Curwensville Area School
District
Coaches and Advisors
Handbook
2016-2017
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Extra –Curricular Goals and Objectives
The goal of Curwensville Jr.-Sr. High School Extra-Curricular Programs is to enhance the
opportunity for each student to become a more effective citizen.
Learning Objectives- The student shall learn:
A. To work with others- In a democratic society a person must develop self-discipline,
respect for authority, an appreciation for rule of law and the public good, and the spirit of
hard work and sacrifice.
The team or group and its objectives must be placed higher than personal desires.
B. To be Successful-In a competitive society the goal is to achieve success. A person may
not always win or “get the part”, but one succeeds when continually striving to excel.
Those who learn to accept failure as part of the challenge of daring to do great things can
develop a desire to achieve that will impact the individual for a lifetime.
Eligibility, Coaches and Advisors
It shall be the responsibility of each coach or advisor to select the necessary number of people to
fill the paid positions that are part of their staff. Consideration will also be given to those who
wish to participate as volunteer members of the staff. Head coaches have the option of
determining who is to fill all paid and volunteer positions on their staff. It is the responsibility of
the Head Coach or Advisor to submit to the Athletic Director 60 days prior to the start of their
season a list of all of those who participate as members of their staff in any capacity. Prior to
participation in any program of the Curwensville Area School District all Coaches and Advisors
must complete the following requirements;
1) Request and receive Act 24, 34 ,151, and 114 Clearances
2) Have a current TB Test
3) Receive approval from the Board of Education
All approved Coaches or Advisors must attend a mandatory meeting prior to the start of their
season or activity. Times and dates will be scheduled for these meetings and will be announced
to allow adequate opportunity for all those who are required to attend to arrange their schedule
accordingly. All paid coaches should be in attendance at practice on a daily basis. Volunteers,
although not held to this standard, should be in regular attendance. Any volunteer that has not
attended at least 50% of all games and practices will not be included on the roster for PIAA postseason play.
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Professionalism
It is expected that all Coaches and Advisors will maintain the highest standards of appropriate
behavior as representatives of the Curwensville Area School District. Coaches must interact
appropriately with students, parents, officials, and members of the community. Head Coaches
should establish a procedure to ensure that appropriate behavior is maintained by all members of
their staff, and that any allegations of inappropriate behavior are reported to the Head Coach who
will then forward this information promptly to the Athletic Director.
Any Student or Adult who is suspended from a game or event will also be prohibited from
attending or participating in the next scheduled event at the same level. The person who is
suspended should not be in attendance at the next event from which they have been prohibited
from participating.
In the event that a Coach or member of their staff is suspended from an event, the circumstances
of this situation will be evaluated immediately, and the proper course of action regarding the
incident will be taken. Remember, as a member of the PIAA, sportsmanship is to be valued
above all else.
Public Relations/ Public Decorum
Newspapers/Radio
Coaches and advisors are urged to cooperate with the local media in positive ways. A good
rapport with the local newspapers is always good for our students and aids in promoting your
program. Many positive things are occurring at our school. Let us be proactive in promoting
these events. Coaches should devise a system to report game results and facts to the newspapers
whenever possible.
Public Speaking
Coaches and advisors are to carefully plan any comments to be made at any public speaking
engagement such as banquets, club meetings, or events. Comments should always be in good
taste, highlighting positive experiences and student achievement. Comments that are made
which result in casting a negative light on any group or individual are unacceptable. You are
responsible for what you say.
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Athletic Contests
The Curwensville Area School district through the athletic department hires certified PIAA
officials. Thus, they have met the qualification criteria set forth by the PIAA to judge the
contests. No useful purpose is served by an argument or heated exchange with an official. On
the contrary, such confrontations serve to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Slow or delay the contest
Distract the coach, officials, and spectators from the efforts of the athletes.
Impact negatively on you as a coach, your team, and the school
Establish a history which may contribute to future problems with opponents, officials,
and fans
5. Set a poor example for the student-athletes you coach. How you present yourself, and
what you teach the young people as their coach, leader, and role model is most important.
