HALF HOLLOW HILLS COACHING COMMITMENT FORM

All Goaches Employed By The Half Hol low Hi l ls Central School Distr ict Are Expected To Accept The Fol lowingResponsibilities As Part Of Their Coaching Assignment:

.STRICT/SECTION/STATE POLICY

Famil iar ize themselves with the Half Hol low Hi l ls Interscholast ic Athlet ic Guide, the Half Hol low Hi l lsStudent/Athlete-Parent Interscholastic Athletic Guide, the NYSPHSAA Handbook, and the Section Xl Directory(Varsi ty Coaches), and abide by al l pol ic ies and procedures as out l ined in these handbooks and quides.

PRESEASON MAN DATORY M EETINGS

Attend preseason mandatory Section Xl Rules Interpretation Meetings and the mandatory Half Hollow Hills DistrictStaff Meetings. Dates, times, and sites will be posted in advance. Coaches who cannot attend these meetinosmust notify the District Director of Athletics in advance of the meeting.

PRACTICE AN D SCHEDULING EXPECTATIONS

Begin practices on the first available date as established by Section Xl policy. The required number of practicesmust be met prior to the first opening contest. Coaches are expected to practice on each school day. As aguideline, coaches at the Junior Varsity and Varsity level are expected to provide adequate practice opportunityduring holidays, vacation periods, and Saturdays (as allowed by State, Section Xl, and District policy), in order toensure that teams are properly prepared for competition. A record of all team and individual practices shall bekept by the Head Coach in every program, at every level. Middle School teams are expected to practice on all^^L^^r '^"^ and shall be prepared to practice on weekends and holiday vacation periods when necessary,>ur l \JUr udys,

especially in meeting practice mandates.

All staff members shall be prepared to practice or compete through the last playing date as defined by the SectionXl calendar, which is level specific. A postponed game on the last playing date of the season is expected to be^r^"^! ^ '^ '^ter date, i f t ime al lows for such within the parameters of ihe Sect ion Xl def ined start and f inish dates.PrdyEu dr a ta

Make certain that the athletes on your team are prepared for this.

Coaches of outdoor fall and spring sports should prepare an alternative indoor practice whenever possible on dayswhen inclement weather prevents an outdoor practice or contest. This may also include a chalkboard session, ora condit ioning pract ice, as determined by the avai labi l i ty of faci l i t ies. Coaches of sports sharing an indoor faci l i tyshould plan practice before or after another team's scheduled contest.

Coaches shal l communicate effect ivelywith Bui lding Administrators regarding the use of bui lding and scheduledpractices, especially on non school days during the summer, weekends, or holiday periods. Coaches must makecertain that the Bui lding is opened, and pract ice is approved in advance, by the Bui lding Administrator, on al l nonschool days.

RECRUITING OF ATHLETES/PROMOTION OF PROGRAM

Provide information to studenVathletes about physical examinat ions, team try-outs, and team guidel ines, wel l inadvance of the season. High School Coaches are expected io hold three preseason meetings. The first shall beone season in advance for high school athletes, the second is one season in advance for middle school athletes,and the third to be two weeks prior to the start date (exception for fall coaches). High School staff members donot have to hold the middle school meeting if appropriate information was already given to 7thl8th grade athletesat another t ime (middle school part ic ipat ion cl in ic, etc.) Middle School Coaches should run a preseason meetingone season in advance of the siart date, and another, one to two weeks prior to the start date (exception for fallcoaches). l t is the coaches responsibi l i ty to recrui t interested athletes, and promote part ic ipat ion in the program.

FALL STARTAll fal l coaches, middle school and high school, are expected to send mai l ings and Updated Health History Forms(green forms) home during the summer to all interested athletes, giving them pertinent information that willprepare them for the first day of tryouts. Athletes are to be prepared to start practice on the first date as indicatedby the Section Directory.

EAM ROSTERS

All Coaches should turn in their completed Team Rosters to their Bui lding Coordinators one week after the seasonbegins. Fal l High School Coaches can turn in theirrosterno laterthan the Fr idayafterthe opening of school . In

A

addit ion to the Team Roster, al l Fal l Coaches must also turn in signed green forms as wel l , Make certain that the

Team Roster is printed, alphabetical, and last name, first, as this is considered to be a legal document. Fall

coaches should sort out the green forms so they maich up alphabetically with the Team Roster. Please note ihat

addit ions can be made once the ini t ia l roster has be cleared by the same process. Do not l ist athletes on your

roster wno you are expecting to come out, after the fact. List only those that are currently active, and on the

field/court with You.

UNIFORM ISSUE AND COLLECTION

Collect all practice uniforms during the last practice session, all "away'' uniforms immediately after the completion

of the contest on ihe road, and al l "home" uniforms immediately after the last home contest. Coaches areaccountable for every item in therr inventory, and are responsible for doing a preseason and post season count ofthe ent ire inventory (al l inclusive). Coaches should make thorough attempts at col lectrng al l i tems in the inventory,and not i fythe parentof indebtedness. Inform athletesthatdo notreturn an i tem, orpayfor ihe i tem, that theywi l lbe suspended from furlher participation in the interscholastic athletic program until they resolve the indebtedness.Furthermore, an athlete that is indebted should not be given a certificate or an athletic award until the item is

returned and paid for. Once the inventory meeting has been held with the Director of Athletics, athletes andparents must be told to resolve their debt at Central Office, not at building level.

A coach shal l not hand out any uniform, or protect ive equipment unless the i tem has been numbered, recorded onihe back of the emergency white medical card, and signed for by the athlete. Cards of al l indebted athletes wi l l bereturned to the athletic office at the end of the season, with final paperwork.

RECON DITIONING/CHECK OUT

At the end of the season, prepai'e the inventory that is io be sent to the reconditioner, or stored with the BuildingCoordinator in appropriate storage closets. Check out with the Bui lding Coordinator in a t imely manner. Do nothand in your f inal season paperwork and ask the Bui lding Coordinator to check you out on the last day of school,or after another sport season begtns.

Complete al l administrat ive papenruork to be submitted for End of Season Payment in a t imely manner, no longerthan two weeks after your last competition. Send all paperwork to the Athletic Office, and call to make anappointment for an End of Season Meeiing. All forms, completed inventories (including requests for next year,qizoc nrrmha;s, colors, and new specif icat ions), indebted forms, and cards must be received pr ior to rneappointment. End of Season pay authorizat ion wi l l not take place unt i l a l l papenvork and responsibi l i t ies havebeen comoleted.

ON.GOING COMMUNICATION WITH PLAYERS

Provide players with the opportunities to be selected for County Awards, as well as providing the players withrnnrnnriaro ;nformation concerning the HHH Awards Presentat ions, the Al l -County Dinner, Al l -Star or Except ionalSenior Games and Tryouts, Empire State Game Tryouts, and out of season club and community progremopportunit ies (summer camps, summer league, AAU or CYO opportunit ies, etc.) .

COLLEGIATE OPPORTU N ITIESProvide guidance wherever possible to those talented and dedicated athletes who wish to pursue their athletic^^'+r^;^^+:^^ at the col legiate level. Coaches should advise athletes in the select ion of schools ihat match theirPdr LrurPdLrwr | (

competitive ability, and communicate with college coaches on their behalf . Coaches are expected to write writtenrecommendations where appropriate and provide scholarship andior admission assistance where appl icable andappropriate. Also be certain to make the students award of the NCAA Clearinghouse Regulat ions.Communicat ion with parents with respect to these issues is essent ial .

APPROVED PRE.SEASON PRACTICE FORMAT FOR VAR. JV. JVg FOOTBALL

1. Tlre first 3 days of practice must be non-contact, without protective pads and without blocking sleds and

other blocking devices'

2. The next 3 days provides a transition from the conditioning phase to full contact, shoulder pads along with

the use of blocking dummies, sleds, and simi lar devices are permit ted.

3. Tlre fol lowing 5 days consist of contaci pract ices with ful l protect ive equipment and use of t raining devices.

4. Six addit ional pract ices must be held pr ior to the f i rsf interschool contest. lnterschool scr immages maycommence on the 12th day. The minimum t ime between interschoolfootbal l scr immages shal l be 2 days.

5. Total Days Required: 17 Team; 17 Individual Al l individuals must complete the f i rst 6 days pr ior topart ic ipat ing in ful l contact dr i l ls.

Scr immages permit ted on day 12, contests on day 18.

APPROVED PRE-SEASON PRACTICE FORMAT FOR MODIFIED FOOTBALL -

LEVELS. A and B

1. The f i rst 3 days of pract ice sessions must be non-contact exercise, and equipment shal l be l imited to thehelmet, face mask, dentalprotect ion device, T shir t , supporter, shorts, ankle supports, socks, shoes,protective pads for elbow and/or knee areas.

2. During the next 5 days the addit ion of shoulder pads, along with the use of blocking dummies, sleds, andother simi lar teaching and training devices is permissible. No scr immages or l ive contact dr i l ls are al lowed.

3. The next 7 days shall consist of contact with full protective equipment and the use of training devices.

4. Scrimmages are permitted on the 16th day. Five additional practice days must be held prior to the firstcontest.

NEXT AVAILABLE DATE

In all sports, a postponed VARSITY contest must be played on the "Next Available Date". The "Nexi Available Date" isdef ined as the next a 'rai lable weekday (M-F) on which a contest has not previously been scheduled by ei ther team.Saturdays and Sundays may be used by mutual agreement. (5122190)

IN ORDER TO COMPLETE A LEAGUE SEASON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY MANDATE ANY DAY EXCEPTSUNDAY AS THE NEXT AVAILABLE DATE DURING THE LATTER PART OF A SEASON. HOWEVER, THE MAXIMUMNUMBER OF LEAGUE GAMES PER WEEK (AS LISTED lN THE SPORT SPECIF|C EXCEPTIONS TO THtS pOLtCy)

MAY NOT BE EXCEEDED' Non-league contests wi l l be vacated by the direct ion of the Execut ive Director in cooperat ionwith the chair of the sport i f i t becomes necessary to complete a league season.

PENALTY: FAILURE OF A SCHOOL TO COMPLY WITH THE NEXT AVAILABLE DATE POLICY WILL RESULT INFORFEITURE. IF BOTH OPPOSING SCHOOLS WILL NOT COMPLY. BOTH SCHOOLS WILL BE ASSESSED ALOSS.

For contests in Section-wide sports:

A DATE WHICH IS VACATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCOMMODATING A SCHOOL'S PROM OR AN ENTIREGRADE LEVEL TRIP AND IDENTIFIED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES WILL NOT BECONSIDERED A NEXT AVAILABLE PLAYING DATE.

When extraordinary circumstances (hurr icanes, snowstorms, power outages, etc.) preclude a team from pract ic ing on four-_rn_ap consecutive days, the Executive Director may waive the "next available date" rule to allow for one day of practice.

,c114196)

t2

Fol lowing are the sport specif ic except ions:

^a$ell

reams are not mandated to play more than four league games in a calendar week except to satisfy playoff deadlines.

League games must take precedence over non-league games after the second (2nd) week of the league schedule.

Basketbal l , Field Hockev. Lacrosse, and Soccer

Teams are not nrandated to PlaY:

1. League contests on more than two consecutive days.

2. More than three league games per week (running Monday - Saturday).

3. More than four league games during the last week of the season. These may not be played on more ihantwo consecutive ciavs.

Footbal l

I l f there is a Sect ion-wide bye week on the fol lowing Saturday, a rescheduled game may be played at anyt inre during the bye week.

2. A Thursday or Fr iday game must be played no later than the fol lowing Monday.

Gvmnast ics

Teams are not mandated to play:

1. League contests on more than two consecutive days.

2. More than three league games per week (running Monday - saturday).

Softbal l

Teams are not mandated to play:

'l . More than four league games per week.

2. League contests on more than three consecut ive days.

Except ions to this may be made during the last week of the season to sat isfy playoff deadl ines.

Swimming - Teams are not mandated to swim:

1' League contests on consecutive days except when necessary to complete the season.

2' More than three league contests per week except when necessary to complete the season.

