AUBURNDALE BLOODHOUNDS Player and Parent Expectations, Rules, and Policies

1. AUBURNDALE BLOODHOUNDSPlayer and Parent Expectations, Rules, and Policies Coach Kenny Grantham

2. Things I Assume I assume that you want to be a true a student athlete and make the highest grades possible. You have a responsibility to the team to turn all school work in on time and maintain your eligibility. NO ZEROS, NO FAILURES, NO EXCUSES! I assume you want to the best person you can be. You must understand that you represent Bloodhound Football 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week and that you may be the only Bloodhound Football player some people ever meet. Your character is a reflection of our program at all times. Remember Character Breeds Character. I assume that the parents of my players want the best for their sons. This includes the best equipment, uniforms, and facilities that money can buy. We need you to help us raise funds to make this happen for our program. We need you to be active in some way with our schools Booster Club and all program fundraisers. We have to do for ourselves when the School District can not afford to do for us.

3. Things I Assume(continued) I assume that you want to be the best football player you can be, which is the standard for being a Bloodhound. When your coaches look at you, they see what you could and should be as a Bloodhound. The coaches will push you to achieve your maximum potential. WE WILL NOT SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOUR BEST AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU! I assume that you want to play on an Auburndale Championship Football Team. Our practices, our off-season, and our summer programs are designed to produce a Championship Team. I assume that you understand that all decisions are made with the TEAMS best interest being the top priority and that individual needs must come second.

4. Auburndale High School“AAA” Program Achieving Academically in Athletics

5. Reasons for the Establishment Auburndale Football “AAA” Program Student-athletes will improve their academic achievement level to meet both the FHSAA/PCS and AHS football expectations so to ensure their graduation from high school. Student-athletes will increase their opportunity to attend college by participating in the NCAA College Clearing House, Prep 48, and AHS “AAA” program. Student-athletes will improve their organizational and study skills to enhance their academic performance and help prepare them for college or the every day work force. Student-athletes will improve their overall grade point average and all student-athletes will maintain a 2.5 or higher. Student-athletes will obtain or improve their SAT/ACT scores to acceptable levels for college admission, as well as raise their FCAT scores to state passing levels. Student-athletes will have their academic progress monitored on a bi-weekly basis and all results will be communicated with all stakeholders. (Parents, teachers, and coaches) Student-athletes can and will be encouraged to serve as peer tutors to their teammates. Student-athletes will demonstrate academic excellence and sportsmanship on a daily basis. Student-athletes will participate in the academic program from 2nd week of school until December. Program resumes for the month of May.

6. ‘AAA’ 15 Program ComponentsPart One - 1 through 5 Athletic study table will be held Monday through Wednesday from 2:05pm to 3:00 pm. Student-athletes MUST check-in by 2:05pm. The Academic Coach, assigned Coaches, volunteer teachers, and other athletes will be on hand to assist the student-athlete with his/her work or ensure they receive the necessary support. During season, athletic practices on Mondays through Wednesdays will be held from 3:20pm to 5:30pm., after study table. Student-athletes who earn a ‘D’ or ‘F’ on ANY bi-weekly grade check, mid-term report, or 9-week report card regardless of overall grade point average is required to attend academic study table until two consecutive checks indicate a C or higher in that course. If a student-athlete decides to participate in football at Auburndale High School and has never done so in the past, their current grades for that term will be used to determine his/her study table status. If it is at the beginning of the school year, the 4th nine-week report from the previous year will be used to determine status. For incoming freshman, all will attend until first mid term report shows athlete has 2.5 or higher.

7. AAA’ 15 Program ComponentsPart Two - 6 through 10 Student-athletes will be waived out of study table, but not the ’AAA’ program, if their cumulative grades are a 2.5 or above and are passing all of their classes with a ‘C’ or better for two consecutive grade checks. (Grade checks include any combination of bi-weekly grade checks, single mid-term report, or 9-week report cards) AHS coaches will supervise student-athletes during the athletic study table. Student-athlete will be allowed to leave study table to receive additional tutorial services from teachers or peer tutors. Students will also be permitted to leave study table to attend FCAT, SAT, or ACT prep courses. If a AHS Coach cannot assist a student-athlete, the student-athlete will be dismissed from study table to work with a predetermined tutor. He or she will sign in and out with the study table supervisor. Student-athletes will be issued a pass, the pass MUST be signed by the tutor and returned to be counted as an official tutorial visit. Student-athletes assigned to the athletic study table are expected to attend every Monday through Wednesday from 2:05pm to 3:00 pm. All planned absences must be cleared with the head coach or academic coach to be excused. Student-athletes who are tardy twice to the study table will be charged with one day’s absence. Student-athletes arriving between 2::05pm and 2:10pm are tardy; student-athletes arriving after 2:10pm are counted as absent and will run whistle drills after practice.

