FRIENDSHIP COLLEGIATE ACADEMY

2016-2017

STUDENT-ATHLETE HANDBOOK

Bryan Bartley

Athletic Director

Revised 0-08-16

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. OVERVIEW
  2. Philosophy3
  3. Mission Statement3
  4. Athletic Goals4
  5. Sports Offered4
  6. Physicals and Authorizations5
  1. THE STUDENT ATHLETE
  2. Requirements to Participate6
  3. Enrollment6
  4. Forms & Authorizations7
  5. Academic Policies7-8
  6. New Student Eligibility (9th – 12th grades)9
  7. Tryouts10
  8. Playing Time10
  9. Multiple Sports11
  10. Game Participation Policies11-12
  11. Athletic Dress Code13
  12. Uniforms and Equipment14
  13. Transportation14
  1. TO THE PARENTS
  2. Unsportsmanlike Code15
  3. Insurance15
  4. Banquet & Awards15
  5. Senior Night 16
  6. Unsportsmanlike Conduct16
  7. Discipline16
  8. Discreptency16
  9. Student-Athlete’s Agreement Form17
  1. OVERVIEW

Welcome to Friendship Collegiate Academy Knight Athletics! It is our sincere desire that you find athletic competition at FCA enjoyable, challenging and learning experience. The purpose of this handbook is to lay before you our plan for becoming the best athletic department in District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia as well as our ability to accomplish team and personal goals.

PHILOSOPHY

Through our athletic department, we attempt to develop a program that achieve high-level goals as well as produce elite student-athletes. This should include such attributes as servanthood, perseverance, discipline, honesty, dependability, and commitment. Remembering that doing your best is far more important than being the best!

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the purpose of the FCA athletic program to assist the overall mission of the school which is to provide a world-class education that motivates students to achieve high academic standards, enjoy learning, and develop as ethical, literate, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens who contribute actively to their communities.

ATHLETIC GOALS

THE FRIENDSHIP COLLEGIATE STUDENT-ATHLETE IS

A Student-Athlete

….role model in the school and ambassador of the school

….a student-athlete that models the school mission statement

….the most important person in our program. Without athletes there will be no need for the team

…..not a statistic, but flesh, and blood and a human being

…..not someone on our teams for our own personal goal and accomplishments, nor to win games

…..not dependent on us, but rather, we are dependent on them.

…..not an interruption of our work, but the purpose of it. We are not doing them a favor by serving them.

SPORTS OFFERED AT FRIENDSHIP COLLEGIATE ACADEMY

FALLWINTERSPRING

Varsity Boys FootballVarsity Boys BasketballVarsity Baseball

JV FootballJV Boys BasketballJV Baseball (2017)

Varsity VolleyballVarsity Girls BasketballVarsity Boys Soccer (2017)

JV Volleyball (2017)JV Girls BasketballVarsity Girls Soccer (2017)

Varsity CheerleadingVarsity Swimming (2017)Varsity Softball

JV Cheerleading Varsity Cheerleading (Competition)Varsity Boys Tennis (2018)

Varsity Soccer (Co-ed)Varsity Girls Tennis (2018)

PHYSICALS AND AUTHORIZATIONS

Before trying out or participating in a sport, each athlete must have the following completed items on file in the athletic trainer office: DCSAA up to date physical form, cooperation/consent form, and liability waiver.

*DC Universal Health Certificate (Pre-Participation Physicals)

*Emergency Treatment Form

*Parent/Guardian Release Form

*Concussion Information

* Medical History Form

  1. STUDENT ATHLETE

REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE

It is important that participation on an athletic team at FCA is a privilege and not a right. By being on a team, athletes must continue to fulfill their academic responsibilities in addition to their team responsibilities. The following requirements have been established by FCA concerning eligibility for athletic participation:

1)Enrollment

Athlete must be enrolled to tryout and participate in any FCA athletic program which includes practices, summer camps, workouts, clinics, workshops, etc.

