ACGC Jr/Sr High School Coaches and Advisors Handbook (2014/15) Marj Maurer ~ Athletic Director
Ethics As Set Forth By The MSHSL District #2396 Activities Philosophy Activities Department Policies TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1. Academic Eligibility Requirements 2. Activity Bus 3. Activities Injuries 4. Attendance in School 5. Banquets 6. Calling Off Practice 7. Care of Equipment 8. Dismissal From School for Contests 9. Discipline 10. Fees, MSHSL Eligibility/Health Questionnaires and Physical Records 11. Eligibility Lists 12. Lettering 13. Squad Size 14. Coaching/Clinics Outside of Season 15. Fees 16. Keys 17. Locker Room 18. Minnesota State High School League Rules 19. Moving Students Up 20. Rules and Rules Meetings 21. Program 22. Publicity 23. Purchasing 24. Recruiting 25. Season s Report Varsity Only 26. Transportation Overall Advisors or Coaches Duties Head Advisors or Head Coaches Duties and Responsibilities Assistant Advisors or Coaches Duties and Responsibilities
ETHICS AS SET FORTH BY THE MSHSL A. I will be aware of my influence on the education of the student athlete and will not place the value of winning above the teaching of ethical values. B. I will respect the student athletes responsibilities to their academics and other school, community and family activities. C. I will model the moral value of honesty to my student athletes and expect them to play within the spirit and intent of the rules. D. I will exhibit complete respect for and will observe the rules of our sport to ensure a positive sports contest and atmosphere for competition. E. I will be knowledgeable about the rules, which govern the eligibility of our student athletes and will apply them as intended. F. I will teach our student athletes that it is always wrong to intentionally violate the rules to gain an advantage; that cheating denies their promise to follow the rules and destroys the positive sports contest. G. I will coach within the letter and spirit of the rules and will not engage in gamesmanship (pushing rules to the limit) or use unethical means to achieve my self-interests. H. I will work within the established process to change rules and policies. I. I will set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct in all personal contact with the student athletes, officials, school administration, media and the public. J. I will keep the competitive nature of the sport in perspective by remembering the priorities of students are to learn new skills, be able to play and have fun. K. I will coach the letter and spirit of the rules and will not use a strategy, which includes intimidation and unethical conduct to gain an advantage. I understand such acts can lead to violent response when opponents believe such actions are unfair. L. I will recognize the positive sports performance of all deserving participants on our team, on the opposing team & officials. M. I will exhibit for contest officials and will not engage in any conduct, which reflects disrespect for the officials or their decisions. N. I will teach our athletes to accept officials decisions and not to indicate any inappropriate displeasure, verbally or nonverbally. O. I will consider public criticism of officials or another team s coaches or players as unethical and will take steps to prevent such actions. P. I will demonstrate disapproval of and will take steps to prevent any acts intended to disrupt or detract from the performance of our opponents. Q. I will exhibit ordinary courtesy and politeness.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #2396 ACTIVITIES PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY It is the philosophy of Independent School District #2396 that activities be considered an integral part of a program of education providing experiences that will help boys and girls to grow physically, mentally and emotionally. The belief that a student s educational experiences should include participation in activities, both as a player and as a student spectator, is an integral part of the philosophy of the activities program. These experiences should contribute to the student s knowledge, skill and emotional growth, thereby making the student a better person and citizen. Participation in the Activities Department is a privilege that carries with it responsibilities to the school, team, student body, community and the students. In their play and in their conduct, students represent all of these groups.
1. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Academic Eligibility: Students participating in extra-curricular activities are to be passing all subjects in which they are enrolled. Students who receive failing grades at Mid-Semester will have their participation suspended for as long as they are failing that class. Students need to get a note from the teacher when they are passing and give that note to the A.D. (Mrs. Maurer). Students may attend sports practices, but may not participate in a game, if they are not passing a class at Progress Report and mid-semester time. If a student drops a course she/he is failing at semester OR trimester course, she/he will have their participation privileges suspended for two ( 2) weeks or two (2) activities, whichever is greater. This eligibility carries over to the next school year. Students must at all times be making satisfactory progress toward graduation. Discretion will be used in making these determinations. They may be suspended for the season if they are not passing courses required for graduation. Students in a Study Hall who are failing a class should not be given a pass to leave the Study Hall. They may leave the Study Hall only if the teacher whose class they are failing, for the purpose of doing research in the Media Center, etc. in order to pass that class, issues the pass. Suspended 2 weeks Suspended 2 weeks until 2 events until 2 events passing passing Mid Mid Semester Semester Semester Semester 11/4/2014 1/23/2015 3/25/2015 5/28/2015
2. ACTIVITY BUS Advisors and Coaches will supervise students until they load the activity bus. (6:00 - Atwater & 6:15 Grove City Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (5:45 Atwater & 6:00 Grove City on Wednesday) 3. ACTIVITIES INJURIES A. Call the hospital or doctor and make arrangements before taking the injured person for medical treatment. B. If the injured person is suspected of having a head, neck, or back injury, or an injury that by moving them might possibly injure them further, an ambulance should be called. C. Call and inform the parents of the injury. D. Send an advisor or coach along with the injured student to the doctor or hospital. The advisor or coach should stay with the injured student until the parents arrive. E. Fill out an accident report and turn it into the A.D. / School Nurse. F. The student gets a release from a doctor before being allowed to return to practice or game. 4. ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL A. A student must be in attendance for at least ½ of the day. This means periods 1-4 or 4-7. The student must have a legitimate excuse. B. Due to an emergency situation at home, a doctor s appointment, or school activity, a student may be allowed to participate in a practice or contest.
5. BANQUETS Each activity or sport should hold an awards banquet at the conclusion of his or her season. Team and individual awards, letters and all-conference awards should be handed out at this time. The athletic department will pay for standard awards. Contact the A. D. with a list of awards and a completed list of students who letter, captains, and managers. * STUDENTS WHO VIOLATE MSHSL RULES DURING THAT SEASON ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ALL-CONFERENCE, HONORABLE MENTION, OR STATE HONORS. Give Cleone 5 days to prepare awards before holding your banquet. 6. CALLING OFF PRACTICE A. Unless conditions are considered dangerous, we discourage calling off practice. B. If you feel that you need to cancel practice, contact the A.D. before doing so. C. There will be no practices on days when school is closed or dismissed early because of weather. D. Coaches need to inform players when and where practices are going to be. Daily Announcements is a good place to post. 7. CARE OF EQUIPMENT A. Each advisor or coach is responsible for the care of all equipment used in his or her activity. B. Each advisor or coach must be able to account for all items at the conclusion of each season. C. Each advisor or coach must keep track of the equipment issued to each individual and keep an equipment roster for that equipment. D. An inventory is to be filed at the conclusion of each season and sent to the A.D. I will provide INVENTORY SHEET FORMS. 1. In the inventory, the number of items, the description of the equipment and the condition of the equipment should be listed. 2. Equipment should be stored in the Penthouse after each season. Plastic tubs will be provided if needed. (This excludes Jr. High football, which is stored in the locker room area.) 3. Each advisor or coach should recommend the amount of additional equipment that will be needed for the next year. 4. COACHES WILL NOT RECEIVE A CHECK FOR THAT SEASON UNTIL ALL EQUIPMENT IS ACCOUNTED FOR, UNIFORMS ARE TURNED IN, AND AN INVENTORY SHEET IS FILLED OUT.
8. DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL FOR CONTESTS A. The advisor should give the attendance secretary and all teachers a list of players going to the contest in advance of the contest. This should include managers and stat person. 9. DISCIPLINE If a student receives detention, ISS or OSS he/she may not practice or participate on those days. 10. FEES, MSHSL ELIGIBILITY & HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRES AND PHYSICAL RECORDS A. Each student will need to have signed MSHSL Eligibility and Health Questionnaire on file in the office. B. Physicals must be updated and on file every three years. C. Activity fees are required for participation in school activities. D. PHYSICAL FORM AND MSHSL FORM QUESTIONAIRE NEED TO BE TURNED IN TO THE OFFICE BEFORE A STUDENT IS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE OR COMPETE. E. ALL FEES NEED TO BE TURNED IN TO THE OFFICE BY THE FIRST CONTEST OR SCRIMMAGE OR THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE. 11. ELIGIBILITY LISTS A list of all participants should be turned in to A.D. secretary as soon as possible at the beginning of the season. A final list should be turned into the A.D. secretary at the conclusion of the season. 12. LETTERING A. Baseball and Softball 1. Must participate in one-fourth of the total number of innings in a season or appear in one-half of the games. B. Basketball - Boys and Girls A. Must participate in one-fourth of total quarters played or appear in one-half of the games played. C. Dance Team 1. Must be eligible to compete in all varsity performances and competitions.
