Trenton Football Parent’s Meeting

1. Trenton Football Parent’s Meeting 2013

2. Cloth/Shoes/ect We have a salesman here to size everything that will be available for purchase. Orders will be placed and paid for on line. Everything ordered will be shipped to your homes.

3. Physicals and Eligibility Each young man, who participates in a sport at Trenton High School, must have a physical. I would suggest getting one as soon as possible. Athletic Fee of $130.00 due ASAP Along with a physical, an athlete who wishes to participate must pass 4 of 5 classes with a 2.0 gpa. That is the state standard. 9th graders are automatically eligible if promoted.

4. Mini Camp 8:00 am on Friday the 14th of June. Bring running shoes, cleats, work out clothing, and water. We will test, run them through how to do what we want them to do. We will feed them afterwards.

5. Summer Program We will begin our summer program on Monday, June 17th @ 8:00am for 10-12th and 9:15 for incoming 9th graders. We will be done around 10:30. This program will run until double sessions begin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (the building is not open on Fridays). 7 on 7’s are an invite based activity usually attended by the older players. We will contact those players. We typically have car pooled to these events. The calendar has dates and venues.

6. Summer Program There are two weeks, as decided by the state, that we will have no or limited contact with our players. Dead Week- no coach/player contact. Normally, our seniors organize some activities for that week. Down Week- no football related activities; however, we can condition and lift. We use that week to hand out equipment after we work out. *Calendar has dates

7. Fundraising/Activities Youth Camp Discount Card door-to-door Reverse Raffle Name plates Bricks Outright solicitation Victory Day Noah’s Project (feeding the homeless)/July 18th

8. 1st week of practice Double sessions begin on Monday, August 12th. The first session begins @ 8:00 am. We will break and then go back out around 12:45. The first three days our Touchdown Club offers lunches ($20.00’s per players). An athlete does not have to participate in the lunch; however, they will stay on campus. Practice runs Monday-Friday. Saturday, August 17th, we will take pictures for the program. Please come and take many pictures of your son; you will be sad if you do not! Pictures packages are also taken on that day. We have typically began at 10:00am---check the calendar for the time.

9. Family Picnic This will be the 23 year of this event. It gives everyone the chance to mingle and meet. Each level will be asked to contribute something to the buffet-style meal. Each family will be responsible for their own set-up, drinks, and chairs. After we are done eating, we will go to the football field and introduce each level, as well as our cheerleaders.

10. Scrimmage We will scrimmage at home vs Monroe St. Mary’s. The 9th and JV will begin at 4:00---the varsity will follow at 6:00. We will, again, be charging canned goods as admission. The canned goods will then be transported to the Trenton Food Pantry. September 14th (Sat) is Victory Day. Coach Aaron has been around the country helping people put their own Victory Day together. It is a wonderful day; we are blessed to have this day in Trenton---also, very blessed to have Coach Segedi.

11. Membership No cut I do not have a “playing time” rule to determine whether a young man, playing varsity football, receives a letter. If a player, works hard daily, and finishes the season in good standing, I believe they deserve a letter. Our rules are very simple: be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be, do nothing to embarrass your family, your teammates, your school and city. Just like at home, there are consequences for not meeting our expectations, which could be as severe as dismissal.

12. membership We try to apply real-life consequences to inappropriate behavior. If you do not go to work, you get fired. If you do not work hard at your job, you will never get promoted---a few examples. We are trying to help all of you teach lessons that have value long after their playing days are over. Character Manual- is one tool that we use to help reinforce the lessons that are being taught in each of your homes. Absences are deemed excused or unexcused by me.

13. Injuries We still expect an injured player to attend practice; they are a member of this team until the season ends. Lori Holcomb does wonderful work; she can help them heal. She cannot work her magic if they are not here! Nor can they continue to learn if they are sitting on your couch.

14. Playing Time Playing time is determined by our staff; the final decision is mine. Arguing about your son’s playing time is a little like arguing balls and strikes in baseball. We base our decisions on need, ability, work ethic, and physical readiness. It is not determined by who yells the loudest from the stands. I have, in the past, leaned towards our seniors, if all is equal. That has come back to haunt me more than once. We try to reward players efforts by getting them on the field in some capacity.

15. 24 Hour Rule This is a very simple, well-thought out rule. If you have an issue, we are asking that you think about it for 24 hours prior to verbalizing that issue. Our coaching staff is instructed, by me, to never have a “parking lot conversation” with anyone. If there is a need for a formal meeting, it will be scheduled and all parties will be heard. Exceptions

16. Process If your son has an issue, we are asking them to first go to the coach he has taken issue with. If there is no resolution (which doesn’t mean that they will always get what they desire), the issue comes to me (for all levels). If there is no resolution, we will schedule a meeting with you, your son, myself, the coach, and our athletic director. Again, this is real-life conflict resolution. A parent, player, or coach ranting and raving is not going to resolve anything.

17. Zero Tolerance If one of our football players is ticketed for drugs or alcohol, he will be dismissed from the team (all levels). This policy begins on the first day of practice and will remain in place until the season’s end. Outside of the season, the athletic policy will be followed. It is my hope that this policy will help all of us dissuade our athletes from falling prey to the temptations that our all around them. I would much rather have you angry at me than hugging you at the funeral home!

18. Special Health Situations If there is anything that we need to know about your son’s health, please do not keep it a secret. We need to know, as well as Lori Holcomb. We had a young man, not too many years ago, who managed his health issue at practice. He made us aware of what was going on, and what we needed to do to assist him.

19. Misc. Banquet is 10-12th: not an attempt to slight our younger players---we have found, in the past, that our 9th grade players and parents were the ones sneaking out early. They will have their own get together after the season. Please read the washing directions for your son’s cloth. If their jersey comes back pink, it will be very easy to recognize them during a game!!!

20. Misc Recruiting/Camps/Combines- recruiting has changed considerably over the years. It has become very on-line based. I still prefer the old way where the coach would sit in my room where we could get to know one another. Camps- that is totally your call. My take on this matter is not one that I will give unless asked. Combines- I have found these to be money-makers for the people running them. I have never had a college coach contact me based on the results of a combine.

21. Trenton Touchdown Club This is our 23rd year!!!! This club was created and still exists because of the efforts of our parents. This is how you can, positively, impact our football program. The more people involved; the easier it is for everyone. For those of you who are new to our program, the TTC awards scholarship monies to our senior football players and cheerleader. This is done through a number of activities. Eligibility for this senior award starts right now!!! Please become an active member of this group.

22. In Closing All of the forms that you will need are linked to our calendar. 9th graders will have to fill out a consent form (one time deal) which says that they read the athletic handbook and understand its’ content. Let’s keep our energy in the right place and our eyes on the ball. Be supportive, encouraging, and positive. Enjoy their career with them. As always, we need to remember that performance and purpose are two totally different things. Assess things honestly---life gets much easier that way. Thank you very much for coming.