INTRODUCTION

Introduction	3	Phone List / Emergency Numbers	19
Academic Eligibility	4	Physicals	19
Activity Fees	5	PIAA Eligibility Rosters	20
Appointment of Coaches	6	Play-offs Attendance	21
Athletic Boosters	7	Practice Sessions	20
Budget Preparation	39	Rented Vehicles	21
Bus Riding		Responsibilities of Coach	21
Changes in Schedules	9	Retirement System
Complaint Policy	9	Rules	21
Contracts for Coaches	10	Scheduling Policies	22
Eligibility	10	Scouting	22
End of Season Responsibilities / Reports	38	Sport Descriptions	28
Equipment Manager	11	Supervising After-School Activities	22
Facilities Use	11	Supply Acquisition Procedures	23
Fundraising Procedures	11	Team Rosters	23
Hazing	12	Team Selection/Cutting	23
Home Schooling	13	Telephone Use	24
Injury / Accident Protocol	14	Tickets and Passes	24
Job Description / Miscellaneous Duties	14	Tournaments	24
Lettering	15	Transportation / Bus Procedures	25
Media Guidelines	15	Uniform Cycle	27
Media Contacts	16
Overnight Accommodations	16
Pay Schedule	18

We want to express our deep appreciation for your taking so much time to be with our students and to guide them as they develop not only their athletic abilities but also their character. You are important role models for them as they mature. Thank you for your cooperation in the matters that are covered in this newest edition of the coaches’ handbook – it will help things move smoothly and effectively for everyone. We have tried to make the handbook as user-friendly as possible, reorganizing things to make them easier to find, streamlining some things and expanding others. The goal is to have everything included that coaches may need to know.

1. Any overnight travel (such as for playoffs) must be preapproved by the administration. Please seek and obtain approval for the trip prior to any final steps in way of planning / preparations. You may make bus arrangements yourself , but do so in writing with the bus garage and send a copy to the Athletic Director. Also there is a travel limit of 120 miles one-way, with the exception of playoffs to which this limitation does not pertain.

Once overnight trips are approved, waivers must be obtained for each student prior to departure. All transportation needs, including changes, must be communicated to Jerry Lightner as far in advance as possible so that he can make necessary arrangements.

2. Please send me a copy of your team rules to be approved and then kept on file.

3. Academic performance is critical for all of our students. Any student who is ineligible because of failing grades is not allowed to participate. The specifics about this are included in this book.

There is a desire by our community and alumni associations to have ongoing updates about how our sports teams are doing this year. Each head coach will have the responsibility of submitting this information to our office. Please send the following information to DAVID PARK by Monday of EACH WEEK dpark@fairview.iu5.org

4. As you are no doubt aware, there is a school district policy that prevents hazing. Please be familiar with it and take every precaution that it never happen with your teams. It is the responsibility of the coach to prevent this type of behavior.

5. Part of the duties of the Assistant Principal position is to evaluate our coaching staff. The form used for this purpose is found in this handbook. This process will occur after your season and includes head coaches evaluating their assistants, and my completing an evaluation for the head coach.

6. We are also providing you with a new packet of materials pertaining to the preparation of next year’s budget. Remember, for some of you that process will come even before you enter this year’s season. Not much has changed from how we did this last year except that it is earlier.

I will make an attempt to see you at practice sessions throughout the season. Thank you for all that you do to make our athletics program a success. Please feel free to contact either Jerry or me if you have any concerns or questions.

There has been some confusion in the past about what makes a student ineligible for extracurricular activities, to what degree, and precisely when a decision is made about this eligibility. The definition of being academically ineligible and what the different situations are for those students are covered in this handbook, the student handbook, and on the weekly eligibility sheet that Mrs. Morell produces. We will continue to follow those rules.

It is important that each teacher send down names of students who are failing their classes as of Thursday at 2:13 p.m.

The eligibility sheet will be prepared on Friday morning and will be circulated. Because this information can be controversial – people not being able to play for an important game, etc. – teachers have been instructed that they must submit this information in as timely a manner as possible and that it be accurate.

We are also including students who are failing a single class to alert you as to their being a potential problem in the near future. Although they will be eligible, they will be followed by our guidance counselors to see what is the nature of their problem and to inform the student of their precarious eligibility status.

We will be informing student participants in extracurricular activities that we will be going on what is submitted and graded by Thursday afternoon, not Friday afternoon or Monday morning. All of us have been associated with some last minute efforts to lobby for eligibility. In the interest of fairness and proper implementation of the rules, we will be sticking to our deadline. The list will be placed in your mailbox on Friday morning. Mr. Lightner will also call those coaches who may have an athlete who is having eligibility problems.

A student will not be penalized for being absent and not being able to turn something in prior to the Thursday deadline. Each teacher should decide how to properly deal with absent students and their make-up work as it relates to their eligibility for extracurricular activities.

If at any time a student fails to meet these elibibility requirements, he/she will lose eligibility for the following week (Sunday through Saturday). NOTE: A student whose final grade for two courses is lower than 70% will be ineligible for the first 10 school days of the following semester.

A student who is receiving failing grades cumulative to the beginning of the marking period in at least two courses or the equivalent during a given week shall be subject to the following sequence:

1. During the first week, the student shall be placed on ELIGIBILITY PROBATION at which time he/she must take the initiative to raise his/her grade in those subjects affected while still participating in school-related activities.

2. During the second, consecutive week with a failing grade in at least two courses, regardless of whether the subjects are the same as those affected in the first week, the student shall be placed on ELIGIBILITY INACTIVITY at which time the head coach(es)/activity advisor(s) shall help that student develop a schedule and provide reasonable support for the necessary remedial work, the student is still permitted to practice but not attend, dress for, or participate in any school-related activities.

