2018-2019
CHILDRESS
ATHLETIC
HANDBOOK
Childress Bobcat Athletic Mission Statement
To Promote the Personal Growth of Our Players
To have the players leave the program as better people and prepared to live a quality life. To take our players to a level they cannot take themselves, by maximizing their academic/athletic talent and character. Our approach is based upon the foundation of Respect, Responsibility, and Extra Effort.
To Instill a Strong Work Ethic that Leads to Being Thorough and Prepared
Work ethic applies during in-season and off-season. Success requires people to work for it; to work to have a winning season, win district, and advance in the playoffs.
To Represent Childress High School in a Positive Way
We will do our best to operate our program professionally and with integrity. We will work to teach our players how to do the right thing.
To Promote the Elements of Teamwork and Leadership
To develop a family atmosphere between our players and coaches. To promote unity, pride, confidence, and a feeling of accountability to the team and school.
To the Extracurricular Participants of Childress Independent School District and their Parents:
The Athletic Handbook you are about to read represents the combined efforts of a group of committed teachers, coaches, sponsors, parents, students and administrators who care deeply about the welfare of our students and the success of competitive programs in the Childress Independent School District.
This Athletic Handbook will stress two important aspects of extracurricular activities. The first aspect is the role of the student on campus, in the competitive arena, and in the community. As a student involved in extracurricular activities, you have always been held in high esteem. Whether it is for exemplary personal achievement in individual competition or for outstanding contribution to your team or organization, you are often regarded as a role model. Other students and members of the community may look up to you as an example of discipline skills, sportsmanship, determination, and perseverance. For this reason, you are held to a higher standard of behavior on and off the playing field. The Athletic Handbook is an effort by our school district to put this higher standard into writing so that everyone will understand the high ethical ideals the district has for its students involved in athletic activities.
The second aspect this document does is to stress the PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS A PRIVILEGE AND NOT A RIGHT. The Athletic Handbook is not meant to be harsh, punitive or repressive. It should not be seen as a burden on any student. This is our way of communicating clear expectations to students, promoting high ethical behavior among students, and ensuring a safe, positive experience for everyone. I ask all students involved in extracurricular activities and their parents to join in on embracing the Athletic Handbook and committing ourselves to achieve excellence in the Childress Athletic Programs.
Sincerely,
Jason Sims Athletic Director
CHILDRESS ISD ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
ATHLETIC CODE OF CONDUCT
The Athletic handbook does not supersede district policy. See Appendix A for the District Drug Testing Policy
Expectations:
The Childress Independent School District believes that being involved in extracurricular activities is and honor. Participation in one or more of these activities should be considered a privilege, not right.
The following are expectations of our students: *Obtain a quality education as the primary reason for attending school *Compete at the highest level while promoting good sportsmanship and courteous behavior * Exhibit positive leadership *Develop and maintain high morals and ethical values *Demonstrate conduct in becoming a young adults *Demonstrate respect to coaches, faculty, officials, opponents and fellow students *Develop and show school pride
STANDARDS FOR CHILDRESS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS (Dealing with misconduct that occurs outside of School)
Childress ISD students are expected to adhere to the District Student Code of Conduct as it applies to school-related and/ or school sponsored activities. Prior to participation in a Childress ISD ExtraCurricular activity, student and parents must read and sign a copy of the Athletic Code of Conduct. As previously stated students involved in extracurricular activities are expected to maintain high standards of ethical conduct. Extra curricular participation is a privilege and not a right. Any misconduct that reflects negatively on Childress ISD will fall under these Codes of Conduct. These guidelines are developed to deal with misconduct that occurs outside of the school’s jurisdiction, regardless of time or location. Disciplinary action or suspension will be mandated to students who are involved in a disciplinary infraction (including, but not limited to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violent behavior, and other illegal offenses) that results in the violation of the district Student Code of Conduct. Any offense or violation to the District Code of Conduct or Athletic Code of Conduct will be considered an offense. Coaches and directors may develop within their program a team handbook/constitution with additional consequences and expectations for their student/athletes.
CATEGORIES FOR CODE OF CONDUCT OFFENSES (Dealing with misconduct that occurs outside of school)
Level 1-Misconduct involving Drugs, Alcohol or Tobacco, E-Cig products.
Including tickets received for Minor In Possession “MIP”, Minor In Consumption “MIC”, and Minor DUI or dealing with any misconduct that occurs outside of school.
If a student is involved with drugs and the student test positive for drugs then the Childress ISD drug policy will supercede the Athletic handbook.
At the athletic director's discretion, the student may continue to participate in activities while misconduct is being investigated.
