2015-16 Activities and Athletics Parent Handbook

Wayzata High School Parent Handbook

Being a Supportive Parent of a Student Involved in Wayzata High School Athletics and Activities A Guide to a Positive Experience!

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WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL SONG Let’s give a cheer on high for Blue and Gold, For our teams fight with might for Blue and Gold.

We’ll lead the team we love to victory, And when the game is won we’ll raise a mighty shout.

Come on let’s raise our voices loud and strong, And give a cheer to boost Wayzata on!

And we will all unite for victory - VICTORY; Blue and Gold!

W-A-Y-Z-A-T-A! Wayzata; Wayzata; Yeahhhhhhhh - Trojans

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Contact and Website Information ..................................................................... 1 Mission, Vision & Belief Statements ............................................................... 2 Multiple Participation in Athletics & Activities ............................................... 2 Wayzata Athletic Boosters................................................................................ 3 Online Registration ........................................................................................... 4 Procedure for Reimbursements......................................................................... 5 Procedure for Making Deposits ........................................................................ 6 Using our School Activities Calendar ......................................................... 7-10 Athletic Trainer’s Preseason Letter ................................................................ 11 Concussion Information .............................................................................12-13 Understanding MRSA..................................................................................... 14 Five Things to Think About When Using Social Media ...........................15-16 What Parents Can Do ...................................................................................... 17 WHS Fundamentals of Sportsmanship ........................................................... 18 Tips on Being a Good Sports Parent............................................................... 19 Communications Between Parents and Coaches ............................................ 20 Resolving Conflicts......................................................................................... 21 District 284 Behavior Regulations.................................................................. 22 Plymouth City Code – Social Hosts ..........................................................23-24 Letter to Athletes from Partners in Prevention ............................................... 25 Wayzata Athletic Booster Membership Form ................................................ 26

WHS PARENT PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK Dear Parents and Guardians The purpose of this handbook is to assist the parents and guardians of students who participate in WHS programs by creating a better understanding of the issues and concerns that surround a student’s participation in interscholastic activities.

In order to help ensure a positive educational experience for your son or daughter while participating in our interscholastic activities programs, we feel that it is vital to share this information with you.

We hope that you will find this information both informative and beneficial.

Go Trojans!

Jaime C. Sherwood CMAA Director of Athletics & Activities

CONTACT AND WEBSITE INFORMATION Wayzata Athletic Website: http://www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/activitiesandathletics

Wayzata High School Athletics/Activities Office 4955 Peony Lane Plymouth, MN 55446 763-745-6621 763-745-6625-Fax

Wayzata Athletic Twitter: @wayzatatrojans

Lake Conference Website for schedules and directions: http://www.lakeconference.org See pages 7-10 for specific directions on accessing the School Activities Calendar Minnesota State High School League 2100 Freeway Boulevard Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 763-560-2262 http://www.mshsl.org

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WAYZATA SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS Mission The interscholastic athletics program shall provide a well-rounded, professionally directed, and supervised program of athletic activities at all skill levels. The programs shall operate primarily for the benefit of the students who participate directly or vicariously in these activities, although the importance of public fan and spectator support is also recognized and appreciated. Participation in athletics is a privilege for those students who meet standards of eligibility adopted by local, conference and state associations.

The interscholastic athletics program should stimulate the development of the whole person. It should enable the athlete to experience personal accomplishments and skill growth, and foster a positive self-image through a competitive athletic experience. Winning is an important measure of accomplishment in competitive athletics, often enhancing the overall development of the whole person, and serves as a program goal so long as there is compliance with policy requirements.

School Board Policy 621, 2004

Vision The Wayzata High School Athletic Department will: • Provide student-athletes opportunities to participate in organized sports at a variety of levels.

• Encourage and empower student-athletes to develop their leadership, sportsmanship, and interpersonal skills, and foster a positive attitude and healthy lifestyle in a setting that creates a sense of community.

• Have student-athletes achieve academically and compete athletically at their highest level.

• Prepare student-athletes with skills for life including teamwork, responsibility, work ethic, honesty and integrity.

• Utilize highly qualified coaches, dedicated support staff, and administrative personnel to help individuals become better students, athletes, and citizens April 2011

Beliefs • • • • •

• • • •

The teaching, promotion, and modeling of ethical behavior and commitment will occur.

The lessons learned through participating in athletics are invaluable.

A healthy perspective of competition will be taught and modeled.

Positive role models and an active involvement in an athlete’s life are critical for success.

Winning and losing are not as important as competing with a high level of honor and integrity.

Participation in Wayzata High School athletics is a privilege which comes with responsibility.

