HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL

CHEER & DANCE

Pre-Tryout Parent/Participant Meeting
 WELCOME!
Varsity Cheer Coach: Tatum Garcia
JV Cheer Coaches: Crystal Rice & Allison Cardoza
Dance Coach: Jenny Iniguez

 Cheer & Dance (Rally Squad) Email: garciat@luhsd.net

 Cheer & Dance (Rally Squad) Website: www.luhsd.net/hhsrallysquad
 Here you can find information regarding:
 Squad Expectations
 Tryouts
 Competitions
 Camp
HHS CHEER & DANCE
PHILOSOPHY/EXPECTATIONS
HHS CHEER & DANCE SQUAD
PHILOSOPHY/EXPECTATIONS
1. Very different program because we are school affiliated
• Our program is year around
• Competitive team that also does sidelines, so school spirit and involvement

is expected
• You attend school with your teammates, you spend a lot of time together
• Age range from 13-18

2. Students First

 Cheerleaders & Dancers are expected to attend all classes on time and everyday. Academic
achievement is paramount in being a well-rounded and successful student, cheerleader and
dancer.
3. Cheerleaders and Dancers
 As a cheerleader or dancer you are always expected to be a leader and role model. Having a
positive attitude is essential in creating a successful cheer/dance team and achieving
individual and team goals.
 Whether you are wearing your uniform or in plain clothes everyone knows you are an HHS
Cheerleader or Dancer; therefore, you are expected to conduct yourself in a positive manor at
all times. You represent Heritage at ALL times!
CHEER AND DANCE EXPECTATIONS
 Attitude is everything! We are a team first! You are expected to be a
positive team member!

 Conditioning is essential to being a successful cheerleader or dancer. You

are expected to participate in conditioning at cheer/dance practice as well as
in your physical education course. (If you have a note for PE then you will
not be participating in cheer or dance)

 Attend all practices (including summer), games, competitions and other

cheer and dance events (mandatory).

 Show up to games READY to cheer and wearing the correct uniform. If

you are not at school do not expect to participate in cheer or dance practice
or games.

 Keep up those grades! Your placement on this team affects everyone, we

can’t lose people mid season. Tutoring is available if you need it in any
subject 
Rally Squad Organization
 Cheer & Dance are separate
 Participants may be on the JV OR Varsity Cheer Teams OR the Dance
Team.
 You may not be on a Cheer team AND the Dance Team

 Members of the JV/Varsity Cheer and Dance Teams will be

expected to cheer at games and compete at cheer/dance
competitions. There are no separate “game” and “competition”
teams. There may be alternate positions where competition is not
expected. This will be at the coaches discretion.

Who is eligible to tryout for each team?

 All grades levels are eligible for JV and Varsity Cheer and
Dance. Members will be determined by skill level and position.
VARSITY CHEER
Squad Requirements
Advanced level stunting
 Tumbling isn’t required but highly suggested. Advanced tumbling
skills: Standing tucks, layouts, and fulls.
Confident performer, lots of energy.
Flexibility and height in jumps
Ability to condition, run, we are athletes!

 Cheer Season: “There Is No Off Season”

April 2016 (tryouts) – April 2017 (banquet)
Varsity Cheer and (possibly) Dance will be attending UCA/UDA
Nationals in Orlando FL, Dance: End of January Cheer first week in
February 2017
Varsity Cheer and Dance will be attending USA Nationals in
Anaheim, March 2017
“CHEERLEADING IS MORE THAN A SPORT,
IT’S A LIFESTYLE.” “I CAN’T I HAVE
PRACTICE”

Year long season……you have to love it!!!

o All practices, home and local

o Varsity football and basketball games including
playoffs
o competitions and rallies
o squad fundraisers
 Varsity Dance and JV will have a home camp TBA
July 2016
o Summer Camp – UCA Elite Camp July 16th to the
19th @ UC Davis
Not mandatory, but strongly encouraged Cost: $450
JV CHEER

 Cheer Season:
 April 2016 (tryouts) – Feb 2017
 JV will be attending 2-3 USA competitions

Squad Requirements:
• Effort level and coach-ability
• Previous stunting experience is suggested
• Front/back walkovers, back handsprings, and tucks.

