Handbook

BLISSFIELD

ATHLETIC

DEPARTMENT

HANDBOOK

PURPOSE OF ATHLETICS

The purpose of school athletics is to provide the opportunity for individuals to participate in interscholastic sports. Through athletics, individuals will develop athletic skills for individual sports plus develop team membership skills such as teamwork, dedication, overcoming adversity, and sportsmanship. Competition is a strong factor, but encouraging participation and skill development must not be over-looked at the sub-varsity levels.

PHILOSOPHY OF COACHING

The coach is the leader of the team. Coaches should demonstrate leadership in appearance, professional pride, enthusiasm, enjoyment of the sport, and attitude. Remember a coach leads by example 24/7/365. Coaches must make certain they communicate effectively with athletes, parents, and administrators.

HEAD COACH

1. Vertical control of the entire program (7-12). Assemble/recommend staffing for all levels of the program through the Athletic Director and Building Administrator.

2. Responsible for a post-season evaluation of all assistants in the program (7-12).

3. Stay in contact with the Athletic Office to assure all physical forms and pay-to-participate fees are in. Stay on the athletes that do not have their physical forms in, they cannot participate in any organized team function (conditioning, tryouts, practice) without it. Pay-to-participate fees are due following cuts.

4. Stay in close contact with your coaching staff throughout the school year. Discuss the delegation of responsibilities, philosophy, set scrimmages, scouting, etc. The meetings should also inform coaches at each level of the fundamentals they should be teaching and the methodology for teaching specific skills.

5. Promote and support lower levels of the sport. The head coach can accomplish this by attending games and practices whenever possible.

6. Serve on Athletic Council by attending ALL meetings, not only the meetings which a coach has an interest.

7. Help arrange for scorekeepers, timers, announcers, etc. that are needed for home and away contests.

8. Verify that the Master Eligibility List is accurate.

9. End of Season Information

a. Inventory Sheet - must be completed by head coach

b. Season Summary (results from games/tournaments)

c. Athletic Awards – list of who receives what

d. Equipment Request List

e. Officials Ratings – online

f. Keys, Uniforms returned

10. Must complete the on-line MHSAA rules meeting for your sport

11. Must attend the LCAA All-League meeting for your sport

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL COACHES

1. Need to have a valid CPR certification card.

2. Attend clinics, seminars, etc. to further their understanding of coaching methods, proper techniques, strategies, and motivation.

3. Membership in your sport’s coaches association. Many post season awards for your athletes are through the coaches association, which require the coach to be a member. It also shows good professionalism.

4. Know and enforce all rules of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, School Board Policies, Administrative Guidelines, and the Athletic Code as they relate to your sport.

5. Develop respect by example in appearance, manners, behavior, language, and conduct. Model behaviors which reflect the values of good sportsmanship, fair competition, and ethical behavior whether actively coaching or in attendance as a spectator. All coaches must remember that they are representing Blissfield Community Schools at all times and must behave in a manner that is appropriate at all times.

6. Maintain effective individual and team discipline by being fair, understanding, tolerant, empathetic, and patient with team members.

7. Develop rapport with the athletic coaching staff, other teachers, administrators, and parents in a manner that is productive to the team, athletic department, and school.

8. Promote ALL athletes to participate in more than one sport.

9. Make sure all facilities are clean, equipment stored properly and locked, and lights turned off when you are done. Be the first to arrive and the last to leave each day.

10. As a school employee, you have an obligation to assist in crowd control during activities you attend as a spectator.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility of the athlete is based on their success in the classroom.

HIGH SCHOOL: There are four times each semester grades are provided from the school. At the ½ point of the marking period a progress report is sent out. If an athlete has 2 or more F’s they are placed on academic probation and given one week to bring their grades up to the eligibility standards. The athlete must also turn in weekly progress reports to the Athletic Director for the rest of the marking period. Failure to turn in the weekly reports will result in a one-week suspension from games (they are expected to attend practice). The second grade check comes at the end of each marking period. This time if an athlete is failing 2 or more classes they are suspended from games for a minimum of one week and placed on probation as mentioned above. The third grade check is at the progress report for the next marking period. The last check is at the end of the semester. If an athlete has 2 or more failing grades they are suspended for the next sixty (60) school days, which means they cannot practice or play.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: Eligibility will be monitored weekly at the Middle School level. To be eligible, a student must be passing all classes. If a student fails to meet eligibility standards at the weekly check, the student will be ineligible for a minimum of one week and until eligibility standards are met.

ATHLETIC COUNCIL

The purpose of the Athletic Council is to set standards, direction and provide any necessary disciplinary actions for any and all athletes involved in athletics at Blissfield Community Schools. Each varsity head coach is a member of the Athletic Council. There is a separate Athletic Council at each the Middle School and the High School levels.