Wayzata High School athletics are inclusive.

The success of the team is more important than the honors of individuals.

A team’s success is dependent upon the contribution of all team members.

May 2012

MULTIPLE PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES Students must understand when they are involved in multiple activities that conflicts will arise where practices or rehearsals will be missed. Missing a practice or performance may directly affect the student’s participation in those activities.

1. The student should coordinate their schedules between activities and note the conflicts that might exist before becoming involved or trying out in those activities.

2. If a conflict exists, the student should individually contact the coaches and advisors involved to discuss the conflicts and possible resolutions.

3. If a conflict still exists, the advisors and coaches involved must meet face to face and resolve any and all conflicts.

4. If a conflict still remains, the director of athletics and activities will sit down with the coach and advisor involved and resolve the conflict.

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WAYZATA ATHLETIC BOOSTERS Mission Statement The Wayzata Athletic Boosters is a volunteer organization whose mission is to support the Wayzata School District athletic programs.

Role The Wayzata Athletic Boosters exist as an organization of parents and community members dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and advancing the athletic programs of the Wayzata High School and Middle Schools, thereby cultivating school spirit, promoting good sportsmanship, promoting a chemical free life style, and developing high ideals of character.

1. The Boosters shall promote projects to improve facilities and equipment necessary to provide an adequate athletic program for the school district.

2. The Boosters shall not seek to influence or direct the technical activities of policies of the school administration or of the school officials who are charged with the responsibility of conducting the athletic program of the secondary schools within the school district.

3. The Boosters shall do nothing which violates the rules of the Minnesota State High School League or in any way jeopardizes the membership of the school district in said athletic association.

Adopted March 12, 1992

Wayzata Athletic Boosters Executive Board President: Paul Deakins pbdeakins@msn.com Vice President: Patricia Leonard pmbuckner@yahoo.com Treasurer: B.J. Miller b.j.miller@usfamily.net Secretary: Tracey Meister tdmeister@msn.com To find the Booster Sports Rep for a particular sport or Chairpersons for a fundraiser go to the Booster website at: http://www.wayzataboosters.org The Wayzata Athletic Booster membership form can be found on page 26.

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ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR ATHLETICS In our effort to go to a paperless office, we are offering registration for high school athletics online. We encourage you to use online registration to reduce paper, data entry, and process your payment in an quick and efficient manner.

1. Go to the Wayzata High School Website (www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs) and click on the E-Pay Link.

2. Follow the steps listed on the welcome screen. a. You must have a current sports qualifying physical exam on file in the Activities Office. Physical must be dated after 6/15/2013 for the 2015-2016 school year. If you complete steps b and c without a current physical on file, you will not be registered. b. Click on Eligibility Form in the school store. Fill out and submit the form to the Activities Office once per school year. c. Click on the appropriate sport link on the web page and make your payment online.

3. Eligibility Form needs to be turned in only once per school year. If you register “in person” for a winter or spring sport and already played a fall sport, you will only need to turn in your fee. If you register “online’ you will need to make your payment at the school store.

4. Information packets for each sport will be available prior to the start of each season online at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/whs/athletics

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PROCEDURE FOR REIMBURSEMENTS The following procedures are to be followed by any parent wishing to be reimbursed from an activity fund or general fund account.

Step

1:

Any expenditure and reimbursement from an activity fund or general fund account needs the approval of the Head Coach and/or Director of Athletics & Activities. If approval was not given before the purchase, no reimbursement to the parent will be allowed.

Step

2:

Have vendors invoice Wayzata High School directly so the District can pay the vendor without issuing a reimbursement check to an individual.

Step

3:

A Check Requisition Form (can be picked up in the Activities Office) needs to be completed and signed by the Head Coach and the parent receiving the reimbursement before it can be turned into the Activities Office to be processed.

Please do not bring in a reimbursement request if you do not have the head coach’s signature ahead of time.

Step

4:

We require that any reimbursement request is accompanied by: 1. the original detailed receipt (describing each item that was purchased, sample below) from the vendor that shows payment was made by cash, check, debit, credit card or 2. the original detailed receipt that does not show payment was made but accompanied by a copy of the front and back of a cancelled check made out to the vendor for the amount of the purchase or 3. the original detailed receipt that does not show payment was made but is accompanied by a copy of the bank or credit card statement that lists the amount and the vendor.

Do not turn in: 1. copies of receipts, all receipts must be original.

2. homemade or handwritten receipts 3. debit or credit card receipts with a dollar total but without the details of what was purchased

Step

5:

Reimbursement for large amounts to an individual is a red flag for auditors, have vendors invoice the school directly. For example reimbursing a parent for a team banquet that totals $2,500.

