Athletic Handbook

2012-2013 Parent-Student Athletic Handbook Randy Hollas, Athletic Director Kathy Gregory, Administrative Assistant Julie Ambler, Head of School Steve Zeal, Principal

5800 Academy Way The Woodlands, TX 77384 936-273-2555 www.twca.net

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Coaching Staff and Contact Information Athletic Office: Randy Hollas – Athletic Director – rhollas@twca.net – 936-273-2555 ext. 1201 Kathy Gregory – Athletics Admin. Asst. – kgregory@twca.net – 936-273-2555 ext. 1203 Coaching Staff: Cheer Football

Volleyball

Cross Country Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Softball Track and Field

Golf Swimming Tennis

Daysha Sanford – Head Cheer – dsanford@twca.net Susie King – Middle School Cheer – sking@twca.net Nate Sanford – Head Football Coach – nsanford@twca.net Clint McDonald – Assistant Football – cmcdonald@twca.net Jerry Bradshaw – Assistant Football – jbradshaw@twca.net Rod Fuhrman – Assistant Football - coachsenior@consolidated.net Daryl Jones – Assistant Football - djones62008@yahoo.com Ryan Highley – Head Volleyball – rhighley@twca.net Jeff Rollins – Assistant Volleyball – jrollins@twca.net Stacie Phillips – Assistant Volleyball – sphillips@twca.net Diane Earle – Assistant Volleyball – dianewearle@comcast.net Jennifer Johnson – Assistant Volleyball - jiffybritt555@gmail.com Tom Earle – Head Cross Country – tearle@twca.net Stephen Mawire – Head Boys Basketball – smawire@twca.net Kevin Zubke – Assistant Basketball – kevinzubke@yahoo.com Jeff Rollins – Assistant Basketball – jrollins@twca.net Nash Murray – Assistant Basketball – Alex Bocciardi – Assistant Basketball – Stacie Phillips – Head Girls Basketball – sphillips@twca.net Rebecca Whitson – Assistant Girls Basketball – rwhitson@twca.net Jennifer Johnson – Assistant Girls Basketball - jiffybritt555@gmail.com Deon Blakemore – Assistant Girls Basketball - coachdeon@ymail.com John Ledbetter – Head Softball – John.Ledbetter@LibertyMutual.com Stephen Carter – Assistant Softball - sfcarterus@yahoo.com Tom Earle – Head Track – tearle@twca.net Diane Earle – Assistant Track – dianewearle@comcast.net Nate Sanford – Assistant Track – nsanford@twca.net Rebecca Whitson – Assistant Track – rwhitson@twca.net George Leppert – Head Golf – gleppert@twca.net Kathryn Bub – Head Swimming - srbkrb@sbcglobal.net Michelle Hanigan – Assistant Swimming - tingrin32@sbcglobal.net Ryan Highley – Tennis Coordinator – rhighley@twca.net

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Woodlands Christian Mission Statement The Woodlands Christian Academy is an independent, Christ-centered college preparatory school that integrates learning with biblical faith and challenges students to reach their highest potential – spiritually, academically, physically, and socially – for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Woodlands Christian Vision Statement At the Woodlands Christian Academy we will develop leaders for Christ who are prepared to: Defend their faith in the university Witness in the marketplace Serve in the community Utilize their gifts in the church Nurture their family toward spiritual maturity

Purpose for Christian Athletics At Woodlands Christian we strive to encourage students and foster a love of Jesus Christ through all that we do. Because the experiences and values associated with sports encompass many facets of our lives, a purposefully designed Christian athletic environment enriches understanding in God’s truth through the formation of mind, body, and spirit.

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General Principles of Woodlands Christian Athletics The Woodlands Christian Academy Athletic Department holds fast to the following principles: 1. Spirituality In Athletics We will, through our speech, actions and decisions, be a strong witness for Jesus Christ both on and off the playing field/court.

2. Importance of Students and the School Community The welfare of the students and the school community are always at the forefront of decision-making.

3. Academics and Athletics Academic success is crucial to the individual. The athletic and academic programs at Woodlands Christian can and will work together to ensure success in both arenas.

4. Winning The goal of winning must be balanced with remaining true to the mission and vision statements of The Woodlands Christian Academy.