2)Financial Responsibility

  1. Additional Cost
  2. Uniforms-The athletic department will purchase and provide uniforms on loan. However, some sports are not allowed by DCSAA to reuse uniforms and thus have to purchase new uniforms each year. Sport teams that required purchasing uniforms each year will incur additional uniform fee to be paid by the athlete or booster clubs. The coach will determine who will incur the uniform fees.
  3. Spirit Wear-Purchasing of additional spirit will be the financial responsibility of the athlete unless other financial arrangements have been made by the coach.
  4. Other-Additional fees for meals, outing, team parties, etc. could be incurred as determined by coach and will be the responsibilities of the athlete.
  5. Fee Refunds
  6. No athletic fees will be refunded after the season begins unless outlined below.
  7. An athlete that is injured before midseason and unable to play remaining games, can request a prorated refund.
  8. An athlete that is unable to participate in games or practices because they have not met academic criteria will not be refunded.

3)Forms & Authorizations

  1. DCSAA Physical Form -each year athletes must submit a completed physical by a licensed physician to participate in any organization athletic team. A copy of the physical must be kept on file at FCA. Students must have a certificate of an annual physical examination on file at the school prior to participating in any athletic try-outs, practices, voluntary workouts or games.
  2. Liability Waiver/ Statement of Cooperation form -This combined form must be signed by a parent and student stating they have read the Student Athlete Handbook in its entirely and agree to support and uphold its standards and policies of the athletic program. Each participant must have a parent signed before participation in his/her sport, or traveling to and from any FCA activity.
  3. Concussion Awareness Form-This is a new form mandated by FCA to ensure families understand the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
  4. Emergency Medical Form-Each athlete will also need to have a completed FCA emergency information form on file for the current school year.

4)Academic Policies

In order for the students to participate in extra-curricular activities at FCA, they must meet the two following criteria:

a)Criteria 1: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative C average at all three weeks grade checks.

  1. If any student does not meet Criteria 1, the student may practice with the team, but will not participate in games.
  2. If the student does meet Criteria 1 at the next three-week grade check, the student will not participate in practice and will not participate in games.

b)Criteria 2:The student must not have a grade 68 or below in any class at all three week grade checks.

  1. If the student does not meet Criteria 2, the student may practice with the team but will not participate in games.
  2. If the student does not meet Criteria 2 at the next three week grade check, the student will not participate in practice and will not participate in games.

c)Clarification

  1. Team refers to any FCA extracurricular groups which may include, but are not limited to athletic teams, drama participants, band and choral members, and academic teams.
  2. Games refer to any FCA extra-curricular events which any include.

d)Procedure for Reinstatement

Grade checks will be done every three weeks. If student does not meet either Criteria1 or Criteria 2 at a grade check, they may be reinstated to the team when the student’s grade meets Criteria 1 and Criteria 2. Students must submit the grades in question for administrative approval. Upon administrative approval, they will be immediately reinstated.

e)End-of-Fall Semester Failing Grade

Students who receive a two (2) failing grade at the end of a semester in any class will not be allowed to participate in practices or games with the team. These students may be reinstated if they meet Criteria 1 and Criteria 2 on the first week grading period of the next semester. Students must submit the grade or grades in question for administrative approval. Upon administrative approval, they will be immediately reinstated.

f)End-of-Spring Semester Failing Grade

Following the spring semester, students who have failed any core class may participate in extracurricular summer activities. However, to be eligible to participate in games in the fall semester, the students must enroll in a credit recovery class during the summer. If the credit recovery class is not completed successfully or if a credit recovery class is not available, they can participate in summer activities, but the students will not be allowed to participate in games. They may be reinstated if they meet Criteria 1 and Criteria 2 on the first three-week grading period of the fall semester. The students must submit the grade or grades in question for administrative approval. Upon administrative approval, they will be immediately reinstated.

