INTRODUCTION
The greatest power we have is the Power to Choose. Participation in athletics is a choice. Being an athlete requires a great deal of time, hard work, discipline, and dedication. Athletes are in the arena, and more visible than most students. Their actions and performance are a reflection upon our school and community. Any athlete, in order to be successful, must make sacrifices. Flour Bluff Athletes are special people with high expectations.
Contained in this handbook is information important to athletes at
Flour
Bluff
High School
and their parent’s. Read it carefully. Remember, Head
Coaches
may set higher or more detailed standards within their sport.
The final page of this booklet requires signatures and should be returned to your coach.
Best of luck, do your best, and have fun.
HORNET PLEDGE
I promise to play the game with great courage and persistence.
I will take responsibility for my actions and never make excuses.
I will do my best in athletics, academics, and in life.
I will make a sincere effort to make strong choices.
I will be a TEAM player in victory or defeat.
I promise to support my teammates and treat them like family.
ALMA MATER
Dear Ole’
Flour
Bluff
High School
We pay you honor today
We will tell the world that your honor will stay
All hail to those that came before us
And made us so strong
We will never falter or DO YOU WRONG!
FLOUR BLUFF ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
MISSIO
N S
TATEMENT
Through a variety of interscholastic sports and allied activities, we intend to create a positive arena for young people to develop skills, attitudes, and attributes that will cause them to become strong, forthright, competitive leaders as adults.
Philosophy of Athletics in Education
Interscholastic sports are an integral part of the overall school curriculum. Athletics are inherently educational and conform to the goals, values, and stated purpose of the school district. As coaches we concern ourselves with motivating each athlete to secure the finest possible education. We demand a commitment to excellence in athletics. Hopefully, we can help our athletes learn to transfer that commitment to real life. Athletes learn that dedication, sacrifice, and hard work are necessary ingredients in performing any task leading to success.
Athletes in our program are in a unique position. They are part of a team and must learn to work and function effectively within a system composed of a diversity of personalities and an assortment of obstacles. Athletes also learn that they occupy a very visible role and must conduct themselves with character, poise, integrity, humility and honor at all times.
Coaches must always be aware of the tremendous influence of their position. Parents entrust their children to the coach’s charge.
Coaches
teach by example and attempt to cultivate young people into responsible and successful citizens.
Our program is built around the following objectives:
1. Contribute to the development and well-rounded maturity in the student athlete.
2. Train student athletes for leadership and partnership.
3. Encourage student athletes to achieve academic success.
4. Improve the student athletes’ awareness of the importance of self-discipline and commitment in all areas of his life.
5. Develop, refine and teach ethical values.
6. Teach the practice of excellence in competition.
7. Teach the student athlete about the importance of a positive attitude in every aspect of their life.
1. Always put team success ahead of individual glory.
2. Create, maintain and promote strong team morale or the athlete may be removed from the program.
3. Be worthy of the privilege and responsibility to represent your school in athletic contests.
4. Check schedules, be prompt.
5. Always be sincere and loyal to your team, school, teachers, and coaches.
6. Maintain the highest scholastic grades possible. Your eligibility to participate in the athletic programs depends on you passing each of your academic courses.
7. Realize at all times that the examples you set at home, in the community, in the classroom, on the playing field, court etc. earn you respect. Remember, respect is earned, not given.
DISCIPLINE
No athlete can be his best without self-discipline. A great deal of self-sacrifice is involved. At times, it becomes necessary for discipline to come from the coach. There are three levels of discipline used in our program, depending upon the nature, severity or reoccurrence of the problem. It is our intent to be extremely fair and consistent with our athletes. If you have a question, contact the coach or the athletic director.
TYPES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION
1. Extra Duty or Temporary Suspension
2. Suspension from the sport for the season.
3. Expulsion from the athletic program.
Parents will be notified in cases involving suspension or expulsion. Every effort will be made to head off any problem before it becomes serious enough for suspension. However, serious misconduct, use of illicit drugs, or use of alcohol will result in immediate suspension.
