Athletics. Mission Statement for Athletics. Objectives of CLHS Athletics

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1 HANDBOOK

2 Athletics Mission Statement for Athletics The Mission of the Athletic Department at Concordia Lutheran High School is founded on our belief that interscholastic athletics provides educational value for our students. Interscholastic athletics promotes character traits of high value which will lead to success later in life. These include the commitment to take one 's talents to the highest level of performance embracing the discipline needed to reach high standards; learning to work with others in pursuit of a common goal; and adherence to codes of fair play, self-control and respect. Athletics will also play an important role in creating a sense of community in our school while creating a positive environment in which others wish to be a part of. Objectives of CLHS Athletics Our Athletic Objectives are as follows: 1. Faith Development Help our students become more fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Encouraging athletes to consecrate themselves to God's purpose in their lives. 2. Character Development Committed to help students develop leadership skills; and to grow into a mature relationship with Jesus Christ. 3. Academic Excellence Provide extraordinary college-preparatory programs attracting outstanding students who will serve as leaders in their future professions, across our nation and the world. 4. Competition Be physically primed, fundamentally sound, strategically prepared, committed and united with passion. Teach the practice of excellence in competition. Department Goals 1. Provide student-athletes with the highest quality academic, athletic, social, and spiritual experience. 2. Achieve competitive success in every program. 3. Develop and maintain a strong inclusive environment which promotes equity, sportsmanship, compliance, and diversity. 4. Develop and execute a campaign that communicates the message of the Athletic Program. 5. Provide high quality leadership and management of interscholastic athletics. Philosophy of Athletic Period Athletic Period is strongly encouraged for all athletes. It is currently offered for football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer, and cheerleading. It is our contention that interscholastic sports are an integral part of the school's curriculum. They are not an end unto themselves. They must be inherently educational and conform to the goals, values and stated purpose of Concordia Lutheran High School.

3 Grading Graduation Credits For Athletic Period State graduation requirements include 1credit for physical education or its equivalent (such as athletic period). While in high school, students may earn up to 2 Yi4 state credits for participation in athletic period. Additional credits earned for athletic period participation will be local credits only. There is a limit of 1credit in physical education per year. TAPPS Rules of Eligibility See TAPPS Rules of Eligibility in the Athletic Handbook. 1. No one shall take part in any contest of this association (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools or TAPPS) who has received money for participation in any sport or game. The TAPPS Board of Directors has a right to make judgment of whether valuable gifts have been given in lieu of money. 2. Any student transferring to a member school from another TAPPS School shall be eligible for participation in interscholastic competition. Upon request of any member of this association, the athletic director shall provide a transfer affidavit from each school involved stating the transfer circumstances. 3. A student is not eligible for competition after he or she has completed twelve consecutive quarters (8 semesters) beginning with the first entry in the 9th grade. He or she must not have reached the age of 19 prior to September 1 of the current year. 4. A student shall be permitted to participate in an association contest if the student is in good and regular standing and is enrolled and passing at least four accredited academic classes. 5. No one shall take part in any contest in this association who has graduated from high school or other school of equal or higher rank. CLHS Scholastic Eligibility A student becomes ineligible when he/she receives a failing grade (F - 69% or lower) in any class when grades are checked at during the semester. Grade Checks are done twice during each semester. Official Grade Check dates will be posted in the school website. * * The State Association (TAPPS) requires that a student is ineligible for a full two weeks for failing more than one class at an official grading period (which for CLHS is the semester). The student is responsible for re-establishing eligibility by proving that he/she is passing the class(es) failed at the progress report time. This will be completed by having the teacher(s) sign off on the Scholastic Eligibility Form indicating that the student is currently passing the class(es). The ineligibility period begins at 3:15 pm the Monday following the 6 and/or 12 week grade check. The length of the ineligibility period is a minimum of one week and is dependent upon the student's ability to be passing the failed class(es). If the student has not established a passing grade by the next Monday at 3:15 pm, he/she would remain ineligible until the following Monday. This process would continue for 2 additional weeks until the student re-established his/her eligibility by passing the failed class(es). lf the student has not re-established his/her eligibility after 3 weeks, they will remain ineligible until the next official grade check.

