CHEER EXPECTATIONS OVERVIEW

Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner is committed to cultivating a safe and welcoming environment for its events and programs that encourages and promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, parents, coaches, administrators and all spectators. We ask that event participants and attendees cooperate in being respectful at all practice and competition venues, partner hotels and/or ancillary venues throughout the course of the event. All those involved with the event are expected to refrain from the following behaviors:

• Zero-Tolerance for Bullying of any sort, nature or kind.
• Acting in a way that is unruly, disruptive or illegal in nature.
• Intoxication or other signs of impairment that may potentially result in bad behavior.
• Excessive use of profanities and other vulgar language.
• Using bigoted, demeaning or abusive or other disruptive and intimidating language and/or gestures.
• Verbal or physical harassment of officials, participants and coaches.
• Disrupting the progress of competition (including physically entering or throwing objects onto the playing field or competition mat).
• Interfering with or failing to abide by security or emergency procedures or response.
• Displaying signs that contain offensive language, or any graphic art that may be deemed disrespectful.
• Defacing, destruction or theft of property associated with the event, including property of the opposing team or other participants, including officials, as well as official venues.
• Violence or threats of violence against other individuals at any official venue.
• Publicly criticizing or making derogatory statements of an official, opposing teams, event personnel or its policies, or other individuals associated with the event. This includes comments with respect to their conduct, character, competence, integrity or appearance. Note: social media is deemed a public forum.
• Failing to follow instructions of event personnel.
• Failure to abide by these expectations are grounds for removal from competition. Pop Warner reserves the right to remove individuals or the entire team. Depending on the infraction, a one-year ban from Pop Warner events and programs will be considered. A repeat offense of the same infraction may result in a permanent ban. All removals will be without refund.

PRE-SEASON

• Cheer clinics are offered in April and May. 
• Uniform Fittings/Cheer Assessments in May.
• Team building activities at Head Coaches’ discretion.
• Team fundraising at Head Coaches’ discretion.
• RBPW encourages cheerleaders to take cheer tumbling classes at a local gym.

PRACTICES

Attendance Policy -Why it is Mandatory

Cheerleading is a 110% commitment; it requires the active participation of every member on the team. To ensure that all cheerleaders perform at the highest level of safety standards and the best of their abilities, players are expected to attend all scheduled practices. Each player’s safety is dependent on teamwork, trust, and the responsibility of the team as one unit. Even if one cheerleader misses practice, it severely impacts the progression of team development. It becomes difficult for a team to continuously adjust a routine, stunting groups, and causes confusion with the rest of the team members. Please try to schedule summer family vacations during June and July. August is a critical month where skill sets are being evaluated and positions determined.

Failure to attend may result in not being able to cheer for that week’s game, in part or all; cheerleaders may also not be able to participate in stunts or half time routines for that week’s game. Decisions are based on overall team safety and at the discretion of the Head Coach. If a cheerleader misses practice due to an illness, injury, or emergency, the head coach must be notified as soon as possible to discuss alternative arrangements.

• Excused absences – 3 permitted (all season) with formal advance notice to Head Coach.
• Unexcused absences are NOT allowed.

Tardiness

Is disruptive to team practices; parents are responsible for players arriving on time and being picked up promptly. If someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up a player, a coach must be informed. Players will only be dismissed by the coach to a parent/guardian unless otherwise notified. Coaches are required to wait until all players are picked up, please be respectful of their time.

Practice Schedule

Location: Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Teams may hold practices at local gyms with board approval. The team will be required to cover any fees associated with gym rental.

Practice times: The days of the week, hours of practice and duration of practice will vary according to the coach’s schedule and the availability of the fields, park gazebo or indoor facility.

National Pop Warner Rules on Number of Hours of Practice Permitted:

• Max 10 hours per week prior to Labor Day.
• Max 6 hours per week after Labor Day.
• Max 2.5 hours of practice may be scheduled on any one day before Labor Day.
• Max 2 hours of practice may be scheduled per day after Labor Day.

Dress Code

• Proper practice attire is always required.
• Cheer shorts, shirt, socks, and athletic tennis shoes.
• Head Coaches may implement a practice uniform. (Example:  camp wear every Tuesday)
• All undergarments are to be appropriately covered. 
• Hair must be pulled up off the neck, away from the face and tightly secured with hair bands. 
• Fingernails trimmed short for safety reasons. No press on nails or acrylics etc. 
• The only jewelry permitted are medical alert bracelets/necklaces.
• Do not bring any valuables to practice, RBPW is not responsible for lost/stolen items.

Not permitted: No halter tops, half or spaghetti strap shirts, mid-section skin exposure, jeans (short or long), flip flops, sandals, boots, crocs, slippers. Game Day shoes are also not permitted for practice. No jewelry, including earrings, watches, body piercings, necklaces, etc. No band aids allowed over newly pierced ears. All earrings must come out -No exceptions.

CELL PHONE/ELECTRONICS POLICY

RBPW understands that cheerleaders, especially the older ones, have cell phones and other electronic devices.  These items are not to be used during practice or game time unless in an emergency. All coaching staff, including student demos, will adhere to the same policy to support our commitment to safety and mitigate external distractions.

JAMZ DAY CAMP

A mandatory one-day camp that promotes team building, introduces/refreshes safe stunting technique, and teaches basic motions/jumps/dance skills. Due to the minimum hours of practice required before Certification Day, it is expected all cheerleaders attend. A Family and Friend Showcase will be held at the end of camp. JAMZ Camp registration fee is included with RBPW registration fees.

CERTIFICATIONS

A mandatory event for all cheerleaders and football players within the West Coast Conference to have their registration paperwork formally confirmed by Conference Officials. Although this only takes a small amount of time, please block off the entire date once it is known. Time schedules are not provided by West Coast Conference officials until approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.

If players do not make this date, they are dropped from rosters and ineligible to cheer for at least the first game.

GAME DAYS -RAIN OR SHINE, WE CHEER!

Game Day Schedules

Typically, 2 hours. May begin as early as 8am and as late as 8pm. Cheerleaders arrive 1 hour before scheduled game time to complete warmups and player check ins with Board Officials. Cheerleaders cheer for all home and away football games, rain or shine! Only the game referee has the authority to call a game, coaches do not.

Game Day Dress Code

Uniforms must be worn and shall always be in clean condition, which consist of designated Game Day bow, shells, briefs, skirts, socks, and shoes. Hair must be well groomed, no jewelry, and nails trimmed short. Per Pop Warner official rule book, nail polish is permitted in neutral or team colors only.

Performance Mode

During games, cheerleaders are in Performance Mode and are expected to remain with their coaching staff on the field track or the designated area for cheering. Cheerleaders should not be in the stands unless the Head Coach has permitted designated breaks during half time, bathroom breaks, or an emergency.

Game Day Weather

Parents, families and guest spectators -plan for weather accordingly. The following is highly recommended to support best comfort levels. Hot Weather: Ice water, SPF, sunglasses, hat, umbrella, canopy shade, mist water bottle/sprayer, stadium cushion seats etc. Cold Weather: Water, stadium cushion seats, jacket or blanket, umbrella for rain -as mentioned before, rain or shine, we cheer!

COMPETITIONS

Please refer to Competition Acknowledgement for full details