8. ‘AAA’ 15 Program ComponentsPart Three - 10 through 15 Student-athletes whom have 3 unexcused absences per grading period will be suspended from athletic competition for next week’s competition. Athlete will not be eligible to participate in games until parent conference is conducted with head football coach. If a student-athlete misses study table because of a detention or OSS those absences will be counted as an unexcused absence and normal consequences will apply. The student-athlete may request an Academic Hearing with the student-athlete, parent/guardian(s), Athletic Director, and Head Football Coach to determine future eligibility and consequences of their actions. Student-Athletes involved with the football program MUST attend study tables to remain eligible. If the student-athlete is cleared to not participate in study table due to academic success, they must chose between peer tutoring or weight and conditioning training.

9. Auburndale High School Athletic Study TableParent Letter DATE: STUDENT-ATHLETE: GRADE(S)/CLASS(ES): Dear Parent/Guardian: Due to a recent low grade(s) on a progress report or your student-athlete holding an overall grade point average below a 2.5, he/she is required to attend the athletic study table held every Monday through Wednesday (when we are practicing) from 2:05 pm - 3:00 pm. He/she will be required to attend the study tables until all of his/her grades are above a C on biweekly progress report for two consecutive terms. In addition, a mid-term report, or 9-week report card indicating a 2.5 or higher and passing of all classes with a ‘C’ will be acceptable for withdrawal from the study table. It is the student-athletes responsibility to attend the study table until he/she meets the requirements that are stated above. When a student-athlete misses a total of 3 study table sessions per term he/she will become ineligible for the next weeks contest. A repeat attendance suspension per 9-week grading period will result in full ineligibility for the student/athlete. If a student-athlete chooses not to participate or be withdrawn from the athletic study table the athlete will be suspended from games for the rest of the season. If the student-athlete decides to re-join the study table he/she must have an Academic Hearing with the athlete, parent(s), Athletic Director, and head coach. AHS football believes that the study table is a positive approach in preparing our student-athletes for academic successes. Please help us by encouraging your student-athlete to attend the study table Monday through Wednesday. Thank you for your assistance with this program. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Respectfully,

10. Auburndale High SchoolFootball Study TableStudent Letter DATE: STUDENT-ATHLETE: GRADE(S)/CLASS(ES): Due to a recent low grade(s) on an academic progress report or our discovery that your overall grade point average has fallen below a 2.5, you are now required to attend the Auburndale High School football program athletic study table. You will be expected to attend academic table until all of your grades are above a C for two consecutive terms and your overall grade point average has risen above a 2.5. (Terms include any combination of bi-weekly grade checks, mid-term reports, or 9-week report cards). The athletic study table will meet every Monday through Wednesday from 2:05pm to 3:00pm. Student-athletes MUST check-in in with the coach on duty by 2:05 pm. If a student-athlete requires help from their classroom teacher, he/she will sign-out and go to the teachers’ room to receive assistance. Student-athletes arriving between 2:05pm and 2:10pm are tardy. Two tardies count as one absence. Student-athletes arriving after 2:15 pm will be counted as absent. Students who have 3 absences per grading period will be suspended from the next athletic competition. If a repeat suspension occurs due to absences during the same grading period, that student-athlete will be declared ineligible for the remainder of that season and forfeit all awards. If you withdraw, you will become athletically ineligible for football for the rest of the season. If you decide to re-join the study table you must have an Academic Hearing with you, your parents, Athletic Director, and head coach. If you are reinstated after the Academic Hearing, you will have to prove by your punctual attendance of study table that you are ready to play ball again.?Please see the head coach or athletic director in the athletic office if you have any questions. Respectfully, ?

11. Auburndale High SchoolFootball Study TableAgreement Form STUDENT-ATHLETE NAME:_________________________________________ GRADE:___________________________? DATE:_______________________ If I choose not to participate and I am withdrawn from the Auburndale High School Football Athletic Study Table. I understand that effective immediately I will become athletically ineligible for football for the remainder of the season. If I choose to re-join football and the study table I must have an Academic Hearing with head coach and athletic director, and parent/guardian. ________________________________________________________________ STUDENT-ATHLETE SIGNATURE ________________________________________________________________ PARENT / GUARDIAN SIGNATURE??

12. ATTITUDE Come everyday with the expectation that something great is going to happen and you are going to get better at something. Be an encourager every day. Your praise, willingness to help your teammates, and ability to lift each other up will make a huge difference in all of our lives. Losers view the player/ coach relationship as a competition (As for example, the player is trying to get away with doing as little as possible at practice and the coach is trying to get more than the player is willing to offer). Winners view the player / coach relationship as a cooperative effort to make the player the best that he can be, while making the team the best that it can be. 

