MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ATHLETIC

HANDBOOK

School Year: 2017/2018

Athletic Director: Mr. Dave Keener

Table of Contents

PHILOSOPHY

Mission Statement ………………………………………..4

Pillars of Character ………………………………………4

Philosophy of Christian Athletics ………………………..5

Coaches Responsibility …………………………………..6

Student Athlete/Parent Responsibility ……………………6

Character Qualities ……………………………………….7

Spiritual Victories/Defeats ……………………………….8

GENERAL INFORMATION

Student Eligibility …………………………………………9-10

Physicals ………………………………………….. 9

Emergency Medical Form ………………………… 9

KSHSAA …………………………………………. 9

KSHSAA Transfer Form …………………………. 9

Maranatha Grade Eligibility ……………………… 9

School Attendance/Homework ……………………9

Managers/Stat Personnel ………………………….10

Injuries/Dr. Notes …………………………………10

Sportsmanship/Demeanor …………………………10

Drugs/Alcohol Policy ……………………………..10

Communication Tools …………………………….10

Sports Offered …………………………………………….11

Students commitment to a sport …………………………..11

Sports Fees ………………………………………………..11

Affiliation …………………………………………………11

KSHSAA …………………………………………11

Crossroads Conference ……………………………11

Middle School Sports ……………………………..11

Rental Facilities ……………………………………………11

Limitations of Scheduling …………………………………12

Master Scheduling …………………………………12

Lettering/Awards ………………………………………….13

Sports Award Nights ………………………………13

Varsity Letters …………………………………….13

Coaches Discretion ………………………………..13

Specific Sport Pins ………………………………..13

Special Awards ……………………………………13

School Records ……………………………………13

Transportation …………………………………………….14-15

To Practices/Games…………..……………………14

Supervision ………………………………………..14

Arriving/While at Site .……………………………14

Leaving the Site …………………………………..14

Loss of Privilege ………………………………….15

Drinks and Food ………………………………….15

Meals after games …………………………………15

Inside/Outside Cleaning …………………………..15

Sports Goals ………………………………………………16

Specific Sport Guidelines …………………………………16

Basketball …………………………………………17

Bowling …………………………………………..17

Cheerleading/Dance Troop ……………………….17

Cross Country/Track ……………………………..18

Football …………………………………………..18

Golf ………………………………………………18

Soccer ……………………………………………18

Tennis ……………………………………………18

Volleyball ………………………………………..18

Dual Sport Guidelines20

Informed Consent Awareness Form ..……………………24

Statement of Commitment ………………………………25

Mission Statement

The mission of Maranatha Christian Academy and EKCSis to train and equip students for life and for service to Jesus Christ through a Biblical worldview, character development, and academic excellence.

Having an excellent athletic program is a vital part of the overall quality of education at Maranatha Christian Academy. The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual training students receive in athletics helps provide balance to the academic instruction in the classroom. Athletic programs are designed to support the Mission Statement and not compete with or replace the priority of the academic programs.

Maranatha Christian Academy Athletic Program is committed to excellence in academics and athletics. As part of the training and equipping young people for life and service for Jesus Christ through our athletic program, we strive to adhere to the rules of competition and sportsmanship, and to display the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship) as set forth by the motto of Pursuing Victory with honor character program. We strive for these standards whether on or off the field or court.

PILLARS OF CHARACTER TO PURSUE FOR MCA ATHLETICS

TRUSTWORTHINESS – Coaches and athletes must always behave in ways that justify and generate trust. This includes demonstrating and teaching the importance of integrity, honesty, reliability, and loyalty.

RESPECT – Good sportsmanship requires participants to behave respectfully, being civil, polite, even gracious. Coaches should treat athletes, parents, officials, and others thoughtfully. Coaches and athletes should win or lose with class, demonstrate appreciation for opponents, help a fallen opponent, shake hands with opponents with sincere respect, never taunt or trash talk opponents, never use profanity, assist opponents in whatever way possible. Coaches should use positive coaching methods to make the experience enjoyable and foster a love and appreciation for the sport. Encourage student athletes to pursue victory with passion, to think and play as a team, to do their best and continually improve through personal effort and discipline.

RESPONSIBILITY – Exercise self control by avoiding visible displays of anger or frustration and pursuing excellence in all aspects of their responsibilities, from skills training to character building to counseling. Coaches should always exercise responsibility in demonstrating professional knowledge of the rules and strategies for their sport, being responsible in the fundamentals of first aid, and seeking to teach good character through athletics. They are to provide for the safety and welfare of their athletes at all times. They need to consistently challenge their athletes with these character qualities and warn them against dangers and pitfalls in their Christian walk.

FAIRNESS – Coaches should assure that their teams and athletes play by the rules and treat everyone fairly. Fair play is fundamental to sports .Coaches should be fair in competitive situations, team selections, discipline, and all other matters. Team members, coaches, and parents should be open-minded and willing to listen and learn.

