Sports Parent Packet

“Success is piece of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” John Wooden

Message from GHMS Booster Club Congratulations on your student being selected to participate in the Middle School Athletics Program! Our schools are very proud of our student-athletes. In addition to the responsibilities each student has, we also ask that our parents help with a few items to keep our programs running smoothly. Booster Club Meetings - The Middle School Booster Clubs meet once a month at the school. The meetings typically last 1 hour. Each team is asked to have at least one representative present. We are always looking for additional members to make FMSDMS Athletics the best in SC! Athletic Fees - Each athlete is required to pay $100 per sport to the school district to participate in the athletic programs. Please visit the Fort Mill School District Athletic site at http://www.fortmillathletics.com to register your child. This must be paid prior to the first game. Team Parent - Each team is expected to have at least one parent volunteer to help communicate all necessary information from the school and coaches to the team and their parents. This can be coordinated through emails or phone calls. Many times this responsibility includes announcements of practice and game times, rain delays/cancellations, snack schedules, concession volunteers and awards banquet information. Concession Volunteers - The Booster Clubs will have the concession stands open and stocked with refreshments during all home games. Directions on opening and closing procedures are in the concession stands in a notebook. 2 volunteers are needed from each team for each game. A representative will open the concession stand 30 min. prior to each game and will pick up the funds at the end of the game. MS Athletics Wearables are available to be purchased throughout the year. Orders for specific sports will be taken at the initial team meeting.

Drinks – Each student athlete is asked to bring in a 12 pack of drinks to help support our Booster Club. Please bring drinks down to the gym and give them to Coach Hamilton or Coach Gesell.

o Boys Soccer – Dr. Pepper o Girls Soccer – Diet Dr. Pepper o Baseball – Sprite o Girls Track – Coke o Boys Track – Diet Coke

Fort Mill District Middle School Athletic Policy

Eligibility requirements: 1.) Age - A student who turns 15 years of age prior to July 1st, 2015 will not be able to compete on an 8th grade and under team in any athletic activates during the 2015.2016 school year. However, the student can try out for high school teams.

2.) The student must be promoted academically into the next grade.

3.) Any out of school suspension will result in dismissal from team.

4.) Any ISS will result in the following (can vary by school): *

A. 1st infraction - suspension from one game and practice leading up to next game.

B. 2nd infraction -dismissal from team

5.) Consequences for any and all detentions are as follows (can vary by school):

* Any detention will result in additional running assigned by the coach frequent detention halls may result in the inability to start a game.

6.) Any use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco will result in immediate dismissal from the team.

7.) Each team member must attend practice. If it is necessary to miss practice of game, the coach must be notified by the player or parent.

8.) Academic Requirements* –

Academic Probation - Student is failing 1 subject. – The student is able to practice and play in games given they meet all the requirements described in the contract. These are the requirements listed on the contract.

Complete ALL homework assignments for the week.

Take advantage of ALL opportunities involving extra credit or quiz and test corrections.

Attend at least ONE additional study opportunity (i.e. – Homework Helpers, Working Lunch, AE Time, etc.)

Put forth effort during the class and be an active participant in class.

There is also a place for the teacher to list the new grades that were given back that week.

Academic Restrictions – Student is failing 2 or more subjects. – The student is not able to practice or play until they are able to pull up their grades above passing. Students are able to move from restrictions to probation, as they continue to improve on their grades.

*School administration reserves right to alter punishment.

Disclosure of Grades Our coaches do keep track of their athlete’s academic progress over the course of a season. The privilege of our coaches to do so is outlined in the following: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

• Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies. • Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information. • Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR §99.31):

o School officials with legitimate educational interest; o Other schools to which a student is transferring; o Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; o Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; o Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; o Accrediting organizations; o To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; o Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and o State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school. For additional information or technical assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

For any questions or concerns please contact the following: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Items Needed for Competitive Participation • Physical and parent permission form completed and signed. • Original state approved birth certificate, copied and returned same day. Certificate must be from DHVS of the state of birth.

Transporting the Team

• Due to liability and safety issues, we recommend that all sport participants travel to and from an athletic event on an activity bus. • Under special circumstances, the parent my request (in writing) permission to transport their child home after the conclusion of the contest. This must be pre¬ approved by the coach. We will not release anyone except your child.

