Italy Gladiator Athletic Handbook

To teach the athlete values that will make them more productive in adult life.

To develop and formulate the best team possible and in the process have each athlete reach full potential in their sport.

To develop the athlete’s quickness, strength, speed, agility, and endurance.

To learn teamwork-making sacrifices for the betterment of the team.

To learn sportsmanship in victory as well as defeat.

To enjoy the camaraderie of team sport.

To develop desirable personal health habits.

To bring out positive leadership qualities.

To learn that true desire gives an athlete the strength to overcome obstacles.

To realize that often limits to potential are self-imposed.

To experience dedication, commitment and hard work.

To gain confidence.

To obtain the ability to withstand pressure.

To develop personal and team pride.

To develop a sense of worth and self-esteem.

To gain maturity.

To learn to be punctual and organized.

To develop courage and aggressiveness and learn to play with pain.

To learn to be self-disciplined and be mentally tough.

To learn that enthusiasm inspires yourself and others to excel and hustle.

To develop a positive attitude.

To learn that honesty, sincerity, loyalty, and caring are all characteristics of a winner.

The Supreme Court has ruled that athletics is a privilege and not a right and those who choose to participate must obey the rules set forth or be dismissed. Athletes at Italy High School, are responsible not only to the coaching staff, principal and administrators, but to a team. We, as coaches, decide who plays and how much they play. It is also our right to remove an athlete from the program if they do something to embarrass our program, our school, or us.

There is no just or fair way to objectively determine the amount of minutes or number of quarters it takes for an individual to letter. It is up to the individual coach to determine who letters and who does not. The following criteria are taken into consideration when determining who letters; the attitude of the individual, on or off the field, their knowledge of skills and plays, their work ethic, their team dedication and their leadership qualities. Each athlete has the responsibility to ask the coach what the requirements are to letter in their sport.

Athletes are expected to be at practice every day. If you cannot physically practice, come, dress out, encourage your teammates, and learn what the coach is teaching that day in practice. If a conflict arrives, be sure to call and let a coach know where you are and why you are not at practice. Each sport will have its individual rules and consequences for missing practices. Irregular attendance makes it difficult or impossible for you to become part of a team. We assume that you want to play on a championship team. Our practices, off-season, and summer programs are designed to produce champions. Understand the decisions made by a coach are made with the priority being the team and the individual must come second. Players must understand the position they play, is where they will help the team the most and won’t be just where they or their parents want them to play.

There always seems to be problems with items coming up "missing" in locker rooms. Stealing will not be tolerated. The coach will make sure all players have a secure place to store items of value. The athlete will store the items in a safe place with a lock provided by the athletic department. If the coach does not furnish the lock then the athletic department assumes the responsibility. If the player does not utilize the safe place, the athlete assumes all responsibility.

The character and competitiveness of the athlete should carry over into the classroom. The athletes must plan their schedule so that they give sufficient time and energy to their studies to ensure acceptable grades. We assume that you expect to graduate with the highest grades that you are capable of making. We will not simply try to keep you eligible, but we will push you to make the highest grades that you are capable of making. In addition to maintaining good scholarship, an athlete should give respectful attention to classroom activities and show respect for other students and faculty at all times. The athletes can be positive leaders at school as well as in athletic competition. The athlete must meet the UIL academic guidelines to be eligible for competition. The coaches will counsel and tutor the athlete when needed. The athletes will be solely responsible for their grades. The coach, teacher, principal, counselor, and fellow students will not be blamed for any shortcomings.

The athlete must ride to and from out-of-town contests in transportation provided by the Athletic Department. If the parents wish to transport their athlete for a special reason, they must inform the coach in charge by requesting permission in writing.

A supplementary insurance is provided by the school district for high school and junior high athletes. It only insures the athletes while participating in school athletic activities. It most often will not cover the total cost of the doctor’s bill. Athletes are advised to have other insurance.

All students participating in athletics will be required to pass a drug test before they participate in the extracurricular activity. The mandatory drug test will be given at the beginning of each year, if a student decides to play a sport that begins in the spring, they must pass a drug test before they can participate. A random drug test will be given throughout the year. See the Italy ISD-Drug Testing Program, to determine which students are required to take the mandatory drug test or which students are placed in the random pool for random testing throughout the year. If an athlete fails a test, they will be required to pass a drug test, at the expense of the parent or student in order to participate in the extracurricular activity. The following consequences are results of a failed drug test:

1^st Time Offense - Athlete is not eligible to play in a game or scrimmage for 30 calendar days. He/she will remain in the athletic period and can continue to practice with the team.

2^nd Time Offense- Athlete cannot participate in any extracurricular activity for 90 calendar days. Depending on the time of the test in the school year, it will be determined whether the student will remain in the athletic period and whether they will continue to practice with the team.

3^rd Time Offense- Student can no longer participate in any extracurricular activity for as long as that student is in Italy High School.

These consequences will also pertain to other items such as alcohol and tobacco products. The student will also suffer the above stated consequences if they are caught with such items as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products in their possession whether to distribute or to use at a later time. If the student is randomly selected for the drug test and refuses to be tested, who tampers with any sample, or who assists others in tampering with any sample shall be subject to the same consequences as a student having a confirmed positive test result. Calendar days will stop counting on the last day of school and begin back on the first day of class the next year or the first day of practice of the school-sponsored activity whichever comes first.

If a student quits a sport, he/she will not be allowed to participate in another sport until the completion of the season of the sport in which they quit. They will also have to miss the first two contests of the next sport in which they participate. Scrimmages will not act as a contest. The only exception is if the coach and athlete make a mutual agreement, for the athlete to be released from the team to begin another sport. This type of an agreement should be talked about early in the season.

In order to participate in any athletic activity, the student must be enrolled in athletics (7^th period) unless they are a senior. Basketball players will enter athletics in January because of class schedules, thus they may start basketball before being in the class but must join the class in January. Therefore, any sport, golf, tennis, baseball or track must be enrolled in athletics for the spring semester.

Athletes will be expected to abide by the student handbook and Italy ISD policies. Both male and female athletes will be expected to be school dress code during any Italy ISD extracurricular activity. If an athlete receives a major discipline referral to the office, he/she will accept the consequence of the school’s policy in addition to a punishment determined by the coach of the sport that is in season.

All coaches have the right to remove or punish a student who violates rules and guidelines of that particular sport.

Help your child attend every function on time.

If you have any questions or opinions, please communicate with coaches rather than players.

Never hesitate to call or visit with coaches about any concerns that you might have. The only problem we cannot solve is the one we do not know about.