WELCOME MESSAGE
The purpose of the City Belle Athletics Handbook is to outline the purpose, expectations, and requirements for all members of CITY BELLE ATHLETICS. Please read the handbook and if you have any questions, please contact us.
Contact Information:
Nicole Ezell: Owner 918-972-8263 citybelleathletics@gmail.com
At City Belle Athletics it is important for us to provide proper training while balancing a family-like atmosphere. We can guarantee disciplined and constructive training in all aspects of cheerleading and dance.
Positive attitudes, commitment, goal setting, and respectful behavior are some of the qualities you can expect to be instilled in your athlete while with City Belle Athletics.
Teamwork is a lifelong lesson and our coaches strive to develop this quality and others that will last a lifetime. If you ever have a problem with anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
ABOUT & PURPOSE
City Belle Athletics is currently located in Tulsa County in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is serving all of the surrounding areas. The cheer program is owned and operated by Nicole Ezell, a Texas native, and an ex-sideline cheerleader. As owner, I vow to give my cheer and dance expertise to each athlete and to help them be successful in the program.
City Belle Athletics was created with the Tulsa County community in mind. This dance & cheer program allows athletes to compete at an all star level without breaking the bank. The goal is for every athlete to get a chance and the parents will have a successful season without the stress of unpaid expenses. City Belle Athletics was created to be a comfort for athletes, a place where athletes will always feel like they belong, and not be an outcast because of what they could not afford.
City Belle Athletics is making waves in the Tulsa community. The competitive cheer program has been recognized as front-page news in The Tulsa World and featured in the Oklahoma State University online magazine. In its inaugural season, City Belle athletes achieved several division wins, establishing the program as a standout success from the very beginning. The purpose of City Belle Athletics is to continue growing, empowering, and serving the youth of the Tulsa community through athletics, discipline, and opportunity.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Athlete Code of Conduct was established as a set of principles and expectations for anyone who represents City Belle Athletics. As a parent, you are bound to the same level of expectations as your athlete. You represent our program and your athlete; and it is important to understand that your actions can have consequences for your athlete. All members of our program are bound by the policies described below.
BULLYING
City Belle Athletics has a zero tolerance policy for bullying of any kind, including but not limited to social media postings, written letters, and/or texting. If you discover that your child has been subjected to bullying, please let your coach know immediately. The protocol in this situation will be:
1. Discuss the matter with the parent whose athlete is being bullied
2. Determine what type of meeting will be held. It may be determined that both parents will need to be in attendance, as well as the program owner.
3. If the meeting determines that the accused athlete will remain in the program, it is understood that one more proven accusation will result in dismissal from City Belle Athletics.
ATHLETE BEHAVIOR
 Cheerleaders/Dancers must arrive at all practices, competitions, or any scheduled event ON TIME. Punctuality is a MUST.
 Show respect for the coaches, fellow teammates, athletes (regardless of program affiliation), parents, judges, officials, and spectators. Disrespectful behavior will result in dismissal from the program. This applies to any and all postings on any social media platform.
 Demonstrate good sportsmanship before, during, and after competitions, and all practices.
 Be modest when successful and be gracious in defeat.
 Abstain from using drugs, tobacco, alcohol and abusive language .
 It is the athlete’s responsibility to wear the appropriate practice wear to every practice. Hair should be in a ponytail and cheer shoes must be worn.
 For safety reasons, no jewelry will be allowed in practices. All belly rings, nose rings, earrings, necklaces etc. should be removed before practice and competitions. Your coach or team rep is NOT responsible for holding your jewelry .
 Tattoos should be covered for all competitions.
 Fingernails must be kept at an athletic length.
 Cell phones must be placed on silent mode and will now be required to be stored in bags along with any extra clothing.
 Anyone threatening to quit will be dismissed from the program.
 If a problem should arise between you and a teammate or another parent, the problem will be addressed with all parties at a meeting where coaches and owners can be present.
WE ARE NOT JUST TEACHING CHEERLEADING OR DANCE BUT MANY LIFE SKILLS. BEING ON TIME, RESPONSIBLE, AND RELIABLE FOR YOUR TEAM IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AT CITY BELLE ATHLETICS.
PARENT BEHAVIOR
 For the safety of our athletes, parents and children not in the program are not permitted on equipment or in the practice area.
 Parents may remain in the viewing area during OPEN practices. Coaches will share when a practice is considered open.
 No one is allowed to yell at their athlete, or any athlete, on the practice floor to try to get their attention. Demonstrating this type of behavior could lead to your removal from open practices, and with continuous behaviors after warnings, a dismissal from the program.
 Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all athletes, coaches, fans, and judges. Encourage your athlete to do the same practices and all competitions.