5. Roles We Play All players, coaches, and fans are an extension of the school community.

6. Program Equity All athletic programs are viewed as equally important to the development of the studentathlete.

7. Athlete Participation We believe that athletic participation in multiple sports makes for a well-rounded individual. Furthermore, athletes who participate in multiple sports maximize their contributions to the school and the community.

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Athlete’s Standards • • • • • • •

Motivated to team achievement.

Committed to making it happen.

In control of his/her actions.

Honorable towards the game and sportsmanship.

Accountable to team rules, fellow players, coaches, and school.

Excited about sharing Christian spirit in competitive framework.

Respectful of all authority and decisions.

Athlete’s Code of Conduct Purpose •

The athlete should always strive to bring glory to God. Everything we do at Woodlands Christian is designed to further the impact God has on those in this world.

Response to Coaching and Instruction • • • •

The athlete recognizes and abides by the coach’s rules and procedures as approved by the Athletic Director. Parents receive these rules and guidelines prior to the beginning of each sport season.

The athlete abides by the authority of the coach at all times.

The athlete shows respect to all those in authority.

The athlete obeys all rules set by the school and complies with the spirit and letter of the rules, year round, including summer break.

Substance Use •

The athlete does not use alcohol, drugs, or tobacco or attend events where these are present. If an athlete enters a situation where drugs or alcohol are present, the athlete must leave immediately or disciplinary action will be taken.

Personal Appearance • • •

Tattoos must be kept covered at all times.

Music played in the locker rooms; field house or anywhere on campus, must reflect the mission of the school.

The athlete adheres to the philosophy and standards for Woodlands Christian students as described in the Woodlands Christian Student-Parent Handbook. This includes dress code and grooming. At any athletic event (team function, game, pep rally, etc.), any athlete not in compliance with the personal grooming and appearance standards will not be eligible for competition.

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Equipment Use/Care • • •

The athlete cares for equipment issued and complies with all instructions that may accompany it.

Equipment is worn only during athletic contests, not to school or in the community unless the Athletic Director gives special permission.

Lost or misused equipment is replaced at the player’s expense. At the end of the season the athlete turns in all equipment on the date requested. If after seven (7) days the equipment is not returned, the athlete is billed for the equipment unless otherwise approved by the Athletic Director.

Academic Participation and Athletics • • •

Athletes who miss more than a half day of instruction in the classroom will not be eligible to compete in games or practices on that day.

The athlete is aware of and maintains academic eligibility.

Athletes who are not in compliance with classroom behavior standards will be subject to athletic restrictions. This may include restriction from competition.

Christian Standards •

The athlete adheres to the philosophy and standards for Christian athletes as described in the Woodlands Christian Student Handbook and strives to serve Christ through the medium of Christian athletics.

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Athletic Administration Framework The Athletic Director is responsible for the entire Athletic Department. The Athletic Director will rely on the head coaches to create athletic programs that work to build, grow, and maintain competitive balance between Woodlands Christian and opponents.

Ultimately, the Athletic Director will have authority regarding any decision made by members of the Athletic Department and coaching staff.

The Athletic Department and the head coaches will work together to create an atmosphere of collegial unity. This is of the utmost importance in developing consistency in the programs.

Governing Body The Woodlands Christian Academy is a member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). Woodlands Christian adheres to all policies, rules, regulations, and by-laws established by TAPPS. All TAPPS policies can be found at www.tapps.net.

Woodlands Christian Sports Woodlands Christian offers a variety of sports for boys and girls. Sport seasons are broken into three main seasons: fall, winter, and spring.

Fall sports include football, volleyball, cross country, and cheerleading. Winter sports include boys basketball, girls basketball, and swimming. Spring sports include baseball, softball, and track and field. Golf will be offered as a year-long program. Students who participate in tennis may do so under the name of the school at TAPPS events on an individual basis.

Middle School Athletics Middle school athletics is an important part of the development of students in grades 6 – 8. Middle school athletics provides a way for the coaching staff to prepare studentathletes for the spiritual, social, and academic rigors that await them in high school.

Additionally, athletics in the middle school program are crucial for the development of strong high school programs. At Woodlands Christian, middle school athletics is a way to teach the basic fundamentals used in our varsity programs. Varsity coaches are expected to work with middle school coaches to build a framework for success. Our policy will be to encourage middle school coaches to have a ‘varsity-like’ approach in their work. This includes developing varsity schemes, terminology, and practices during the course of their work. It also means that middle school coaches will work to assist varsity coaches in encouraging students to continue toward future athletic excellence at Woodlands Christian in their high school years.