NO EXCEPTIONS - REIMBURSEMENT FOR GIFT CARDS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

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PROCEDURE FOR MAKING DEPOSITS The following procedures are to be followed by anyone making a deposit (i.e. teacher, coach, captain, captain's parent, support staff, etc).

When making a deposit, use deposit envelopes; they are available by the second floor mailboxes. Fill in ALL information on the envelope and return it to Chris Easton in the Activities Office.

Checks: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Must be sorted by amount.

All checks should be written out to Wayzata High School.

Remove all staples.

Name of account must be listed on EACH CHECK. Enter check total on deposit slip.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Group bills by denomination.

Flatten bills and face them the same direction.

Enter cash total on deposit slip.

Please do not accept torn/damaged bills.

Cash:

Coin: 1. Canadian coins/pesos/pounds, etc. are not to be deposited.

2. Enter coin total on deposit slip.

Miscellaneous: 1. Include on the envelope the name of the account and the code for the deposit along with your name. You must list the deposit details (banquet, DVDs, apparel, memory books, pictures, etc.).

2. The Athletic Department cannot cash checks. All checks will be deposited.

3. Be considerate when depositing an old check and notify the originator of the check.

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USING OUR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Wayzata High School uses the Activity Scheduler from rSchoolToday® as our School Calendaring system. All of the information is updated in real-time. Here are some of the key features:

2 1

3

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4

5 8 9 7

11 1. View each Calendar category 2. “Notify Me” - Set up automatic email or text messages for reminders & changes.

3. Jump to any month 4. Click on any date within the month 5. Get the latest schedules for any activities including bus times. Click your schedule(s), then View.

6. Page through the weeks 7. Calendar Search 8. Home Games show in Bold 9. Click any event to get event details, including: 10. Interactive Google Maps 11. Print able Details 12. Promote the event to Social Media sites

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Notes about Viewing Schedules (item #5 above):

If you have a pop-up blocker on your computer, the first time you try to view a schedule, it may not open up. You will need to “allow pop-ups from this site.”

While Viewing Schedules, you have many options:

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13) View Bus Time and Early Dismissal 14) Print schedules 15) Email schedules. Cool Tip: This sends a link with the latest version of the schedule. Don’t bother to include attachments, since the link in these emails is ALWAYS the MOST up-to-date information and the recipient can then choose to print or download, or export, etc.

16) Subscribe to schedules. This will push your schedules to your iPhone, iPod, Droid, iPad, Outlook, Google Calendar, and automatically send you any schedule changes.

17) Get different views of the schedule, including the popular Month view.

18) Download a file of schedules to various file formats.

NOTIFY ME! Automatic notifications and reminders Click “Notify Me” from the main calendar screen (see #2 above).

First, choose which competitive activities you want by checking them off on the list.

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Then click Continue >> to move to the list of all “non-competitive� school activities published on the calendar.

Select Whole Calendar Categories in one click NonCompetitive Activities

Click Continue to set your desired notifications and reminders. All are optional.

Then click Continue to finish by adding your email address and cell phone if you want to receive text messages.

You can also set up a password so you can login in the future

and change these settings.

When completed, click Save Settings and you are finished!

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Viewing from Tablets or Smart Phones When viewing from smaller devices, the Date Picker (Calendar), The View Schedules Menu and the Other Functions are collapsed into the top bar as seen below.

Menu and Other Options

Date Picker & View Schedules Menu

Need Support? Email rSchoolToday at: support@rschooltoday.com M-F from 7am-10pm central.

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To: All Coaches and Parents From: Chris Thein, MS, ATC, NREMT. Certified Athletic Trainer Emergency Medical Technician Preseason Information Letter As the athletic trainer for Wayzata High School Athletics, I would like to provide you with the following information. It is important to communicate will all coaches, athletes, and parents, in order to provide quality athletic training services. This includes injury prevention, evaluation, and treatment of athletic injuries. This also includes coordinating referrals to a medical doctor for further evaluation and rehabilitation services if necessary.

My clinic office hours at the Institute for Athletic Medicine during the week are Monday through Friday, 9 AM until 1 PM. My clinic office phone number is (763) 257-1128. My clinic e-mail address is cthein1@fairview.org. I can be reached by pager at (612) 527-6716. My hours at Wayzata High School are 2 PM until 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. That number is (763) 745-6781. My WHS e-mail address is chris.thein@wayzata.k12.mn.us.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the health care of your student athlete.

