adverts
1. The Squad.
1.1 The Society shall be known as the Lancaster Roses Cheerleading Squad, hereafter referred to as ‘the squad’.
1.2 The squad will be affiliated to the Lancaster’s University Student’s Union (LUSU) subject to the conditions set out in Section 27 of the Union Constitution, its bye-laws, the LUSU Safety Framework and other Union Policies.
1.3 The squad may affiliate to external bodies subject to the approval of the Union Council (see section 20 of the Union Constitution).
2. Purpose
2.1 It shall be the purpose of the squad to develop cheerleading routines; both cheer and dance, to perform at the matches of the University’s sports teams.
2.2 It shall encourage cheerleaders to develop fully, in the areas of cheering, stunting, dancing and gymnastics and take grading to mark their achievements.
2.3 The squad will compete at a national level at least once annually.
3. Eligibility
3.1 Membership of the squad is open to all members of Lancaster University Student’s Union. They fall into two categories, full and associate, as laid out in section 7 of the Union Constitution.
3.2 A candidate must be neatly presented and medically fit. However as an equal opportunity squad, chances shall be given to all students who qualify under section 3.1 but are disabled in some way to be part of the squad, all that being in a limited capacity.
3.3 A candidate may be male or female.
3.4 Acceptance of a candidate shall be on the basis of ability, the coach’s agreement, acceptance of the rules, payment of subs, and without prejudice of race, creed or colour.
3.5 Only full members have the right to be a candidate, vote or nominate / second a candidate in elections.
3.6 Membership of the squad is open to individuals other than those mentioned above subject to their agreement to abide by this constitution.
3.7 Honorary membership may be granted on a life basis or a limited period, subject to the agreement of a qualified majority at the Annual General Meeting. This shall normally be granted to ex-members for outstanding service to the squad, or those who can continue to offer service to the squad.
3.8 Honorary members have the right to participate in all squad activities, and attend and speak at meetings.
3.9 The executive committee reserves the right to refuse or revoke membership of an individual for breaching this constitution, the squad’s safety code of practice, the LUSU safety framework or bringing the squad into disrepute, subject to the complaints procedure set out in section 21 of the constitution.
4 Membership
4.1 The Squad is a co-ed squad. Members of the society will be divided into squads of approximately 20 individuals, depending upon each person’s strengths within the arenas of cheering, dancing, stunting and gymnastics.
4.2 A select group from the squad will be chosen to participate in promotional events and fundraisers, depending on availability and individual strengths. A proportion of the squad will cheer at as many home and away games as possible, as may be designated on the basis of event requirements and travel arrangements. It will be the responsibility of the games coach to organize this.
5 Attendance Requirements.
5.1 All cheerleaders will attend practice and those designated will cheer at games, competitions and fundraising or promotional events.
5.2 Competitions: The executive committee will decide to enter a competition and will make a decision with regards to which divisions the squads will enter. Individuals wishing to participate will be auditioned and appropriate squads will be formed.
5.3 Social Activities: All members are encouraged, but not required to attend. Advance notice of non-attendance is required.
5.4 Team activities other than games: As social activities, but members will be required to attend a reasonable proportion throughout the year.
5.5 If any other activities or opportunities are chosen by the exec, the exec will decide if attendance is mandatory or optional. Reasonable notice of all such events will be given.
6 Financial Responsibilities.
6.1 Transport to away games: cheerleaders may be required to pay a small amount towards transport costs.
6.2 Stunt clinics or cheer camps: will be fully covered by the individual, unless otherwise specified.
6.3 Members will provide their own refreshments.
6.4 Each cheerleader will pay £25 subs per year. This sum will go towards insurance, hire of training facilities, squad membership and other squad operating costs as agreed by the exec.
6.5 Insurance is mandatory and will be provided through subs and arranged by the executive committee. Exemption will only be given on proof of adequate personal insurance to squad minimum requirements.
6.6 Each member of the squad will be required to purchase certain items of uniform for hygiene reasons.
6.7 Members are encouraged to buy their own uniforms from the squad; skirts will be available to hire out for games but full kit is mandatory for competitions.
7 Selection of exec and coaches.
7.1 Coaches will be selected on their ability to meet recognized coaching standards of the BCA and UKCA by the Executive Committee and squad members.
7.2 The executive Committee will consist of a Captain, Vice-Captain (optional) Secretary, Treasurer, Head Coach, Assistant Coaches, Kit and Safety Officer, Social Secretary and Publicity Officer. These positions will be appointed at an annual AGM, held in the Lent term each year, through a majority of vote by all members.
7.3 In the absence of any member of the executive, their duties may be delegated to another executive member. Alternatively, another full member may be co-opted to fulfil such duties, subject the approval of a general meeting.
7.4 Any executive member who fails to attend two consecutive general meetings, without acceptance of an apology, shall be deemed to have resigned and a by-election shall be held.
