INTRODUCTION
Statement of Interscholastic Athletic Program Philosophy
The Burlington County Institute of Technology Interscholastic athletic program is an integral part of the school’s educational program. The athletic program provides participants with additional experience beyond the classroom. Coaches are teachers who impart their knowledge and life skills to their student-athletes. Our goal is to develop the students’ character, leadership skills, time-management skills, and self-awareness.
While victory and defeat are the most tangible signs of success, they are not necessarily the most accurate indicators of our development and achievements as players and coaches. A winning season can sometimes occur when a coach feels that his or her degree of success as a coach has been minimal. If we as coaches have not provided an environment in which the student-athlete has had the opportunity to grow emotionally as well as physically, we have not fulfilled our obligation as part of the total educational program.
Purpose of handbook
The purpose of the athletic handbook is to provide coaches, auxiliary personnel and others associated with the program clearly defined policy and procedures. Its goal is to ensure consistency with respect to procedures within the athletic programs.
SECTION I.
COACHING ETHICS
- The coach is the primary example of good sportsmanship and strong character for our student-athletes. For this reason, the use of vulgar or profane language is not permitted at any time. Neither is the usage of any tobacco products on school property.
- The athletic department seeks to foster harmony between all coaches and student-athletes regardless of what sports in which individuals may participate. When coaches work together, more collective results are achieved. The Head Coach will outline the sports program, practice strategies and develop a written program for the assistants and team.
- BCIT Coaches must exemplify professional behavior at all times on and off the field of play. Disputes with the official should be in a professional and calm manner. The coach must be aware that his or her behavior often sets the tone for the contest. The reactions of athletes and spectators will depend on that of the coach. Do not engage in exchange of words with athletes or spectators. Be discrete when reprimanding an athlete in front of his/her peers and spectators.
4.Once the athletic contest begins it is in the hands of the officials. Any
disturbance or examples of rowdiness during the game should be brought to the attention of the officials, auxiliary personnel or event supervisor whose duty it is to restore order. Coaches are to maintain control of their team at all times even it is necessary to remove them from the contest.
5.It should be remembered that coaches represent not only their team but the school and district as well. Therefore it is appropriate for coaches to be properly attired at all times.
- Coaches should make every effort to encourage, recruit and retain students
for their team, but not to lure from other sports of the same season. Athletics are voluntary, and students should be able to choose freely.
- It is appropriate to pride within each team but not at the expense of
another. A friendly rivalry between teams is natural and good, but should
not be allowed to escalate.
SECTION II
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Coaches
- Supervise team at all times, including transportation of, before, during and after practices, games, meets, and matches whether home or away. When traveling, one coach must sit in the rear of the bus for supervision purposes. Student-athletes are expected to travel with the team on the bus to and from away contests. Assist late bus drivers as necessary when students are boarding. Coaches will develop a Telephone Tree – Coach will contact Athletic Director (Team communication will start and end with Coach)
- Secure signatures of officials on vouchers during home games and
forward vouchers and game reports to the Athletic Director by the next school day.
- Distribute, record, and collect all uniforms and equipment
as prescribed by the AD. All equipment must be secured at the end of practices and contests. Locker room and storage area doors must remain locked during and after practices and contests.
- Start practice at the first approved day as per NJSIAA Bylaws.
Coaches are required to attend pertinent meetings and competition during the season. Begin supervised practice 15 minutes from the end of the regular school day.
- Follow emergency plans, guidelines and procedures established by the AD or Athletic Trainer.
6. Attend to forms initiated from the athletic office, NJSIAA,
NJTAC, media, conference or league promptly.
- Set an example necessary to instill good sportsmanship in
team members. Emphasize victory with honor and teach players to accept defeat with character.
- Ascertain eligibility of all athletes from the Athletic Director
before allowing any student to begin practice. Be aware of and
provide accommodations for students who are covered under
ADA/504 and IDEA. Make regular checks on all athletes’ grades
during the season.
- Make certain all athletes have turned in their permission form and
received a proper physical examination prior to any participation.
- Report scores and summaries of contests to local newspapers and
media, immediately at conclusion of all sporting/athletic events.
- Be familiar with and follow the policies of the NJSIAA
Constitution and By-Laws as well as those of any league, district,
or region in which our teams participate.
- Recommend supplies and equipment needs to the Athletic
Director in writing at the conclusion of each season.
- Develop and maintain a team attendance policy. Plan during pre-
season time, and conduct well organized practices. Give specific
direction to assistant coaches so they may be used effectively. The
Head Coach is responsible for communicating his or her
expectations to the Assistant Coach.
- Establish and maintain appropriate team discipline in order to
project a positive image of our school and its students.
Provide a copy of team rules to the AD prior to the first team
meeting.
