Excerpts from the TDS Athletics Handbook

Triangle Day School Athletic Code of Conduct

Student athletes, coaches, and parents are expected to behave in a sportsman-like manner at all athletic events, including practices. Athletic participation at Triangle Day School assumes the following principles:

Athletes will

1. Play within the rules of the game.
2. Win and lose gracefully.
3. Keep the competition in perspective ("It's just a game.").
4. Respect officials and accept their decisions.
5. Represent Triangle Day School positively.
6. Play one TDS sport per season.

Coaches will

1. Inspire a love for sports, teamwork, and competition.
2. Model sportsman-like behavior.
3. Respect officials and accept their decisions.
4. Be responsible for the safety and behavior of athletes.

Parents will

1. Support athletes by encouraging their attendance at all practices and games and by helping athletes balance sports with academics and other extracurricular activities.
2. Model appropriate sportsman-like behavior during games.
3. Accept coaches' and officials' decisions.
4. Arrange for their student's pick up on time after all practices and away events.

Eligibility and Team Selection

Interscholastic athletic teams at TDS include sixth through eighth graders, unless there are not enough players to make a team. In this situation, fifth graders are eligible to play.

Because Triangle Day School is a small school with many students who choose to participate in athletics, coaches often have to make cuts after tryouts. When making cuts, coaches consider both the size of the team and the abilities of the players while minimizing the need for cuts.

Rosters cannot be added to after the midpoint in a season. Students can be removed from a team at any point during a season.

In order to be eligible to try out for a sport, each student must have a current medical form on file at the school. This form is available from the office and on the school's athletic website. (coming soon!)

Students with grades below C- at progress report and report card times are not eligible to play sports until their grades have been brought up to C- or above. This policy applies to practices and games. Students affected by this policy must either go home after school or join the after school program on practice days. On game days, they may dress out and sit on the bench to support the team.

Team managers are selected from interested volunteers. Managers must be in grade five through eight. They are expected to follow all rules pertaining to the athletic program (as stated in this handbook).

Attendance Policy

A student must arrive at school no later than 11:45 am in order to be eligible to play in a game that day. Decisions about whether or not to start players due to absences or tardies are left to coaches.

Play Time Policy

Coaches make decisions about who to play and how long to play players based on the needs of the team and the health of the players. The School does not require that coaches play all players during a game.

Weather Policy

Play, in both practices and games, stops when thunder is heard or lightning is sighted and does not resume until 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning.

When school is canceled due to weather, all practices and games are also cancelled.

Communication

Coaches will meet with the athletic director once per month to discuss concerns and needs as well as scheduling for games and transportation.

Each sports season will open with a parent information meeting during which coaches and the athletic director will share information related to tryouts and cuts, practices, games and transportation. Coaches will provide schedules for practices and games at this meeting. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings.

After the first week of practice, coaches must submit to the Athletic Director a complete team roster. The Athletic Director will share rosters with the administration.

When a game must be canceed or postponed, the Athletic Director will notify coaches and administration before 2:00pm. Parents will be notified about the game cancellation. If a game is canceled, practice will take place instead.

If a practice must be canceled, coaches should notify the Athletic Director no later than 12:30pm on the day of the cancelled practice. Practices will not be canceled unless the School is closed or coaches cannot attend the practice. Parents will be notified if a practice must be canceled.
**Coaches are responsible for their players after school whether or not practice is held or a game is played. This means that coaches will remain at the School as long as players are still there or until the end of the regular practice time. Players remaining at the School beyond the regular practice time will report to After School.

Concerns and reports of incidents or behaviors at athletic events must be communicated directly to the Triangle Day School Athletic Director. Examples of concerns include player, team, coach, or parent conduct, need for rules clarification, and coaches' decisions regarding playing time. Parents and coaches should not contact athletic directors or coaches at other schools.

Athletic Director's Responsibilities

The Athletic Director oversees the athletic program and is responsible for all aspects of it. Including:

1. Schedules all athletic events including home games, away games, parent meetings, coaches' meetings and sports award events.*
2. Attends all athletic conference meetings.
3. Attends all home games.
4. Maintains a valid NC Class B CDL.
5. Notifies coaches of bus availability.
6. Schedules bus use for away games and practices.
7. Oversees maintenance of athletic facilities and grounds.
8. Prepares athletic facilities for home games.
9. Orders, inventories, and stores all athletic equipment.
10. Organizes sports banquets/awards nights.
11. Shares team rosters with school administration.
12. Communicates with students and parents about academic eligibility.
13. Notifies coaches and administration of schedule changes (for example, cancelled or postponed games, changed game locations, changed directions to games).
14. Assists Head of School in recruiting athletic personnel.
15. Communicates with Head of School regarding incidents that occur at athletic events.

* Practices and games will not be scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month so that the Athletic Director and coaches can attend school faculty meetings.

Coaches' Responsibilities

Coaches should be proficient with the sports they coach and should serve as positive role models for their players.

1. Are responsible for their players after school whether or not practice is held or a game is played. This means that coaches will remain at the School as long as players are still there or until the end of the regular practice time. Players remaining at the School beyond the regular practice time will report to After School.
2. Submit team rosters to the Athletic Director immediately following tryouts.
3. Attend all athletic events related to the sports they coach.
4. Notify Athletic Director when they cannot attend athletic events (meetings, practices, games, etc.).
5. Notify Athletic Director when a practice must be canceled.
6. Notify parents when:
   • Games or practices are canceled or postponed.
   • Game locations are changed.
   • Directions to game locations are changed.
7. Maintain a valid NC Class B CDL.
8. Report incidents that occur at athletic events to the Athletic Director.
9. Clean up athletic equipment as needed.
10. Turn off lights and fans in gymnasium after practices and games.
11. Collect player equipment left over after practices and games and put in lost and found.
12. Lock up gymnasium after practices and games when not in use by the After School program.
13. Line playing fields as needed.
14. Determine sports award recipients.

Athletic Recognition and Awards

Through a variety of awards, Triangle Day School seeks to honor commitment to and participation in athletics and to recognize outstanding athletic performance and sportsmanship.

1. Player of the Month is selected by the Middle School faculty and recognized during monthly school assemblies. The award is presented by either the Athletic Director or coaches.
2. Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player are selected by coaches and are recognized during end-of-season, athletic banquets/events.
3. Tournament awards are determined by performance during tournaments and are decided by coaches.

   Students earn letters, pins and bars for the following:

   1. Annual participation on athletic teams.
   2. Serving as captains of athletic teams.
   3. Serving as managers of athletic teams (middle school students only).