Dragon Middle School Athletics

 

OVERVIEW

 

            The DMS & CMS athletics programs are feeder programs for Carroll

High School and Carroll Senior High School.  We will follow the same

philosophies and schemes established by the head coaches of the various high

school sports.  The program is for those students who wish to play a no-cut

sport or want to try out for a cut-sport.  It is our objective to put each

of our athletes into a position to be as successful as possible while

allowing every athlete the opportunity to be a contributing part.  Our

program will allow for developing skills, experiencing lessons in winning

and losing through competition, and will help students decide if they want

to pursue the activities on a higher level.

            The lessons learned from working in teams such as taking leadership

roles and accepting constructive criticism are specific examples of how our

student athletes can develop socially and emotionally.  It is an ideal arena

to develop the characteristics of decision-making, dedication, leadership,

teamwork, and sportsmanship.  These esteem-building qualities provide an

excellent foundation for a successful person:  our primary goal for Carroll

students.  We will maintain a positive and competitive learning environment

to maximize both the coaches and athletes efforts.  There will be

competitive teams in football and volleyball in the fall.  During the winter

months, we will offer boys and girl's basketball as well as cross-country

for both boys and girls.  Track will be offered in the spring semester.  For

our athletes who are not participating in a specific sport during its

season, we will offer an off-season program committed to developing our

athletes athletically and physically. 

 

 

ATHLETIC EXPECTATION

 

Project and Image:  A Dragon athlete is one who always strives to reach

his/her fullest potential as an athlete, student, and citizen.  The athlete

will take pride in the image he/she projects in the classroom, on the

playing field, and in the community.  As a result, the athlete will take

pride in anything he/she does.  When we step onto the field or court as a

team or individual, we will carry ourselves with unity, dignity, and class. 

When we leave, we will exit in the same regard.  We will exhibit the

characteristics listed below at all times during practices and competitive

UIL events.

 

1.         Play aggressive, but play clean.

2.         The score will do the talking.  "People may not believe what you

        say, but they will believe what you do."

3.         Do not lose control of your emotions.  NEVER show disrespect to

        referees, coaches, teammates, or an opposing player.  A Dragon  

        athlete must stay focused in every situation.  Losing control shows

        weakness.

4.         Think Positive.  Never berate your teammates or yourself.  The most

        vital time to pull together and push forward is after a mistake is

        made.  "If you never make a mistake, you are missing an opportunity  

        for growth."

5.      Give everything you have.  (After all is said and done, you should be

        able to look at yourself and into the eyes of your teammates and say 

        that you gave everything you had.  If you can say this, then win or

        lose, you have been successful).

 

            You will gain the respect of your parents, friends, fans, and even

opponents by the way you play and carry yourself.  You will make an

impression with your appearance also.  For this reason, we will dress as a

team on game days and will act with class any time we are in representation

of the CISD athletic program.

 

 

ROLES &OBJECTIVES

 

Coach's Role:  The coaches have distinct beliefs in the way a specific sport

should be played.  To achieve this, we will teach the skills of the sport,

the love of the sport, and will incorporate activities that will empower

young men and women to be productive competitors and citizens.  We take on

an awesome responsibility in the development of your sons and daughters as

athletes, students, and socially maturing young men and women.  We make it

our job to know what motivates them, how far to push, and when to back off. 

Knowing that we are also a major part of their support network, one of our

most important goals is to understand them and support each athlete

emotionally.

 

Athlete's Role:  The athlete's role is twofold.  First, he/she must be

accountable on a daily basis.  The athlete must be at practice everyday and

must be on time.  If for any reason an athlete will miss practice during a

sport, a phone call will be expected on the voice mail of the head coach

before the beginning of that practice.  In doing so, the athlete will show

personal responsibility and respect for hi/her team.  Second, he/she must

have a coachable attitude while displaying a good work ethic.  Furthermore,

the athlete has a responsibility to their teammates and to themselves.  This

includes showing up to practice, taking care of grades and classroom

conduct, and working hard so that he/she and his/her teammates can grow

together as a team.  An athlete must always be there to pick up his/her

teammates.  Dragons will always "win" together or "lose" together.