Explanation of Disciplinary Action Taken
st 1 offense *Meeting with student, parent and coaches *Student will be assigned by athletic director each of the following: o Suspension of 1 game suspension from Football, Track, Tennis Golf, Powerlifting, Cross Country o Suspension from 3 games from Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball o Twenty miles of running (14 school days to complete)
nd 2 offense *Meet with student, parent and coaches *Student will be assigned by athletic director each of the following: o Suspension of 3 games from Football, Track, Tennis Golf, Powerlifting, Cross Country o Suspension from 9 games from Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball
o Thirty miles in 20 school days. rd 3 offense
*Meeting with student, parent and coaches *Students will be removed from athletic competition for 1 year.
Level 2- If a student commits misconduct that contains the elements of a Class B misdemeanor or felony
st 1 offense
If a student commits misconduct that contains the elements of a felony crime, Class B misdemeanor or Class A misdemeanor: *Student will be suspended from all activities until the case is completed *Students found NOT GUILTY will return to the activity with no further penalty *Students found GUILTY will be suspended and athletic directors will handle accordingly.
DRUG TESTING
Each student participating in extracurricular activities, U.I.L. events, service organizations, clubs, or that hold an elected or appointed office will be subject to drug testing. No student shall be allowed to practice or participate in any extracurricular activity until the student has returned the properly signed Drug Testing Consent Form.
DRESS/APPEARANCE
Athletes will be provided a uniform by the school district. That uniform will be worn in the manner the head coach lays out for his or her team. We want to represent our school with honor and class in everything we do.
The uniform is for conforming to a standard. There is no room for individualism in athletics; it must be a team effort. Our athletes need to have normal hair color and free of jewelry during practice and competition.
The uniform should be clean, neat and conform to standards of our program.
NOTE: We will follow the dress code set forth by the school district. However, the head coach of each sport can add modifications to the code for the benefit of the athlete and the program. (example; hair out of the eyes of a basketball player for the purposes of keeping the hands free to use playing the game.)
Each sport can also establish a “travel uniform”. Each athlete must travel to competitions in the prescribed travel uniform set forth by the head coach.
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
Three people are necessary for any athlete to be successful; the athlete, the coach and the parents. Each has specific roles and if each does his part nothing is more rewarding to the athlete.
1. Athlete- Has two expectations — attendance and attitude. The athlete must come on time every day with an attitude of great expectations.
2. Coach- The coach must teach sport specific skills, give the athlete a plan to improve physically and mentally, and must make sure the athlete understands what it takes to be great. The coach should use athletics to teach positive life skills and character building traits.
3. Parents- The parents can be a tremendous asset to our athletic program. In order to do this we must earn their trust. We must earn their trust by having high expectations for all and coaching each athlete with equal passion and skill. Each sport head coach will have additional procedures that will include rule, policies, expectations and guidelines for their sport.
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
Student/Athletes must be enrolled in the athletic period the semester before and during the sport. Athletes may be required to run track as part of the athletic program. (Except Golf and Tennis)
Basketball and Volleyball
Students must be in the athletic period to participate in these sports. Only basketball players need to run cross country to have an early start in getting in shape for basketball. Student/Athletes must be enrolled in the athletic period the semester before and during the sport.
Softball /Baseball
Softball/Baseball players must be in the athletic period in the fall and the spring semester. The fall semester will be used to get in shape for softball/baseball. Student/Athletes must be enrolled in the athletic period the semester before and during the sport.
Track
Track athletes may need to compete in cross-country in the fall to participate just in the spring semester. The cross-country season will help to compete year round and not just in track season. Student/Athletes must be enrolled in the athletic period the semester before and during the sport.
Golf and Tennis
Golf and tennis are sports that are held after school.
OVERNIGHT STAYS (Rules and Regulations)
1. Room curfew is a decision of the Head coach. 2. Coaches will use a number of confidential strategies to assure that student/athletes will stay in the rooms. 3. Any student/athlete’s luggage on the trip may be searched at anytime and for any reason by a coach. 4. Student/athletes conduct during an overnight stay must exceed the standards that are set for the program or he/she could be excluded from any future overnight stays as well as being discipline.
RESPECT FOR ADULTS
Adults should and will receive a “Yes Sir”/Yes Ma’am and “No Sir”/No Ma’am responses from all athletes. Whenever an adults is speaking to you, either individually, or as part of a group, you will give them your undivided attention and always establish eye contact.
LETTERING POLICIES
Each athlete is allowed one jacket during his/her high school career.
Lettering Requirements: Football 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Be a member of the varsity team and suit up for at least 50% of the games 3. Injured players may be awarded a varsity letter if it is apparent to the coach that they would have earned it if not for the injury.
Cross Country (Girls) 1. Complete the season as a varsity member in good standing 2. Place in the top 15 at the district meet or qualify for the regional meet 3. Place in the top 25 in half of the regular season meets 4. Injured players may be awarded a varsity letter if it is apparent to the coach that they would have earned it if not for the injury.