Tennis

Teams are not mandated to play more than four league games in a calendar week (Monday - Saturday) except to sat isfyplayoff deadl ines.

Wrestlinq

The "Next Available Dates" for wrestling are:

From Tuesday matches - no later than Thursday.

From Wednesday matches - no later than Friday.

'om Thursday matches - no later than Tuesday.

From Friday matches - no later than Tuesdav.

13

Monday is not to be used as the "NAD" for wrestling.

Teams are q! mandated to wrestle:

1. League contests on more than two consecutive days'

2. More than three league meets per week (running Monday-Saturday)'

ln order to conrplete the season, more than three league meets may be conducted during the last uleek of the season.These nray not be conducted on more than two consecutive days.

Regular scheduled mult i - team non-league events involving more than three varsi ty teams wi l l be considered as leaguecontests in the i rnplementat ion of this pol icy.

Track and Cross Countrv

The "NAD" for these sports is defined as the next available weekday, Monday - Thursday on which a contest lras notpreviously been scheduled by either team.

NOTES:

1. In part icular instances, i f athlet ic directors cannot agree on a "next avai lable date", the matter is io bereferred to the sport chair and the Executive Director for a resolution.

2. Schools may mutual ly agree to reschedule the contest ear l ier than prescr ibed by this pol icy

Teams are not mandated to compete:

1 . On consecutive days except when necessary to complete the season.

2. More than three t imes per week (Monday - Saturday).

1AL+

SECTION XI POLICY FOR SCHEDULING AND CHANGES

-:HEDULES

1 . An opportunity to make changes and additions is provided to schools when the Section Xl officeassembles and distributes correction schedules. The schedules MUST be checked. lt is important allc l ranges be made pr ior to the establ ished deadl ine.

2. Accepted practice dictates that:a) al l date changes must be mutual ly agreed upon.b) host schools must not i fy vis i t ing schools of changes in t imes, si tes, etc.c) the Section accepts changes only from HOST SCHOOLS.

3. SCHOOLS FAILING TO SUBMIT CORRECTIONS MAY NOT HAVE OFFICIALS ASSIGNED TOHOME CONTESTS.

4. From the t ime assignments are f inal ized to the day when schedules are distr ibuted to schools, changeWILL NOT be accepted by the Section Xl Office.

5. f inal ized schedules ( indicat ing off ic ial assignments) must be thoroughly checked by each athlet ic directorto confirm all reouested chanqes and additions.

CHANGES

Changes in schedules made after officials have been assigned create problems.PLEASE NOTE:

1. The Sect ion Xl Off ice must be not i f ied immediately by the home school of al l changes, postponements,cancellations, etc. Even a half hour time change is importantl Confirm new date and time with opponentand NOTIFY SECTION Xl OF THE CHANGE by phone BEFORE CONTACTING THE OFFICIALS.(Follow up with written notification).

2. The home school MUST INFORM OFFICIALS OF THE CHANGE AND ADVISE THEM TO GONTACTSECTION Xl FOR REASSIGNMENT. Schools are requested NOT to inform off ic ials of the rescheduleddate. The decision as to whether officials will remain with the contest will be made by Section Xl.

3. The home school should CONTACT SECTION Xl ON THE DAY BEFORE THE NEW DATE FOR THENAMES OF THE REASSIGNED OFFICIALS FOR THE CHANGED CONTEST.

When scheduled off ic ials do not report to the contest, al l coaches of modif ied, f reshmen, and juniorvarsi ty teams are expected to play the scheduled contest as a scr immage. Don't go home and waste aday of competitive play.

Varsi ty coaches are not expected to play a scheduled league or div is ion contest without appropriateofficials. Varsityr coaches are to call the Athletic Office and/or the Section Xl Office before walking awayfrom the contest if an official does not report to the site.

INTERSCHOOL SCRIMMAGE/PRACTICE SESSION

A scr immage, as def ined by the NYSPHSAA, is an interschool practrce session. ln pract ice sessions/scr immages

1. both squads use the same field simultaneously with both coaches making corrections and givinginstruct ions to players as they would during their own pract ice,

2. no official score is kept,3. no definite time is set for scrimmage periods,4. no admission is charged,5. no spectators are permit ted unless such is the usual plan whenever the squad has a pract ice.

15

Footbali scrimmages shall be governed by the following:

1.2.3./,

R

b.

no official score is kePt'no definite time is set or kePt,coaches are permitted on the field to provide instruction and make corrections'

different configurationi governing possession time and down and distance situations (than those normally

used in a game) may be used to govern play,unlimited time-outs and stoppagel of play are permitted and encouraged for the purpose of both providing

instruction and adequate resi periods'the use of officials would be permitted and encouraged whenever possible for the purpose of instruction

regarding the rules and proper appl icat ion of rules'no kickoffs are Permitted,punts and extra point kick attempts may involve live play until the ball is kicked. Punts may not be

advanced and all fumbled punts and muffs will be blown dead immediately,the total number of plays should be recorded to prevent an individual player from being involved in more

than a maximum of 90 l ive contact plays during the ent ire scr immage,no admission may be charged,the participation of student groups such as cheerleaders, bands, ktcklines, etc., are prohibited.

Half Hol low Hi l ls pol icv dictates that al l pract ice sessions and scr immages are closed.NOTE:

7,t1.

9.

1011

Spectators should not be permit ted to attend pract ices or scr immaqes. A scr immaqe is considered to bean instructional practice.

Spectators are encouraged to attend all scheduled contests. home and awav.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONTESTS ALLOWED BY SECTION XI

ease Note: The maximum number of contests listed below is a Section Xl mandate, which differs from the maximum,rlrmber of contests allowed by the NYSPHSAA. All coaches are expected to check their schedules, and make certain thatthey do not exceed the maximum number allowable by Section Xl standards. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture ofevery contest scheduled after the maximum number was played.

SPORT

Basebal lBasketbal lCross CountryField HockeyFootbal lGolfGymnast icsLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisTrackWinter TrackVol leybal lWrest l ing

*2 Pts./Tournament, '1

VARSITY

201B13totJ

171316to

20tc

17'16lc

20*20 Pts.

JV MODIFIED LEVEL (MS)

1917tz

IIO

'101081006

, , ; ;15 1019 10

16 12OB

19 '10" '19 Pts. 10

Pt/Dual Meet and 6 Tournaments Maximum (individual points).

rrack points are for each individual on the team.

1alo

2.

PRESEASON MEETING

All Varsity Head coaches and Middle School coaches are responsible for holding a preseason meeting for

interested high school athletes one season in advance of the start date. Fall coaches should hold this meeting

sometinre in May or ear ly June, winter coaches in September or October, and spring coaches in November, Have

a follow up meeting two weeks prior to the start of the season as well, for winter and spring sports. Tlrese

meetings should be publicized well in advance, and consideration should be given to those athletes involved with

another sports season. Make certain that athletes are advised of the medical clearance procedures and the time

l ine for physical examinat ions, etc.

Varsity or JV Coaches should also hold a separate preseason meeting at the middle school for all interested

Bth graders who will be coming up to participate in our Freshmen and/or JV programs. The best time to hold such

a meeting is at the conclusion of the middle school season. Many of our high school coaches host apart ic ipat ion cl in ic for middle school athletes during their competi t ive season, and this cl in ic provides thehigh school coach with a great opportunity to meet with middle school athletes, and prepare them for high schoolparticipation expeciations. Once again, discuss the time line with respect to tryouts, and medical clearanceprocedures.

Al l Fal l High School and Middle School Coaches: Send home green forms no later than June 30tn. Instructparents and athletes to complete and return the form on the first day of tryouts. Pick up the white clearance cardsfrom the Athletic Office immediately after the school year ends, and use these cards for communication purposes.Be sure to include appropriate tryout information (dates, s i tes, t imes), and any other information pert inent to

your program or activity. Advise the athlete of the importance to be in attendance, on the start date. For thoseteams who make cuts, let the athletes know that each year is a new year, and that our policy does not provide aplace on the team for those not in attendance at tryouts. All letters sent home to athletes must be approvedby the Director of Athlet ics, pr ior to the mai l ing.

t\4EDICAL CLEARANCE

1. The coach must have a white emerqencv medical card, s igned bv the Nurse (or the Director of Athlet ics).authorizing that athlete to participate in trvouts. Please pay close attention to the signature, and make certainthat the date of the physical examination appears on the card. Check to see that all of the required information islegible, especially the emergency contact numbers. Also review all of the cards carefully and note any medicalconcerns that may be listed on the card (e.9. asthma, allergies, medications, etc.).

Fal l Coaches: In addit ion to the siqned white medical card. vou must also have a completed qreen form,signed bv the parent, which provides an interval history update. lf an athlete indicates (answers Ayes@) that heor she has experienced a medical problem or concern since their last physical examination, the athlete may needadditional medical clearance from our school physician, and/or their private physician. lf anv answer of Aves@appears on the green form. please immediatelv not i fv the Director of Athlet ics. or the School Nurse. todetermine whether the athlete will need additional medical clearance.All green forms, even those from athletes who were cut at tryouts, or dropped from the team, must be turned in byJV and Varsi ty Coaches to the High School Bui lding Coordinator, at the t ime of roster clearance, and by the MiddleSchool Coaches to the School Nurse.

Exception for the Green Form:A Health History Update is not required if an athlete had a physical examinationwithin thirty days of the start date (note date of exam on white card).

NO ATHLETE MAY PARTICIPATE IN ANY ACTIVITY WITHOUT A SIGNED MEDICAL CLEARANCE CARD,AND FOR FALL SPORTS, AN UPDATED GREEN FORM (INTERVAL HEALTH HISTORY FORM), THERE ISNO EXCEPTION. THIS INCLUDES PHYSICAL CONDITIONING DRILLS.lf an athlete comes to tryouts and you do not have a signed white card, send the athlete to the School Nurse (orthe covering Distr ict Nurse during the summer vacat ion period). Do not take yel low physical examinat ion formsfrom the athlete. Instruct the athlete to return allforms to the School Nurse.

2.

t7

TRYOUTS/SELECTION PROCESS

PLANNING

Medical clearance: Make cer-tain that you have a White Emergency Medical Clearance card for any athlete

participating ,n yout tryouts. All fall athletes should have completed and returned a Updated Health History Form

(Green Form) to the coach, prior to tryouts'

Authorized Use of Facility: Also make certain that the Building Administrator knows when your team will be

tryrng our, and what facilities you will be using. Fill out a Request for Use of Facility Form@ in advance of ihe

tryouts. This wi l l a ler i the auitOing Administrat ion and Custodial Staff that you plan on using the bui lding.

PHILOSOPHY

Coaches should make certain that:

1) tryouts are open to all students'

2) tryout sessions are organized to ensure a good look@ at all athletes involved, and

3) criteria used for selection is "fair".

The tryout period should provide an opportunity for every athlete to be evaluated equitably, even when it is obviouswho the better athletes are. Each and every student should walk away from a tryout session clearly feeling thatthey were given fair consideration by the coach, even if they disagree with your final judgment. lf your program isone which makes cuis, concentrate more on ihose athletes who appear to be the weaker athletes, to make certainthat the athlete does not feel that the cut was predetermined. Make it clear that each and every year is a newyear, and that no athlete is guaranteed a spot on the roster, or playing time, based solely on the fact that theathlete participated in the program the season before. Also make it known that other factors, in addition to skill,impaci rn the selection process, and clearly define those factors.Establish criteria in advance of the tryouts, and ma.ke certain that all staff members involved understand thecriteria, and are prepared to run organized drills which will best identify those athletes that meet the criteria.Establish clear expectations fcr the athletes. Define the criteria to all participants, and explain how the tryouts willbe conducted, and final selections will be made. Make certain that every athlete has a adequate opportunity topart ic ipate in al l dr i l ls and team play.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Review the Code of Conduct and the StudenUAthlete - Parent Guide with all attending tryouts. Make certain thatthey understand the expectations of the program, especiallywith respect to commitment and attendance. Adviseall participants that the Code of Conduct must be returned, signed by both the parent and the athlete, beforetryouts are completed. Let the athletes know that an athlete will not be selected on the team unless the Code ofConduct is returned. Be certain to address attendance requirements (vacations, weekend practices etc.), andhave the athlete and parents note any dates of conflicts on the signed Code of Conduct.