CONDUCT
Athletes should conduct themselves with class at all times. This means in school, in the community, and during competition. Classroom misconduct by an athlete may result in additional consequences from the coach. Good sportsmanship is imperative. Fighting, public displays of temper, pouting, and insubordination constitute unsportsmanlike conduct and will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
ATHLETES WHO QUIT A SPORT
Any athlete who quits is not allowed to participate in another sport until the completion of the sport he/she quits. This includes participation in practice or games. Exceptions will be allowed by mutual consent of the athletic director and coaches involved.
GRADES
The primary objective of all students is to gain an education. Academic progress and conduct in the classroom are very important and will be checked periodically. Athletes who fall behind in their class work or receive misconduct marks will be penalized. Education comes first. “No Pass, No Play.” Unless otherwise instructed by the coach, athletes that are ineligible because of failing grades are expected to be at practice.
ATTENDANCE
Be in class and on time. If a player must miss an athletic class, he/she must notify the coach in advance. Absences will not be excused unless they involve illness or death in the family. Missed time will be made up as prescribed by the coach.
TRAVEL
Students who participate in school sponsored trips shall be required to ride in transportation provided by the school to and from the event. Exception may be made if the student’s parent or guardian personally requests that the student be allowed to ride with the parent. A written request submitted to the principal the day before a scheduled trip may allow a student to ride with an adult desig
nate
d by the parent. This request must be presented to the principal by a parent. The district shall not be liable for any injuries that occur to students riding in vehicles not provided by the school.
When going out of town, buses will leave promptly. Be on time.
Athletes that will be picked up after a contest by their parents should inform their parents of an expected “pick-up” time before leaving.
UNIFORMS AND SCHOOL EQUIPMENT
Most equipment is furnished, but athletes provide their own shoes. If you have a question about style or type, check with the coach.
Practice clothing issued to each athlete should be worn at all practices. Practice clothes will be kept in assigned lockers, washed at school, and worn only at school. These clothes should not leave campus, unless otherwise instructed by the coach.
Game uniforms are your responsibility throughout the season. The best care is encouraged. As a general rule use cold water with no bleach, and hang to dry rather than high heat. If you lose anything that belongs to the school, you will be required to reimburse the school for the replacement of the item.
PHYSICALS
All athletes must have a physical turned into the trainer before practicing or playing. Physicals, for a nominal fee, will be provided at the varsity gym each spring. A notice will be sent home with date, time, and amount. Physicals by a family doctor are certainly allowed, but please stop by the office for the U.I.L. form.
INSURANCE
Flour
Bluff
Independent
School District
provides a secondary insurance policy for all participants in extracurricular activities. It is intended as a supplemental policy. In the event of an injury requiring professional treatment, parental insurance should be filed first. Any additional bills will be filed through student activity insurance.
If there is not a primary carrier, the school’s athletic policy will be filed on. This policy provides limited coverage and any bills not covered by student activity insurance will be the responsibility of the parents.
To file a claim, please contact the Athletic Trainer at 694-9295 or the Athletic Office 694-9276.
ISS – IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Athletes placed in ISS are not allowed to practice or participate in contests until they have completed their ISS requirements.
WHAT YOUR COACHES EXPECT OF YOU:
We expect you to do something worth while with your life. We want you to have high expectations. Anticipate having a great day, a great practice, a great season, a great life.
WE EXPECT THE FOLLOWING THINGS FROM YOU:
1. To get an education.
2. To give your total effort, to make the most of what you’ve got.
3. To give unselfishly towards your teammates
4. To practice to the best of your ability.
5. To be totally honest in all your dealings.
6. To be extremely loyal to your school, administration, teachers, coaches teammates, families and friends.
7. To be prompt.
8. To be courteous.
9. To always encourage and be enthusiastic.
10. To be able to be coached.
11. NEVER say “CAN’T”.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR COACHES:
1. To be loyal to you in all areas.
2. To be totally honest.
3. To provide the leadership and training necessary to achieve our goals.
4. To work you harder than you have ever worked before.
5. To assist you in any way possible now and after you graduate.
6. To treat you as an adult and respect you.
7. To make all decisions predicated on what is best for the team first, then the individual.
8. To do everything within our power to improve our facilities and make this the best place in
Texas
to go to school and be an athlete.