13. ATTENDANCE Be here every day! Be on time and ready to go to work. Practice is just like school or a job. You miss ,you have to make it up. If you have to miss a practice, you are expected to let the head coach know. You will be expected to perform 10 whistle drills as a make up. There are no excused or unexcused absence! if you miss you make it up, no debate or discussion. If for some reason you can not physically participate in practice you are expected to dress out and be with your position to listen, learn, and encourage. You will be expected to perform 5 whistle drills as a make up If you are late to any team function, this includes but is not limited to meetings, study table, or practice. You will be expected to perform 3 whistle drills as a make up. If you miss more than 2 practices without letting the head coach know what is going on you will be removed from the team.  Any time you miss practice the player who replaced you that day will take your spot on the depth chart as a starter for the next week’s game.

14. ATTITUDE(continued) Don’t worry about being cool – we have no room for cool players – Be passionate about Bloodhound Football! Be willing to go the extra mile, to make our parents, our community, and most important ourselves proud of what we are doing and about being a Bloodhound. ATTITUDE is critical! If your attitude is detrimental to our team you will be counseled and given whistle drills for the first offense. On the second offense, the coaching staff will meet and decide whether or not to remove you from the team. THIS DECISION IS FINAL! IF THE COACHING STAFF DECIDES YOUR ATTITUDE IS TOO FAR GONE AND HURTING THE PROGRAM YOU ARE DONE FOR THE YEAR!

15. RESPECT Respect yourself and all others this includes our opponents, WE RESPECT ALL OPPONENTS BUT FEAR NONE  Respect our facilities we have nice facilities and we need to take pride in that and care for home. Respect our equipment and uniforms it is very expensive to buy Football equipment we have to take the very best care of it that we can. Remember every piece of equipment and uniform I have to replace is less money for other things. If you lose equipment or uniforms of any kind you will pay for it. DO NOT STEAL!!! If you steal from the program or from your teammates whether it is money or a cheap T-shirt it is wrong and will not be tolerated. If you steal you will be removed from the team immediately!!! Stealing is one of the vilest displays of disrespect there is.

16. RESPECT(continued) Respect everyone regardless of the color of their skin, race, or religion. Racism will not be tolerated on this team. If you are involved in a racially motivated fight or display any obvious signs of racism you will be removed from the team. Our team will not be segregated our locker assignments will be arranged where someone of a different color will be to your left or to your right. REMEMBER: On 4th down and goal from the 1 yard line, 1 second on the clock, we are down by six, does it matter what color the ball carrier is? Effort shows respect for family, coaches, and team. Give 100% effort on every play, every drill, and everyday. REMEMBER: every thing we do has a purpose and leads to victory. A lack of effort by anyone will result in whistle drills. Compete at all times and at full speed. This shows respect for yourself and your team. What you see when two teams compete is a contest of wills rather than skills. Skills will only come into play if one team is so superior in skill that their wills are never tested.

17. TO BE A BLOODHOUND IS TO COMPETE TO COMPETE MEANS TO EXPECT, PREPARE, PRACTICE, AND PLAY TO WIN. IT IS TO EMPTY ONESELF PHYSICLLY AND MENTALLY TO ACHIEVE VICTORY. IT IS TO SACRIFICE THE INDIVIDUALISM TO BE APART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ONES SELF. TO COMPETE IS TO NOT FEAR LOSING OR FAILURE BUT TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE VICTORY WITH RELENTLESS PASSION INSPITE OF MISTAKES AND FAILURES.

18. Player Placement Policies Every player would like to be a starter on Varsity. Unfortunately, not all of the players will or can be starters. The coaching staff will determine who the starters will be after position by position evaluations. Consequently, it is important that you know how we make this determination and create the depth chart. You should also understand how we place players into specific positions.

19. Player Placement Policies(continued) Knowledge of assignment – we cannot and will not play people who do not know their assignments. Your position coach will spend extra time with you if you so desire. Every one can and should know their assignments. Hustle and Effort – Every one of our starters is expected to give 100% effort at all times. Extra effort is what wins games. Hitting and Mental Toughness – We will discover during spring and fall training who has a strong desire to be physical. Football is a collision sport and must be played with a great deal of mental toughness. Contribution to the overall team – the individual who motivates his teammates to do better is always enthusiastic and ready to play will make a greater contribution than one who does not have this quality. Talent – if the above four characteristics are equal – and they should be – then the young man who produces on the field in the way of making plays will start.

