ELITE SCHOLARS ACADEMY TRACK & FIELD HANDBOOK

The purpose of this handbook is to establish rules, regulations, and polices for our Elite Scholars Academy Track & Field program and to provide a framework within which students, parents, faculty and staff can work together for the benefit of our Track & Field program.

The mission of Elite Scholars Academy Track & Field program is to provide each athlete the opportunity to reach his or her full potential by both developing speed, endurance, and strength while fostering high self esteem, personal accountability, self-discipline, goal setting and goal achievement.

GOALS FOR ESA TRACK & FIELD PROGRAM
1. To develop a tradition of athletic and academic excellence.
2. To develop a highly competitive program in the county, region and state.
3. To create an atmosphere of hard work, collaboration, and self-sufficiency.
4. Assist Athletes in developing a championship mentality.
5. Assist Athletes in obtaining Track & Field scholarship.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
ESA is a member of the Georgia High Schools Association.  Each student has to meet ESA’s requirements in order to participate on the Track & Field Team and maintain eligibility.  Students that are under academic probation will not be eligible to participate on our Track & Field Team. During the season if athletes receives “F/s” on any progress report, they will receive a suspension on the Team until the grade comes up to a 71 average.  This suspension includes participating in practice, track meets and traveling with the team.  During the season if athletes receives "F/s" on a report card, they will be removed from the Team.

To be eligible to participate and/or try-out for the Track & Field team, students must:
1. Be academically eligible as it relates to the paragraph above
2. Have a physical examination as of April of the previous year
3. Have a signed team contract returned to ESA’s Track & Field coaches
 

VARSITY TRACK TEAM BASICS
The varsity teams have the commitment of winning and putting the best team on the track.  Varsity track members are the most visible and need to show positive leadership on and off campus.  Coaches will make every effort to allow each athlete the opportunity of competing at the varsity level, but a specified amount of participation time is never guaranteed.  All of our athletes are expected to participate in practice, and summer workouts.  We will never have the desired athletic team we wish to have if we do not work out in the off-season. If an athlete is a member of our school’s Track & Field team, then our school team must take priority over recreational/club teams outside of the school.

PARTICIPATION POLICY
ESA takes seriously the commitments of our student-athletes.  We believe honoring commitments is essential throughout life in marriage, family, career and in school.  We believe that athletics helps foster the genuine commitments that will aid our student athletes to be successful throughout their lives.  Athletes should never quit a sport in the middle of the season regardless of how justified he/she may feel their reasons to be.  We encourage all parents and students to “stick it out”.  It is our desire to work with parents in teaching student’s perseverance, commitment, and loyalty.  Any student who quits the Track & Field team after the tryout period will not be allowed back on the team during that season and will not be allowed to try-out the following season.

ACADEMIC WORK
Athletes are responsible for their academic work.  Student Athletes will sometimes have to leave school early for track meets.  It is the athlete’s responsibility to turn in any academic work and get assignments for that day before departing the school for track meets.  Track meets and track practice should never be used as an excuse for unfinished academic work.

ABSENCES AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIIES
No student will be allowed to participate in any practice or track meet on the day that he/she has been absent from school.  Students must be present a half-day (3.5 hours) in order to participate in a track meet or practice that day.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, CONCUSSION, CCCPS INSURANCE WAIVER & CONSENT FORMS
A physical examination is required by the GHSA.  GHSA also requries that athletes turn in a signed concussion form.  Next, Clayton County Public Schools requires that all athletes that participates in any sport, turn in a Clayton County Insurance Waiver Form.  All forms required by GHSA, County and the consent form must be on file before a student participates in any tryout, practice, or track meet.  All forms are to be turned into the head coach of the track team that you are trying out for.  Physical Forms, Concussion, Clayton County Insurance Wiaver Forms can be found and downloaded from our website.

TRAVEL
All athletes are required to ride the bus to track meets.  The athlete must have the permission of the head coach to ride home with his/her parents or another parent after the track meet.  If an athlete is allowed to leave early with his/her parent then the athlete must notify their head coach before they exit the track meet.  No athletes will be able to ride home with other students or non-adults. 

PROFANITY
Profanity will not be tolerated in any form by our athletes.  There are no excuses.  If an athlete uses profanity, the disciplinary policy that is listed in the handbook will be followed.

CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS
The GHSA, CCPS, and ESA have made a commitment to promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches, and spectators at all GHSA sanctioned or ESA events.  Profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed at officials or competitors will not be tolerated, and are grounds for removal from the event site.  Spectators are not allowed to enter the competition area during event warm-ups or while the contest is being conducted.  We strongly encourage our fans to cheer for our teams. 

Codes of Conduct Contracts are an agreement by the parents and students to conduct them selves in a manner that is reflective of the overall philosophy and mission of Elite Scholars Academy.

Elite Scholars Academy Parent Code of Conduct

Our Speech
1. Questionable language or “slang” words will not be tolerated.  Anything that can be constructed as negative or insulting must be avoided.
2. Be positive and encouraging.  Uplift your child and others.  Let them know the importance and accomplishments of being part of the team.  Let them know that they are important.
3. Never criticize the officials or coaches.  Suggestions and observations are always encouraged but all negative dialogue is discouraged.
4. Insist that your child address the coaches, teammates, and officials running events with respect.
5. Never be involved in negative cheering.
6. Never speak negatively around the student athletes or other parents about the other students participating or the coaches.
7. Always confront the coaches out of sight and earshot of students and other parents.

