Tower Hill Athletics Handbook by Tower Hill School

ATHLETICS HANDBOOK

Tower Hill School

Th e Towe r Hill M ission S t ate m e nt Tower Hill School prepares students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world. Each student is provided with an educational experience that

emphasizes the development of an inquisitive, discerning

and critical mind; the value of being creative and aesthetically sensitive; the appreciation of physical well being; the ability to

collaborate and to function as part of a team; and the growth of character.

C ONT E N T S Welcome 3

Locker Rooms Movement to and from Athletic Fields Athletics Philosophy 5 Sportsmanship Statement Schedules 18 League Affiliation Practice Schedules Upper School Athletic Requirement Game Schedules Middle School Athletic Requirement Water Inclement Weather Practices Severe Weather Conditions Athletic Offerings 8 Participation Grouping Communication and Coaches 20 Outside Activity in Place of a Sport Athletic Awards Participation on Two Teams During the Same Season Spectators Moving Eighth-Graders to Varsity Competition Athletic Director Coaches Athletics Guidelines 14 Technique Role of Athletes Communication About and Support of Academics Care of the Athlete Head Coaches Attendance at School and Athletic Contests Trainers Training Rules Emergency Procedures for Injuries Anti-Hazing Policy Postponement or Cancellation of Games Schedules, Equipment and Uniforms Website Injured Player All-Conference and All-State Awards Captains Teams Supervision

Welcome to the Tower Hill Athletics Handbook

Athletics are an integral part of the Tower Hill School experience. This Athletic Handbook is geared to provide to you a background on the Tower Hill School Athletic Department as a whole. I hope that this handbook will provide many answers to the questions you may have concerning our athletic programs both on and of the field of play. Our goal is always to provide studentathletes the opportunity to experience athletics up close and personal. There are few experiences that stand up to those one has when wearing the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tower Hillâ&#x20AC;? across their chest. If you have additional questions to what you may find within the handbook, do not hesitate to contact the Athletic Department directly. We look forward to many great experiences and big wins in the green and white. Go Hillers! Seth Kushkin Director of Athletics

AT H L E T I C S P H I L O S O P H Y

Athletics Philosophy Tower Hill believes that the physical well being of our students is as important as their intellectual development and that many important lessons are taught through an athletic experience. Therefore, athletics are a fundamental part of the total curriculum at Tower Hill and are an integral part of the school day. The objectives of coaches and teachers are identical: to help young people reach their fullest potential intellectually, emotionally and physically. Coaches are teachers who deal with physical fitness as well as the fundamentals and strategies of sport. We must offer our athletes, who vary in their interest and ability, quality programs that appropriately challenge them to stretch their outer limits of endurance, self-discipline, loyalty, self-confidence, leadership, cooperation and winning and losing graciously. Coaches are expected to uphold high standards and teach the valuable lessons that can be learned from athletic competition.

Tower Hill School Sportsmanship Statement Tower Hill School believes that athletic competition is an integral part of the educational and developmental process of our students and that many important lessons are taught through athletic experience. Therefore, athletics are a fundamental part of the total curriculum at Tower Hill, fulfilling our motto of “Multa Bene Facta,” many things done well. The objectives of coaches and teachers are identical: to help young people reach their fullest potential intellectually, emotionally and physically. Accordingly, sportsmanship—the demonstration of appropriate conduct, honest rivalry and graceful acceptance of the outcome—is as important as the full development of athletic skills. Critical to these teachings is the expectation that our community as well as our athletes will demonstrate respect for everyone involved in athletic competition.

League Affiliation Tower Hill School is a member of the Delaware Independent School Conference (DISC) of Wilmington and vicinity. Other member schools are St. Andrews School, Sanford School, Tatnall School, Wilmington Christian School and Wilmington Friends School. The DISC is one of the oldest competitive conferences in America. Tower Hill is also an associate member of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association, DIAA, which governs aspects of our athletic program from grades 7-12.

Upper School Athletic Requirement Tower Hill believes that involvement in athletics adds to the education of the whole student and provides every student with the opportunity to benefit from, and contribute to, the school environment. We believe it is clear that individual high school athletes and athletic programs, in general, make significant contributions to the vitality of life in the school and its larger community. Therefore ninth- and tenth-graders are expected to participate in one of the after-school athletic activities offered during each season of the first two years of Upper School. Eleventh- and twelfth-graders may take only one season of “opt out.” While most interscholastic contests take place during the week, attendance is required at any Saturday or evening contests and practices that may be scheduled.

Middle School Athletic Requirement Seventh- and eighth-graders are required to participate in athletics in all three seasons. Time for athletics, which is a component of the students’ physical education requirement, is built into the school day. Contests are scheduled on weekdays almost exclusively.