CARING – The professional duty of coaches to put athletes’ welfare first is one element of caring. Coaches have a duty to care about the health and safety of athletes and opponents. Put safety and health considerations above the desire to win.

CITIZENSHIP – Coaches should model good citizenship by following the rules and principles of sportsmanship. Sportsmanship demands a commitment to scrupulous integrity (including compliance with the letter and spirit of the rules even when one could get away with violations), fair play, respectfulness and grace. Recognize and acknowledge acts of good sportsmanship on the court or field

PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS

We believe our athletic programs are based upon a ministry of service to God, teammates, coaches, and all others who see our lives. As coaches and athletes,we are to be humble and challenged daily by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Our ministry and service arises from a view of athletics as a tool in God’s hands to develop Christ-like attitudes and character. Athletics is an excellent means to teach Christian character for the athletes as well as student body supporters.

Qualities such as patience, endurance, self control, graciousness in a winning/losing, loyalty, teamwork and humility are all a few of the characteristics that can be obtained through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These fruits of the Holy Spirit are vital for our student athletes to be successful Christians later in life. (see next page for additional examples of character qualities)

We also desire to minister to the physical needs of our students. Practice sessions should be challenging and skill oriented. Our goal is to have programs beginning with participation in upper elementary participation programs, through junior high/middle school athletics, continuing with junior varsity athletics in high school, and culminating in the varsity level athletics for high school student athletes. While we desire that every athlete be allowed to participate, we are sometimes limited by space and staff. In those situations, cuts may need to occur.

Christian athletics must never place itself above academics nor serve as a stepping stone for personal goals and interests above learning and loving Jesus.

We define winning as spiritual victory that can celebrated as a result of God’s gracious love among us rather than what the scoreboard reads at the end of the contest.

Coaches Responsibility

The challenge and responsibility as a coach is to teach athletic skills from a Biblical Christian perspective. At all times you should strive to glorify God, develop the talent God has given to the athletes in your care, and be a faithful role model and witness of Jesus Christ.

The lessons athletes learn under your supervision will serve them for a lifetime. Some of these lessons will be related to athletic skills, but more of them will be related to life choices. They will learn teamwork, decision-making, self control, discipline, giving, helping, caring, competing, love, joy, sorrow, confronting, humility, dealing with pain, and a variety of daily lessons that will equip them for lifelong service.

As you work with their families and teachers, you can impact each athlete to be more like Christ, through your coaching methods and lessons. This begins by the coach having a personal, daily walk with the Lord. As you live your life for the Lord and commit your coaching to Him, the Lord will open up opportunities for you to minister to the athletes God has put in your care. You are encouraged to use God’s Word as you coach and guide our young men and women.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16)

RESPONSIBILITY OF STUDENT ATHLETE/STUDENTS/PARENTS

  1. To understand that participation in an athletic/activity program is a privilege and not a right.
  2. To emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.
  3. To eliminate all possibilities which tend to destroy the best values of the game or competition.
  4. To stress the values derived from playing the game or competition fairly.
  5. To respect and support the coaching staff and their goals.
  6. To show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.
  7. To establish a good relationship between visitors and host.
  8. To respect the integrity and judgment of sports officials.
  9. To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the game or competition and the standards of eligibility.
  10. To encourage leadership, use of initiative, and good judgment.
  11. To remember that an athletic/activity contest is only a game or competition ….. not a matter of life and death for student, parent, coach/sponsor, school, official, fan, community, state or nation.

CHARACTER QUALITIES

The following are a list of some of the character qualities that we would like for our athletes to attain. Coaches strive to develop these qualities through our practices, games, devotional times, and throughout the sports seasons. These are based upon Scripture and we want our athletes to work on them through study, practice, devotional time and prayer.

  1. Dependability – be at all practices and games unless you are excused because of some extenuating circumstance. Do more than what is expected of you in all situations.
  2. Punctuality – be on time, never late!
  3. Love – be self-sacrificing and show a real concern for team members, coaches, and opponents. Remember, Christ centered His love on others, not Himself. Love produces action! Love produces a response of love from others.
  4. Enthusiasm – take an interest in every part of your sport and be glad to quickly carry out every part of the job. (I. Thessalonians 5:16)
  5. Faith – show that you know the Lord is in control of all circumstances and that He is carrying out His will in your life. (Hebrews 11:1)
  6. Humility – demonstrate by words and actions that God is the one responsible for your abilities, talents and success.
  7. Endurance – you must be able to withstand stress, hard work and the problems that all Christian athletes experience. (Galatians 6:9)
  8. Boldness – be ready to boldly express what Jesus Christ has done for you. The Christian athlete cannot be one who is timid or gives up. (Acts 4:23)
  9. Obedience – Jesus was always obedient to His Father’s will. We need to be obedient to the Lord and to those who are in authority. Show us that you believe this!
  10. Diligence – use all your strength and ability to complete each part of your task whether in practice, in a game or anywhere else. (Colossians 3:23)
  11. Responsibility – athletes need to do everything that is expected of them. Coaches need to know that athletes are capable of doing things without direct supervision. Take the initiative to work and make intelligent decisions.
  12. Determination – make up your mind that you will accomplish God’s goals in His time, regardless of the opposition. (II Timothy 4:7)
  13. Joyfulness – show that your relationship with Christ means something wonderful to you. What is on the inside will show on the outside!
  14. Confidence – athletes should know that they can be winners in God’s sight as they totally give all they have to Jesus Christ.
  15. Intensity –Give everything you have at all times, focusing your total attention upon the job at hand and putting forth your every effort to complete it perfectly.

