North Tonawanda Lumberjacks Basketball: Player/Parent Handbook
Welcome To The Program As a member of the North Tonawanda Basketball Program and a student of the school, you are looked upon to meet certain expectations and to maintain a positive school attitude.
Your commitment to your academics should be a top priority along with your family responsibilities.
As part of this program, you will be dedicated and work hard at all times. There is no room for individuals who do not give their teammates all that they have every practice and game.
We as a group have many goals to accomplish this season. These are a few goals we, as coaches, feel are important and every player will work toward:
1. Playing and working together as a team, not a collection of individuals.
2. Becoming friends and teammates who can depend on each other.
3. Learning life lessons.
4. Remember the term "student-athlete" - the student should come first.
5. Be a great individual person in and out of school.
All players should know our program motto is HIP. HIP stands for:
HEART
INTENSITY
PASSION
Practice Rules
1. Players are expected to attend all practices.
2. Missing more than three unexcused practices will result in removal from the team. Missing practice is siminlar to not showing up for a job or career position and there will be certain measures taken if this occurs.
3. Players who are going to be late to practice because they are receiving extra help with a teacher must notify the coach prior to practice.
4. There will be a practice schedule for each month of the season. Plan doctor & dentist appointments and work schedules accordingly.
5. You are expected to practice hard at every practice. You are not only expected to improve your own skills at each practice but to help improve your teammates' skills as well. This cannot be done unless you push yourself and your teammates hard at each practice.
6. Bad language and inappropriate actions will not be tolerated at practice or games.
7. Practice jerseys are to be worn every day at practice.
8. If you must miss a practice for an emergency with your family, please call your coach. We care about you and your family and worry when we don't know where you are.
9. You must take part in fundraising activities such as soliciting ads for the program and possible concession stand duties if your parents do not volunteer time to help work the stand at 1 or 2 games.
Game Day Procedures
1. All players are to ride the bus to and from away games. Only school related functions or family obligations are valid exceptions.
2. Be on time. Get to school at least 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to leave.
3. All school rules apply when we have either a home or away game. Be courteous to others who are at the game or supervising.
4. All players will wear a shirt and tie and dress shoes to the game.
5. Varsity players are to be in the gym at the start of the JV game. JV players are to be at the varsity games and support the varsity like they do for all the JV games.
6. After the games are finished, we leave together as a team. JV will stay in the locker room or together with a coach in the bleachers until we are ready to leave.
Participation & School Rules
1. You should be in school every day. A runny nose or scratchy throat is not a legitimate reason to keep you home from school.
2. All classes must be attended.
3. Your grades should be kept at an acceptable level according to your parents and the school policy (must be passing 4 classes and phys. ed.). The coaches will be checking report cards in the guidance office.
4. Players may be asked by the coaches at certain points of the season to have teachers sign progress reports as to how a player is progressing with regards to their grades.
5. Players are not expected to be assigned detention at any time for any reason. There will be certain measures taken at the coaches' discretion if a player gets detention.
Parents & Players
High school basketball at the varsity level is very competitive. Not every player plays every minute and some players will play more than others. Some players may not play at all in some of the games but will have a different role with the team, which is just as important as those members who log more minutes.
Players who PRACTICE THE HARDEST & ARE THE MOST TALENTED will play the majority of the game. This is how high school athletics are run.
If a player doesn't play in a game it is not a personal issue. We keep about 12 young men who we like to have around us because we think they are character people. Most of the time we will play between 7 to 10 players during a close game. If the game is not close we will get everyone into the game for some time.
As mentioned earlier, players have different roles within the team. The top 7 or 8 players will receive most of the 32 minutes of playing time. The next 2 or 3 may be called on to play a few minutes a game but they need to be ready for any situation because they never know when they will be called on to contribute. Then there will be a couple of players who will not play. Their role on our team is just as important as any starter or players who are on the floor at the end of the game. Not only is it important for them to improve their skills but they also have to be ready when called upon during a critical point in the game to help the team if necessary. All players should be trying to improve their abilities every day at practice but it is also expected that each player should be working hard to make their teammates better as well.
We realize that everyone wants to get in the game or see their child play but it may not always be possible due to a variety of factors. Please don't take it personal if your child is not playing. Playing time is based on a number of factors such as ability level, practice performance, strength of opponent, and situations during the course of the game.
Every member of the coaching staff would love to get everyone into the game because we know how much time and effort your child gives. Please be understanding of this situation and realize that we understand your concerns.
Concession Stand
We ask that all parents of the varsity and JV players also donate a couple of game nights to work the concession stand or sell tickets before the varsity games. The varsity parents are asked to work at the JV games and JV parents are asked to work the varsity games. We need everyone to help out so we do not have the same people working over and over for multiple games. This is vital to our program as it funds our summer leagues and our banquet and the end of the season. Lynn Miller is in charge of our concession stand so please make arrangements for working the stand with her. We greatly appreciate your time and commitment in this matter and thank you ahead of time for all the sacrifices you will make this year as well.
Players & Parent Agreement
Parental Expectations:
As a parent of a player in the North Tonawanda Basketball Program, I WILL:
Understand what my son has agreed to in this handbook
Be supportive of him and his team and teammates
To help out with concession stand or ticket sales
To be understanding of the "High School" sports philosophy
Players Commitments
Your commitments to Lumberjacks Basketball and yourself:
1. "I am responsible for my actions - and only me!"
You are a young adult and are responsible for your actions on and off the court. You are here to get an education. You will be faced with many decisions during your time at NTHS - some east and others difficult. You will think before you act.
"Whenever you are able to do a thing, though it can be only known to you alone, ask yourself how would you act were the whole world watching." - Thomas Jefferson
2. "I will be on time."
All student-ahtletes will be on time for all scheduled events. This includes appointments, practices, games, team meetings, as well as the beginning of the school day and all your classes throughout the day. If you are late to school for an unexcused reason you are not permitted, by school rules, to participate in that day's practice or game.
3. "I will attend every class and participate."
You are expected to attend every class. Absences are for reasons of illness and family emergencies. If you need to be absent from school and/or practice for more than one day you need to notify the coaches ahead of time.
4. "I will study."
You are expected to study daily and to prepare yourself for class just like you prepare for games. Think of your classes as a game itself - any grade of 85 or higher in a particular class is a victory for you. The higher the grade the more convincing a win it is - a grade of 100 would be a blow-out, a grade of 86 is a narrow victory, but a victory nonetheless. You are a student-athlete.
5. "I will dress appropriately."
You will assume that people will recognize you as a North Tonawanda student-athlete and the image you project will be a reflection of us all! Remember that you will never have a second chance to make a first impression. You will wear a shirt and tie, dress pants and dress shoes to every game and will leave the gym the same way you entered it.
6. "I will get my rest and eat properly."
You should realize that it is of the utmost importance that you get enough sleep to be at your best each day. Eating properly will help you to be able to perform both mentally and physically at optimal levels.
7. "I will take pride in our facilities and equipment."
You will treat the athletic facilities and any school-issued equipment like they were your own.
8. "I am committed to excellence."
Believe in the idea of achieving one's potential; in order to accomplish this you must care about your teammates, coaches, and our basketball program. Trust your teammates and be totally committed to helping everyone achieve their own potential. WE ARE A BASKETBALL FAMILY!