AT H L E T I C O F F E R I N G S

Athletic Offerings Tower Hill encourages a multi-sport experience rather than year-round specialization. The social, emotional, physical and educational dividends are usually greatest when students have more than one athletic experience and perspective. Each season offers at least one non-contact opportunity that allows for personal improvement as well as team goals.

Fall Sports

Spring Sports

Football

Baseball

Cross Country

Golf

Field Hockey

Boys’ Lacrosse

Boys’ Soccer

Girls’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Volleyball

Boys’ Tennis Girls’ Tennis

Winter Sports

Track & Field

Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball Co-ed Squash Swimming Indoor Track Wrestling

Participation The most visible team in each sport is the varsity. Results of games are printed in the local newspapers and periodically reported in school publications. In the interests of relations with loyal alumni, our parent constituency and the public, we make every effort to put our best foot forward and play to win within the spirit of amateur athletics and the school’s philosophy. In some especially close games, varsity reserves may not have the opportunity to play or may play only sparingly. Even so, reserves are a highly valuable part of every varsity team because they help the other members of the team prepare and learn the value a supporting role has in the successful accomplishment of a team objective. On the sub-varsity and Middle School levels, coaches are expected to help all players feel they are an integral part of the group or team. Coaches are asked to make a conscientious effort to give everyone an opportunity to play and to communicate with individual players to help them accept and enjoy their roles on teams. However, not every player may play in every game, nor are all team members guaranteed equal playing time. Substitution rules can sometimes keep a coach from entering a player into a game. Coaches may decide not to put a player into a game if the coach believes that would be physically or emotionally harmful to that player. In addition, no Tower Hill coach will knowingly put a student in a situation where there is a chance the player will be publicly embarrassed. The difficulty is that these decisions are judgment calls that must be made by the coach, usually in the midst of the contest. The decisions are based as much as is humanly possible on the coach’s experience, his or her knowledge of the student’s skills as demonstrated in practice and what is best for the individual and the group.

Grouping Coaches group players according to their ability level so that they may enjoy competitive success. In the Upper School, players are grouped into Varsity, Junior Varsity and, when there are enough participants, third teams. In the Middle School, players are grouped in A, B and C teams, based on ability. Facilities may dictate a limited enrollment. It is important that coaches provide fair and realistic evaluation time before final grouping. Clear and personal communication between players and coach is key in reducing disappointment when a player is assigned to a group. Coaches need to communicate openly about players’ strengths and areas needing improvement. Coaches are also encouraged to share with players any off-season opportunities for development. This type of positive communication is greatly appreciated by the athlete and their parents and helps build a positive athletic experience for each student.

Outside Activity in Place of a Sport If an Upper School student has developed a high talent level, not just a recreational interest, in a sport not offered at Tower Hill, he or she may petition the athletic director to pursue that sport in place of the school activity. A written request from the student’s parents to the athletic director should be submitted by the following deadlines:

FALL SPORT REQUEST

AUGUST 1ST

WINTER SPORT REQUEST

NOVEMBER 1ST

SPRING SPORT REQUEST

FEBRUARY 1ST

Attached to the form should be a detailed description of the requested program activity that defines the arrangement (e.g. time commitment, practice schedule and game schedule, etc.). The athletic director and the athletic committee will discuss the request. Approval for any exemption is not automatic and will be determined on a case-by-case and season-by-season basis. In keeping with the school’s philosophy of multi-sport participation, students will only be granted one outside activity request per school year. There have been fewer such requests in the Middle School, and Tower Hill is anxious for seventh and eighth graders to participate in school athletics during all three seasons. If a request for an outside activity is made, parents should follow the same process as the Upper School.

Participation on Two Teams During the Same Season It is Tower Hill’s basic policy not to allow a student to participate in more than one Tower Hill sport in any single season. Reasons behind this policy include the different physical demands of two sports, the stress resultant from a student oversubscribing him or herself, and the difficulty in making a full-time commitment to either sport. Delaware law 14 Del. C. & 122 (15) allows for a student to participate on a similar or non-school team while simultaneously playing for Tower Hill during a designated sport season. Written parental authorization must be on file in the student’s school prior to engaging in a tryout, practice or contest with a similar team. Similar team forms are available in the athletic office or from the coach. Tower Hill believes that students and their parents need to be aware of the dangers that can result from a student over scheduling him or herself. However, we recognize that there may be unusual circumstances in which a student and his or her parents might feel that participation in two sports is appropriate. When this occurs, Tower Hill believes the student owes his/her primary loyalty and allegiance to the school team of which he/she is a member. Conflicts that arise from competing practices and contests are expected to be resolved in the favor of the school team as often as possible. 12