7.5 Members of the executive who fail to carry out duties conferred on them by this constitution or by resolutions of squad meetings, without reasonable excuse, will be subject to a warning. On a third warning, the individual will be asked to resign from the executive committee and a by-election will be held.
8 Duties and Responsibilities of the coaching committee.
8.1 To arrange regular practices and training schedules.
8.2 To ensure that safety is the top priority at all times, and that the squad members are insured.
8.3 To ensure the safety and conduct guidelines of the British Cheerleading Association are adhered to and upheld.
8.4 To work together in the teaching of routines.
8.5 To prepare the squad for games, events and competitions.
8.6 The Head Coach, where possible, will have already been a member of the coaching committee the previous year and will oversee the assistant coaches.
8.7 The Coaching Committee shall meet in regular intervals throughout the year to discuss progress and plans for the future.
9 Duties and responsibilities of the captain and vice captain.
9.1 To co-ordinate the squad’s events.
9.2 To keep a record of the squad’s finances in conjunction with the treasurer.
9.3 To organize fundraising and publicity in conjunction with the publicity officer, the bombers and the basketball team.
9.4 To ensure the squad is fully equipped with uniforms and any other required materials such as rooms, mats in conjunction with the Kit and Safety Officers.
9.5 To be the primary representative of the squad to the Union, the University, and to external bodies. Attend societies Council, steering groups and other events.
9.6 Has responsibility of opening and responding to all emails and sending out information to the rest of the squad.
9.7 Act as a chair of squad meetings and produce the agenda for all meetings.
9.8 Oversee the safety aspects of all squad activities and ensure that the LUSU safety framework and the squad’s safety code of practice are adhered to in conjunction with the Safety Officer.
9.9 Oversee the running of the squad and the functioning of the rest of the executive committee.
10 Duties of the secretary.
10.1 Be responsible for the administration of all matters relating to memberships and subscriptions and liaising appropriately with the treasurer.
10.2 Be responsible for all the squad’s correspondence and administration in conjunction with the captain.
10.3 Record minutes of all meetings and make them available to the exec but also the wider squad where appropriate.
10.4 To ensure the squad is aware of what events are happening and when in conjunction with the captain and vice captain.
10.5 To carry out all administration tasks as requested by the captain.
10.6 To keep registers of squad attendance, completed at every practice.
11. Duties of the Treasurer
11.1 To create a budget for the squad and to ensure the squad does not deviate from it.
11.2 To monitor all squad spending.
11.3 To collect all monies, such as subscription fees and kit and competition payments and make and keep records of them.
12. Duties of the Publicity Officer
12.1 To organize fundraising events and sponsorship in conjunction with the relevant parties and ensure the smooth running of such events.
12.2 To issue flyers and posters advertising all squad events.
12.3 To set up and maintain a squad website.
12.4 To organise and collect together publicity materials and photographs.
12.5 To create and maintain a publicity folder, detailing all promotional material and squad achievements.
12.6 To produce and organise promotional articles and events both in university and local media.
13. Duties of the Social Secretary
13.1 Organize socials, alcoholic and non-alcoholic both individually and in conjunction with the American Football team and Basketball teams.
13.2 To ensure all members are notified about the socials and encouraged to attend.
13.3 Work in conjunction with the Publicity Officers to secure sponsorship through organizing socials with the sponsor’s company.
13.4 To organize the printing of squad social t-shirts.
14. Duties of the Kit officer.
14.1 To provide the squad kit to members who do not own their own for games and publicity events before the event and collect them afterwards, ensuring they are clean and not damaged.
14.2 To take note of kit and equipment which need to be ordered.
14.3 Must search all revenues when uniform parts are needed for the best prices.
14.4 Ensure correct kit is worn.
15. Duties of the Safety officer.
15.1 To ensure that no jewelry is worn, hair is tied back and appropriate clothing is worn, for example, no jeans and shorts are worn where necessary for stunting purposes.
15.2 To attend LUSU first aid courses and gain qualifications in this area.
15.3 Keep and maintain the squad’s first aid kit and safety equipment, such as mats.
15.4 Create Health cards listing all illnesses of the members which the safety officer should be aware of in cases of emergency.
15.5 To keep and maintain an up-to-date accident book, detailing all injuries and accidents which occur at practices, games, competitions and events.
15.6 Study the LUSU safety guidelines and ensure they are followed at all times.
15.7 Complete up-to-date risk assessments when necessary.
16. Practice Schedule.
16.1 To be set by the coaching committee and captain.
16.2 All cheerleaders are required to attend all practices unless the captain has been notified in advance.
16.3 Mandatory attendance at extra practices may be required leading up to events and competitions.
17. Uniform and Practice Wear.
17.1 Cheerleaders may purchase their own uniform from the squad; however a number of skirts will be available on loan, courtesy of the kit officer.
