Athletic Handbook for Kima High School
The purpose of this Handbook is to acquaint the Kima students and parents with the school's general athletic program and policies.
This information is intended to help guide families through their athletic experience during the Kima years. For more details covering an individual program, please contact a member of the Athletic Department.
Kima High School Athletic Mission Statement:
The Kima School seeks to foster each student's intellectual development, love of learning, and strength of character within a diverse community distinguished by a spirit of support and challenge.
Purpose and Philosophy
Building on the school's philosophy, the Interscholastic Athletic Program offers students the opportunity to experience the educational merits of athletic competitions. Recognizing the strong link between physical and mental faculties, as well as the social and emotional growth that physical activity and team effort promote, the Department of Athletics encourages all students to take full advantage of the variety of athletic offerings during their years in the Kima School system.
At Kima, athletic teams are organized according to ability, and students with the skills and experience will have the opportunity to compete at the varsity and junior varsity levels. Through practices and contests, one of the department's primary goals is to field highly competitive squads whose athletes exhibit excellence in skill, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, as well as pride in themselves and in the Kima School.
The coaches and instructors of each program work with the individuals and teams to maximize athletic performance and to provide a challenging and satisfying educational experience. Through the effort, self-sacrifice, and cooperation that the students invest in their sports, we believe that the students further develop and reveal, in addition to physical abilities, aspects of their personality and character which they will bring to other areas of their lives at KAMIT and beyond.
Athletic Programs
Kima High School Basketball Program
Kima students are introduced to competitive interscholastic athletics. While participation is the primary goal, skill building, conditioning, teamwork, and sportsmanship are also emphasized. Over the course of a season, all students are given a fair opportunity to participate in games. Currently KAMIT only offers basketball.
Athletics are built into the students' day and run from 4:30 to 7:pm on Monday through Friday. On game days, the athletic period will end later.
Students are required to wear a practice uniform. The head coach of each program will describe other necessary equipment and any other team logistics.
Managing
Students in 10th- 12th grades may elect to manage an athletic team for credit. This entails working out three times a week and helping to manage game-day activities, such as, keeping statistics, running the game clock, running the sidelines, etc…Managers report to the head coach of the team. All interested students should contact Levet Brown at (301) 758-4439
Emergency and Medical Release Forms
Each student-athlete must have a Student Emergency Record form, a Physical Examination form and a signed training policy on file in order to participate in any activity at Kima. Completed forms are valid throughout the school year. At no time may a student practice, compete, or travel without these completed forms on file.
Sportsmanship Creed
The Kima School is proud of the behavior and sportsmanship displayed by its players, coaches, and fans. We value healthy rivalry, encourage spirited and fair play, and appreciate the positive support offered on the sidelines. To continue the positive traditions that have been established, we ask the community to renew its efforts to embody the ideals of our athletic department and school.
Players and coaches shall at all times represent themselves, their teams and their school, with pride and poise. They shall confine the competitiveness to the contest itself, and shall conduct themselves honorably before, during, and after the contest. Players and coaches shall abide by the rules of the game, comply fully with the rulings of officials, and respect their opponents. Negative comments or gestures are completely inappropriate, and detract from the quality of the competitions.
Spectators, whether student or adult, shall respect all athletes, officials, coaches, and other spectators. Kima will not tolerate any behavior that is disrespectful of others or that detracts from any aspect of the athletic contest. Spectators whose behavior is inappropriate may be asked to leave an athletic contest.
Expectations of Student-Athletes
Kima appreciates the significant commitment and sacrifice that students and their families make on behalf of their teams. The quality of our programs largely depends on a clear understanding of and willingness to abide by the athletic department's rules and guidelines. We ask that students and parents consider very carefully the athletic department's expectations. In addition to the guidelines included in this handbook, each head coach will communicate his/her team policies at the beginning of the season.
The following excerpt is taken from Bruce Brown's “The Role of Parents in Athletics”. He is the Director of Proactive Coaching and a special presenter for the NAIA Champions of Character Program. We would like to share his thoughts on role delineations in Athletics.
Player's Role
· Play the Game for fun
· Be gracious when you win and graceful when you lose
· Respect and abide by the rules of the game
· Put the team ahead of yourself in every situation
· Accept decisions made by those in authority
· Demonstrate respect to your opponents, coaches and teammates
· Be accountable for your own actions
· Develop a teachable spirit that allows you to take correction as a compliment
· Accept and embrace the discipline involved in athletics, because it benefits the team
· Develop the feeling of pride, based upon “shared joy” of the team, and do not have pride that emanates from arrogance or a sense of entitlement
· Be an athlete of character
Coach's Role
· Coach for the love of the game and the love of the athlete
· Put the welfare of your athletes above winning
· Accept and abide by the judgment of the officials and rules of the game as “mutual agreements” required to play within the spirit of the game
· Reward effort and behavior instead of outcome
· Give dignity to mistakes made with full speed and attention
· Lead with character and by example
· Put the needs of the team ahead of any individual
· Constantly work to improve your knowledge and ability to teach the game and the athletes
· Be willing to confront incorrect behavior or less than an all-out effort
· Encourage multiple-sport participation
· Keep the game simple and fun
· Be willing to work with parents for the benefit of the individual athlete
· Develop a positive-demanding coaching style
· Be a model, not a critic; model appropriate behavior, poise and confidence
· Attend preseason team meetings
Parent's Role
· Attend as many games as possible
· Do everything possible to make the athletic experience positive for your child and others
· View the game with team goals in mind
· Attempt to relieve competitive pressure, not increase it
· Encourage multiple-sport participation
· Release your children to the coach and the team
· Look upon opponents as friends involved in the same experience
· Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches; remain in control
· Accept the results of each game; do not make excuses
· Demonstrate winning and losing with dignity
· Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration
· Be an encourager-encourage athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration
· Be a good listener
· Accept the goals, roles and achievements of your child
Absence Policy
ALL players on ALL teams must attend ALL practices and ALL games. If a player is excused from school due to illness or to a family emergency, the player will be excused from athletics that day
We appreciate that unexpected situations may necessitate a student to miss practice. We ask that the coach be notified by the student or parent ahead of time in order for the absence to be excused. Notification after the absence will not be excused. Each coach will clearly outline the team absence policy to the group.
