MERRIMACK COLLEGE CHEERLEADIING BY-LAWS 2016-2017 

 

Article 1: Merrimack College Cheerleading

The name of this club shall be Merrimack College Cheerleading.

Article 2: PURPOSE

            It shall be the purpose of this organization to allow the opportunity for interested students to participate in

            the spirit portions and competitive portion of college cheerleading

Article 3: MEMBERSHIP

            Section 1 The organization will be open to all students currently registered at Merrimack College. 

                        Participants must go through a physical try-out procedures to meet the requirements to be

                        allowed on the team.

            Section 2 Anyone who makes the squad will be considered a voting member of the MC Cheerleading.

                         The coach shall choose the team.*

            Section 3 Membership shall not be denied to any student due to race, religion, gender, and color or sexual

                        orientation. *If the Executive Board does not feel the student is able to participate in competition

                        he or she will not make the squad.

Article 4: EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

            Section 1 There will be two or-three captains for the team.

            Section 2: A coach will be generally responsible for the organization of the team.

            Section 3 There will be 1-2 more board members (alternative captains; ready and willing to become

                        captain if the captains cannot fulfill their duties).

            Section 4: One captain will act as club president, the other as the Vice President. The 2 other Executive                        board members will act as treasurer and secretary for the club.

Article 5: ENUMERATION OF POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

            Section 1 The Captains will be in charge of the club duties for the team. They are responsible for:

A. Choosing attire (practice, camp)

                        B. Choosing game day, spectator event hair (other than competitions)

                        C. Choosing practice attire

                        D. organizing trips

                        E. Organizing fundraising and treasury

                        F. Organizing community service

                        G. Report all information from coach and communication with team

 

Article 6: COACH

            Section 1 the team will have a qualified cheerleading coach who will assist them in tasks they need help

                        in. The coach advisor will most likely be picked by the athletic department because they will pick

                        who they feel is qualified for the position. *Follow coach’s specific rules separate*

             Section 2 the coach will serve discipline/consequences to athletes. They will enforce rules and

consequences. The coach will help the team to make sure they are organized and doing the right things to prepare for competition season. The team will abide by all the coaches rules within the practice, game and competition arenas.

            Section 3: A coach will be responsible for the organization of the physical aspects of the team.

                        They will make sure the team has what it needs at all times—choreography, clinics, training

                        sessions, nutrition, music, gym time, etc.

            Section 4: The MC Cheerleading funds will cover all coaches’ expenses– travel (gas) to and from local

                        competitions, All National fees -includes flight and full registrations fees, rental car fees while at

                        Nationals (used to run all errands for the team). It is with-in the best interests of the team to have

                        an AACCA certified coach (needed for all UCA and NCA events including Nationals). If the coach

                        need to be certified or recertified this fee shall be covered by the MC Cheerleading funds.

Article 7: NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF CAPTAINS

            Section 1 The captains and Executive Board (alternate captains) will be elected by their teammates.

                        At the end of each season a vote will take place where any candidate is able to become captain

                         however must be able and willing to fulfill the position.

            Section 2 Only active members of the team will be able to vote for captains and alternative captains.

Article 8: VACANCIES

            Section 1 In the event of the vacancy of a captain an alternative captain will take on their role. The

                        alternative captain will be determined by a majority vote. Then a week later an election for an

                        alternative captain will take place and will be elected.

Article 9: IMPEACHMENT AND OR RECALL

            Section 1 Once a captain or alternative captain is elected they can only be recalled or impeached if they

                        Are blatantly un-fulfilling their duties as stated on the constitution or not abiding by the coaches

                        rules. The only other way they can be removed from their position is if they resign or leave the

                        college.

Article 10: FINANCES

            Section 1 -Annual Dues $100, fee balance can be applied towards National trip or collected

                        at the end of the year (separate account)

                        Annual fees:included but not limited to: choreography, music, gym rental, equipment

                                    purchases, coaches’ Nationals fees, food for Nationals, bows, additional competition

 Article 11 FUNDRASING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

            Section 1 –MC Cheerleaders will be required to participate in team fundraising events.

            Section 2 –All money raised will subsidize team expenses (costs to the program) and personal funds

            Sections 3 –All MC Cheerleaders will be required to participate in planned community service events

Article 12: MEETINGS

            Section 1 Practices may be held randomly. All planned weekly practices will be required for the team.

            Section 2 All members must give 24 hours and a reason if they can’t attend practice. Practices, events,

                         fundraisers etc. are mandatory.

            Section 3 A member can be asked to leave the team by the coach or Executive Board collectively if they

                        miss more than 3 unexcused absences during the season, as determined.

Article 13: AMENDMENTS

                Section 1 Amendments to this constitution must be approved by ¾ majority of the voting membership

                                 present.

Article 14: PARLIEMENTARY AUTHORITY –used for voting purposes

                The rules of order include call to order, roll call of members, reading of last meetings minutes, report of

                                captains and alternative captains, report of members, report from stunt groups and unfinished or

                new business.

Article 15: RATIFICATON

                                All amendments must be approved and ratified by a 2/3 of the active membership 

 

CONSEQUENCES/DEMERITS– summer is different than the school year

            Jewelry, no shoes, phone usage, wrong uniform piece = 1 demerit

            Tardy/ leave early = 3 demerits

            Game tattoo uncovered = 1 demerit

            Absence (missed practices/event) = 10 demerits

            No in-person*to coach warning about tardy or absence = 5 additional demerits benched

            Blatant skip = 30 demerits

All other broken rules or unsportsmanlike like behavior will depend on the occurrence and will be decided upon by the coach = benching, alternate team* or dismissal Adding onto these tardies or absences you will be placed on probation and on the game team to an immediate dismissal form the team.

*No misses (other than illnesses) within one month to competition- non-negotiable.

  

1. Summer Misses (not fundraisers) different than the school year:

            1st summer miss = freebie but documented in Demerit Book

            2nd summer miss = 5 demerits = $5 from dues

            3rd summer miss OR No miss the Mandatory Summer Camp Attendance = sit 1/2 of one game, 5 demerits

                                                                                                                                                                        = $5

2. Annual School Year Demerit System: 

            1 demerit = 1 dollar for each demerit

            10 demerits = bench from A FULL EVENT plus fees

            15 demerits =automatic probation, plus fees

            30 demerits - automatic dismissal from the team

 

3. Missing Fundraisers:

            Summer -a flat $10 from dues for the missed project (whether it was 1-2 hours or 1-2-3 days

                        long)
            School Year - Each athlete is required to attend and earn their share of the profits (which may go towards

                        the group funds). Therefore without being in attendance more pressure is on the remaining  

                        individuals to earn the projected amount. If an athlete does not participate in physically attending a

                        fundraising event or does not raise her projected % then a set fee will be applied to that athlete.

                        Examples: If the High School Chorography was during the school year (it misses it by one week)

                        will bring in $500 to our program. Divide that by 15 athletes and that is a projected amount of

                        $33.34 per MC athlete OR- Giggles Night each athlete should sell their 5 tickets $100 ($20 per

                        ticket) or pay a flat $50 -OR- Fuddruckers projected profit $ 300-500 divided by 15- or pay a 

                        flat $20 per MC athlete