 

Parent's Role:  Last and certainly most important, comes the parent's role. 

It would seem to be the hardest because often times the parent

feels "helpless" in an effort to help the athlete succeed during a contest. 

Being the most important link in the support network of the athlete, it is

vital to his growth that a parent provides unconditional support no matter

the situation.  Regardless of the score of a game, a bad call by a referee,

or a poor coach's decision, the parent must allow the athlete a secure and

unified feeling within the team.  Everything an athlete does on the playing

field is done to seek the approval of his/her parents, coaches, fans, and to

gain self-satisfaction.  It is important that we remain unified in our

support of the athletic program.

            It is a great privilege for our coaching staff to be a part of your

children's lives and to be entrusted with the care of so many impressionable

young people.  As your child's coach we want there to be an open line of

communication from player to coach and from coach to parent.  Please feel

free to call, or set up an appointment for a conference, and discuss any

questions or concerns that you might have.

 

 

PLAYING TIME

 

Making a Team & playing:  "Cut-sports" are unique in their makeup, in that

they require fewer players than other sports.  For this reason, not everyone

that tries out will make the team.  Likewise, not everyone who plays one

year will automatically be on the team the next year.  Playing time

decisions will be made based on an athlete's work ethic (which includes

being at practice on time), practice & game performance, and how the athlete

handles his/her responsibility to their team and the classroom.  Every

athlete will get to play in the game unless communicated otherwise by the

coaching staff for disciplinary reasons.  To be fair to their teammates, any

athlete that misses any part of 2 or more practices during a game week for

any reason may be subject to limited playing time in that week's contest. 

It is the coaching staff's belief that athletes who are at practice on time

and working hard every day will be rewarded playing time in the game.

 

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

 

            No/pass and no/play is the law in Texas.  It is the belief of the

athletic department that a successful academic performance will only enhance

an athlete's athletic performance.  We encourage our students to do the best

they possibly can in the classroom and to get tutorial help when it is

needed.  We also encourage our students to set up their tutorial schedules

in such a manner that it will not interfere with their practice times. 

Furthermore, we have a zero tolerance for "zeros" policy in the classroom. 

Zeros on academic work, in many cases, is a big factor when students

struggle in the classroom.  It is our goal to promote good work habits in

the classroom as well as the athletic field.

            Athletic grades a re based on participation not ability level.  We

expect our athletes to dress out and participate every day.  Specific

circumstances may limit this participation, but we still expect them to

dress out and be with their group so they will not fall behind.  Missing

practices with unexcused absences or not suiting up for a practice will

lower a student's grade and will definitely affect playing time.

            Each student will begin the six weeks with 100 points.  Deductions

will be made for the following infractions:

1.         Five points for incorrect dress

2.         Five points for non-participation without a parent or doctor's note

3.         Ten points for not suiting out an/or not participating

 

 

SICKNESS/INJURY POLICY

 

            A student may only be excused from workouts or games if a note is

provided.  The note must state the illness or injury, the duration of time

to be missed, and have a parent or doctor's signature.  A note from a parent

will be honored for three days;  after that, a doctor's note will be

required.  A parent or doctor note only excuses the student from

participation.  The student will still be required to dress out to avoid

losing points from their six weeks grade.

 

 

EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS

 

            Most, but not all of the equipment needed by a student to

participate in athletics is provided by the school district.  Students that

lose or destroy any issued equipment or uniforms will be asked to pay for

them.  Any equipment or uniforms that become damaged by neglect or misuse

must also be paid for by the athlete.  Students must wear the school issued

equipment unless a coach determines otherwise after evaluating it.

            Clothing worn for workouts is limited to the school colors (green,

black, or white).  The neutral color of gray is also acceptable.  Athletes

are responsible for the purchase of their own shoes.  We do ask that the

shoes be sport specific to improve the athlete's comfort and safety.  Any

student participating in a sport that requires the use of the gym floor will

be required to use shoes that will not cause damage to the wooden floors.

