STUDENT ATHLETE HANDBOOK
CYNTHIA SCHNEIDER
PRINCIPAL
CHARLES ROBERTS
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
PATTY VANN
ATHLETIC SECRETARY
MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
1500 LINCOLN AVE.
EVANSVILLE, IN. 47714
MHS MAIN OFFICE: 812-476-4973
ATHLETIC OFFICE: 812-476-4632
ATHLETIC FAX: 812-474-2938
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S E-MAIL
REITZ MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
Reitz Memorial High School is a Christ-centered Catholic community which educates all students to their highest potential through developing religious values, providing excellence in education, and fostering a commitment to service.
REITZ MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT
Providing an environment where God inspires, we educate, students thrive.
SOUTHERN INDIANA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Established in the year 1924
Bosse “Bulldogs” Mater Dei “Wildcats”
Castle “Knights” Memorial “Tigers”
Central “Bears” North “Huskies”
Harrison “Warriors” Reitz “Panthers”
INTRODUCTION
The Student Athletic Handbook exists in order that athletes and their parents may better understand their responsibilities when an athlete participates in the Memorial High School athletic program. It shall be understood that the Student Handbook of Memorial High School is applicable to all students, including student athletes, and shall have precedent over the Student Handbook should any questions arise regarding interpretation of rules.
PHILOSOPHY
The Athletic programs strive to provide the best opportunities beyond the school day for students to excel in knowledge, skills, teamwork, self-discipline, and moral character. The purpose is to provide each participant with experiences that will be positive, formative, in Catholic values, and helpful in developing the virtues of faith, teamwork, responsibility, loyalty, good sportsmanship, competition, fortitude, and enhancement of a particular knowledge and skill.
SPORTSMANSHIP
“Good sportsmanship is viewed as a commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity. In perception and practice, sportsmanship is defined as those qualities, which are characterized, by generosity and genuine concern for others. This would include team members, coaches, officials, opposing teams and fans. The ideals of sportsmanship apply equally to all activity disciplines. Individuals, regardless of their role in activities, are expected to be aware of their influence on the behavior of others and model good sportsmanship.”
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
1. Each individual shall put the good of the team first.
2. Each individual shall accept responsibility for the care of all equipment, uniforms and school property. Damage due to negligence shall result in financial accountability.
3. Each individual shall obey the specific guidelines set forth for each team as given by the coach.
4. Each individual shall be a good citizen at all times, displaying Catholic Christian values that include honesty, self-discipline, courtesy, responsibility, and respect for self, others and property.
5. Each individual shall strive to be a positive influence in all he/she tries to do, representing the team, school, and community with pride and dignity.
6. Each individual shall refrain from the use of profanity.
7. No individual shall participate in any unlawful act. These will include, but not limited to, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, gambling, theft, forgery, vandalism, and assault.
8. Each individual shall comply with the standards set forth in this handbook, core values of Memorial High School, student handbook, and school policies or be subject to disciplinary action and or dismissal from the team as determined by the
Coach.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Athletes are required to attend all practices, team meetings, service projects, etc.
Athletes must be in attendance in class no later than 8:01am to be eligible to participate in practices or competition that day. If an athlete leaves school before 2:45pm, they will be ineligible to participate in practice or competition that day. If a student has a Doctor, Dentist note, or is issued an excused absence by the Assistant Principal, they will be allowed to participate in practice or competition.
An athlete who is absent from practice or school five or more consecutive days due to illness or injury must present written verification to the Coach or Athletic Director from a licensed physician stating the athlete may resume competition (IHSAA By-Laws).
***Days Missed: 5 to 10 days of school or practices requires four practices before
the athlete can resume competition.
