BYFO Mascot Program Handbook 2017
The BYFO Mascot Program Handbook 2017 provides information on the importance of mascots in team spirit, crowd participation, and building pride in the league/team. It covers the mascot ages, basic requirements, health and safety rules, and the organization's mission statement. Volunteer opportunities are also highlighted for those interested in supporting the program. Join the BYFO Cheer Family and be part of a season filled with spirit, teamwork, and fun.
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BYFO MASCOT HANDBOOK 2017
WELCOME TO THE BYFO MASCOT PROGRAM A Mascot is a very important part of a sports team program. They help build team spirit and crowd participation. It is important to have pride in your league/team. A mascot is a great opportunity to help build that in spectators. Our Mascot program is a branch off of our cheer program. They will still need to learn cheers and chants that the cheerleaders learn so that they can participate along side the cheerleaders. We look forward to a successful season and welcome you to our BYFO Cheer Family. This handbook has been prepared to give you a general idea of the obligations, rules and responsibilities involved throughout the season. Please be sure to read through the entire handbook and inform us of any questions or concerns you may have.
BYFO MISSION STATEMENT To provide for the youth of the Bastrop area a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment in which to learn football and cheerleading basic fundamentals, sportsmanship, self-pride, discipline and team spirit.
MASCOT AGES AND BASIC INFO Ages 6 years 13 years Past Cheer experience is a bonus but not a must. - Mascots Dress in a Bear costume at games to build crowd participation and team spirit. - They will have opportunities to wear regular clothes along side cheerleaders as well as being dressed in costume. - Each mascot will need a registered coach that is assigned to helping them dress in costume and guide them in there participation on the sidelines. --Safety is our number one concern with this program. We will be monitoring how long they are in the costume and be sure to hydrate them as much as possible. Our goal is to have at least one mascot for each squad. Depending on registrant numbers there may be times that there is more than one mascot per squad.
HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES OF THE MASCOT PROGRAM Coaches will help mascots in costume and out of costume. Coaches will guide mascots on their participation on the sidelines. Mascots will need to get a drink of water at least every 5 mins while in costume. Mascot can only be in costume for 15 mins at a time with a 3 5 min break depending on weather temperatures. Depending on weather conditions Mascot may perform in spirit clothes rather then the bear costume for safety reasons.
VOLUNTEERING Since our entire program is run by volunteers we are always looking for extra hands. If you are interested in volunteering throughout the season, coaching, or joining our board please let us know. We ask that you do volunteer for at least one concession stand shift per athlete of your family through the season. Every home game our organization will have a concession stand up and ruining. They only way for that to work is to have parents and guardians step up and volunteer for at least one shift.
COACHES Every coach has to be certified through BYFO and CTYFL. They will have to pass a background check and a Training through CTYFL and a training with BYFO. Please remember that ALL coaches are volunteers. They are volunteering their time away from their families and trying their best to ensure your Mascot has a great season. Please be respectful of their time. There is a lot of time spent not only during practices and games but also outside of them. They spend time behind the scenes creating routines, planning Practices and preparing upcoming events. Please be respectful of the Practice times, game info, and events that your coach decides is best for their squad.
MASCOT CHEER FOLDER/COMMUNICATION FOLDER Every Mascot will be given a cheer folder. They may decorate it any way that they please. Inside each folder will have different things such as, a list of cheers, Mascot tips, Safety info to remember when performing, contact info, practice info, and game schedules. Most of these items will be added throughout the season. We ask that each Mascot has this folder on them at every practice and every game. This folder may also be used to send home information, flyers , and upcoming dates for parents to remember. This helps keep all info in one place, teach the Mascots responsibility and independence. Each coach will use their folder how they see best fit their squad each season.
PRACTICE - Practices can be anywhere from 1 day a week to 3 days a week. This will depend on the preference of the head coach and the age of the Mascot. - Practice may not exceed 2 hours a day - Competition Team practices may be a closed practice. This means that only coaches, Mascots, and cheerleaders will be allowed inside the school during this practice time. Parents may wait outside the windows, outside facility, or drop off. If you choose to drop off the coach must be aware that you are not at the facility and contact number to reach you in case of an emergency. - Mascots will not be released into the parking lot or out of the cheer practice facility without an adult. This means that if you have dropped off your child for a closed practice you will have to come inside to pick them up at the end of practice. A coach must release each Child to their guardian. - Please arrive no more than 10 mins prior to practice. You may not drop off your Mascot at practice without making contact with a coach of their team. - It is very important that every Mascot shows up to every practice on time and reading to perform. - Every Mascot will need to be picked up no later then 10 mins after practice.