Volleyball 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Be a member of the varsity team and suit up for at least 50% of the games 3. Injured players may be awarded a varsity letter if it is apparent to the coach that they would have earned it if not for the injury.
Basketball 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Be a member of the varsity team and suit up for at least 50% of the games 3. Injured players may be awarded a varsity letter if it is apparent to the coach that they would have earned it if not for the injury
Power Lifting (Girls) 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Place in the top 20 in the region
Golf 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Qualify for regional tournament 3. Seniors who have been in golf 2 years
Tennis 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Qualify for regional tournament 3. Seniors who have been in tennis 2 years
Softball 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Be a member of the varsity team and suit up for at least 50% of the games 3. Injured players may be awarded a varsity letter if it is apparent to the coach that they would have earned it if not for the injury
Track 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Score a point in the district meet 3. Seniors who have been in track 2 years
Students Trainers or Managers 1. Complete the season as a varsity athlete in good standing 2. Must be a Junior or Senior to receive a jacket 3. Must have worked in one sport for at least two seasons, or worked in two sports for the entire year
GENERAL RULES
1. Education comes first: If an athlete fails any course at any grading period, he/she will be ineligible to participate in game, but will be expected to be at all practices. “You Must Pass In Order to Play”. 2. Do not miss school, do not miss practice. You must be there to get BETTER. Consequences for missed practices will be determined by individual head coaches or Athletic Director. 3. If a player is aware an athlete is going to miss practice, he/she must notify the coach of the circumstance. Absences will not be excused unless the reason involves illness or death in the family. 4. An athlete must understand that when an athlete misses practice, they miss a great deal of conditioning. This time must be made up and extra work may be assigned by the coach of the sport involved. 5. Practice clothing issued to each student shall be worn at all practices. 6. No jewelry at practice or contest. Athletes are required to meet Childress ISD Dress Code. 7. Any athlete placed in The Alternative Education Program (AEP) will be suspended from all activities during their suspension. The Athletic Director and/or Administration can modify the length of the suspension by taking into consideration any extenuating circumstances. 8. If you lose or damage anything that belongs to the school, you will be required to reimburse the school for the replacement cost of the item. 9. Students who participate in school-sponsored trips shall be required to ride in transportation provided by the school to and from the event. Exception may be made if the student’s parent or guardian personally request that the student be allowed to ride to ride home with the parent and arrangements are made with the head coach prior to the contest. Students will sign out with the head coach prior to being released to the parent. The district shall not be liable for any injuries that occur to students riding in vehicles that are not provided by the school. 10. When going out of town the bus will leave on time. The bus will does not have to wait on anyone. If you are on time you are late but if you are early you are on time. 11. Any athlete found using or possessing tobacco products will receive extra duty in addition to consequence described in the student Code of Conduct.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT Athletes will observe all disciplinary rules established for regulating the conduct of students in the Childress Independent School District as published in the student handbook. These rules not only apply at school, but at school sponsored activities as well. Classroom misconduct by an athlete may also result in additional consequences from the coach or athletic director.
SOCIAL MEDIA (Facebook, twitter, linkedin, snapshot, myspace, instagram, YouTube, or any other media sites) Any misconduct with social media discipline will be at the discretion of the Athletic Director.
COMPETITION CONDUCT Athletes will obey all instructions given to them by the coaches. Insubordination during practice or in games will not be tolerated. Good sportsmanship is the essence of any athletic program. Fighting and public displays of temper constitute unsportsmanlike conduct and appropriate disciplinary action will follow any such conduct at the discretion of the coach or athletic director.
ATHLETES WHO QUIT A SPORT Each athlete will be given a two week window to come out and try a sport. If that athlete decides that the sport is not what they want to do, they may drop out of the sport with no penalty. If the athlete quits after the two week window, the athlete will not be able to participate in another sport until the sport they quit is over. If an athlete quits two sports in a year they may be removed from the program for the rest of the year and may or may not be allowed to re-enter the following year. Exceptions will be allowed by mutual consent of the athletic director and the coach involved. Re-entry into a sport quit will be at the discretion of the head coach of that sport.
HAZING Hazing is contrary to team building and illegal. HAZING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN ANY FORM.
jPROFANITY Individual Sport head Coaches may have more stringent policies if they are approved by Athletic Director. Profanity will NOT BE TOLERATED
INJURY OR ILLNESS If you are ill or hurt, we do expect you to do what you can for workout, we expect you to wear your uniform of the day. If you are injured and have a medical note you will not be released to play until released from doctor. You must report ALL injuries to a coach and a trainer immediately.