 Anyone threatening to quit or pull their child from a team will be dismissed from the program immediately.
 Withholding a child from a practice or competition should never be used as a form of punishment and could result in your athlete being placed in a lower role on their team.
 All parents must treat all staff with respect, including the coaches and parents. Should a parent promote unsportsmanlike behavior, he or she will be asked to leave the program immediately. This includes but is not limited to gossiping, the forming of cliques that slander the “City Belle Athletics” name, or posts on any social media platforms.
 No profanity and or abusive language in the practice area, and during parent meetings.
 We strive to build communication between coaches, athletes, and parents. If you ever have an issue please bring it directly to the owner's attention.
 Please feel free to talk to your team's coach or dance teacher about anything, just remember to do it at the appropriate time.
 If a parent wants to do something for their athlete’s team, it must go through the owner first for approval.
 24 HOUR RULE: Before approaching a coach/owner with a concern that upsets you, please wait 24 hours to calm down before contacting.
YOU AND YOUR ATHLETE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF CITY BELLE ATHLETICS. ANY BEHAVIOR THAT IS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE OR DISRESPECTFUL IS GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM.
PRACTICES
 Please note that practices may run 15 minutes over scheduled end times when we are near the competition date.
 Practices may be changed, cancelled, or added at any time during the season with proper notice. If a practice is cancelled due to a said reason by a coach, weather, holidays, etc.; make-up practices may or may not be added at the discretion of the coach(es) and owner.
 If you are running late to practice, you must call and inform your coach- NO ABSENCES ALLOWED 3 WEEKS BEFORE COMPETITION! Coaches reserve the right to replace/remove an athlete that misses practice two weeks before a competition.
 The coaches/owners reserve the right to close practice at any time for any reason.
 Absolutely no jewelry, Please wear assigned practice wear, hair in a ponytail, and a bow.
 It is the parents responsibility to know what is going on with your athlete’s team. Check and read your emails, BAND, and Facebook regularly.
COMPETITIONS
 You are required to attend all competitions. Missing a
competition could result in dismissal of the program.
 Cheerleaders/dancers must arrive to competitions or any
scheduled event ON TIME (this specifically means the
meet time not the warm up time!).
 You must wear your complete uniform or costume.
 All jewelry must be removed PRIOR to going to warm
ups.
 ( Cheer Only) Absolutely no jewelry, Please wear assigned uniform,
wear, hair in a ponytail, and a bow.
 Attendance at awards is mandatory for all athletes.


SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
o No athlete or parent may post inappropriate messages on any social media platforms (including BAND, and group chats, etc.) about anyone else affiliated within City Belle Athletics. Example: No sexual/nude photos/videos, no photos/videos showing drug or alcohol use (minors) (actual or implied), no photos/videos showing inappropriate or vulgar gestures. Any athlete who posts inappropriate messages/photos on any social media platform will be reprimanded and could be dismissed from the program immediately.
o No one is allowed to post any City Belle Athletics music, choreography, routines, etc. on any social media platform.
o The City Belle Athletics staff reserves the right to monitor any and all social media accounts held by our athletes and parents. Any post deemed inappropriate (illegal activity, explicit pictures, etc.), will be requested to be taken down, swimwear photos/videos not included. Repeated social media offenses will result in dismissal from the program.
o We expect our staff, athletes, and their families to keep their public social media “family friendly” at all times. Being that everyone is a part of the City Belle family is representing the City Belle Athletics name.
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
o While City Belle Athletics will generally take disciplinary action in a progressive manner, it reserves the right at the owner’s discretion, to decide whether and what disciplinary action will be taken in a given situation.
o At least one board member, coach, and the owner will be present for and will conduct ALL disciplinary related meetings.
o All disciplinary related meetings will be documented and will need a parental signature acknowledging that the parent is aware of the situation at hand.
THE WAY A TEAM PRACTICE AS A WHOLE DETERMINES ITS’ SUCCESS. YOU MAY HAVE THE GREATEST BUNCH OF INDIVIDUAL STARS IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THEY DON’T PRACTICE, WORK, AND PLAY TOGETHER, THE TEAM WON’T BE WORTHWHILE.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
o City Belle Athletics must be your extracurricular priority! Excessive tardiness and absences are both harmful and disruptive to the team and very
discouraging for teammates and coaches. Every single person is vital to the success of the team. If an athlete is constantly late or is missing practice unexcused proper actions will be taken on an individual basis with the best intentions of the team in mind. Coaches and or owners reserve the right to dismiss an athlete from any team if there are continued attendance issues.
o We realize that families travel during the summer. Please communicate these dates directly to your coach. We will do our absolute best to schedule our summer practices with vacations/conflicts in mind. However, please note if your athlete has to miss evaluation week, team stunt clinic, or choreography day, this could potentially affect their role in the routine. If your athlete has to miss an excessive amount of summer practices, this could potentially result in dismissal from the team.
o Once practices become mandatory, absences will be qualified as excused or unexcused. Your athlete will be
allowed five unexcused absences. Once the fifth unexcused absence occurs, a meeting between coach, owner, athlete, and parent will occur where we will discuss moving your athlete to a lesser role or dismissal from the team.