PRACTICE ATTIRE Clothing Please have Mascot wear leggings or shorts. All clothing worn at practice may not have zippers, buttons or rhinestones. Make sure tops are not to bagging or long. No tops that show the belly. Most practices will be in regular clothing. Most likely the end of practice will be in costume. Footwear Every Mascot must be wearing a pair of closed toe shoes. If a Mascot shows up in sandals, flip flops, or without shoes they will not be able to participate in practice. Athletic or cheerleading shoes are preferred. Please make sure they are the correct size and can not slip off easily. Hair All hair must be pulled up out of the face and off of the shoulders.
PRACTICE SUPPLIES Food & Candy Make sure to eat before arriving at practice. Food and Gum is not allowed at practice. Drinks Make sure to bring plenty of water to every practice. Please do not bring sports drinks or sodas. We prefer water only during practice. Extra Make sure to bring any supplies needed for practice. Example- Cheer Bag, Cheer Folder, Megaphone, Pompoms, noise makers, Mascot Gear
GAMES - It is your responsibility to transport your Mascot to and from every game. We will have several home games which may be played at Bastrop Memorial Stadium, Erhard Stadium, or Bastrop Intermediate School. Away games will be played at any of the other locations of the other CTYFL Organizations which you can see on www.CTYFL.org - Anyone without an official CTYFL certified Badge on them will not be allowed on the field. Please do not walk onto the track, sidelines, or field at anytime. - Mascots can only have water on the field or track. No sports drinks or sugary beverages. - No food is allowed during the game. - Please do not take your child up into the stands during half time. They need to stay with their coaches the entire game, - Please arrive at each game 30 mins prior to game time. - Make sure your Mascot is prepared at every game. It is good for them to have a cheer bag with leggings, long sleeves, jackets, rain coat, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. -We cheer Rain or shine at every game. If a game is not canceled and there is not a weather advisory that prevents the game from being played we will still be out there cheering. - If it is raining Mascots will have an opportunity to perform in regular clothes to build the crowd participation rather then in costume. - Please make sure your Mascot has eaten and used the restroom before arriving at each game. www.CTYFL.org
CERTIFICATION Every player will have to be certified by CTYFL in order to participate in the season. This will require - Registration info - Copy of Birth Certificate - Current physical - Behavior/Spectator form signed - Liability Wavier - Medical Release Form Signed - Current Photo Not having this info in before certification day will result in your cheerleader not being able to participate in the Fall season with us. In the result of this a refund will not be allowed.
COMPETITION Every October CTYFL has a Cheerleading competition that we participate in. Every Mascot enrolled with BYFO has an opportunity to participate in this competition. We do ask that you sign a Competition Contract committing to the entire season. This means not missing practices or games and coming with a good and positive attitude at all times. Competition does have a few extra expenses but we will try our best to fundraise enough for those costs. Competition will be October 29th2017 at the Toney Burger Center in Austin. BYFO will transport cheerleaders to the Toney Burger Center the day of competition but Parents and Guardians will be responsible for transporting them from the Toney Burger Center after the competition. This is an all day even and a great experience. If you would like more info on competition please feel free to contact us at anytime. Competition Divisions Mascots will perform as a mascot group in the Performance division or along side a division squad Depending on the preference of the head coach and The routines created.
COMPETITION FINANCES This is an estimate that we go off of when planning our finances needed for competition. Entry Fee for CTYFL Competition Registration (per athlete) - $15 Transportation to facility - $200 to $300 Spirit supplies - $100 Music (per team) - $30 to $80 Routine Supplies (per team) - $25 Lunch Supplied for competition day (per athlete) - $6 to $10 Competition goodie bags (per athlete) - $10 Competitions outside of CTYFL will have a different cost. That will be discussed at a later date if BYFO Cheer decides to participate in more competitions.
SPONSORSHIPS If you or someone you know has a business or would like to sponsor our program please let me know. We would love to build a partnership with them. Our sponsorship form is attached in the back of this handbook.
FUNDRAISERS We will have one large fundraiser and several little fundraisers throughout the season. It is important that everyone participates as much as possible. We are a non-profit organization that runs on fundraising and sponsorships. We want to be able to provide each athlete with as much as we possibly can so they can have a fun and successful season. Everything that gets raised will go straight back into our program for the children.
SPORTSMANSHIP We expect BYFO Athletes, Parents, Coaches, Volunteers, and family members to be respectful at all times. We have a zero tolerance policy for being disrespectful to volunteers, other teams, players and facilities. If there is ever a circumstance that you feel needs to be addressed please contact the cheer coordinator, BYFO President, or a Board member at an away game facility to assist you in resolving any issues. We try our best to keep drama and gossip out of our league.
CHAIN OF COMMANDS Please try to follow the correct procedure below to help things run smooth throughout the season. - Head Coach - Cheer Coordinator - President Please do not go to others of discuss your questions or concerns with anyone other then these 3 people. This will keep from information being misunderstood or not resolved correctly.
WELCOME TO BYFO Thanks again for being a part of BYFO Cheer and Mascot Program. We look forward to an awesome season. Jennifer Cody BYFO Cheer Coordinator byfocheer@gmail.com
