Game Day Questions

[p-tcheer]

My cheerleaders are allowed to wear their uniforms to school on game day.  I am "old school" and believe that my cheerleaders should come to school looking just like they are ready to cheer at a game:  complete uniform with hair in a ponytail with the same ribbon.  I have to fight my girls every week on this issue.  They want to wear their hair to school "any way they wish."  Some of you might say, don't sweat the small stuff, save your battles for bigger issues.  But I feel strongly about this and my experience (at this school in this cheer program) that you give them an inch and they will take a mile.
Also, the jewelry issue, EVERY practice and EVERY game I have to have a "jewelry check."  There is always someone who "forgot" to take their jewelry off.  There are consequences for breaking these rules, but it doesn't seem to matter.  What do other coaches expect of their cheerleaders on game days?  I am going to stick to my guns, but I am curious as to what others expect.  I am almost at the point where the girls are going to have to check-in at 8:15 a.m. on game days to have a uniform check. Ha/Ha.  Also, what are some "consequences" for breaking the rules that other coaches use that seem to make a difference?  Thank you for your help.

[pouncer the panther]

we are'nt allowed to wear our uniforms on game days. we have our game day outfits which are really cute!
our cheer jersey's varsity brand i'm sure. our cheer bows in a ponytail and blue jeans oh and our cheer shoes so EVERYONE matches.
we aren't allowed to wear the uniforms because of the principal.(the skirts are too short lol no their not)

[LCSD1 coach]

For me I do not allow them to wear their  uniforms.  I don't want anything spilt on them or them having the chance to get ruined.  We wear uniforms provided by the school and most of our uniforms are 15 years old I have to keep them protected.  My girls have to wear dress clothes on game days.  Occasionaly I will allow them to wear our warups but only to home games and never on away trips.  I never make my cheerleaders wear their hair the same except for competitions.  As long as the hair is out of their eyes and off the shoulders they can wear it how they want.  I focus more on cheering for our teams and pumping up our crowd.  How they look as far as their mothions and dances, ther stunting and crowd involvment and I save the all looking the same for when we compete. For Jewlery I do have a little plastic container that I keep in my med bag for just those occasions.  I just remind them and they are good to take it off.  I don't punish i just check before each practice and game and say please place your jewlery in the jewlery box (plastic container) and they do with no questions asked.  I am a stickler for the rules but I am not going to waste my energy on some issues.  to me as long as when i check and they take the jewlery off (wheather they really forgot or not) I'm ok with that.

[RPCmme]

We only wear uniforms to school on pep assembly days.  Due to the jewelry rule and other reasons (science labs, school dress code, etc.), I don't make them wear their uniform to school all of the time.  This also gets more use out of our camp outfits, which parents appreciate.

Try this with the jewelry thing.  We do this, and it has worked very well.  Coaches will spot-check for jewelry.  Maybe it's one stunt group, maybe it's all seniors, maybe it's everyone--we change it up.  For every safety violations (belly button ring, hair/bangs in the face, gum, etc.) and for "inappropriate attire" (shorts that are too short, bra straps hanging out, midriffs showing, etc.), the ENTIRE squad will run that many laps.  This helps the team work together.  They will remind each other to be ready for practice or games, and if there's a violation, it's the team's fault--not just the one person.

As coaches, we need to stick to the rules.  As leaders for our teams, we can't teach our squad members that some rules are okay to break.  Kudos to you for teaching a non-cheer, real-world lesson to your teams!

[coachamie]

I completely agree that if you give them an inch they take a mile! We are not allowed to wear uniforms to school either. We have have warmups and camp clothes we circulate through on game days. They all do have to wear their hair the same during the day just as if they are ready for the game. They also must wear their cheer shoes. Anyone who isn't dressed exactly the same gets a demerit for each item that is wrong. I do not teach at the school so the captains are in charge of letting me know anyone that is not wearing what they are supposed to. Our school has a dress code so if the girls aren't in dress code and they don't match the team perfectly then they can get demerits from me and the school. If them wearing incorrect items becomes an issue, then they know that I will make it to where they don't get to wear anything special and they just have to come in dress code. That usually keeps them in line. As for jewelry I remind them before every game when they are stretching to take it off. If they don't after I have said it then is when they get a demerit.

[CoachErin]

My girls wear their uniforms and they are allowed to wear their hair as they please, but it must be neat. If it is up they must wear a ribbon. At school they may wear post earrings only, no other jewelry. My girls are pretty good about coming prepared, the worst problem I've had this year is nail polish. I have one girl who comes to the game with polish on every week. I bench her the first quarter as she takes off the polish but I have now threatened that if it happens again this week she will be benched the entire game.

[eyeofthebvtiger]

my own cheer coach benches us if we dont follow rules. and what i mean by that is they wear the uniform fully made up, show up on time, unload all equipment, etc. But after that is done they are not allowed to cheer. Just sit and watch. And if they are a repeated offender they are off the squad. Period no ifs ands or buts. They also still have to practice and learn everything while they are benched. They cant peform at all.