9. To help you mature and grow.
10. To help you reach your goals.
11. To NEVER say “CAN’T”.
U.I.L. General Eligibility Rules
Eligibility rules are found in Section 400 of the Constitution and Contest Rules. Any questions regarding a student's eligibility, should be addressed to the school principal and /or superintendent. Residence requirements according to Sections 400 (d) 440, and 442 should be thoroughly investigated for any student new to school.
Students are eligible to represent their school in varsity interscholastic activities if they:
- Are not 19 years of age or older on or before September 1 of the current scholastic year. (See 504 handicapped exception.)
- Have not graduated from high school
- Are enrolled by the sixth class day of the current school year or have been in attendance for fifteen calendar days immediately preceding a varsity contest.
- Are full-time day students in a participant high school
- Live with their parents inside the school district attendance zone their first year of participation (Parent residence applies to varsity athletic eligibility only.) When the parents do not reside inside the district attendance zone the student could be eligible if: the student has been in continuous attendance for at least one calendar year and has not enrolled in another school; no inducement is given to the student to attend the school (for example: students or their parents must pay their room and board when they do not live with a relative; students driving back into the district should pay their own transportation cost); and it is not a violation of local school or TEA policies for the student to continue attending the school. Students placed by the Texas Youth Commission are covered under Custodial Residence (see Section 442 of the Constitution and Contest Rules).
- Have observed all provisions of the Awards Rule
- Have not represented a college in a contest
- Have not been recruited. (Does not apply to college recruiting as permitted by rule.)
- Initially enrolled in the ninth grade not more than four calendar years ago
- Are meeting academic standards required by state law
- Have not violated any provision of the summer camp rule. Incoming 10-12 grade students shall not attend a baseball, basketball, football, soccer, or volleyball camp in which a seventh through twelfth grade coach from their school district attendance zone. Works with, instructs, transports or registers that student in the camp. Students who will be in grades 7,8, and 9 may attend one baseball, one basketball, one football, one soccer, one softball, and one volleyball camp in which a coach from their school district attendance zone is employed for no more than six consecutive days each summer in each type of sports camp. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Softball, and Volleyball camps where school personnel work with their own students may be held in May, after the last day of school, June, July and August prior to the second Monday in August. If such camps are sponsored by the school district personnel, they must be held within the boundaries of the school district and the superintendent or his designee shall approve the schedule of fees.
- Have observed all provisions of the Athletic Amateur Rule. Students may not accept money or other valuable consideration (items which are wearable, salable or usable) for participating in any athletic sport during any part of the year. Athletes shall not allow their names to be used for the promotion of any product, plan or service. Students who inadvertently violate the amateur rule by accepting valuable consideration may regain athletic eligibility by returning the valuable consideration. If individuals return the valuable consideration within 30 days after they are informed of the rule violation, they regain their athletic eligibility when they return it. If they fail to return it within 30 days, they remain ineligible for one year from when they accepted it. During the period of time from when students receive valuable consideration until they return it, they are ineligible for all varsity athletic competition. Minimum penalty for participating in a contest while ineligible is forfeiture of the contest.
- Did not change schools for athletic purposes
- A student in basketball or swimming may take a paid visit for purpose of recruiting prior to November 1 (soccer until January l) and then after the end of that season for that student
- Self-financed trips/tickets. There is no limit to self-financed college trips (all expenses paid by student/parents). Students may accept admission (through a pass gate-no tickets being given) to collegiate athletic events during self-financed trips.
- Scholarships. Letter of intent (including agreement and scholarship guarantee) may be signed any time during the school year by seniors providing no valuable consideration is received until the student enters the school. Note: Colleges may be restricted as to "signing dates" for players by NCAA, NAIA, NJCM or other college/university rules.
- Have not enrolled in or audited an athletic or physical education college course.