NEW STUDENT ELIGIBILITY (grades 10th – 12th)

FCA is a member of District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) regarding athletic competitions. DCSAA guidelines for new students to be eligible to play a varsity sport at FCA are as follows: If all of the below apply, please contact the Athletic Director.

1)Attended school last semester or quarter.

2)Passed five (5) full-time subjects the previous quarter or semester.

3)“On-Track” in earning Carnegie units equivalent to years after first entry into the ninth grade.

4)Attended high school no more than four consecutive years after first entry into the ninth grade.

5)Not attained your 19th birthday prior to May 1st proceeding the year of participation.

6)Completed a physical during the past twelve months and it is on file with the AD.

7)Transferred from a school that is not a member of the DCSAA and live in District of Columbia.

(The service area for a school is in the District of Columbia, in which the school is located).

8)Moved with your family out of your school district and to another district in DC closer to FCA.

TRYOUTS

All athletic sports will have tryouts that are publicized and promoted before the season begins. While one of our goals is to promote athletic participation at FCA, it may be necessary in some sports to cut a squad. This may occur due to limitations of our facilities, regulations specific to some sports to cut a squad. This may occur due to limitations of our facilities, regulations specific to some sports, travel restrictions, and other factors. It is important to remember that there are no guarantees. Players from the previous year’s JV team, for example, do not automatically make either the JV or varsity squad the following year. Having been a member of a team during the previous year or even being a senior, does not ensure that an athlete will make the squad.

When parents and athletes understand and support the coach’s decision, this difficult process becomes a less painful experience for all. Parents should expect that every candidate is treated fairly and given every consideration. Coaches are sensitive to feelings of disappointment, will handle the task as positively as possible, and be available to answer athlete’s questions. While we understand that being cut disappointing for many athletes and even for their parents, we unfortunately cannot keep everyone. Anyone cut from a team is welcome to try out again next season or to try another sport.

PLAYING TIME

Athletics by its nature is competitive. There are two different goals for our freshmen programs verse the JV and Varsity sports programs that are outlined as follows:

FRESHMEN-The goal of the freshmen athletic program is to give the opportunity for all freshmen to develop and learn the fundamentals of the sport. Thus students are encouraged to tryout and participate as all players will be given playing time to develop and utilize their skills. Some sports may not have tryouts as all interested in playing will get to interested athletes into the high school program.

JV & VARSITY-The main goal of the high school athletic program is to play fundamental ball, while competitive. Unlike recreation or intramural teams, equal or guarantees of playing time does not exist. On the JV and Varsity teams, there are no guarantees of playing time. Playing time is earned in practice and depends on the player's development. It will be the discretion of the coach to play athletes that will put the team in the best position to be successful.

MULTIPLE SPORTS

Students can only participate in one sport per season. Only under rare circumstances and with the approval of both coaches and the AD, may a student participate in dual sports in one season. Students should complete one sport before trying out for another. Athletes may not quit one sport to go out for another program during the same season unless there is a mutual agreement by both coaches. Student-Athletes wanting to participate in off-season conditioning of a second sport may only participate if both coaches agree and the off-season conditioning does not interfere with sport that is in season. However, students are encouraged to participate in multiple sports that occur in different seasons.

GAME PARTICIPATION POLICIES

It is important to understand that participation on an athletic team at FCA is a privilege and not a right. By being on a team, athletes must continue to fulfill their academic responsibilities in addition to their academic responsibilities. For athletes to participate in a game, they must ensure the following:

1.)School Attendance

a.) In order to participate in practice or a game, students must be at school

for at least three (3) full periods.

b.) Athletes are not to be absent or tardy the day after a game.