Sports Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services The Institute for Athletic Medicine (IAM) is a service of Fairview Health Services and North Memorial Health Care.

The Institute for Athletic Medicine offers orthopedic and sports physical therapy and rehabilitation services for people of all ages. IAM’s experienced physical therapists and certified athletic trainers are committed to the comprehensive care of musculoskeletal injuries. IAM offers 23 convenient neighborhood clinics in the metro area to meet the needs of your student athletes. IAM’s programs include: Free injury screening and evaluations for injured recreational and competitive athletes.

Specialized programs for runners, throwers, golfers, and back injuries.

24-hour Athletic Medicine Hotline, for questions about sports related injuries.

(952)920-8850 As your certified athletic trainer, I will be utilizing the following IAM clinics to provide Wayzata athletes with complete injury care and management.

West Health 2805 Campus Dr #115 Plymouth, MN 55441 (763) 551-9511

Plymouth 9750 Rockford Road Plymouth MN 55422 (763) 557-9000

For an appointment, call the centralized appointment number (612) 672-7100. A wide range of health plans is accepted and self-referrals are welcome as well. Check with your insurance provider about coverage.

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UNDERSTANDING MRSA What is MRSA? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.

What causes it?

Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live on our bodies. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, 25-30% of us have staph bacteria in our noses.

But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.

Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph -- like MRSA -- have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now immune to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other antibiotics.

While some antibiotics still work, MRSA is constantly adapting. Researchers developing new antibiotics are having a tough time keeping up.

Who gets MRSA? MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.

Infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other heath care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes.

MRSA Detection and Treatment Your health care provider will be able to run lab tests to see if you have MRSA. If you have an infection on the skin, your doctor will take a culture from the infected area. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might test also your blood, urine, or sputum.

The good news is that MRSA is treatable. By definition, MRSA is resistant to some antibiotics. But other kinds of antibiotics still work. Bactrim and Vancocin (vancomycin) are often the first drugs used. Other options are Cleocin, Levaquin, Cubicin, Zyvox, and Synercid. Some of these antibiotics may need to be given intravenously.

There is also emerging antibiotic resistance being seen with some of these medications as well.

Antibiotics aren't always necessary. If you have a skin boil, your doctor may just make an incision and drain it.

If you are prescribed antibiotics, follow your health care provider's instructions precisely. Never stop taking your medicine, even if you're feeling better. If you don't take all of your medicine, some of the strongest staph bacteria may survive. These survivors then have the potential to become resistant to the antibiotic. They also could reinfect you or infect someone else.

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FIVE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA Social media, like much of the Internet, is a great innovation! It offers you an opportunity to interact with an extraordinarily expansive universe of new people. You can sculpt your on-line identity and learn more about how the Internet and its various programs work to create new relationships and communities. Social media is a cool tool! Below are five concepts to keep in mind when you use social media I. Invincibility Think about not only your marketability today as a cool guy or girl in your social circle, but who you might want to be in five or ten years when posting an "identity" on the Internet. Remember, just because it is a new technology does not absolve you of the responsibility to use it in legal and appropriate ways — including taking into account your obligations regarding proper conduct as a member of Wayzata High School’s athletic teams.

II. Caching In the days before Google became the dominant search engine for the Internet, ISPs that sported chat rooms had policies regarding caching information. Nowadays, Google is the main corporate entity with which one deals when it comes to cached information. To date, Google has tended to be good about removing material within a certain number of days pursuant to a proper request. But let's take a step back and see what caching means. Caching, in effect, means that if you post something on Facebook, let's say for a day or two, just to be funny or to make a point, even if you take it down or change it, it remains accessible to the rest of the world on the Internet anyway.

What you put out on Facebook, Twitter, etc. about yourself should be an invitation to the rest of the world to get to know you better. Think about how much you would be willing to have to go through the bureaucracies of at least three to five search engine companies to remove cached material before you post something about yourself on-line.

III. Freedom of Expression Wayzata High School naturally observes the First Amendment on free speech (as do many private institutions).

Free speech is a part of our values as a people and community. I am sure you have all heard that with freedom comes responsibility. Wayzata High School is not going to monitor your postings on the internet. Players are maturing into young adults and we intend to treat you that way. It is time for you to begin to make your own decisions about who you want to be. This is not because Wayzata High School does not care; indeed, its coaches care deeply about you and your development. It is just that we all believe you are of an age and maturity that it is time you learned about freedom and responsibility for yourself. It also means, however, that it is up to you to set your own limits and create your own identity and to be responsible for the consequences, given that you live in the real world of rules, discipline, as well as other people who, like it or not, will make judgments about what they see.