Texas
UIL
College
Tryout Rules
An individual is eligible to participate in a League varsity athletic contest as representative of a participant school if he/she has not participated in a college or university athletic practice session or test to reveal or demonstrate athletic ability. Any contest at which a higher admission fee is charged to college coaches than is charged to parents or other adults is considered to be a college tryout. Exception: For purposes of receiving an athletic scholarship, seniors may participate in college or university athletic tryout to test or reveal athletic ability under the following conditions:
- Seniors shall not try out in a sport until after the U.I.L. season in that sport
- Seniors shall not participate in a tryout on school time
- Seniors must have permission from one parent/guardian, the in-season varsity coach, and school principal
- Seniors shall participate in no more than one tryout session per institution and not more than five tryouts in one sport
- Seniors may practice with or against college athletics except in football contact activities
- U.I.L, member school facilities shall not be used
- Schools or coaches shall not provide transportation, equipment or defray expenses for seniors attending college tryouts.
- Seniors may tryout on the campus of the college that is offering the scholarship, and the tryout must be supervised by institution
- Seniors may tryout for an athletic scholarship at a location other than a college campus provided the tryout is open to any senior who whishes to apply and provided there is no charge for services or products to the student.
Penalty: Loss of varsity eligibility in all high school sports for one year.
LETTER JACKET CRITERIA
Students may receive only one jacket award during their attendance at
Flour
Bluff
High School
.
Football
- Participate in at least 16 quarters during the season
- Letter all seniors that complete the season, if they have been in the program at least two years
Boys Basketball
- Must play at least half the season on the varsity
- Must finish the season as an eligible participant
Girls Basketball
- One year on the varsity team or a member for at least half the season
Volleyball
- If a freshman, must be on the varsity and make the all-district team or receive one of the major district awards
- If a sophomore or above, must be on the varsity and play in at least half of the varsity matches
Baseball
- Must play at least half the season on the varsity
- Letter all seniors that have been in the program for two consecutive years
Softball
- Players must enter or play in at least one half of the total games played during the season. Any type of participation in the game is an entry.
- Be a member of the varsity team for two years
Boys and Girls Track
- Must earn fifteen points during the season in a varsity division
- Must earn one point at the District Meet
Cross Country
- Must compete in five meets (seniors seven) at the varsity level
- Must compete in the District Meet at the varsity level
Athletic Trainers
- Must be in the program for 2 years
- Must not have suspensions or disciplinary problems
- Must not have failed more than two six weeks during a calendar year
Team Tennis
- Must compete in half of the District round robin dual meets for 2 years
- Must compete in the varsity district tournament for two years
- Exception to the two year rule: The player meets the above competition requirements and advances to the regional tournament during the same year
Individual Tennis
- Must compete in half of the school year sponsored varsity tournaments for two years
- Must compete in the varsity district tournament for two years
- Exception to the two year rule: The player meets the above competition requirements and advances to the regional tournament during the same year
Swimming
- Must earn 25% of the number of points possible in the meets scheduled for the team
- Must own a school individual event record
- Must place in the top six at regional championships in an individual event
- First year: Place in the top three at district championships in an individual event
- Second year: Place in the top six at district championships in an individual event
- Must be an active participant on the team for three years
Girls and Boys Soccer
- Must be in the soccer program and play 75% of the total games at the varsity level or play 75% of the total number of games of the varsity team that makes the playoffs
The Athletic Director reserves the right to champion anyone who cannot meet one of the requirements.
The Athletic Director may also deny anyone that does not meet code of conduct or eligibility requirements.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Athletic Office, Terri Thomson ……………………………………694-9276
Athletic Office Fax .……………………………...........................…694-9811
Athletic Trainers, Dan Strukel .....…………………………………694-9295
Football Coaches Office ……………….........................…………694-9255
Boy’s Gym …………….………...........................…………………694-9014
Girl’s Gym …………….……............................……………………694-9018
Swimming ……………..………...........................…………………694-9023
Tennis ………………..........................….…………………………694-9722
Baseball ………………...…........................………………………694-9747
Softball …….........................…………...……………….…………694-9748
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Athletics Program