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Commitment of Athletes If students choose to participate in athletics, they are expected to fulfill the commitment to the best of their abilities. Every athlete is responsible for attending all practices and games. Keep in mind that any absence, excused or otherwise, results in that player losing preparation time and may alter the normal line-up or positional assignments for upcoming contests. This is not necessarily reflective of disciplinary action.

NO QUIT Policy Woodlands Christian follows a no quit policy. Once an athlete has made the commitment to participate and has either attended a practice or checked out equipment, the athlete must complete the season. If an athlete chooses to disregard this policy, the athlete may forfeit the ability to compete in the next season or the remainder of the school year. Injured players, when possible, are expected to complete the season by attending practices and contests and serving the team in any capacity needed.

Disciplinary Policy The athletes at Woodlands Christian are representatives of our school on and off the playing field or court. We believe that a student’s behavior in the classroom, on the field/court, and in the community is a clear indication of their character and moral code.

If a student athlete cannot act in a Christ-like manner with others, we cannot expect that student to be a good representative of our school in the area of athletics.

When a negative attitude or behavior occurs, it is dealt with as soon as possible. After consultation with the Athletic Director to decide upon the discipline, the coach will meet with the athlete and explain the disciplinary action to be taken.

Great care is taken by Woodlands Christian staff to ensure appropriate discipline for each student. Therefore, disciplinary infractions will be handled confidentially and on a caseby-case basis.

Any offense of team or school rules or expectations may result in the following actions as deemed appropriate by the coach, Athletic Director, and/or administrators at Woodlands Christian: -suspension from competitions and events.

-dismissal from the team.

-calisthenics or other physical activity.

-community service hours and/or activities.

-any other appropriate actions chosen by the coaching/administrative staff.

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Removal From Contests/Ejections Any time a player is ejected from a contest, that player/family is responsible for payment of TAPPS fees associated with ejection before that player will be allowed to compete in future contests. Additionally, any player ejected will be ineligible for at least the next scheduled game.

Recruiting Policy Students and families must follow the admissions procedures established by the school.

No student, regardless of intended athletic participation, will be given preferential treatment for admission status. All TAPPS rules regarding transfer students must be followed. Please refer to the TAPPS Constitution and By-Laws regarding rules for transfer students. This includes solicitation, enticement, and inducements.

Woodlands Christian will not offer or support any form of enticements or inducements, including athletic scholarships, by the athletic department or anyone associated with Woodlands Christian.

Multi-sport Participation Middle school and high school students are strongly encouraged to participate in athletics. Head coaches, along with the support of the Athletic Director, reserve the right to hold tryouts.

Additionally, it is the vision of the Athletic Department that all students wishing to participate in multiple sports will be allowed to do so without penalty. Coaches will, under no circumstance, discourage students from participating in one sport for another.

This includes verbal warnings and/or using playing time as leverage.

Coaches should work to ensure that students do not discourage one another from playing other sports. We expect all programs to be supportive of other programs on campus.

When conflicts arise with participation in multiple sports, coaches will work together to manage the time commitments of athletes so as to honor the commitment to multi-sport athletes. As a general rule, all sports in district play or playoff competition will have priority over other sports and practices.

Any exceptions to any of the above issues must have approval of the Athletic Director.

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Athletic Website/Media Coverage/Sports Publications The athletic portion of our website is a valuable tool that is used to promote our programs, athletes, and coaches. Any student-athlete may be featured on our website, in a sports program/media guide, or in other forms. If you do not wish for your student’s name or likeness to be used, please contact the Athletic Director in writing as soon as possible.

Parent Concerns The head coaches along with the Athletic Director will address all parent concerns.

Assistant coaches should always refer parent concerns to the head coach first. When applicable, the head coach should work to resolve parent issues individually. When warranted, the Athletic Director should be consulted for proper communication and decision-making. Whenever there is a conflict, the Athletic Director and head coach will conference with the parent on the nature of the complaint and work to rectify any situation that arises. Most of the time, proper communication will resolve parent concerns.