4 PLEASE NOTE: The teacher is not required to advance or alter the curriculum and/or assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, etc. just so the student can regain his/her eligibility. It is each teacher's discretion to allow a student to make-up, complete, or redo any academic work which has already been previously assigned. The teacher is not mandated to do so. Any academic work submitted to the teacher by the student may take at least a few days to grade and to recalculate the student's grade. Student Attendance Requirements In order for students to participate in an activity held on a regular school day, they must be present for at least four full periods (two full periods on a block day) on the day of the event. Students excused for illness may participate if the above requirement is met and they are in their last scheduled class. In cases where travel requires students to leave prior to the end of the school day, students must attend classes up to the time of departure. If an event is cancelled, school attendance is required. Student Classwork Requirements There are occasions when team members miss class to participate in scheduled athletic events; athletes are not automatically dismissed from class. Players must understand that they are responsible for turning in work that is due that day and that they are promptly to promptly make up any material or assignments that may be missed. PhysicaI Exam Each athlete must have a physical examination by a physician at least once each year. The exam must be recorded on the TAPPS physical exam form and must be signed by the parents and physician. This form must be on file in the athletic office before the athlete may participate in either after school practice or competition. Athletic Fees To help pay the expenses incurred in providing athletics at CLHS, each athlete must turn in an athletic fee at the start of the season. Fees are charged to all athletes who participate in at least one competition. Payment of Athletic Participation Fee does not guarantee any athlete the right to receive a Varsity Letter. These fees shall be paid no later than before the first contest. Fees for each sport are as follows: $ Football and Baseball $ Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track, Swimming, and Cheerleading

5 Athletic Awards Athletic emblems and certificates are awarded by the school to deserving participants. The following criteria will be used to determine athletic award recipients: 1. All Sub Varsity athletes who complete the season and have followed all guidelines will be awarded a Sub Varsity Participation certificate. 2. A varsity letter will be awarded for successfully completing the season and complying with each sport's lettering guidelines. Letter jackets are available but must be purchased by the students. General Lettering Criteria for Athletics An athlete is eligible to letter if they meet the following criteria: 1. Compete in more than half of the non-scrimmage contests at the Varsity level including the District Event(s). 2. If, in the opinion of a coaching staff, an athlete has through his/her attitudes, actions, or performance demonstrated a value to the success of the team the athlete may receive a Varsity Letter. 3. Failure for any reason to finish the season (being at practice and contests) can result in an athlete not receiving a Varsity Letter. This includes injury. Criteria for P.E. Credit in Athletics Each student is assigned 100 points at the beginning of each season. These 100 points equal an "A". It will not change unless one or more of the following situations occurs. 1. Not dressing for class or practice without a written excuse could result in a loss of 10 points. 2. Being tardy without a proper pass for roll call or practice results in a loss of 2 points. 3. Neglecting to be in the proper clothes results in a loss of 2 points for each item. 4. Absence without prior notification to the coach could result in a loss of 5 points. An inexcusable absence could result in a loss of an additional 5 points. The absence must be excusable using the following criteria : a. verifiable sickness or illness b. family crisis, verifiable by parents c. school related absence 5. Any other infractions that result in disturbance to the team will result in a loss of points as determined proper by the instructor or coach. 6. The above criterion applies to athletes and managers. 7. If a student quits or is removed from the team or program, the student will not receive credit. Family Vacation Policy Parents should understand that in order to be successful in anything it requires a commitment. Vacations or anything that allows a student to miss school, practice, or games does not assist in the improvement of that student and others. Students who leave on vacation with family members during a