With that said, there may be a time when a coach and/or administrator has an "educational" conversation with you about how you have decided to portray yourself, be it on the internet or otherwise. There may also be a time when alleged violations of policy/laws come to our attention, and so we must then act accordingly.

IV. RESPONSIBILITY: No limiting of authorized viewers from your social media sites protects your identity. Here is the responsibility part: no one is going to limit those people who are authorized to use the Internet or view social media postings from seeing what you post on-line. Social media is an open, unlimited international community (that is why it is such an exciting innovation!). On social media, you have absolutely no expectation of privacy.

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You also might want to take a moment and reflect on the physical safety of this tool when posting information about yourself. Use physical space as your guide. What you wouldn't put on a poster on your bedroom door you might want to think two or three times about posting on-line. With the freedom to post what you want comes the responsibility to do so in your interests not only for today, but also for who and what you want to be tomorrow.

And also think of your personal safety. Cyberspace can have the effect of creating an illusion of intimacy that could prove dangerous for you in reality. Use the manners and customs of behavior in physical space both in how you present yourself and how you interpret other people on-line as a guide.

V. The Law Most of the time when we talk about social media it is an individual. There is yet another angle to consider: the privacy of others. "Privacy" is a complicated matter in American law. Watch what you say! Think not only about what identity you create for yourself online, but also how you represent others. At the very least, be sure that you take their feelings into account.

CONCLUSION Social media is a great innovation that allows users to express their humanity and an opportunity to create new communities. As such it represents a forum in which one can make choices about their identity, at least insofar as one chooses to represent themselves publicly. That freedom does not suggest that one can do so without consequences, however. Because we live in a society in which expression is judged in legal, policy and even personal ways, it is important to remember the consequences of that expression no matter how brief or fun in the moment it might seem to be.

This essay offers some things to contemplate when using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc., all of which can be summed up easily in a "Golden Rule." Don't say anything about someone else that you would not want said about yourself. And be gentle with yourself too! What might seem fun or spontaneous at 16, given caching technologies, might prove to be a liability to an on-going sense of your identity over the longer course of history. Have fun and make productive use of these new, exciting technologies, but remember that technology does not absolve one of responsibility. Behind every device, behind every new program, behind every technology is a law, a social norm, a business practice that warrants thoughtful consideration.

This information was taken from Cornell University and Fitchburg State College. Changes have been made. The original document can be found at: http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html

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WHAT PARENTS CAN DO… Before the Game: • Tell your child you are proud of him or her regardless of the outcome.

• Make a commitment to honor the game no matter what others may do.

During the Game: • Cheer good plays by both teams.

• Mention good calls by the officials to others.

• Encourage others to respect the game.

• Remember to have fun. Enjoy the day.

After the Game: • Ask your child open-ended questions • What was the most enjoyable part of the game for you? Least enjoyable?

• Do you feel you gave it your best effort?

• How did you respond to any mistakes you made?

• What did you learn from playing today?

• Tell your child you are proud of him or her – especially if the game didn’t go we • Thank the officials for doing a difficult job.

• Thank the coaches for their effort.

If: • The official makes a “bad” call against your team?

Respect the game – be silent!

• Another spectator on your team begins to berate the official?

Ask them to respect the game, the officials are human beings and deserve respect!

Respect individuals who are trying to promote opportunities for kids!

• Your child does not get to play in the game?

Review the reasons why kids play sports!

WHY KIDS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS

TOP REASONS WHY KIDS QUIT

1. Have fun 2. Improve skill 3. Develop fitness/exercise 4. Be with friends 5. Experience thrill and excitement 6. Be on a team 7. Opportunities for personal accomplishment 8. Stay in shape 9. Do something I am good at 10. Win

1. Not having fun 2. Too much pressure from parents and peers 3. Too much emphasis on winning 4. Concerns about coaching 5. Not enough playing time

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WHS FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTSMANSHIP The following will help everyone understand their responsibilities at a WHS athletic contest.

1. Gain an understanding and appreciation for the rules of the contest.

The necessity to be well informed is essential. Know the rules. If you are uninformed, refrain from expressing opinions on officials, coaches, or administrative decisions. The spirit of Good Sportsmanship depends on conformance to a rule’s intent as well as to the letter of a given rule.

2. Exercise appropriate behavior at all times.

A prerequisite to Good Sportsmanship requires one to understand his/her own prejudices that may become factors in his/her behavior. The true value of interscholastic competition relies upon everyone exhibiting behavior that is representative of a sound value base. A proper perspective must be maintained if the educational values are to be realized. Whether you are aware of it or not, your behavior influences others.