EQUIPMENT / FACILITIES All athletes are to have “MODEL LOCKERS”. Coaches will describe to all athletes how they want lockers to be kept and all lockers will remain perfect order. Lost or misplaced items that have been checked to athletes by the athletic department must be paid for. All athletes need to take the attitude of “OWNER” of school facilities and help to make sure they are well cared for. Our athletes need to set the example for the entire student body that we should all help keep the upkeep of our facilities.
CHILDRESS ISD EXTRACURRICULAR CODE OF CONDUCT SIGNATURE PAGE
This page must be signed by both the student and parent/legal guardian of the student and returned to the coach or athletic director before student can participate in the activity.
Signing this sheet signifies that the student and parent/legal guardian of the student has read and understands the procedures and punishments set aside for a violation for the Extracurricular of Conduct.
Student Name (please print):______Date:______
Student’s Signature:______Date:______
Father/Legal guardian (please print):______Date:______
Signature of Father/legal guardian:______Date:______
Mother/Legal guardian (please print):______Date:______
Signature of mother/legal guardian:______Date:______
This signature page must be signed and turned into a coach or the Athletic Director prior to any practice or competition.
Appendix A
CHILDRESS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DRUG TESTING POLICY
The Conduct of a student both in and out of extra-curricular activities should bring honor to oneself, the school, community, parents, and the activity in which one is participating. The student who participates in extracurricular activities is a role model for Childress ISD and fellow students and shall set and uphold standards of the highest quality. Any action, which reflects detrimentally on Childress ISD, will not be tolerated.
Participation in school sponsored extracurricular activities is a privilege. That includes all competitive performances and contests, student elected offices or positions, and all social or service organizations.
The purpose of the drug testing policy is to prevent illegal drug use; to educate students and parents as to the serious physical, mental, and emotional harm caused by illegal use; to alert students with possible substance abuse problems to the potential harms of illegal drug use; to prevent injury, illness, and harm as a result of illegal drug use and to strive for an environment free of illegal drug use and abuse within the Childress Independent School District.
Each student participating in extracurricular activities, U.I.L. events, service organizations, clubs, or that hold an elected or appointed office will be subject to drug testing.
Students that tested positive or have been tested for reasonable suspicion may be subject to weekly-observed testing procedures for a 12-month period. Cold samples will be considered a positive test.
No student shall be allowed to practice or participate in any extracurricular activity until the student has returned the properly signed Drug Testing Consent Form.
The sanctions of a drug testing policy relate solely to limiting the opportunity of any student found to be in violation of this policy to participate in extracurricular activities. There will be no academic sanctions for violation of this policy.
SANCTIONS
Positive Test or Cold Sample - First Offense
1. The student will be removed from all activities for 20 instructional days.
2. The student will successfully complete a drug/alcohol education course and counseling. Parents are encouraged to participate in the counseling process.
3. The student will be tested each time a drug test is given during his/her involvement in extracurricular activities until they are no longer part of the programs or they graduate.
Positive Test or Cold Sample Second Offense
1. The student will be removed from all activities for 90 instructional days. The student will also be required to obtain a drug testing certificate.
Positive Test or Cold Sample Third Offense
1. The student will be removed from all activities for the remainder of their eligibility.
Defined a Cold Sample is a sample that is not of the proper temperature according to the Drug testing agency.
A student who refuses to give a sample will be removed from all extracurricular activities for one year.
While serving out the suspension, the student is banned from all extracurricular activities. This is for all offenses. However the student will remain in the offseason program and must be in good standing to continue in any extracurricular program.
Note: Student who fails a second drug test may not join a season that is already in process. Example: Student fails a second drug test and the next sport has already started practice. That student is ineligible to play that sport.
DRUG TESTING PROCEDURE
A double blind number system will be used to protect student identities. Students to be tested will be selected through computer-generated selection by the District’s designee, Allied Compliance Services. All students begin in the regular pool; after the test, those testing negative will be placed in the negative pool. Students in the negative pool will continue to be tested during the year.
School officials will take students to the campus drug-testing site to produce a specimen. Students will have 2 ½ hours to produce a specimen. Failure to produce a specimen will be considered a positive test.
Parents will be notified of positive test results.
1. Parents may contact the Medical Review Office to discuss medication being taken.
2. The coach/sponsor will be notified of a positive test after school officials and parents have been notified and the test results have been confirmed.
APPEAL
Parents may request a retest at parental expense under the following condition: a. The retest must be requested and conducted within eighteen (18) hours of notification of the original test results. b. The District’s designated testing facility and testing company must conduct the retest. c. The same standards will be used for both tests. d. A representative from either the district or contracted company will conduct the retest e. A parent and school representative may monitor the retest process. f. Students will not participate in activities while waiting for the test results.