SAINTS Huddle August 14, 2013 7:00 p.m.

SAINTS HuddleAugust 14, 2013 7:00 p.m. DARE GREATLY

DARE GREATLY Agenda • Welcome • Eligibility Requirements • KSHSAA • Saint Thomas Aquinas • Impact Concussion Testing • Study Hall Notification Procedure • Communication • Google Calendar/ Website • Transportation • Things to Remember

KSHSAA Eligibility Requirements DARE GREATLY • You must pass 5 subjects new subjects not previously passed the previous semester or last semester of attendance to maintain eligibility. • Physical Form • Concussion and Head Injury Information Release Form • All forms can be found on our website under the Athletic Information tab at www.stasaints.net. We also have hard copies of these forms here tonight.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Eligibility Requirements DARE GREATLY • Students must be in attendance during the last two block periods or the last four periods of an “A” day to be eligible to compete in extracurricular activities that day. • You must maintain a weekly grade of at least a 70% or above to keep yourself out of daily morning or afternoon study hall. • After the first study hall occurrence, students having a grade below 70% are not eligible to compete for the next 7 days or until the grade has raised. Note: The student must have the teacher notify the Athletics Director via email if their grade has raised above 70%.

Study Hall Notification Procedures DARE GREATLY • Grades are pulled automatically Wednesday at Midnight • Students receive a hard copy notification of their deficient grade(s)Thursday mornings. Coaches are notified by email if their athlete should attend study hall. • Students have all day Thursday and Friday to seek out the teacher to turn in missing assignments and raise their grade. • Parents will receive email notification about their students’ eligibility Friday afternoon. Please confer with your son or daughter about their status that evening. • If Athletic Office has not received notice from the teacher that Johnny or Susie’s grade has not raised above 70%, student will be required to attend study hall the next M-F.

ImPact Concussion Testing DARE GREATLY • What do we know about concussions? • A concussion is a brain injury. Even though most are mild, all concussions are potentially serious and may result in complications including prolonged brain damage and death if not recognized and managed properly. • We will baseline test athletes in the following sports: Soccer, Football, Wrestling, and Basketball. • If your son or daughter has a history of concussions and is not competing in one of these activities, please see the Athletic Director or our Certified Athletic Trainer to arrange for a baseline test. • Tests take place in our computer labs under the direction of our trainer or AD.

High School Parent/ Coach Communication DARE GREATLY • Parenting and Coaching are both extremely difficult vocations. • By establishing and understanding each position, parent and coach, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide a greater benefit to our children. • As parents, when your son or daughter is involved in our program, you have a right to understand what expectations are placed on him/her. This begins with clear communication from the coach of the sport.

Parent/ Coach Communication DARE GREATLY Student-Athlete Triangle Relationship between Coach, Parent and Student-Athlete EXPERIENCE Coach Parent The lines in the above diagram represent the open lines of communication between the student-athlete, parent and coach as well as their relationship. We want our student-athletes to learn how to have tough conversations with their coach without advocacy from their parents. At times we understand that parents may feel the need to speak with a coach about a certain concern of theirs. However, before they do, we would like parents to encourage their child to speak to their coach first. Often times we have found that there was a simple miscommunication that can be resolved very easily. This diagram does allow for parent - coach conversation without involving the child. In addition, coaches should never come between the student-athlete and parent, unless there is important information that they feel needs to be relayed to the parent.

Coach Communication DARE GREATLY Communication you should expect from your child’s coach • Philosophy of the coach • Expectations and goals the coach has for your child as well as for the team/season • Locations and times of all practices and contests • Team requirements, special equipment, strength and conditioning programs • Procedure if your child is injured during participation • Team rules, guidelines and consequences for infractions • Lettering criteria

Athlete/ Parent Communication DARE GREATLY Communication Coaches expect from athletes and parents • Concerns expressed directly to the coach (family, medical, personal etc) • Notification of any schedule conflicts in advance • Notification of any illness or injury as soon as possible • Your child will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. • It is important to understand there also may be times when things do not go the way you or your child wish. • At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged. It is the first and most integral step to understanding and resolution.

Procedures for Communicating Concerns DARE GREATLY If you have a concern to discuss with a coach • Call or e-mail the coach for an appointment • If the coach cannot be reached, call the Athletic Director to set a meeting for you • 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 usually do not promote positive resolutions.

Appropriate Concerns DARE GREATLY Appropriate concerns to discuss with coaches • The treatment of your child • Ways to help your child improve his/her skills • Concerns about your child’s behavior • Coaches make decisions based on what they believe to be best for all student-athletes involved.

Athlete/ Parent Communication DARE GREATLY Inappropriate Concerns to discuss with the coach • Amount of Playing time, positioning, entry • It is very difficult to accept your child not playing as much as you had hoped. • Team strategies, game tactics, play calling • Any discussion about other student-athletes

Athlete/ Parent Communication DARE GREATLY Player/coach conferences • All coaches have an open door policy for conferences with players. • Players need to have confidence that their concerns will be addressed with respect and confidentiality in a timely manner

Google Calendar/ Websites DARE GREATLY

Things to Remember DARE GREATLY 1. KEEP ATHLETICS IN PERSPECTIVE • Emphasize the right priorities: Family, Academics, Athletics • Place value in the positive participation, not the winning or losing of a contest • Remember as a parent at Saint Thomas Aquinas you represent the school and its Mission • Do not publicly demean participants in an athletic contest (Players, officials, coaches, other parents or spectators, etc.) 2. SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT-ATHLETE • Talk to your child about how things are going with his/her sport • Let your child select a sport based on his/her perceived ability and preferences • Come to as many of your child’s contests as possible • Stress and model the importance of a healthy lifestyle free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol • Do not support “quitting” as the best way to solve problems, but rather perseverance 3. SUPPORT THE PROGRAM • Be supportive of the coaching staff and respect their professional judgment • Follow the communication procedure outlined in this presentation • Model positive adult behavior when attending contests • Understand the time commitment and needs of the particular sports as many of them involve significant commitments of time and financial resources • Display, by your actions and words, an understanding of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Mission, in order to promote and enhance the image of our school to the community.

SAINTS Huddle August 14, 2013 7:00 p.m.