Hello!
Reminder that your banquet RSVPs are due by February 20th to either myself or Coach Scott! We need a final head count to ensure we have enough food for everyone!
Final cheer balances will be due on March 5. Any outstanding cheer balances (nationals or regular) will be placed as a fine on your athlete's account starting March 10.
It's playoff time! We have split the teams into smaller groups for each playoff event. We will gradually "funnel" the team together until the last game is played. Remember that if there is a playoff game on the schedule, there is a high probability you will cheer it - and we are short on numbers already because we split teams (especially the first round and Swish for a wish! We are spread very thin!) Based on the schedule, we will be home or away, and we may be asked to travel. If we are asked to travel, we will travel. If the distance is too great and we can't get a bus, we will combine and cheer the other, closer to home game. It's a very uncertain time schedule-wise, so please stay hooked in to Remind101 and understand that if there are scheduling changes or I move girls in to cheer other games on short notice, it's because I'm on short notice, too. If you see a playoff game on the calendar, and you are initially scheduled for a different night, we may still have to move people, so if it says playoffs on the schedule, plan to cheer even if you're not scheduled - you are still on "standby". CHSAA does the seeding on Sunday, and you can follow it live online. Please know I will send a Remind101 as soon as I know what the plan is for our cheering schedule. I will give you preliminary information via a Remind101 on Sunday since there is no other time to do it.
Please read the handbook regarding playoff policies, as well as fingernails and jewelry policies. We always adhere to CHSAA rules, but during this time of year, there is nowhere else for CHSAA officials to be besides playoff games. They are constantly looking for violations. We've made it this far, and I don't want an end-of-season lax attitude about safety to be the cause of us having sanctions next year. Long fingernails and jewelry are the first thing that spirit teams get sanctioned on. Please remember that there is never an appropriate time for acrylics, long shellacs and gels, or nails that extend beyond the nail bed as written in the handbook and signed by the athlete in the athlete contract. Your poms don't hide your nails while you stunt or tumble. It's a safety issue, it's a CHSAA rule, and, it's my rule. Further, it doesn't matter what other teams do. We always follow the rules so we never get caught having to remember which ones to follow and when. Please cut or file your nails to the appropriate length. I will be having individual discussions and potentially benching athletes after this general reminder.
End of year evaluations - most of us have elected to do an end-of-year evaluation or exit interview. That shows a lot of promise for the athletes who want to know what they can improve on in the upcoming season! During evals, athletes will rank themselves on their skill abilities, and coaches will rank them as well. We then sit down together and compare our scores and discuss discrepancies. The goal of the evaluation is to give athletes every possible chance of making a team next year by giving them some strengths and areas of weakness to work on in the off season, and to know exactly where they stand within the program. The coaching staff is honest in these evaluations and athletes typically enjoy the feedback. If you originally said "No" to an end of year evaluation and change your mind, we will always do one for you.
Off season open gyms begin March 10! You do need to sign a waiver since the season is officially over. Cost is $5 per open gym. You can pay in one chunk or pay-as-you-go. Each session will last 2 hours from 4-6pm. Returners will spend the vast majority of the time acquiring advanced stunting skills and transitions with the coaching staff. We are at the point where every athlete should be able to comfortably run two stunt positions on the team. If you are not completely comfortable in two positions, this is time to get comfortable in a second position AND increase your skill in advanced single leg, release, twisting, and inverted skills in your primary position. I plan on seeing all potential returning athletes at these open gyms. If for some reason, you can't make many of them but are still planning on trying out, please let me know the circumstances (spring sport, work, etc) at your evaluation.
I would like to encourage all of you to consider doing a spring sport! You will build muscle groups that tend to get ignored in cheer, stay strong, and improve your overall athleticism! Golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track are the girls spring sports.
If you are planning to cheer next year you MUST sign up for Women's Athletic Weights unless there is a direct schedule conflict. Please work that in to your schedule as you plan your course schedule for next year.
Week upcoming:
Thursday, Feb 19: Post nationals break - no practice.
Friday, Feb 20: game, GBall vs. AHS groups 1, 4, 5
Saturday, Feb 21: Off
Sun, Feb 22: NO CONTACT (I will send a Remind with playoff status when I know)
Mon, Feb 23: UE, 3:30
Tue, Feb 24: Playoffs Girls Round one (time and location TBD) OR standby for Swish for a Wish:
Alex, Mashek, Natalie, Jazmin, Swayne, Jilly, Kimie
Wed, Feb 25: Playoffs Boys Round one (time and location TBD) OR standby for Swish for a Wish:
Savie, Chian, Malia, Sierra, Tristan, Syd, Mazzy
Thu, Feb 26: Swish for a Wish:
Chelsea, Meli, Melissa, Rylee, Mandy, Nicki, Maddie Moore
Fri, Feb 27: Girls Round 2 (time and location TBD) OR standby for Boys round 2:
Alex, Meli, Mashek, Melissa, Jazmin, Rylee, Jilly, Maddie Moore, Swayne, Natalie, Mazzy
Sat, Feb 28: Boys Round 2 (time and location TBD) OR standby for Girls round 2:
Savie, Chelsea, Chian, Malia, Sierra, Mandy, Syd, Kimie, Tristan, Nicki
Sun, Mar 1: NO CONTACT
We will re-group or funnel as we move further into the rounds.
Thanks for your patience during this crazy time - right when we need the break the most! Let's hang in there, keep positive, and have a strong finish to the end of the season!
