Back

PRESEASON PARENT MEETING

The Blaine High School Athletic Department believes that a preseason parent meeting is crucial to the success of our athletic programs.  These meetings are conducted during the month of August for fall sports, late October for winter sports, and early February for spring sports.  The Athletic Director who provides a general look at the Athletic Department runs these meetings.  Then each sport is given the opportunity to individually meet with their parent group to discuss the rules and regulations, practice and game schedules, and other pertinent information specific to that program.

We highly suggest that at least one parent for every athlete wishing to participate attends each sport’s meeting.  It is important to understand that each individual sport may have different rules, regulations, and requirements to participate.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION

The very nature of athletic competition provides for potential risk and injury to occur.  Even with protective equipment, proper supervision, and sound instruction, injuries still do happen.  In extremely rare cases, even death could result.  All athletes and parents need to be aware of the potential hazards that exist within the athletic arena.  We in the Blaine High School Athletic Department will always do whatever we can to ensure that our athletes have a safe and healthy athletic experience.

PRE-TRYOUT ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST

Athletes and their parents have certain responsibilities to uphold even before a sport season/tryouts begin.  All of the following requirements must be satisfied before any student will be allowed to tryout, practice, or participate on an athletic team at Blaine High School.

• Blaine High School Athletic Eligibility Form.  This form must be completed in its entirety, signed by the parents/guardians and the physician, and submitted to the Athletic Director’s secretary.  Athletes must have a physical exam form on file in order to be cleared and eligible for athletic participation.  Physicals are good for 24 months, unless otherwise noted by a physician.  It is suggest that the physical exam be scheduled over the summer so the entire two school years will be cleared for athletic participation.  Physical exams are at the expense of the athlete.

1. Please take the time and make sure that all of the following have been completed:
1. The eight eligibility questions.
2. Risk of participation has been signed by athlete and parent/guardian and dated.
3. Athlete permission form.
4. Emergency Medical Authorization Form.
5. Extra-curricular Rules have been signed by athlete and parent/guardian and dated.

1. Pre-participation History.  (Should be completed before physical exam)

1. Physical Examination Form.

1. ASB Card.  The Associated Student Body provides our athletic program with money for various things.  All athletes must purchase an ASB Card before allowed to participate in a sport program.  This Card is good for the calendar school year and only needs to be purchased once.

1. Uniform and Equipment from Past Season.  Before an athlete will be allowed to participate (even tryout) in a new sport season, all equipment and uniforms from the previous season must be turned in to that coaching staff.

1. Meet Academic Requirements.  Academic eligibility is based on the previous semester’s grades.  (Fall and Winter sports – June; Spring sports – January.)  A participant is eligible by meeting on of the following:
1. Pass all classes with a minimum 1.7 GPA
2. Fail 1 class with a 2.0 GPA or higher

    Any participant who is not passing 5 of 6 classes will be ineligible for one season.  *If a participant is ineligible for the fall season but want to participate in the winter season, grades will be checked at the quarter to determine winter eligibility.

    A participant not meeting one of these standards may appeal to the Athletic Director or Vice Principal.  A participant is granted two (2) appeals in their high school career with only one (1) appeal per school year.

SPORT TRYOUTS

• All Pre-tryout Checklist Eligibility items must have been completed and turned in
• All athletes should be given a fair and equitable tryout evaluation
• Coaches should utilize an evaluation tool in order to keep track of strengths and weaknesses of those trying out for their sport.  Each head coach should have a tryout checklist available for athletes and parents to preview.
• Efforts evaluated over the tryout period are the most important factors used to determine team selection.  Out of season workouts, camps, or other sport participation are not considered as criteria for selecting team rosters.
• Not everyone who tries out for a team will make it through to the final selection process.  Coaches are responsible for selecting final team rosters and determining playing time during the season.

TEAM SELECTION

Choosing the members of athletic teams is the sole responsibility of the head coach and the coaching staff.  Junior varsity and “C” Squad coaches must take into consideration the policies established by the head coach in each particular program when selecting team members.

Prior to trying out, the head coach shall provide the following information to all candidates for the team:

• Extent of the tryout period.
• Criteria used to select the team.
• Number of student/athletes to be selected.
• Practice commitment for those who make the team.
• Game commitments.

Each candidate shall have a minimum of three practice sessions to tryout.  Illness and injury to a student/athlete during a tryout period must not be held against the student/athlete, but the coach must make a fair judgment about time restrictions for tryouts.

PRACTICE SESSIONS

Practice sessions may be closed to spectators at the discretion of the coaches.  These sessions are the equivalent of a teacher’s classroom and there is real instruction taking place.  Interference and interruptions to an athlete’s concentration and focus in practice cannot be allowed any more than a disruption would be tolerated in an academic classroom.  Coaching should not be compromised.

Practice Sessions:

• May last up to, but not more than two and one half hours (after tryouts).
• May start and end at different times due to the schedule of coaches and or availability of our facilities.
• Will not be held when school is dismissed early due to inclement weather.
• Will not be held when school is closed due to inclement weather.
• May be held in the evenings, on weekends, and over holiday break periods.
• No Sunday practices allowed without Athletic Director’s approval.
• Attendance is mandatory.  Lateness will not be tolerated.

SPORT TRANSFER/CHANGING TEAMS

In fairness to coaches and team members, an athlete can leave one team and join another but only after the following guidelines have been satisfied.

• Any player cut from a team during or at the end of tryouts may immediately tryout for another team with the permission of the coach.  All uniform and equipment obligations must be met before approval can be given.
• The athlete must make a written request to transfer.
• Both coaches must approve the transfer by signing the request.
• The request is then sent to the Athletic Director for final approval.
• The request must be done within the first 3 weeks of a season.
• Any athlete removed from a team is not eligible for a transfer.

As per the WIAA, practices in one sport cannot be transferred toward the number of practices required in another sports.  Thus, when an athlete changes teams, he/she must start all over on the required pre-contest practices needed for the new sport.

TOURNAMENT PLAY

It is the goal of all our athletic programs to qualify for tournament play.  Team(s) qualifying for the state tournament will have their accommodations and meals paid for.  The following are the guidelines concerning state tournament play:

• Accommodations  

a.  Arrangements for accommodations will be made by the

     Athletic Director.

1. 4 athletes per room/ 2 coaches per room.
2. Coaches are responsible for half the room cost if spouse stays in room.

*Hotel/Motel accommodations are only for state tournament play that occurs further than 100 miles from Blaine High School.  Hotel accommodations are for state competition only.  Participating at regionals is considered part of the state playoff bracket.

1. Meal Money
1. The head coach must fill out a travel expense form listing all participants (players, coaches, managers, statisticians) and turn it into the Athletic Director.
2. Participants will be provided money for lunch and dinner.  In arranging accommodations every effort will be made to house participants in motel/hotel with continental breakfast.
3. Coach is responsible for keeping receipts for all meals.
4. Receipts and excess money must be turned into ASB secretary upon return.