After each season a parent survey is taken to give parents an opportunity to voice their concerns. These anonymous survey answers are used by the Athletic Department to determine areas needing improvement.

Uniforms, Practice Attire, and Equipment Players will take responsibility for any equipment issued. This includes making sure that all issued equipment is cleaned on a routine basis. Proper sanitizing of uniforms and equipment should occur routinely to combat any bacterial collections as well as to protect the integrity of the equipment.

If at any time the equipment and/or apparel become damaged, it is imperative that the player let the coach know prior to participation in practice and/or games.

The financial burden of any equipment/apparel lost, stolen, or damaged from improper use will rest on the player and family.

Valuables Under no circumstance should students ever come to school with a large amount of cash or expensive valuables. Each individual is ultimately responsible for his/her valuables.

Because locker rooms are used by multiple sports and programs (and even sometimes by other schools), it is impossible for the athletic department to ensure the protection of all valuables. We ask that all students leave expensive items at home. When this is not possible, students should notify the coaching staff so that the item can be stored in a secure location.

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Practice Practice is the primary mode of preparation for athletes in a sport. a) Practice Is Mandatory – The student-athlete must manage his/her schedule in such a way as to allow him/her to fulfill all responsibilities to schoolwork and athletics. Although we all understand that academics are the first priority at Woodlands Christian, it is not acceptable to miss team functions for the sake of academic work. Part of the maturation process is finding ways to balance sports with academics. Woodlands Christian athletes are expected to sacrifice more personal time for academic study than non-athletes. Student-athletes may struggle at times and parents are encouraged to guide their students through difficult periods. c) Hydration – It is very important that all student-athletes meet the demands of games and practices by hydrating effectively. This means drinking plenty of water during the day and at home, including weekends. d) Parent/Supporter Involvement at Practice – Attention at practices is important and there may be times when coaches ask to have closed practice sessions. In such cases, we ask parents to respect the instructional methodology the coach employs. e) Student-athletes should be picked-up promptly after practices. This allows the student to maximize study and family time and allows our coaches to maximize their family time as well. f) Practices will be allowed Monday – Saturday. g) Cell phones/recording devices – Student-athletes are not allowed to use cell phones and/or recording devices during team meetings, practices, games, or any other pertinent events.

Academic Eligibility All high school athletes must meet TAPPS requirements of academic eligibility as well as those imposed by Woodlands Christian. At Woodlands Christian, we feel that athletics is an important motivational tool that complements academics. All athletes must meet minimum expectations concerning academic standing.

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Academic Eligibility Policy: a) All students are on the 9-week schedule of grading (Quads). b) Progress reports are issued every three weeks. c) If a student fails any class at reporting time (9 weeks), they will be ineligible for competition until they are passing all classes at the next progress report. d) At the conclusion of the second quad, student ineligibility will begin during the first three school weeks in January.

When a student-athlete is ineligible, he/she is not allowed to attend games or competitions with the team, stand on the sideline or bench, or wear game uniforms during the school day or thereafter. In short, ineligible students may not perform normal team functions with the exception of practice.

Class Attendance and Eligibility On school days, students-athletes must be in attendance for at least half the day (four periods) to be considered eligible for competition.

Holidays/ Dead Days/Semester Finals Holidays/non-school days may be used for practices at the discretion of the coach and Athletic Director unless prohibited by TAPPS.

Summer/Off-Season Participation Woodlands Christian encourages all student-athletes to attend Warrior Camp each summer. Warrior Camp is designed to increase general athletic ability used in both boys and girls sports. Participants in Warrior Camp are monitored and trained by Woodlands Christian coaches.

Inclement Weather/Emergency Situations •

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The Athletic Department at Woodlands Christian will carefully monitor the weather status on competition days. Decisions regarding the safety of the players, fans, and coaches will be made by the Athletic Director, head coach, game administrator, and/or sport official.

If a game must be cancelled or postponed, Woodlands Christian will do everything it can to communicate to parents. Email is the preferred method of communication. All parents should make sure that their email addresses are correct in the RenWeb system.

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Travel to Away Contests Transportation is an important part of activities within the athletic department.

Woodlands Christian makes every attempt to provide transportation to and from athletic contests. However, there will be times when parents and families may be asked to provide transportation. These are usually limited to instances when Woodlands Christian vehicles are not available or are full. Head coaches are responsible for allocating resources and communicating with parents concerning transportation.