Mandatory PIAA Rules Interpretation Meetings
The Athletic Director will inform the Head Coach of each Sport of the place, date and time of the
mandatory PIAA rules interpretation meeting that is scheduled prior to the start of their season.
Attendance at this meeting by the Head Coach is required, and failure to do so will result in
significant sanctions and penalties against the school.
Injury/Accident Reporting
Accidents or injuries to either students or coaches must be reported within 24 hours. Injury
report forms are available from the school nurse or in either the high school or elementary
offices. The completed forms should be returned to the school nurse. Any member of a
coaching staff who is injured must also notify the Superintendents office to complete necessary
paperwork.
Communication of Information-Chain of Command
It is the responsibility of each Coach or Advisor to ensure information is communicated
appropriately to those who need to know. Assistant Coaches need to report to their respective
Head Coach. Head Coaches report to the Athletic Director who will report to the Building
Principal. When necessary, the Building Principal will communicate information to The Athletic
Committee of the Board of Education and the Superintendent. It is important that issues be
addressed at the lowest level possible and that each step in this communication process be
followed to ensure that those involved have the information that they need.
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Budget
It is the responsibility of the Athletic Director to prepare and supervise the athletic budget.
Funds will be allotted to cover the cost of basic equipment and uniforms. Request for the
expenditure of funds for additional equipment or special projects must be submitted to the
Athletic Director no later than March 1st in order to have them considered for inclusion for the
coming year. It is important to note that the submission of a request does not ensure that it will
be included or approved in the budget for the coming year.
Building Security*
It is the responsibility of each coach or advisor to maintain the security of the building when they
have access for practice or an event.
1) Only unlock the minimum number of doors necessary for the use of your students
2) Do not permit doors to be “blocked” open
3) Ensure that all doors are properly locked before you leave.
a. You must consider that if no one else is in the building, it must be completely
locked. Do not assume that the next scheduled practice will take place without
seeing the coach or advisor present.
4) Be sure that all lights are out and all equipment is properly collected and returned to
storage.
5) Be sure that the building is vacant; double check restrooms and other public areas
In the event that it is determined by the administration that a Coach or Advisor has repeatedly
not properly followed the guidelines to ensure the security of the building, a recommendation
will be made to the Activities, Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Education, to
dismiss that individual from their position.
Student Eligibility-Attendance/Academics
1) Students who participate in sports or activities may not have been absent from school more
than 20 days in the previous semester.
2) Students who are suspended from school for disciplinary reasons may not participate in
activities during the time that they are suspended.
3) Students must be in attendance in school for at least half of the school day (arriving by 11:00
A.M) to participate in an activity that is scheduled for that day.
4) The administration reserves the right to limit participation in activities for any student who is
habitually absent or tardy the day after an event.
5) Mass truancy will result in students being ineligible for that day’s participation in extracurricular activities.
6) The Athletic Director will determine the academic eligibility of students who participate in
activities on a weekly basis. Head Coaches or Advisors should determine if any of their
students are ineligible due to poor academic performance. Students must pass 4 full credit
courses to maintain academic eligibility to participate in activities.
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Student Transportation*
All students must be transported to and from any away event or activity on School District
provided transportation. Head Coaches and Advisors should ensure that:
1.
Students arrive promptly for departure.
2.
Students dress in a manner that appropriately represents the Curwensville Area
School District.
3.
Students conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the codes of conduct
outlined in the student handbook while on the bus. This includes refraining from
using obscene language or gestures.
4.
Only authorized person ride the bus. No spectators are permitted.
*Head Coaches or Advisors have the option of allowing a student to be transported home from
an away event by their parent under the following conditions:
1) The parent must personally appear to the Coach and request that their son/daughter be
permitted to travel home with the parent.
2) The Coach must maintain a log (available from the Athletic Director) of the signatures of
parents who have requested that their son/ daughter be permitted to travel home with
them, and that by their signature the parent accepts responsibility for the transportation of
their child.
3) Any special requests must be approved by the Athletic Director or Principal.