20. Positions During the first three days of spring practice players are allowed to practice and try out for the position they wish to play. After practice during the first three days coaches will meet to discuss the depth chart and evaluate individual players. If coaches agree that a young man has no chance of playing a particular position he has tried out for then we will decide where the player can best help the team and inform the player. The head coach will tell the player what the coaches have decided and that the players needs to change positions to help the team. Players must understand that this is not a request, if the player refuses to make position change he is removed from the team. At times we will have to have players change from one starting position to another for the betterment of the team. Again this is not a request. REMEMBER this is a team sport and we all have to be willing to sacrifice self for the good of the team. Coaches will do their best to let players play where they want, but in many cases what is best for the team dictates change. The bottom line is that everyone on this team will have to be willing to play any and all positions on the field if we think it will help our team’s chances of winning.

21. Bloodhound Locker Rooms, Practice Fields and Facilities These areas are for coaches, players, and authorized personnel only. Signs will be posted to designate these specific areas. We ask that everyone please respect and abide by these boundaries. Obviously if there is an emergency, please get my attention and we will get your son to you as quickly as possible. With this in mind, parents are welcome to watch practice, but please stay within the designated areas. If we are on the game field practicing, please watch from the stands. On game day, absolutely no one is allowed on the sideline except authorized personnel. All authorized personnel will have a special ID badge. In addition, no one except authorized personnel will be allowed in the gym, if we are warming up in there. The coach’s office is off limits unless invited in for a conference by the head coach. Coaches often work or conduct meetings in the office and parents are not to sit in on these activities. Therefore, please do not be offended if you are asked to move to a different area or if you are told that we have a coaches meeting and are asked to leave. No one except parents are invited to watch practice. No small children with out parent supervision are allowed at our practices. Do not invite other students to any team function or practice because they will be told to leave.

22. PLAYERS ON GAME DAY No player will leave campus. Players have six minutes from the last bell to be in the locker room. If a player is late they have 5 whistle drills before the game. If a player leaves campus on game day without permission they will not be allowed to play or dress. The team will move from the locker room to the weight room to watch a movie at 2:30. Meetings will also occur during this time. The team will remain in this location until the pre-game meal in the cafeteria. We will eat together as a team. (players and coaches only) This meal will be very quiet and total focus will be placed on the game at this point. We then move to the locker room at the end of the meal to prepare for pre game warm up, again there will be no visitors at this time. We are very quiet and totally focused. Throughout pregame we want players to visualize playing the game resulting with only positive outcomes. Our opponents will be defeated in our minds before we ever take the field. REMEMBER, the body can not tell the difference between a real experience and a vividly imagined experience. Once we take the field players will be expected to be totally focused on the game whether on the field or on the side line. There will be no talking with or gesturing to parents or friends in the stands. At half time we will never allow players in the stands. If you go through the stands for any reason you will not be allowed back on the sideline and you will run whistle drills every day the next week before you will be allowed to rejoin the team.

23. Parents ON GAME DAY Parents, remember that while second guessing the coaches is part of the fun while attending football games, please be careful of the words you choose to use while vocalizing your opinion. My family, as well as my coach’s families and other player’s parents, will be sitting in the same stands with you. While you, at the moment, may think we are the dumbest coaches or the worst players in the world ,to my 10 year old son and 8 and 4 year old daughters I am the Daddy, that they love. Furthermore, most of our wives and the parents of our players do not appreciate nasty comments being directed at their husbands or children. In addition, our players need to know that you are proud of them and the entire program for their efforts and not just the outcomes. So, please help instill confidence in our players and coaches and not tear them down with hurtful remarks. It will make it easier for us all to win in the long run. REMEMBER while in the stands you represent our program just as the players do on the field, and we want to make a positive impression every where we go. You may be the only Bloodhound some one ever meets so let us always show our pride and respect. Dad’s and other self appointed experts let us coach you enjoy watching your son play the game. When your son chooses accept your coaching over mine he will not play and neither of you will be having any fun then. If this persists I have no choice but to remove your son from the team. 

24. Parents ON GAME DAY(continued) No one is perfect, we will all make mistakes, and no coach has ever called the perfect game. No coach that’s worth a flip has ever run a program with 80 plus kids and families involved and kept them all happy all the time. It is critical for the sake of the kids involved that we all be loyal to the program, be a true blue Bloodhound; that means not running down the program all around town because I did not do something exactly the way you want. We really need everybody in the entire community to feel good about this program for us to be champions so please remember this even when you are mad at me. I am always available to talk to you if you are unhappy about something.   I need help with fundraising please help your sons and be supportive with the numerous fund raisers we have. I also need help feeding these guys during training camp and on game nights. If any of your churches would be interested in providing a meal or meals for the team please let me know.

25. Parent/ Player Agreement By signing this document I agree to follow the policies, procedures, and respect the rules of the Bloodhound Football Program. Parent/ Guardian _________________________ date_________ Student athlete ___________________________ date_________