Extreme Heat/Cold

• Trainers at the high schools will measure conditions with the on-site heat/humidity gauges. • Trainers will inform Athletic Coordinator if scheduled activities should be altered due to conditions. • Athletic Coordinator will consult with Principals who will make a determination or ruling of scheduled activity status. • High School Athletic Directors will inform coaches, band directors, and middle schools of the ruling.

Lightning • Practice suspended under the following conditions • Adhere to 30-30 second flash-to-bang rule • Severe thunderstorm warning issued for area by National Weather Service • Trainers will measure conditions with the lightning detectors to determine whether severe thunderstorm or lightning exists within 3 to 8 mile window.

Bus Behavior The Athletes must: • Load and unload from the right front door. • Keep arms, legs, and heads inside of the windows • Never throw anything from the bus • Walk, not run • Stay seated while the bus is in motion • Not obstruct the back window • Refrain from eating or drinking while on the bus • Participate in keeping the bus in a clean and orderly manner.

Picking up Athletes after a Game or Practice Please pick up your child immediately following practices and games. The coach will wait

with your child up to 15 minutes beyond the conclusion of the event. In order to insure the safety of your child the coach will call FMPD to transport your child to Fort Mill Police Station to await your arrival. More than one occurrence may lead to the athlete’s dismissal from the team. Please understand that your coaches have other obligations and your cooperation in this manner will be appreciated.

Equipment Responsibility Statement Fort Mill School District student/athletes are responsible for the proper care of all

equipment and uniforms issued to them by their coach. In the event that the student/athlete should abuse or lose any part of their school issued equipment, the student/athlete will be responsible for replacing it before being allowed to participate on any other school athletic team. Also understand that the school may hold the report card until that debt is paid or equipment is returned.

Athletic Insurance

The school pays for our athletes to be covered with insurance. The school insurance is not the primary coverage if you have your own insurance coverage. If your child is not covered, school insurance will be primary. To make a claim: 1. please notify the coach on an injury within 24 hours. 2. Have the coach fill out the necessary information on the claim form. You complete your part of the form. The coach will supply the form. 3. File a claim with your insurance company. 4. If your insurance company will not pay the total bill, you should mail this information to the school’s insurance provider. 5. If you don’t have coverage, you need to complete the form and mail it to the school’s insurance provider.

Athletic Locker Room Only school issued uniforms and equipment are to be kept in locker room overnight.

Personal garments such as undershirts, socks, underwear will be thrown away if found by the coaching or custodial staff. This is in effort to prevent any spreading of staff infection in the case that a student may be infected and not know it. Staph or MRSA and its transmission is easily preventable with the appropriate steps taken. Please read the following carefully!

CONCUSSION INFORMATION--STUDENT-ATHLETES & PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS What is a concussion? A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head. It results in your brain not working as it should. It may or may not cause you to black out or pass out. It can happen to you from a fall, a hit to the head, or a hit to the body that causes your head and your brain to move quickly back and forth. How do I know if I have a concussion? There are many signs and symptoms that you may have following a concussion. A concussion can affect your thinking, the way your body feels, your mood, or your sleep. Here is what to look for:

Thinking / Remembering PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL / MOOD SLEEP

Difficulty thinking clearly

Taking longer to figure things out

Difficulty concentrating

Difficulty remembering new information

Fuzzy or blurry vision

Feeling sick to your stomach/queasy

Vomiting/throwing up

Dizziness

Balance problems

Sensitivity to noise or light

Irritability-things bother you more easily

Sadness

Being more moody

Feeling nervous or worried

Crying more

Sleeping more than usual

Sleeping less than usual

Trouble falling asleep

Feeling tired

Table is adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (htttp://www.cdc.gov/concussion/) What should I do if I think I have a concussion? If you are having any of the signs or symptoms listed above, you should tell your parents, coach, athletic trainer or school nurse so they can get you the help you need. If a parent notices these symptoms, they should inform the school nurse or athletic trainer. When should I be particularly concerned? If you have a headache that gets worse over time, you are unable to control your body, you throw up repeatedly or feel more and more sick to your stomach, or your words are coming out funny/slurred, you should let an adult like your parent or coach or teacher know right away, so they can get you the help you need before things get any worse. What are some of the problems that may affect me after a concussion? You may have trouble in some of your classes at school or even with activities at home. If you continue to play or return to play too early with a concussion, you may have long term trouble remembering things or paying attention, headaches may last a long time, or personality changes can occur once you have a concussion, you are more likely to have another concussion.

