Parent Expectations

Being a parent in CONNECT All-Star program can be an amazing experience. Help us make your child's experience just as amazing by supporting both your child, and the CONNECT program, with a positive example for your child to follow. In addition to encouraging our expectations of your child, we also ask that you agree to the following:

• Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend events, but are expected to attend as spectators and not extra coaches or commentators. If for some reason you disagree or are unhappy with a philosophy or decision of the CONNECT All-Star program, judging at a competition, etc., please request to set up a time to talk to your child's coach first. Refrain from making unreasonable demands or talking negatively amongst each other as parents or to your child. This can only hurt the children and overall atmosphere of the program.
  
  
• Understanding and committing to the information outlined in this packet is essential. As a parent of a CONNECT Cheerleader we ask that you help us teach the importance of commitment, follow through, and dedication to your children. There may be times when practice doesn't go well or someone walks away feeling discouraged. Knowing this to be inevitable, proper conflict management on your part may be necessary. Enabling your cheerleader to quit, show unsportsmanlike conduct or jeopardize the safety or well being of fellow teammates cannot be tolerated.

• Please remember that no one likes to become second priority. By choosing to accept the invitation to participate with CONNECT, you as a parent assume full responsibility for your child's attendance at all events, practices, and competitions that are scheduled. Parents should not plan family events during CONNECT events. Please do not take your child away from the team atmosphere that is needed during such events. Withholding your child from a practice or event hurts the team and its progression toward success. We need every athlete at every event and gathering. Missed events for any reason can jeopardize your child's standing on a team and may result in dismissal from the team without refunds or reimbursements.
  
  
• Please help your child be organized and time efficient. Missed practices due to oversleeping, procrastination on homework, a job or non-cheer related activity, will not be accepted as an excused absences.
  
  
• All parents will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional and mature manner whenever they are representing the CONNECT All-Stars. Showing respect for the coaching staff, other teams, and hosting organizations is crucial in representing CONNECT and setting the best possible example for our program. There should be no drug or alcohol consumption while traveling with the team.
  
  
• Because your dedication to the program is so important to the success of the program, it is strongly encouraged that parents participate in at least one of our parent committees. If you do not volunteer, accept that you "voluntarily" revoke your opportunity to voice your opinion about decisions made by the committees.
  
  
• It is ultimately a parent's responsibility to financially support the activities that they choose to allow their children to participate in. Parents must understand that it is their responsibility to follow through with the financial obligations associated with tuition and other fees during the 2007-2008 competitive season. Should you fall behind or fail to make the necessary payments, please acknowledge and clearly recognize that your child's involvement in the Connect Cheer program may be jeopardized or even terminated at the Director or Head Coach's discretion without refunds or reimbursements.
  
  
• All Transportation and accommodations to events will be the sole responsibility of each family. Any money that parents spend regarding travel for themselves, family members and friends to competitions and other events is done at their own risk. CONNECT will do our best to get information to you in a timely fashion; however, if for any reason a competition is cancelled or rescheduled, CONNECT will not be responsible for any personal reimbursements.
  
  
• Parent meetings will be held quarterly. It is strongly recommended that at least one parent attend each meeting. In addition, the CONNECT staff asks that all team members age 10 and older, and at least one parent provide the director with an e-mail address. This e-mail account as well as the website should be checked at least every couple of days for team updates, reminders, etc.

Parents and members will primarily receive team related information and updates via e-mail. Handouts in your hanging files, website, parent meetings, mail, and postings at the gym are also forms of communication we use. It is solely your responsibility as a parent to keep up with these regular updates.

School Year Competitions & Travel

Each cheerleader is responsible for all competition and travel costs, and for making his or her own related travel arrangements. Registration costs vary per competition. For all local competitions $10 has been added on to the cost of registration per cheerleader in order to cover coach's costs. For all traveling competitions (where overnight stay is necessary) coach's costs will be added, and equally shared amongst all traveling team members. These types of fees (i.e. Nationals or out-of-state) will be billed separately.

