North Pinellas Panthers

Cheerleading Handbook 2024

Congratulations on joining the North Pinellas Panthers Cheerleading Program!

We are looking forward to a season of fun and exciting memories and events.

2024 TEAMS & COACHES:

JTM Princess Elite – Head Coach Amanda, Asst. Coach Kristen, Jr. Coach Sofia, and Team
Mom Alexa

TM Tiny Divas – Head Coach Bethany, Asst. Coach Tationa, Jr. Coach Leilene, and Team
Mom Breanna

TM Sassy Paws – Head Coach Ashley, Asst. Coach Becca, Asst. Coach, Iesha, Asst. Coach
April, and Team Mom Wanda

JPW Blue Royals – Head Coach Kiara, Asst. Coach Danielle, Asst. Coach Heather, Jr. Coach
Tori, and Team Mom Kristen

PW Blue Diamonds – Head Coach Kasey, Asst. Coach Brittany, Asst. Coach Tatiana, Asst.
Coach Amanda, Asst. Coach Randi, and Team Mom Sam

JV Lady Silver – Head Coach Summer, Asst. Coach Carissa, Asst. Coach Brittany, and Team
Mom Kelly

V3 Legacy – Head Coach Jess, Asst. Coach Avery, Asst. Coach Mariah, Asst. Coach Calista,
Team Manager Dana, and Team Mom Melina

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 Cheerleading Code of Conduct:

The cheerleading program at North Pinellas Panthers will provide its participants with many
opportunities involving leadership, spirit, and enthusiasm. The purpose of our program is to:
1. Support our athletic program through various activities and events.
2. Promote and uphold spirit and enthusiasm of spectators at athletic events.
3. Develop a sense of good sportsmanship.
4. Promote North Pinellas Panthers by being involved in the community.

The Role of a Cheerleader

• Represent the organization to the highest degree in and out of uniform.
• Be a positive leader and a role model.
• Always set a good example through behavior and sportsmanship.
• Positively contribute to the atmosphere of the team.
• Balance academic requirements and demands with extra-curricular and personal activities.

Standards of Behavior for Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders will be held to high expectations. Remember that there are people watching
everything you say and do. Because of this, the North Pinellas Panthers Cheerleaders are
expected to set high standards for their organization and to set a good example for their
fellow teammates.

• All cheerleaders must maintain an attitude of enthusiasm and cooperation with squad
members and coaches at all functions. Working together may mean making personal
sacrifices at times for the good of the whole squad and doing so with enthusiasm.
• As a representative of NPP, cheerleaders are expected to uphold all handbook policies and
Pop Warner rules while in and out of uniform. Any violation of these rules or conduct
deemed improper and unsuitable for a cheerleader – no matter where the incident takes
place – will result in consequences administered at the discretion of the cheerleading coach
and/or the Cheer Coordinator including dismissal.
• Social Media – be extremely careful of what you post and/or are tagged in on social media.
• You will be held accountable, and MAY be removed for any inappropriate pictures or posts.
The consequences will be determined at the coach's discretion.
• There will be no toleration for the girls posting photos or videos of drugs/alcohol/illegal or
inappropriate activities.
• This includes the girls being posted in photos with people around them participating in these
activities, even if they themselves are not doing it.
• There will also be no toleration for harassment of any kind through social media.
• If any of these rules are violated, these issues will be brought to the president of the
organization and the girl will risk being removed from the league.

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• Kindness/Respect - In addition to social media harassment, harassment, or abuse of any
kind towards each other or the coaches will not be tolerated.
• This includes name calling, verbal threats, physical altercations, and bullying.
• If any of these rules are violated, there will be risk of the girl(s) being suspended or
removed from the league.

