Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the Lancaster Biddy Basketball Leagues, a cheerleader must be in the 5th or 6th grade AND must attend the Lancaster City Schools; or if *HOME-SCHOOLED a cheerleader must be in the 5th or 6th grade AND live in the Lancaster City School District.

6th Grade Students who cheered on a Biddy Team in the 5th grade will return to the team of which they cheered. 6th Graders who have not cheered in the Biddy Leagues will try out for the elementary school in which district they live.

*Home-Schooled Children will try out for the elementary school in which district they live.

Registration

Registrations and registration fees will be taken through the coach and paid to the LBBA before the first week of games.

Registration information will have been advertised in local papers, fliers will be distributed to students at the schools, and information will be available on the Lancaster Biddy Website.

Roster

The roster will usually contain 8 cheerleaders. Special circumstances may allow less cheerleaders on the roster; however, no more than 8 will be allowed on the court at one time.  2 alternates are allowed on each squad if the coach chooses.

Cheerer’s fees and release forms from each parent or guardian must be turned in before the first game of the season. If the release forms and fees are not turned in by the first game of the season, that cheerleader will be declared ineligible.

Cheers and Chants

Cheers and chants must be “positive.” Cheerleaders will cheer for their teams, but will not “trash talk” or use negativity toward the other team’s cheerleaders, basketball cheerleaders, coaches, or fans. 

Foul Shots

Cheerleaders will not cheer, chant, stomp, yell, etc. during the other team’s foul shooting.

Cheerleader/Coach Ejection

Any cheerleader or coach who is ejected from a game must automatically sit out the next game. Any cheerleader or coach ejected for a second time in a season will be suspended for the remainder of the year.

Practice

The Lancaster Biddy Basketball Board believes in minimizing the amount of practice time per week because of other weekly family events that take place during a school year. A compromise has been reached to hold our basketball time to three hours per week. Cheerleaders will either practice 1-hour, two days each week or for 2-hours, one day each week. A week begins on Sunday morning and ends Saturday night. Penalties for non-compliance will be as follows:

1^st offense- The head coach will be assessed a double technical foul, ejected from the game, and the opposing team will be awarded four foul shots and the ball out of bounds at the beginning of the game following the violation.

2^nd offense- The coach will be dismissed for the remainder of the season.

Uniforms

Each cheerleader will provide his own personal equipment such as shoes, and socks. The league will provide each cheerleader with a uniform shirt and skort, which will become the personal property of the cheerleader upon completion of the season. When the squad takes the floor for pre-game warm-ups, the squad shall be dressed only in playing uniforms.

Games

1. Games are played on Saturday afternoons according to a schedule provided to the coaches and located on the Lancaster Biddy Website.  Teams will play about 10 weeks and will finish the season with a single elimination tournament.  The season will begin in October/November and will conclude in March.

2. Each game will consist of 4 six-minute quarters with a minute between quarters and a 5-minute intermission at half-time. 

3. The home squad will decide whether they will cheer first/last during the 5 minute half-time.

In order to supervise his/her cheerleaders, we ask that the coach arrive 15 minutes prior to the arrival of his/her team.

Awards

Division winners will receive small individual trophies or pendants, to be awarded at one of the tournament games.

The tournament winner will receive small individual plaques or pendants, to be awarded after the championship game.

In the event the divisional winner also wins the tournament, the trophies will still be presented.

Building Rules

Coaches are responsible for their cheerleaders within the dressing rooms before and after the games, and to see they are dressed and out of the locker rooms after the game. Coaches are responsible for property damage at your school practice. Cheerleaders should not come to practice too early and coaches need to make sure they do not disturb other teams or groups who are using the facility. When practice is over, make sure everyone has left the building. Smoking is prohibited in all buildings.

1. No smoking or drinking anywhere within the facility. 2. No food, candy or beverages. 3. Do not use rear doors for entry or exit. 4. Keep everyone off any equipment that may be out. 5. No one is allowed in the locker rooms except cheerleaders and coaches.  6. Do not allow cheerleaders in the locker rooms without your supervision. 7. Remember the use of the buildings is a privilege, not a right.

Coach Responsibility

1. Coaches are in charge of cheerleaders before and after practice and games. Cheerleaders should arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before practice. Coaches should be there to receive them. After practice and games the coach should remain until all cheerleaders are gone. Coaches need to insure that everyone respects the building in use and abides by its rules. Problems at the school can result in forfeiture of use. Please report any damage to the person in charge.

2. Use good judgment in dealing with parents, kids, or others and refer to the code of ethics of your coaching guideline.