Be sure to inform all athletes about outside club/community program conflicts. Make certain they know that theirfirst priority is expected to be the school practice and contest schedule.

ATTENDANCE AT TRYOUTS

All involved in the administrat ion of the Interscholast ic Athlet ic Program, have a responsibi l i ty to ensure that wennorate t-'r rr nrograms in such a way as to provide a climate that is fair and equitable for all. lt is not fair for anindividual to be brought onto a team late, and/or to displace another athlete in the program from a competi t iveopportunity once cuts have been made, especially when other athletes have made a personal sacrifice andcommitment to the team. Athletes who have attended tryouts on t ime may have given up summer vacat ion t ime, aspecial summer experience, or t ime over a vacat ion period, to meet program expectat ions, and that must beconsidered when looking at providing another opportunity to another athlete who did not make the samecommitment.

l8

The general rule is as fol lows: l f your program makes any cuts, t ryouts become closed. Do not open up

the door for athletes to come out late, unless extenuat ing circumstances warrant such a tryout. Select

your team from those athletes who are present and in attendance at t ryouts.

Once tryouts have been completed, and/or f inal cuts have been made, an athlete who expresses late

interest in coming out for the team may not be given permission to do so without prior approval of the

Director of Athlet ics. An individual who wants to come out late wi l l be asked to present extenuat ing

crrcunrslances that explains and jusiifies their late start'

FALL COACHES: l f your program does not make cuts, you may choose to al low an athlete who did not at tetrd

Ounng the sunrmer vacation period to become involved in your program late. However, the athlete must beprepareo ro start as soon as school begins, and no later. That athlete must be prepared to meet state establishedpractice mandates. Keep in mind the issue of fairness. How wil! the athlete feel who is now out of the line up, andreplaced by someone coming into ihe program late, who did not make the same sacrifice and commitment to yourprogram? l t is important that al l coaches ful ly understand the expectat ions here. One program cannot be al lowedto set a different standard than another. These expectations must apply to all programs.

CUT POLICY

Having to cut an athlete is one of the most difficult experiences faced in the lnterscholastic Athletic environment,for the coach, player and the parent. Coaches are advised to take into consideration the feelings of the athletewhen i t comes t ime to make such a cut.

When considering a cut that would only impact a couple of athletes, t ry and look for another al ternat ive.Consider carrying the couple of extra players, with some honest communication. You may have toprivately discuss your concerns about the athlete's limitations, and let the athlete know that their role maybe l imi ted.

Be sensit ive to al l when making cuts. Do not announce the select ions in front of al l athletes. l f a personalapproach can be made with the athlete, by all means, attempt to do so. Make certain that every athletefeels comfortable discussing his or her status with you, and post a time and place where you will beavailable to have a private conference with the athlete. Also tell each athlete that if they have questions orconcerns about the tryouts, that they should speak to you directly. Avoid putting the athlete in aembarrassing si tuat ion. Consider also let t ing some of those who were not selected as players, becomingmanagers.

Cutt ing seniors is a most sensit ive issue. Seniors, who have been dedicated and committed to theprogram, should not be cut from the roster. However, if it is clear that the senior will not be getting gametime, be honest with the athlete, and advise the player that you feel that he or she wi l l have a very l imitedrole in their senior year, and you do not see them getting much game tinre. Most seniors will not want togive up the t ime, and make the ful ly expected commitmeni to a team i f they know that they wi l l not beplaying much. lt is always better to have the senior come to this conclusion, than for the coach io nrakethat cut. However, make certain that the athlete also knows that he or she is expected to suooort theteam during pract ices and games, and that their at t i tude must be posit ive. Negat ive att i tudes have noplace on a team.

Keep in mind the overriding philosophy of interscholastic athletics, as it pertains to level. The ModifiedProgram is not designed to provide opportunit ies to only the el i te athlete, whi le at the Varsi tv level, thebetter athletes wi l l see most of the game t ime.

Return parental phone cal ls! Al l coaches must be prepared to communicate with parents, and discuss thetryouts, the criteria, and the strengths and weaknesses of their child. While it is appropriate to discusstheir chi ld 's ski l ls, i t is not appropriate to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of other membersselected on the team. Make certain that your selection criteria holds up to scrutiny, and ihat the athletehad a full opportunity to be seen executing skills in drills and ieam play.

J,

A

5.

1C)

TEAM ROSTERS

Arr alphabet ized Team Roster Form must be submitted by each coach as soon as a l ist has been posted,

and certainly no later than the end of the second week of the season start date. Final rosters must be

determined within a two (2) week period of time. Coaches are expected to adhere to this deadline. lf

except ions warrant, addit ional athletes cleared at a later date may be added, i f approved by the

Director of Athletics.

Coaches are expected io fil l in the Team Roster Form completely, and legibly, as this is considered to bea potent ial legal document. Type the roster, or pr int by hand (black ink please as other colors make poorcopies). Make certain to check for those students who may be inel igible due to the transfer rule, and br ingany athlete who is new to the program, to the attention of the Director of Athletics (see NYSPHSAATransfer Rule). Also be sure to check for appropriate medical clearance, and other concerns with respectto el igibi l i ty (age, number of years of el ig ibi l i ty, select ion/classi f icat ion approval and level, etc.) . Makecertain that the high school is indicated on team rosters submitted for combined teams, and that therniddle school is indicated for those students competing at the high school level throughsel ection/classificatlon.

Make certain to note which individuals l isted on the roster are considered to be managers, and l ist themseparately, at the end of the roster. lf a manager will be participating in any of the activity during practice,they must ful f i l l the physical examinat ion requirements. l f the athlete is not involved in any act iv i ty (scorekeeper, stat ist ic ian, t imer, etc.) , the athlete only needs io submit a signed consent form to the nurse.

The or iginal team roster, with four copies, should be submitted to the Athlet ic Director 's Bui lding Assistantby the deadl ine date, along with al l Emergency Medical Clearance Cards (alphabet ized). Do not l ist anyathlete on the team roster if you do not have appropriate medical clearance for the athlete, and/or theindividual has not yet participated in your program. Add that athlete at a later time! After the roster hasbeen signed off, approved copies of the roster will be given back to the coach, the nurse, and the buildingadministrator. Another copy will be kept by the Building Assistant and the original will be sent to theAthletic Oftice.

Combined Teams: Please turn in three addit ional copies (seven in al t) , as the nurse, bui lding assistantand bui lding administrator in the second high school wi l l require a copy as wel l .

20

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFER RULE

high school coaches must check their team rosters for potential problems with eligibility and compliance with theNYSPHSAA Transfer Rule, as covered in the State Handbook'

lf a student transfers after attendance begins in their 9tn grade year, from one high school to another,without the parent having a corresponding change of address, the athlete is inel igible for a period of oneyear in a sport that he or she has part ic ipated in within the past year.

This ineligibility policy also governs transfers between HHH HS East and HHH HS West. Once a student has attendedeither of our high schools, and they transfer within the district, they are ineiigible in any sport that they played within tlreprevious year. This would be the case even if the 9'n grader only attended at one of the high schools for a small amount oftime before the-y 1psp,r1urred. In the case of 9th graderi that wouid include any sport played in the middle school as an 8thgrader.

Except ion: l f an 8'hgrader appl ies for t ransfer, a 'nd is granted approvalto transfer, pr ior to the beginning of his or her 9thgrade year, and malies the switch before their 9th grade year begins, the policy does not apply. That student would beel ig ib le.

F. Waiver of NYSPHSAA transfer Rule (NYSPHSAA approved August 5, 2004)

Upon receipt of the appropriate request, a waiver of the transfer rule for any student athlete returning to his/herdistrict of residency from a non-public school will be granied. The waiver will be granted only one ttme per athlete.NOTE: We stress to all concerned that the transfer rule is stil l in effect and that without a waiver, an athlete for

wnicn the rule applies remains ineligible, Schools using ineligible athletes are subject to the forfeit penalty wlrichcannot be made retroactive. Therefore, athletic directors are urged to esiablish leak proof tracking systems.

All coaches should carefully screen at tryouts, to identify any new student who has transferred to our school district from,ttside the district. Find out by confirmation of the student, parents, guidance counselor, and/or school nurse, exactly,,hat the circunrstances are involving the transfer and bring the participant to the attention of the Director of Athletics at the

time of tryouts. An appeal process has been established through Section Xl, and the committee will hear these appealsonly once, ai the very beginning of the season. lf the Director of Athletics files an appeal, the athlete may participate inpractices while waiting for the outcome of ihe appeal. The athlete may not participate in any contests without a waiverfrom the Eligibility Committee.

Any contests that have been played with an ineligible athlete are deemed forfeitures by Section Xl. lf aplayer 's inel igibi l i ty is determined after the fact, al l games wi l l be forfei ted. There wi l l be no appeal to the

forfeiture. This may eliminate a Varsity Team from post season competition.

ELIGIBILITY OF HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS

Athletes who participate in a shared program (e.9. Boces), are eligible for participation in the interscholastic athleticprograms, as long as the Bui lding Administrat ion is in agreement and supervision and transportat ion concerns are worked

out. Tfre aihlete must part ic ipate where boundary l ines for their address dictate. The athlete must be taking the required

number of courses, as st ipulated in the NYSPHSAA Handbook.

DISTRICT ELIGIBILlTY POLICIES

please be reminded of those district regulations pertaining to the eligibility of athletes for practice sessions and contesis in the

Half Hol low Hi l ls Distr ict :

1. Each coach is responsible for informing squad members of al l detai ls regarding el igibi l i ty.

No student may part ic ipate in an interschool pract ice, game, or contest on a day when the student wasabsent from school, unless special permission for the absence is granted by the school administrator.

22

3. No student exeused for medical reasons fronr a physical education class may participate in an interschoolpractice, game, or contest on that same day.

e advised that all coaches are expected to monitor the attendance of all ieam members during the academic day, and-jnforce district policies. Those students who participate in interscholastic contests, who were absent from school, areinalinihlo Tharofnra any contests played by an athlete, in violation of these policies, may be deemed forfeit. lt is theresponsibility of the coach to monitor the daily aitendance of all athletes on the ieam roster.

Al l coaches are to keep accurate dai ly attendance records of al l team and rndividual pract ices for at least a year, as theserecords may be needed when holding an athlete responsible for commitnrent to the program. These records may also berequested by legal counsel for cases in litigation.

Please note that athletes receiving "homebound instruct ion" are inel igible and may not part ic ipate in pract ices or contests.

Those students who participate in "shared programs" through BOCES are eligible to participate on teams in their own homeschool distr ict with administrat ive approval, providing that they meet state curr iculum mandates.

M EDICAL WAIVERS/NYSPHSAA REGU LATIONELIGIBILITY FOR POST SEASON PLAY

MEDICAL WAIVERS - NYSPHSAA REGULATION #25:

"To be eligible for sectional, intersectional, or state competition, a team must have competed in six (6) school scheduledcontests during the season. An individual is el ig ible for the team i f he/she has been an el iqible part ic ipant on a team inthat sport for a For footbal l . a student must be anc| iq ib lepart ic ipantforaru@contestantsinindiv idua|sports(crosscountry,go| f ,

ymnast ics,swimming,tennis,outdoortrack, indoortrackandwrest l ing)musta|sohave@six (6) scheduled contests durinq the season to be el igible. These required contests must occur on six di f ferentdates, and must be concluded pr ior to the conclusion of the team's regular schedule".

Appl icat ion of the Rule: A student who comes out late, and/or misses part of the season due to injury, cannot come back andparticipate in post season play without a medical waiver.

lf a student comes out late, and there is no cjocumented medicaljustification, they must meet these mandates.There is no appeal. l f there is medical just i f icat ion, and the individual does not meet the minimum number ofcontests, an appeal can be made (See Attached Policy Below).

The six contests counted towards eligibility are officiated contests. Scrimmages do not count.

A participant can not count contests added after the last league or regularly scheduled contest.