3. Recognize and appreciate skilled performances regardless of affiliation.

Applause for an opponent’s good performance displays generosity and is a courtesy that should be regularly practiced. This not only represents Good Sportsmanship, but also reflects a true awareness of the game by recognizing and acknowledging quality.

4. Exhibit respect for the officials.

The officials of any contest are impartial arbitrators who are trained and who perform to the best of their ability.

Mistakes by all those involved in the contests are a part of the game. We should not rationalize our own poor or unsuccessful performance or behavior by placing responsibility on an official. The rule of Good Sportsmanship is to accept and abide by the decision made. This value is critical for students to learn for later applications in life.

5. Display openly a respect for the opponent at all times.

Opponents are guests and should be treated cordially, provided with the best accommodations, and accorded tolerance at all times. Be a positive representative for WHS, your team, and family. This fundamental is the Golden Rule in action.

6. Display pride in your actions at every opportunity.

Never allow your ego to interfere with good judgment and your responsibility as a school representative.

Regardless of whether you are an adult, student, athlete, coach, or official, this value is paramount since it suggests that you care about yourself and others and how others perceive you.

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TIPS ON BEING A GOOD SPORTS PARENT BE SUPPORTIVE OF COACHES Be supportive and positive of the coaches’ decisions in front of your child. If you have problems with what the coach is doing, it is best to talk directly with the coach.

TEACH RESPECT FOR ATHOURITY There will be times when you disagree with a coach or official, but always remember they are trying their best and are trying to be fair. Show good sportsmanship by being positive.

LET THE COACH DO THE COACHING, BUT YOU CAN DO SOME OF THE TEACHING When your child is on the field, court or ice, let the coach do the coaching, but you can teach sportsmanship and how to deal with success and failure. Develop their character and teach life skills that athletics bring to the forefront.

LET YOUR CHILD CREATE THEIR OWN SPORTS MEMORIES Separate your sports life from theirs. Let your child discover his or her own sports successes. Help to calm the stormy waters, but let them handle the navigational problems. They will be their own person, which may be different that you were.

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN THROUGH FAILURE The way your child handles failure can help them to face the certain failures life will throw them in the future. The worst time for you as a parent to give advice is immediately after a disappointment. Let your child cope in their own way.

GET TO KNOW THE COACH Since the coach has a powerful influence on your child, take the time to attend the preseason parent meeting and get to know the coaches’ philosophy, expectations, and knowledge.

FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL Focus on what your child does well and where they need to improve. Forget about the progress or success of other athletes.

LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD…BUT STAY RATIONAL Always listen to your child, but remember to stay rational until you have investigated the situation. Remember that children can exaggerate their woes and heroics.

BE MINDFUL OF OUR ROLE AS A ROLE MODEL Take a good, honest look at your actions and reactions in the athletic arena. These actions are a big cue to your child and to others around you.

SHOW UNCONDITIONAL LOVE The most important thing – show your child you love them, win or lose.

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COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND COACHES Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By establishing an understanding of each position we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefits to your child. As parents when your child becomes involved in our program, you have a right to understand what expectations are placed on them.

This begins with clear communication from the coach of your child’s program.

Communication from your child’s coach: 1. Philosophy of the coach 2. Expectations the coach has for your child 3. Location and times of all practices and games 4. Team requirements, i.e. practices, special equipment, out of season training, lettering policy, etc.

5. Procedures to follow should your child be injured during participation 6. Discipline that may result in the denial of your child’s participation Communication that coaches may expect from parents: 1. Concerns expressed directly to the coach 2. Specific concerns with regard to a coach’s philosophy and or expectations 3. Notification of any illness or injury of missed practices As you child becomes involved in the programs at Wayzata high School, They will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. However, it is important that they understand that there may also be times when things do not go the way you or your child wished. At these times, discussions with the coach is encouraged.

Appropriate concerns to discuss with the coaches: 1. 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 teachers. They make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be best for all students involved. As you can see from the above list, certain things can and should be discussed with the coach. Other things, such as the ones listed below, must be left to the professional judgment of the coach.

Issues not appropriate to discuss with the coach: 1. Team selection 2. Playing time 3. Team strategy 4. Play calling 5. Other student-athletes There are often situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parents. The student athlete should be involved in these meetings. To resolve the problem, we must have everyone’s help and involvement.

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RESOLVING CONFLICTS There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent. These are encouraged. It is very important that both parties involved have a clear understanding of the other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following step should be followed to help promote resolution.