- Make certain that all team members wear and care for their
uniforms and equipment in an appropriate manner.
- Maintain a copy of all maps, directions, telephone numbers and
names of contact persons for schools that we compete against, in
case of emergencies while traveling.
- Have the score book or entry sheets ready at least 15 minutes
prior to game time.
- Turn in Student Obligations to the Main Office within one week
of the season’s end or after an athlete quits or is suspended or dismissed from the team. Notify AD of any suspensions from team, disciplinary problems or of athletes who quit.
21. Coaches are responsible for publicizing individual and team
accomplishments within the school and to the local media. Coaches must also use discretion to issue responsible comments that will not present the players, team, school, or community in a negative manner. Careful thought to statements made will save all parties from embarrassment.
- Coaches should instruct athletes in the proper techniques of their
particular sport. Skills, rules, courtesies, and strategies should be emphasized. All safety rules should be clearly explained. Coaches should inspect their game and practice areas for potential safety hazards. Any safety hazards should be reported to the Athletic Director and the Buildings and Grounds Supervisor.
- No athlete with an excuse from Physical Education participation is
permitted to participate in an athletic practice or contest on that day.
- Each Head Coach should develop a set of rules for their individual
sport. These should be updated each season and kept on file in the Athletic Office. The rules should be clearly explained to the athletes and a copy sent home to the parents. It is recommended that the athlete and a parent/guardian sign a copy of the team rules. The coach should keep a copy on file for the duration of the season.
- When a faculty meeting is scheduled during the season, one coach
from each team should remain in the practice area to supervise the athletes. All other coaches are expected to attend the faculty meeting. Coaches will be excused from faculty meetings if they conflict with a game.
SECTION III.
ATHLETIC TRAINER
The Athletic Trainer serves as a support person for the entire
athletic program. All student athletes who sustain injuries are to be seen by the Athletic Trainer. The Trainer is also responsible for clearing athletes who have been injured for return to participation. Coaches must abide by the Trainer’s decision. There will be no exceptions. For example, if the Athletic Trainer has sidelined an athlete due to injury, the athlete may not participate in any type of physical activity until the Trainer re-evaluates the athlete and deems him or her fit for participation. If the athlete was seen by a physician, the Trainer will require a written note from that physician with a release date for the athlete to return to participation. The Trainer is unable to clear the athlete without the physician’s note.
Coaches, student-athletes, and parents are encouraged to use the trainer as a resource. The Athletic Trainer is present at practices, home contests and other events as appropriate. He or she will also assist in the coordination of school physicals in conjunction with the School Nurse and Athletic Director. The trainer is available at times during or after the school day for rehabilitation and injury assessment of student athletes, parent and physician communication and status reports for the coaches.
SECTION IV.
AUXILIARY PERSONNEL
Timer
- Set up necessary equipment and supplies at least thirty minutes prior to game time and be available before and after for crowd control. Post signs and set up areas to collect tickets etc.
- Act as official timekeeper for games, meets or matches.
- Cooperate with officials.
- Secure all equipment at the end of all games. (put scoreboard
control in a safe place, turn off power to scoreboard, etc.)
- Learn the duties and responsibilities of your job.
- Be familiar with the NJSIAA rules that affect your job.
7.Perform duties and responsibilities to meet the requirements of
the Board of Education for your appointed position.
- Attend athletic department meetings as appropriate.
- Fill out appropriate paperwork for payment as per Board policy.
Scorer/Announcer
- Be available at least thirty minutes before each game. Remain after the contest’s conclusion to assist with crowd
control.
- Assist in setting up scorer’s table.
3.Record line-ups from home and visiting teams. (Be sure that
visiting teams provide proper first and last names. This is
helpful and necessary when calling scores in to newspapers.)
- Keep accurate records.
- Cooperate with officials.
- Obtain all appropriate signatures in score-book at the completion of
each game.
- Announce BCIT policy and starting players.
- Perform duties and responsibilities to meet the requirements
of the Board of Education for your appointed position.
- Attend athletic department meetings as requested by AD
10. Fill out appropriate paperwork for payment as per Board Policy.
Ticket-taker/Security
- Be available at least thirty minutes before each game. Remain after the conclusion of the event to clear the playing area of spectators.
2.Collect and secure any monies collected until turned
over to the AD for deposit.
3. Maintain order in an appropriate manner.
4. Greet visiting teams and escort them to the proper locker room.
5.Pre-inspect, secure and reopen visiting team locker room as
requested by their coach.
6.Assist in the removal of any or all persons as ordered by the
officials. (spectators or ejected team members)
- Perform duties and responsibilities to meet the requirements of
the Board of Education for your appointed position.
SECTION V.
ELIGIBILITY
- Must be under the age of 19 on September 1st of participation
year.
