Legacy High School Track and Field

Legacy High School Track and Field

Team Handbook 2016

Welcome to Legacy High School Track and Field! It will be a pleasure to work with you this year. This team handbook covers basic behavior guidelines for participation in track and field, and if you have any questions or concerns, our coaches are happy to help you.

• Men’s Coach: Coach Rudolph
• Women’s Coach: Coach Baird

Basic Information

• Team schedules: Team schedules can be seen on Athletic.net. You will be able to track the times of your races there.
• Team Fees: Fees for participation in track and field amount to $60. This will cover the cost of your spirit pack, your entry fees to invitational meets, and other related costs.

1. Arrival at the Track

Practices

At Legacy, we come prepared to all practices and are ready to participate fully when we arrive. During the regular season, track practice begins every day, Monday through Friday, at 2:00 and lasts until approximately 4:15-4:30 as declared by the coaches.Daily practice is mandatory.

Athletes are expected to arrive early and BEFORE 2:00, be fully dressed in workout attire, including appropriate shoes, and be ready for practice to begin. Required attire includes compression shorts for male and female athletes, a school-appropriate-shirt, and coach-approved running shoes.[1] Athletes whose attire is not appropriate may be asked to change or leave practice.

Tardiness

At Legacy, we understand how valuable our team’s time is. After 2:00, the gates of the track may be locked and athletes will be considered tardy after that time unless their lateness is excused by a written note from a Legacy teacher, staff member, or administrator.

Consequences for Tardiness

If athletes are tardyor are not prepared to begin practice at 2:00, the coach may decide to impose consequences including a verbal warning, a parent call or conference, demerits, or dismissal from practice. Habitual tardiness may result in exemption from participation in an upcoming match or in dismissal from the team.

Absences

At Legacy, we understand that our practices train us, strengthen us, and prevent injury. Athletes must attend a minimum of ten full practices in the pre-season before being allowed to compete in the first meet of the regular season; however, athletes must also regularly attend practice between regular season meets as well. If athletes do not attend the full practice, they put themselves at risk for injury and may not necessarily be allowed to compete in an upcoming meet.

If an athlete will be absent for any reason, you must bring a note to Coach Rudolph or Coach Baird at least one day in advance. If practice conflicts with another school activity, please notify the coaches in advance.

An absence/tardy will be considered unexcused without a doctor’s excuse or excuse from a Legacy High School teacher or administrator. Failure to report your absence to one of the coaches will result in an unexcused absence/tardy.

1. Drills and Teamwork

At Legacy, we understand how important drills and teamwork are to our own development as athletes and our growth as a team. Practice typically begins with a warm-up and drills. The warm-up may consist of running one or more laps, and the drills usually include dynamic stretching, static stretching, and strength exercises.

Unless athletes have previously provided documentation that they are under treatment by a medical professional for a diagnosed medical condition or injury, they are expected to participate fully in all of the warm-up and drill exercises as specified by coaches or volunteers. Athletes are expected to do all drills and warm-ups to the greatest extent of their ability. Not fully committing to an exercise, “cheating out” the exercise, or doing fewer repetitions will result in a loss of strength or coordination and may cause injury. Athletes who cannot perform an exercise may be referred to a medical professional; athletes who appear to make a deliberate choice to under-perform may be given demerits and/or asked to leave practice.

Do the Same Drills

At Legacy, we understand that our coaches have carefully planned our drills and workouts. Unless the coach or volunteer has provided an athlete with an alternate exercise that day to accommodate for an injury or disability, doing a different exercise, different stretch, or different drill from the rest of the team isnot considered appropriate behavior.

Athletes may politely request to do a different drill to accommodate physical disability or medical needs, but please be aware that the coach, not the athlete, will decide if an accommodation is necessary. Athletes who choose otherwise may receive a verbal warning and an explicit instruction to continue the workout as specified. Resistance, delay, or disobedience may result in demerits and/or immediate dismissal from track practice that day and may result in further consequences including parent conference, exemption from upcoming meets, or dismissal from the team.

If You’re Late, Jump In

At Legacy, we understand how important it is to work with our team. If athletes are late to practice, they are to “jump in” and begin the warm-up or drill along with the rest of the team. Without prior direction from the coaches or volunteers, athletes are not to do different exercises or stretches than the team is doing at that moment. If the coaches or volunteers believe an athlete needsadditional or differentwarm-ups or stretches, they personally will advise the athlete at that time and for that day. Unless specifically instructed otherwise at that time, all athletes are to assume that their job is to do the same exercises or workout as the rest of the team.

