Team apparel sparks debate over dress code

[lilaboosh]

i think it is crazy not to wear uniforms on game day. cheerleaders need to show that they are a unified team and that they support the athletes, also this promotes the game and helps attendance for the sport. if i ever see a girl not in uniform on game day she has to condition. if your skirts are too short to wear to school then they are probably to short to cheer in... get some longer ones or wear your warm ups. warm ups have the same effect.

[coachK]

The problem with that, at least as far as our dress code goes, is that skirts and pants are required to be knee length or longer, and must be khaki.  Plus, everything is supposed to be a solid color, which the uniforms are not.  The shirts that the girls wear are actually very cute -- a polo with the name of the school, the word "Cheer" and their names embroidered on them, plus their hair bows and matching gros grain ribbon belts with their names embroidered on them. 

I agree, I would love for them to be able to wear their uniforms, but since they can't, this is a great alternative.

[Coach Sadie]

i think it is crazy not to wear uniforms on game day. cheerleaders need to show that they are a unified team and that they support the athletes, also this promotes the game and helps attendance for the sport. if i ever see a girl not in uniform on game day she has to condition. if your skirts are too short to wear to school then they are probably to short to cheer in... get some longer ones or wear your warm ups. warm ups have the same effect.

I don't have my girls wear their uniforms on game day..and I don't think I'm crazy. I personally feel they bring on much more attention during the school day then needed. They dress up in "spirit" by wearing cheerleading shirts.

[Ice Storm Cheer]

Since most coaches in most schools around here require their basketball players, football players, hockey players, etc. to "dress up" on game day (or the Friday before), that's what most cheerleading coaches have their teams do. Dress pants and sweaters, dresses, etc.  The only time most teams wear "team wear" (either uniforms or warm-ups) is on "school color" day during spirit week leading up to homecoming. Then there's no issue with dress code.  But they still stand out and make it obvious that something is going on that day.  Because I'm pretty sure most high school kids do NOT "dress up" for school anymore.

On the other hand, if you live in a place where the football team or the hockey team wears their jerseys on every game day, then I can see why it would be automatically assumed that the cheer team would wear team wear as well on game day.

The only thing I have to wonder in regards to bending a dress code for the cheer team, is where does it stop?  Do gymnasts get to walk round in leotards?  Male swimmers in their speedos?  I know I'm being outrageous, but I would think administrators worry about a slippery slope. And if the school owns the uniforms, I can see limiting their wear to games, pep rallies and competitions only.  I would think for all teams whose uniforms don't meet the dress code, team warm-ups would achieve the same effect.

[CheeryCoach]

I like the last sentiment.  It is the unity and spirit that really matters on game day, not the actual uniform.

Plus, the less you wear them the nicer they stay and the longer they last, which is a plus for those of us who can't require kids to buy them and can't afford new ones every year.

[Stunt Double 4U]

I like Coach K's idea of having a "game day" uniform that follows the school's dress code.  That way all the girls are in the same "uniform" and they aren't breaking any rules. Wearing warm-ups is nice, but this idea is a nice above-and-beyond type thing that will get you noticed by administration.

[coolcoach]

I've thought of doing what VT Ice Storm suggested next season, since that's what the football & basketball teams do on gamedays.

[GSBcheer]

the main point that keeps coming up here is that cheerleaders should wear their uniforms, warmups, t-shirts, etc, to show spirit. personally, i think showing spirit is all in the attitude, demeanor, and "vibes" you give off. If you smile and make an effort to tell people "don't forget about the pep rally, today at 4!" or "big game tonight! Go eagles!" even putting up posters a few days ahead might help. people will catch the spirit you create. besides, isnt that what cheerleaders are all about? creating spirit? that's from within, and you dont need a uniform to bring it out. 

[CoachingLegends]

Nowadays, there are so many awesome alternatives to the standard uniform on game days. Why have the hassle of administration woes when it comes to dress codes? Warm ups, camp shirts and shorts or any combination above can all be worn and stay within school dress codes. No need to borrow trouble.

[Coach Julie]

Well said CoachingLegends....

I don't let my squad wear their uniforms to school.  We spend enough money on them and don't need them stained or damaged because they wear them to school.  All it takes is an accident while eating lunch or even another student doing something stupid. 

