MARMATON
VALLEY
STUDENT
ACTIVITY
HANDBOOK
2016-2017
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT/ATHLETE
Education for you as a student/athlete must be your first responsibility. The achievement of the best education you are capable of achieving is our goal for you. Marmaton Valley Schools feels athletics plays a significant part in your total educational development. With this decision, you as an athlete must assume certain responsibilities to achieve the educational and athletic values, that is to say:
· Striving to achieve sound citizenship and desirable social traits, including emotional control (verbally and physically), honesty, cooperation, dependability, and respect for others and their abilities.
· Maintaining academic and eligibility standards established by Marmaton Valley Junior/Senior High School and the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
· Showing respect for authority and property while learning the value of hard work and sacrifice.
· Learning the attainment of physical fitness through good health habits.
· To have the desire to excel to your potential.
· To be willing to accept leadership roles instilled in the athletic programs.
· To follow guidelines and regulations established by Marmaton Valley Schools and the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
· You will not be permitted to use alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or participate in any activity, or attend any party where any of the above is present.
· No show of disrespect to any teacher, coach, administrator, teammate, or school property will be tolerated.
· Hazing of any student is prohibited.
· If I conduct myself in an inappropriate or disrespectful manner on or off the field, or do not follow the established rules of my program, I understand it can result in discipline and/or suspension and/or expulsion from the Program.
As a student/athlete, keep in mind that most people will remember you for what your actions were in competition. You are in the public eye and your personal conduct must be above reproach. You have a personal obligation to create a favorable image, and to gain the respect of teammates, the Marmaton Valley student body, and your community.
Good sportsmanship is a must; this concept is far more valuable than winning an event. Every athlete will be coached to win, this is the primary objective of competition, and there will be spirited play, but it must be fair play.
PARENT/COACH COMMUNICATION
Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By establishing an understanding of each position, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefit to children. As parents, when your children become involved in our program, you have a right to understand what expectations are placed on your child. This begins with clear communication from the coach of your child’s program.
Communication you should expect from your child’s coach:
· Philosophy of the coach.
· Expectations the coach has for your child as well as all the players on the squad.
· Locations and times of all practices and contests.
· Team requirements, i.e. practices, special equipment, out-of-season conditioning, etc.
· Procedure followed should your child be injured during participation.
· Discipline that may result in the denial of your child’s participation.
Communication coaches expect from parents:
· Concerns expressed directly to the coach.
· Notification of any schedule conflicts well in advance.
· Specific concerns with regard to a coach’s philosophy and/or expectations.
As your children become involved in the programs at Marmaton Valley Schools, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. It is important to understand that there also may be times when things do not go the way you or your child wishes. As these times discussion with the coach is encouraged.
Appropriate concerns to discuss with coaches:
· The treatment of your child, mentally and physically.
· Ways to help your child improve.
· Concerns about your child’s behavior.
It is very difficult to accept your child’s not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be best for all students involved. As you have seen from the list above, certain things can be and should be discussed with your child’s coach. Other things must be left to the discretion of the coach.
Issues not appropriate to discuss with coaches:
· Playing time
· Team strategy
· Play calling
· Other student-athletes
There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent. These are to be encouraged. It is important that both parties involved have a clear understanding of the other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following procedure should be followed to help promote a resolution to the issue or concern.
If you have a concern to discuss with a coach, the procedure you should follow is:
· Call to set up an appointment.
· The Marmaton Valley Junior/Senior High School telephone number is 237-4251.
· If the coach cannot be reached, call the Athletic Director. A meeting will be set up for you. The telephone number is 237-4251.
· Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest or practice. These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach. Meetings of this nature do not promote resolution
The next step:
What a parent can do if the meeting with the coach did not provide satisfactory resolution.
· Call and set up an appointment with the Athletic Director and administration to discuss the situation.
Since research indicates a student involved in co-curricular activities has a greater chance for success during adulthood, these programs have been established. Many of the character traits required to be a successful participant are exactly those that will promote a successful life after high school. We hope the information provided within this pamphlet makes both your child’s and your experience with Marmaton Valley School athletic program less stressful and more enjoyable.
ACADEMIC AND AGE REQUIREMENTS
Statement of Philosophy - Participation in high school activities is a valuable educational experience and should not be looked upon as a reward for academic success. Students with low academic ability need the educational development provided through participation in activities as much as students with average or above average ability. Activity participation should be for all students making appropriate progress toward graduation and otherwise in good standing.
Student in grades 7-12 shall meet the following requirements for eligibility in interschool activities:
· Scholarship—The student shall have passed at least five new subjects (those not previously passed) of unit weight, or its equivalency, the previous semester or the last semester of attendance.
· Enrollment—The student shall be enrolled in and attending a minimum of five new subjects (those not previously passed), of unit weight, or its equivalency, during the present semester. High school students dually enrolled in colleges, who have their college hours recorded on their high school transcript, may count five hours of college credit as two subjects of unit weight or three hours of college credit as one subject of unit weight. However, the student must attend at least one class of unit weight at the member, base school per semester.