Attendance Policy
• Schedules will be given in advance and ALL cheerleaders are expected to attend scheduled
meetings, practices, competitions, and events. Prior notice must be given to the coach if an
issue arises.
• Arrive on time to ALL EVENTS!! (15 minutes early is on time!!)
• Cell phones will be put away at the beginning of all practices and games.
• Cheerleaders must be in attendance in order to be eligible to participate in practice, games,
and competitions. Excused absences include family emergencies, medical illness, and school
activities (approved by the coach at least one week PRIOR to the missed event).
• During the fall cheer season, beginning August 1st, vacations are NOT excused absences.
• Unexcused absences and Tardiness from practices or games may incur the following
consequences at coaches discretion:

1st – Conference with coaches

2nd – Notification/parent conference

3rd – Removal from position

• If an athlete shows up late to a practice or game, they will still be required to make up the
conditioning and stretching that they missed.
• A parent or athlete MUST let a Coach know in as much advance as possible if they are going
to be late to an event.

Safety
• Stunting/tumbling must only take place in the presence of a coach.
• Cheer shoes and proper clothing that follows the dress code must be worn at all times.
• Only the stunts and tumbling passes that have been approved and practiced will be
performed at games and competitions.
• Jewelry is not to be worn at any practice, game, or competition (This includes all piercings).
• Nails are to be kept at a short length because long nails and artificial nails can become a
safety hazard (Clear nail polish only).
• If you become injured, a doctor’s release must be given PRIOR to participating in practice.
• Attendance at practices and games is still required for the duration of an injury.

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 2024 Cheer Season Information:

SUMMER SCHEDULE:

- Teams may be practicing Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July at the Oldsmar Sports
Complex from 6:00-8:00 pm. (Ages 7 and under will end practices in June and July at 7:30
pm). Head Coaches will send out each team’s summer practice schedule on team chats.
- Each team will be holding at least two team bonding events during the Summer, these dates
will vary per team and be determined by the team’s Head Coach.
- Each team will have a separate parent meeting near the end of the Summer. Dates TBD by
Head Coaches.
- Summer camp – Teams may hold summer camps. Times and Dates will be announced by Head
Coaches on individual team Band chats. These camps are open ONLY to athletes registered
for fall cheer. Not open to the public.
- End of Summer – Cheer Potluck Picnic at John Chestnut Park – Date and Time TBD – ALL
athletes and parents are welcome!

FALL PRACTICES:

Practice Schedule

- (Practice days and amounts of practice per week may vary per team and are ALWAYS
subject to change.) We ask that your athlete be on the field and ready to practice at 5:45
PM, dressed appropriately and not eating/finishing any food.
- MUST USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE PRACTICE STARTS!!
- First official practice for 5 yr. olds and up is August 1st.
- First official practice for 3-4 yr. olds is August 13th.
- Athletes MUST bring A LOT of water and a yoga mat or towel to all practices!
- Most teams will practice 3x a week throughout the duration of the season.
- Teams will practice at the Oldsmar Sports Complex on field practice days.
- Most teams will practice from 6:00-8:00 pm on field practice days (3-4 year olds will always
practice from 6:00-7:00 pm and TM teams ages 5-6 will end practice at 7:30 pm).
- Beginning in September, each team will start incorporating indoor gym practices at The
Stingray Allstars Gym into their schedule. Amount of gym practices varies per age.
- Official practice schedules will be released per team by your child’s Head Coach.
- PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE FIELD DURING PRACTICES. If there are any
questions or concerns, please address them with your coach before or after practices.

Practice Dress Code

- Blue Tee shirt or tank (Preferably Panthers if they have one)

- Black Cheer shorts (Black track shorts are fine too. All shorts must be appropriate length.
Nike pros or bloomers do not count as shorts)
- Bloomers/Nike Pros under shorts
- White cheer shoes
- High ponytail

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- Cheer bow in hair (Preferably Panthers if they have one)
- NO jewelry
- NO long or acrylic nails
- Thursdays, the girls will be required to wear the practice uniform that they receive. They
will receive one practice uniform that will be included in the registration fee, but if parents
want to purchase an extra practice uniform, that will be an additional fee.

