Prosper Eagles

2020-2021 Tennis Player Operations Manual

Table of Contents

Prosper Eagles Tennis Mission Statement…………………………………………………… Page 3 Individual and Team Goals for the Program………………………………………………… Page 4-5 Prosper Eagles Tennis District Information………………………………………………… Page 6 Policies, Expectations and Procedures ……………………………………………………… Pages 7-15 Tennis Teams Academics Communication Practice Procedures After Practice Procedures Practice Uniforms/Dress Match Expectations After Match Expectations Match Uniforms Bus Expectations Absence and Tardy Policy Grooming and Dress Challenge Ladder Social Media Locker Room Expectations “Prosper Supports Prosper” Varsity Letter Requirements Summer Tennis Play Athlete and Parent Expectations ………………………………………………………………….. Page 16

Prosper Eagles Tennis Mission Statement The Prosper Eagles Tennis Program is passionately committed to creating a competitive environment for our athletes to grow into a better athlete and better person. Our program is built around integrity, dedication, sportsmanship, teamwork, heart and respect. Together we are committed to helping each other grow as a team as well as enjoy life through the physical, mental and social aspects of tennis.

Goals for the Program

Individual Goals

1. Community Service a. We will be involved in at least two or more community service events this school year. It is important to build relationships with the town of Prosper and volunteer our services in the community. b. Prosper Tennis will be a partner with Relay for Life at Prosper High School. I have already spoken with Mr. Salas to work with him during this event and we will have tshirts, stations, assignments closer to the time based on what Mr. Salas needs from us. 2. Academic and Athletic Achievement a. Each student will pass all classes with a 75% or above every 9 weeks. i. Grade check report sent to me and Coach Cunningham every Monday. b. We have 42 students. We are striving to have 92% of them receive academic all-district. i. Students will be required to attend tutorials and complete a tutorial sheet is they have a 75% of below in a class. c. Study Hall will be implemented into practices EVERY DAY! 3. Goal Setting and Accountability a. Our motto this year is “All In…” i. We talk about that every day at practice with a quote lead by coaches and athletes each week. ii. It is on our team shirts. b. We are doing character development every week! i. Prosper Tennis journals will be given to each athlete. ii. Journals consists of goals, reflection, quotes, letters from parents, coaches, teammates, etc. iii. They will write in their journals weekly and read them before every match and reflect in them the next day. c. This goal will be measured by doing check in’s with coaches and coaches holding them accountable to their goals.

Team Goals

1. Always Strive For More a. We will beat 4 out of the 8 teams in our district b. Strive to go further and continue to prepare for the future. c. Summer Accountability Point Sheet 2. Establish a Highly Competitive Program a. Have a plan set and saved for practice every day. We go over the plan with the team before practice starts to make sure everyone is aware what is expected of the team that day. (Court, fitness, etc.) b. We reflect on practice at the end of every practice. 3. “Out with the cliques, in with the team.” a. It is natural for every team to have cliques, but it is up to the coaches and the captains to squash them the best we can. b. Our captains come up with warm up partners every Monday. c. Coaches will have them get to know their teammates a little more each day with questions and team building activities. 4. There will be a board set up in the box called “Iron Man and Iron Woman” This is a little competition during the fall season based on games won, sets won, matches won, etc. a. Measured on wins of games, sets, matches, etc. 5. As a program, we will uphold good sportsmanship, good health, winning attitude and good team comradery. a. We represent Prosper ISD, Prosper High School, Prosper Tennis wherever we go and whatever we do. i. We show our athletes off on social media and around the school. b. We will do our best at all times; at practices and at matches. We will be respectful and confident players. c. We will learn from our previous mistakes and work as a team to get better.

Prosper Eagles Tennis Information

Colors:  Green  White  Black

District 5-6A  Prosper High School  McKinney High School  McKinney Boyd High School  Allen High School  Little Elm High School  Denton Braswell High School  Denton Guyer High School

Middle Schools  Reynolds Middle School o Boys Athletic Coordinator – Nick Maxwell | [email protected] o Girls Athletic Coordinator – Lesley Huff | [email protected]  Rogers Middle School o Boys Athletic Coordinator – Andrew McDonald | [email protected] o Girls Athletic Coordinator – Tawni Smith | [email protected]  Rushing Middle School o Boys Athletic Coordinator –Christopher Rodriguez | [email protected] o Girls Athletic Coordinator – Devin Taylor | [email protected]

Staff Information

Mandy Weaver: Head Coach [email protected] Office: ext. 80654

Hollie Cunningham: Assistant Coach [email protected] Office: ext. 80654

Prosper Eagles

2020-2021 Tennis Policies and Expectations

Prosper Eagle Tennis Teams

Varsity: A varsity tennis team is a competitive team composed of the program's top players that display strong tennis skills, strategy, leadership, competitiveness, sportsmanship and work ethic. These players are EXPECTED to play USTA tournaments, attend hit groups/lessons as often as they are allowed. They usually have a strong physical as well as strong mental game of tennis. They understand and have the ability to strategically change their game if necessary in a match to be successful. They are confident playing both singles and doubles and executing strategies in each.