More than 10 consecutive days requires six practices before
the athlete can resume competition. (IHSAA By-Laws)
SCHOOL CONFLICT POLICY
We feel it is important that students at Memorial High School be encouraged to participate in a wide range of school-sponsored activities. Memorial High School offers an extensive athletic and extra-curricular program that has allowed for a large number of our students to be actively involved. However, with this increased involvement, we have increased possibilities for scheduling conflicts to occur. It should be understood that students having direct conflicts with rehearsals, practices, performances, and/or games would need to make a choice at the beginning of the year concerning the athletic teams in which they choose to participate.
By providing clearly defined guidelines, coaches, faculty, students, and parents will be able to communicate with each other in an atmosphere of fairness and consistency. Prior to the fall, winter, and spring sport seasons and in advance of conflicting situations, the involved athlete will meet with the Coach to seek out any possible conflicts. After learning of possible conflicts, the Coach, athlete, and parent will meet to determine how these conflicts can be resolved.
The following basic guidelines will be used in determining appropriate resolutions to conflicting schedules:
1. Scheduled IHSAA and scheduled Memorial High School athletic events, including travel time, shall take precedence.
2. Major performances shall be the second priority. Out of state competition shall not take precedence over these school schedules, games, and practices.
3. A previously scheduled event on the school calendar shall take precedence over a calendar addition or a rescheduled event.
4. Outside athletic teams of any kind will not take precedence over any scheduled Memorial High School athletic event or practice.
5. If there is a direct conflict, which cannot be resolved through the above conditions, the Athletic Director will make the final decision.
CODE OF CONDUCT
RULE 1: Students participating in athletic activities who are found to be in violation of
of the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) Athletic Code of Conduct,
will face the following consequences in addition to those set forth in the
Student Handbook.
Penalty period:
1st offense: Athletic suspension for 20% of athletic contests
2nd offense: Athletic suspension for one year
3rd offense: Athletic suspension reminder of student’s school career
RULE 2: Students who are removed from school (including-in school suspension)
as part of any disciplinary process, shall not participate in any athletic
practices, meetings, or competitions during stated removal.
RULE 3: Students participating in athletics who are found in violation of school rules
other than the drug, alcohol, and tobacco policy, shall be disciplined in
accordance with the school’s Student Handbook.
RULE 4: The coach may set specific rules and guidelines for each team.
These rules and any stated penalties will be given to the athletes during
the first week of practice. A copy will be given to each parent at the parent
meeting. These written regulations will be on file in the Athletic Office.
RULE 5: Any athlete on Academic Probation will be given two weeks to show
improvement. Improvement will be determined by the teacher. If at the end of
the two weeks there has been no improvement, the athlete will go on a two week
athletic probation. During the probation, the athlete will be suspended from
athletic contests. The athlete will be allowed to practice. He or she may be with
the team for contests but not allowed to be in uniform. This process will
continue until the athlete shows improvement in the classroom.
RULE 6: Any athlete who quits a team in season, will not be allowed to workout
with another team. This includes meeting, conditioning, and weight lifting.
Any exceptions would have to be granted by the Athletic Director.
RULE 7: An athlete participating in a sport will not be allowed to attend any activities in
another sport until the sport they are participating has been completed.
Upon reasonable suspicion of a student’s violation of Rule 1, the Athletic Director will conduct an investigation. If the student is found in violation, a conference will be held with the student athlete. Following the meeting, the athlete’s parents will be notified in writing of the offense and consequences. One copy of the violation record will be given to the student; one mailed home, another given to the coach and one keep on file in the athletic office.
Upon reasonable suspicion of a student’s violation of Rule #3, the assistant principal in charge of discipline, will conduct an investigation. If the student is found in violation, a conference will be held with the student. Following the meeting, the student will be notified by the Assistant Principal as to the consequences.
ENFORCEMENT
All coaches, teachers, administrators, staff, athletes, and parents should work together to uphold and enforce the Student-Athlete Handbook. A possible code violation shall be reported promptly to the Athletic Director, who will include athlete, parent, and coach when needed in an investigation of the matter.
If the Athletic Director concludes that an Athletic Code of Conduct violation might have occurred, the Athletic Director will contact the athlete and his or her parent/guardian immediately.
