2023-2024 – Season 6
Program Policies & Expectations
Pricing & Fees
ALL FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED.
All tuition payments are due on the 1st of each month by TNT Gymnastics through the iClass portal used during the original Tryout Registration. In addition, the first month will also charge the commitment fee.
All program fees and apparel payments will be paid to TNT Cheer Kids through tntallstarcheer.com/parentcorner. A detailed list of program fee payments and apparel costs are provided in the fees section of your Season 6 Program Guide. If fees are not paid on time athletes may not be eligible to practice or compete until payment is received. Any late payments in apparel may result in apparel not being ordered for your athlete and additional, late orders, will incur additional handling fees based on the charges incurred by the vendor.
All athletes must have a working credit card on file, on both sites, for the duration the athlete is enrolled at TNT Elite All Stars. Failure to do so may result in removal from the team if fees and balance are not up to date at all times.
If an athlete chooses to quit or is asked to leave the program at ANY point there will be no refunds for ANY fees paid. The athlete will be charged a $350 Quitters Fee if the athlete quits or leaves the program after August 31st. TNT Elite All Stars expects the full team commitment for each team member for the entire season. If you do not feel you can commit to the full expectations of the team please reach out to the Director.
If your athlete is an active team member there is no break in tuition payments or credits issued including injuries. Tuition is a yearly cost broken into 12 monthly payments so it is owed in its entirety by each team member for the year. Athletes will not be eligible to participate in practice if there is an outstanding tuition balance.Tuition is not prorated for ANY missed practice time.
If you wish to leave the team you must send written confirmation to Becca at coachbecca@tntallstarcheer.com and Dawn at tntgymnasticsnj@gmail.com 30 days prior to exit.
Apparel
Uniforms and practice wear (aka, apparel) are ordered via a Google Form, emailed to parents at the start of the season and available on the Parent Corner. All parents must have their orders in no later than June 28, 2023. Invoices will be generated no later than July 1 and must be paid in full no later than August 15, 2023. Any apparel order not paid in full, will not be included in the order of apparel and is subject to additional handling fees. Any late order that results in uniforms not being received by competitions will also make that athlete ineligible to compete until the uniform has been received. All items are custom made and can take up to 12 weeks for manufacturing and delivery.
Apparel will be distributed as a set (Uniform and Practice Wear separately). Parents are required to pick up and sign upon delivery of apparel. Any items missing or sized wrong must be reported at pick up. TNT Elite will not be responsible for any items not properly reported at time of pick up. Parents and athletes are responsible for maintaining the quality of the apparel throughout the entire season.
Until official practice wear is received and distributed, athletes are expected to come to practice in appropriate athletic wear with their hair pulled up in a ponytail. Proper cheer sneakers are also required at all times during practice. Once official practice wear is received and distributed, athletes are expected to attend practice in the proper attire based on the practice day. Communication will follow as far as which set is to be worn on each day.
Attendance
Full attendance at every practice is expected as every practice is mandatory. Written notification prior practice start (by 3 pm) to the Team’s Head Coach and Coach Becca is required via private text/email. If prior notice fails to be made then it is assumed that an athlete will be working their spot in the routine. We also must be notified if an athlete may be late.
If an athlete is absent it is expected that another athlete will be working in their spot in their absence. It is top priority to keep the team moving forward. No exceptions. Missing athletes are not guaranteed their spot back.
Athletes must be present for the entire practice the week of competition in order to be eligible to compete. No exceptions. Any athlete that misses a competition may be subject to removal from the team. No exceptions. Athletes that have missed repeated practices may not be eligible to compete and may result in removal from the team and there will be no refunds granted. No expectations.
Illness:
Athletes that are sick the Monday of a competition week must present a doctor’s note in order to be considered an excused absence. Without a doctor’s note there will be no consideration granted and the athlete will be ineligible to compete, no exceptions. It is not a guarantee that illness will result in an excused absence. It is up to the Director and Head Coach for the final decision on what is best for the team. A sick athlete that is granted an excused absence MUST be present and fully practicing the Wednesday or last practice prior to a competition in order to be eligible to compete.
Injured Athletes:
Athletes that are injured but are returning to the team are still required to attend practice so they are up to date with material upon their return and are expected to still attend competitions and other requirements of the team. Tuition is still due. A doctor’s note is required for an athlete to sit out of practice with an injury and is required for an athlete to return to practice.
