LAKESIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL EAGLES 7th & 8th Grade Softball “The Lakeside Way ABC’s” Academics * Behavior * Commitment Be a Class Act On and Off the Field… Always Hustle, Play Hard, and Have Fun… You Get Out of It What You Put Into It!
Coach Moffatt (8th Varsity) Coach Gayle Hesselgesser (7th Head) Coach Kinzel (8th JV) Jessica Dickson & Christina Schlothauer (7th JV Co-Coaches)
Welcome to the Lakeside Middle School Eagles Softball program. Get ready for a season of fun and skill development, and hopefully a successful win-loss record. Our program strives to develop the “whole” player the “Lakeside Way”: class, sportsmanship, attitude, work ethic, ability, and behavior, which we call “the ABC’s”. Academics: This represents doing your best on all school work and striving to learn as much as possible. Behavior: This represents maintaining self-discipline on and off the field, having a positive attitude, and being respectful. Commitment: This represents giving your best effort at all times on everything and devoting yourself to your teammates and the game of softball. IF YOU FOLLOW ALL THESE THINGS, THE REST WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
Each grade will field one or two teams depending on the number of players. Seventh graders will split into a Varsity and a JV. Eighth graders will divide into Varsity and JV. The option also exists for creating a 7/8 Combo team if there are not enough girls to form four teams but too many for just two. Each grade level practices separately, sometimes together as one team. All teams will practice Monday through Friday from 2:35PM to 5:00 PM, with an optional practice session (most days) from 5:00PM until 5:30PM for those players wanting or needing extra work and development, and for those learning to pitch/catch. Please arrange to pick up your daughter(s) within 15 minutes after practices end.
All players can expect to receive fairly equal playing time, dependent upon school behavior, grades, attitude, effort, and work ethic. We are sure each player wants to be a contributing member of the team, so it is vital that you give it your all and follow … THE “ABC’s”
1. You are a student first. Your behavior off the field will impact your playing time on the field. You must maintain at least a 1.75 grade point average to remain eligible to play, with no grades of “F” as well. School behavior will be monitored daily. Teacher recommendation, disciplinary referrals, and detentions and suspensions from school will result in a “Gutbuster”, dismissal from practices/games, and/or reduced playing time.
2. Come ready and on time to play every day. Practice will begin at 2:35pm sharp. Notify a coach in person and/or bring a signed note from a teacher/parent if you will be absent or late to a practice or game. Unexcused absences and tardiness will result in reduced playing time.
3. We are always learning new ways to play the game of softball. Listen to instruction, ask questions, and always work to master the game. No excuses or whining. Learn from your mistakes. Constructive criticism is part of learning: Don’t take it personally. Players criticizing or making fun of others will not be tolerated. Players must stay focused and listen to coaching/teaching/instruction. Talking while the coach is talking is a no-no and distracts everyone. Also, don’t limit yourself to only one or two positions; learn them all. The more versatile you are, the further you can expect to advance in softball in the future.
4. Players questioning decisions made by an umpire or coach will not be tolerated. We represent our school; unsportsmanlike, rude, and disrespectful behaviors have NO place in our program! Automatic benching and/or removal from a practice/game will result if any of these occur, while further consequences may also occur at the discretion of coach(es).
5. PRACTICE and GAME REQUIREMENTS: Practice: Some type of workout pants/sweats are recommended, but shorts and sliding pants are acceptable. Prepare to dive, slide, and be aggressive on a daily basis! Bring a softball mitt DAILY! A shoulder-width or longer-sleeved tee-shirt and/or sweatshirt is required. NO TANK TOPS, etc. Rubber or plastic cleats are also recommended. Tennis shoes acceptable! No dress shoes!
Any infraction of the above will result in a “Gutbuster” for that day, and you may practice only after securing the proper dress/equipment. DRESS FOR ALL WEATHER because we will and DO practice in inclement weather. NO CLEATS may be worn in the building – not even the locker room!
It is also recommended that you bring a water bottle daily to practice, but it is not required.
It is also a great idea to bring your backpack/books/personal belongings to the field unless you store them in a PE locker. Each grade-level wing is locked after practice, so please gather all your belongings ahead of time. The locker room will be locked at 2:40pm, and no one will be allowed back in until after practice.
Game Day: At school: dress “nicely”. Uniform: team jersey and team softball pants - NO COMPLETE UNIFORM = NO PLAY. You must also have a softball mitt to play! It is also recommended you take a water bottle to games, but it is not required.
6. No jewelry during practices or games! You may NOT simply put tape over the earrings, etc! The “jewelry rule” includes all earrings, tongue rings, nose rings, belly-button rings, bracelets, watches, rings, etc. Players in violation will run a “Gutbuster” and could be ejected from a game. This is a violation of practice/game dress – in addition to being a state middle-school softball rule (safety issue).
7. Take all your softball equipment and personal gear (jackets, sweatshirts, etc.) home each night after practice. A “Gutbuster” or more will be awarded the next day to any player who leaves ANYTHING behind that a coach finds!
8. It is the responsibility of each player to clean up our bench area, field area, the locker room, and the bus (after away games). Please have LAKESIDE PRIDE by picking up ALL trash and helping to keep these areas clean. Team and/or individual consequences will occur for areas left messy. Consequences are at the discretion of the coach(es), and may include, but are not limited to the following: extra running, loss of privileges (food stops after an away game), clean-up duty, and/or reduced game time.
