Introduction
West PotomacMission Statement
Compliance
VHSL Eligibility Requirements
FairfaxCounty Eligibility Require-
ments
West Potomac Football Eligibility
Requirements – Academic
and Personal
Code of Conduct
Philosophy
Academic
Athletic Goals and Objectives
West Potomac – Our Mission
and Goals
Policy Statements
Statement on Intolerance
Statement on Sexual Assault and Abuse
Statement on hazing
Statement on Alcohol/Drugs
Statement on Academic Integrity
Statement on Class Attendance and
Behavior
Academic Support Services
Academic Coach
Study Hall
In-season grade monitoring
Out of season grade monitoring
Mentoring
Test Preparation
College Recruiting
Mission Statement
NCAA Core Requirements – The
Clearinghouse
West Potomac Recruiting Services
Navigating the Recruiting Process
Athletic Awards
Varsity Letter Requirements
Junior Varsity status
Special Awards
Weekly Awards
All District-Region Teams
Equipment Issue and Care
Responsibility
Sports Medicine
School Insurance
Medical Staff
Medical Guidelines
Statement on Nutrition
Statement on Nutritional Supplements
Statement on Steroids
Weight Control
Heat stress and dehydration issues
Team-wide Rules and Regulations
Locker room policy
Transportation rules
Sportsmanship rules
Attendance policy
Communication Issues
Parent/Student/Athlete/Coach
Dealing with the press
Important Documents
Varsity/JV/Freshman Schedule
Team Fundraiser
Season Dates and Times
West Potomac Participation Policy
Emergency Care Card
Statements on Dehydration
West Potomac Football Mission Statements
To provide all players with a positive/winning team environment dedicated towards developing excellence on the athletic field and creating attitudes and habits that carry over into the academic and social lives of our players.
- Our program will reflect the values of our community
- Our program will reflect the goals of education
- Our program will emphasize those cross-over habits of the mind such as competitiveness, teamwork, effort, overcoming adversity, taking personal responsibility, self discipline and sacrifice
We will provide strong role modeling and mentoring in our habits, conduct and personal demeanor. Our coaches will be masters of the game, great motivators and teachers and be responsible and forthright mentors.
- Our coaches will use positive language only
- Our coaches will constantly coach, mentor and teach
- Our coaches will show interest in the player as a person
- Our coaches will use every opportunity to improve performance and reinforce character
Our players will achieve in life and will be shining examples of the good works of our football program.
- Our players will attend a college best suited to their academic, social and athletic needs
- Our players will learn to give back to their community
- Our players will understand their intellectual gifts and will work to realize them
- Our players will forever remain connected to the West Potomac football family
Compliance
VHSL Eligibility Requirements
- The students shall be a regular bona fide student in good standing of the school that he/she represents.
- The student shall be enrolled in the last four years of high school.
- The student shall have been regularly enrolled in the school he/she represents not later than the 15th school day of the semester.
- For the first semester be currently enrolled in no fewer than five subjects, or their equivalents, offered for credit and which may be used for graduation and have passed five subjects or their equivalent and which may be used for graduation the immediate preceding year or the immediate preceding semester for schools that certify credit on a semester basis.
- For the second semester be currently enrolled in no fewer than five subjects or their equivalent, offered for credit and may be used for graduation and have passed five subjects and their equivalent, and which may be used for graduation the immediately preceding semester.
- The student shall not have reached the age of 19 on or before the first day of August of the school year of which he/she wishes to participate.
- The student shall not have enrolled in one high school and subsequently traveled to and enrolled in another high school without a corresponding change of residence of his/her parents, parent or guardian.
- The student shall not have been enrolled in the last four years of high school for a period of more than eight consecutive semesters, beginning with semester he/she was enrolled for the first time in ninth grade. The eight consecutive semesters shall be counted continuously from that point, regardless of whether he/she remains continuously enrolled in school.
- A student who represents a school in an interscholastic sport shall be an amateur in that sport. An amateur athlete is one who engages competition solely for the physical, mental, social and pleasure benefits derive therefrom.
- The student shall have submitted to the principal of his/her school, prior to becoming a member of any athletic squad or team, League form #2, completely filled in and properly signed, attesting that he/she has been examined and found to be physically fit for athletic competition, and that his/her parents consent to his/her participation.
- Students shall accept permissible awards presented or accepted by the student’s school.
