Durfee Hilltoppers Parent/Athlete Meeting 2014

1. DurfeeHilltoppersParent/Athlete Meeting2014 Thursday, AUGUST 28, 2014 DHS AUDITORIUM 6:00 PM

2. Durfee Hilltoppers • IMPORTANT CONTACTS • SCHEDULES / WEBSITE • DHS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT POLICIES • COACHES / PARENT COMMUNICATION • MIAA RULES AND REGULATIONS • ATHLETIC TRAINER • CONCUSSION POLICY • HAZING LAW • QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

3. IMPORTANT CONTACTS • Victor Pereira – Director of Athletics • Office #: (508) 675-8100 ext. 1144 • Email: vpereira@fallriverschools.org • Blyth Egan – Athletic Department Secretary • Office #: (508) 675-8100 ext. 1140 • Email: began@fallriverschools.org • Kelley Mahoney – Athletic Trainer • Office #: (508) 675-8100 ext. 1141 • Email: kmahoney@fallriverschools.org

4. Athletic Schedules Go to http://www.fallriverschools.org/durfeeathletics.cfmforup to date athletic game schedules and postponements. • Under the STAY CONNECTED tab click view team schedules and all the Fall Schedules will appear. • All Postponements will be under the STAY CONNECTED tab.

5. DHS Athletic Policies Athlete’s Attendance • Athletes are required to be at every practice and game on time unless they are injured or ill. • The coach must be notified if an athlete cannot attend practice or a game. • Injured athletes are required to attend practice and games unless confined to bed or home. • Students must be in attendance at school for at least half the day in order to participate in the practice or event for the day. Three class periods (no studies) constitute half the day. Students tardy after or dismissed before 10:30 a.m. are marked absent for the day.

6. Transportation • The school provides bus transportation or a suitable substitute, to most “away” contests. All team members are expected to travel to and from these contests using the provided school transportation. Transportation to practice sites is the responsibility of the individual athletes. • Exceptions to this policy must be requested in writing to the Director of Athletics by the student’s parent/guardian prior to the contest. A coach may give permission for a student-athlete to ride home from a game site only with their own parent or guardian.

7. Uniform Rule • Students have an obligation and responsibility for all equipment issued to them. Each student is responsible for the proper care and retention of their equipment from the date of issue to the date of return. • Students may not switch uniforms with other teammates without coaches consent. • Equipment should be stored in a locked locker at all times when not in use. Experience has shown that most losses are due to lockers left open or unlocked. • Any student who loses school equipment or fails to return same is responsible to meet the current replacement cost of the equipment. • Payment is required at the time of the loss, prior to the next season of athletic involvement, or at graduation, whichever comes first. • No student will be allowed to try out for another sport until all outstanding equipment has been returned or paid for.

8. SUB VARSITY PHILOSOPHY • All student-athletes at the Freshman and Junior Varsity levels will play consistently if the following conditions are meet: • Attendance at all practices and games • Good work ethic and a positive attitude. Willing to improve. • Must be a good citizen in the school community. Important: This does not mean that all student-athletes will play the same amount of time. It means that everyone will play, but some players will play more than others.

9. IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN TO DISCUSS WITH A COACH., THE PROCEDURE SHOULD FOLLOW... • Call the school to set up an appointment with the coach. • If the coach cannot be reached, call the athletic director. The AD will set up the 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 do not promote resolution. • Use the 24 hour rule. Wait to discuss a situation with a coach until 24 hours after the contest.

10. APPROPRIATE CONCERNS TO DISCUSS WITH COACHES 1. The treatment of your child, mentally and physically. 2. Ways to help your child improve. 3. Concerns about your child’s behavior. It is very difficult to accept your child not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be the best for all students involved. Where there are certain things which can and should be discussed with your child’s coach, there are other things which must be left to the discretion of the coach.

11. Issuesnot appropriate to discuss with coaches • Playing Time • Team Strategy • Play calling • Other student athletes

12. THE NEXT STEP What can a parent do if the meeting with the coach did not provide a satisfactory resolution? 1. Call and set up an appointment with the athletic director to discuss the situation. 2. At this meeting the appropriate next step can be determined. • Research indicates that students involved in co-curricular activities have a greater chance for success during adulthood. Many of the character traits required to a successful participant are exactly those that will promote a successful life after high school. We hope the information provided within the pamphlet makes both your child’s and your experience with the Durfee High School Athletic program more enjoyable.

13. MIAA RULES AND REGULATIONS

14. MIAA RULES • MIAA Rule # 100: (Bona Fide Team Member) A “bona fide team member” of the school team is a student who is regularly present for, and actively participates in, all team practices and competitions. Bona fide team members are precluded from missing a high school practice or competition in order to practice or compete with an out-of-school team. • Chemical Health Rule: (Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs) First Violation: When a Principal confirms, following an opportunity for the students to be heard, that a violation occurred, the student shall lose eligibility for the next consecutive interscholastic contest totaling 25% of all interscholastic contests in that sport. For the student, these penalties will be determined by the season the violation occurs. No exception is permitted for a student who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation.

15. 1st Offense

16. ATHLETIC TRAINER • Durfee High School Athletic Department provides athletic training services to all Durfee High School student athletes. • Durfee HS Athletic Trainer: Kelley Mahoney - Certified Athletic Trainer • Kelley is available in the Athletic Training room each day after school at 2:45 and at all home contests.

17. FACTS ABOUT CONCUSSION • Concussions can occur in any sport and all concussions are serious. • Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness • Repeat concussions can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and even death.

18. CONCUSSION ACTION PLAN • Remove the athlete from play • Ensure that that the athlete is evaluated right away by an appropriate health care professional • Inform the athlete’s parents or guardians about the possible concussion and give them the fact sheet on concussion. • Allow the athlete to return to play only with permission from a health care professional with experience in evaluating for concussion (ImPACT Testing).

19. RETURN TO PLAY POLICY • Athlete should not return to play until: • They are symptom-free • Receive permission from a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion

20. HAZING LAW The term “Hazing” shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

21. GOOD LUCK TO ALL ATHLETES AND COACHES THIS FALL!!! • QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GO HILLTOPPERS!!!