A. If there is a problem: Have your son/daughter talk directly to the coach, one on one – this is part of the learning and maturing process.

B. If the problem is not resolved: 1. Call the coach for their insight into the problem. Parents are welcome to provide support for the student-athlete through conversations with the coach after the initial player/coach discussion.

2. Set-up a face-to-face meeting with the coach and your son/daughter. The call should be directed to the coaches’ school/work phone number. Calls will be returned by coaches in a timely fashion.

Parents Should Not: 1. Confront the coach before or after practice 2. Confront the coach before or after a game 3. Confront the coach before or after the banquet These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach. Meetings of this nature do not promote resolution.

Coaches are teachers. A parent would not walk into a classroom during class time and yell at the teacher about a poor grade, so please do not confront the coach in a public setting. There are proper ways to communicate and have your concerns addressed. Practices and games are highly emotional times for everyone involved - players, coaches, and parents. Confrontations take everyone out of their game. Just like the athlete who prepares mentally and physically for a practice or game, coaches are also thoughtful in their daily preparation. During a practice or game, coaches need to be able to focus 100% of their energy on the athletes as individuals and as a team.

C. If the meeting with the coach does not provide a satisfactory resolution: Call the Athletic Director and request a meeting with all parties. The Athletic Director will attempt to mediate a resolution.

D. If the meeting with the Athletic Director does not provide a satisfactory resolution: Call the high school Principal and request a meeting with all parties. The high school Principal will attempt to mediate a resolution.

Group meeting with parents will not take place with the coach, Athletic Director, or Principal. Individual meetings with parents will take place to insure that each family can voice their individual concerns regarding an issue or problem.

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DISTRICT #284 BEHAVIOR REGULATIONS STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO READ BEFORE SIGNING • • •

Students shall not possess, purchase, sell, distribute, or be under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, or any other illicit drug including look-alike drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Includes any illegal behavior, gross misconduct, racial harassment/violence, religious harassment/violence, sexual harassment/violence, and hazing.

Students must serve a consequence in each category in which they participate - MSHSL, Wayzata High School Intrarnurals, Activities, and Fine Arts.

First Offense 1. Meeting with parent, student, and appropriate school personnel.

2. Participants involved in enrichment activities will meet with the instructor regarding alternatives for meeting classroom expectations, evaluations, and grading.

3. Student/parent/guardian conference with the appropriate school resource person (chemical health counselor, social worker, or other staff) to determine a supportive action plan. For chemical violations (which include controlled substances, illicit drugs including look alike drugs, drug paraphernalia, and alcohol) students will participate in chemical health education classes.

4. After confirmation of the first violation, the student shall lose eligibility for the next two (2) consecutive activities (performances, contest, events) or two (2) weeks of a season in which the student is a participant, whichever is greater. No exception is permitted for a student who becomes a participant in a treatment program.

5. The student shall make arrangements with the respective coach or advisor to establish a plan for reentry with the team or group.

6. A team/group/club, in conjunction with the coach/advisor, may increase the severity of a penalty or suspend a student for the season. The coach/advisor shall clearly communicate any additional consequences to parents and students prior to the season.

Second Offense 1. All of the above apply except: 2. Student will be ineligible for ONE CALENDAR YEAR for any elected or appointed positions and for all school-sponsored athletic and activity awards and honors (i.e. Lettering, MVP, Captain, etc.)

3.

4.

5.

If a second chemical violation occurs, the student will complete an assessment conducted by an appropriate outside agency.

Student will be reinstated after a three (3) week or six (6) game suspension, whichever is greater.

Superintendent or Superintendent designee will convene a review board no sooner than four (4) months (of the calendar year) after notification of the violation to consider appeals for second offenses in which a student wishes to be considered for reinstatement for all school-sponsored athletic and activity awards and honors.

Third Offense From the date of notification, the student will be on permanent suspension from all school athletics and school-sponsored activities.

Superintendent or Superintendent designee will convene a review board no sooner than four (4) months (of the calendar year) after notification of the violation to consider appeals for second offenses in which a student wishes to be considered for reinstatement for all school­ sponsored athletic and activity awards and honors.

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SOCIAL HOSTS Be a Responsible Host Hosting a gathering for your teen and their friends provides a safe alternative to other activities they could be doing. Please consider the following tips when hosting teens:  Provide adult supervision, not hovering mind you, but maintain a presence. Enlist the help of other parents if a large group is expected.  If you have alcohol in your home, make sure it is securely stored away from where youth are gathering.  Make sure your child understands that gatherings are not to take place when you are not home.  Network with other teen parents.  Let the teens know you may check bags and backpacks.  Make sure your own child has communicated a clear “no use” message when inviting friends.  Be aware that many uninvited guests may appear due to access of many technology outlets.