17.2 Any squad uniform which is damaged by a cheerleader must be replaced by the cheerleaders whose care it was in.
17.3 Gym knickers and tights must be purchased by the individual cheerleader for hygiene reasons. These can be purchased through the squad.
17.4 Extra layers can be worn under the uniform, if temperatures require it.
17.5 Jackets may be worn outside throughout games, the squad’s hoodies may also be worn except when stunting.
17.6 Comfortable, appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn to practice, for safety reasons during stunting, shorts may be required, long hair must be tied back and no jewelry may be worn at practice.
17.7 Cheerleaders in uniform or any item of the squad or team identification must always conduct themselves in an appropriate manner becoming to a cheerleader.
18. Appearance
18.1 Uniform must be kept clean and pressed at all times.
18.2 Make-up should be natural and not excessive except when stage makeup is required.
18.3 All hair styles must be neat and secured up out of the face, not needing attention whilst cheering.
18.4 Cheerleaders should look their best at all times, especially when in uniform.
19 Conduct
19.1 Squad members are required to maintain and uphold the reputation of the society through their own conduct and squad spirit.
19.2 Members are required to be courteous, polite and friendly and try to have a smile for everybody.
19.3 All cheers and chants are to be of a positive and sportsmanlike manner.
19.4 Members will make every attempt to ignore or dissuade negative responses at events and not become participants in such actions themselves.
19.5 There will be no smoking or alcohol consumption on the sidelines of games or in squad kit at any time.
20 Fundraising Activities
20.1 All cheerleaders will participate in as many fundraising events as possible each year. The money raised will be a fund for additional expenses throughout the year, such as extra kit or equipment.
20.2 All fundraising activities will be organized by the publicity officers and approved by the executive committee.
21 Disciplinary Action
21.1 It shall be squad policy that disciplinary action will only be invoked as a last resort and that every reasonable attempt will be made to avoid situations likely to lead to such action through squad discussion and encouragement, by example, and by finding ways and means to correct negative trends.
21.2 A cheerleader may be disciplined for the following reasons:
Unexcused absence, excessive absence or tardiness, failure to cooperate with coaches/exec, or failure to comply with the squad rules and regulations.
21.3 A cheerleader may be suspended from a game or event for repeated occurrences of the above.
21.4 Dismissal from the squad will come as a last resort.
21.5 Any exec member who fails to comply may receive an official warning. On a third warning the individual will be asked to leave the committee and a by-election will be held.
22 Elections
22.1 The running of all squad elections shall be the responsibility of the executive committee. The returning officers will be those members of the exec who are not running for a position.
22.2 All officers shall be elected towards the end of the Lent term at an event organized by the social secretaries.
22.3 Any post may be filled by a by-election at a general meeting.
22.4 Squad members will be informed of the date of the election, positions available and details of the nominations at least two weeks before voting takes place.
22.5 Re-open nominations (RON) shall be a candidate in all elections.
22.6 All elections are preceded by speeches by the candidates. The exec will decide in advance of the maximum length of speeches. The speeches shall be followed by questions to the candidate.
22.7 Candidates unable to attend must send written confirmation of their intention to stand and this may include a speech to be read out by the returning officer. If no confirmation is received, exclusion from the election will result.
22.8 A secret ballot will be issued at the meeting. Members may vote once per position. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be duly elected. The returning officers will be responsible for the count.
23 Meetings.
23.1 General meetings may be called by the captain, by a majority decision of the Executive committee, or by request of five or more exec members.
23.2 General meetings will be held when deemed necessary and at least seven days notice must be given.
23.3 There shall be an annual General meeting in the last few weeks of the Lent term each year in order for the old and new exec to change over and any resources to be passed on.
23.4 The head coach can call coaching committee meetings whenever he/she deems necessary and subject to the availability of the rest of the coaching committee. The head coach will provide an agenda and minutes for such meetings and it will be his/her responsibility to pass these on to the captain.
23.5 The captain may ask to meet with any individual members of the executive committee to discuss any individual matter.
24 Complaints.
24.1 Any complaint about the running or operations of the society should initially be discussed with the captain or the relevant member of the executive committee.
25 Constitution
25.1 This constitution or any part of it may be altered, amended or deleted at any general meeting. Any changes shall require a qualified majority.
26 Safety
26.1 The squad must adhere to the LUSU Safety Framework and BCA safety guidelines at all times. Copies of this will be distributed at appropriate times throughout the year. Failure to abide by this framework may result in disciplinary action.
26.2 The squad shall have a safety code of practice that shall be renewed annually. This code shall be known to each member before they subscribe to the squad and be readily available throughout the year.
26.3 It is the duty and responsibility of the captain, coaches and safety officer to ensure that the safety framework and the safety code of practice is enforced in all squad activities.
26.4 The captain shall attend an annual duty of care briefing held by LUSU Student Activities Office in Michaelmas term.