An approved coach or advisor must remain at the school upon the return of their team from an
away event until all students have been transported from the school to their home. When
deemed necessary, Head Coaches will be assigned keys to access the building during their
season. Any coach or advisor who needs to access the building occasionally may sign out a key
in the Office of the Superintendent for the day that it is needed. Keys that are signed out must be
promptly returned the following morning.
Play-Offs “.400 Rule”
Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, teams will be permitted to enter the play-offs with a
winning percentage of 40 or above in their competitions against teams of their classification or
lower. Wins against teams of higher classification will be counted, and that competition will be
added to the total of all competitions. The record will be calculated after the last competition
before the deadline for declaration of entrance to the play-offs as has been determined by the
District IX Committee. Teams that must compete for play-off berths (as opposed to open
tournaments) will be permitted to compete in the “earned” spot regardless of record.
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Practice Policy
Coaches and Advisors should establish their practice schedule at least one week in advance and
inform their students. Established schedules should not be changed. Students must be
supervised at all times when in the building. A volunteer is NOT to be the sole coach in charge
of students. A paid coaches must be present at all times.
It is important to note that students frequently participate in several sports/activities. In order to
allow students the maximum opportunity to benefit from all the programs offered by the District,
Coaches/ Advisors should arrange practice schedules to accommodate other activities. If a
conflict arises, work with the other coaches /advisors to bring about a compromised solution.
Weather Cancellations
When school is closed early, all activities are cancelled and students must leave the school. This
includes all practices. If school is cancelled in the morning, decisions on activities will be made
after 12:00PM. You must contact the athletic director or principal to find out what decisions
have been made.
Activity/Squad Selection
In accordance with the school district’s philosophy of extra-curricular activities, coaches and
advisors are encouraged to keep as many students as possible involved in their activities.
However, due to the nature of some activities, it will be necessary to implement try-outs for
teams, squads, or events. No extra-curricular activity may have a tryout without the knowledge
and consent of the Principal. In the event of a try-out the following procedures will be
implemented.
1. Head Advisors/Coaches are responsible for developing criteria and methods for selecting
participants.
2. Prior to trying out , the Advisor/Coach shall provide the following information to all
candidates:
a. Extent of the try-out period including a schedule
b. Criteria used to make selection
c. Practice and performance commitment for successful candidates
d. Date , time , and method of informing participants of selection
e. KEEP ALL SCORE SHEETS.
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Physical Exams*
All students who participate in PIAA sponsored athletic programs must receive and pass a
physical exam prior to participating their first day of practice. Physical exams will be provided
by the Curwensville Area School District and will be scheduled by the Athletic Director and the
School Nurse. Students will receive a PIAA Medical Exam Certificate, and a Sports
Preparticipation Assessment Form that must be fully completed and signed by their parent or
guardian prior to their scheduled physical exam. Students may elect to have their physical exam
completed by their personal physician at their own expense. Those who choose to have personal
physicians complete their exams need to ensure that the proper PIAA Medical Exam Certificate
is completed and returned to their coach prior to starting practice. Students may not
participate in any game or practice prior to receiving their physical exam. There will be no
exceptions.
Insurance*
All students that participate in PIAA sponsored athletic programs are required to have some form
of accident insurance. Students must submit an insurance verification form to the athletic
office before they participate in any practice or game. There will be no exceptions.
Proper care of Equipment
Advisors/Head Coaches are responsible for the care and return of the equipment and uniforms.
1. The head coach shall provide the Athletic Director with an Equipment-Uniform Checkout Sheet showing the items issued to each team member at the start of the season. All
uniforms shall be marked for permanent identification.
2. Students are responsible for the care and security of any uniform or equipment issued to
them. School furnished equipment is to be worn for practice or games or team functions
solely by the individual to whom it is issued.
Advisors and coaches should develop a system to collect all equipment including uniforms in a
timely fashion. All materials should be returned within 10 days. Please be reminded that any
student that fails to bring in equipment after 10 days will be ineligible for any additional extracurricular activities. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
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Student Supervision
As a head coach or advisor the following are points of emphasis in regards to supervision of
students.