2.) Practice Attendance

Attendance is required to be punctual and attend all practices and games.

a.)Unexcused Practice Absences

i) One unexcused practice in a week – athlete will sit out half game.

ii) Two unexcused practices in a week – athlete will sit out the whole game, but has to dress out and sit on bench with the team.

b.) Excused Practice Absences

i) An excused absence includes a death in the family, sickness with

a doctor’s note, school-related activity, or recruitment visit.

ii) Athletes do not have sit out of a practice if they have an excused

absence.

GAME PARTICIPATION POLICIES

3.) Game Attendance

a.) Unexcused Absences – if an athlete misses a game (unexcused) he/she will sit out the next game.

b.) Excused Absences – if an athlete misses a game (excused) he/she will be eligible to play the next game. However, the principal or coach has the final say as to whether to allow an athlete with an excused absence to play in the next game.

4.) Assignments and Participation

a.) Day after a Game – Assignments that are due are not to be excused.

Athletes need to plan for homework, tests, and projects. Work that is due

or assigned because of early dismissal to participate in a game, must be completed and returned as requested by their teacher.

b.) P.E. Policy – A student present but not participating in physical education class, may not participate in athletic activities that day, practices or contests, unless approved by the P.E. teacher.

5.) Other

a.) Once school begins and an athlete tries out and makes a team, participation on FCA team must take priority over participation on any outside athletic teams.

b.) Athletes may not quit one sport to go out for another sport without the coach’s approval. Athletes that quit a sport are not eligible to participate in another sport until the end of the season of the sport they quit.

ATHLETIC DRESS CODE

The dress for all athletic events must of the highest standard. Therefore, the Athletic Director and coaches reserve the right to establish a dress code giving specific guidelines for game days and other athletic events.

1)Practice Attire

  1. Proper attire is required during practice and team workouts.
  2. All students must wear shirts and proper shoes during practice.
  3. Tight or revealing clothing, undergarments (i.e. sports bras worn as shirts), clothing with inappropriate words or symbols, or any other clothing deemed inappropriate by a member of the faculty or administration will not be permitted.
  4. Girls wearing volleyball shorts or tennis skirts must put proper length shorts or sweatpants over shorts/skirts when not practicing.
  5. Students wearing inappropriate practice attire will be asked to change clothing or leave

2)School Day Dress Code on Game/Match Days

  1. Boys athletes and Managers – should wear one of the following:
  2. FCA Dress uniform which included a white dress Shirt, khaki pants, sweater or sweater vest,school tie and the jacket.
  3. Girl athletes and Managers – should wear the school dress uniform which is a white dress blouse, khaki skirt, tie and jacket.
  4. Traveling to away game/match
  5. Teams may wear uniforms or warm-ups.
  6. Teams may wear what they wore to school according to the above dress code guidelines.

3)Casual/Spirit Days

On casual days or when regular school uniform dress is not required, athletes must change into the appropriate dress as stated above before leaving for games matches.

4)Award Night

The coach will determine the dress for Awards Night.

5)Athletic Signings

Athletes are to wear the FCA dress uniform at their athletic signing

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

Each participate will be issued uniforms and equipment which will be in good condition. Athletes are expected to keep up with and take care of this equipment while it is their custody. If lost or abused, the student will be charged for full replacement. Uniforms may only be worn for games or special events designated by the coach. Uniforms must be turned in before a student may try out for another sport or receive any awards.

TRANSPORTATION

The Athletic Department provides transportation to and from most away weekday sporting event. Transportation to off campus practices will be the responsibility of the parents or coach, unless other arrangements have been made. Parents should be punctual to pick up their athlete when practice is over.

Transportation policies for athletes are as follows:

1)All athletes must travel in designated vehicles to games.

2)Appropriate behavior is expected on the bus at all times.

3)After the coach has been notified, student-athletes may ride back on the bus or one of the following:

  1. Athletes may ride with their parents.
  2. Athletes may ride with approved adult after their parents have made arrangements with the coach and has been granted permission to do so.

4)Food or drink will not be allowed on the bus, unless coach gives student-athlete permission.