Moving Eighth-Graders to Varsity Competition It is the policy of Tower Hill that students in grades 9-12 compete on Upper School teams and that seventh- and eighth-graders compete on Middle School teams. Occasionally, a situation arises when an eighth-grader with advanced physical maturity and talent will petition to move to the varsity. Such a request must be made in writing to the athletic director. For the request to be granted, approval must come from the parents, athletic director and the coach of that sport. Heads of the appropriate school will be consulted for academic concerns. The athletic director will notify the parents of the decision. If there is disagreement on the decision, the head of school will make the final decision. On occasion, there may be school-initiated requests to move an eighth-grader to a varsity team. Most often, such moves will occur if a varsity team is in danger of not being able to field a team, or if the athlete is capable of starting at the varsity level. Regardless of the circumstances, any school-initiated move would only take place after going through the appropriate channels: the Middle School coach, the parents, athletic director and heads of the Middle and Upper Schools. 13

AT H L E T I C S G U I D E L I N E S

Role of Athletes, Spectators, Athletic Director, Coaches and Trainer Each Tower Hill athlete is an ambassador of the school. Our athletes’ frequency of exposure in interscholastic contests provides opportunities to exhibit qualities of sportsmanship, enthusiasm and clean play. There is a wide variety of instances in which an athlete’s behavior is expected to surpass the norm, including in the classroom, at home contests, on buses, in opponents’ communities and in locker rooms. Even behavior outside athletic activities reflects on the school, as athletes wear their team jackets and award letters in a variety of settings.

Care of the Athlete Medical forms and two emergency cards must be on file at school before the athlete may begin practice. There are no exceptions to this policy. Click here to download the forms.

Attendance at School and Athletic Contests A student who is not at school for his or her first academic commitment without an acceptable excuse (e.g., dentist appointment, funeral, etc.) will not be eligible to participate in a contest that day. Acceptable excuses are outlined in the divisional handbooks.

Training Rules All Upper School students who are members of interscholastic teams are expected to abstain from the use of any form of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs. If an athlete breaks training, he/she will not be allowed to represent the school in interscholastic competition for a period of time that will include approximately 20 percent of the team’s total interscholastic competition of games, matches or meets. During this period of time, the athletic director may, after consultation and unanimous agreement from the coach and the team’s captain(s), reinstate the athlete. If an athlete breaks training more than once during the school year, he/she may not represent the school in interscholastic competition for the remainder of the season in which the second infraction occurs. In the Middle School, the coach, athletic director, and head of the Middle School will address violations.

Anti-Hazing Policy Athletics at Tower Hill are meant to develop studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sense of cooperation and leadership. For this reason, the school upholds a strict anti-hazing policy. No hazing, taunting, physical or verbal harassment, exacting of unnecessary or disagreeable work or humiliation will be permitted. Any student who is found in violation of this rule will immediately be considered for suspension from the team or expulsion from school.

Schedules, Equipment and Uniforms Students meet with their coaches at the beginning of each athletic season. At this time, the coaches outline expectations and goals for the season as well as day-to-day details, such as any equipment the students must provide, and the practice and game schedules. Using the procedures specified by the athletic director, coaches distribute, collect and inventory uniforms and equipment. The trainer and coach select each player’s equipment, making sure all equipment is wellfitted, particularly in the cases of all protective equipment. Equipment should be in excellent condition as all equipment is sent to the reconditioner for repair at the end of the previous season. Players supply their own towels. Students are responsible for equipment and uniforms issued to them and are expected to return them clean and in good condition at the end of the season.

Injured Player If a doctor has indicated that an athlete should suspend activity, the player may not play again until the doctor has written a note clearing the player for activity. In all situations when a doctor is not involved, the school’s trainer or the school nurse will have the final say on whether a player is ready to return to action.

All-Conference and All-State Awards All-Conference selections are made by the head coaches of varsity teams for most DISC sports. All-State selections are made by most coaches associations and the Wilmington News Journal. It is Tower Hill’s policy that any team or individual invited to participate in the state tournament may do so with the approval of the athletic director, division head, and head of school.

Captains The athletic director has not mandated any systematic approach for choosing team captains. Each coach, in discussion with the athletic director, will decide how to select the captain or captains for his or her team. Some teams vote for captains; other teams may have a coach-appointed captain. In the Middle School, captains are often rotated. The athletic director and coach will decide on a method for selecting captains that will assure equity and sensible, productive outcomes. The method for captain selection should always be explained to the team. Once selected, captains will be called on in a variety of ways to promote team unity, good communication between coaches and players, proper team conduct, team spirit and school spirit. Coaches should also expect leadership from all seniors on their teams.

