2015-16 Informational Handout
WELCOME TO THE 201201 FCCJC SMS AREA CHEERLEADING! Area Directors: Kari D’Amato, Marci Cain, 0elly Waddell • WHAT IS FCCJC CHEERLEADING? FCCJC Shawnee Mission South Area cheerleaders cheer for South area football teams in the fall and either South area GABL or Indian Woods Middle School basketball teams in the winter. • WHY CHEER? Cheerleading is not only great for staying active and healthy, but it provides opportunities for improving mental focus, building lasting friendships and gaining pride and satisfaction from participating in a team sport. Besides cheering for football and basketball games, SMS cheerleaders will participate in other fun activities like parades, camps, clinics and parties. Our not-for-profit program does not require a tryout and we welcome all skill levels to participate. • HOW MUCH TIME DOES CHEERLEADING REQUIRE? Cheerleading is a sport and, as with any team, there will be regular practice times and games. The success of the squad depends on regular attendance and commitment by the cheerleader and their. o Practices: • Kindergarten–3rd grade practice once per week; 4th–8th graders practice twice per week. • No practice may be longer than 2 hours with a maximum of 3 hours per week. • Older squads (4-8th Grade) may practice during the summer. o Football Games: • Since our football team at Heritage Park in Olathe, games can take up to 3 1/2 hours including drive time, parking, pre-game warm-up and the game itself. Generally, older kids’ games take longer. • During the regular season, we cheer for just one game per weekend. Tournaments may mean multiple games. • Begins the weekend after Labor Day and can run through November. o GABL Basketball Games (Kindergarten–7th Grade): • All of our basketball games are held in various are Shawnee Mission Schools gyms. • All games last one hour with cheer warm up time before. Coaches determine length of warm-ups. • Games are played on Friday nights and from 7am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays. • During the regular season, we cheer for just one game per weekend. Tournaments may require multiple games. • Season begins in December or early January and runs through February. Some teams participate in pre and post-season tournaments.
o Indian • • •
Woods Middle School Basketball Games (8th Grade): Games are after school, two nights per week. Squads will split between games/days. IWMS poms will be purchase and owned by the area. Begins after the New Year and continues through February.
• HOW MUCH DOES CHEERLEADING COST? Cheerleading is a great value compared to many other youth sports programs in the area. You may obtain a very detailed cost break-down, by squad, from a coach or area director but this should give you a general idea: o FCCJC • • • •
Registration Fee Paid when you register online February 15th to April 15th: K-3rd Grade ($75); 4-8th Grade ($95) April 16th to June 15th, a $20 late fee is charged No money comes to SMS area
o SMS Area Dues, $0 • Due at Uniform Fitting in April or May. • Covers incidental expenses..SHQZIJXFSFWJFUWFHYNHJYXMNWYFSI\NSIT\XYNHPJWX o Practice Fees • Due in the fall. Ranges from $20 to $60. Older squads practice more so fees are higher! o Camps • • • • • • •
& Clinic Fees Camp and clinic costs range from $10 to $2 each. Paid for in May/June, as camp registrations are due. Each coach decides upon 1-5 to attend. Older squads will do more. Girls learn skills from experienced cheerleaders. Stunt clinics prepare 5th through 8th grade squads for Advanced Stunt Certification. Prepares all cheerleaders for Cheer & Dance Competition. All camps and clinics are optional. Your coach can prioritize them for you—just ask!
o Uniforms Costs • A uniform is required and ranges in price from $185 to $350 depending on optional selections such as outerwear and a backpack. • As girls get older, more uniform pieces are necessary due to required camp & clinic attire. • Practice wear & uniform payment are due at Uniform Fitting in April or May. • 8th graders will need to purchase a separate tXMNWY and bow ($.95 for both) in order to be allowed to cheer for basketball games at IWMS. The skort is the same that’s needed for NCA Camp–it will only be purchased once. This payment will be due at Uniform Fitting in May. • There will be XTRJused uniforms availableKTWFQQLWFIJQJ[JQX. 8NSHJQFXY^JFW\FXTZWKNWXY^JFW\NYM YMJXJZSNKTWRXFSIRTXYUJTUQJYW^YTGZ^KTW^JFWXTKZXJXJQJHYNTSHTZQIGJXQNR • Fundraising is available and profits can be used toward uniform expenses. • Need based scholarship opportunities are available from our FCCJC SMS Area Scholarship Fund. These scholarships may be used towards uniform costs, too.
o Available Scholarships • Price Chopper Scholarships • Available to multiple recipients based on need. • Covers up to half of Registration Fee • Application due April 15th, 2015. • Apply via fccjc.org website. • Jennifer DeFranco Scholarship • One recipient is chosen based on an essay submission, and is not need based. • Covers up to $300 of registration fee, uniform costs, and practice, camp & clinic fees. • Application due March 31st, 2015. • Apply via fccjc.org website. • Shawnee Mission South Area Scholarships • Number of scholarships offered and dollar amounts depends on prior donations received. • Covers up 50% of cheer costs. • Cannot apply to registration fee. • Application due April 15th, 2015. • Email [email protected] for an application. o Area Fundraising (Occurs in September) • Helps pay for area celebration, trophies, spirit sticks and gifts for girls. • There will be an opt-out/buyout option.