3. During the third, consecutive week with failing grades in more than one subject, regardless of whether the subjects are the same as those affected in either the first or second week, the student shall be placed on ELIGIBILITY SUSPENSION at which time the head coach(es)/activity advisor(s) shall schedule, support, and assume responsibility for supervising the necessary remedial work during the time that the student is on eligibility suspension and during this week the student may not practice, or attend, dress for, or participate in school-related activities.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR END OF BOTH SEMESTERS – A student whose final grade for two courses is lower than 70% will be ineligible for the first 10 school days of the following semester. Example: A student getting a failing grade in math and science for the spring semester would not be able to participate in the extra-curricular activity for 10 days at the start of the following school year.

ACTIVITY FEES

An activity fee is required from all students who wish to participate in the following activities:

This fee must be paid before the 1st practice or the student will be unable to participate. It only needs to be paid once per each school year. For example, if a student participates in a Fall activity, then he or she would NOT have to re-pay for a Winter or Spring activity. Coaches need to maintain an up-to-date list of their athletes who have paid. Any special hardship about which a coach may be aware should be discussed with the Athletic Director or Assistant Principal.

The Fairview School Board is responsible for appointing intramural and interscholastic coaches. Head Coaches will recommend to the high school principal their choices for assistant coaching positions.

Coaches will be paid according to the ECA plan effective at the time. There is also the possibility of utilizing GRATIS (volunteer) coaches to assist. These individuals must also be hired, submit their clearances (volunteers’ clearance fees will be reimbursed by the district), and sign contracts. There are also FLOATING COACHES (2 are budgeted for 2006-2007) which are a paid position and must be approved for use by the Athletic Director, Administration, and Board. The purpose of floating coaches is to provide necessary extra supervision in those cases where the enrollment in the sport has had an unforeseen increase. Floating coaches are a relatively temporary solution to the problem. Please discuss assistant coaching needs with the Athletic Director or FHS Assistant Principal in a timely manner to avoid delays in the hiring process.

The general objective of the Association shall be to sponsor, promote, support and encourage activities and programs that will provide an additional funding source to enhance the extra curricular athletic programs of the Fairview School District .

Team requests for funds must be submitted by the Coach or their Team Representative to the President at least 3 days in advance of the upcoming meeting in order to be placed on the Agenda. The requests must also be presented in writing at the monthly General Membership meeting. All requests for funds will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will not be automatically granted.

The Association may, on a case by case or annual basis, determine to purchase sports related clothing or equipment when such request is made the by the Coach or Team Representative, and only after the request has either been refused by the Fairview School Board or stricken form the most recent School District budget. Under demonstrated emergency circumstances the Executive Board may waive these requirements.

All checks or demands for money shall be signed by two Officers, the Treasurer and the President.

The Association shall organize and present an annual spring All-Sports Banquet. All athletes, managers, coaches, cheerleaders and their families will be invited. The most valuable senior athlete in each individual sport will be recognized with a plaque. All senior athletes will receive gifts as determined by the Officers and the Banquet Committee. These gifts may include but are not limited to a Fairview High School blanket and sports cutout. The Association will have the inscription of the nameplates for the most valuable senior athlete and the Sportsmanship Award prepared and hung in the hallway at the Fairview High School .

The Association will present the following awards at the annual All-Sports Banquet:

1. The MVP Award to the most outstanding senior athlete for each team as determined by Coach

2. The Sportsmanship Award to a male and female senior displaying the best attributes of sportsmanship throughout their high school career. The award percipient will be determined, after careful research, by the Officers.

3. The Outstanding Freshman Athlete Award to a male and female that most distinguishes himself/herself in athletics during their freshman year. The award percipient will be determined, after careful research, by the Officers.

4. The Triple Crown Athlete(s) Award to any student that participates in three or more Sports. The Officers and the Banquet Committee will determine the award type, style and color.

5. The Association will provide annual scholarships to graduating seniors attending college in the amount of $250.00 per student, to a maximum of $1000.00. Recipients for the scholarships shall be drawn randomly at the All-Sports Banquet, and shall be presented to the student on the verification of payment of the first quarter tuition at an accredited institution of higher learning.

In addition to the above mentioned programs set in place by the Association, other activities which are deemed appropriate by the Executive Board and the General Membership can and will be initiated. These programs may include, but are not limited to, Star Athlete of the Week and Senior Recognition Nights.

The Association will purchase a shirt, sweater, sweatshirt or whatever the Executive Board deems appropriate with an insignia for all Fairview Coaches and Assistance Coaches. Individuals wanting replacement of these articles, minimum use of three years, must submit a request, which will be considered by the Executive Board.

All game changes must be approved through the Athletic Director. DO NOT make changes yourself. All of our schedules are PIAA approved and involve a host of other people such as the media, ticket sellers, transportation, officials, security, administrators, parents, boosters, varsity club etc. Any scheduled contest that does not take place is to be reported to the Athletic Director immediately upon returning to the school (weather, forfeit, etc.).

Do not call another school's Athletic Director yourself. To avoid problems all communication needs to be made through your Athletic Director.

COMPLAINT POLICY

In order to address concerns that sometimes arise between parents and coaches or advisors the Fairview School District has created an organized sequential chain of events to address these concerns. We feel that strict adherence to this policy will bring proper and rapid closure to concerns. The following are issues that are not to be addressed by a parent to a coach or advisor.

Coaches' Performance Appraisal	Budget Form - Supplies	Budget Form - Travel
Budget Form - Officials	Budget Form - Temporary Salaries	Facilities Request
Maintenance Work Order	Accident Report	Anticipated Expenses
Letters Awards	Transportation Request Form	Requisition Form (MS Excel)
Mileage Log	Position Application