OAKTON HIGH SCHOOL

VARSITY GYMNASTICSTEAM RULES

2015-2016

Congratulations on making the 2015-2016 Varsity Gymnastics team! Please work hard, dedicate your practices to improving your skills, and always be respectful to each other and your coaches. We are looking forward to a great season!

Please thoroughly read and review the entirety of this packet. Sign page 5 and return to coaches no later than Tuesday, November 24!

Coach Sami Vidnovic Miller (head coach) / Coach Farrah Khan (assistant) / Coach Jen Marking (assistant)
202.251.5301 / 703.508.0781 / 571.232.5267
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General Behavior and Expectations

Coaches will expect gymnasts to:

  • Respect each other and your coaches
  • Maintain a positive attitude at practices and meets
  • Act in a non-disruptive or appropriate behavior without foul language; disruptive, inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and gymnasts will be asked to leave
  • Unless injured, do not sit at practice
  • Arrive and depart from all practices, workouts, and meets on time
  • Expect to condition at every practice
  • Participate in set up and take down of equipment daily; be held accountable if non-participative

Gymnasts can expect coaches to:

  • Create and maintain a safe, respectful, and positiveexperience for each gymnast and atmosphere for the team
  • Arrive early or on time for all practices, meets, and workouts
  • Leave only after the last gymnast has left a meet or practice
  • Support gymnasts on their goals, both academically and athletically
  • Provide mentorship

Attendance and Practice Logistics

  • Practice: Practices will be Monday – Friday and will last approximately 2 ½ hours including setup/take down and conditioning. Pay close attention to the schedule as times may vary.
  • Communication: Coaches will post practice schedules on the OHS Girls Gymnastics website in addition to handing them out and will maintain the website throughout the season. Visit the link below often.
  • Transportation:Gymnasts are responsible for their own transportation. It is important and expected that all team members attend every practice/meet/event and show up at least 15 minutes early. If your gymnast will be receiving or providing rides to other team members, or if you plan to drive team members other than your own gymnast, to and from practices and meets – a signed, a permission form MUST be returned to the coaches (see page 5).
  • Attendance: Gymnasts are expected to attend all practices. If a gymnast must miss a practice, she will only be excused for the following reasons:
  • Personal/Family Emergencies or Issues (e.g. death, funerals, accidents)
  • Contagious illness or urgent doctor’s appointment
  • Academic and grade-related eventNOT extra credit or school clubs
  • College visits, as long as notification is given a week in advance
  • Per Fairfax County High School policies, if a gymnast does not attend the entire day of school on the same day as a competition, that gymnast is NOT eligible to compete unless a doctor’s note or written approval from the ATC is provided
  • During the holidays, you are expected to attend scheduled practices. If a gymnast has a family obligation and cannot attend, this should be communicated in writing at least a week in advance (not the day before or day of) to the coach. Do not ask another gymnast to pass on the message.

A written note, phone call/voicemail from your parent to your coaches is required!

Fairfax County Sickness/Injury Policy

  • Athletes not feeling well will be required to see Mr. Rupp or other ATC on site and are not allowed to practice or participate until they are cleared by the ATC
  • Athletes with any injury (from minor cuts to continually sore backs and more serious injuries) are required to see Mr. Rupp or other ATC on site and not allowed to practice or participate until they are cleared by the ATC
  • If an athlete is seen by a doctor outside of practice for any reason or were sick, she must be seen by an ATC before participating in practice/competition
  • The final decision on level of participation once an athlete is fully cleared by the ATC is with the coaches
  • Alert your coach immediately if you feel ill or have discomfort to prevent further injury
  • If possible, please consult with our ATC before your doctor for athletic injuries. (It’s a free resource for your athlete, and an ATC will always refer you to your doctor if they cannot manage the injury. We also have doctor working with our ATCs at Oakton)