ATHLETIC TRAINER

Blissfield High School has a service contract through James Creps Physical Therapy for a certified athletic trainer (ATC) at the high school level. It is the responsibility of the head coach to meet with the trainer before the season begins to refresh the memory of how the training service will work with each sport. Details such as where practices will be during the season and what time practice is will assist the trainer in setting up a plan for each team. Information such as: medical kits, water for practice, water for games, taping of athletes, rehab workouts, restrictions of workouts, and when to send an athlete to the training room are all things that need to be discussed in advance of the season. The trainer is also a good resource if questions arise concerning nutrition for our athletes. The head coach of each team has the responsibility to maintain

communication with the trainer concerning their athletes that are being treated. Just a reminder – the trainer has the final authority on when an injured athlete returns and how much the athlete can do while undergoing treatment.

ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL

The Blissfield Student handbook mentions that students MUST be in attendance ALL day in order to participate in extra-curricular practice or competition. The only exceptions would be pre-arranged appointments such as doctors or funerals. The Administration may grant other exceptions if circumstances warrant.

BUDGETS AND PURCHASING

As with all school funding – money is very tight. The biggest obstacle to this puzzle is that expenses have increased (transportation, officials, salaries, retirement,…) whiled income has not. Frills such as flowers and balloons will not be covered by the school. Each team has a budget based on the finances available within the district, the request list, amount of equipment needed to be purchased yearly (disposable items), etc. The budget is the responsibility of the Athletic Director. No coach is to purchase any items without prior approval. Team T-shirts and other non-inventoried items will not be purchased through the Athletic Office. These items must be billed and shipped to the coach in the coach’s name. Any purchase to be worn by the team representing Blissfield must have the head coach’s knowledge and prior approval from the Athletic Director.

CAPTAINS

When choosing captains for a team please remember that it should not be a popularity contest. Team captains must be leaders on and off the playing field. Captains should possess a strong work ethic, show leadership, and be of unquestionable character. Teams are limited to two captains unless approval is given for a third. Captains can be elected by the players or placed by the coaching staff. The MHSAA has developed a captain’s guide called “Captains 101”. Each captain should be provided with a copy.

COMMUNICATION

It is extremely important to make contact with the Athletic Office on a regular basis during the season and off-season. If a coach has a hard time getting to the Athletic Office on a daily basis to check the team mailbox, assign a captain to bring the information to the coach. During the off-season, once a week is usually sufficient to check the team mailbox. It is the responsibility of the head coach to make media contact following each competition win or lose. The main media to contact include The Advance, The Daily Telegram, The Toledo Blade, the local radio stations (WABJ, WQTE, WLEN) and the Toledo TV stations (11, 13, 24).

CUTTING AN ATHLETE

Because of numbers, it is sometimes necessary to cut athletes. Before cutting an athlete, a coach must have a valid reason or reasons why the individual is not qualified to be on the team. A valid reason can be character orientated such as attitude, discipline problems in school, etc.

Under no circumstances are athletes to be cut through the posting of a list, the coach must talk face to face with each athlete cut.

EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS

It is the responsibility of the coach to make sure that the team has the proper equipment, emergency medical forms, and medical supplies needed for each practice and contest. It is also the responsibility of the coach to make sure all equipment is secured, in proper working condition, and inventoried (even if you think the item is insignificant) at the end of the season. Teams must wear school provided uniforms when representing the school during competition. Keep careful record of numbers and who is assigned what. Collect uniforms on the last night of the game/practice to avoid having to chase after athletes to return uniforms. All uniforms must be collected no later than one week after the completion of the season.

FUND RAISING

There will be no individual team fundraisers without permission from the Athletic Director. Types of fund raisers that will be considered are service type activities such as: working at the festival, car washes, working at MIS …

LOYALTY

Coaches need to maintain loyalty to all coaches, administrators, and the school system. There will be times that individual coaches may not agree with procedures or policies set forth by the athletic director, administrators, or Board of Education but under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should a coach discuss their dissatisfaction with athletes, parents, community members, etc.

MEETINGS - PRESEASON / PLAYER AND PARENT

Each sport should have a sign-up meeting approximately one month before the season begins. For fall sports this meeting should be in late May, before the end of school. Place an additional sign-up sheet in the Athletic Office for students who are unable to attend the meeting. At this meeting coaches should announce when and where the first practices will be held. Turn a list of interested athletes into the Athletic Director ASAP. The Athletic Director will check to make sure all necessary paperwork is on file and completed correctly. NO ATHLETE IS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE IF THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL FORMS TURNED IN. Make sure you turn in a final team roster as soon as possible to help the Athletic Office in establishing the correct eligibility information. It is the responsibility of the head coach to hold a preseason parent meeting. This gives the parents of new players to the team or program a chance to meet the coaching staff and gives the head coach a chance to go through team rules and expectations for the upcoming season. The coach has the opportunity to discuss playing time policy, curfew, goals, player equipment needs, etc.