Don’t Delay the Team

As Legacy track team members, we do the best job we can and perform the drills, warm-ups, practice, and workout as thoroughly and energetically as possible. From time to time, athletes may be instructed to re-do a portion of the warm-up, drill, or workout. Athletes are expected to maintain a polite and positive attitude, understanding that repetition is a key component of mastering any skill. If one or several athletes are delaying practice, it will be at the discretion of the coach or volunteer to determine if this delay is deliberate and/or disruptive. Athletes who delay the team may be given demerits, a verbal warning, be asked to re-do the exercise, or may be asked to leave practice for that day.

Leave the iPod at Home

No electronic devices are to be used during practices for any reason.

1. The Workout

After drills are completed, athletes typically divide into groups to work with specific coaches or volunteers for individual events, e.g., distance events, sprints, field events. All volunteers and coaches are to be treated with respect and courtesy at all times. Athletes are expected to perform all aspects of the workout as directed unless they have previously provided the coach with documentation of a diagnosed medical condition. Athletes who choose not to comply with coaches or volunteers may be asked to leave practice immediately and further disciplinary consequences may be imposed at the discretion of the coaches.

Do as the Coaches Instruct You

At Legacy, we respect all of our coaches and volunteers and appreciate their individual styles. From time to time, athletes may be instructed to work with a different event coach (e.g., if you are a middle-distance runner, you may occasionally be instructed to work with a sprint coach or the long-distance runners). Please understand that all coaches andvolunteers are highly qualified and each has a different approach to event training. Athletes are expected to comply with the requests of the coaches and volunteers and not delay the team. Refusals or rudeness when instructed to work with another coach will result in demerits and may result in dismissal from practice or other consequences.

1. At Meets

At Legacy, we understand that meets are designed to challenge us, and that we must be prepared for that challenge. Meets typically occur on a weekly basis during the regular season and last for several hours. Athletes will be assigned specific events by their coaches, and although the courteous input and opinions of athletes are welcome, the coaches and volunteers will make the final determination. From time to time, athletes may be placed in events outside of their “comfort zone” in order to develop a particular skill. Please understand that athletes are not guaranteed placement in any particular event.

Practice + Performance = Placement

In addition to the eligibility rules governing participation in this sport, athletes may not be allowed to compete in events for which the coaches and volunteers do not believe they have sufficiently prepared. If an athlete has been late to practices or has not attended a sufficient number of practices as determined by the coaches, she or he may not necessarily be allowed to compete. Behavior and performance each day of practice is crucial to the coaches’ decisions regarding competition.

Be in Class

Athletes must attend every class the day of a meet if the meet falls on a weekday. If the meet is on Saturday, athletes must attend all Friday classes. Athletes must also attend a full practice the day before a meet in order to compete. There are no excuses for club team activities.

Running Your Scheduled Race

Legacy coaches may, from time to time, schedule runners to run a race outside of their “comfort zone.” A middle-distance runner may be scheduled to run an 800-meter race, for instance, or a 1600-meter runner may be asked to run a 3200. Please be aware that your Legacy coaches are building skills and competence in order to create a well-rounded athlete. Athletes are required to run the races for which they are scheduled. The only person authorized to change an athlete from one race to another or to put athletes into or out of a race is the head coach. Athletes who attempt to “self-schedule” risk disciplinary consequences, including dismissal from the team.Only the coach can schedule an athlete for an event, remove an athlete from an event, or substitute an athlete into or out of an event.

Riding the Bus

As representatives of Legacy, we behave with exceptional self-control, safety, and courtesy. As Legacy athletes, we understand that it is important that the buses to and from a meet depart at their scheduled time. Please be aware that if an athlete is late, the bus will not be held for her or him. Athletes who do not arrive on time for the bus may lose their opportunity to compete during the meet that week, at the discretion of their coaches. All team members are required to ride the bus to and from meets with the team unless prior arrangements are made with the head coach. All team members will remain at all meets until the meet has concluded. No one may leave a meet, even with a parent, without first getting approval from the head coach. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary consequences.

On all bus rides, we listen carefully to the driver and maintain appropriate and safe behavior both to and from the meets. Standing, lying down, moving from seat to seat while the bus is in motion, talking loudly, or making loud noises are dangerous and distracting actions. An athlete who disrupts the driver or who, at the discretion of the coaches or volunteers, is behaving inappropriately may be barred from participation in upcoming meets or removed from the team. Please be aware that student behavior may be monitored by cameras, video, or other recording equipment to preserve the safety of the students, coaches, driver, and others on the road and to document behavior.