Appeal for a Waiver of NYSPHSAA Requlat ion #25:

Waivers of the minimum number of required contests may be granted for medical reason only. To request such a waiver, theAthlet ic Direcior must submit:

written request for such to the Executive Director of Section Xl,medical documentation of the illness/injury indicating specific dates, anda record of the student/athlete's oarticipation in the orooram.

d.

D.

L)

, i.ITERSGH OLASTI C ATH LETIC PRACTIGE GU IDELIN ES/POLIG IES

PRACTICE GUIDELINES

No practices are to be scheduled on Sundavs without the specific approval of tlre Director of Athletics, Schedules of weekendand/or holiday practice time should be presented as soon as possible after the season commences, to the Director of Athleticsand the Building Administrator in charge of authorizing custodial overtime, For all practices on non school days (buildings areclosed), a custodian must be given approval to open the bui lding. Coaches are not permit ted to hold pract ices on nonschool davs without advance approval and authorization from an administrator.

HIGH SCHOOL FALL COACHES

Due to the early summer vacation start date, green consent forms and notification of try outs and summer practice sessionsshal l be sent horne to candidates no later than June 30" ' . Medical Clearance cards can be picked up from the Director ofn+r ' r^+i^^^n^"^F'^af ter theschoolyearends. Al lof theseathletesmustbecontactedimmediately, topreparethem,inan Ll i lguus d udy ul DU (

t imelyfashion,foryourprogramexpectat ions. Al lcopiesof le i terssenthometoparentsandathletesmustbeapprovedbytheDirector of Athletics prior to the mailing. Bring a copy of the letter (indicating the dates, times, and sites of summer practicesand instructions) to the office when you come to pick up your white cards. Also be sure to bring with you final requests for theschedul ing of al l scr immages, non-league contests, and tournament/ invi tat ional i 'equests at this t ime, This information is to beon file in the Athletic Office prior to leaving for summer vacation.

POLICIES GOVERNING CONTESTS AND PRACTICES ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS

According io the Sect ion Xl Holy Day Observance Pol icy, no contest or interschool scr immase mav be scheduled bv ar

Rosh HashanahYom KippurChristmas EveChristmas Day

Holy ThursdayGood FridayEasterFirst Day of Passover

Individual schools mav compete on these dates outside of Section Xl (Suffolk County), e.g. at the Penn Relays on HolyThursday, if the district approves such participation,

Half Hol low Hi l ls Distr ict Pol icy dictates that no pract ices mav be conducted on the f i rst and second davs of RoshHashanah, Yom Kippur, the first dav of Passover. Good Fridav. Christmas and Easter.

On other rel ig ious holy days, coaches are directed to cancel pract ice ent irely when a substant ial number of team membersare likelv to be absent because of their reliqious affil iation. Practices may be held on other religious holy days providedthat:

1) Only a few students are expected to be absent because of their rel ig ious aff i l iat ion, and2) these student/athletes are excused with no threat, either stated or implied, of not making a team, losing a

starting position, etc., because of their absence. Coaches should not hand out team equipment or uniformson such aday.

Coaches are reminded to take the fol lowing addit ional dates into considerat ion when schedul ing pract ices and/or contests:PSAT and SAT Test Dates (schedule after 2PM)Homecoming Dates (Combined teams must be aware of both dates for potential conflicts)Junior and Senior Prom Dates (not mandated to play on those dates)The Eve of Religious Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur)

Middle School Coaches should see the Bui lding Administrator and ask that al l Middle School Field Tr ips, that wi l l af fect' . rbstant ial numbers of student/athletes, are scheduled wel l in advance, before the game schedule is set and off ic ials are

assigned by Section Xl. Note these days on your schedule for correction.

26

COMMITMENT TO VACATIffi

-oaches are to understand that expectations of commitment are progressive as athletes advance to higher competitive levels.

Since contests at the middle school level are not scheduled during vacation periods, the practice commitment allows for morecompromise and f lexibi l i ty than that at the high school level.

l - l inh Qnhnnl nnnnot i i i6n demands a much greater level of commitment from the athlete. The VarSity level is a program forthose that are among the elite in athletic potential. One of the goals of the program is to compete successfully, dominate thecompeti t ion, and gain an opportunity to part ic ipate in post season play, in ihe County and State Championships. Therefore,commitment is essential during the vacation period (excluding those dates listed in the above Sectron and District Policy). Inaimost al l c i rcur lstances, the schedule is dictated by Sect ion Xl. State Championship dates are set by the NYSPHSAA, whichdemands that league and sect ional championships are completed by specif ic dates. Therefore, most Varsi ty and JV teamsmust meet ihe demands of the game schedule, or meet the demands of mandatory practice mandates prior to the firstleague/divis ion contest. That means that athletes at the high school levei must pract ice and compete during much of thevacation period, since each school has the responsibility to fulfil l their competitive obligations to the Section Xl schedule.

Furthermore, all coaches have the responsibility to ensure that athletes are prepared for the vigorous demands of competition.The state requires that the athlete and team must act ively part ic ipate in a specif ied number of supervised pract ices in order tobe eligible to compete in their first scheduled scrimmage or officiated contest. These mandatory regulations ensure the safetyof all athletes with respect to the appropriate physical condition of the individuals competing. Any prolonged break in trainingplaces the athlete at r isk for potent ial in jury.

ln addit ion, coaches must prepare their teams by providing the qual i ty t ime to learn ski l ls necessary for competi t ion. Thisrequires repetition and practice in organized drills. Much of what is accomplished at any practice is enhanced by thecooperat ive effort of al l who part ic ipate. Team and individual accomplishment is dependent upon a ful l team commiiment,regardless of how much "game t ime" each athlete is given.

PRESCHOOL PRACTICE HOU RS/ALL SPORTS

Pre-School (first day of practice until the first day of school) practice sessions may be conducted ONLY prior to 1OAM and after5PM. On the f i rst dav of school. schools mav discont inue this restr ict ion.

27

OUT OF SEASON PRACTICE POLICY

@ffective as of MaY 25' 2000)

standard #23 in I\TYSPHSAA State Handbook - Practice Session:

An organized practice in grades 7-12 is a session for the purpose of providing insh-uction

and practice in physical conditioning activities, skills, team play, and game strategy

desigDed expressly for that sport under the supervision of a qualified coach appointed by

the Board oiEducation of the local school district. Such instruction and practice shall be

held onlv during the season desiqnated for that sport.

School sponsored activities conducted out ofthe sport season such as general

conditioning, weight training, weight lifting, intramurals, recreation' open gyms, club

activities and camps are permitted if:

l) such programs are not mandated by coaches or school personnel, and

2) such programs are available to all students'

HEAT ALERT INFORMATION

Pat Pagano of the Metro Weather service is working with the Section Xl Safety Committee to ensure ihat the necessaryinformation needed to determine Heat Alert conditions is made available to school districts on a daily basis.

, re weather service will now use a Heat Index (as opposed to the Temperature/Humidity Index). The following indicators shallbe used in determining modified or full heat alerts:

1. When the Heat lndex reaches 88 (equivalent to THI of 73) a Modified Heat Alert shall be in effeci.

2. When the Heaf lndex reaches 95(equivalenttoTHl of 95)a Ful l Heat A/erf shal l be in effect.

Compliance with the Sect ion Xl part ic ipat ion restr ict ions that sovern the mandate is a must! Al l schools wi l l be not i f iedby the Section Xl office when a heat alert exists. For guidelines and restrictions regarding either of the two items listed above,please review t l re A Heat, Humidity, and Cold Condit ions@ l isted in the Sect ion Xl Manual, of the copy of the Sect ion Xl pol icyin the HHH Interscholast ic Coaching Guide. Quest ions or concerns about this pol icy should be directed to the Sect ion XlSafety Comnr ittee Chairperson.

NOTE: Schools may not conduct practices or contests when a full heat alert is in effeci (swimming excluded). However, teammeetings, where there is no physical activity, are permissible. These team meetings do not count towards mandatedpractices. Only those practices which involve sport specific activity, count towards the state practice mandates.

A reminder to al l Coaches: Water is to be avai lable in the pract ice/meeting area at al l t imes and in large quant i t ies.

Also note that two practices per day (splits during preseason) count only as one practice towards meeting practice mandates.All coaches are to keep accurate attendance to ensure that all participants meet the state practice mandates. Football coachesare reminded to keep accurate records, which ensure the high school 3131516 rule is met, and the middle school3/5/7 rule ismet.

SECTION XIHEAT. HUMIDITY. AND COLD CONDITIONS

MODIFIED HEAT ALERT: When Heat Index reaches 88 (or the THI Index reaches 73). Pract ice sessions or contests muslinclude:

Forced. frequent water breaks (every 10-15 minutes).

Appropriate adjustmeni in clothing and/or equipment.

Frequent rest breaks in shaded areas.

For football and lacrosse, mandatorywater breaks every 15 minutes during which all players must removehelmets. Those players not part ic ipat ing in contact act iv i t ies during pract ice, games, or scr immages, shal l notwear helmets.

NOTE: During contests, the rules are to be modif ied to permit addit ional t ime outs for rest and forcedwater breaks.

FALL HEAT ALERT: Heat Index reaches 95 (or the THI Index reaches 78). No PhvsicalAct iv i tv is Permit ted (swimmingexcluded). Team meetings are permitted

NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOLS:

The Sect ion Xl Safety Chairman, upon the advice of Metro Weather service, wi l l in i t iate the Heat Alert by not i fy ing theSection Xl Office as to the course of action. The Section Xl staff will communicate this information to each memberdistr ict with soecif ic instruct ions for Heat Alert implementat ion.

A

29

PROCEDURES FOR THE PREVENTION OF HEAT ILLNESS

Coachesshouldcheckwiththeirathletestoseeif thereisanyhistoryofheat i l lness,beforetrainingact iv i t iesbegin. Maximunrphysical performance can only be achieved by an athlete who is in peak physical condition. Lack of physical fitness impairs the

,rformance of an aihlete who participates in high temperatures. Coaches should know the physical condition of iheir athletes-. ,rd set pract ice schedules accordingly.

Watch athletes carefully for signs of trouble, particularly athletes who lose weight during practice (hydration factor), overweightathletes, and the eager athlete who constantly competes at his capacity. Some trouble signs are nausea, incoherence, fatigue,weakness, vomiting, cramps, weak rapid pulse, visual disturbance, and unsteadiness. Be aware that an athlete recoverinqfrom any sort of i l lness, and those with poor cardiovascular condit ioning, are at higher r isk for heat i l lnesses.

Mandatory Procedures

1. Ten minute rest break during each hour of practice in hot weather to include:a) Loosening of uniform jerseys and pads to facilitate cooling.b) Free intake of water to replace fluid losses.c) Rest breaks conducted in a shaded area i f at al l possible.

Water must be freely available to players during practice sessions and all games. lt is recommended thatathletes dr ink Gatorade, or a simi lar product, along with substant ial amountsof water to maintain electrolyte balances, especial ly in act iv i t ies that last an hour in durat ion.

Strict adherence to the mandatorv regulation for preseason football practice format.

Rubberized or other types of non-porous sweat suits may not be used at anytime, under any circumstances.

During pre-school days (August and September), practices are to be conducted prior to 1OAM and after SPM.This pol icy does not apply to school teams which are conduct ing pract ice sessions at A over-night@ campslocated outside of Suffolk County. However, the iemperature and humidity must be monitored during thesepractice sessions and if the Temperature Humidity Index reaches the minimum levels established by SuffolkCounty, the Heat Alert Policy will apply. The THI reading is established through the use of a slingpsychrometer at the campsite. Complete dai ly records of the THI readings must be maintained by coaches.(A THI record chart is available from the Director of Athletics).

During a Modified Heat Alert, contest officials will be notified, by the host school, that mandatorywater breakswill be given at approximately 15 minute intervals

HEAT ILLNESS

Practices for athletic competition and participation in various forms of physical activity are frequently conducted in very warmand humid weather, Under such condit ions, special precaut ions must be observed. Otherwise, the athlete is subject to:

1 . Heat Cramps, spasms of act ive muscles caused by intense, prolonged exercise, deplet ions of water andelectrolytes (K, Na, Ca, etc.) due to sweating.

