at cheer – Christmas dress encouraged!

The White House

Thursday 14th December

Last training session before Christmas The White House

Saturday 16th December

Germany International Team training The White House

Wednesday 3rd January 2018

First session back after Christmas The White House

Saturday 13th January

Chicago International team training The White House

21st-22nd January ICC Northern Championships – all teams. Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool

Saturday 17th February

Chicago International team training – open team only

The White House

Saturday 24th February

Germany International team training The White House

Saturday 3rd March Chicago International team training – junior team only

The White House

17-18th March ICC Nationals – details of teams attending on page 9.

Ice Arena, Nottingham

24th-25th March ICE North-East - details of teams attending on page 9.

Gateshead, Newcastle

Saturday 7th April Germany International Team training The White House

Saturday 14th April, Sunday 15th April

Chicago International team training The White House

Monday 16-Tuesday 24th April

U.S. Finals competition, Chicago, USA. Chicago, USA

Saturday 5th May Germany International team training The White House

Saturday 26th May Germany International team training The White House

Saturday 2nd June – Tuesday 5th June

Elite Cheerleading Championship Movie Park, Bottrop, Germany

Saturday 16th June ICC Battle of Champions – bid winning teams

Peterborough

21-22nd July ICC Summer Jam – all teams Blackpool

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