Competition fees are compiled and then broken down into 5 equal monthly payments. Solidified schedules and detailed information will follow in late Spring/Summer, and adjustments may be made throughout the year.

Pre-Comp Rallies are a fun CONNECT tradition. Before the first competition and before Nationals we transform the gym into a performance venue for family and friends to view the team's routines. This is also a time for the cheerleaders to cheer each other on and release the ever-so-common "jitters"! Each rally is approximately 1.5 hours long. All Cheerleaders are required to attend.

Breaks & Closures

The Complex and CONNECT Cheer aims to reasonably accommodate & honor most school related breaks and closures. Unplanned school closures may or may not affect us at the gym. If practices/classes must be canceled due to emergency, poor weather conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstance, a CONNECT coach will attempt to contact all members via phone or e-mail. A preliminary list of scheduled breaks and closures is included below.

Please be advised that the following is subject to change:

Attendance

The importance of attendance has been mentioned in both the Code of Conduct and CORE Habits for the Connect Cheerleaders. There are 3 "pre-planned" times that you may be excused from practices only. All competitions are mandatory. These three times are the only 3 that will be saved as excused. Your cheerleader WILL NOT be guaranteed excused from practice if not listed on your signature page or if your coaches are not notified of your absence and your cheerleader's team may run 10 lines at the next practice. Cheerleaders may not miss the practice directly prior to a performance or competition. Please be aware of the following:

School Work:
Cheerleaders MUST NOT use school work as an excuse for absences. Everyone has school work. School IS and will continue to be important; however, everyone is in the same boat. If you doubt your ability to get both school and practice in balance then you may want to look further into how to manage your time appropriately. Generally speaking, school work will not be considered reasonable grounds for an excused absence.

Other Sports or Extra Curricular Activities or Jobs:
Our teams schedule is firm as of April 2007. At the time of signing up for this program you also sign up with the knowledge that you may have to make sacrifices or changes to your anticipated schedule in order to accommodate various commitments to the team. No one wants to become second or third priority. Please be cautious of additional sports, activities or jobs that you choose to add to your schedule. Absences due to these types of activities may or may not be excused by your coaches.

* Illness:
If mildly ill, and not contagious, all cheerleaders are encouraged to still attend regular practice, even if they choose only to sit and watch from the sidelines. There is much to be learned by listening through practice as well as physically participating. Showing up during these circumstances also shows dedication, respect, and commitment to both coaches, and teammates.

* Injury:
Most injuries still permit team members to attend practices & events. Cheerleaders should participate to the best of their abilities with consideration to the injury- example: if a wrist or arm injury, the cheerleader may still do things such as stretch, jump, mark through stunts, and formation changes etc. Showing support by attending, even if unable to participate physically, is expected for all team functions.

* In the case of serious illness or injury we ask to be informed ASAP of an absence, and given the estimated timeline for their recovery and return. Coaches are to receive sufficient communication and/or a doctor's note regarding an athlete's ability or inability to perform specific requirements associated with their normal tasks as a member of CONNECT. Continuous tuition payments will be expected regardless of illness or injury as long as the member is still registered on a competition team. Additionally, recognize that the coach may need to make adjustments to the team's choreography if any cheerleader is unable to follow through with a performance element or competition. perhaps even indefinitely. Although this is never enjoyable, there are some things beyond a coach's control. All team members must be prepared to make changes should a situation such as this arise.

Family Emergency:
Please do not use this term lightly i.e.: Returning home late from a family vacation is not an emergency nor will it be considered one. In case of an actual emergency please inform your coaches ASAP. Call your coach at any time.

Pre-Planned Absences:
Each cheerleader is allowed 3 excused absences for pre-planned events. Competitions and other "mandatory" scheduled events are not eligible for pre-planned absences. Additionally, cheerleaders may not miss the last practice directly before a performance or competition. If practices are missed that are not considered "excused" by the coaches, the entire team may be required to run ten lines at the next practice.