All traffic laws must be followed when traveling as a member of a Woodlands Christian athletic team.

Students must act in accordance with all school rules during transportation. No standing, yelling, throwing objects out the window, signaling to other vehicles and pedestrians, or damaging the vehicle are allowed. Meals may be eaten in school vehicles, but all TEAMS will be responsible for cleaning up after use. Failure to follow the rules may result in punishment of the individual AND team.

Out of town competitions may require additional travel expenses or an overnight hotel stay. In these situations, parents may be asked to provide additional funding to support these events. Woodlands Christian is committed to limiting these expenses whenever possible.

No hotels will be booked for fans or parents by the Woodlands Christian Athletic Department. The Athletic Department will provide information on team plans upon request. Additionally, fans can visit www.tapps.net to find more information on available hotels for state playoffs and tournaments.

During overnight trips, student-athletes represent Woodlands Christian at all times.

Therefore, they should act in a way that brings honor to their school and team. Any action that takes away from honoring the school and team is considered a punishable offense. A good rule of thumb is - If you think it could be wrong, then it probably is.

Varsity Letter Policy Each athlete must meet specific criteria to earn a varsity letter: • • • •

Athletes must compete in at least 50% of the season at the varsity level.

Athletes must be eligible for at least 75% of the season.

Athletes must be loyal to the team and coach (obedient, faithful).

The coaching staff and Athletic Director must approve athletes before receiving a varsity letter.

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Athletic Participation Fee Students desiring to participate in athletics at Woodlands Christian are required to pay a one time athletic fee of $250. A grace period of two weeks is allowed at the beginning of each season. Once the two-week grace period has ended, students who have not paid the athletic fee are ineligible to practice or play with the team until the fee has been paid.

The athletic fee should be paid directly to the school business office.

The athletic fee is a primary source of the athletic budget and is used for many different expenses incurred during the school year. Woodlands Christian is committed to limiting the amount of extra expenses incurred by each parent. The athletic fee gives us a base from which we can provide the best possible athletic environment.

There may be additional costs associated with each individual program. These may include but are not limited to apparel, equipment, travel expenses, lodging, and meals.

Athletic Physicals All athletes must have on file with the Athletic Director a pre-participation physical. The physical must be completed by an appropriate licensed medical professional prior to participation in any athletic practice or event. Additionally, all athletes must have a preparticipation medical history form completed and signed by the athlete and a parent.

These forms can be downloaded from the Woodlands Christian website.

Injuries When a student is injured, it is recommended that he/she see a licensed physician to ascertain the exact nature of the injury and to seek appropriate care and rehabilitation.

Once a student sees a licensed practitioner, it is the policy of Woodlands Christian that the injured athlete must have a signed release from a doctor allowing him/her to return to practice and/or competition. Additionally, if a player is suspected to have had a concussion, it is mandatory that the player not participate in games or practices until he/she has been cleared by a licensed physician to participate. Parents and students may not waive this requirement.

Booster Club The purpose of the Booster Club is to support Woodlands Christian athletic programs by promoting school spirit and raising funds. Our student athletes and coaches work hard to prepare themselves for interscholastic competition and we want to encourage each of the high school and middle school teams that make up our athletic programs.

The Woodlands Christian Academy has one Booster Club. Club by-laws are on file with the Athletic Director’s office.

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Insurance Coverage Woodlands Christian does not assume responsibility relative to doctor, ambulance or medical expenses in case of a medical emergency. Athletics is a voluntary, co-curricular program in which students participate at their own risk. Parents or guardians must obtain adequate insurance coverage for their students through a family insurance policy. Any liability or cost incurred is the responsibility of the family of the student athlete.

Spectator Code of Conduct • • • •

Spectators are to treat our coaches and players, opposing coaches and players and the referees and officials in a respectful Christ-like manner.

The actions of fans are a witness to our community. Fans should remember that they represent not only our school, but also our Lord.

Spectators are to exhort our players and teams in a positive manner.

When applicable, spectators may be asked to leave the premises and not return to Woodlands Christian athletic events. Any member of the Woodlands Christian administration, the Athletic Director, or game administrator reserves the right to make this decision at any time.

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