CONTENTS: INFORMATION FOUND ON THIS PAGE

• Academic Eligibility Policy
• Disciplinary Policy
  • Excused and unexcused absences
    • "Athlete Absence Form"
  • Track Practice  Rules
  • Track Meet Rules
  • Athletes Riding Home With Parents
• How are runners chosen for events?

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY POLICY

As student-athletes, being a student comes before being an athlete.  Excellence in the classroom leads to excellence on the field.  The academic eligibility standards set by the Chiddix coaching staff for the Chiddix Junior High Track and Field team are as follows:

• Eligibility is recorded weekly.  Consequences are a result of the grades received within a one week period.
• Grades are posted by teachers every Thursday - the coaches receive the eligibility reports on Friday.  The consequences from the grades on the report last until the next report is sent out.
• Students who are ineligible because of grades are not allowed to attend practice. 

• A letter grade of "D" in any class will result in sitting out one practice.
• A letter grade of "F" in any class will result in sitting out one week of practices and meets.
• Consecutive or excessive weeks of being on the ineligibility list can result in the dismissal of the student from the team.

DISCIPLINARY POLICY

Students participating on the Track and Field team represent Chiddix Junior High School on the track, in the stands, and outside of school.  As members of the track team, students also represent the team in these areas.  This is why it is important for all track and field members to act respectful, responsible, and safe at all times.

The coaching staff for the Chiddix Track and Field team have high expectations for their athletes' behavior and will hold all participants accountable to meet these expectations.  All regular Chiddix Junior High School rules apply to athletes as well.

Any behavior deemed disrespectful, irresponsible and unsafe by the coaching staff can result in the following: discipline at practices, missed meets, and dismissal from the team. 

EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

"ATHLETE ABSENCE FORM" - An absence is considered "excused" when it has been preceded by turning in an "Athlete Absence Form" to the coaching staff.  The form can be downloaded and printed by clicking

• This form should be turned in 2 days prior to a missed practice and one week prior to the student's absence from  a meet.  This allows coaches to make the changes necessary for the roster.  

• One unexcused practice results in an individual consequence given by the Chiddix coaching staff.
• Two unexcused practices results in sitting out the next meet.
• Three unexcused practices results in the dismissal from the team.

In case of an emergency absence, please notify Chiddix Junior High School as soon as possible (pre- or post-absence) to inform one of the coaches.

In regards to injuries that result in missed practices, students are allowed to sit out one practice due to injury without a doctor's note.  If the injury persists, and more practices need to be sat out, a doctor's note will need to be given to the coaching staff.

Coaches reserve the right to handle all behavior and scheduling conflict cases on an individual basis.

TRACK PRACTICE, TRACK MEET, AND TRACK GEAR RULES

TRACK PRACTICE RULES

• Running shoes and athletic attire are required at every practice and meet.  Showing up without proper shoes or athletic attire results in an unexcused practice.
• Athletes are allowed to bring their own water bottles (labeled) to practice.  Time is given for getting a drink at the water fountains, but a water bottle cuts down on traffic at the fountains.
• Athletes are to be dressed and lined up for attendance by 4pm on practice days.  Students late will be given a tardy.  Three tardies result in a missed meet.  Every tardy after three results in another missed meet.
• Students are to bring all of their belongings out of the locker rooms, to the track, for practice.  The coaching staff does not want students roaming the school building during or after practice.
• Students need to be picked up at the North Lot (the lot facing the portable classrooms and the track) at the end of practice.  Students should not be picked up by the front lobby.

TRACK MEET RULES

• If during a track meet, an athlete misses his/her event, then the athlete will not compete in the next meet.
• When coming home from an out-of-town meet on the bus, students are told to call home within 10-15 minutes before arriving back at Chiddix.  Students should be picked up by the front lobby.  Please be at Chiddix on time, as track meets end late during school nights.

ATHLETES RIDING HOME WITH PARENTS

• Parents are allowed (and encouraged) to take their child home with them after a meet.  The procedure is that the parent needs to sign the student out  or make visual affirmation with one of the coaches AT THE MEET.  A student is then excused from riding the bus back.
• STUDENTS RIDING HOME WITH OTHER PARENTS: Students should provide a note to the coaches, signed by their parent, allowing them to go home with another ride.
• IN-TOWN MEETS DO NOT HAVE BUSES BRINGING THE ATHLETES BACK TO CHIDDIX.  Athletes must secure a ride home from the meet.

HOW ARE RUNNERS DECIDED FOR EACH MEET?

This is a valid and important question when dealing with over one-hundred athletes.  Two things must be understood in dealing with this topic 1] as a team, we always want to be as competitive as possible at every meet, and 2] we cannot take every athlete to every meet.  This means there will be times when some athletes will not participate in meets.

As a coaching staff, we will try to get every athlete to at least one meet this season.  We do not guarantee an athlete more than one event at a meet, and we do not guarantee to get every athlete into the first couple of meets at the beginning of the season.

If an athlete wants a chance to participate in meets, then being at, and participating in, all of the practices gives them a better chance to do this.

ROSTERS - The coaching staff will work very  hard to get rosters out as soon as possible, with the hope of presenting the list of athletes running faster and earlier to you as the season progresses.  However, behavior issues, schedule conflicts, academic eligibility, and trying to make sure every athlete experiences at lease one track meet during the season, can make the process time consuming and difficult.  This is especially true when sorting through  one-hundred-plus student-athletes.  The staff will try to inform you as early as possible so you can plan around track meets, and the staff truly appreciates your patience and understanding in this matter.  The wonderful parent support is what makes Chiddix such a wonderful place!