HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS HANDBOOK 2014-2015 WELCOME TO JAYHAWK ATHLETICS Dear Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff: The Head-Royce School is very proud of its athletic programs, and the contributions of our student-athletes in building a strong sense of community at the school. At Head-Royce, the Upper School athletics program provides our student-athletes with an opportunity to enhance their educational experience. The lessons learned on the fields and courts of play can often be the lessons that hold the most weight with students as they grow and develop into adults. Lifelong relationships among teammates, coaches and opponents are all part of the overall athletic experience. We are excited that you have chosen to participate in our athletics program at the school, and look forward to working together toward creating positive experiences for all those involved in our program, including athletes, coaches, parents, officials and fans. Any successful athletic program includes rules that govern the spirit of participation and competition for the school. These rules need a broad basis of community understanding which is achieved through communication to the staff, parents, and student-athletes. We hope to accomplish our objectives through this document, the Head-Royce Upper School Athletics Handbook. Please take the time to read through this document thoroughly, and do not hesitate to contact me should you have any question or concerns. Over the years, Head-Royce has established itself as one of the pre-eminent independent high school athletic programs in the Bay Area, and throughout Northern California. As such, we have worked hard to established high standards, and we all look forward to maintaining these high standards throughout each year. This can only be achieved when students, coaches, parents, and the entire school community support our mission. Here’s to another outstanding year of Jayhawk Athletics. Brendan Blakeley ‘88 Director of Athletics Physical Education Department Chair Go Jayhawks! 1 HELPFUL INFORMATION Address: Head-Royce School 4315 Lincoln Ave. Oakland, CA 94602 School Phone Number: (510) 531-1300 Director of Athletics: Brendan Blakeley ‘88 [email protected] (510) 531-1300 ext. 2246 (415) 218-2395 (cell phone) Athletic Dept Fax: (510) 482-7351 Assistant Athletic Director: John Miottel [email protected] (510) 531-1300 ext. 2256 Middle School Athletic Director: Donna Hagans [email protected] (510) 531-1300 ext. 2276 Head-Royce Website: www.headroyce.org School Colors: Forest Green, Gold School Mascot: Jayhawks Head of School: Rob Lake ext. 2115 Upper School Head: Carl Thiermann ext. 2266 Go Jayhawks! 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # HELPFUL INFORMATION 2 ATHLETICS AT HEAD-ROYCE 4 ATHLETIC MISSION STATEMENT 4 ATHLETIC PRINCIPLES 4 STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY 4 SPORTSMANSHIP CODE 4 ATHLETIC RULES AND GUIDELINES 4 UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS PROGRAM 7 INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS OFFERINGS 7 VARSITY HEAD COACH LIST 7 ATHLETIC MEMBERSHIPS 8 PRACTICES AND CONTESTS DURING WINTER & SPRING VACATIONS 9 PRACTICES, WORK-OUTS AND CONTESTS DURING SUMMER VACATION 9 ATHLETIC AWARDS 9 PLAYING IN COLLEGE/NCAA ELIGIBILITY 10 DUAL SPORT PARTICIPATION CONTRACT 10 GENERAL INFORMATION 12 PRACTICE, CONTEST TIMES 12 EQUIPMENT 12 DISMISSAL OF ATHLETES FROM CLASS 12 JAYHAWK TEAM TRAVEL 12 STUDENTS DRIVING TO CONTESTS 13 TEAM PARENTS 13 TEAM FUNDRAISING 13 MULTI-SPORT ATHLETES 13 INJURIES, SAFETY, HEALTH 13 CONCUSSION AWARENESS 14 TEAM CAPTAINS 14 OUTSIDE COSTS 14 TUFFY TIME 15 THE PARENT AND COACH PARTNERSHIP 16 THE PARENT’S ROLE 16 PARENT/COACH PRE-SEASON MEETINGS 16 PARENT/STUDENT COMMUNICATION WITH COACHES 16 MAKE AN APPOINTMENT 16 ISSUES OF CONCERN 17 PARENT CONDUCT 17 PARENT COACHING DURING CONTESTS 17 PLAYING TIME 17 TEAM GIFTS FOR COACHES 18 RESPONSIBILITIES OF A JAYHAWK COACH 18 FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP 20 CIF PURSUING VICTORY WITH HONOR 21 Go Jayhawks! 3 ATHLETICS AT HEAD-ROYCE Athletic Mission Statement The mission of the Head-Royce School Athletic Department is to enrich the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of all student-athletes by providing opportunities for participation and competition in which the lifelong values of sportsmanship, individual effort, teamwork, integrity, commitment, and self-discipline are emphasized throughout the sports season. Athletic Principles The principles of athletics at the Head-Royce School are to offer student-athletes, through participation in competitive sports, an opportunity to experience meaningful growth, accomplishment, and success through the development of sound habits of mind, heart, and hard work. This process will enable student-athletes to realize their fullest potential. Statement Of Philosophy Head-Royce’s athletic program strives to provide experiences that will enable our students to develop physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. As such, athletics play an important part in the life of students at