· A student shall not be permitted to make up work after the close of the semester for the purpose of becoming eligible. A “condition” or an “incomplete” shall count as a failure. However, should a student have an excused absence for day(s) missed, completing such work per school policy (Illustration: two days for every day missed) would not be considered as “make up” per se. Summer school is not to be used for making up credit deficiencies for the purpose of becoming eligible.
· In order to be eligible for participation, the student must be a bona fide undergraduate member of that school and in good standing.
· A student who is under penalty of suspension or whose character or conduct brings discredit to the school or to the student, as determined by the principal, is not in good standing and is ineligible for a period of time as specified by the principal.
· A student who is in ISS may practice, but may not participate in a game while serving the suspension. A student on OSS may not have any contact with his/her activity during the suspension.
· Students entering 7th grade can not have turned 14 on or before September 1. Students entering 8th grade can not have turned 15 on or before September 1.
Students in high school can not have turned 19 on or before September 1.
Eligibility Statement
If a student is failing 2 or more classes at the time of progress reports or grade cards, the student and the parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified that the student has been placed on academic probation. Academic probation is defined as a student not being allowed to miss academic time for field trips, organization activities, and extracurricular activities. The student may be excused from seminar. A student may be released from academic probation after he/she has all grades at or above a sixty-five percent (65%). At the end of the semester, if a student is failing 3 or more classes, the student will be ineligible for those activities governed by KSHSAA and his/her name will be reported to KSHSAA.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Regarding physical exams the following applies:
· Students are not eligible to represent their school in interschool athletics, spirit or spirit competition groups until there is on file with the superintendent or principal, a signed statement by a practicing physician or a registered physician assistant, certifying the student has passed an adequate physical examination and is physically fit to participate in interschool athletics, spirit or spirit competition groups. This statement shall also be signed by a parent or legal guardian, stating the student has permission to participate.
· Forms to be signed by the physicians and parents shall be furnished by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. In case a student has neither a parent nor legal guardian, the signature of the principal or superintendent shall be required.
Eighteen-year-old independent students may sign their own forms.
· The Physical Examination shall not be taken earlier than May 1 proceeding the school year for which it is applicable.
· No middle/junior or senior high school student is eligible to represent his/her school in an interscholastic athletic event until a Physical Examination Form is completed and filed with the school prior to the first try-out or practice in which the student participates.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation shall be provided to all away games. It is expected that all players ride to and from away games unless an athlete’s parent gives a written request that an athlete ride home with him/her. A student may only be released to their parents. If the parents or legal guardians are not at the ballgame the student athlete will not be permitted to ride home with another party.
SPORTSMANSHIP: YOU’RE KEY TO BEING REMEMBERED AS OUTSTANDING
Sportsmanship plays a major role in your development as a student/athlete. Our program of interscholastic athletics is important and gives you the opportunity to display your interests and abilities. Athletics gives you a great opportunity to mold your personality, to control your emotions, and direct your energy to being a positive individual and/or team member. Derogatory remarks, antagonizing your opponent intentionally, and encouraging or being involved in altercations with your opponents, is not a part of Marmaton Valley athletics.
Downgrading of officials by players or coaches is not acceptable. Officials, like players and coaches, are not 100% correct; therefore, they should be treated accordingly. As a player you will err, as coaches all aspects of coaching will not work at the particular moment you would like for your decision to work. We must be able to hold our heads high in defeat and be excited when we win. We must care how victory is attained. We must exercise good judgment, by not being childish and by not using immature antics. Morals and good common sense need to be exercised, it is your responsibility.
Showing self-control at all times, accepting decisions, accepting with pride both victory and defeat, showing good conduct and cooperation with coaches, officials, and players are containment’s in a good winning philosophy. We, in the Marmaton Valley School District, want you to win, to excel, and to be successful in you academic and athletic endeavors. Competition is the backbone of our society; it has been there since the beginning of our great country. There will be disappointment in academics, disappointments in athletics, and disappointments in life. Your reactions to these disappointments will be a guide for you to realize what you have learned from your student/athletic endeavors.
There will always be competition. If you will always remember not to do anything that will be an embarrassment to you, your parents, your school, or your community you will always be a good citizen and will show good sportsmanship.
CAREER RECORDS
All records for all sports must be validated by official school documentation.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
We would not want students to engage in such activities or their parents/guardians to consent to participation without full knowledge of the risks involved in the sport(s). Please refer to the following information regarding the risks associated with each athletic activity.
CROSS COUNTRY
· Heat illness --- cramps, exhaustion, stroke, dehydration, death
· Environmental Hazards --- lightning, flash floods and irregular terrain
· Human Hazards --- motor vehicles, criminal elements, etc.
· Isolation at Time of Injury or Illness
· Eating Disorders --- common in distance runners and aggravated by high calorie burn of runner workouts
FOOTBALL
· Head Injury --- concussion, second impact syndrome, skull fracture, subdural hematoma, death
· Spinal Cord Injury --- contusion, temporary paralysis, permanent paralysis, death
· Heat Illness --- cramps, exhaustion, stroke, dehydration, death