Junior Varsity: A junior varsity tennis team is a mix of players with some competitive experience that display some tennis skills, competitiveness, sportsmanship, work ethic. These players are striving to and demonstrate the potential to be a contributing member of the tennis program. These players may need to continue working on their skills, playing strategies as well as may need more competitive match experience. These players are encourage to play USTA tournaments, attend hit groups/lessons as often as they are allowed. They are working on developing their confidence and skills at the net as well as developing their mental game.

Seniors that do not make the varsity are not part of the JV Team. No seniors are allowed to play JV matches or tournaments.

Academics 1. We will get a weekly email that shoes us who has a 79% or below in classes. 2. If you have anything less than a 75% you WILL BE attending tutorials. 3. You are a STUDENT-athlete. a. School is your first priority. 4. If you fail a class and become ineligible, you can practice at school, but you cannot travel to matches and dress out for home matches. a. You will asked to study sometimes rather than participate in the practice. b. If you fail twice, you will be removed from the program. c. TAKE CARE OF YOUR GRADES!!!!! 5. If you receive ISS, which we know our athletes won’t…. you will not participate in the match that week and there will be running consequences. 6. Players are expected to inform teachers in advance when they are going to miss class due to tennis. It is YOUR responsibility to communicate with each of your teachers. a. A mass email is sent to teachers from your coaches, but that is not an excuse for you to not communicate with your teachers. 7. Players will NOT be permitted to miss practice to make-up work as a result of their own personal absence. a. It is the student-athletes responsibility to communicate with teachers about missing class time. 8. You are held to a higher expectation in the classroom as a student-athlete, so players are expected to conduct themselves in the classroom. 9. If you need to attend tutorials for a class and it interferes with practice, you need to communicate that to the coaches right away.

Communication 1. If an issue should arise with any player, please follow the proper chain of command. 1. Athlete talked with the coaches 2. Parent and Athlete meet with the coaches 3. Parent and Athlete meet with coaches and Coach Erin Kaufmann 4. Parent and Athlete meet with coaches and Coach Sain or Coach Little. **This is high school, we are preparing our athletes for the real world, so we want athletes to advocate for themselves and be a part of these meetings. While parents are an extremely important part of our program, our #1 concern is for the athletes in our program.

2. Pay attention to our Prosper Tennis website for more information and follow Prosper Tennis on Twitter and Instagram. 3. We will be using Group Me, please make sure you follow the steps to ensure you are getting the messages.

Practice Procedures 1. BE ON TIME! Walking out to practice at the time practice starts will not be accepted.  For every minute you are late, that is one set of lines. 2. Tennis is not a PE class; it is a UIL sanctioned sport. 3. If you are at school, you are expected to be at practice.  You CANNOT miss practice to go to a private lesson. That is a UIL violation. 4. Regardless of an injury, you are still on the team and will attend all practices and matches. 5. Dress Code (unless told otherwise):  Prosper Tennis, Prosper HS, SOLID Prosper Colors  No other school names shorts or shirts  No “vacation shirts”, even if they are Prosper colors i. You will run 2 small horseshoes if you aren’t in dress code expectations.  Hair up before we start stretching (girls) 6. No phones are to be out during practice or study hall unless asked by the coach. 7. Make the most out of a failure by pushing yourself to get better. Practice is where we correct our mistakes and work hard. 8. If you are asked to play a teammate in a practice, you will be respectful to them just as you would towards any other opponent. 9. We do not sit down while practicing a drill. You will get water breaks and breaks between point/match play. 10. You must contact your coaches PRIOR to practice if you will not be there regardless of the reason. The earlier the better! 11. Have fun!

After Practice Procedures 1. When practice is over we ALWAYS break out as a team. 2. Do not expect the coaches to put away all the equipment. a. Whatever is on your court (baskets, balls, cones, etc.) bring them in at the end of practice. 3. Our equipment is valuable to us, please take care of it.

Practice Uniforms/Dress 1. We practice as a team, so we will look like a team. 2. You must practice in Prosper HS colors (black, green, white or grey).  It can be any Prosper Tennis shirt or Prosper HS shirt. 3. You will be given a couple of t-shirts to wear during practice, but you are also given other options.  Frisco Sports Prosper Tennis Online Store. Open from August 21st-September 4th i. Once the window to order closes and the orders are in, I will pick them up and distribute them to the students at school.