Cheerleaders will be expected to attend:

 All practices, home and local JV football and basketball
games, various other athletic team events, competitions,
rallies, squad fundraisers, various squad events
 UCA home camp TBA July 2016 $250
DANCE TEAM
Squad Requirements:
 Technique is expected!
 Multiple turn sequences, fortes, jumps, and flexibility.
 High performance level

Dance Season:
 April2016 (tryouts) – April 2017
 UDA Nationals in Florida Jan 2017 and USA Nationals in Anaheim
March 2017
 Dancers will be expected to attend:
 All practices, home and local Varsity football and basketball games,
including playoffs, various other athletic team events, competitions,
rallies, squad fundraisers, various squad events
 Dance Camp UDA home camp(s) Cost: $300
ESTIMATED
COST
Should you decide to purchase
your uniform
 ESTIMATED COST for NEW CHEERLEADERS
(should you choose to purchase)

Please see New Cheerleader & Dancer uniform cost handout

for details

We will be paying Varsity directly, you will have your own
account to manage. Deadlines will still be in place to make
sure you receive items in time for camp, games, and
competitions. Items need to be paid for before the order is in
process.
UNIFORM LOAN PROGRAM
 The Heritage Rally Squad will purchase JV, Varsity and
Dance uniforms for you to “borrow” for the season at no
cost to you (unless the uniform is damaged) which must
be returned to the Heritage Rally Squad in good
condition at the end of the season

 Does not include camp/practice clothes, shoes, bow or

briefs or summer camps

 Uniforms will be standard sizes, not custom fit

 Email or see me for details

 How do we pay for everything?
Fundraisers!
 We will be participating in as many fundraisers as
possible to help offset the following costs
• Drought Friendly Car Wash May 7th
 Choreography & Clinics
 Competition fees
 Entry Fees for Nationals
 End of Year Banquet
** Anytime we do not have enough funds to cover the costs of
the events above we will be asking for donations
Fundraisers include:
 PDP Fundraiser (online and through mail)
 Fashion Show
 Candy Apples
 District Showcase
TRYOUT
INFORMATION
 PRE-TRYOUT CHEER & DANCE CLINIC
(OPTIONAL)
 When:
 Saturday, April 9th
 Registration/Check-in 8:30am, Clinic 9:00am-12:00pm

 Cost - $40.00

 What you will learn:

 Warm-up/Conditioning techniques
 Basic Cheer & Dance motions and drills
 Jumps (Cheer)
 Turns & Leaps (Dance)
 Work with various stunt groups, learn all stunt group positions, learn
stunting basics
 Tryout Dance – first three 8-counts w/music
Tryout Format
 First Cuts April 11th 13th and 14th 4-6pm HHS MU
 Notification of first cuts will be on – Thursday April 14 th th
 Will be based on our evaluation of specific skills, stunting,

tumbling, jumps, cheer and dance.

 – April 19th – 21st 4-6pm HHS MU
 Run like practices
 Will be working with remaining candidates to see appropriate
placement. These positions will be based on needs of
competition routines.
 Final Evaluation on Thursday, April 21st. Final Cut based on
our evaluation of stunting, tumbling, jumps, cheer and dance.
 Final Squad announcement will be posted on Website.
 Dance Tryout Expectations
Technique & Showmanship!!!!

o Turns, Jumps, Leaps

 You will need to demonstrate these skills during drills and in
the tryout dance
 You will demonstrate your own turn sequence as well
 You will demonstrate a right, left, center, and switch-leaps

Dance
 Knowledge of choreography and showmanship in tryout
routine
WHEN ARE TRYOUTS?
 Pre-Tryout Clinic (optional)
 Saturday, April 9th
 Registration @ 8:30am; Clinic 9am
– 12:30pm
 HHS Multi-Use Rm.

FINAL CALL BACKS

 Cheer & Dance Tryout Clinics
 Varsity Cheer & Dance
(mandatory)
 First Section – April 11th, 13th, & Team Tryouts
14th  Thursday April 21st
 4pm - 6:00pm  4:00pm - ???
 First Cuts notification – Thursday
April 14th
 Second Section - April 19th-20th
 4pm – 6:00pm
 HHS Multi-Use Room
WHEN/HOW DO WE FIND OUT IF WE MADE
THE CHEER OR DANCE SQUAD?

 The candidates who made the team will be posted on the

Rally Squad website in the evening on Thursday, April
21st.
 WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO TRYOUT?
1. Visit the HHS Rally Squad (Cheer & Dance) website to download and
print an HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packet
2. Review all HHS Cheer & Dance handouts (found @ Pre-tryout meeting
& on website)
3. Complete HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packet
 HHS Cheer & Dance Application Checklist
 HHS Cheer & Dance Application
 Coach/Teacher Recommendation(New members only)
This will be emailed directly to Coach Garcia.
 Completed Medical Release (Physical Form) – must be completed
BEFORE tryouts
ALL HHS Cheer & Dance Application Packets are due to
Coach Garcia by Friday, April 8th by 3:30pm
(mailbox or classroom ES 103)
WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOU MAKE THE
SQUAD?
 Post-tryout Parent/Participant Meeting
 Monday April 25th – 6:00pm in cafeteria (mandatory)

 Uniform Fittings
 Tuesday, April 26th - 3:15pm & 5pm
• Car Wash May 7th @ Willy’s
• Practices Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Wednesdays
beginning on Tuesday, May 3rd
• Summer Practices – Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
beginning June 21st
• Summer Camp (Var Cheer) – July 16th – 19th
• JV & Dance Home Camp TBA July