SM EAST HIGH SCHOOL
LANCER SOCCER
PLAYER/PARENT HANDBOOK
Philosophy:
High School sports are not a “right” but rather a privilege.
High School athletics are used as a venue to teach, learn, and develop life
skills. Players must realize that they are “students” first and players
second. Players must also realize that they are an extension SM East, the
Shawnee Mission School District, their parents, community and peers.
Therefore they need to maintain a positive attitude both in the heat of
battle of the game and in the classroom as well as outside of school. As a
staff, we are committed to developing these skills within our players by
being firm, fair, and positive.
The career of an athlete is very short but life’s challenges go on.
How you face your challenges and develop as an individual begins today! Are
you ready?
TEAM RULES/EXPECTATIONS
ATTENDANCE AND ELIGIBILITY
All student-athletes are required to be in attendance all day to be
eligible to participate in practices and games. Any doctor appointments
during the school day must be approved by the Athletic Director in advance.
An unexcused absence could result in a change in that player's role,
suspension, or dismissal from the team. Exceptions and emergencies will be
dealt with through the Athletic Director. The soccer program has the
philosophy that attendance is required for sustaining good academic habits.
Therefore, the student-athlete should strive to attend all classes.
ELIGIBILITY / GRADES
A student-athlete must have passed five new solid subjects the
previous semester to be eligible to participate. Each student-athlete is
expected to achieve to their full potential in the classroom at all times.
Coach Kelly’s expectations are simple, if you are enrolled in a class, PASS
IT! D’s are not passing. You cannot head off to college with below average
grades. Any player with a D and not getting help from that teacher will NOT
play in or games.
PRACTICE ATTENDANCE
Attendance is mandatory in order to play in games! Only special
occasion’s in which your team coach has prior knowledge, will be excused.
This does not mean you get to start that game or any other.
Players who miss practice without prior permission will NOT play in
following game. Players, who miss 3 practices without permission from their
team coach, will be dismissed from the program after a meeting with the
coaching staff, administration, player and parents.
During girls soccer season, all student athletes are required to be in attendance for practices the Friday before and the Monday after Spring Break. Any student athlete not in attendance for these practices will miss one half of a soccer game for each practice missed. Leaving early or arriving late from spring break is not a reason to miss practice. Make your travel plans accordingly.
TRAVEL POLICY
When a bus is provided, all players are expected to ride the bus to the
game. You may ride home with your parents after the game, just make sure
your coach knows in advance so that we don’t leave you behind after the game.
Varsity Team Travel: Not every player may be asked to suit up for away games
or travel with the team. Travel to out of town games will be by invite and
on a necessary basis.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT
Each student-athlete WILL carry themselves as a positive role model
in each of their classes. They will demonstrate leadership, and act as a
liaison between faculty and student body to develop good rapport and
classroom discipline at all times. You gain respect from peers and faculty
by showing respect to peers and faculty. I will expect teachers to inform me
about your classroom behavior and I will handle any problems if they so
desire.
Each detention received in school can/will result in loss of playing
time. The second detention can/will result in a dismissal for a half of a
game, and any other detentions can/will bring a game suspension. This
includes both office and classroom detentions. It is a player’s
responsibility to inform the coach immediately of the detention. Failure to
do so will result in a game suspension. Saturday school will bring a one
game suspension, while OSS will result in a minimum of a one game
suspension.
GAME CONDUCT
Each student-athlete is a representative of the soccer program, SM
East High School, your parents, and your community. Therefore, you will act
as a positive role model at all times.
During all games, our players will: respect all calls made by the
officials; be positive towards teammates in their comments and criticisms
(constructive); be positive towards coaching decisions; and not distract her
focus on the game by jeering the opponents' players or fans at any time.
This applies to all our players and fans alike. The failure to do so will
result in an immediate removal from the game or practice. All red/yellow
cards will be reviewed by the coaches for further disciplinary rulings. Our
direct success depends on your game performance.
All concerns or problems should be handled off the field in a private
and confidential manner with a coach.
DRESS
Game Day attire will be at the decision of the coaching staff. All
players are expected to adhere to all dress codes set by the coaching staff.
Failure to comply will result in a one game suspension.
PRACTICE ATTIRE:
Player’s MUST have shin guards on at all times during practice
secessions.
Varsity and JV players may have practice uniforms, and if they do they will be worn at all
times.
No tank tops or revealing clothing will be permitted. We play games with
shirtsleeves you will practice in shirts with shirtsleeves.
UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT
Taking excellent care of all uniforms/equipment checked out to you
for the season is vitally important. You are responsible for turning in all
uniforms/equipment at the end of the season. You must turn in the same
uniform/equipment you were checked out. You will pay for any
uniform/equipment you do not turn in. Please take care of the uniforms as if
they were your own or even better. They are expensive and difficult to
replace individually.
ATHLETIC TRAINER
SME Booster Club provides for the professional assistance of AMI
AUSTIN our trainer from Sports Rehab. She can be found in the training room
located on the first floor by the girls’ locker room. All injuries MUST be
reported to the trainer.
If you miss a practice because you are injured or with the trainer,
you will not play until you are released by him or your physician.
GAME DAY PREPARATION
In order to maximize game day readiness, the student-athlete
should keep these ideas in mind:
1. DO NOT sleep between the end of school and the start of the game. It
is fine to rest and relax. However, sleep prior to game time will take away
from your effectiveness.