*Girls are expected to come on time to practice fully dressed with hair up and jewelry out
before taking the field/mat. If they show up without cheer shoes, they will not be able to
practice for safety reasons.

Practice Attendance

- If an athlete reaches more than 3 unexcused and 3 excused absences from practices
throughout the season (Beginning August 1st), we cannot guarantee that her spot in the
routine will be secure.
- Consistently showing up late counts as well. Example: 1 hour late = 1/2 practice absent.
- If an athlete is consistently showing up late to practices and or games, the consequences
similar to those of unexcused absences may be put into play (at Coaches Discretion).
- If an athlete shows up late to a practice, they will still be required to make up the
conditioning and stretching that they missed.
- A parent or athlete MUST let a Coach know in as much advance as possible if they are going
to be late to practice.
- If the athlete is at school, they are expected to be at practice that day. Appointments and
work should be scheduled during times that will not conflict with cheerleading. These will be
deemed unexcused.
- Missing practices that have valid excuses can still lead to being removed from a position or
stunt, due to not physically being available to practice and help your team. No spot is
guaranteed.
- Any additional absences beyond the allowed 3 excused and 3 unexcused absences may result
in becoming an alternate, having their position moved, or REMOVAL from the team.

Conditioning
- In order to have a successful season and keep the girls safe and healthy when we start
running through the routine full out, they need to be conditioned.
- Please make sure the girls are eating well and hydrating leading up to practices.
- All girls are expected to participate in conditioning.
- Daily expected conditioning: running, stretching, basic conditioning drills.
- If they are injured and cannot participate, we will need a doctor’s note.

Weather Safety

- If lightning strikes during or before practice, the girls AND parents must wait in a car for
30 minutes since the last strike before taking the field again.

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- The girls should not leave the field and assume practice is over when lightning strikes. They
are to wait in a car until told otherwise on the Band app – PLS KEEP NOTIFICATIONS ON!
- If a parent is not present, the girls will need to go with a coach to their car.
- If we end up having to cancel a practice before practice starts due to storms, practices
may be rescheduled to virtual practice or in person practice on another day.

GAME DAY:

Game Day Schedule

- Games will occur on Saturdays and go from end of August until mid-October. Please plan on
games taking up the entire morning and or afternoon/evening.
- We will be cheering at all home and away games, which is a total of 8 - 10 games (3-4 year
olds will only cheer for home games).
- PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE FIELD DURING GAMES. If there are any
questions or concerns, please address them with your coach before or after the game.

Game Day Dress Code

- Game day uniforms

- White no show socks
- White cheer shoes
- High ponytail
- Game day bow
- NO JEWELRY
- NO long or painted nails

*Girls are expected to arrive early before game time (Each team may vary on arrival times) fully
dressed with hair up and jewelry out before check in. If they show up not following the dress
code, they won’t be able to cheer in the game and will be marked absent.

Game Day Attendance

- Each girl is only allowed to miss 2 games, NO EXCEPTIONS.

- If they miss more than 2 games, they will not be allowed to compete.
- If for any reason a girl plans on missing a game, she must fill out an absentee form and have
it signed by a parent and coach AT LEAST one week prior to game day.

Game Day Snacks

- Athletes are always expected to eat BEFORE getting to the field for games.
- Athletes need to be with coaches at assigned time and remain with coaches until they are
dismissed after the game. They are not to wander off with their friends or go to the
concession stand and eat during this time.
- We will have snacks during halftime of our game.
- Please do not give other food to the athletes including concession stand food before or
during game.

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- Each parent is required to sign up on our Sign-Up Genius to bring snacks to one game this
season.
- Snacks must be healthy and not homemade; no colors, no junk food. Ex; fruit and pretzels.