Match Expectations 1. Be ready to get on the bus at whatever time the coaches tell you to be there.  If you are late, you will be left and expected to go to class that day if you miss the bus. 2. When you step off the bus, be ready to go on the court.  Shoes on, hair up ready to go, etc. 3. You must be in the Prosper Tennis uniform that decided prior 4. Bring a water jug and towel to every match. A plastic water bottle does not count.  Water and Gatorade will be supplied for you, but that is not an excuse for not being a water jug. If you do not bring a water jug to a match, you will run at the next practice. 5. Bring snacks/lunch. Tournaments and matches are long days.  Extra snacks will be provided at every match and tournament, but do not rely on that for your only option of a snack.  No pizza, or any food, will be delivered to a match for you to eat. 6. For tournaments, if you get so sweaty that you need to change shirts/uniform, that is allowed, but it must be Prosper Tennis. 7. We cheer each other on until the entire match is over. 8. Whatever location we are at, you will be respectful to their equipment, coaches/staff and clean up your area when we leave. 9. We ride back together on the bus as a team. 10. Important!!! If you miss practice the day before a match (for any reason), you will NOT play in the match that week.

After Match Procedures 1. Once we are back at the school, help clean the bus and get our equipment (coolers, bags, medicine bag etc.). a. Do not leave one person to clean it up. 2. Once everyone is off and the bus is clean, one coach will take the bus back while the other coach waits for everyone to be picked up. 3. Parents, if you child is not driving themselves home, please make sure you pick them up and have a ride for them on time.

Match Uniforms 1. Uniforms issued to you during the school year must be returned at the end of the year. Be responsible. a. If you lose it, you will replace it with your own money. 2. We represent Prosper at a match/tournament, so we will look like a team every time. NO EXCEPTIONS. 3. You are NOT allowed to wear any uniforms (sweats included) issued to you through the school to school or practice. They are meant strictly for match/tournament days.

Bus Expectations 1. We go to tournaments on the bus as a team, and we come back together on the bus as a team. If you have a concern/conflict, you need to talk with the coaches PRIOR to the match. 2. Leave the bus the way it was when you got in it. We will not leave the bus a mess. 3. If you have to ride home with your parents after a match, you must inform the coaches one week prior to the match and complete a PISD Student Travel Form.

Absence and Tardy Policies 1. If you are part of Prosper Tennis, you are expected to be at every practice and match on time. 2. Excused Absences: Funerals, close family weddings, immediate emergences, sickness (must be absent from school) 3. If you have an unexcused absence, you will make up the practice time. 4. You CANNOT get checked out or leave early from school to go to a private lesson. a. This is a UIL violation. 5. Prosper ISD practices and matches take priority over ALL non-school games during the duration of the Prosper ISD practice or match. a. One for One: if you decide to miss a Prosper ISD match or tournament for an outside school tournament/event, you will miss one match. 6. If are to miss a practice, YOU must communicate that with the coaches. a. Do not rely on your parents or friends to tell the coaches 7. JV practice is during 1st period and before school (7:45am) 8. Varsity practice is during 5th period and after school (4:30-4:45pm) 9. If one person is late, everyone is late. We start practice as a team!

Grooming and Dress 1. Athletes will abide by the guidelines for dress, grooming and appearance outlined in the student handbook. 2. Leggings are to be worn at practice, but must be able to hold two tennis balls. 3. Girls: a. Shorts/skirts must be appropriate. If shorts/skirts are is too short, you will be asked to change or fix it. b. Minimal jewelry c. Hair up when you get to the courts 4. Boys: a. No tanks b. No earrings c. No facial hair such as beards, goatees or mustaches. d. Side burn length may not extend below the middle of the ear. e. Hair must be groomed in such a manner that it is above the eyebrow (regardless of curls), above the bottom of the earlobe, and above the collar.

Character Building

1. We will be doing a character lesson along with journal reflections every week as a team. 2. We will have reflection journals that athletes will reflect in after every match. a. This is a huge part of what Prosper Tennis is. 3. We are not only working to become better athletes, but we are growing into better people.

Challenge Ladder 1. The initial ladder position will be determined after try-outs 2. Challenge matches will be determined as needed by the coaching staff. 3. Play every match as if it was a challenge match. 4. Your spot on the ladder is never guaranteed or “safe”. You work hard to keep your spot. 5. Playing time is a privilege and not a right. 100% up to the coaches. No one is guaranteed playing time at the high school level. FIGHT FOR YOUR SPOT!!! 6. At the end of the day, coaches have the last say on the challenge ladder.

Injuries 1. If you are injured, follow the trainer protocols. 2. If you think you aren’t going to be able to practice due to an injury, you must go to the trainer BEFORE practice starts. Do not be late to practice because you waited to go to the trainer.