2. A good night's sleep two nights before the game has been proven to be
the most important rest you can get.
3. Avoid sugar and caffeine the day of the game. NO COKES on game day!
4. Eat no sooner than 3 1/2 hours before game time. Eat a meal with
carbohydrates the night before (pasta).
5. Drink 16 ounces of water two hours before game time to maximize
hydration during the game.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
The use of alcohol, tobacco or other illegal controlled substances by
SM East Soccer Players will NOT BE TOLERATED AT ANY TIME! The Shawnee
Mission School District’s policy states that players who violate the drug and
alcohol contract will be dismissed from the team FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
SEASON!!
CAPTAINS
Captains will be either appointed by the coaching staff, voted by the
team, or a combination of both. They are the spokespeople for the team.
They will act as liaisons between the team and the staff. Presenting the
views of the team to the staff, being positive roles models, displaying
leadership, and assisting players, parents, and coaches, are some of their
responsibilities. Captains are important both on and off the field.
Authority will be, and is, delegated to the team captains.
SENIORS
We want our seniors to fulfill our leadership roles. In building
tradition, it is important that this group step forward as positive role
models for the underclassmen in our program. As a group, you have the
responsibility and privilege of being a force within the community that
determines positive action. We look to our seniors for leadership both on
and off the field.
Senior t-shirts will not be allowed. This is a show of separation
and not team unity, you are to be leaders!
BENCH ENTHUSIASM
Any player, manager, or ball person in the bench area should be
completely focused on the match. Players are expected to give positive
encouragement to their teammates. A failure to do the above conveys the
message that the player is not prepared to enter the game.
LANGUAGE
All abusive and vulgar language will be handled by the individual
coach. This will mean some type of physical exercise discipline, in the
hopes of breaking this habit at practice. If the language carries over to
match situations, the player will be removed from the game either by the
official with a red card or by the coach.
TEAM DINNERS
Even though coaches may not be in attendance, team dinners are an
extension to practice. The same attendance policy for practice/games will be
adhered to.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Treat your opponent, the officials, the fans, and your team with
respect. Even though an official may have missed a flagrant call or an act
of un-sportsmanlike conduct, it is most probable the coaching staff has seen
the act, and they will react with immediate removal from the game.
GAME DAY ARRIVAL TIME
All players need to be at the game site at least one hour before
kickoff, and completely equipped for the match 45 minutes prior to game
time. Failure to do so will result in a loss of playing time.
DAILY EQUIPMENT - INCLEMENT WEATHER
All players must bring indoor running shoes everyday in case of
inclement weather. This includes game days. If a game is canceled, expect
to have indoor practice.
LETTERING
All players must complete the season in good standing with the
coaching staff and the school administration to be eligible for a letter.
The season is complete at the end of the last varsity game. Illness or
injury are the exception. To earn a varsity letter a player must have played
in a minimum of 18 halves during the season, or start in a state game
(quarterfinals on). A player must also take part in all other soccer related
events such as team dinners, community services, awards ceremonies, and in-
school functions. LETTERS WILL BE HELD UNTIL ALL UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT ARE
TURNED IN AT THE END OF THE SEASON!
THE FINAL SAY IN LETTERING IS UP TO THE COACH AND IF HE FEELS THAT A
PLAYER DESERVES TO LETTER WITHOUT MEETING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, THE COACH HAS
THAT RIGHT. THE COACH ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD LETTERING A PLAYER EVEN
THOUGH HE/SHE MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS, IF THE COACH FEELS THAT AN ACTION BY
THE PLAYER WAS NOT SUITABLE.
CONDITIONING
The coaching staff values and realizes the importance of physical
fitness and conditioning for the well-being and safety of the players.
Soccer, in general, is one of the most physically demanding sports, requiring
tremendous endurance for a player to perform and succeed at the high school
level. Therefore, players who meet team fitness requirements/goals enhance
their chances of playing time.
VARSITY PLAYERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL
REQUIREMENTS:
FIELD PLAYERS
1 AND 1/2 MILE RUN IN 10:30 OR LESS
PACE/BEEP TEST LEVEL 10 AT BEGINNING OF SEASON, 12 BY MIDWAY.
GOALKEEPERS
1 MILE IN 9 MINUTES
PACE/BEEP TEST LEVEL 7
PLAYING TIME
Playing time is a coaching decision based on many aspects of the
player. We were hired as professionals to make such decisions. Before
challenging this aspect, please be sure you thoroughly investigate. Any
inquiries are welcomed, however, please arrange an appropriate time to meet
and discuss with the coach in private. When you choose to inquire, be
advised and prepared to hear some things you may not want to hear because it
is only fair for the coaching staff to be completely honest with you in order
for you to challenge yourself to develop and improve and possibly change your
role or status.
Parents are not encouraged to challenge the coach’s decision of
playing time for their son/daughter. Make sure you player has talked with
the coaching staff prior to meeting with the coach. Often the answer can be
found by asking your player. All parent/coach meetings will include the
player being present.
TEAM BUILDING
Members of the Varsity Team are expected to be at all team building
events. There are exceptions, but very rare. College visits for seniors is
an example for an excused absence.
Team Dinners are also extensions of team building and are expected to
be attended by all members of the team.