6 sport season will be allowed to remain on the team. However, it is CLHS policy that decisions regarding playing time will remain solely with the coach. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS AND TRAINING RULES The athletic program is an extension of Concordia Lutheran High School and is a privilege. By nature, athletics are highly visible in the community and it is our goal to portray the athletic program, and through it CLHS, in a Christ like manner. Therefore as parents, players, and coaches, we agree to strive for excellence in the following areas: 1. Sportsmanship - to conduct ourselves as members of Christ s family by showing good sportsmanship both on and off the playing surface. 2. Citizenship - to demonstrate positive Christian citizenship in class, at practice, in competition, in the stands, and away from school. 3. Image - to present a positive image as Christians. To aide CLHS students in reaching the goals above, the following rules have been established: 1. Student-athletes are responsible to attend all team meetings, practices, and team worships scheduled by the coach. Absences or tardiness by the athlete may result in suspension or dismissal from the activity, team, or sport. 2. While athletics are important, academic course work should not suffer during the season. Student-athletes are expected to manage their time properly. Missing athletics should be avoided and morning tutorials should be utilized. 3. A student-athlete who quits or is dismissed from a team will not be allowed to participate in another sport during the same season. An exception is when the athlete is cut based upon squad reduction. 4. On game days it is important to portray a positive image, and dress is an important part of this image. Therefore on game days coaches will have a dress code that athletes will follow. 5. Any action deemed as negative or unsportsmanlike during an athletic contest toward the public, game official, coaches or other student-athletes will not be tolerated. The coaching staff will take appropriate action suitable in degree of the offense. 6. Ejection from an athletic contest: any student-athlete ejected from an athletic contest will possibly serve a one-game suspension. The coach and the AD will review and make the final decision. If the same student athlete receives a second ejection in the same season, the student athlete may be permanently removed from the team. Any letter jacket award will be forfeited. 7. Athletes competing in athletic events off campus must return to CLHS with the team unless the student's parent picks up the student after the event or if the parent gives permission in writing BEFORE the event to release the student to another adult. 8. The use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs is forbidden. School officials, including the coaching staff, may conduct searches on school property at any time that it is felt that prohibited or contraband items may be found. Such searches may also be conducted when students attend school-sponsored athletic events off CLHS property. a. Use of illegal drugs, on or off campus, will result in suspension from the CLHS athletic program. The length of the suspension will be determined by the school administration b. Use of Alcohol (or attendance at events where illegal consumption of alcohol is occurring) or use of tobacco by athletes while on or off CLHS property may result in a 10% game suspension or equivalent from the athletic program. Depending on the

7 Social Media Policy circumstances, additional punishment may be incurred. A second infraction may result in dismissal from the athletic program. Use of Alcohol or tobacco products out of season may affect one's eligibility. Stealing and/or the destruction of property may result in the student-athlete being dismissed from the team or athletic program. Each case will be reviewed by the coaching staff and must be brought to the attention of the Athletic Director. As you begin participation in an athletic season, the Athletic Department of Concordia Lutheran High School wants to make sure you are aware of the new social networking guidelines. The CLHS Athletic Department recognizes and supports the student-athletes' rights to freedom of speech, expression, and association, including the use of social networks. In this context, however, each student-athlete must remember that playing and competing for Concordia Lutheran High School is a privilege. As a studentathlete, you represent the school and you are expected to portray yourself, your team, and your school in a positive manner at all times. Below are the new social networking guidelines which provide the following direction for social networking site usage: Everything you post is public information - any text or photo placed online is completely out of your control the moment it is placed online - even if you limit access to your site. Information (including pictures, videos, and comments) may be accessible even after you remove it. Once you post a photo or comment on a social networking site, that photo or comment becomes the property of the site and may be searchable even after you remove it. What you post may affect your future! Many employers, college admissions officers, and athletic recruiters review social networking sites as part of their overall evaluation of an applicant. Carefully consider how you want people to perceive you before you give them a chance to misinterpret your information (including pictures, videos, comments and posters). Similar to comments made in person, the CLHS department of athletics will not tolerate disrespectful comments and behavior online, such as: o Derogatory language or remarks that may harm teammates or coaches; other CLHS student athletes, teachers or coaches; and student athletes, coaches or representatives of other schools, including comments that may be disrespectful to opposing teams. o Incriminating photos or statements depicting violence, hazing; sexual harassment; full or partial nudity; inappropriate gestures; vandalism; stalking; underage drinking, selling, possessing, or using controlled substances; or any other inappropriate behavior (including the use of profanity). o Creating a serious danger to the safety of another person or making a credible threat of o serious physical or emotional injury to another person. Indicating knowledge of an unreported school or team violation - regardless if the violation was unintentional or intentional. Social media outlets will be used as communication device. They will also be used to encourage involvement with family, friends, fans, colleges and recruiting outlets. Do not be afraid to retweet and "Like" so we can promote all three sites. In short, do not have a false sense of security about your rights to freedom of speech. Understand that freedom of speech is not unlimited. The online social network sites are NOT a place where you can say

8 and do whatever you want without repercussions. The information you post on a social networking site is considered public information. Think about who you represent: yourself, your family, your teammates and coaches, and your school. Like it or not, people are going to associate everything you post with you and what you represent. Protect yourself by maintaining a self-image of which you can be proud for years to come.