Game Day Expectations

- Arrive on time for the game (the coaches will let you know the time).
- Have complete uniform at all games. Failure to be in FULL uniform may result in being
benched during the game.
- Remain in the cheering area during the game.
- Cell phones will be kept in cheer bags during the games.
- Control and lead the crowd through positive cheers and chants.
- DO NOT socialize during the game with your friends in the stands or your teammates.
Friends may not socialize with you at the field fence.
- Follow the captains and do not tell them what cheers you do or do not want to do. (Captains
will be chosen by the coaches).

COMPETITIONS:

Competition Schedule

- 10/10: Pre-competition showcase for parents at Oldsmar Sports Complex at 7:30 pm

- 10/13: Cheer Jam Competition – RP Funding Center in Lakeland
- 10/20: Rockstar Royale – Tentative
- 10/27: Rockstar Rumble – Tentative
- 11/10: Sunshine State – Tentative
- 11/28-12/1: Regionals – Orlando (Must advance from Cheer Jam)
- 12/8-12/13: Nationals – Orlando (Must advance from Regionals)
- All competitions are MANDATORY. If for some reason you are not going to make a
competition or are going on vacation near a competition date, we need to know BEFORE the
season starts!
- 3-4 YEAR OLDS WILL ONLY PERFORM AT CHEER JAM COMPETITION!

Competition Day Dress Code

- FULL competition uniform

- White no show socks
- White cheer shoes
- Competition bow
- Hair & Makeup / TBD-Differs per team
- NO jewelry and NO long, fake, or painted nails

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UNIFORMS & GEAR:

Uniform Fittings

We will hold two uniform fittings. ALL ATHLETES MUST ATTEND ONE FITTING!

Options: May 18th at Oldsmar Sports Complex and May 25th at Oldsmar Public Library

Times for both dates:

9:00-9:45 – V3 Legacy

10:00-10:45 – JV2 Lady Silver

11:00-11:45 – PW Blue Diamonds

12:00 – BREAK

1:00-1:45 - JPW Blue Royals

2:00-2:45 – TM Sassy Paws

3:00-3:45 – TM Tiny Divas

4:00-4:45 – JTM Princess Elite

*Athletes must NOT ARRIVE BEFORE THEIR TEAMS TIME SLOT and MUST ARRIVE 15
MINUTES BEFORE THEIR TIME SLOT IS OVER! For example, if athlete’s time slot is 9:00-
9:45, please arrive between 9:00 and 9:30.

Season Gear (SUBJECT TO CHANGE!)

- For the season, each athlete will receive one of each of the following to keep: Game day
uniform, game day bow, practice outfit, cheer shoes, pink bow, and pink socks.
- The Panthers will provide cheerleaders with pom poms to use on game days, these are NOT
to take home or to keep, and will be shared amongst all teams.
- Cheerleaders will NOT BE GIVEN pom poms to keep. If interested, parents may purchase
athletes their own set of pom poms for $20.
- Cheerleaders will only be given ONE practice outfit for the season, if interested, parent
may purchase extra practice outfits for 20$ each.
- Cheerleaders will only be given ONE pair of cheer shoes for the season, if interested,
parents may purchase extra pair of shoes for $45.
- Orders for pom poms, extra practice uniforms, and extra shoes must be placed by May 25th
Uniform Fitting. Orders will NOT be accepted after May 25th. Cash, Check, Venmo and Zelle
will be accepted.

Competition Uniforms

- Competition uniforms are Panther’s property and must be returned CLEANED AND DRY at
the end of the season. Parents will be responsible for replacing a damaged or lost uniform.

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- Each cheerleader is responsible for their uniform. Uniforms must be clean for every
competition.
- Uniforms are to be worn for Panther activities only. You cannot lend your uniform to anyone.
- Cleaning Instructions: Uniforms are to be washed on delicate, inside out, on cold, and hand
dried. Uniforms are NOT to be dry cleaned or ironed under any circumstance. NO fabric
softener.