2. Heat Fatigue, a depletion of electrolytes and water due to excessive sweating.

3. Heat Exhaust ionn excessive deplet ion of sodium, electrolytes and water; or

4. Heat Stroke, overheating from breakdown of the sweating mechanism.

Heat fat igue dul ls the athlete=s ski l l and alertness and makes him/her more vulnerable to iniury. The other two heat i l lnessesan result in ser lous physical hai 'm and even death. Both are preventable.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are preventable by careful control of various factors in the conditioning program of the athlete.With the start of practice, it is essential to provide for gradual acclimation to hot weather activity. Extra salting of food,adjust ing the water or electrolyte dr ink intake to weather condit ions and maintaining a balanced diet should be suff ic ient.

30

L.

A

5.

As the athlete becomes accustomed to hot weather activity, he/she perspires nrore freely (and thus dissipates body heat) andcxcretes less salt (and thus conserves sodium). lt takes a minimum of 1O-14 days for the human body to properly acclimatize

hypotherrnic conditions. The key is to do this gradually by exercising moderately during repeated exposures to heat.rnysiological adaptations that have been recognized through proper acclimatization include decreased heart rate duringexercise, lower body temperature during exercise, decreased salt concentration in sweat (body losing less electrolytes),increased peripl-reral blood flow (aids in lowering body temperature) and greater plasma volume.

The idea that water should be withheld from athletes during workouts has no scient i f ic foundat ion. In fact, such restr ict ion, bydeplet ing water in the body, can lead to heatfat igue and serious heat i l lness. During exercise in the heat, i t is esserrt ia l toreplace the water lost by perspiration. Water should be available on the practice and game field at all times and irr largequant i t ies. There is no reason whv cold or ice water should not be qiven.

Salt also needs to be replaced dai ly, part icular ly dur ing the accl imation period. Extra sal t ing of the athlete=s food within thebounds of taste will accomplish this purpose. Salt tablets are not recommended.

At the beginning of pract ice (part icular ly for the fal l season), i t must be recognized that the level of condit ioning for each playeris var iable, and i t must be assumed that no plaver is accl imatized to the heat. l t is absolutely essent ial that the condit ioningand acclimatization programs at the onset of practice begin at a modest level and progress slowly during the first week orpractice.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES: (To help prevent heat i l lness during preseason pract ice andscrimmages in football, soccer, cross country and field hockey)

I Tr-^ "^^ ^s ̂ "'^:1ht chari to record each player's weight before and after every practice. Any player losing moret . r r rvu>EUr dvvErg

than 3% body weight should receive special attention to insure adequate fluid replacement.

2. Revisions in the conduct of practice sessions when the Heat lndex factor becomes critical:a) Shorten the length of practice sessions.b) Revise type and amount of clothing and equipment (shorts, mesh jerseys etc.)c) Reduce degree of exertion required during practice sessions.

3. Guidel ines for the conduct of pract ice sessions:a) With temperature of 80-90 degrees and humidity under 70%, observe carefully for the few

athletes particularly susceptible to the heat.b) With temperature of 80-90 degrees and humidity over 70o/o, or temperature of 90-100 degrees

and humidity under 7Aa/o, players should be given ten (10) minute rest periods every hour. T-shirts should be changed when soaked, and all athletes should be carefully observed.

c) With temperature of 90-100 degrees and humidity over TOok or temperature over :100 degrees,pract ice should be postponed or a shortened program should be conducted in shorts and T-shir ts.

FIRST AID MEASURES: Cal l ambulance and/or pol ice immediatelv

Heat Stoke: An acute medical emergency caused by overheating from a breakdown of the thermoregulatorymechanism. Associated with high rectal temperature, lack of sweating, disor ientat ion, seizures, and possibleunconsciousness or coma. l t may also occur suddenly without being preceded by any of the other cl in ical s igns.The individual is usual ly unconscious with a hot, dry skin and a r is ing rectal temperature. THIS lS ANEMERGENCY! DELAY COULD BE FATAL! lmmediately cool athlete by the most expedient means (immersionin cool water is best method. Obtain medical care at oncel

Heat Exhaust ion: Extreme Weakness, exhaust ion, headache, dizziness, profuse sweating andsometimes unconsciousness (state of shock) - caused be extreme depletion of water and salt.Place in shade with head level or lower than bodv. Give sips of diluted salt water if conscious. Obtain medical care

at once!

31

DISTRICT HEAT ALERT POLICY

On Reqular School Davs: Coaches should check in at the main office and speak with the Building Administrator in Charge ofrleiics, or the Athletic Building Coordinator.

Summer Vacation - Weekdavs (Athletic Office and Buildinqs Open): Morning practices (before 1OAM) are less effected byHeat Alert conditions than are the scheduled evening practices (after 5PM). Section Xl will call our athletic office atapproximately 8AM to let us know the si tuat ion for the day. Usual ly, the morning sessions are not Ful l Heat Alerts, but aModif ied Heat Alert . Our off ice wi l l cal l the High School Main Off ice, and not i fy the Bui lding Administrator and/or Bui ldingCoordinator.

lf you have scheduled an evening practice, during a weekday when the athletic cffice is open, make certain that you call theAthletic Office (if you have not been contacted earlier in the day) before 3PM, to find out if Heat Alert conditions exist. lt isyour responsibility to check for Heat Alert conditions each day before you practice. Compliance with the Section Xl Policv isa Must.

Weekends and Hol idavs: When the Athlet ic Off ice is not opened, the Heat Alert Pol icy is st i l l in effect. Check the answeringmachine in the Athletic Office for a message regarding the status of the Heat Alert conditions for that day, or check with theDirecior of Athlet ics at home (581-6335).

The responsibility io check daily with the Athletic Director with regard to a possible heat alert rests with the coach. lt isimpossible on non-school days for the athletic office to make contact and locate all coaches and players. All attempts will bemade to contact coaches with Heat Alert information, but coaches should never assume that if they have not heard of an alert,that there is no alert. lf contact with the Athletic Director cannot be made, check with the Building Athletic Coordinator.

Note: Captains pract ices cannot be held in a Heat Alert s i tuat ion.

APPROACH ING STORMSiLIGHTIN G

Lightening safety is a priority. Coaches must have a plan in place so everyone knows where to go for safety should such stormcondit ions ar ise.

The coach's f i rst choice should always be to seek shelter in an inhabited bui lding. In emergencies (cross country course, gol fcourse etc.) , a second opt ion is a vehicle with a metal roof ( team bus, etc.) . Convert ibles and golf carts are not an opt ion.

At the first sign of thunder or lightning, all athletes should clear the field and seek shelter indoors.Returning to play should not be considered until 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thUnder.

During contests, i t wi l l be the off ic ial=s responsibi l i ty to postpone the game when thunder, l ightning, or other inclement weathercondit ions necessitate the seeking of shelter.

GAME PLAN FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

SCHOOLS WITH NO ATHLETIC TRAINER: This guideline is for schools that do not employ athletic trainers, or schools thatdo, but do not have the athletic trainers on site for the duration of practices or games.

HOME GAMES/PRACTICES. NO ATHLETIC TRAINER PRESENT

1. Coach determines the athlete's need for First Aid/Medical Care+ Coach must have working knowledge of first aidiinjury assessment and be up to date with First Aid

and CPR certification reouirements.

JL

DO NOT MOVE AN ATHLETE IF A HEAD OR NEGK ]NJURY IS SUSPECTED! BE CERTAIN YOURTEAM IS INSTRUCTED NEVER TO MOVE ANY INJURED PLAYER! DO NOT REMOVE THE ATHLETESHELMET OR EQUIPMENT. IMMOBILIZE THE HEAD!

Utilization of First Aid Kit to deliver necessarv careo Coach must have some practical experience in administration of First Aid, and a complete first aid kit

should always be with the team, including ice and water (see list of appropriate contents of first aidkit). Coaches should check and re-stock kits on an ongoing basis,

I Remember the five elements of basic treatment for injuries: Rest, lce, Compression, Elevation, andStabilization.

+ Do not take a hot bath or soak the injury in hotlwarm water. lf the injury is getting worse (swollen,painful, discolored), see a physician or go to the nearest emergency room.

3.howtoact ivateEMS,wherethenearestphoneis,howioobtain

an outside l ine, direct ions to their locat ion in the bui lding or on the school qrounds:

a) ldentify yourself;b) Explain the problem, include the severi ty of the injury;c) Give the exact location of the injured athlete;d) Hang up last;e) Send a responsible person to the nearest road to meet the ambulance and guide

them to the injured athlete.

4' e required to notify

ambulance. l t a lso makes a second cal l or the re-direct ing of the ambulance easier.

5. Athlete is transported to medical facilitv accompanied bv Assistant Coach/Parentr An Assistant Coach should accompany the athlete or in game si tuat ions, a parent. They can relay

information and make decisions.

6. Parent or Guardian is not i f ied+ A parent's home and work phone numbers should be available in first aid kits or on coach's clipboard so

parents can be notified.

7. Coach follows up with parent/athlete after practice/qame ends+ In the event the injury was mishandled, folloiv up calls show concern for the athlete.

8. Not i fv the Director of Athlet ics and a Bui ldinq Administrator immediatelv+ Call the Administrators at home that evening, to alert them of the emergency and the status of the athlete.

9. Not i fv the Athlet ic Trainer and the School Nurse of the athlete=s iniurv within 24 hours+ Accident reoorts must be filed with school officials within 24 hours. Don't let an Athletic Trainer find out

days later that an athlete was injured during a practice/contest they were not at.

AWAY GAMES/SCRIMMAGES OR PRACTICES OFF.SITE . NO ATHLETIC TRAINER

1. Coach determines the athlete's need for First Aid/Medical Gare+ Coach must have a working knowledge of first aid/injury assessment and be up to daie with First Aid and

CPR certification requirements.

DO NOT MOVE AN ATHLETE IF A HEAD OR NECK INJURY IS SUSPECTED! BE CERTAIN YOUR TEAM IS' \STRUCTED NEVER TO MOVE ANY INJURED PLAYER! DO NOT REMOVE THE ATHLETES HELMET OR

EUIPMENT. IMMOBILIZE THE HEAD!

2. Ut i l izat ion of First Aid Kit to del iver necessarv care

33

Coach must have some practical experience in administration of First Aid, and a complete first aid kitshould always be with the team, including ice and water.Remember the five elements of basic treatment for injuries: Rest, lce, Compression, Elevation, andStabilization.Do not take a hot bath or scak the injury in hot/warm water. lf the injury is getting worse (swollen, painful,discolored), see a physician or go to the nearest emergency room.

3. lf iniurv requires hiqh level of care. nofifv "horne" coach fo acfivafe EMS+ When Vou arrive at school, ask the home coach how thev activate EMS

Have the host coach ask EMS what hospital the athlete wi l l be transported to, andwrite directions to the hospital!

Coach stavs with the athlete, send Assistant Coach. an adult. or another athlete to Phone+ A cel lular phone makes this easy and signi f icant ly reduces the t ime required to not i fy ambulance. l t a lso

makes a second cal l or re-direct ing of ambulance easier.

Athlete is transported to medical facilitv accompanied bv Assistant Coach/parento An assistant coach should accompany the athlete or in game situations, a parent. They can relay

information and make decisions. The Head Coach should remain with the team and escort them honre.

Parent or Guardian is not i f iedr Parents home and work phone numbers should be avai lable in f i rst aid ki t , or on

coaches clipboard so parents can be notified.

Coach follows up with parent/athlete after practice/qame endsr In the event the injury was mishandled, follow up calls show concern for the athlete. At away games, call

hospital to see if athlete has been discharged and in whose care before returning home.