Our Relationships
1. Develop relationships and a good rapport with your students and teammates.
2. Develop relationships and a good rapport with other parents.
3. Develop relationships and a good rapport with parents from other schools.
4. Develop relationships with the coaches.
Our Behavior
1. Maintain class and character (lets set the example and be the role models)
2. Always insist that your child follows the instructions of other adults.
3. Remain in the stands or area designated to spectators.
4. Be Modest in victory and gracious in defeat.
5. Recognize the success of your opponent.

Elite Scholars Academy Athlete Code of Conduct

Our Speech
1. Questionable language or “slang” words will not be tolerated.  Anything that can be constructed as negative or insulting must be avoided.
2. Be positive and encouraging.  Uplift your teammates and others.  Let them know the importance and accomplishment of being part of the team.  Let them know that they are important.
3. Never criticize the coaches or authoritative figures from other schools.  Suggestions and observations are always encouraged but all negative dialogue is discouraged.

Our Relationships
1. Develop relationships and good rapport with teammates and coaches.
2. Develop relationships and a good rapport with classmates and teachers.
3. Develop relationships and a good rapport with the students and adults from other schools.

Our Unity
1. Develop unity within our team.
2. Develop unity within our school family.

Our Behavior
1. The athlete will exhibit high character and good behavior.
2. The athlete will meet all eligibility requirements.
3. The athlete will know and understand the requirements.
4. The athlete will show respect for all coaches, and all staff personnel.
5. The athlete will show respect for their teammates.
6. The athlete will follow Elite Scholars Academy code of conduct.
7. The athlete will never engage in fighting.
8. The athlete will respect our coaching philosophy and team rules.

 

ELITE SCHOLARS ACADEMY TRACK & FIELD MERIT AND DEMERIT SYSTEM

Merits
Merits are given for conduct above and beyond the expectations of a track & field athlete.  Demerits earned under the attendance, and performance behavior can be canceled out by acquiring 5 merits for every 1 demerit.  Merits cannot and will not cancel demerits earned for Misconduct.  Merits can be earned by:
1. A/B Honor Roll on progress report or report cards (3 Merits)
2. Perfect attendance at school during the month (3 Merits)
3. Perfect attendance at all practices and meets for the month (2 Merits)
4. Athlete registers an hour or more of volunteer time for the month (4 Merits)
5. Athlete finishes in the top 3 in an event at a track meet (2 Merits)

Demerits
After 15 demerits have been received, a member is dismissed from the Track & Field team for the remainder of the school year.  This member will not be allowed to try out the following year. Demerits will be earned for the following:
1. Attendance and Tardies
     a. Unexcused absence from practice (3 Demerits)
     b. Unexcused absence from track meets (5 Demerits)
     c. Unexcused tardy to track practice (1 Demerit)

     d. Dishonesty regarding tardiness, and missed practices, meets, and team meetings (3 Demerits).
2. Performance Behavior
     a. Failure to wear the correct attire to a practice (1 Demerits)
     b. Failure to wear the correct uniform attire to a track meet (3 Demerits)
     c. Lack of attention (ex. not checking into assigned events)/participation during a practice or track meet (2 Demerits)

     d. Not following directions (ex. refusing to compete in an assigned event or resfusing to complete workouts during practice) (5 Demerits)
     e. Wearing prohibited items during a Track Meet (2 Demerits)
3. Misconduct
     a. Any conduct resulting in an arrest by law officials (15 Demerits)
     b. Any disciplinary action resulting in out of school suspension from school (10 Demerits)
     c. Any disciplinary action resulting in ISS (5 Demerits)
     d. Disrespectful behavior to an ESA Coach or authoritative figure from another school (5 Demerits)

     e. Disrespectful behavior to a teammate or individual from another school (3 Demerits) 

As a Track & Field team member accumulates Demerits, the following will occur:
1. Warning from Team Head Coach (3 Demerits)
2. Parent notification, Physical Conditioning (5 Demerits)
3. Parent Meeting, Physical Conditioning and Team Suspension (10 Demerits)
4. Parenting Meeting, and Dismissal from the Team (15 Demerits)

 

PARENT/COACH COMMUNICATION
Parenting and coaching are both difficult vocations.  Understanding each others’ role will enable parents and coaches to work together to provide a meaningful experience for the Track & Field student athletes at ESA.

Communication that parents can expect from a coach:
1. Locations and times of practice and games.
2. Expectations the coach has of the athletes and team.
3. Team requirements.
4. Team rules and disciplinary actions for violations of team rules.
5. Various ways that parents may help the team.

 

Appropriate concerns for parents to discuss with the coaching staff:
1. Ways to help your child improve.
2. Concerns about your child’s behavior.
3. Academic support, and college opportunities.

Recognizing that coaches are the ones with the track team on a daily basis in practice and in meets, it is important to understand that the coach will make decisions that he or she believes to be the best for the team and for all athletes who are involved.

A parent should never confront a coach before or after a meet or practice.  These are emotional times for a parent and coach and are not wise times to make an attempt toward the resolution of a problem.