FEES AND FUNDRAISING:

- Parents are required to participate in volunteer hours or pay an opt out fee $150 (More info
on this under Volunteer category below, JTM Parents are not required to participate in
volunteer hours or pay the opt out fee). A sign-up genius will be created for volunteer hours.
- Competition Uniform Deposit CHECK or CREDIT CARD $150 per athlete (only
cashed/charged if uniform is lost or damaged). MUST turn in to a coordinator or coach at
uniform fitting.
- We are asking $80 in spirit fees this year to cover competition bows, and mid/end of year
gifts for the girls. JTM PARENTS ONLY – Spirit fees are $40.
- Spirit fees will be due at uniform fitting. Fee is preferred to be paid in total upfront, but
payment plans of $20 per week can be set up if needed! Please contact your Head Coach if
you need to set up a payment plan!
- Spirit fees must be sent to Head Coach via Venmo or cash. Reach out to Head Coach for
Venmo.
- EVERY athlete MUST participate in the October organization-wide fundraiser. Earnings
from this will go directly back to the organization.
- Other cheer fundraising opportunities: Fill in the bow-June, Fill in the Calendar-July.
Earnings from these fundraisers will be collected by parents to help cover hotel and
competition fees for the season.
- Teams may have specific team fundraisers throughout the season to cover things such as
extra gym time.

VOLUNTEERING:

- All cheer families are required to volunteer 10 hours per 1 athlete or 15 for 2+ athletes.
Those hours are to be completed either in the concession, at the gate, or helping with
water/trash. All volunteer opportunities are subject to change.
- No parent will ever have to volunteer when their athlete is cheering. We ask that you
volunteer 2 hours before your athlete’s game. Volunteer hours are only offered during our
home games.
- There is a opt out option for $150 per athlete or $200 per family. Parents must provide a
postdated check or credit card on file for volunteer hours that will only be cashed/charged
if they opt out or do not complete the required hours.
- Parents MUST turn in check or card info at uniform fitting.

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- All cheer families are required to donate 2 cases of drinks for the concession stands
(whatever is assigned to your team). Drop off dates will be provided by your coach. Please
reach out if you need assistance.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

- PARENTS – Please abide by the 24-hour rule throughout the entire cheer season. The 24-
hour rule states that if a problem or concern arises, you wait 24 hours to address it with
the other party to allow for a cool down period.
- Please do NOT post any videos of the competition routine on any form of social media
throughout the season. This includes girls and parents!
- If an athlete misses practice for any reason, they will be expected to learn what they
missed before the next practice. We will send out videos if needed.
- Contract from Cheer Handbook must be signed by parent and athlete and turned in at
uniform fitting.
- Each athlete is responsible for cleaning up their cheer area after practices and games – Do
NOT leave trash.
- Athlete’s cell phones will be put away at the beginning of all practices and games.
- Please ALWAYS keep notifications on for Band so that you don’t miss any important
information!
- If a parent or cheerleader has a question or concern, it is best to contact your Head Coach
or Cheer Coordinators via email or Band message. A response will be given as promptly as
possible. Both the President and Cheer Coordinators have given our coaching staff their full
support. The most reliable, accurate information can be acquired directly from the coaches.

CONTACT INFO:

• Head Cheer Coordinator: Summer McParland: mcparlands@pcsb.org

• Assistant Cheer Coordinator: Jess Mason: jessicamason7206@gmail.com

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 Personal Cheerleading Contract

I have read the North Pinellas Panthers Cheerleading Handbook and understand
the responsibilities and privileges of being a Panther Cheerleader. I will abide
by these rules and regulations for the 2024 cheerleading season.

I understand that if I do not follow the rules, I will receive the outlined
consequences. I will cooperate fully with the coaches and all persons and
organizations concerned with promoting spirit and good sportsmanship with the
North Pinellas Panthers.

_____________________________

Printed Name

_____________________________ __________________

Cheerleader’s Signature Date

_____________________________ __________________

Parent Signature Date

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