Social Media 1. Social Media is great, BUT we have to be careful about what we post. Once something is on there, it is there forever. 2. Per Prosper ISD, participation in prosper ISD athletics in a privilege and not a right. Student-athletes must abide by the following rules related to the use of the internet and social networking sites. Please see the PISD Athletic Student Handbook for more information. 3. If any of these rules are broken, there will be consequences made by the coaches and Athletic Department. 4. Along with the Prosper Tennis Website, we will also have a Prosper HS Tennis Website. This is used for multiple reasons: a. To communicate what sites we are playing at. b. Share pictures of how we did at a match/tournament c. Share any pictures of the team doing something together. It is not just for the coaches to use. d. This is OUR page!

Prosper Instagram and Twitter 1. Please follow us on Instagram (phs10s) and Twitter @PROSPERTENNIS. 2. If you play in any type of tournament, please send coaches a picture and name of the tournament. a. We are very proud of our team and athletes and we like to share that!

Locker Room Expectations 1. Dressing rooms will be locked when not in use. This includes times during practice. 2. They will be open right before practice and then unlocked afterwards. This is for your protection of your belongings. 3. Masks must be worn at all times in the locker room! a. Exception showers 4. No cell phones out in the locker rooms! Do not take them out in the locker room. If you need to charge it, have it face down. If you need to use your phone, please step outside in the hallway. There have been issues in the past of students taking pictures in the locker room and this is a HUGE no-no. If a coach walks in a sees you on your phone we will take it up until the end of the practice/match. 5. There will be random locker room checks. If we pick up any Prosper Tennis items they will be taken and put away. While there are multiple teams in a locker rooms, Prosper Tennis is expected to keep their areas clean and their belongings in their lockers. 6. Lock your locker!!! 7. Any athlete found vandalizing any portion of the dressing room will be subject to disciplinary actions and responsible for the cost of any repairs. 8. There is no horseplay in the locker rooms. Get changed and get out. 9. If you need into the locker room but they are locked, you need to find a coach and asked to be let in.

Varsity Letter Requirements 1. In order for a varsity player to letter, he or she must: a. Pass ALL classes ALL year. b. Finish the season is good standing. c. Must participate in ALL practices and 85% of matches. d. Classroom behavior is taken into consideration. e. The final decision on who letters is at the coaches’ discretion.

Summer Tennis Play 1. Tennis does not end just because the school year does. 2. We are creating a competitive environment, so being a part of the Prosper Tennis Program, you are EXPECTED to play in tournaments over the summer, be involved in some sort of private lessons/groups lessons/hit groups/camps as often as you can. 3. At the end of every school year you will be given a Summer Accountability Sheet to have for the summer and bring to tryouts the following year. Record anytime you play on that sheet. 4. BE HONEST! If you aren’t being honest on the accountability point sheet, you are only cheating yourself. 5. In order for us to get better we have to play and be prepared when the school year starts.

Overall Behavior 1. You are representing Prosper ISD 24/7. 2. Drugs + Alcohol = refer to the student handbook for penalties. 3. Please refrain from contacting coaches after 9:00pm unless it is an emergency. 4. Never text a coach anything that should be said in person 5. The coaching staff as the final decision on playing time, playing positions, etc. a. Please think about what you are asking/telling the coaches before you speak. 6. If you have a meeting with the coaches and it is about you, please do not share it with teammates. That is how rumors spread. 7. It is important that you speak highly of your teammates, coaches and anyone affiliated with Prosper Tennis. Part of being a family is being selfless and protective of each other. When you speak ill of anyone involved in Prosper Tennis, you are showing that you do not care about your teammates and this program is not important to you. 8. While the coaching staff has an open door policy with student-athletes, again, please think about what you are saying/questioning. a. “What can I do better? What do I need to do to play?

Prosper Eagles Tennis 2020-2021 Player and Parent Contract

Parent:

I, ______, have read the Prosper Tennis Expectations and I agree to abide by them. By signing this contract, I have read that if I violate any expectations, I will be required to follow the PISD “Positive Sport Parents” protocol before returning to another PISD Athletic Event. This includes being positive and supportive of the entire program at all times.

______Parent/Legal Guardian (print) Date

______Parent/Legal Guardian (signature) Date

Athlete:

I, ______, have read the Prosper Tennis Expectations and I agree to abide by them. By signing this contract, I am agreeing to become a member of the Prosper Tennis program and understand that I am going to be supportive of EVERY member in the program. I understand that as a student-athlete, I am held to a standard of excellence both on and off the court, for the duration of my involvement in the program (year round). I understand that any violation of the expectations will be subject to consequences.

______Student-Athlete Date