 

 

LOCKERS

 

Each athlete will be issued a locker that has a lock to secure their

equipment.  It is their responsibility to keep their locker locked at all

times.  If the athlete chooses not to secure their locker then they assume

the financial responsibility for anything that might turn up missing.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

            Athletes are expected to ride busses to out-of-town games.  The

athletes may be signed out after their game to ride home with their parents

or their parent's designate.

 

 

PHYSICAL EXAMS

 

            The State of Texas requires a physical examination for students

entering their first year of athletics at the middle school level.  Carroll

ISD requires a physical exam each year.  Students reach their growth spurts

at different times so an athlete's physical development and growth could

change significantly from year to year.  Because of this adolescent

phenomenon, we think it is important to take a physical exam annually.

 

 

PAY TO PLAY

 

            To participate in any UIL athletic competition, athletes in grades 7-

12 must pay a fee prior to competition play.  The fee for 7th and 8th grades

is $50 per student/per year.  Refunds are given at the end of the school

year and ONLY in the following cases:

(a)        Student quits prior to the first competition

(b)        Student withdraws from school prior to the first competition

(c)        Student tries out for the team, but is not selected as a member of

        the team

 

 

OFF-SEASON

 

            The off-season program is for students whose desired sport is not in

season.  It will address the total fitness of an individual.  The students

in off-season will be involved in activities that are designed to increase

their agility, endurance, speed, and strength.  During a typical week in off-

season, athletes will lift weights, participate in agility and endurance

training, and participate in competitive activities on occasion.

 

 

FOOTBALL

 

            There will be two teams divided into an "A" team and a "B" team. 

The "B" team game will begin at 5:00pm.  The "A" team game will commence ten

minutes after the conclusion of the previous game.

 

 

VOLLEYBALL

 

            Each grade level will have three competition teams.  There will be

and "A", "B", and "C" team.  The first match will begin at 5:00 pm.  The

second match will commence five minutes after the conclusion of the previous

match.  Games will be held on Thursday nights.  Each team will compete in

one tournament.  In addition, the "A" team will compete in the District

Tournament at the end of the season.

Order of play: September (B-A-C) and October (C-A-B).

Girls not making the competition team may choose to stay in the "no cut"

program which will practice during class time and compete against other

teams on Saturdays.

           

 

BASKETBALL

 

            The boys and girls basketball programs will follow the

same "A", "B", and "C" team formats.  There will be cuts in basketball for

both boys and girls.  The first game will begin at 5:00 pm.  The second game

will commence five minutes after the conclusion of the previous game.  7th

grade games will be played on Monday nights, and 8th grade will play on

Thursday nights.  Each team will have one tournament.  In addition, the "A"

team will compete in the District Tournament at the end of the season.

           

 

CROSS-COUNTRY

 

            Everyone that comes out for cross-country will run in the meets. 

The top seven individuals per grade and gender will run on the "A" team and

the remainder will run on the "B" team.  Cross-Country is a no cut sport. 

Practices will be held after school.  Meets will be on Wednesdays.  Athletes

may participate in both basketball and cross-country.

 

 

 

TRACK

 

            The top three to five individuals (depending on the meet) in each

event will make the travel team.  These may change from week to week.  There

are 15 events.  The running events range in distance from 100 meters to 2400

meters.  The field events focus on running, jumping, and throwing.  Track is

also a no cut sport.  Track meets are held on Thursdays.

 

 

WORKOUTS

 

            Workouts for 7th graders will take place in the mornings before

school in addition to class time.  8th graders will workout after school and

during class.  Practice times are at the discretion of the coach for each

grade and sport.

 

 

FOOD DROP OFF ON GAME DAYS

 

            During volleyball and basketball seasons, we will ask for parent

volunteers to bring food for the athletes competing.  This has been very

successful in the past.  If you are interested in volunteering, please

contact the head coach for that season.  However, if an athlete chooses not

to participate in team meals, they may pick up food in the back of the

school between 4:00 and 4:15. 

            Because of the high number of students in football, all food may be

dropped off in the back of the school on a cart.  All food that is dropped

off, must have the athlete's name on it.  The food may be dropped off from

3:00 to 4:00.  At 4:00, the food will be brought in for the students.