- Must turn in a signed parent permission form to the Coach or
AD. Eighteen-year old students may sign this form.
- Undergo a physical examination by the District School Doctor
or a private physician and have the appropriate form signed and
placed on file in the nurse’s office.
- Student athletes must have completed successfully 27.5 credits
toward graduation in all previous grades in order to be eligible.
- Student athletes must pass all courses and maintain a 60% average
In their Career Major. Each coach should make regular checks on
each athlete during the season. This will assure that all athletes are
eligible within the policies of the District.
- Athletes will abide by all rules and regulations as set down by the
NJSIAA.
SECTION VI.
VALUABLES/LOCKER ROOM
Students are strongly recommended to lock their personal belongings in their locker. Any valuables such as money, jewelry, etc. must be secured. It is imperative that students have their own locks, and not share lockers with other students. Locks must be removed daily however, and may not remain on the lockers past the end of practice.
SECTION VII.
DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIOR
When a student voluntarily becomes part of an athletic team, he/she also becomes a highly visible representative of the Burlington County Institute of Technology School District. As such, he/she must demonstrate behavior that presents our school in a positive way both as a team member and as a member of the student body. For this purpose, the following rules will be enforced by the coach:
- Suspensions totaling 5 or more days out of school may result in
recommendation for team dismissal.
- Poor attendance may be grounds for team dismissal.
3. An athlete cannot participate in any practice, games or scrimmages
while suspended out of school.
4. If an athlete successfully completes a day of In-School Suspension,
he or she may participate the same day if it does not require early
dismissal.
- Athletes demonstrating lack of self-control during athletic
participation will be immediately removed from athletic activities
pending further action.
- Written team rules and regulations developed by the coaches and
approved by the AD shall be enforced by the coach. These rules
should not be conflict with district policy and procedures.
- All rules governing discipline of athletes during an athletic event
will be followed and enforced by the coaching staff. For example, when a player is ejected by an official, that player must leave the field or court and not return during the event.
- Infractions of BCIT Discipline Code while participating in an athletic contest will be enforced similarly as if the same infraction occurred during the school day.
- Student-athletes are responsible for all school equipment issued to
them.
SECTION X.
TEAM DISCIPLINE
Temporary suspensions may be made at the discretion of an individual
coach for minor infractions of team rules or school policies not to exceed one
athletic event. The coach must advise the athlete of the infraction and the term of suspension. He or she must also inform the Athletic Director immediately following the incident. The Athletic Director will take appropriate action depending on the nature of the situation.
An athlete may be dismissed from a team for a major or serious incident or for a series of minor incidents. To initiate this process, the coach must advise the athlete of suspension from team activities and that permanent removal is being requested. The Athletic Director must be informed in writing within twenty-four hours of the incident. Parents must also be informed immediately. The Athletic Director will conduct an investigation, record all pertinent facts and make a decision concerning the athlete’s status.
If the athlete is removed from the team, the Athletic Director will inform him or her of this decision and collect any uniform or equipment issued to the athlete. The Athletic Director will notify the parents of the decision.
SECTION IX.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Injury of a coach or team member
- Provide first aid immediately.
- Determine if hospitalization is needed.
- Transport to hospital.
- Parent’s car if present at game.
- Local ambulance (preferred).
- Coach and/or designee should accompany injured athlete
if at all possible.
- Cards with emergency information on all team members will
be kept in the team First Aid kit for all games.
- Notify the parents/guardians as soon as possible. They may have
a preference as to which hospital.
- Notify AD immediately.
8.Complete an Injury Report Form within 24 hours and forward
to the School Nurse.
9. The family’s insurance policy will be considered the primary
policy should a student-athlete become injured. The district’s insurance will cover the balance of any medical attention.
SECTION X.
VOUCHERS
Officials
In order to pay our home game officials, the coach must have them complete the information on the appropriate voucher. Coaches must check the voucher to ensure that all necessary information is completed.
Auxiliary Personnel
As per Board Policy.
Meal Money
Meal money may be issued for athletic events that require transportation in excess of 60 miles one way during holidays, weekends and special tournaments only. Coaches must request meal money or provisions in writing to the Athletic Director at least one week in advance of the date needed. Once the money has been obtained, the coach will secure the initials or signature of all recipients of the money on an appropriate form. Any unused money will be returned to the Athletic Director the school day following the event. The Athletic Director will re-deposit any unused money into the Student Activities Account.
Tournament Entry
Coaches must complete tournament entry forms and return them to the Athletic Director for submission in sufficient time prior to the closing date. When a team is entered in a tournament and a fee is charged, the coach is responsible for filling out voucher forms and submitting them to the Athletic Director in order to obtain a check for payment. He or she may also be required to take a voucher to have signed by the Tournament Director. This only applies when there is no time to do this through the mail.