1. Advisors and coaches are responsible for members of their groups from the time they
report to the activity until the time they leave school property at the conclusion of the
activity, meeting, event, game or practice. Coaches should not leave until after the last
student has left the building for the night.
2. Staff members must supervise locker rooms, dressing rooms, or any other location in
which students have access.
3. When moving through the halls staff members should be with their students and see that
students are using the hallways in an appropriate manner. For example students should
not be running, throwing anything, or dribbling balls. Students should not be “hanging
around” in the halls unsupervised.
4. The above techniques must also be employed at away events along with the following:
a. The advisor coach should arrive on site at least 30 minutes prior to the student’s
scheduled arrival.
b. The advisor/coach should have accurate parental contact information with them in
the event of an emergency.
c. The advisor/ coach should know where the students are at all times.
d. A coach should be assigned to be in charge of the bench/sideline to ensure proper
conduct and supervision. Conduct refers to ensuring appropriate sportsmanship
and behavior. Supervision, in the event of an injury and there is no trainer
available, periodically check on the athlete.
e. When entering and leaving an event all the students should stay in one group.
f. Check the condition of the locker room before entering and after everyone has
left.
g. In the event of an injury where there is no medical staff/athletic trainer available
coaches must take all reasonable measures to ensure proper care, comfort, and
supervision of the athlete. If the athlete is transported to the hospital, and no
parent is available, and a coach should accompany the athlete and immediately
contact the parents.
h. All coaches should remind their athletes that they are not to leave any event
without permission form the head coach or his/her designee.
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Student Behavior*
Students who participate in extracurricular activities must abide by all of the policies and
procedures that are applicable to students during the regular school day. Coaches and advisors
should familiarize themselves with these guidelines as they appear in the current Student
Handbook. *Coaches and advisors must report all level III and IV offenses to the office
immediately.
Hazing and Harassment
The Board of School Directors of the Curwensville Area School District has adopted specific
policies to prohibit all forms of Hazing and Unlawful Harassment. Copies of these policies are
included for your reference. It shall be the responsibility of each coach or advisor to be familiar
with each of these policies, and ensure that they are strictly enforced. Any violation of these
policies should be reported to the Building Principal immediately.
Athletic Training Code, Team and Individual Discipline
Coaches shall establish rules for their teams that may affect the student’s participation on the
squad. These rules and regulations will be part of the syllabus given to the students on the first
day of practice. The following items must be part of that syllabus. The syllabus must be
submitted to the athletic office before the start of the season.
1. Attendance Policy- Coaches/ Advisors must keep attendance for all events.
a. Consequences for unexcused absences of practices or games
2. Curfew
3. Level I and Level II Offenses
a. Consequences that include progressive steps to modify behavior and outline the point
at which dismissal from the squad is warranted.
4. Team Training Rules/ Code of Public Conduct
a. Consequences for violations
All team rules should align with the student code of conduct outlined in the Student
Handbook.
*Please review the sections on Insurance, Physical Exam, Building Security, Student
Transportation and Student Behavior. Failure to carryout the stated policies in these sections
will result in immediate disciplinary action which may lead to dismissal .
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Athletic Inventory
Head Coaches
Starting in the fall of 2011, at the conclusion of your season you will be required to provide a
written inventory of your respective sports supplies and equipment to Mr. Leigey. In addition
you also need to submit your requisition for the season to Mr. Leigey as well.
No checks will be distributed at the conclusion of your season until these two requirements are
met.
Important Note
The information contained in this Handbook is not intended to be all inclusive in that it is
not possible to address every situation or combination of circumstances that may arise.
When the need arises to resolve situations or circumstances that are not addressed in these
guidelines, administrative assistance should be requested, and information should be
provided via the proper channels of communication that are outlined under Communication
of Information on page two.
COACHES AND ADVISORS HANDBOOK SIGN-OFF
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2016-2017
Please complete and sign the form below and return upon receipt of
your handbook, to Mr. Leigey.
Name (printed):_______________________________________
I have received a copy of the enclosed Coaches Handbook.
Signature:________________________________________
Date:___________________
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