- During the sports season of the relevant sport, a student may, while a member of a school squad or team engaged in interscholastic become a member or participate with an organized team in the same sport which is independent of the school’s control so long as such participation does not does not conflict with the scheduled activities of the school squad or team. No school or student shall be declared ineligible for participation in interscholastic sports because of participation by the student as a member of an organized team in the same sport which is independent of the school’s control during the sports season or relevant sport.
- Only students of member school who have completed their eligibility in their sport may participate in no more than one all-star in that sports season prior to graduation.
- The student shall not have been a member of a college team in the sport which he/she desires to represent his/her high school.
THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS OF EACH OF THE VHSL RULES. IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN OR SEEK CLARIFICATION ON ANY OF THESE RULES – YOU MUST CONTACT EITHER COACH HENDERSON OR THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY. AN ELIGIBILITY CHECK WILL BE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCRIMMAGE ON EVERY ATHLETE PARTICIPATING IN FOOTBALL.
FairfaxCounty Eligibility Requirements
All requirements are outlined in the Fairfax County Public Schools Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook.
West Potomac Football Eligibility – Academic Standards
If, after having satisfied both the VHSL and FairfaxCounty policies regarding eligibility, a prospective student/athlete will be screened academically. There are established thresholds each student/athlete will be evaluated on.
Academically in Good Standing – All previous 4th quarter grades of a C or above.
Academically Warned – One or two grades from previous 4th marking period of a D along with/or one or two final grades of D for the previous year.
Academically At Risk – More than two grades of D for previous 4th marking period along with/or more than two grades of D for the previous year. Student who successfully completed one or two summer session courses designed to replace a failing grade from the previous school year.
There are several layers of remediation that will be explained in greater detail later in this handbook. For the purposes of this section, each category of student will display remediations and interventions to assist in academic development.
Academically in Good Standing
- Attend one study hall session
- Weekly grade checks
Academically Warned
- Attend two study hall sessions
- Weekly grade checks
- Assignment of coach/mentor
- Weekly academic coach meetings
Academically At Risk
- Attend three study hall sessions
- Weekly and daily grade checks
- Assignment of coach/mentor and community mentor
- Daily academic coach meetings
West Potomac Football Eligibility – Personal Code of Conduct
General Responsibilities of the West Potomac Football Player
Being a member of the West Potomac football team is the fulfillment of a longheld ambition for many students. The attainment of this goal carries with it certain traditions and responsibilities that must be maintained. A great football tradition is not built overnight. It takes hard work from many people over many years. As a member of the West Potomac football team, student-athletes inherit a wonderful tradition – a tradition that they are challenged to uphold – the tradition of the Blue and Silver.
Our tradition has been to win with honor. We desire to win, but only with honor to our athletes, our values, our school, and our community. Such a tradition is worthy of the best efforts of all concerned. Over many years our squads have achieved more than their share of league and tournament championships. Many individuals have set records and won All District, All Region and AllState honors.
It is not easy to contribute to such a great athletic tradition. In order to be the best an athlete can be, he or she may have to endure certain sacrifices. When an athlete wears the Silver and Blue, he or she is expected to understand the West Potomac traditions, and to assume the responsibilities that go with them. The contributions a student-athlete makes shall serve as a satisfying accomplishment personally and to one's family.
Responsibilities to Yourself
The most important of these responsibilities is to broaden oneself and to develop strength of character. You owe it to yourself to get the greatest possible good from your high school experiences. Your studies, your participation in other extra-curricular activities as well as sports, prepare you for your life as an adult.
Responsibilities to Your School
Another responsibility you assume as a squad member is to your school. West Potomac cannot maintain its position as an outstanding school unless you do your best in whatever activity you wish to engage. By participating in athletics to the maximum of your ability, you are contributing to the reputation of your school. You assume a leadership role when you are a member of the West Potomac football team. The student body and citizens of the community know you. You are on stage with a spotlight on you. The student body, our community and other communities judge our school by our conduct and attitudes on and off the field, therefore your conduct must be exemplary in every way. Your behavior will have an affect on your playing time and status on the team whether you are on school grounds or away from the football program back in your community. Make West Potomac proud of you by your faithfully upholding these ideals.
Responsibilities to Others
As a member of the football team, you also bear a heavy responsibility to your home. If you never give your parents anything to be ashamed of, you have measured up to the ideal. When you know in your heart that you have practiced to the best of your ability everyday, and that you have played the game all out, you can keep your self-respect and your family can be justly proud of you.