Travel / Vacationing / Outside Activities:
We highly recommend not scheduling vacations from December-April as we are in peak competition season and practices cannot be missed. Please expect additional weekend practices during January and periodically from February-April as they may be necessary to prepare for upcoming competitions. Please email any planned absences to Program Director Becca at coachbecca@tntallstarcheer.com as soon as you are aware so we can plan accordingly. We DO NOT have a spring break.
Outside Activities/Schoolwork/Family Gatherings: We always encourage our athletes to be well-rounded individuals. However, when you choose TNT Elite All Stars, you are making us your priority. Athletes are expected to manage their schoolwork and practice schedule. If athletes play another sport, it is expected of those athletes to have a discussion with their respective coaches about scheduling conflicts. Family gatherings and birthday parties are not excusable absences. Please take extra care in considering if competitive cheerleading is the right fit for your athlete and your family.
Travel and Vacationing: Practice schedules will be released at the beginning of the season and a preliminary competition schedule will be provided by August 31st. Please note that this is subject to change. We do our absolute best to keep scheduling consistent. It is imperative that you let coaches know immediately of any planned vacations. Vacation/Travel is not an excuse to miss practice and/or competitions and will not be excused.
Injuries/Sickness: Athletes are still required to attend practice even if injured (unless deemed unsafe by their doctor). We require a copy of doctor’s notes when athletes are injured and under medical care. If an athlete is seeking medical care, please notify a TNT Elite All Star Staff member immediately. This will allow the coaching staff to find a fill-in if need be. If athletes cannot attend the last two practices before a competition, they will not be eligible to compete. If there is a long-term injury or sickness, the athlete may be asked to sit out longer depending upon return date and the next competition. No refunds will be provided in any cases. If an athlete does not perform on the competition floor, he/she will not receive the gifts from that competition.
Athlete Expectations:
Proper Attire for Practice: Clothing needs to be tight-fitting. T-shirts and shorts are acceptable. Please, no jeans. Shoes need to be white cheer shoes. Athletes can purchase any cheer shoe. Hair needs to be pulled back in a high ponytail. Nails need to be trimmed. Please, no long nails. No jewelry will be allowed to be worn.
Use of Electronics and Personal Belongings: The use of electronics during practice will not be allowed. Athletes can bring their electronics and personal belongings to practice for safety and communication to parents/guardians. Phones may be held by the TNT Staff during practice.
Competition Attire: Athletes are expected to wear their full competition uniform when arriving at the venue. Athletes can wear weather-appropriate attire (ie. coat, leggings). Please, no pajama pants/UGG boots/inappropriate clothing. Athletes are to be in FULL uniform in order to attend awards.
Parent & Athlete Social Media and Behavioral Expectations:
We promote respectful, inclusive behavior in the gym and expect our athletes to display that outside of practice time and do not tolerate any sort of negative behavior on the team. All athletes are expected to treat team members and staff with respect in the gym as well as on social media. Any social issues that occur outside of the team are expected to be handled in a respectful and timely manner outside of practice time. Those who are found in violation of these expectations will be removed from the team.
While TNT staff members will not be actively policing social media of athletes, any concerns or allegations brought to our attention will be handled accordingly. Those who are found in violation of these expectations will be removed from the team.
It is expected that any issues or concerns be addressed with a staff member directly and promptly. We do our best to address concerns in a timely and professional manner. Any parent or athlete that consistently speaks negatively about the team, program, staff, or an athlete without addressing a staff member directly, especially after the issue has been discussed and addressed may be subject to be asked to leave the program as it is no longer a healthy fit. We take our program culture very seriously and work hard to protect it for our athletes and families.
Any violations of rules or actions found within TNT Elite All Stars to be deemed inappropriate or disrespectful of either teammates or staff are subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including the removal from the team. These actions can be physical, verbal or digital. These actions include but are not limited to:
- Using foul language
- Horseplay
- Violence
- Lewd Acts
- Disrespect of TNT Staff, Parent or other athletes, either verbally, physically or digitally
- Any interaction in which one party may feel uncomfortable
- Not participating in a required team practice and/or activity
- Use of cell phones (without prior approval)
- Use of equipment not used for cheerleading or used during conditioning or tumble training.
- Distribution of materials for any outside event, including gatherings, parties, etc. that does not include the entire team.
- Distribution or promotion of other products or businesses without prior approval.
Actions taken outside of TNT Elite are not subject to disciplinary action at TNT, unless the actions have a negative impact on the team’s abilities and progress during practice hours and/or competitions.
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please speak to a staff member directly and promptly. Please refrain from engaging on social media about any issues.
At TNT Elite All Stars we are a family and as part of our program, you too are members of our family. We take creating a positive environment for our athletes to grow, learn, and develop very seriously and expect all family members to treat it the same way.