ItlOT,E: When it is an away contest, and there is only one coach, the decision made should protect the interests of all therletes involved. In these circumstances, it is appropriate to send another child=s parent, or other adult supervision with the

-thlete to the hospital. ln this case, the Head Coach should remain with the team. However, if there is no assistance available,

the game must be suspended. The bus should fol low the ambulance with the coach to the hospital . Cal l the Director ofAthlet ics or a Bui lding Administrator to let them know what is happening as soon as possible. l f necessary, remain at thehospital and al low the bus to proceed to school where students can be dropped off at an appropriate entrance where there issecuri ty and phones. Use good judgment and consider al l a l ternat ives. Never leave an injured player unattended.

IF AN ATHLETIC TRAINER IS PRESENT

7.

1.2.

4.

5.h

7.

Athlet ic Trainer wi l l assess the injury and need for medical care.Athlet ic Trainer wi l l administer First Aid.Athlet ic Trainer wi l l make return to play decisions.Athletic Trainer will activate the EMS System.Athletic Trainer decides who will travel with the athlete.Athleiic Trainer notifies parent or guardian.Athlet ic Trainer fol lows up with parent later on.

NOTE: Coaches should stay focused on coaching and supervising the other team members. First Aid and return toplay decisions are made by the Athletic Trainer, who is highly qualified to do so.

Al l in jures, even those that might not be considered an emergency, should be reported to the School Nurse and theAthlet icTrainerwithin24hours. Thisprotectstheschooldistr ict inthosecaseswhereaparentmayf i learequestforreimbursement of medical expenses though the school insurance carr ier, wel l af ter the injury has occurred. A coachshould not wait to see i f a claim is made before f i l ing the accident report . Al l coaches should document, in a log, anyfirst aid administered to any athlete, and keep records of the accident. These records may be needed at a future date.

,ve Davs Out: l f an athlete misses f ive pract ices (cannot part ic ipate)or sees a physician, the athlete must be cleared bythatpr ivate physician and the school physician before returning to play. The school physician has the f inal authori ty to determ inethe physical capability of a student to participate in a sport.

51

HEAD INJURY CONCERNS AND PROCEDURES

i well known that pafticipating in sports can be a highly rewarding experience. lt has also been stated that there are certainnsks an athlete must endure. One of these r isks is the potent ial for in jury. Whi le most injur ies are minor and heal over t ime,one cannot overlook the ser iousness of head injures.

Head injures may occur in a number of ways: contact with another player, contact with the ground or other equipment, or asudden movement or rotation of the head without a force. A mild brain injury may produce various signs and symptoms,including dizziness, headache, nausea, and blurry vis ion. A more ser ious trauma may result in loss of memory and brainfunciion. However, if the brain hits the skull, a contra coup mechanism, it could result in an even more serious head trauma.This type of head injury could cause smal l tears and result in bleeding in t l re brain, a subdural hematoma. In addit ion, i f aplayer returns to competition too soon, he or she may be in danger of second impact syndrome, in which a mild head injury canbecome potentially fatal.

Head injur ies have increased in numbers as the level of competi t ion has r isen at al l levels. These types of in jur ies can havedangerous consequences and in some cases, have caused death. This alone has made i t necessary to take specialprecautions to insure the safety of the athletes.

All athletes will fi le a current head injury sheet that reveals the history of their head injuries. In addition, athleies tlrat suffer ahead injury are required to see a physician before returning to play. This is necessary so no athlete is placed in a potent ial lydangerous si tuat ion.

The use of properly fitted mouthguards, extending posteriorly to cover molars, is an aid in preventing concussions and/orlessening the severi ty of concussions.

All coaches are to make certain that an athlete who has experienced a head injury is immediately brought to the attention of theAthletic Trainer. lf the trainer is not present, follow Head Injury Instructional Guidelines, and report the injury to the AthleticTrainer and the School Nurse within 24 hours.

HEAD INJURY INSTRUCTION SHEET

Call Parent As Soon As Possible!! ! Tel l them:

1. The injured athlete should never be alone for the first 24 hours after the injury.

2. The athlete should be awakened every two hours in the evening to esiablish arousability and alertness.

SIGNS (Mandatinq Emergencv Room Evaluat ion)

+++I

i

e{

Blood or watery fluid coming from the ears or nose.Unequal or di lated pupi ls.Weakness or clumsiness in arms or legs.Slurred or garbled speech.Asymmetry of the face.Increased swel l ing along scalp.Hard to arouse, i rr i table, or stuporous behavior.

SYMPTOMS (Requir inq lmmediate Emerqencv Room)

Change in mental status (unable to concentrate, understand direct ions, or remain alert)r Double or blurred vis ionr Severe headache+ lncreased clumsiness or weakness+ Vomit ing (nauseous)+ Loss of memory+ Difficulty with speech

35

SECTION XI POLICYAPPROPRIATE PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS

JIDELINE FOR HOST SCHOOLS

It is recommended that all host schools having scheduled athletic events should make the following materials available in kitform:

1. Disposable latex/vinyl gloves.2. Gauze pads.3. Sealable plast ic bags.4. Disposable paper towels.5. Sanitary absorbent rnaterial.6. 70% solution of alcohol or 1/100 solution of bleach (must be freshly prepared for

each contest) or another type of disinfectant.

It is also reconrmended that each coach in Section Xl carry in their first aid kits the following:1 . Disposable latex/vinyl gloves.2. Dispc'sable alcohol towelettes andT0To solut ion of alcohol used with sanitary gauze pad.3. Spray disinfectant (should meet EPA approved disinfectant).4. Sealable plast ic bags.5. A copy of these guidel ines.

Further Recommendations:

I . l t is recommended that a CPR one way valve mask is included in al l f i rst aid ki ts.2. Paper cups should be used instead of water bott les.3. A wastepaper basket lined with disposable bag must be available for wrestling and is recommended for other

indoor soorts.4. Extra uniforms should be carr ied in case of blood stain injur ies.

arry all appropriate emergency numbers in the first aid kit. See Communications Listing.

JO

HALF HOLLOW HILLSCENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

HEAD INJURY INSTRUCTION SHEET

UOTE

rffi [:':iiffi?fl,'?:iI,#ffi :'[51,*:':;;"#::?''il:i:X;',?lill,i],-l"ineurological deficit or even death. Occasionally, following even the mildest head injuries, blood will slowly accumulate, causingcompression of the brain hours or even days after the initial injury.

Thorofnre it ic racnmqlended by the Half Hollow Hills School District that the student athlete be seen by a private physician andcleared neurologically for return to play. Please also be advised that the school district physician must approve the atlrlete'sreturn to play.

The following guidelines should be followed in conjunction with the physician's or athletic trainer's advice.

1 . The injured athlete should never be alone for the first 24 hours after the injury.

2. The athlete should be awakened every two hours in the evening to establ ish arousabi l i ty and alertness.

3. The fol lowing SIGNS mandate immediate emergency room evaluat ion:

a) Blood or watery fluid coming from the ears or nose.b) Unequal or di lated pupi ls.c) Weakness or clumsiness in arms or leos.d) Slurred or garbled speech.e) Asymmetry of the face.f) Increased swelling along scalp.S) Hard to arouse, irritable or stuporous.

4. The following SYMPTOMS (complaints) mandate immediate emergency room evaluation:

a) Change in mental status (unable to concentrate, understand direct ions or remain alert) .b) Double or blurred vis ion.c) Severe headache.d) Increased clumsiness or weakness.e) Vomit ing (nauseous).f) Loss of memory.g) Difficulty with speech.

Pleasereal izetheaboveareonlyguidel inestoassistyou. l fasignorsymptomdevelopsthat isnewandisnotment ionedabove, err on the side of safety and have the athlete evaluated by a physician immediately.

37

RATING OF OFFICIALS

Off ic ial 's Rat ing Cards should be turned in to the Athlet ic Off ice weekly. These rat ing are important, and should be taken'i^"^r" ^^^^^;^rr" by varsity coaches who won't like seeing a poor official scheduled to officiate their post season game.r ruu)ryr v lPuurouy

Pafinnc in tho n:ci tended to be general ly too high, with too many coaches fai l ing to discr iminate when giving rat ingsthroughout the season. As a result , too many off ic ials had season averages of 4.8,4.9, or even 5.0.

Recently, these ratings seem to be more representative of the officiating performance. Some of the following information ispresented to assist coaches when rating the officials after each contest:

1. Tl ' rough not perfect, the Sect ion Xl system is the best and most comprehensive avai lable. The Sect ion Off ice takesgreat care not to al low pol i t ics, personal i t ies, etc. , to contaminate the process.

2. The success of the rat ing system is total ly dependent on the cooperat ion of al l part ies; coaches, athlet ic directors,and the section office.

3. Much elfort has been put into protecting the right of each and every coach to rate officials. lt is an obligation of eachcoach to rate off ic ials, though ful ly understanding that your main focus is your coaching task.

4. The rat ing of JV and Modif ied level of f ic ials is more important than most coaches real ize, because the evaluat ions atthese levels ul t imatelv determine our varsi tv level of f ic ials.

5. Officials do not have access to the sources of their ratings. Confidentiality is a nraior prioritv. Even Section Sport chairsara nronl, rrlorl r;e;-1'1 having this information. Though Section Xl works closely with the presidents of officials groups, they

will verify the confidentiality of your ratings. Only the Section Office staff has knowledge of rating

6. When rating an official's performance, consider the following:

sources

Excel lent

Good

n ^^^^+^F\ l^ /?\nuuqPLdur9 \J/

Poor (2)

(5) should be reserved for the truly outstanding per-formance, a performance you would want ona championship contest! Over the course of a season, there should not be a lot of 5's given.

(4) means just that . . . a good performance, not outstanding, but better than acceptable . . . nocomplaints! Generally, we would hope to see more 4's than any other rating.

should speak for i tsel f ! We would expect a good number of these.

definite flaws and contest was seriously affected. Hopefully, you wouldn't need to give manydurino a season.

Inadequate (1) absolutely unacceptable throughout the contest, Hopeful ly, your need to use this wi l l be rare.

Understand that each individual rating circled (on each category) is a separate computer entry. The computer "computes" foreach official by adding the total points and dividing by 5. This is the overall game rating for the official.

LOCKER ROOM FACILITY AND SUPERVISION

STUDENT ATHLETE POSSESSIONS

Please acjvise al l athletes that they are responsible for securing their possessions. Al l equipment, c lothing,sneakers, jewelry, etc., should be locked away and secured during games and practice times. Pleasediscourage athletes from bringing valuables to school.

Coaches and Team Captains should walk through the facility before leaving to make certain that all items arelocked up and that team areas are lef t in appropriate condit ion. Speak to the team about taking care of the teamarea and not leaving personal possessions or school issued equipment out on the team benches, etc. ln addit ion,food and garbage should not be left in the team areas after practices or games.

Tearl uni forms are best lef t home and brought in on the game days rather than being lef t in the locker rooms.Despite our best efforts at supervision, thefts do occur.

50

SECURITY OF LOCKER ROOM AND TEAM AREAS

The team areas or locker room facility should not be left open unless one of the coaches on staff in your programis irr the locker room facility. Athletes are not to be given keys to the offices, storage areas, locker rooms, or teamaf eas. Each coach is responsible for the supervision of their athletes whi le in this faci l i ty.

Furthermore, the team should be addressed about appropriate behavior while in the locker room facility. Allcoaches should make a point of letting the athletes know that damage to the team areas or lockers may result insuspension from the team and denied use of the faci l i ty in addit ion to ihe cost of repairs. Coaches are expectedto see to it that the facility is kept in good condition.

NOTE: Many of our athletes have a tendency to vent their anger on the lockers when stressed in thecompeti t ive cl imate. Equipment such as helmets, bats, lacrosse st icks, etc. , causes a great dealof damage when thrown at the lockers. Please see to it that your athletes remain under control,on and off the field.

OUT OF SEASON PRACTICE POLICY

(Effective as of May 25,2000)

Standard #23 in NYSPHSAA State Handbook - Pract ice Session:

An organized practice in grades 7-12is a session for the purpose of providing instruction and practice in physicalconditioning activities, skills, team play, and game strategy designed expressly for that sport under thesupervision of a qual i f ied coach appointed by the Board of Educat ion of the local school distr ict . Such instruct ionand pract ice shal l be held onlv durinq the season desionated for that sport .

