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Athletes and parents are responsible for all materials linked to the TEAM HANDBOOK PAGE.

Important Team Rules

1. Consistent Practice Attendance::  Each athlete is expected to attend ALL prac­tices!  Every effort must be made to schedule time so that there are no conflicts with daily practice. If the athlete has a valid reason for missing practice (emergency or illness), the athlete must notify the coach prior to the practice that will be missed!!!    MISSING PRACTICE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSION FROM COMPETITION

2. Punctuality: Each athlete is expected to arrive at practice and at competitions ON TIME and and ready to run!  No exceptions!  SECOND TIME LATE WILL RESULT IN CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION DUTY...IF LATENESS BECOMES CHRONIC, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE TEAM.

3. Practice Apparel:  Each athlete is required to wear RUNNING SHOES, ATHLETIC SHORTS, TOPS, & SWEAT PANTS to practice.  Sweat Pants must be worn for warm-up, stretching, and drills every day regard­less of weather.  FAILURE TO WEAR APPROPRIATE APPAREL WILL RESULT IN CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION DUTY.

4. Meet Uniforms:  Team uni­forms, sweats, and team shirts are to be worn at ALL competitions.  Athletes are ex­pected to step off the bus wear­ing sweats and team shirt!  Sweats and team shirt shall remain on at all times be­fore and after your races!  This is important for warming-up, mental focus, team unity, & intimidat­ing our opponents.  Under NO circumstances are team uniforms or sweats to be worn at any other time!  It is a CIF violation to wear a school uniform in unsanctioned competition!
DO NOT WEAR UNIFORMS OR SWEATS AT SCHOOL!
WASHING INSTRUCTIONS:  Wash in cold, hang dry!  DO NOT PUT IN DRYER

5. Athlete Conduct: Falcon Track & Field Team Members are representatives of our school and community and are responsible for continuing The College Park Track and Field Team tradition of exemplary conduct!  Support your teammates, make a positive contribution to the sport, and act responsibly in every situation.  Problems must be handled in a mature and rational manner.  Communication with your coach is essential.  IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO LIVE UP TO THESE STANDARDS, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE TEAM! Please take this commitment seriously.

ATHLETES SHOULD ALWAYS THANK MEET OFFICIALS FOR VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME!
Under NO circumstances are athletes allowed to dispute rulings with meet officials! Athletes must maintain their composure and let their coach deal with the situation. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS PROTOCOL IS GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION FROM COMPETITION AND SUSPENSION FROM THE TEAM.

6. Transportation to and from Competition: MDUSD, CPHS, and Team policy regarding student-athlete transportation will be followed WITHOUT exception! This policy is as follows: Athletes transported from CPHS to an away competition via district bus must also return to CPHS via district bus or be released to their legal guardian at the competition site.  Athletes will not be released to anyone other than a legal guardian.  Friends, relatives, neighbors, etc., are NOT legal guardians.  Team policy further requires that any athlete not returning to CPHS with the team via district bus give the head coach verbal notification and visual confirmation of the presense of a legal guardian prior to departure.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSION FROM THE TEAM

Mandatory Equipment

REQUIRED ITEMS: The following items are required at all practices and competitions:

• Water Bottle
• Running Shoes
• Spikes (sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers)
• Sweat pants (@competition Team Shirt and Sweats are mandatory as well)
• Running Shorts (no street shorts or long shorts)
• Digital Watch with Split/Lap Time capabilities
  
  
  

Athletic Letter Requirements

FROSH-SOPH REQUIREMENTS:

• Athlete must compete in a minimum of 8 competitions and attend a minimum of 50 practice sessions to be considered for a Letter Award: Only athletes that compete in at least eight competitions and attend at least 50 practice sessions during the spring season are eligible to be considered for a FROSH-SOPH Track & Field Letter Award. Athletes that do not reach these minimums will receive Participant Awards.

Achievement of one of the following automatically earns Letter Award provided the athlete has competed in eight competitions and attended 50 practice sessions.

• 30 points earned in league competition
• Achievement of 3 Letterman Event Standards
• Achievement of a Golden Foot Event standard

VARSITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Athlete must compete in a minimum of 8 Varsity competitions and attend a minimum of 50 practice sessions to be considered for a Letter Award: Only athletes that compete in at least eight Varsity competitions and attend at least 52 practice sessions during the spring season are eligible to be considered for a VARSITY Track & Field Letter Award.

Achievement of one of the following automatically earns Letter Award provided the athlete has competed in eight Varsity competitions and attended 50 practice sessions.

• 30 points earned in league competition
• Achievement of 3 Letterman Event Standards
• Achievement of a Golden Foot Event standard
• Qualification to NCS Tri-Valley Region Trials

ATHLETES THAT QUIT THE TEAM FOR ANY REASON, OR ARE DROPPED FROM THE TEAM AS DISCIPLINARY ACTION, OR FAIL TO ACHIEVE THE MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDARD FOR PARTICIPATION FORFEIT ALL AWARDS.

THE FALCON COACHING STAFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION ON ATHLETE LETTERMAN STATUS IN THE INTEREST OF PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE LETTERMAN AWARD.

Letterman Standards

Achievement of Letterman Standards in THREE separate events qualifies athlete for a Track & Field Letter Award provided that the athlete has attended 50 or more practice sessions and participated in at least 8 competitons during the season.

Golden Foot Standards

Athletes that obtain a Golden Foot Standard while competing in a sanctioned CIF competition as a member of the Falcon Track & Field Team will be honored as a Golden Foot recipient and awarded a Golden Foot pin.

ATHLETE CHECK LIST

The following is a list of items to take care of or prepare yourself for before the official season begins the first week of February.

1. ATHLETIC CLEARANCE FORM. Due 1st practice day. Athletes will not be allowed to practice with the team until a parent has filled out all information on this form, and obtained a physician signature. This means making an appointment for a physical ASAP! Those who have turned in this form in order to participate in a Fall or Winter sport this year are clear– Just obtain a copy of it from the coach of your previous sport or the Athletic Director in Student Services South, and bring to the first day of practice. Forms are also available in the CPHS main office, or may be obtained from the PE department.

2. ELIGIBILITY. Each grade report period. Athletes will not be issued a uniform, and will not be allowed to compete as a member of the team without having achieved the minimum academic standard for interscholastic sport participation. This requires the athlete to have at least a 2.0 GPA for the most recent grading period.

3. TEAM QUALIFYING. 1st three weeks of season. Athletes will be evaluated by the coaching staff at the end of the third week of practice. Those athletes who demonstrate appropriate conduct, a willingness to follow directions & apply themselves, attend practice promptly & consistently, will be eligible to make the team. Your fitness and ability to complete the workouts will also be a factor in this determination. Winter training is recommended!