Q: What should I do if I MUST miss a practice?
A: ALWAYS inform your coaches of any and all absences in writing (telling us verbally in passing will not work. we may forget). It is also a good idea to verify that your absence is recorded in the practice attendance log ahead of time. If documentation is missing in either of these two places, your coaches may mark your absence unexcused.

Financial Policies & Procedures

As with any extra-curricular activity, competitive cheerleading is an added expense financially. There will be avenues to raise funds for your child's expenditures through out the year. We urge you to involve yourself with fundraisers in order to maximize the extent of your child's experience with CONNECT. Although we attempt to give our best estimates on costs associated with our program please remember that these are estimates and some changes may occur.

In addition to time, commitment and hard work, there is a substantial financial obligation to being a part of the CONNECT Cheer program. Please read and carefully review all of the following policies and procedures for the 2007-08 season.

Annual Registration & Placement Fee ($35)

This non-refundable fee must be paid annually at the time of registration. For example, if you register at The Complex in April of 2007, your next Registration Fee is due April 2008.

Commitment Fee ($100)

This non-refundable fee is due at the time of registration or at the Parent Meeting & Fitting (whichever comes first). This amount will be deducted from your final months of tuition at the end of the year. (i.e. if a Sr. Blue athlete remains in the program, the March 2007 payment will be $100 less than the standard amount.)

Uniform & Apparel

A $100 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration or Parent Meeting & Fitting (whichever comes first). Remaining balances will be due by June 1st. Full payments for uniforms must be collected before CONNECT can place an order. All Apparel is available via our online Pro Shop. Required practice attired will become effective mid-May. Athletes may be asked to sit out of practice if not wearing the designated apparel.

Camp, Choreography & Music Editing Fee ($350)

This non-refundable & all inclusive fee is due by May 31st and covers the total cost of camp, competition routine choreography and the music editing fee for the year. As previously stated on the "Summer Events & Parades" page, there will be no discounts or prorates for missing any of the camp days.

Competition Dues

These non-refundable dues are dependant upon the athlete's team and what competitions are selected for them. Announcement of competition registration amounts will follow along with a detailed description of the 5 month payment plan.

Monthly Tuition ($55, $85, $105, $125 or $135)

This non-refundable fee is due via auto pay on the first day of each month, and the amount is determined by the athlete's particular team. Your first month's tuition will be due at the time of registration or at the Parent Meeting & Fitting (whichever comes first).

• Monthly tuition is due on the first day of each month, for the 12 month period from April 2007 - March 2008.
• Tuition auto-pay from credit card is mandatory for every team athlete. The Complex Auto-Pay Authorization Form must be submitted at the time of registration.
• Any payments resulting in a NSF (non-sufficient funds), declined credit card, expired card, returned check, etc. will be charged a $30 service charge.
• A 5% discount off monthly team tuition is offered to an athlete/parent that opts to pay for the year of tuition up front (by April 9th for all 12 months). This discount is non-refundable and only offered to athletes who begin the season in April 2007.
• There are no deductions/pro-rated fees for athletes not attending practices, camps, competitions or any other related events.
• Athletes may choose to enroll in additional recreational class in addition to regular team practices.
• An athlete's account must be current and in good standing in order to participate in practices, competitions, and special events.
• In the event an athlete resigns from the program between April 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, written notice of resignation must be received by the Director at least ten days prior to the end of the month in order to remove the following month's billing from auto-pay. If written notice is not received at least ten days in advance of the end of the month, the following month's tuition will be collected and retained by CONNECT Cheer.
• If an athlete resigns on or after January 1, 2007, all tuition and fees remain due and owing through the end of the season. Auto-pay will continue through March 31, 2008.) No refunds or prorated fees will apply as anticipated fees have already been spent or encumbered for competition registration fees, choreography, music editing, etc.
• All tuition and other fees must be current before an athlete may receive any clothing/uniform items.