Practice

  • Team members are expected to put forth their best effort at each practice and should be encouraging to others
  • Athletes are expected to come to practice on time and appropriately dressed underneath winter clothing
  • Athletes should not wear any baggy clothing to work out in. This is a risk to the athlete and dangerous. Leotards are highly preferred with spandex or cotton shorts. If athletes are not in leotards they should be in tightly fitted clothing (yoga pants/work out shorts/DriFit shirts)
  • Athletes should come to practice with their hair tightly pulled back in a ponytail, braid, bun, etc.
  • No jewelry
  • Cell phones are not permitted during practice. Phones are to be on vibrate or silent in athlete’s bag and ONLY used for contacting ride pickups, etc.
  • Bring water and post-practice snack to practice and make sure to have warm clothes to change into or put on over leos – it gets cold in the middle of winter!

Meets

  • All gymnasts, regardless of competition status, must attend all meets unless she has an excused absence (which requires a phone call or written note from parents)
  • Be on time and dressed for bus departure from OHS. Buses usually leave by 3:30pm at the latest
  • Be in team warm-ups (jacket and pants) and have on a leotard and shorts, ready to leave the bus and immediately do warm up rotations. Do not change into practice leo and warm ups after you arrive at the competition site. We are a team; we will walk in and look like a team
  • Athletes are not allowed to drive or be driven to meets but are permitted to go home with parents after a meet with prior approval
  • All jewelry MUST be taken off. It is not allowed during competition and a gymnast will receive deductions for it
  • Athletes are permitted to bring healthy snacks and drinks on the bus and at competitions. Meets are long; stay hydrated and energized. Never leave trash on the buses. Coaches will inspect them upon arrival to meet and return to OHS
  • Athletes should bring their homework on the bus to work on before/after meets
  • Cell phones will be collected and stored safely until the conclusion of the meet. Phones will be redistributed before loading the bus or prior to departure with parents
  • Athletes are expected to behave in a sportsman-like manner at competitions. Cursing, obnoxious cheering, lack of attention, or any other inappropriate/unsafe behavior is not acceptable and athletes will be held accountable for their behavior
  • Bathroom trips during a meet will be limited to 2 gymnasts at a time. More than 2 gymnasts wandering during a meet can be distracting and unsafe.

Gymnastics Apparel

  • Gymnasts interested in purchasing leotards/shorts/etc. for standard practices are recommended to visit the following online retailers.Sleeveless leotards usually range from $25-$50. Athletes are highly encouraged to practice in leotards and spandex or other fitted athletic shorts
  • GK Elite:
  • Alpha Factor:
  • Gymnasts will be given competition leotards prior to the first meet. Leotards will need to be returned at the end of the season in excellent condition. OHS owns these leotards; please respect them
  • Spirit packs will be available at the beginning of the season but are not mandatory for the gymnasts to purchase
  • The team will be ordering meet/practice leotards which are highly recommended for both practices and meets

Important OHS Contacts

Lou Nugent, Activities Admin Assistant703.319.2760

Pat Full, Director of Student Activities703.319.2763

Paul Rupp, Certified Athletic Trainer703.319.2833

Paul cell: (C) 703.932.1949

Activities Office Hotline703.749.8039

OHS Varsity Gymnastics Websites

The Team Captains will be responsible for maintaining the OHS Gymnastics Facebook Page for the 2015-2016 season. Parents are welcome and encouraged to join the Facebook group as it will provide information, updates, and photographs.

OHS Athletic Website

  • I have read, reviewed, and will follow the 2015-2016 Oakton High School Varsity Gymnastics rules and expectations. If I have any concerns about the above stated rules and expectations, I will follow up with the Head or Assistant Coaches for clarification.
  • I permit my child, ______, to ☐ drive and/or ☐ receive rides from other licensedteam members and/or their parents and guardians☐to and from practices and/or ☐ after meets

Date: ______

Gymnast Name:______

Gymnast Signature:______

Parent Name: ______

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______

Parent email:______

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