Captain Candidate Information (Read the following)
Eligibility - Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior to submit. Please review qualifications and then proceed if you are still interested.
Attention Captain Candidates:
We are so excited that you are considering trying out for this position. We want to make sure that you understand what it means to be a Captain and what is expected of you. Please read through this information carefully and make sure that you are completely devoted and up to the task before continuing on this journey. Please go over this information with your parents as well to insure that they are willing and able to support you in this endeavor. We will have one captain, one co-captains, one spirit leader, and a co-spirit leader over varsity and one spirit leader and one co-spirit leader for junior varsity teams.
It is important to look at yourself and analyze the reason you want to become a leader of the team. You must want more than the title. You must desire to be a servant leader and be the team’s most devoted member.
Keep these requirements in mind as you make your decision:
As you ponder the above information, please keep in mind these final thoughts: Not everyone trying out will make captain, or you may not receive the position you desire. We expect you to handle this in a mature manner. We expect you to remain on the team; you are a valuable member and can serve in other areas. A strong captain line is the backbone of the team and we expect more from them than other team members. An extreme level of dedication is required for this position and continual sacrifice comes with the territory. You will be expected to take initiative and take control of situations when necessary. You must earn respect and should not consider yourself above anyone else on the team. As a captain, you are a leader and this is a service position that requires hard work. It is not a position of royalty.
If you choose to continue on this journey, Please complete the following questionnaire and turn into the coaches on the FIRST day of camp.
Captain Questionnaire
Directions: Answer each of the following questions within an essay and submit to coaches on Day 1 of cheer camp. Please think carefully about your responses as we are VERY serious about reading your answers.
1. Among the members on the team, who do you think would make the best captains?
Who, among the candidates, would you not recommend to be selected officers? Why?
2. What is your strongest characteristic? Your weakest trait?
3. In your past experience on a team - who was the best leader and why? If any were poor leaders, what were their flaws?
4. Fast forward to a year from now. What do you hope your teammates will say about you as a captain?
5. What other leadership positions have you held outside of cheer team (school, church, scouts, and community)? What did you accomplish?
6. What do you think were the team’s biggest problems this past year? Did you contribute to them? How did you help solve them? What are your suggestions for handling these problems/situations in the future?
7. If you do NOT make captain, what do you hope to contribute to the team?
8. Is it more important for a captain to be a good cheerleader or a good leader? On a scale of 1-10, rate your leadership ability. Now, on the same scale, rate your cheer ability.
9. If you could identify yourself with a symbol (or an animal), what would it be and why?
10. What does self-initiation mean? Name some specific things you can do that are self-initiated?
11. What are 3 of your main goals for the team next year?
12. Identify your proudest moment as a team member last year? Now, if you could turn back the hands of time, identify the moment or incident that still causes you pain or embarrassment to think about.
13. Everyone realizes that an effective group of captains is comprised of individuals who compliment each other’s strengths. Picture the candidates that you believe to be the best choice for officers this year; now, one by one, identify them with their greatest strength: motivator, disciplinarian, organizer, comedian, etc.
14. Give us an example of your ability to discipline as it relates to the team? Can you assume this role and not be a captain?
15. What did you do this year to make membership on the cheer team more enjoyable for everyone?
16. Think of your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, work, and other involvement at home and in the community, do you have enough time to serve as an effective officer? Give us a list of your priorities that surround your life. Would you have to make sacrifices in any of your activities to fulfill your duties as a captain?
17. Complete the following sentence: “If I could change one thing about our cheer team, it would be_________________________.” Now explain how you will change it.
18. Give us an example of your ability to think quickly on your feet and handle a crisis.
19. Besides your coaches, name the teacher who has had the most impact on your life and tell us why.
20. The clock is ticking: You have 30 seconds to give us your best sales pitch on why you should be selected as a captain. Be ready to do this on the last day of camp.
Attention Captain Candidates:
We are so excited that you are considering trying out for this position. We want to make sure that you understand what it means to be a Captain and what is expected of you. Please read through this information carefully and make sure that you are completely devoted and up to the task before continuing on this journey. Please go over this information with your parents as well to insure that they are willing and able to support you in this endeavor. We will have one captain, one co-captains, one spirit leader, and a co-spirit leader over varsity and one spirit leader and one co-spirit leader for junior varsity teams.