Teams Team success reflects on the school as a whole. If our teams appear well coached, a trait that includes, but is not limited to, their ability to win, Tower Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image is enhanced. Outsiders make a connection between effective instruction on the playing fields and the quality of instruction in our classrooms.

Supervision Coaches must be present during all aspects of practices, games and locker room activity. Head coaches must organize staff and program to promote systematic supervision as injury to an athlete can occur before, during and after practices and games, as well as in the locker room. It is important that coaches communicate starting and finishing practice times and supervise athletes before, during and after the activity and until the last player leaves the locker room area.

Locker Room Coaches assign lockers in the Upper and Middle School locker rooms. Personal effects and school clothes are stored in locked lockers to ensure the protection of personal property. Coaches are asked to enforce that no cleats are worn in the building and that there is no food or glass in the locker room. Team spirit, camaraderie and respect for one another can be enhanced when players and coaches work together and create a positive and secure locker room environment.

Movement to and from Athletic Fields Players and coaches are required to use the tunnel to get to and from the Nitsche Soccer Pitch, the Carpenter Field House and the tennis courts. The pedestrian bridge should always be used to get to and from the Richardson Field.

SCHEDULES Practice Schedules Head coaches should understand and follow the guideline that there is a maximum of two hours of practice time for Upper School teams each afternoon, usually beginning between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. If late practices become a problem, parents should contact the athletic director.

Game Schedules The athletic director, with input from each team’s head coach, will put together the most attractive schedules possible for the team. After our league schedule is complete, every effort is made to schedule contests with schools that have the same basic philosophy as Tower Hill. We have been fortunate to have so many schools provide healthy competition in various sports and have the same high standards of education as Tower Hill. Scrimmages can be arranged by either the head coach or the athletic director.

Water Coaches must provide teams with adequate water. Players should take frequent water breaks during the hot weather. Individual water containers must be used if the “pipe” fountains on the football and hockey fields are not working. The trainer will fill water coolers before games, and the coaches should pick them up before the game.

Inclement Weather Practices At times, inclement weather forces practices inside. Middle School and Upper School coaches should communicate with one another before starting practice. Indoor facilities will be divided, shared, and sometimes rotated to include as many teams as possible. If needed, the Athletic Director will help arrange practice schedules for each team.

Severe Weather Conditions A coach will remove his or her team from the field immediately if he or she sees lightning rather than waiting for officials to make the call. The trainer and athletic director will have the final say on the cancellation of a game or practice. Tower Hill will err on the side of safety.

Transportation Transportation will be provided for all off-campus activities. For insurance, liability and team reasons, athletes are required to use the school-provided transportation. Players may be driven home only by a parent following the contest, provided the coach has received a note from the parent asking permission to do so.

C O M M U N I C AT I O N AND COACHES

Athletic Awards Both boys and girls will receive a “TH” with their first varsity letter in a high school sports season. Varsity letters will be awarded to students who have played in at least one half of the team’s games, matches or meets; or in the case of track, swimming and cross country, who have scored the required number of points during the season. In unusual cases, the head coach may make an exception to the standard with the approval of the appropriate athletic director. No student will be eligible to receive a varsity letter in a sport if he/ she is suspended for training rule infractions during that season. 1st Letter – receive “TH” and appropriate sports pin 2nd Letter – receive medal bar indicating additional letter in that sport

Spectators

It is the hope and expectation of the school that all spectators, including parents, will support the Tower Hill teams in a positive manner. Yelling at officials, coaches and players is inappropriate behavior and will not be tolerated. If an individual continues to act in such a manner, he or she may be asked to leave the contest area. If disruptive behavior continues, a spectator can be asked to stay away from future contests. We encourage parents to drop in on practices from time to time. Parents who would like to attend on a regular basis are advised to check with the head coach. Constant attendance can be distracting to the coach, team and, most important, to one’s son or daughter. If a parent has a concern relating to the team, he or she should call the head coach, athletic director and appropriate division head, in that order.

Athletic Director Tower Hill has an athletic director who is responsible for the entire athletic department. The athletic director oversees the total program with the goal of maximizing each student’s enjoyment of and benefits from his or her athletic experience. The primary role of the athletic director is that of facilitator. By easing coaches’ load of administrative detail, the athletic director allows each coach to focus his or her time and energy on guiding and motivating the student athletes and teams to achieve their potential. The athletic director also provides positive direction to the coaching staff and sets the tone and image of the school’s athletic program. The management tasks of the athletic director are incredibly varied and include scheduling contests and practices, setting budgets, supervising and evaluating personnel, coordinating transportation and controlling facilities.

