Team Guidelines - Rules, Policies, Forms,
Lettering and Awards
Behavior:
As coaches we will establish our guidelines for behavior and consequences according to policies on student/athlete behavior outlined by the Cobb County School District.
The Interscholastic/Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct (JHEB 8/11/04) policy states that participation in interscholastic/extracurricular activities in public schools is a privilege. Students participating in these activities are school leaders who are looked up to and emulated by other students. They are role models who represent their school and more importantly depict its character. With leadership comes responsibility and student participants must adhere to high standards of conduct. When students violate these high standards, the school district may withdraw the privilege to participate in interscholastic/extracurricular activities.
1. A student who uses or possesses illegal drugs or alcohol on or off
school property shall be suspended from interscholastic and/or
extracurricular activities as provided in Regulation JHEB.
2. A student who is arrested for, or charged with a misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude or a felony shall be automatically
suspended from interscholastic and/or extracurricular activities.
The student shall remain suspended from these activities until
such time as the matter is resolved in favor of the student.
These guidelines are intended as minimum consequences for the referenced behaviors. Administration and local schools may adopt additional rules and regulations as they deem appropriate and necessary.
The Interscholastic/Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct (JHEB 9/28/00) regulation states that a student who commits the following offenses shall be disciplined. The discipline may include, but not be limited to, suspension or permanent dismissal from the team or activity:
A. Any use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco.
B. Missing practice (unless excused by coach).
C. Cutting school or classes.
D. Acting in an unsportsmanlike manner when representing the school.
E. Leaving school without notifying the coach.
F. Violating curfew.
G. Any act at school or away from school which results in any discipline by school administration.
H. Any act at school or away from school which, in the opinion of the coaches and administration, reflects in a negative manner on the school, athletic program, or activity.
We want our teams to represent themselves and our school to the best of their ability at all times. We expect our athletes to conduct themselves properly during practice sessions, team meetings, traveling, and at meets. Our athletes should display good sportsmanship and respect toward coaches, teammates, competitors, officials, parents and bus drivers at all times.
We know relationships can develop between teammates, and we want our boys and girls to get along. Our athletes need to know that all coupling should take place outside of our team practices, meets, bus trips, and functions (i.e. holding hands, hugging, kissing, walking arm in arm and/or any distracting behavior).
Behavior is a choice – MAKE GOOD CHOICES!
Alcohol/Illegal Drugs:
Each high school shall provide written notification to all participants in extracurricular activities of the code of behavior expected of students regarding alcohol/illegal drug use and the subsequent disciplinary measures for violation of the expectations. Penalties for violation of the expectations regarding alcohol/illegal drug use shall be as follows:
1st Offense: Minimum ten (10) school days suspension from extracurricular activities or seven (7) school days suspension with enrollment in the MACAD SUPER I Program. Maximum: Suspension from extracurricular activities for up to one calendar year with permanent suspension possible for serious offenses.
2nd Offense: Minimum: Twenty (20) days schools suspension from extracurricular activities and a diagnostic assessment for chemical dependency. Maximum: Suspension from extracurricular activities for up to one calendar year with permanent suspension possible for serious offenses.
3rd Offense: Minimum: Suspension from extracurricular activities for one calendar year. Maximum: Permanent suspension possible from extracurricular activities for serious offenses.
All rules applying to Cobb County/Allatoona student/athletes apply to our track and field athletes. Any and all cases will be evaluated and handled by the coaching staff on an individual basis. Any violation can affect an athlete’s status on the team and their qualifying for team and letter awards.
Attendance:
According to Cobb County guidelines, Cobb County high school coaches have the authority to require high school student athletes to attend or participate in high school practices and contests over outside events. We do expect our athletes to attend all practice sessions, meetings, team functions and meets. It is mandatory that our athletes attend half of the school day to be able to practice or compete. Our athletes should always be aware of practice being cancelled due to inclement weather or some other reason. We do practice in the rain. Our athletes should use our web site, and pay attention to school announcements to know about any cancellations and/or changes of practice or meets.
If a runner is involved with ISS or under out of school suspension they may not participate in practice or meets until they return to class. In case of injury, an athlete must still attend practice and meets, unless the athlete has an appointment for rehabilitation or to see a doctor. The runner must check with Coach Taylor or Coach Ravenscraft prior to going to the appointment.
In keeping track of attendance, all athletes will be allowed two absences, on their third absence the athlete will be subject to dismissal from the team. Our athletes must always be present the day before a meet, as well as all scheduled meets. Being absent the day before a meet disqualifies an athlete from participating in that meet.