E. Football 1. Must participate in at least one-fourth of all varsity quarters played during the season. F. Track 1. Must compete in a minimum of 10 varsity meets during the season or compete in the conference and section meets. G. Wrestling 1. Must wrestle in at least six varsity matches or be a wrestling member of the sectional tournament team. A. Volleyball 1. Must participate in at least ½ of all matches played during the season. I. Golf - Boys and Girls 1. Participate in four-varsity golf meets during the season, or participate in either the conference, sectional, or state meets. L. Speech 1. Must compete for at least three years at invitational meets and sub-sections - or - 2. Place in four invitational meets and medal during two of these meets -or - 3. Place at sub-section, section or state as a medalist or an alternate. M. Drama 1. Must perform for at least three years in all school and one act plays. - Or- 2. Perform in at least 9 performances - or- 3. Perform at One Act Play, Section or State Competitions N. All other Lettering 1. Coaches/Advisor must contact AD when issuing a Letter for any other reason than what is listed above.
13. SQUAD SIZES A. It is our hope that at ACGC we do not limit the size of squads by cutting students. Sometimes this cannot be avoided. B. If a shortage of uniforms due to large numbers mandates a decision to be made on which students will be cut; it is up to the coach to provide an adequate trial period in which to determine this. The coach must also communicate to each athlete the reason or reasons for not making the squad. 14. COACHING/CLINICS OUTSIDE OF SEASON Coaches who plan to work with his/her athletes during the off-season or conduct or work at a clinic where his/her athletes may participate, must sign a waiver. These are in the A.D. s office. This period runs from the Sat. following the fourth Fri. in May through July 31. Playoffs and state tournaments are the exception. 15. FEES A. No refund will be given to a student who voluntarily withdraws from participation or who is dropped from the team for violating training rules. B. No refund will be given for any reason after the first regularly scheduled contest, since the benefits of the activity or sport have accrued to the amount of the fee for the student. 16. KEYS Each advisor or coach should have a key to his/her respective locker room, and a key to gain entrance from the outside to his/her locker room. Head Coaches should also have a key to the equipment rooms. See Custodian or A.D. if you need one. 17. LOCKER ROOM A. Do not permit students and players to enter equipment and storage rooms. B. Upon arrival at a visiting school, each advisor or coach should inspect the locker room or area assigned to see if there are any damages to the facility. The advisor or coach should then check the locker room or area assigned after the students leave to see if any damages have occurred. If the area has been damaged in any way, contact the activities director of the school and report what damage has occurred. Report the incident to the activities director as soon as you arrive home. C. Visiting locker rooms or area assigned should be left neat and clean. The advisor or coach should be the last one out of the locker room or assigned area and should check to see that it is picked up and left in order.
18. MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE RULES Each coach is responsible for knowing the Minnesota State High School League rules that govern his/her activity or sport. These rules can be found on the Minnesota State High School League Website: www.mshsl.org. 19. MOVING STUDENTS UP The following guidelines should be considered before a student is moved from their normal level of participation to a higher level. Junior & Senior High Students (7-12) A. Maturity level are they physically able? B. Social maturity and social acceptance. C. Necessity to move up, due to injuries, lack of number, etc. Explanations should be given to teammates as to the necessity of the move. D. Skill development. Will the individuals skills be improved by playing up? E. If moved up, they should get ample playing time. F. The move must be discussed with the parent and student and they should agree to the move. A. Individuals shall possess the skill level necessary to participate at the upper level. 20. RULES AND RULES MEETINGS A. Each head coach is responsible for attending the rules interpretation meeting in his/her sport that is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. B. Each coach should be knowledgeable in the rules of their respective sport or activity. Rule and Casebooks are available in the A.D. s office. 21. PROGRAM A. The lead advisor or coach is responsible for development and operation of the program and his/her assistants are responsible to him/her. B. The head advisor or coach should meet with his/her assistant prior to the season to discuss the program and the duties of each member of the staff. C. The head advisor or coach should pass on information to the assistants as to how the program will be carried out. D. Job descriptions for each position should be worked out between the advisor or coach involved and his/her head advisor or coach.