Coaches Coaches need to set an example for their players by being good role models. Each coach acts as an ambassador for Tower Hill. A coach’s conduct on the sidelines and in dealings with parents, officials, and other schools’ coaches, fans and personnel help build a very positive image for Tower Hill. The coaches are expected to model good behavior for all participants and fans. All coaches are asked to be professional, sensitive and openly supportive of those sports that run simultaneously with theirs. Positive comments about other coaches’ players and the nature of the other sport will help build a healthy respectful relationship among “neighbor sports.” Attendance at games, even for a few moments, not only demonstrates caring but also serves as a model of school spirit for the entire community. This helps promote student support for other teams and helps eliminate internal competition. Coaches assure that school rules for students are followed and inform the athletic director and advisor about developments affecting the welfare of students.

Technique 22

Team coaches are responsible for choosing teaching methods and styles of play and planning their team’s practice. Coaches need to teach the fundamentals of their sport and educate their players on how to protect themselves. Therefore, a clear understanding of teaching technique and form in drills and a knowledge of activities that could cause injuries, is vital. Coaches of contact sports teach, in a logical progression, those fundamentals of their sport’s more physical aspects to reduce the chance of player injury. Coaches should never put a player in a situation he or she cannot handle physically, whether in practice or a game.

Communication About and Support of Academics The teaching faculty appreciates coaches’ support of the students’ academic responsibilities. Coaches are asked to remind athletes to check assignments and test schedules before there is an early dismissal for an away game, cooperate with faculty and students for extra help sessions and be sensitive to practice sessions during exams. During exams, the policy permits a maximum of one-hour optional practice and no games. The athletic director will communicate approved dismissal and bus times for each away contest to the teaching faculty before the first contest each season.

Head Coaches The head coach of each sport is responsible for the program at all levels of that sport. Head coaches routinely must produce, and help others produce, effective practice sessions for their teams. This involves planning ahead, securing equipment, supervising the locker rooms before and after practice, enforcing expectations that athletes arrive on time (unless the athlete needs training room attention or has an academic commitment) and dismissing players from practice on time. Head coaches of all sports are expected to email information to each eligible participant and parent with a preseason practice and scrimmage schedule. At the opening of each of the three athletic seasons, head coaches must give a list of participants to the athletic director to assist in keeping accountability and eligibility records. Head coaches provide the athletic director with team rosters with numbers, positions and all other pertinent information before the team’s first contest. Head coaches inform assistant coaches of their responsibilities, complete an equipment inventory at the end of each season and provide the trainer with the team’s schedule for any holiday practices or special events.

Trainer Tower Hill has certified and licensed athletic trainers on duty daily and at all Saturday practices and games. Communication between the coach and trainer is key in evaluation, activity limitation and rehabilitation of our injured athletes. Coaches must report injuries to the athletic trainer and communicate with him or her about athletes’ possible practice and game limitations. If a doctor has indicated that an athlete should suspend activity, the player may resume play again once the doctor has written a note clearing the player for activity. In all situations when a doctor is not involved, the trainer or the school nurse will have the final say on whether a player is ready to return to action. The athletic trainer cannot dispense drugs such as Tylenol or Advil. The athletic trainer may only treat a non-Tower Hill player if that student has a doctor’s prescription or if that player is injured while participating in a Tower Hill-sponsored athletic event. The athletic trainer supplies a medical kit for each Tower Hill team prior to each game. Coaches are required to take the kit to all games and return it to the training room following the game. The athletic trainer checks the kits and keeps them well stocked throughout the season.

Emergency Procedures for Injuries All coaches are trained to follow specific procedures for notifying the trainer in the event that an athlete is injured during practice or a home or away contest. The athlete’s emergency card is used as a resource in notifying parents of an injury as soon as possible and in any treatment that may be needed. All coaches are certified for CPR.

Postponement or Cancellation of Games Only the athletic director has the authority to postpone or cancel games. If a postponement or cancellation seems appropriate, the athletic director will consult with the coach. The athletic director will see that Tower Hill’s main office is alerted to a schedule change by 1:30 p.m. at the latest and that athletes are notified as soon as possible. Postponements are made up on the earliest convenient date for both schools. Any changes will be posted on hillerssports.com.

Website All sports schedules, rosters and scores may be found on hillerssports.com. Postponements, cancellations and updated information regarding your son or daughter’s team or any of the other school teams are also posted online. Parents may sign up for automatic e-mail alerts of any last minute postponements or cancellations.