It is important to look at yourself and analyze the reason you want to become a leader of the team. You must want more than the title. You must desire to be a servant leader and be the team’s most devoted member.
Keep these requirements in mind as you make your decision:
- You will dedicate many additional hours to the team throughout the summer and the school year, including supporting the junior varsity team’s development as they are the lifeline of this team.
- You must maintain exemplary grades.
- You must be a role model to your team and peers.
- Maintenance of excellent attendance is a must.
- You must be able to critique and guide your peers with compassion and respect.
- You should be an outstanding performer and strive to grow in your cheer ability and technique.
- You must support the coaches, whether you agree with them or not. We will turn to you for your opinions, but you must remember that final decisions are the coaches to make based on what we feel is best for the team.
- You must be able to treat everyone fairly and equally, putting the needs of the team and what is right above yourself and friendships. You have to be able to put differences aside.
- Being a leader inside and outside of school and practice is non-negotiable. It takes much longer to build or repair a reputation than it does to destroy it. Social media and all personal endeavors must be in a positive light.
- The captains and coaches will work as a cohesive team.
- The following character traits are necessary:
As you ponder the above information, please keep in mind these final thoughts: Not everyone trying out will make captain, or you may not receive the position you desire. We expect you to handle this in a mature manner. We expect you to remain on the team; you are a valuable member and can serve in other areas. A strong captain line is the backbone of the team and we expect more from them than other team members. An extreme level of dedication is required for this position and continual sacrifice comes with the territory. You will be expected to take initiative and take control of situations when necessary. You must earn respect and should not consider yourself above anyone else on the team. As a captain, you are a leader and this is a service position that requires hard work. It is not a position of royalty.
If you choose to continue on this journey, Please complete the following questionnaire and turn into the coaches on the FIRST day of camp.
Captain Questionnaire
Directions: Answer each of the following questions within an essay and submit to coaches on Day 1 of cheer camp. Please think carefully about your responses as we are VERY serious about reading your answers.
1. Among the members on the team, who do you think would make the best captains?
Who, among the candidates, would you not recommend to be selected officers? Why?
2. What is your strongest characteristic? Your weakest trait?
3. In your past experience on a team - who was the best leader and why? If any were poor leaders, what were their flaws?
4. Fast forward to a year from now. What do you hope your teammates will say about you as a captain?
5. What other leadership positions have you held outside of cheer team (school, church, scouts, and community)? What did you accomplish?
6. What do you think were the team’s biggest problems this past year? Did you contribute to them? How did you help solve them? What are your suggestions for handling these problems/situations in the future?
7. If you do NOT make captain, what do you hope to contribute to the team?
8. Is it more important for a captain to be a good cheerleader or a good leader? On a scale of 1-10, rate your leadership ability. Now, on the same scale, rate your cheer ability.
9. If you could identify yourself with a symbol (or an animal), what would it be and why?
10. What does self-initiation mean? Name some specific things you can do that are self-initiated?
11. What are 3 of your main goals for the team next year?
12. Identify your proudest moment as a team member last year? Now, if you could turn back the hands of time, identify the moment or incident that still causes you pain or embarrassment to think about.
13. Everyone realizes that an effective group of captains is comprised of individuals who compliment each other’s strengths. Picture the candidates that you believe to be the best choice for officers this year; now, one by one, identify them with their greatest strength: motivator, disciplinarian, organizer, comedian, etc.
14. Give us an example of your ability to discipline as it relates to the team? Can you assume this role and not be a captain?
15. What did you do this year to make membership on the cheer team more enjoyable for everyone?
16. Think of your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, work, and other involvement at home and in the community, do you have enough time to serve as an effective officer? Give us a list of your priorities that surround your life. Would you have to make sacrifices in any of your activities to fulfill your duties as a captain?
17. Complete the following sentence: “If I could change one thing about our cheer team, it would be_________________________.” Now explain how you will change it.
18. Give us an example of your ability to think quickly on your feet and handle a crisis.
19. Besides your coaches, name the teacher who has had the most impact on your life and tell us why.
20. The clock is ticking: You have 30 seconds to give us your best sales pitch on why you should be selected as a captain. Be ready to do this on the last day of camp.