How do I know when it’s ok to return to physical activity and my sport after a concussion? After telling your coach, your parents, and any medical personnel around that you think you have a concussion, you will probably be seen by a doctor trained in helping people with concussions. Your school and your parents can help you decide who is best to treat you and help to make the decision on when you should return to activity/play or practice. Your school will have a policy in place for how to treat concussions. You should not return to play or practice on the same day as your suspected concussion. You should not have any symptoms at rest or during/after activity when you return to play, as this is a sign your brain has not recovered from the injury. Return to Play Progression for Concussions Once symptom free

• After 12 hours of being symptom free o The basic neurological exam must be normal o A medical doctor must give clearance to begin the progression (SCHSL Concussion Return to Play Form) (See Athletic Director for form) • Progression o Day 1 Symptom Free Aerobic exercise (stationary bike for 20 minutes) o Day 2 Symptom Free Sport specific non-sprinting drills o Day 3 Symptom Free Sport specific sprinting drills o Day 4 Symptom Free Regular practice o Day 5 Symptom Free Game play Things to remember: • No concussion is the same. This progression may not occur in this exact order. • There is no return to play on the day a concussion is sustained. • There must be at least a 48 hour wait period before the 12 hours of symptom free • If any symptoms reoccur during any phase of the next few days, the progression jumps

backwards to the last phase of the progression • Each step takes 24 hours • Persistent recurrent symptoms require returning to complete rest and reevaluation by physician • The entire protocol will take a minimum of 7 days • The athlete must see a doctor prior to returning to play

MRSA INFORMATION

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of infection caused by Staph bacteria that is resistant to some common antibiotics such as penicillin. Staph and MRSA are spread by close contact either through direct physical contact with an infected individual or by touching objects contaminated with the bacteria. In most cases, MRSA infections are mild and can be treated successfully with proper hygiene and the appropriate antibiotics. The school athletic staff has a system that is aimed at the prevention of MRSA or other communal diseases. No athlete is allowed to house non-school issued clothing in their lockers (e.g., socks, shirts, shorts, or other personal items). The uniforms are washed weekly by staff with an enzyme-based detergent. The equipment, lockers, and locker room is sprayed 2-3 times a week with a disinfectant. The most important step that can be taken in the prevention of MRSA is to ensure that the athletes shower with soap immediately after each practice, game, or match. The system that the school has in place is consistent with all Fort Mill schools. Our staff is aware of the seriousness of this situation and we are all working together to ensure that our athletes remain safe. Useful Information: How can I prevent Staph or MRSA skin infections? Practice good hygiene: 1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. 3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages. 4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors. For more information on MRSA and its prevention, please go to this website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar mrsa ca public.html#8

Athletic Transportation Waiver

The school district recommends that a child travel to and from activities on a school activity bus due to safety and liability concerns. If you plan to pick up your child concluding an away game, then this form must be completed and given to the coach prior to your student athlete leaving the game. Parents may only sign out and transport their own children.

Name of athlete. _____________________________________ Date: __________

I understand that this form relinquishes school personnel and the school from the responsibility

of transporting your child.

I want to pick up my child from the game at _______________ on (date) ______________.

Parents Signature:________________________________________

Turn in copy to Coach.

FMSDMS Student Contact Information for Athletics

Student Name: _______________________________________________________

Home Phone: ________________________________________________________

Sport Participating In: ______________________________________________

Guardian Name (& Relationship):______________________________________

Mobile Phone: ______________________________________________________

Email Address: ___________________________________________________

Guardian Name (& Relationship): _____________________________________

Mobile Phone: _____________________________________________________

Email Address: ______________________________________________

EMERGENCY CONTACT IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE:

Name: _______________________________________________________

Relationship: ______________________________________________________

Cell Phone: _______________________________________________________

Food Allergies (this is used when providing snacks):

Please turn this in to your Coach or Team Parent at the team meeting.

Please sign and return to your coach ASAP

I, _______________________________ have read and understand all the rules and

guidelines set before me in the Fort Mill School District athletic policy which

includes eligibility requirements, disclosure of grades, items for competition,

transporting the team, extreme heat/cold, lightning, bus behavior, pick up of

athletes, insurance, locker room & equipment responsibility - and have read and

understand the attached concussion action plan. I also understand all of the

consequences of my actions according to that policy.

Student signature ______________________________ Date_______________

Parent signature ________________________________Date _______________

Please turn this in to your Coach or Team Parent at the team meeting.