Communications Expectations:
Emails and text messages are used to contact parents regarding updates and information relevant to TNT Elite All-Star Cheerleading. Your email address and mobile phone number provided during registration will be used for this purpose throughout the season. Please be sure to keep an eye on your email and text messages for these important updates. Emails are typically sent about once a week, sometimes more during certain times of the year and text messages are typically about twice a month, sometimes more during competition season.
Please feel free to use the emails and phone numbers provided on the contact sheets for any communication needed with Coaches and Staff. All inquiries are usually responded to within 24 hours, however, they can take up to the following practice for a response. Any texts or inquiries received after 6 pm will be addressed the following day. Please try to refrain from texting staff after 9 pm aside from emergencies.
All communication must come from the parent or guardian of the athlete. Athletes are NOT to be texting staff directly. We understand that some athletes are age appropriate to have the responsibility of communicating directly with their coach but we ask that all communication is from a parent or guardian only. Please do not give your athletes any staff members’ phone number.
TNT Elite All Stars staff expects parents or guardians to communicate any scheduling conflicts, issues, or challenges in a timely manner. TNT Elite All Star staff is not responsible for confirming things such as but not limited to if athletes will be attending practices, arriving on time, and or if payment will be received timely. If it is not communicated in a timely matter TNT Elite All Stars will proceed with what is best for the team. Staff will NOT be reaching out to inquire where an athlete is if they are late to practice, missed a practice, or is not up to date on payment as in years past. Appropriate action will be taken if staff is not informed in a timely manner such as spot replacement, removal from competition, or removal from the team. Please review the above guidelines on communication expectations.
Competition Expectations:
All athletes are expected to attend all competitions. Please be sure to block off the entire day for a competition as arrival, performance and awards times will not be known at the time of the schedule release. The competition schedule will be finalized and sent no later than August 31, 2023.
All Athletes are expected to have a parent or chaperone attend the competition as the TNT Staff can not be responsible for the athletes outside of the necessary time needed for warmups, performance and awards. Admission fees for spectators are not included in any program or tuition fee charged at TNT Elite.
Athletes are required to be “competition” ready by the arrival time. This includes being in full uniform, including hair, make-up and sneakers. If you choose to do any of these things once you arrive at the venue, please arrive earlier than the required time.
Competition times are provided to us by the promoter anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks prior to the competition. We will do our best to communicate with parents using email, text messages and/or BAND App in a timely manner and when we have information we can share.
Athletes are to arrive on time based on the communication sent via email, text and/or BAND App. Lateness could result in the entire team or athlete not being able to compete.
All parents and spectators supporting TNT Elite All Stars are expected to cheer on ALL TNT Elite All Star teams while at the competition. This includes being in any preferred viewing area, when available. While not required for TNT Elite parents and spectators to sit together, we encourage everyone to do so to support and promote our brand of “Family”. Please use the BAND App to promote seating areas and allow others to know where our “Family” is located.
Team Placement / Practice/ Routine Changes
Athletes are placed on a team suitable for their age and skill level at the discretion of TNT staff. While questions regarding your athlete’s progress and future are always encouraged, discussions regarding why your athlete was not placed on the team you or your athlete wanted will not be discussed. TNT staff will not engage in conversations regarding an athlete’s progress if said athlete is not your child. TNT Staff does not under any circumstances discuss another athlete with any other parent.
TNT Elite All Stars staff will not discuss any routine changes, adjustments, and position changes. TNT Staff creates teams and routines for the success of the overall team. Our goal is to make teams successful and competitive and will make the best decisions to support the success of the team. TNT Elite All Stars reserves the right to make changes to the routine, team, positions, level of team and any other changes necessary, at any time with or without notice to the parents and or athletes.
The goal of any decision is based on the needs of the overall team, their strengths and how they will best progress throughout the season.
Staff Training and Child Safety
Here at TNT Elite, each staff member is trained on Safe Sport. It is our duty to protect our athletes against any and all predators and we take the protection of our athletes seriously. If at any time your athlete feels uncomfortable with any staff member it is to be brought to the attention of the director immediately so that the necessary actions can be taken. TNT will open an in house investigation into the allegation and cooperate with the athlete and their family to the fullest capacity.
Additionally, all staff members will have their CPR/First Aid certification through the American Red Cross. The health, physical and mental, and well-being of your athletes are of the highest priority at TNT Elite All Stars. We promote open communication and retain confidentiality of any information shared with the staff at TNT Elite All Stars. Our staff is here to help athletes grow not only in the sport of cheerleading, but as well rounded young adults.