To avoid the need for excused absences, we will build optional days into the calendar to help our athletes schedule appointments for academics, tutoring, doctor/dentist visits, senior pictures, college visits, etc. We want our athletes to plan around these off days, so that every runner can be at all track and field activities. If problems arise or other situations concerning attendance occur, only Coach Taylor or Coach Ravenscraft should be contacted. We do require near perfect attendance for lettering criteria.
We want our athletes to be on time for all practice sessions, meetings, team functions, and meets, including bus/car departures set by the coaching staff. Being tardy two times equals one absence; a runner will be subject to dismissal from the team the fifth time they are late.
We also ask that our athletes be able to complete all practice sessions and meets. Leaving a practice or meet early can be just as detrimental to our team as being tardy. If an athlete is to leave a practice session or a meet without checking with a coach, they will be subject to suspension from the team for one day. This suspension will include any meets that may be within the time frame and will count as one absence.
Practice times and destinations will be consistent to help with attendance and punctuality. Check training calendars and practice time schedule (routine) to know the specifics for practice.
Transportation Policy:
When traveling to meets, we will require our athletes to be with the team on the designated transportation (bus). Athletes must be on time for departure, especially for meets. If an athlete misses a departure with the team to a meet, they will not be able to participate in that meet. Only in a case of family crisis or emergency we will allow athletes to travel back from meets with parent or family member. Athletes must have prior approval from Coach Taylor or Coach Ravenscraft.
Our Policy:
It is the policy of the Allatoona Track and Field program that transportation to and from some competition and possibly other practice locations, will be the responsibility of the parents or individual athlete if of driving age. Transportation of athletes by parents, other athletes and coaches will require a hold harmless agreement that acknowledges parental consent (permission) and waives the right to file suit in the event of injury caused by an accident. This agreement will be provided by the coaching staff and must be signed by the parent(s) before personal transportation by car can be permitted.
Required Participation Forms:
We have required permission and information forms that need to be on file for every athlete in order for them to participate this season. The forms are the athletic insurance/consent, pre-participation physical, goal sheet, consent to participate, team contract, clothing size/order form and if necessary the transportation hold harmless agreement (permission). The forms will be given to all athletes or they can be printed using downloads below. All forms must be completed and turned in by February 28, 2009. Our athletes can practice after this date if the forms are turned in!
Letter Requirements and Standards:
Athletes must meet the requirements and standards, and must finish the season in good standing with coaching staff to earn a track and field letter award on a yearly basis.
Requirements:
1. Attendance – our athletes can only have 2 or less absences from
all team activities and practices. Our athletes must attend/run in
every meet they are scheduled to compete and participate in.
2. Participation – our athletes are expected to put forth a 100% effort
in all team activities, training and racing.
3. Behavior – our athletes must act accordingly towards teammates
and coaches as outlined in our team guidelines.
Participation/Behavior – Things to do and REMEMBER:
-Always put forth your best individual effort in practice.
-Follow daily practice routine.
-Train correctly (pace, distance, height, throw) in practice.
-Do not disrupt practice or team meetings– verbally or physically.
-Do not wear other high school’s t-shirt, shorts or other clothing to
practice.
-Drive safely to and from practice or competition.
-Control noise in and around all school and practice facilities.
-Do not fight or argue with teammates or coaches at practice or meet.
-Always have the correct clothing for practice.
-Always have the correct gear for meets, wear the designated team
uniform and clothing.
-Follow team routines and always behave appropriately at meets.
-Always stay with our team during practice and at any competition.
-Be prepared and know what is expected on a team trip. Take care
of hotel rooms, restaurants, shopping malls and or any other place we may go while on a team trip.
Standards:
.Automatic qualifying is listed below:
-meeting time or distance standard per event for boys or girls
-participating in Varsity Cobb Co Championship and making the final
-anyone competing at 7AAAA Region Championship
Time and Distance Standards:
Coaches discretion:
The coaching staff reserves the right to award a varsity letter to any athlete in a situation where they may not have met the above criteria. They also reserve the right to withhold a varsity letter from any athlete who may reach the time or distance standard, but does not uphold the standards of attendance and behavior associated with Allatoona Track and Field.
Team awards for the season:
Awards may be given to one boy and girl in the following categories at the end of the season.
Sprint Performance
Distance Performance
Multi-Event Performance
Throw Performance
Coaching
Improvement
Academic
Freshman
Downloads:
Athletic Consent/Pre-participation Physical
Goal Sheet
Consent to Participate
Team Contract
Clothing Size/Order
Transportation Consent