Arriving at the Meet

Being with the team is important. During meets, all athletes are required to sit in the stands or other designated area at all times if not competing or warming up. The team areas are for team members only. Parents and friends will be expected to sit elsewhere. Athletes are to remain with the team and teammates during the meet.

All athletes are expected to be dressed in appropriate uniform, approved shoes, and team sweats unless approved by a coach.

During the Meet

During the meet, Legacy athletes are encouraging, professional, and positive. Supportive comments to team members are highly encouraged. Derisive comments or sounds of any kind and for any reason are not welcome and will result in behavioral consequences.

After the Meet

Legacy athletes value the space in which they compete. After the meet, whether at a home or away game, athletes may be directed to pick up trash or belongings in order to leave the stadium better than they found it. Athletes are expected to pick up any debris or trash they are instructed to recover, whether they themselves generated it or not.

1. At Regionals and State Championships

At Legacy, we understand that we represent our school, region, and state at larger matches, and we take our responsibilities seriously. Athletes will be allowed to compete in regional and state championships at the discretion of the head coach only, and several factors will go in to the coach’s decision. An athlete’sperformance time in meets is an important factor, but factors that are of equal importance include teamwork, responsibility, dedication to the sport, willingness to work with the coaches and teammates, overall behavior and self-discipline during the season, responsibility, and trustworthiness. At regionals and state, athletes are in an unfamiliar place and therefore must meet an even higher standard for behavior and self-control than that expected of a Legacy athlete for a normal meet. Coaches who do not feel that their athletes meet this standard have the final say in determining whether that athlete will participate in the regional or state meets.

1. Other Behavioral Issues

Social Media

At Legacy, we follow a very simple policy with regard to social media, including Facebook or other social media outlets: Keep it positive or keep it off the Internet or phone. Any defaming, slanderous, derogatory, or offensive messages on Facebook, social network outlet, text/phone, or electronic messaging of any kind regarding a team member, a coach, a volunteer, a school employee, another team, another team’s coach, or another team’s athlete will result in a minimum of two demerits and possible automatic removal from the team. Coaches will determine the severity of the infraction.

Unauthorized Competitions or Training

At Legacy, our coaches and volunteers put considerable time, expertise, and thought into specific training programs for their athletes. All athletes on the Legacy team are required to commit to the training program designed by their coaches. Furthermore, we require that the athletes will not do additional unauthorized training or competition. Any outside training or competition must be approved in advance by the head coach. Unauthorized training may result in a minimum of two demerits (three demerits are grounds for dismissal). Athletes who over-train are subject to injury or early peaking. Moreover, participation in an organized running competition is counted against a team’s maximum participation for the season. Exceeding that maximum could result in forfeiture of team/individual participation in divisional, regional, or state meets. Therefore, unauthorized competition will result in 3 demerits and automatic removal from the team.

Treating Others with Respect and Courtesy

As Legacy track and field athletes, we treat each other, the coaches, the volunteers, the staff, administration, and other students with exceptional respect and courtesy at all times. Athletes who demonstrate disrespect by insulting others, bullying or harassing others, violating the CCSD Code of Conduct, or reflecting poorly on Legacy as a team in any way will be subject to disciplinary consequences at the discretion of the coaches. Legacy athletes are expected to express support for their team, teammates, coaches, and school and to bring questions, problems, or concerns to the attention of the coaches with politeness and courtesy, understanding that we will work together to address issues that arise during the course of the season.

1. The Demerit System

A demerit system will be used to deal with discipline problems which may occur throughout the season. If any team member accumulates three (3) total demerits, she or he may be removed from the team.

The following is a partial list of infractions that will warrant at least one demerit. Other infractions may warrant demerits at the coach’s discretion.

• Any conduct deemed inappropriate to Legacy High School or the track program
• 3 demerits/removal from team
• Unauthorized competition
• 3 demerits/removal from team
• Suspension from school
• 2 demerits
• Unauthorized training
• 2 demerits
• RPC (Required Parent Conference) for any reason
• 1 demerit
• Unexcused absence from practice or meet
• 1 demerit
• Unexcused tardy from practice or meet
• 1/2 demerit
• Insubordination (as deemed by coach/administrator)
• 1-3 demerits/removal from practice
• NOTE: Insubordination may include (but is not limited to) profane language, racial/gender/ethnic slurs, refusal to cooperate with coaches and volunteers, deliberate delay in complying with coaches’ or volunteers’ directives, or failure to follow directions.
• Bullying, harassment, fighting
• 2-3 demerits/removal from the team