22. PUBLICITY It is the coaches and advisors responsibility to inform the media of scores and highlights. Promote our school. Coaches should put highlights in the daily announcements. 23. PURCHASING All purchasing must be done by the activities director and must be within the approved budget. This does not include uniforms, which are on a schedule. Coaches may order uniforms, staying within allotted budget. A. All efforts will be made to get the exact type of equipment desired. B. Any deviation will be discussed prior to ordering. C. All purchases need to have a purchase order prior to ordering. 24. RECRUITING No advisor or coach should contact a student about going out for his/her activity or sport when the student is competing in another activity or sport during the same season. 25. SEASON S REPORT VARSITY ONLY A. Each coach should turn into his/her head coach a season s report at the end of the season. B. Each head coach should turn into the activities director a copy of the season s report for the varsity team. These reports should include the following: a. Game or meet results. b. Team and individual statistics. c. Participation number of students and list of players. 26. TRANSPORTATION Transportation To and From An Away Game Students are NOT allowed to drive themselves to any school sponsored activity in which they are participating. It is the philosophy of the ACGC Activities Department that all student athletes should ride home from the games with the team. Many times the bus ride home is where strong team building relationships start to form. We understand there may be times when riding home with a parent is a necessity. Due to liability concerns, no one other than your child can ride with you unless prior approval has been received by the athletic director and the coach has been notified. Under no circumstances can a student athlete ride home from any away game with anyone other than a parent. If district vans are needed, the coach or advisor is responsible for signing the vehicle up in the district office.
OVERALL ADVISOR S or COACHES DUTIES STUDENT INJURY A. Call the hospital or doctor and make arrangements before taking an injured student for treatment. B. If in doubt of a head, neck or back injury, an ambulance should be called. C. Call and inform parents of any injury. D. Send an advisor or coach along with the injured student to the doctor or hospital. E. Fill out accident report. Obtain forms from the activities director and send the report to the activities director. ELIGIBILITY A. Before a student is allowed to practice or compete, he/she must have a physical and a health questionnaire completed (in those activities that require a physical). THE ADVISOR OR COACH IN CHARGE OF THE PROGRAM MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL PHYSICALS AND MSHSL QUESTIONNAIRES ARE TURNED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE. B. MAKE SURE THAT EACH STUDENT HAS PAID OR IS EXEMPT FROM PAYING FOR THEIR ACTIVITY OR ATHLETIC FEE. C. MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION ABIDE BY THE ELIGIBILITY RULES SET UP BY THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE AND OTHER SCHOOL POLICIES. EQUIPMENT A. Each advisor or coach is responsible for the equipment used in his program. He/she must be sure that the students take good care of the equipment. Each advisor or coach should inventory the equipment at the end of the season. Also at this time, they should send in a request for additional equipment for the following year. Forms will be provided. MANAGERS A. Select competent managers. Provide them with a list of their duties. RESPONSIBILITY A. Each advisor or coach is responsible for his/her own program. He/she is responsible for the students taking part in his/her program from the time they enter the locker room until they leave the locker room at the end of practice or a game. If a student rides the activity bus, the advisor or coach is in charge of them until the bus departs. TEAM CONDUCT A. The play, organization, conduct, personal appearance, and training are directly related to the job the advising or coaching staff is doing. If any part falls down, this distracts from an overall public image. An advisor, coach, player, or manager will not condone foul language, immoral talk or bad conduct. A good advising or coaching staff should periodically discuss squad conduct, training rules and appearance.
HEAD ADVISORS or HEAD COACHES DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES Head advisors or coaches are responsible to the activities director and the senior high school principal. A. Direction and assistance to all regular advisors or coaches of the area. B. Program development and continued improvement. C. Striving to involve the maximum number of students possible and feasible D. Notifying the press, radio and television of the results of all contests, games, or meets in their sport. E. Recommend to the activities director any staff members to fill vacancies. F. Recommend to the activities director any officials you would want to work at home athletic contests. G. You are in charge of all the equipment for your activity or sport. H. Prepare and submit all reports required by the activities director which includes: 1. A season summary and participation report from your activity or sport. 2. Submit a season s report of the varsity activity or sport, which includes game, or meet results, all team and individual statistics. 3. At the end of the season inventory all equipment you have in your activity or sport. 4. An alphabetized eligibility list one week before your first contest. 5. Any others not mentioned. I. The head advisor or coach shall meet with his/her assistant before the season begins to discuss the program and duties of each member of his staff. The head advisor or coach shall pass on information to the assistants as to how the program will be carried out. ASSISTANT ADVISORS or COACHES DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The assistant advisor or coach is responsible to the head advisor or coach, the activities director, and the building principal. In addition, he/she is expected to cooperate with the head advisor or coach and to perform the duties outlined for his/her position by the head advisor or coach including: A. Promoting and encouraging a maximum number of students participating at their level. B. Development of skill consistent with the program plan for that activity or sport. C. Perform the public relations duties necessary to promote that activity or sport within the community. This includes writing articles for local newspapers, giving announcements on team results and practices. D. Be in control of the conduct of his or her students while they are under his charge, either in practice or play, in the locker room, or before they load the activity bus.
E. Work out all other duties with the head advisor or coach at the pre-season meeting.