The younger students in the local area schools are watching you. They will copy you in many ways. Do not do anything to let them down. Set good examples for them.
Conduct of an Athlete
The conduct of an athlete is closely observed in many areas of life. It is important that your behavior be above reproach in all of the following areas:
On the Field – In the area of athletic competition, a real athlete does not use profanity or illegal tactics, and learns fast that losing is part of the game, and that you should be gracious in defeat and modest in victory. It is always courteous to congratulate the opponent on a well-played game after the contest, whether in defeat or victory. We will be classy to our opponents. Failure to show a classy, sportsmanlike demeanor will result in loss of playing time, suspension from the team or removal from the football program.
In the Classroom – In the academic area, a good athlete becomes a good student. A person cannot be a classroom laggard and think he can be an outstanding athlete. If you are lazy in class, you will be lazy on the practice field and will never reach your full potential. As an athlete, you must plan your schedule so that you give sufficient time and energy to your studies to insure acceptable grades. In addition to maintaining good scholarship, an athlete should give respectful attention to classroom activities and show respect to other students and faculty at all times. Horseplay and unnecessary boisterousness are not approved habits of behavior. Failure to maintain a serious classroom demeanor will result in loss of playing time, suspension from the team or removal from the football program.
Code of Conduct
Philosophy
WestPotomacHigh School football strives to be competitive and successful. We believe in a process-oriented approach to competition rather than a product-related outcome. A “win at all costs” attitude will not be tolerated. The purpose of a football program is to ensure a positive atmosphere that is conducive to learning. The role of the Coach is to provide student/athletes with the opportunity to learn from their experiences in athletics regardless of the win/loss record. Because we are interested in doing things “the right way”, we as a football program will not tolerate behavior or conduct that detracts from the primary purpose of the football program.
The student/athletes needs to understand that…
- He/she represents a tradition of excellence in athletic competition
- He/she represents fairness, sportsmanship and ethics in athletic competition
- He/she must develop the self control necessary to perform one’s best in competition and prepare for the future; avoiding poor sportsmanship, loss of temper, fighting, abusive language and/or gestures
- He/she is learning that performing to the best of one’s ability is far more important than winning or losing
All football players need to understand that being a football player for West Potomac carries with it a responsibility that is more stringent than being a member of the school community as a whole. What might pass for typical teen behavior has no place in our program. Failure to follow the specific behavioral guidelines of our program will result in loss of playing time, suspension from the team or removal from the program.
Academic Code Of Conduct
The intent of an academic code of conduct is to give students as much guidance and support as possible to enable them to improve their academic standing while continuing participation in extracurricular activities.
The student/athlete’s main purpose is to graduate from high school with the best grades possible and to pursue further educational opportunities. The student/athlete is responsible for attending class regularly and on time, completing all assignments and conducting himself in academic matters in ways that are consistent with acceptable classroom performance. If the student/athlete does not meet these standards, he must work with the coaches and support staff to adequately resolve any academic deficiencies.
Weekly Standards and Comprehensive Support
A student will be assessed weekly and will be placed into the academic remediation program if he fails to meet the minimum grade of a C in a class for two weeks. The athlete will also review with the academic coach possible changes to study habits and create solutions with the teacher to get the athlete back on track. The student will also be placed into supplemental study halls and will be given an academic mentor from the coaching staff to help with compliance. The student must show two weeks of academic compliance to be removed from the remediation program.
If the student athlete continues to decline in academic performance, he will be assigned further weekly study halls, have daily academic checks along with a conference between the academic coach, the athlete, the head coach, the parents and guidance counselor where all concerned parties will help develop a plan for academic improvement. If the student continues to decline after three weeks in this level of the program, his participation in competitions will be reduced until the grades improve.
Every Monday, each athlete will have 30 minutes at the end of the day to meet with teachers or work independently if not in academic warning or at risk. Those falling under the academic warning or at risk category will meet in the cafeteria for a 30 minute study hall conducted by the academic coach. The study hall is a quiet time where students can receive individual help from faculty volunteering their to assist our players. At the end of the 30 minute period, the entire program will break into their huddles and meet for an additional 30 minutes to take part in our Horizons program designed to teach decision making strategies and character education and development.
Athletic Code Of Conduct
As a result of participation in a well-balanced athletic program, the student/athlete will learn valuable skills that will allow him/her to become a more effective citizen in a democratic society.
The student/athlete shall learn…