Section 1216 – Social Hosts Plymouth City Code 1216.01 1216.01. Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms have the meanings given: (1) “Alcohol” means ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl, or spirits of wine, whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, or any other distilled spirits including dilutions and mixtures thereof from whatever source or by whatever process produced.

(2) “Alcoholic beverage” means alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer, and every liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer, and which contains one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes either alone or when diluted, mixed, or combined with other substances.

(3) “Gathering” means a group of three or more persons who have assembled or gathered together for a social occasion or other activity.

(4) “Host” means to aid, conduct, sponsor, organize, supervise, control, or allow a gathering.

(5) “Parent” means a person having the following relationship to a juvenile: a. A natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent; b. A legal guardian; or c. A person to whom legal custody has been given by order of a court.

(6) “Person” means an individual, partnership, co-partnership, corporation, or an association of one or more individuals. “Person” does not include a city, county, or state agency.

(7) “Premises” means any location, including a home, yard, farm, field, land, apartment, condominium, hotel room, or other dwelling unit, or a hall or meeting room, park, or any other place of assembly, public or private, whether occupied on a temporary or permanent basis, whether occupied as a dwelling or specifically for a party or other social function, and whether owned, leased, rented, or used with or without permission or compensation.

(8) “Underage person” means an individual under 21 years of age.

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1216.03. Prohibited Acts.

(1) It is unlawful for a person to host or allow a gathering on any premises if: a. The person knows that alcohol or alcoholic beverages will be present; and b. The person knows that an underage person will attend, or is likely to attend; and c. The person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by an underage person; and d. An underage person consumes an alcoholic beverage, or possesses an alcoholic beverage with the intent to consume it, at the gathering.

(2) Examples of reasonable steps include: a. Directing, on a one-time basis or as a standing order, that no consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is allowed; or b. Controlling access to alcohol or alcoholic beverages; or c. Checking identification of attendees to determine age; or d. Supervising the activities of underage persons at the gathering either in person or through a responsible adult.

(3) A person is not criminally responsible under this ordinance if the person does not know that a gathering will occur, or does not know that alcoholic beverages will be present, or does not know that an underage person will be or is likely to be present. However, if a person has the knowledge specified in paragraph 1 above, a person who hosts a gathering does not have to be present at the gathering to be criminally responsible.

(4) A person is criminally responsible for violating paragraph 1 above if the person intentionally aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires with or otherwise procures another to commit the prohibited act.

1216.05. Exceptions.

(1) This section does not apply to conduct of an underage person that is permitted by his or her parent and occurs in the parents’ household.

(2) This section does not apply to a legally protected religious observance.

(3) This section does not apply when an underage person is lawfully in possession of alcohol or alcoholic beverages during the course and scope of employment.

(4) This section does not apply to the holder of a liquor license issued under Section 1206 of this code, but it does apply to a person who hosts a gathering at such a liquor establishment.

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To Parents of Athletes: Research shows that the younger a student begins drinking or using drugs, the more likely he or she is to develop problems related to use over the course of a lifetime. Because prevention is proven effective, the Wayzata School District’s Partners in Prevention coalition is dedicated to providing resources and education to students, athletes, families and the community regarding the risks and consequences of experimentation and use.

As a parent of a student athlete, your influence on the decisions of your child is important. While participation in extra-curricular school activities such as athletics can certainly be a protective factor, all of our students continue to benefit from messaging around the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Throughout the course of the school year, we have various school and community activities planned to help reinforce messages of a healthy, drug-free lifestyle for our students, athletes and families.

To support the education process in the schools, remember the following when talking with your son or daughter about drinking or drug use: 1. Talk to your son or daughter regularly about alcohol and drugs. Be open and honest.

2. Have clear boundaries regarding driving, spending time with friends, use of cell phones and computers, and school and athletic performance.

3. Set clear expectations regarding what is and is not tolerated in your home. Be clear about consequences if expectations are violated. Consequences should reflect your child’s interests such as use of cell phones or spending time with friends.

4. Know where your child is and whom they are spending time with. Ask questions. Connect with parents of other students and athletes.

With your participation and involvement, we are looking forward to another successful year for our talented student athletes, and we appreciate your support in working to keep all of our students safe and healthy.

For more information, visit partnersinpreventionmn.org, or contact the Wayzata High School Chemical Health Coordinator Judy Hanson at judy.hanson@wayzata.k12.mn.us.

Thank you, Partners in Prevention

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