BOE Considers Revised Cheerleading Policy to Reflect a Non-Competitive Nature

The is considering revising its cheerleading policy to reflect a non-competitive nature since the squads have not been participating in competitions in recent years.

The board introduced the revised policy during last Thursday’s meeting in its first reading.

Board President Richard Giarratana stated that the cheerleaders are tirelessly hardworking and the change in policy is in no way meant to be a charge against them, the district is just trying to create a policy going forward that will create better feelings among members. The revised policy has been written by Mike Scuilla, athletic director.

Try outs would no longer determine placement of squads or lines but would be used to see what a team member’s skill level is which coaches can then use throughout the year to work with both squads during the season.

The revised policy would create a Developmental Sub-Varsity Squad for freshmen team members. No freshmen would cheer for the Varsity Squad. Anyone new to the program would be placed on the sub-varsity squad regardless of grade level, the proposed policy also states.

Sophomore, Junior and Senior cheerleaders will be automatically placed on the Varsity squad provided they were members of the Developmental Sub-Varsity Squad the year prior. The athletic director or principal will decide in regards to any extenuating circumstances.

The varsity squad will cheer for varsity games and the development sub-varsity squad will cheer for freshmen and junior varsity teams.  Placements in dance routines, lifts or stunts will be determined by coaches. Varsity squad line placement will be determined by grade – seniors in front, juniors in the middle and sophomores in the back row.

For the sub-varsity squad coaches will rotate the cheerleaders equally so that each freshmen has a chance to be in the front row.