• WHO ARE THE COACHES? Although previous cheer experience is not required to be an FCCJC coach, the coaches in the Shawnee Mission South Area have, combined, more than 30 years of cheer coaching experience. o All coaches and area directors have attended training in cheer safety and abide by the FCCJC Rules and Regulations. o All coaches undergo a mandatory, yearly criminal background check. o Assistant coaches needed! FCCJC requires a specific ratio of coaches to cheerleaders at all cheer events. o Coaches volunteer because they love kids and they love cheer but, please don’t forget—THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS!
• NEED MORE INFO? Feel free to call or email Kari D’Amato, SMS Area Director at 913-626-8111 or [email protected].
o Indian • • •
Woods Middle School Basketball Games (8th Grade): Games are after school, two nights per week. Squads will split between games/days. IWMS poms will be purchase and owned by the area. Begins after the New Year and continues through February.
• HOW MUCH DOES CHEERLEADING COST? Cheerleading is a great value compared to many other youth sports programs in the area. You may obtain a very detailed cost break-down, by squad, from a coach or area director but this should give you a general idea: o FCCJC • • • •
Registration Fee Paid when you register online February 15th to April 15th: K-3rd Grade ($75); 4-8th Grade ($95) April 16th to June 15th, a $20 late fee is charged No money comes to SMS area
o SMS Area Dues, $0 • Due at Uniform Fitting in April or May. • Covers incidental expenses..SHQZIJXFSFWJFUWFHYNHJYXMNWYFSI\NSIT\XYNHPJWX o Practice Fees • Due in the fall. Ranges from $20 to $60. Older squads practice more so fees are higher! o Camps • • • • • • •
& Clinic Fees Camp and clinic costs range from $10 to $2 each. Paid for in May/June, as camp registrations are due. Each coach decides upon 1-5 to attend. Older squads will do more. Girls learn skills from experienced cheerleaders. Stunt clinics prepare 5th through 8th grade squads for Advanced Stunt Certification. Prepares all cheerleaders for Cheer & Dance Competition. All camps and clinics are optional. Your coach can prioritize them for you—just ask!
o Uniforms Costs • A uniform is required and ranges in price from $185 to $350 depending on optional selections such as outerwear and a backpack. • As girls get older, more uniform pieces are necessary due to required camp & clinic attire. • Practice wear & uniform payment are due at Uniform Fitting in April or May. • 8th graders will need to purchase a separate tXMNWY and bow ($.95 for both) in order to be allowed to cheer for basketball games at IWMS. The skort is the same that’s needed for NCA Camp–it will only be purchased once. This payment will be due at Uniform Fitting in May. • There will be XTRJused uniforms availableKTWFQQLWFIJQJ[JQX. 8NSHJQFXY^JFW\FXTZWKNWXY^JFW\NYM YMJXJZSNKTWRXFSIRTXYUJTUQJYW^YTGZ^KTW^JFWXTKZXJXJQJHYNTSHTZQIGJXQNR • Fundraising is available and profits can be used toward uniform expenses. • Need based scholarship opportunities are available from our FCCJC SMS Area Scholarship Fund. These scholarships may be used towards uniform costs, too.
o Available Scholarships • Price Chopper Scholarships • Available to multiple recipients based on need. • Covers up to half of Registration Fee • Application due April 15th, 2015. • Apply via fccjc.org website. • Jennifer DeFranco Scholarship • One recipient is chosen based on an essay submission, and is not need based. • Covers up to $300 of registration fee, uniform costs, and practice, camp & clinic fees. • Application due March 31st, 2015. • Apply via fccjc.org website. • Shawnee Mission South Area Scholarships • Number of scholarships offered and dollar amounts depends on prior donations received. • Covers up 50% of cheer costs. • Cannot apply to registration fee. • Application due April 15th, 2015. • Email [email protected] for an application. o Area Fundraising (Occurs in September) • Helps pay for area celebration, trophies, spirit sticks and gifts for girls. • There will be an opt-out/buyout option.
• WHO ARE THE COACHES? Although previous cheer experience is not required to be an FCCJC coach, the coaches in the Shawnee Mission South Area have, combined, more than 30 years of cheer coaching experience. o All coaches and area directors have attended training in cheer safety and abide by the FCCJC Rules and Regulations. o All coaches undergo a mandatory, yearly criminal background check. o Assistant coaches needed! FCCJC requires a specific ratio of coaches to cheerleaders at all cheer events. o Coaches volunteer because they love kids and they love cheer but, please don’t forget—THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS!
• NEED MORE INFO? Feel free to call or email Kari D’Amato, SMS Area Director at 913-626-8111 or [email protected].
