Cheerleading in schools serves as a spirited support for athletic teams, fostering a sense of community and school pride. Positive cheers create a supportive atmosphere, promoting sportsmanship and unity. It has been brought to the attention of Student Support that schools may be participating in what has been termed "dis-cheering". Cheer teams should be committed to promoting a safe and positive environment for participants at events. Discouraging negative cheers helps maintain a respectful environment, preventing harm or disrespect towards opponents and maintaining a positive image for the school.

Please review the following guidelines with your Winter Cheer Coaches/Sponsors.

Guidelines for the Cheerleaders: 

1. Cheerleaders’ functions are to make a positive contribution to good spectator reaction at an athletic contest and to create better relations between opposing supporters. 

2. Cheers should be positive, not aimed at antagonizing an opponent. Care should be taken in making certain that words used in a cheer are not suggestive and do not have a connotation that would inflame the audience.  

3. Cheerleaders should be alert to potentially disruptive crowd influences and take immediate steps to promote positive cheering from the crowd.  

4. Cheerleaders are expected to lead the group in a round of applause for an injured player leaving the game.  

5. When booing occurs, the cheerleaders should attempt to stop it. It is important that any booing is waved off immediately. If the booing becomes louder, the cheerleaders should help to divert the crowd’s attention by starting a popular yell routine. Immediate action is the key to control booing. 

6. Cheerleaders who display negative conduct and attitudes should be disciplined appropriately.  

7. Cheerleaders should promote a spirit of friendliness between schools. 

8. Cheerleaders should be ever conscious that they are official student representatives of their school and so conduct themselves to bring credit to it. 

We appreciate the atmosphere and support cheer teams provide for athletic contests. Let's keep up the great work!