Upon further investigation, if it is decided that an athlete has violated the Athletic Code of Conduct, the athlete will be temporarily or permanently excluded from interscholastic athletic participation, the Athletic Director will inform the athlete and his or her parent/guardian of the decision and the consequences of the athlete’s actions.
SEASONAL TRANSITION POLICY
Memorial High School actively promotes the development of multi-sport athletes. As athletes transition from one season to another, the head coaches of the involved sports will adhere to the following guidelines.
· Does the involved student require a brief period off for rest and regeneration, not to exceed more than six practice days.
· The decision is made in the best interest of the student athlete.
· A minimum of five practices occurring on five separate days are required before participating in a contest going from one sport to another.
· If the athlete has not participated in a previous sport that school year, a minimum of ten practices are required before participating in a contest.
IHSAA AND MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ELGIBILITY
Before the first official practice in a sport, including out-of-season conditioning and open gym sessions, an athlete needs to:
1. Be enrolled at Memorial High School.
2. Pass a physical examination. Have a completed IHSAA physical form on file in the athletic office. The examination must be administered after May 1 of the preceding school year and the start of the official practice in the current school year (IHSAA By-Laws).
3. Complete a Medical Emergency Form with supporting parent/guardian signature and turned in to the Athletic Office.
4. Code of Conduct form signed by both parent and athlete.
5. IHSAA Rule 20-Undue Influence form signed by parent and athlete.
6. Must be passing five full credit core classes.
Taking the overall wellness of the student athlete into consideration, any athlete that has a significant drop in grades during a season will be required to meet with the Coach and Athletic Director to help find the source of regression.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
The first day school is cancelled due to weather all sport activities are cancelled. Further days of cancellations the decision to practice will be made by the Athletic Director after discussions with the Principal. If practices are allowed they are optional. Practices will not be allowed to begin before 11am and must be completed by 4pm.
AGE
To be eligible for athletic participation in a given sport, an athlete may not be twenty years of age prior to or on the scheduled date of the IHSAA state finals in the sport (IHSAA By-Laws).
TRANSFER STUDENTS
A student who transfers his or her enrollment to Memorial High School from a different high school, or from a junior high school if that school includes a freshman class, is required to complete an IHSAA Athletic Transfer Report. The parent or guardian of the transfer student must contact the Assistant Principal or Athletic Director as soon as possible upon enrollment at Memorial High School to begin the reporting process. The report is then sent to the student’s former (sending) school and the IHSAA. The IHSAA makes the eligibility determination for the athlete (IHSAA By-Laws).
Three eligibility rulings are possible:
1. No eligibility
2. Limited eligibility: Participation is allowed at the freshman or junior varsity level for 365 days from the date the athlete last completed at his/her previous school.
3. Full eligibility: Participation is allowed at the freshman through varsity levels immediately upon notification from the IHSAA.
Full eligibility is frequently granted when the student’s custodial parent or guardian experienced a legitimate change of residence and Memorial High School has not exerted undue influence in recruitment of the student for athletic purposes.
Memorial High School does not grant eligibility for interscholastic competition before receiving the IHSAA ruling.
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE THE MEMORIAL
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAM
An athlete who participates as a member of a non-school team in the same sport (example: AAU, Church, recreation league during IHSAA basketball season) is ineligible for the Memorial High School team. An athlete who wishes to participate on a non-school team in a different sport he or she plays at the time of non-school participation, should check as soon as possible with the Athletic Director to determine eligibility based on IHSAA standards.
An athlete who wishes to participate as an individual in a non-school athletic event (example: a Memorial High School golfer who wishes to participate in a non-school sponsored golf outing or tournament), should check as soon as possible with the Athletic Director to determine proper procedure based on IHSAA standards.
The athlete must go to IHSAA.org and print out the wavier form. The student turns in the completed form to the Athletic Director who then submits the form electronically for IHSAA approval.