Excused absences include:
 Death in family
 Contagious sickness as diagnosed be a doctor with a note
 School functions (where a grade is received)
 Court mandated appearances or visitations
 If athlete is a part of a school sports team and a schedule was given to coach prior
Unexcused absences include but not limited to:
 Lack of ride
 Homework
 Basic sickness
 Sports games
 Birthdays
 Work
 OR anything not approved by your coach
An absence request from a practice needs to be done 2 weeks prior to the practice in question. An absence request does not automatically qualify that the absence will be excused. Absences will be approved by the coach and owners.
Absences 3 weeks before a competition may result in your athlete being ineligible to partake in the upcoming competition. Or may lessen the role of your athlete on the floor.
SICK POLICY
Athletes MUST attend practice when you are sick (headaches, tummy aches, allergies etc., unless you have a contagious sickness as diagnosed by a doctor with a note. All contagious illnesses need to be brought to the owner’s attention prior to the doctor’s appointment. Owner will then excuse the absence, and a doctor’s note will
need to be provided to put on file. You will not be required to participate; however, you MUST be present to watch for any changes being made throughout the routine so that you are up to date.
INJURY POLICY
If an athlete is injured, we ask that you notify your coach immediately! If your doctor recommends your athlete refrain from practice due to injury, a written note is required from the doctor. If the original note does not indicate when your athlete is released, your athlete cannot return to the floor without another note medically clearing them for full participation. If the injury is severe (limiting the abilities of the athlete to perform) for several weeks or months, the coach has the right to replace the athlete's position on the floor. Athletes are still required to attend all practices and Tsunami related events.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Every reasonable attempt will be made to open the doors for practice on regular scheduled practice days. However, in the event of severe weather conditions, the coach/owner will make the final decision as to whether or not we will hold practice. We use the Tulsa Public Schools as a guide but reserve the right to make a different decision if we see no threat. If we decide to still hold a practice the decision to grant an unexcused or excused absence is up to the coach and mainly depends on the severity of the weather.
TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS
 All athletes and parents will demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times to our staff, parents, judges, officials, spectators, and opposing teams/parents.
 Teams may be required to travel out of state if we receive a bid to Orlando. All athletes will then be responsible for any fees not met by fundraising.
*** Fundraising fees will help with registration depending on the type of bid.
*** Parents will be responsible for travel and stay expenses of their athlete.
 NO ABSENCES ALLOWED THREE WEEKS BEFORE A COMPETITION! Coaches reserve the right to replace an athlete who misses practice the week before a competition. (The athlete is still required to be in attendance at the competition, unless the athlete is dismissed from the team.)
 Do NOT book hotels or Airbnb for a competition until you have been given the final details about the competition and on how the itinerary is going to go. I will release details 29 days prior to the competition. However, all details are subject to change at any given time, even the day of the competition.
Funding
In the event City Belle Athletics participates in a fundraiser, all funds that are raised and/or donated to City Belle Athletics will be disbursed into the City Belle Fundraising account and will be used for any needs our program may have. This could be but is not limited to cheer bows, mats, music cost, comp. cost, choreography cost, party expenses, and/or anything else that is needed to have a successful season. Any funds leftover from the season will be used for the upcoming season.
What an individual athlete or parent fundraises should only be the concern of that specific parent, team owner, and the board members. Discussions of other athletes/parents finances or the amount of finances that they have raised is prohibited. This is confidential, and everyone should stay protected.
Registration fees and monthly fees should be paid only through the provided PayPal link and payment options are available. In the event you need to pay cash, you must sign a receipt. ALL FUNDS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE!
EXIT POLICY
30 DAY RULE
It is City Belle Athletics’ policy that if you plan to exit the program, you give a 30-day notice. This is to ensure that the upcoming competition is not in jeopardy, and so the choreography and music can be changed as needed.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC HANDBOOK FOR COMPETITIVE CHEER AND A SEPARATE HANDBOOK FOR DANCE. BOTH DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PARENT PORTAL. TO ACCESS THEM, SELECT THE INFO TAB AND THEN CHOOSE DOCUMENTS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THE HANDBOOK ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR CHILD'S PROGRAM.