• HALTOM HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC POLICY

    Parent Expectations

    We would expect our parents to be positive about our program. If a parent makes negative comments about our program it prevents success and hurts others who are participating. When an athlete hears their parents speaking negatively, the athlete learns to be negative not only about our program but about others too. Parents are  the most important teachers in their children’s lives. They teach by example. If there are problems, direct them to the coaches and try to make positive suggestions.

    What we ask of you as a parent

        1. Help your child attend every function on time.

        2. If you have any questions or opinions, please communicate with coaches rather than players.

        3. Never hesitate to call or visit with coaches about any concerns that you might have.

        4. The only problem we cannot solve is the one we do not know about. Communicate with us.

    What parents can expect from coaches. We coach our players like they are our sons.

    1.     6A athletics can be loud, tough, disciplined, and emotional. We coach the same way.
    2.     We work very hard to teach and stress our philosophy. We require your child’s undivided attention when we are teaching. The team always comes first. We have no stars.
    3.    We may require your child to be more disciplined than you do. 
    4.    Race, religion, or parent’s occupation will make no difference in determining playing time.
    5.    Players will play the position that is most beneficial to the team, not the position they may play in college.
    6.    We evaluate your child 24/7.
    7.    Coaches will not be your buddy, but there must be mutual respect between us.
    8.    Players need to work out with the team in the summer.

    Coaches will strive for an open-door policy: however, we do have 4 policies regarding conferences.

    1. I will only meet with you if your student athlete and the coach have already talked. Your student athlete must also be with you, and the assistant coach that most directly coaches your student athlete may be there as well.
    2. Your student athlete will know when you contact the staff regarding athletic matters.
    3. The coach will only speak to you about your student athlete. The coach will not talk about anyone else.
    4. Schedule conferences in advance. Immediately before or after a game/contest is not the time.

    Game/Contest Information for Spectators

    Any spectator who is confrontational with an athlete, another parent or official will be banned from attendance to games for the remainder of the season.  This will be based on the coaches, officials, and/or campus administration’s judgement. These actions include, but are not limited to the following.

          1. Approaching staff, coaches, officials before, during, or after a game/contest in a confrontational manner

          2. Badgering Officials and/or Coaches from the stands during a contest

          3. Use of profane or threatening language at any time.

    General Attire Expectation for Athletes

    Athletes are expected to dress in a manner that conveys they take their education seriously and respect the taxpayers who are providing said education.

    Examples of unacceptable attire:

        1. Pajama pants or any bedtime attire

        2. Wearing Blankets as outerwear

        3. Slippers

        4. Attire promoting criminal or licentious behavior

        5. Attire that does not meet the standards of the campus dress code

    Standards Used for Removal from Athletic Programs

    Immediate removal from the program will happen for the following:

        1. Theft

        2. Insubordination

                 a. i.e. Telling a coach “no”

    Possible removal from the program will happen for the following:

        3. Chronic missing of practice for any reason

             a. Chronic will be defined as 5 or more times within a calendar year.

             b. (see Attendance Statement below)

             c. Missing other sports will be considered in the total

        4. Missing games except for the most extreme of circumstances

        5. Not competing

        6. Chronic derogatory posts on Social Media

           a. (Chronic will be defined as no change in Social Media activity after warning from Coaches and/or administrators)

               i. About the team they are on

              ii. About the athletic program

              iii. About Haltom High

              iv. About teammates

              v. Anything deemed “inappropriate” by administration

        7. Pictures and Video taken in Locker Room Meeting areas without consent of the coaching staff and other parties in the pictures and/or video.

        8. Chronic problems with eligibility

        9. Chronic problems with discipline in regards to teachers, administration, coaches, and school staff.

       10. Drug related issues.

       11. Unrelenting, badgering, disgruntled family members

    If there are problems in the community, consequences are severe. You may be the only representative of our program that people see. You represent us-it is imperative that you keep this in mind.

    Attendance

    We believe the statement “Education is important” is a true one. If the actions of our student athletes within the athletic program do not reflect the “Education is important” statement, they may be removed from the program. There are 167 full school days, 6 half days, 40 Saturdays, 40 Sundays, and 29 days for Holidays between the first day of school and the last day. If education is important, people will do everything possible to get all their non-school responsibilities done on one of the 109 days that are holidays and/or weekends. Our standard is miss 5 or less school days during the year. This is not a difficult standard, although some have said it is. If a player misses too much school, they are not taking education seriously, and if they do not take education seriously, it will be hard to keep them in the athletic program. Once an athlete has reached 5 absences during a school year, they will be considered for removal from the athletic program. We start this for all 10-12th graders when the year starts. This standard starts at the end of athletic season for our 9th graders

     

    Multi-Sport Athletes

    All Student Athletes are encouraged to participate in as many sports as possible. If there are significant overlaps in two sports, both coaches will meet and work out a plan for each multi-sport athlete on a case by case basis.

    If a student quits one sport, they are not allowed to compete in another sport until the sport they quit is over. This may be waived if the head coaches of the sports involved agree.

    Head Coaches reserve the right to NOT retain athletes who quit during the season of any sport.

    If a student quits a sport during the season, award pictures will be taken down from the athletic hallway of the athlete who quit.

     

    Each Sport at Haltom High may have additional policies for their sport. It is important for parent/guardians to be at parent meetings when they are schedule prior to the season of each sport.