Head-Royce. Through their participation in athletics, the Head- Royce student-athletes learn lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, goal setting, competition, overcoming adversity, and winning and losing while maintaining behavior consistent with the school’s expectations. In keeping with our philosophy, the athletic program must function as an integral part of the total Head-Royce curriculum. It strives to conform with the general objectives of the school. Sportsmanship Code Athletes, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to represent Head-Royce in a manner that is consistent with good sportsmanship and strong character. Head-Royce will not tolerate any behavior by athletes, coaches, or spectators, either students or adults, whose behavior is disrespectful to players, officials, coaches, or other spectators or detracts from the proper conduct of the contest. ATHLETIC RULES AND GUIDELINES 1. Commitment Students make a commitment to the team when they decide to try-out. It is important that students and families understand this commitment and the time that is needed to participate on the team. Therefore, it is understood that students who try-out for a team do so with the understanding that they will attend ALL team activities (practices, games, meetings), and do not have pre-existing commitments to other activities in the school or outside the school. 2. Sportsmanship Athletes, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to abide by the Head-Royce Sportsmanship Code (see above). 3. Citizenship All student-athletes are expected to display exemplary citizenship and behavior during their season of sport, on or off our campus. Every incident that involves poor citizenship will be Go Jayhawks! 4 treated as an individual case and judged on its own merit. The seriousness of the offense, the conditions under which it occurred, and the student’s past disciplinary record will be considered. Situations that involve administrative intervention in compliance with the Head- Royce Student Handbook may result in suspension from participation in athletic activities. 4. Quitting a Team/Dismissal from a Team The commitment asked of Jayhawk athletes is of major importance. Consequently, the policy with regard to a student-athlete who quits a Head-Royce athletic team before the end of its season is as follows: If a student-athlete is a member of a particular Head-Royce team and then quits that team, he/she may not try out for nor participate on any other school team until the completion of the season of the sport on the team which he/she has quit. This ruling also applies to those individuals who are removed from a team because of academic or disciplinary reasons. The exception to this policy regards try-out periods. Students are allowed to try out for a team and participate on a team for a trial period of five practice days. During this period, they may leave the team and try out for another if they so desire. After the five-day period, the exception to the stated policy is no longer applicable. If a student-athlete is removed from a team because of academic or disciplinary reasons, he/she may not participate in the next season of sport, prior to a meeting between the student- athlete, a parent or guardian, the Dean of Students and the Athletic Director. This meeting will be held to discuss the issues that prevented the student-athlete from participating. It will be the judgment of the administration to determine when the student-athlete may return to full participation. 5. Dual Sport Athletes All Upper School student-athletes who are participating simultaneously on a school team and an outside Club team must complete, and have on file in the Athletic Director ‘s office, a Head-Royce Dual Sport Participation Contract. 6. Attendance at School Students must be in attendance at all of their classes on any given day in order to participate in any extra-curricular activity on the same day, including athletic practices and games. This includes their Physical Education classes. If a student-athlete receives permission from the appropriate division head to excuse an absence (i.e. for a doctor’s appointment), then they still may participate. 7. Missed Class Time All student-athletes must inform their teachers of any planned class absence due to athletics a minimum of one day in advance of the absence. 8. Driving to Athletic Events Student-athletes must take school-provided transportation to all athletic events. They are not allowed to drive themselves unless a parent note explaining the reason for them driving has been turned in to and approved by the Athletic Director (see “Students Driving to Contests” section of this handbook for more details). 9. Hazing Jayhawk student-athletes shall not participate in hazing rituals for teams. Activities that produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule have Go Jayhawks! 5 absolutely no place in Head-Royce’s program. Any student who encounters hazing should inform either his/her parent, coach, teacher, advisor, dean, or the Athletic Director immediately. 10. Alcohol and Drugs There is no place for substance use in athletics.