School sponsored activities conducted out of the sport season such as general conditioning, weight training,weight lifting, intramurals, recreation, open gyms, club activities and camps are permitted if:

1) such programs are not mandated by coaches or schooi personnel, and

z) such programs are available to all students.

51

STANDARD OPERATING PROGEDURES FOR ATHLETICS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

otaff should always direct or help an individual involved with a blood/body f luid incident to care for him/herself with nr inimal,rtact to the staff member. However, there are situations when a staff person will need to intervene and provide assistance

that requires contact. Therefore, staff should always implement a barrier between him/herself and the individual in need ofassistance, using clean mater ials or late>dvinyl gloves. In most instances, the staff member should not be expected to cleanup the blood/body fluid spill or the environment. Appropriate custodial staff should be called for clean-up.

When a staff nrenrber needs to intervene and implement a universal precaution they do so from an infornred voluntaryresponse under the A Good Samaritan Act and using prudent public health protective procedures.

1 . Al l school personnel should have dispenser soap, water, paper towels and access to disposable latex/vinyl gloves.

2. l f an accident involving a blood spi l l occurs, the individual should be encouraged to tend to his/her orvn injury. Forexample, if a student has a bloody nose, hand him/her the tissues and instruct the athlete to pinch their nose. lf astudent has a bleeding injury (cut, abrasion), hand him/her clean paper iowels to hold over the injury. lf this is notpossible, provide assistance using a barr ier between yourself and the individual.

a)

h\

d)

wear disposable gloves and use disposable towels/t issues for each injury.any blood stained mater ials should be placed in a sealable plast ic bag.remove gloves following proper procedure.wash hands thoroughly with soap and water using handwashing procedures.

+.

o_

? Kaan ctr rrlanfs away from the area of blooci/body fluid spil l, cover with paper towels unti l area is cleaned and| \vvY v!gvv| |

disinfected. Cal l appropriate personnel for c lean-up (designated custodial staff) .

11.

Use of proper protect ive equipment and adherence to safeiy procedures in al l athlet ic act iv i t ies are appropriateprevent ion strategies for reducing the r isk of blood/body f luid spi l ls.

Students with open lesions (i.e., cuts, acne with draining lesions) should not participate in close physical contact sportsunless the lesions are dry, scabbed over or can be effectively and securely dressed with a bandage or gauze.

During practices and competitions, coaches identified at risk for occupational exposure to BBP should always have onhand disposable latex gloves, sealable plast ic bags, paper towels, sanitary absorbent mater ial , disposable alcoholtowelettes, l iquid soap and water, alcohol and bleach or another disinfectant.

lf open lesions or wounds have come in contact with blood from another person, the affected area should be scrubbedwith soap and running water. A skin disinfeciant ( i .e. ,70o/o alcohol, Betadine, Hibicians) should be appl ied afterwashing. Report incident to appropriate personnel (i.e., school nurse).

When the skin is intact, have the player wear gloves and wash his/her own skin using a disposable towel coniainingsoap and water, or with soap under running water. Gloves and towels should be discarded in a plast ic bag. Playershould wash hands using hand washing procedures.

lf a player gets blood in the eyes, flood exposed area with running water at room temperature for 2 to 3 minutes. Takeplayer to eye wash station if one is available. Report incident to appropriate personnel (i.e., school nurse).

l f a player gets blood in the mouth, r inse with tap water for 2 to 3 minutes and spit i t out. Report incident to appropriatepersonnel ( i .e. , schooi nurse).

Do not permit students to share razors.

Fluids provided for players should be dispensed in individual, s ingle-use disposable cups to prevent sal iva transferamong players. Drinking bottles shared among players can be a source of infection. Several outbreaks of viralmeningit is have been attr ibuted to this pract ice.

7.

8.

9.

10.

12.

39

CONTENTS OF FIRST A,ID KIT

The fol lowirrg is a reasonably complete l ist ing of what a wel l stocked ki t would contain. Please keep in mind that whi le the ki tmay be stocked appropriately at the start of the season, first aid supplies musi be supplemented throughout the season.

laches are responsible for keeping an updated inventory of the kit, especially prior to an away contest, where necessary first.rrd supply i tenrs may not be avai lable.

In addition to the items in the kit, please be advised that all coaches should always have the team cooler with ice available foral l pract ices, and large quant i t ies of dr inking water at al l pract ices and contests, home or awav.

4 rolls 1 2@ athletic tape2 rolls of underwrao'1 can of tape adhesive4X4gauzepacis2 X2 gauze padslarge bandaidssmal l bandaidsknuckle bandaidseye padbutterfly bandages or steri-strips'i tube of bacitracin or antibiotic ointment1 bottle of alcohol or swabs1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide or germicidalifungicidal washcotton tipped applicatorstongue depressors2 tr iangular bandagesskin lubestrawberry ointment1/8" foam for blisterstape cutterscissorsplastic bags for icef inger spl int mater ialemergency medical cards (in zip lock bag for protection)emergency phone numbers for ambulance/rescuelatex gloves

PLEASE NOTE: The Half Hol low Hi l ls Communicat ion List ing should be with the coach at al l t imes, in case ofemergency, along with the numbers for t ransportat ion. However, i t is not a wise idea to keep these numbers in thef i rst aid ki t , as student/athletes may gain access to these personal phone numbers. Keep them in a secured place.

The f i rst aid ki t should be kept neat and clean. When an i tem runs out, or runs low, i t should be returned to the trainer to berestocked. A first aid kit is of no use if it never makes it to the field. The kit and the cooler of ice for iniuries are mandatorv atevery practice.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Please review the attached information and become familiar with the process and procedures which pertain to student/athleteaccident insurance claims. Appropriate communicat ion with the parent and athlete is essent ialwhen injury occurs.

HHH pol icy provides reasonable and customarv coveraqe for c laims in excess of a parent 's underly ing healthinsurance coveraoe.

Coaches should direct athletes and parents to use their family HMO, PPO., etc. , program, as required, in order to beel igible for reimbursement of benef i ts payable under our excess coverage medical plan.

Athletes and parents should communicate with the school nurse to ensure ful l compl iance with distr ic i procedures.

40

Sclrool nufses should be notifieci of all injuries immediately, or at the latest, the morning after the injury. In the case ofany ser ious injury, the Athlet ic Director and Bui lding Administrat ion should be not i f ied immediately, at home i f

:ase be advised that at no time should a staff mernber indicate to the parents of an injured athlete that the disirict "will pay foreverything". ln addition, at no time should a staff member or coach indicate that a particular physician is a "district doctor", ornivc n=rantq i l ' re imnrsssion that they should ut i l ize the service of a specif ic physician. Recommending physicians to parentsand/or athletes is in conflict with district policy.

NYSPHSAA SELECTION/CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM

The Selection/Classification Program is a process for screening students to determine their readiness to compete ininterscholastic athletic competition by evaluating their physical maturity, fitness and skill. The intent of this program is toprovide for students, in grades 7 through 12, an opportunity to safely part ic ipaie at an appropriate level of competi t ion, basedupon readiness rather than age and grade. Students do not mature at the same rate, and there can be a tremendous range ofdevelopmental differences between students of the same age. This program has been designed to assess a student's physicalmaturat ion, physical f i tness, and ski l l , so the student may be placed at a level of competi t ion which should result in increasedopportunity, a fairer competitive environment, reduced injury, and greater personal satisfaction.

The SelectioniClassification Program was desiqned for mature and exceptionallv skilled students to advance toan upper level, and less developed students to part ic ipate at an appropriate lower level that is sui ted to their development andabi l i ty. The program is not to be used to f i l l posi t ions on teams, provide addit ionalexperience, provide a place for junior highstudents when no modified program is offered, or to reward a student. lt is aimed at the few select students who can benefitf rom such placement because of their level of readiness. l t wi l l a lso be fairer to the other students on the modif ied teams.

Cri ter ia has been formulated by the State Educat ion Department which gives an accurate measurement for el ig ibi l i ty,and to highlight the inherent differences in the various individual and team sports. Rules, regulations and guidelines for thisprogram are governed by the Commissioner of Educat ion - Secf ion 135.4.

Normally a student is eligible for senior high athletic competition in a sport during each of four consecutive seasons,-rmmencing with the youngster's entry into the ninth grade. However, by satisfying the requirements of the

:lection/Classification Program, a student may receive extended eligibility to permit:

1. Participation during five consecutive seasons in the approved sport after entry into the eighth grade; or

2. Participation during six consecutive seasons in the approved sport after entry into the seventh grade.

PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

ELIGIBILITY

The Half Hollow Hills district participates in the Selection/Classification Program and provides an opportunityto middleschool athletes to move up in all sports, with the exception of Football and Winter Track.

In football, a high contact sport, all boys.will compete on level, for reasons of safety and physical maturity. A hugedif ference in physical matur i ty exists between a 7'" or 8 '" grade middle school youngsier and the boys that part ic ipate at ihe JVlevel, and the mismatch in size, speed, strength, could potentially endanger the safety and well being of the athlete.

Even though middle school girls and boys are not provided with an opportunity to participate in a modified program inwinter tack, rn iddle school athletes are not be permitted to participate in our high school winler track program. The competitiveclrmate at the high school level in winter track presents too many concerns with respect to academics and supervision. Thecontest schedule involves late evening competition during the week, which results in student/athletes returning back to schoolat very late hours. The competitive environment also presents major concerns with respect to supervision, at practice sessionsand competitive events. Opportunities are provided for both boys and girls at the middle school level to participate in theSelect ion/Classi f icat ion process and become involved in our high school spr ing track program.

Keep in mind that for those sports where a middle school opportunity to compete is provided, as is the case with mostof our programs, the Selection/Classification Program is provided only to those athletes who would be considered to be elite. ln

-der to bypass our middle school program, this athlete must be a very gi f ted individual, a blue chip athlete; someone who.vould potent ial ly play a major role at the varsi ty level as an 8'n grader, and who would possibly qual i fy for post season

A' lTI

^nmpetition as an individual competitor. For the most part, an athlete who would only be talented enough to participate at thelevel would not be approved to move up.

PROGESS

The process may be initiated by the parent, modified coach, or the high school coach. The request to consider anathlete for Selection/Classification must be broughl to the Director of Athletics, who must approve the request, before anyAthletic Performance Tests are administered. lf the district provides an opportunity for the athlete to participate in a programat the modif ied level (swimming, basketbal l , soccer, cross country, f ie ld hockey, basebal l , softbal l , spr ing track, vol leybal l ,wrestling and lacrosse), an athlete, in most cases, would not be considered for participation at the high school level withouthaving first participated in our middle school program as a 7th grader. This year of participation at the modified level providesthe basis of evaluation when the request is initiated to move up as an 8'n grader.

in tlrose sports where an athlete is not presented with the opportunity to participate in a modified progranr (i.e.,gymnastics, tennis, or golf), the athlete may initiate the request to move up to the Middle School Building Coordinator. lf theymeet the SelectioniClassification criteria, they will be allowed to try out for the high school program without the extensiveevaluation from the coaching staff. However, if the athlete does not demonstrate academic, emotional, and social maturity, theDirector of Athlet ics and/orthe Bui lding Principal maydenythe athlete's requestto compete atthe high school level.

Upon receiving the request, the Director of Athletics will contact the middle school coach to evaluate the athleie, basedupon his or her performance in our middle school program. This evaluation will include an assessment of the athlete's physicalabi l i t ies, ski l ls and techniques, academic performance, and emotional and social matur i ty. Others involved in the evaluat ionprocess are the Building Administrators, Guidance Counselors, and Teachers. The athlete's competitive drive and initiative,and prior commitment to practice, will play a factor in this evaluation as well. lf acadernics, behavioral, emotional or socialmatur i ty issues present concerns, the athlete may be denied the opportunity to qual i fy for part ic ipat ion throughSelection/C lass ification.

, HLETIC STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

lf the youngster is approved to participate in the Selection/Classification Program, the following procedures apply:

1. The School Physician must administer a physical examination and determine the athlete's physical health(Medical Examinat ion), and physical matur i ty (Developmental Rat ing).