[Stunt Double 4U]

Ketchup is the enemy!!!

[cobwebbedroses]

In another, somewhat related question...

Do Tide pens work on uniforms? Or any such stain remover that can be thrown in a purse. I may get a couple if they work, but I don't want to spend the money if it's going to discolor the fabric.

Back on topic...

My girls didn't wear uniforms to school last season because they weren't comfortable with how high the cuts went on the 3-pleat flyaway. I would like them to wear them to school next year (at least the top) but just on home game days. I am going to let them vote on getting leggings to wear during school with the skirts. I figured we'd at least try wearing them to school, and if it's too much of a problem, we can stop and make another set of T-shirts.

[coachK]

I tried the Tide pen once on a white cotton shirt.  It left a huge yellow stain that would not wash out.  I threw the pen and the shirt away.

This is only my experience, though.  I'm sure others have had more positive ones.

[jandotcom]

Do Tide pens work on uniforms?

I like the Shout wipes better.

[CheerToday07]

When I coached Varsity, I wisely asked my Athletic Director to tell me exactly how long the skirts had to be for them to be able to wear them to school. He checked with Admin and told me exactly. I, then had the Varsity rep measure the skirts according to that rule. Therefore, I did not have this particular problem. Also, since my school was in a below zero climate part of the year, we bought matching warmup pants (you know, the ones the match the fabric and stripes of the uniform), and often wore them instaed of skirts to school.

My personal opinion is that cheer skirts are waaayyy to short alot of the time for wearing in PUBLIC - let alone in school during the day. I'm not talking below the knee or anything, but whatever happened to modesty?

[HHSCoach]

 My girls dress alike every game day, Whether it is matching t-shirts, bows and jeans or their warm ups or a sweat suit. Every week I give them a paper stating what to wear to school and what uniform for the game.They only wear uniforms on pep rally days or for Homecoming, and they have to wear leggins or finger tip length shorts under their skirts, and body suits are a must under shells. This is a School Board Policy.

[CheerMSmom]

Rules are rules, and what applies to one should apply to all.

[CheerHounds]

Do Tide pens work on uniforms? Or any such stain remover that can be thrown in a purse. I may get a couple if they work, but I don't want to spend the money if it's going to discolor the fabric.

I live by those Tide to go pens! And yes, they do work on uniforms (both the polyester and motionflex material)....my college uniform is mostly white and somehow I got blue paint (like the thick sticky kind...not the watercolor kind) and I was able to get it out before the game started! (I think I accidentally sat on a sign or something) I'm constantly spilling coffee on myself...at least once a day!

[fvcheergirl]

Our uniforms did go against the dress code so we were asked to wear either informals or our sweats and team shirt which was ok with us. If no one else can break the dress code than neither shall cheerleaders.Its only fair.

[FalconCheer08]

While in high school we were aloud to wear our FULL uniforms to school, it was awkward, uncomfortable, cold in the classroom and hot outside, we were always paranoid about spilling something on them or sitting on a dirty chair or bench, and spankies - NOT GOOD FOR WALKING LONG DISTANCES!! I remember feeling so awkward the entire day wearing our full uniform which would rarely do (usually just for homecoming) because of the short skirt, and to be honest, they weren't THAT short, compared to what teams wear today. If these girls knew the kind of attention they'd be getting (mostly negative from boys and girls) and if they knew how uncomfortable it is to SIT for 8 hours in polyester and then go cheer in the same thing for 3 more... I think they wouldn't be so quick to want to wear them to school.

As for my squads, jeans are in dress code, sweat pants are not, neither are t-shirts but the football team is aloud to wear their jerseys to school so the administration allows the cheerleaders, dance team, and band to wear their respective t-shirts. They shirts can't be altered in anyway and they can't wear a random t-shirt, if they do we all lose the privilege (football team included). I choose which shirt my girls wear, it has to be a t-shirt so we can't wear most of our camp tops so the booster club makes 3 shirts for us each year and we alternate. If you're willing to go to the administration and say "this is what we'd like to do, does it fall into your guidelines, what should we change what can stay the same" and you're willing to work with them then they're more then happy to help you spread some school spirit. After all, once kids get to the game they spend money on food/drinks/etc that goes to the school.