Demerits - Earning points back

[cheer99]

Hello Fellow Coaches-

I've been coaching all stars for years! This is my first year coaching high school cheerleading. I coach both JV and Varsity.

JV is allowed to recieve 30 demerits before they are off the team and Varsity is allowed 20.

I have run into a point where a few of my girls on Varsity have reached their 20 demerits. I hate to have to kick them off, since we are only a couple months into the season and parents have forked out about $400 for all their stuff. (we have done fundraising...)

My question is...
What do you, as a coach, do to let the girls/boys earn back points??? I need some suggestions please!

Thank you for your time!
Delina
ECHS Cheer Coach

[pouncer the panther]

20 demerits!!!!
we have 10 demerits and we are kicked off the squad!
to work them off we would have to write 2 page essays and run laps.
(our coach is a rela teacher also)

[melpv1]

I have done away with my demerit system and now remove girls at my discretion based on the rules and the severity of infractions because I found demerits too time-consuming for me and not as fair as they first seemed.  I'm a teacher too, and we try to make discipline as streamlined and easy for us to enforce as possible while being most effective for students.  I think that sometimes students/athletes don't care about the initial demerits, and that's how they build them up so quickly and carelessly.  It's awfully early to have the full amount of demerits.  May I also what they did?

When I did use demerits, I allowed girls to earn back points by coming early to help set up the booster stand, prepare for our kiddie camps, etc. and staying late to clean up. 

[Pauliana]

To earn merits we allow the following tasks:

Earn all A's on report card or progress report.
Community service with documentation (letter from director)
Teacher recommendation (letter from teacher stating that cheerleader has been exceptionally helpful in some way)

Cheerleaders are only allowed to earn back two merits for the season. Our limit before dismissal is 10 demerits.

Cheer99... if you don't stick to your rules and remove those who have reached their allotted number of demerits, you will lose the respect of the ones who have been following the rules and have not earned any demerits. Don't back down. You can re-evaluate your policies at the end of the year, but don't back track now... it will backfire on you and will be a morale crusher for the rest of the squad.

[bchscheer]

... if you don't stick to your rules and remove those who have reached their allotted number of demerits, you will lose the respect of the ones who have been following the rules and have not earned any demerits. Don't back down. You can re-evaluate your policies at the end of the year, but don't back track now... it will backfire on you and will be a morale crusher for the rest of the squad.

While I understand how hard it may seem to follow through, I agree with Pauliana, you have to follow through, or you are setting the stage for being wishy washy and inconsistent.  Parents of the remaining cheerleaders will respect you as will the remaining cheerleaders for sticking by your word.  Those that want to try out again next year will know that you mean business.

I don't have a demerit system and like another post, I can remove cheerleaders if warranted.  That only happens after a parent conference and action plan for correction and collaboration with school administration - if the cheerleader/parent doesn't follow through with corrective action, then they are removed.

[pouncer the panther]

we have a cheerleading handbook so everyone knows what you get them for and how many in each.
at 7 demerits.
you are reviewed by the advisory board which consists of:
sponsor/principal/vp.for the grade she is in.

[alumnicoach]

This is our first year with demerits and I absoutely LOVE it! I admit, initially I didn't think I would be able to keep up with the small details of what earns a demerit and what not.
I'm suprised, I actually have girls coming up to me saying "Sorry coach, I couldn't find my practice shirt, I already know....that's half a demerit".
THEY keep up with infractions!

In addition, we started with demerits to keep some structure and discipline in our program, while that has worked, you also have to REWARD.  I'm not sure I agree with a demerit system that doesn't have an opportunity for merits. 

We have two conditioning sessions where girls can come make up demerits.
I've also given out 'random' merits for everyday acts of showmanship/hardword/teamwork and the such.

[coachamie]

I have run into a point where a few of my girls on Varsity have reached their 20 demerits. I hate to have to kick them off, since we are only a couple months into the season and parents have forked out about $400 for all their stuff. (we have done fundraising...)

My question is...
What do you, as a coach, do to let the girls/boys earn back points??? I need some suggestions please!

The WORST thing you can do is change the policy so that a few girls don't get kicked off. They knew the rule ahead of time, they broke the rule, now is the consequence. I know it wont be easy but you have to follow through! You will have a huge headache and mess if you change it now.

If you want to change your policy the time to do that is after the season, not now. 

[cubscheercoach]

Our girls demerits are tied to their grades .  5 points off for each demerit for the weekly grade.  Merits can be earned by straigh a's, community service, or if a cheerleader goes above and beyond what is expected. If they choreograph a dance, volunteer to cheer if someone is sick, etc.  Once a girl gets 5, she has to run a mile.  If you earn 2 merits, it can take away one demerit, but it won't change a grade or running.  The kids have seen us remove girls from the squad, so they don't have any doubt that we will stick by our guns.  They know they won't be able to try out the next year if they are underclassmen if they get 15, and seniors will lose their scholarship.  It works well for us. 

[pouncer the panther]

here is the demerit section from the timberwood cheerleading handbook:
1) if a cheerleader recieves 5 demerits he/she will be suspended from participating in the next scheduled game and pep rally.
every additional demerit after five the cheerleader will be suspended each time.

2) if a cheerleader recieves 7 demerits he/she will be presented in front of the advisory board.

3) if a cheerleader recieves an accumulation of 10 demerits he/she is dismissed from the squad for the remainder of the year.

here is what you get demerits for:

1)tardy to a game or practice------1 D.
2)leaving required event early without prior approval------1 D.
3)missing required event (unless home sick)-------2 D.
4)chewing gum or eating candy in uniform------ 1 D.
5)disrespectful behavior--------2 D.
6)failure to dress properly (@ school&games)-----1 D.
7)improper behavior during game or event-----2 D.
8)lunch iso----1 D.
9)D-hall-----2 D.
10)saturday class/suspension----3 D.
11)not selling enough fundraiser items---1 D.
12)not making transportation arrangements----1 D.
13)N in conduct---1 D.
14)U in conduct---2 D.
15)failure to attend a required tutoring session-----1 D.


that is it.