2. An authorized Physical Education teacher must administer a six item Athletic Performance Test. The Directorof Athlet ics wi l l select the teacher who wi l l administer the performance tests. No other individual mavadminister any part of the fitness tests.

3. lf the athlete is approved for participation by the school district physician and the Athletic PerformanceStandards are met, the athlete will be permitted to participate in tryouts for a three day period (possibly longerfor those trying out for golf). At the end of the tryout period, the high school coach must evaluate the middleschool athlete's abi l i t ies. Athletes wi l l not be permit ted to move up unless they wi l l have a major impact in thegame, and be assured of getting substantial pla;ring time in contests.

4. The athlete will be contacted with the final decision, immediately after the three dair period. lf the athlete isdenied the opportunity to part ic ipate in the high school program, he or she wi l l st i l l be el igible to part ic ipate inrL^+ ̂^^'+ ' ' cffered at the middle school level. Once an athlete is selected on the high school team, thatuldt )PUlL, i l t

individual is no longer eligible to participation in that sport at the modified level. lf the athlete starts up, theycannot reverse the process, change their mind, and return to the modified program.

Coaches Note: Make certain that the White Emergency Medical Clearance Card has not only the signature of theSchool Nurse on the card, but also the signature of the Director of Athletics. The Level (Freshmen, JV, or Varsity)should also be noted on the card, as determined by the scores earned on the Athlet ic Performance Tests. l f anindividual is approved to participate on the JV Level as a 7tn grader, that individual must be tested again and passestabl ished performance standards or order to be el igible for varsi ty competi t ion as an 8'n grader. Be advised thatapproval carries over from one year to the next, as long as the level of competition remains the same. lf the athletecompeted on the JV team as a 7'n grader, and now wishes to compete on the varsi ty level as an Bth grader, the athletemust go through the Selection/Classification process once again,

42

"UILDIN

The nriddle school Building Coordinaior must post and openly advertise a set time and date for the testing of athleteswho request to rlove up. In the case of tennis, golf, and gymnastics, the Coordinator is to make certain that all student athletesare aware of the opportunity provided to them if they meet Selection/Classification standards. The Coordinator must makecertain that ongoing communication occurs with the School Nurse, and that both know which students interrd to requestparticipatiorr at a higher level. The nurse must guide the athlete through the physical examination process, and alert the SchoolPhysician of the athlete's intent. The School Physician must developmentally screen ihe athlete.

The Coordinator will schedule the physicalfitness testing of the athletes in a tirnely manner. lt is imperative that all fallathletes involved in the tennis, golf, and gymnastics programs be presented with a fair opportunity to participate in the testtngprocess, and be f in ished with the process pr ior to the last week in June. The high school coaches cannot be expected topostpone tryouts for those middle school athletes who fail to meet expectations in a timely manner. Make certain thatannouncements are made, signs posted, and physical educat ion classes are addressed. ln the case of the spr ing tennis andgolf programs, try to have those athletes tested in the late fal l , before inclement weather sets in that might cause delays intesting in the early spring. The high school programs must be prepared to go on the first Monday in March.

Athletes who have participated in our modified prograni, as 7tn graders, should be guided by their middle school coachwith regard to playing on level as an 8'n grader, or moving up. The middle school coach plays a critical role here in thecommunication process. At the conclusion of their season the middle school coach should meet with the Director of Athletics,and provide input with respect to the process of moving up. In addition, there should be ongoing communication between themiddle school coach and the high school coach, in order to insure that al l in the distr ict are on the same page here. MiddleSchool coaches, ai the conclusion of their season, should provide the high school coach with an overview of al l athletes whoparticipated in the modified program. This overview should include team and individual records, appropriate statistics, recordsof pract ice commitment, and an evaluat ion of each athlete's level of physical , social , and emotional matur i ty. High schoolcoaches should schedule the time to see the middle school team compete during the season, so as to have a better idea of iheability level of the mjddle school athletes involved in the program. Participation clinics for the middle school team, hosted by thearsity coach and players, is yet another way to assess the potential of those youngsters who may have the talent and desire to-rmpete on a higher level. Make certain that requests to move up are initiated in a timely manner. The Selection/Classifrcation

process is a lengthy one, and t ime must be provided for fair evaluat ion by al l involved in the process.

Al l distr ict coaches should be advised that middle schoolathletes should not be pressured to move up. Forthe most part , our middle school program meets the needs and expectat ions of al l those involved at themodif ied level. Playing at a high level is a demanding and stressful experience for a younger athlete, and therelat ively few who have the ski l ls and abi l i ty to successful ly compete at the JV or Varsi ty level are notprepared for the demands of such an experience. l f an athlete is at al l hesi tant to place themselves in thisenvironment, or the middle school coach feels that the athlete needs another year at the modif ied level, therequest should not be ini t iated.

SPORTSMANSHIP

NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Rule: "The NYSPHSAA recognizes and appreciates that the inf luence and responsibi l i ty of theschool administration with regard to good sportsmanship extends to all levels of competition. However, rt must also be seenthat the NYSPHSAA has been vested with the responsibi l i ty to ensure that al l contests under i ts jur isdict ion are conductedsatisfactorily".

1. COACH: Any coach excluded by a cerl i f ied off icial from an interschool competit ion forunspoftsmanlike conduct is ineligible to coach any interschool competition in that sporl until afterthenext previously scheduled contest at the same level has been completed. The coach mav not bepresent at the qame site.NOTE: "Not being physically present at the site" means the disqualified coach is not to be present in the lockerroom, on the sidelines, in the stands, or site area before, during, or after the contest.

A coach who strikes, shoves, kicks or makes other physical contact wiih the intent to do so, to another person(e.9. off icial, another coach, player, fan), shall be expelled immediately and banned from furtherparticipation or coaching in all sports for one year from the date of the offense.

43

2. PLAYER:

a. Any member of a squad ruled out of a contest for unsportsmanl ike conduct, or for a f lagrant foul shal lnot participate in that sport in the next previously scheduied contest with a member school or inNYSPHSAA tournament play.

b) Disqualifications from one season carry over to the next season of participation.Any member of the squad who strikes, shoves, kicks, or makes other physical contact with the intentto do so to an official shall be expelled from the game immediately, and banned from furtherparticipation in all sports for one year from the date of the offense.

NOTE: Member of the squad includes players, managers, score keepers, t imers, stat ist ic ians.

OFFICIAL:

a) Unprofessional conduct on the part of the off ic ial such as, but no l imited to, taunt ing, bai t ing, use ofprofanity, shall be reported by a school administrator from the aggrieved school to the SectionExecutive Director. A request will be made to the appropriate sport officials chapter to investigate theincidence and to report their action to the section in a timely manner.

Note: Definition of "Next Previously Schecluled Contest": This is the same as the next contest whichoriginally was in the schedule. No attempt should be made to insert a non-league contest into a sporlsschedule after a key player has been disqual i f ied so that the player would not part ic ipate in a

meaningless game. This totally violates the intent of this rule and is not permitted. The ejected piayeror coach must not participate in the next previously scheduled contest.

OFFICIALS GAME CARD:

:ard is to be read by off ic ials at each game in the beginning of the season and at each game from regionals through f inals.hich reads:

"The NYSPHSAA requires Officials to enforce all Rules regarding unsportsmanlike conduct by players and coaches. There willbe no tolerance for negat ive statements or act ions between opposing players, especial ly t rash-talking, taunt ing, or bai t ing ofopponents. lf such comments are heard, a penalty will be assessed immediately. We have been instructed not to issuewarnings durinq the contest. l t is strongly suggested that you remind your part ic ipants of this pol icy ' ' .

HHH SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY: A player who is ejected from the game cannot be present on si te when si t t ing out the nextregularly scheduled contest. The player may remain on site during the i-emainder of the game that he or she was ejected from,and is to be actively supervised by the coaching staff.

l f a player has been ejected for Misconduct a second t ime, that player wi l l be suspended from the team indef ini tely, unt i l theschool administration investigates the nature of the misconduct. In such cases, a player may be suspended for a specificperiod of t ime, or completely dismissed from the team.

44

HALF HOLLOW HILLSCENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

MEMO TO:

FROM.

SUBJECT:

All Coaches

Joe Pennacchio

Rati ng Cards/Coaching Evaluat ionsfor Fall, Winter, Spring Sports

RATING CARDS:

Please hand in your rating cards gtglsggb-gg!!9. lt doesn't serve any purpose if they are all handed in at the end ofthe season, after Sect ion Xl has completed their season rat ing.

COACHES EVALUATION:

Please be advised that Central Office Administrators and Building Principals have come to an agreement with theTeachers Union Representatives that Coaches will receive a letter of evaluation at the end of each season. So as notto make this evaluation process more complicated with respect to papenvork, coaches will be provided with a primarvform that simply indicates whether their coaching performance was:

satisfactory,satisfactory and in need of improvement, orunsatisfactory.

Any unsatisfactory ratings will be accompanied by the secondary form, which further defines specific evaluationcriteria and includes all areas of performance that were of concern during the season. In those cases whereimprovement is needed, the areas will be indicated by a written note included on the bottom of the primary letter, or onthe secondary form which may, i f needed, accompany the ini t ia l evaluat ion let ter. Al l coaches who receive anindication that performance was satisfactory will receive only the primary letter.

Please be aware that coaches are expected to meet the criteria as defined on the Coaching Performance EvaluationSheet during their tenure as a coach. Be advised that all coaching positions are stil l only one year appointments, asdefined by the teachers' contract, and will be posied each year in May. All candidates who wish to be considered for acoaching appointment must apply, in writing, to the District Director of Athletics.

55

b.

25' REPRESENTATION

A contestant, or athletic teanr, shall not represent a school except in conformance with all nrlesand regulations. It shall be the duty of trustees and boards of education to require that athleticactivities be limited to competition between secondary school students,

To be eligible for sectiona[ intersectional or state competitioq a team must have competed insix (O school scheduled contests during the season. To be eligible for sectional, intersectionalor state competitioq a team must have competed in six (6) school scheduled contests whichocqrrred on six different dates during the season. An individual is eligible for the team if he/sheiras been an eligible participant on a team in that sport in that school for a minimum of six (6)scheduled contests during the regular season. For football, a student must be an eligibleparticipant for a minimum of three (3) contests. Contestants in individual sports (archery,badminton, bowling, cross country, fencing golfi gymnastics, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis,outdoor track, winter track and wrestling) rrust also have represented their school in six (6)scheduled contests during the season to be eligible. These required contests must occur on sixdifferent dates and must be concluded prior to the conclusion of the team's regular schedule.

Section Athletic Councils may request approval of the State Executive Committee to adjust thenumber of school scheduled contests required on an annual basis.

AII games, meets, and tournaments must be conducted by appropriate secondary schoolauthorities.

Participation by a student in more than one sport in the same time division shall be determinedby the Section Athletic Council.

Games and practice between students and adults (alumni or faculty) are not approved.

To avoid unfair advantage a student who elects to participate in an interschool sport may notrepresent a school in that sport in a subsequent season in that school year.

SECTION XI

School

Athlete

of NYSPHSAA Regulation #25(see pg. 67 ofNYSPHSAA Handbook)

Sport

Date Request Submitted

Nature of lllnes#[nj ury

Date of Injury/Onset of Illness

RECORD OF PARTICIPATION IN COMPETTTIONS*:

t .

Date of Medical Clearance

2.

3./l

) .

NOTE:

* EXCLUSIVE OF SECTION TOURNAMENTS

AII pertinent MEDICAL documentation must accompany this request before it willbe considered. Such material MUST VERIFY the date of onset of the illness/injuryand date physical activity rnay resume. NOTES FROM PIIYSICAL TIIERAPISTSARE NOT ACCEPTABLE!

MEDTCAL DOCTIMENTS ATTACTIED:

l .

z.J.

it -

FORWARD REQUEST AND DOCUMENTATION TO:Section XIExecutive Director100 SuffolkAve.Stony Broolq,I{Y 11790

I

D

APPROVED

DISAPPROVED Date

MEDWAVE.FORTVFcbruary 10,2000

Executive Director