MHSAA REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

Coaches are expected to know and understand the MHSAA regulations concerning their sport and general guidelines that affect all athletes. The MHSAA web site has all the information including The Coaches Guidebook and the dates for your rules meeting. Bookmark www.mhsaa.com as a favorite selection. The Athletic Director can also be used as a resource for rules and regulations.

PLAYING TIME

Playing time can be a delicate issue for all coaches but there needs to be an understanding of what level we are coaching as we decide playing time issues. Playing time fairness and equality questions mean different things as the level of play increases. It is expected that playing time will be closer to equal at the 7^th grade level than at the varsity level. As the athlete moves up the ranks, fair does not always mean equal. Yes, as long as scores are kept, winning is a major goal. There isn’t a game played where athletes, parents and coaches do not want to win. Coaches are encouraged to coach to win just as the athletes are encouraged to play to win. Coaching to win does not mean that you do not play everyone at the lower levels. A coach can coach just as hard, using play calling and game strategies as the game situations dictate regardless of which athletes are in the game. Playing time can be reduced for behavioral reasons or academic reasons. If this is the case, the coach has the responsibility to communicate with the athlete the reasons.

PRACTICE PROTOCOL

Coaches have an obligation to hold daily practices and make certain practices are structured and organized. There is nothing wrong with giving an occasional day off during the season, but remember we are coaching school athletes, not running a summer recreation program.

SCHEDULES

Schedules are available on line. Go to the school’s main page (www.blissfieldschools.us), go to Athletic Department website and click on the “High School Sports.net” icon. During the winter, practice schedules will also be posted. Gym practice schedules are done from mid-November to the first of April when multiple teams use the gym. The schedule is for both High School and Middle School Gyms. Practice schedules will be out 2 – 3 weeks in advance and will be placed in the coach’s mailbox.

TEAM PICTURES

Pictures for each sport season will take place on the same day for all in-season sports. The Advance, Telegram and the Yearbook will take pictures at the same time. Coaches need to turn in a roster with names and uniform number prior to pictures being taken. Coaches are reminded that only school issued uniforms are to be worn during team pictures. Any team wanting individual pictures taken of your team can contact the photographer themselves. There are options available in our area – Images by Linda (Linda Navarro), Hotshots (Bobbi Jo Brown) are two of the most often in the area.

TEAM RULES

Players want rules and guidelines. Team rules do not need to be long but MUST be what you will enforce. The number one rule should be: Do nothing that will bring embarrassment to the Team, School or Community. The rest should explain the coaches expectations as far as practice, games, dress,…

TRANSPORTATION

The school will provide transportation to and from most athletic events unless other arrangements are made to car pool. All team members are required to ride the school provided transportation to and from all events/games. This also will require that all team members stay and support their teammates until the competition is complete. There must be at least one coach per team on the bus to provide supervision at all times. Parents will be allowed to take their child home (rare circumstances) provided the following has taken place: 1. The parent must talk face-to-face with the head coach at the time of departure. 2. The coach must approve. 3. The parents signs the athlete out after the coach approves. 4. Parents may only transport their own child.

Blissfield Community Schools now owns a van to be used for school business. If a coach needs to travel to a sport related activity (rules meeting, league meeting, scouting,…) where mileage was previously reimbursed, they are to use the school vehicle. NO mileage will be paid for using a personal vehicle unless the school vehicle in unavailable.

WEIGHT TRAINING AND CONDITIONING

Coaches need to demand year-round weight training and conditioning. This is the 21^st Century and we owe it to our athletes to develop the total athlete. Blissfield High School has adopted the total weight-training program “Bigger-Faster-Stronger” based out of Salt Lake City. Dr. Greg Shepard, who was a high school track coach in California and Washington during the 1970’s and early ‘80’s, developed BFS after spending years studying great programs both in the United States and in the Eastern European countries such as the Soviet Union, learning training methods that consistently made them stronger and faster than their competition. Dr. Shepard left coaching the high school level and founded Bigger-Faster-Stronger after he was hired by the Utah Jazz, of the NBA, to be their strength and conditioning coach. Today Bigger-Faster-Stronger has grown to national status with three separate offices, including one in the Mid-West that is the consultant to Blissfield. With Blissfield having many multi-sport athletes, we as an athletic department cannot expect the same athlete to have 2 or 3 different workouts, being pulled in multiple directions. Athletes need to know that whether they are in-season or out-of-season, their weight training does not change. With the set up of the weight program, there is no reason for “team lifts” before or after practice. The weight room is staffed with BFS certified coaches/teachers who know and understand the total program and are willing to work with any athlete. The weight room is open before school M-W-F at 6:15 a.m., during the day during Royal Fitness class and after school M-W-TH.