9. Everyone will ride the bus to away games. If you wish to ride home after games with your parents, they need to sign you out at the game personally with the coach; however, we encourage all players to ride home on the bus with the team. Players may NOT ride home with another player’s parents; they may only ride home with their own parents/guardians (School District Policy).
10. Responsible & safe behavior is expected on bus rides to/from an away game. Yelling, hollering, screaming, screeching, squealing, and high-pitched noises/sounds on the bus are dangerous and distracting for the bus driver. Please refrain from these. Remain seated at all times on the bus, unless a coach permits you to do so. Any player who consistently jeopardizes her own safety and that of the other bus passengers will sit with the coach(es) and will also encounter reduced or no game time and/or a “Gutbuster” or other “focus conditioning”.
11. Keep all body parts inside the bus, and do not throw objects out the bus windows. Team members violating this will encounter one or more of the following: Sit with the coach(es), encounter reduced and/or no game time, and/or extra running (a “Gutbuster”, etc.) at the next day’s practice.
12. To be eligible to practice, the following six (6) items need to be on file with the office:
Physical from a doctor, Athletic Code of Conduct Form, Emergency Information Card, Insurance Waiver form, Concussion Information Sheet, and a Softball Safety Guidelines sheet.
In addition, a $20 ASB Card Fee and an $80 Activity Fee must be paid to the office by 12PM (noon) on the day of the first game date.
Additionally, each player’s “I Understand the Rules” Information/Signature Sheet needs to be given to your team coach by the end of the first week of practice to be eligible to practice on Monday of the second week of school.
Be a Class Act On and Off the Field… Always Hustle, Play Hard, and Have Fun… You Get Out of It What You Put Into It! DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
1. Unexcused Tardy (excused tardy requires prior notification and/or a teacher/parent note) 1st Offense: Gutbuster (or other “responsibility conditioning”) 2nd Offense: Double Gutbuster and possible reduced game-playing time 3rd and Subsequent Offenses: Triple and so-on Gutbusters and definite reduced game-playing time 2. Unexcused Absence (excused absence requires prior notification and/or parent note/call and/or doctor’s note) 1st Offense: Sit out next game 2nd and Subsequent Offenses: Sit out one week’s practices and games
3. After-school Detention Any Offense: Will be treated as an unexcused tardy. 4. Suspension (in-school or out-of-school) – A suspension from school will be treated as an “Unexcused Absence” 1st Offense: Sit out that day’s practice or game (School District Policy). If your suspension is on a practice day, you will sit out the NEXT game! 2nd and Subsequent Offenses: Sit out one week’s practices/games 5. Leaving personal belongings and softball equipment at practice 1st Offense: Equipment will be returned and a Gutbuster will be awarded 2nd and Subsequent Offenses: Player will run additional Gutbuster (2nd time = 2 Gutbusters; 3rd = 3…) (Coaches are not responsible for equipment/gear left at practice!) 6. Insubordination, Disrespect, Lack of Cooperation, and Unsportsmanlike Conduct Any Offense: Coach’s discretion and could result in immediate benching, dismissal from practice, and further disciplinary action such as dismissal from the team. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: player is talking when a coach is talking; excessive goofing around; cussing/swearing; yelling at coaches, umpires, parents, fans, or other players/teams; refusal to honor an authority figure’s request; bullying or harassing kids in school; etc. Carry yourself with class, honor, and pride! This is the “Lakeside Way”! 7. Poor Grades (a grade-point average of less than 1.75 and/or a grade of “F” in any class) Any Offense: Player cannot play in games for the full week (from Monday through Saturday) of the grade check for that week (Grade Checks are run every Monday morning). An Academic Improvement Plan must be filled out, signed by the player and her parent(s)/guardian(s), and given back to Mr. Cameron (Assistant Athletic Director) to be eligible to practice. ONE FULL-WEEK of games will be missed. The next grade check will determine if a player is eligible for the next week of games. Player will be required to bring school work and books to practice so that academics can be worked on until 4:00pm and then she can practice. When you fail, we all fail; it’s a team game – don’t let your teammates down – BE RESPONSIBLE! 8. Games Excused Absences: Any player missing a practice(s) the day(s) before a game, but has an excused absence, will encounter reduced game-playing time – out of fairness to those players in attendance daily. 9. Bus Behavior (being too loud, standing/walking on bus while traveling, and throwing objects out windows) 1st Offense: Sit with coach(es) and possible reduced or no game time and/or a “Gutbuster” 2nd Offense: Sit out next game. 3rd and Subsequent Offenses: Sit out one week’s games. 10. Practice Dress/Preparation (shirt, jewelry, pants, cleats or tennis shoes, and mitt) 1st Offense: Run a “Gutbuster” and you will be able to practice upon being prepared 2nd and Subsequent Offenses: Additional “Gutbuster” (2nd time = 2 “Gutbusters”, etc.). 11. Game Dress/Preparation (team jersey, team pants, cleats or tennis shoes, and mitt) Any Offense: Sit out game. (Jewelry during a game will be considered “Practice Dress/Preparation” – unless a player gets ejected from a game due to jewelry – then she will sit out the next game)
Be a Class Act On and Off the Field… Always Hustle, Play Hard, and Have Fun… You Get Out of It What You Put Into It!