Examples of Spiritual Victories

  • To demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit during normal and stressful situations. A Christian coach or athlete should always be under the control of the Holy Spirit, or quickly correct his mistakes using Biblical principles.
  • To lead a team member or opponent to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
  • To learn how to trust God for everything.
  • To develop a personal relationship with God by prayer and Bible reading.
  • To praise God for physical victories as every good thing comes from Him.
  • To treat our bodies and health well as God created our bodies to serve Him. To use our bodies as a temple for the Holy Spirit.
  • To submit to the rules of the game and the officials who enforce the rules as God has directed Christians to be submissive to authority.
  • To praise God for physical defeats by understanding that God is good and perfect in His will.
  • To develop the understanding of the need to present oneself as a living sacrifice unto God, serving Him presently in athletics, and to continue serving Him in all that is done for an entire lifetime.
  • To give a total release performance by giving 100% for Christ.

Examples of Spiritual Defeats

  • To use inappropriate words, gestures, or body language towards opponents, referees fans or others.
  • To belittle an opponent by trash talking. This is damaging because both teams have the same worth, being created in the image of God.
  • To allow winning to dominate the life of the team or the life of the individual. This must be reserved for Christ alone.
  • To intentionally break the rules of the game or use foul tactics to gain desired results.
  • To destroy or mistreat athletic equipments, locker room, facilities, or worse yet, to exploit athletes.
  • To become angered to the extent of losing one’s temper or being uncontrolled.
  • To respond disrespectfully to any opponent, referee, coach, or teammate.

General Information

Student Eligibility

No student may represent Maranatha Christian Academy or KSHSAA without prior approval. A series of forms must be filed with the Athletic office and clearance granted prior to the first practice and/or first contest. These forms include the forms at the end of this handbook and the following two documents:

Physical Form and Concussion form

Each athlete must have a current school year physical form and a state required concussion form on file. These forms must be signed by physician, parent, and student. A physical taken after May 1st of the preceding school year will be valid until the end of the following school year. Required prior to first practice! Each student must also view the NFHS Concussion Video for students prior to first practice. Coaches will provide an opportunity for student athletes to watch as a group and then supply the link for individuals to watch as well.

Emergency Medical Form

Each athlete must have a current emergency medical form on file. Copies, which list emergency contact phone numbers, are transported in medical kits to practices and contests. Parent signatures are required on these forms. Required prior to first practice!

KSHSAA

This information is submitted by the athletic director to KSHSAA verifying that all participants meet age and grade eligibility requirements. Form includes birth date, enrollment date, semester classes passed, year in school and each sport in which the student is involved. Required prior to first contest!

KSHSAA Transfer Form

Student changing schools after their 9th grade year are required by KSHSAA to provide a transfer form for sport participation. These take some time to fill out and require four signatures to process. When the forms are completed they are sent to the school the athletes has transferred from and then sent to the KSHSAA offices. The level of play for the athlete is determined by KSHSAA and could limit or deny athlete eligibility. Approval or denial is required prior to first contest!

Grade Eligibility Check

This is not a form but is a school requirement to maintain eligibility for extra curricular participation. Grades are checked every two weeks on Tuesday mornings at 8:00. One or more “F’s” or two or more “D’s” would make a student ineligible to play for the following two weeks. This means that they will still be allowed to practice with the team but not participate in any games or matches during that time. They may travel with the team in street clothes as long as the team is not being dismissed early from school. It is up to coaches discretion whether they will travel with team or be on the bench with the team during those times. Final grades from previous year carry over to the next year to determine eligibility for the first two weeks of the next quarter.

School Attendance/Homework

Unless excused for a medical appointment, a student must be in class at least fiveclass periods during the school day to participate in that day’s athletic contest or practice. If a student leaves school early for an illness, they will be ineligible to participate in that days contest or practice. School attendance is a priority when it comes to participating in extra curricular activities! Athletes are required to get the make-up work from classes missed and have that completed when they return to classes.

Coaches are also encouraged to have athletes bring homework with them to work on during down time at games or activities. Time management for athletes is critical to their success on and off the field or court.

Manager/Stat personnel

Students who serve as managers or statisticians are considered part of the team, but not players, and must meet the same eligibility criteria to participate. This would include attendance, grades, and all submitted forms. A manager and/or stat person would not need to submit a physical form (unless they will be an active participant in practice) nor would they need a transfer waiver. The managers or statisticians need to be of the same gender as the team in which they are serving.They would need to have an emergency medical form on file.