School Board approves changes for competition cheerleading at the high school

Welcome to the world of competitive cheerleading.

 

Recognizing a trend that has been developing for a number of years, the governing organization for high school academic and athletic events in Texas, most commonly known as UIL, will sponsor a one-time pilot state championship ?Game Day Spirit Competition? for 2016. {{more}}

 

It is anticipated that this will become an annual event, set in the University

Interscholastic League (UIL) calendar, just as any other playoff and academic contest is now.

The state event will be preceded by ?conference? competition that will serve as qualifying rounds to advance to the state finals and the selection of a state champion. The UIL is in the early stages of planning the event but it is focusing on staging the competition in January.

Teams from each participating school can be composed of up to 30 team members made up of any combination of cheerleaders, dance squad, drumline, pep squad, mascots, drumline, etc. All participates must meet the same eligibility requirements related to UIL Music and Academic competitions.

 

Read more at Texas Girls Coaches Association ? Cheer Division

Kennedale has been participating in independent regional and national competitions for several years. One of the biggest events is held in Dallas each year, the National Cheerleading Association (ACA) competition.

 

Competition teams from Kennedale High School and Kennedale Junior High participated in the ACA event last year with the high school team finishing 3rd in the nation. The year before, the team from the high school finished in 5th place.

In anticipation of the UIL making the Game Day Spirit Competition an annual event, the following changes were approved by the KISD Board of Trustees last Thursday night in a regular monthly board meeting after a presentation by KHS Principal Justin Marchel and KHS Cheer Coach Barbara Johnson.

 

The changes will include the following.

• Making the selection of team (squad) members similar to other UIL competitive teams, ie band, choir, athletic squads, by allowing the coach(es) in charge to determine who is best qualified to meet the needs of the team.

• Selections will be made during a tryout process that will be over an extended time period. The coaches involved with the whole process will make the final decision. No outside judges will be used.

• The number of team members for the varsity squad will have greater flexibility from the 14 prescribed in the current handbook to allow a range of 12 to a maximum of 20 team members. The JV squad would have a range of 8 to 10 members.

• Incoming freshmen would be eligible to make the varsity squad.

• Seniors will be eligible only for the varsity squad.

• To make the team, a candidate must score 80% or better during the selection process, similar to the junior high method.

• Only seniors who were on the varsity squad in the prior year will be co-captains.

• There will only be one mascot selected each year.

• Competition squads chosen to represent KHS will be selected by the coach within the guidelines of UIL policies and rule.

• A uniform will be provided for each team member as uniforms are provided by other competitive teams. The uniform(s) will remain the property of the school district and will be used multiple years. Members will have the options of buying their own uniforms.

• These changes will be effective for the upcoming school year of 2015-16.