Students that are late, must receive permission to participate in practice/and or game from the Dean of Students or appropriate school authority.
Unexcused Absences will Result in the Following:
· One unexcused absence: Conference with the coach(es) and the student.
· Two unexcused absences: Coach will notify the Athletic Director and the range of consequences includes limiting playing time to a one-game suspension.
· Three unexcused absences: Conference with Athletic Director, coach, and student. Verbal warning about potential loss of credit will be issued during the conference and a letter will be mailed home.
· Four unexcused absences: The student will be dismissed from the team/program and will not receive credit for participation that season.
Vacations
Most, if not all, of the Varsity teams, and some JV teams, practice during vacations. The level of commitment on a varsity team requires that the athlete participate in these practices during vacations. Families of varsity athletes need to understand that in order for our teams to be competitive, formal mandatory practices will and do take place during vacations. If you are the parent of a varsity athlete, plan on your son/daughter having to participate in these practices. If your son/daughter cannot attend these mandatory practices, then it has to be understood that there may be consequences for failure to attend. These consequences are determined by the coaches. Consequences vary and are handled by each individual coach. If there are special circumstances concerning a student, then the parents need to inform the coach as soon as possible.
Drinking/Drugs
“We regard any alcohol or drug abuse as destructive of both the spirit and the standard of athletic competition at The KIMA School. Adversely affecting both the body and the mind, alcohol and drug abuse is wholly incompatible with athletic achievement. Furthermore, as role models, athletes should behave in an admirable and honorable fashion. As dedicated athletes of The KIMA School, we condemn the use of alcohol or other drugs by our peers.”
In order to best serve individuals and teams, the athletic department, through its coaches, will communicate training rules that prohibit all student-athletes from drinking, smoking, or using drugs at all times. The head coach, the athletic directors, and the Division Head will determine team discipline based on these policies. The range of response may include suspension from a team, loss of leadership roles, and/or dismissal from team.
Early Dismissals
Unfortunately, there are times during the season when students are asked to leave class early for a game. The administration, faculty, coaches, and students are notified. However, it is the student's responsibility to inform his/her teacher of an early departure in advance. Students are responsible for all work and for all assignments. Every effort will be made to leave campus as soon as the students are excused and to return by the pick up time recorded on the team schedules, weekly schedule.
Player Eligibility
In order to be eligible for competition at KAMIT.
· May not have a high school diploma
· May not be 19 years of age or older as of September 1st of the school year
· May not participate in more than one varsity sport per season
· May not play more than four years of varsity athletics in any sport, in his/her high school career.
· Youth must posses a 2.0 grade point average throughout the school year.
· Youth will adhere to progress report requirement.
Transportation to and from Practices and Games
Kima School provides transportation to and from all athletic contests unless other arrangements have been made. We ask every family to adhere to the following guidelines: (1) Students may not drive themselves or any other students to games without written permission from a parent/guardian to the athletic directors. (2) Please be sure that each coach knows when a student will not return to KIMA on the team bus (3) Students may not leave campus after school unless they have a 7:00pm (please note new time) or later game or practice that night.
The following statements outline the limits and coverage of the KIMA School's insurance for teachers, coaches, parents, and students.
Parents are not covered by the school's automobile insurance while driving students to a school-sponsored event in their own vehicle. Parents would be covered by their own automobile insurance company. Students who suffer injury in a parent's vehicle would look to the parent's insurer for recovery, not the school's. If a student or his/her legal guardian were to sue the school for negligence in allowing a parent to drive, the school's insurance policy would respond to provide coverage only to protect the school.
Teachers/coaches are covered by school insurance if they drive students in their own cars to school-sponsored events. However, the teachers'/coaches' personal automobile insurance would be primary in the event of an occurrence; Kima School's coverage would cover any excess, over and above the teacher's/coach's primary liability limits.
Students are not covered by the school's automobile liability insurance while driving other students in their vehicle to school-sponsored events. They must be covered by their own insurance.
Parents are covered as volunteers by Kima School's automobile liability insurance if they drive a school vehicle to school-sponsored events.
Parents and students are not covered by the Kima School's automobile liability insurance policy unless they are operating a Kima School vehicle with permission from the school.
Varsity Head Coaches and Communication
As the varsity head coach oversees his/her entire program (grades 7-12). You should contact them directly. All coaches are required to make available a contact number to Kima participants.
Team Uniforms, Equipment, Personal Possessions
While most athletic equipment and uniforms are issued, there may be some articles to be purchased by the students. The coach will inform team members of the items needed.
Each student is responsible for his/her issued equipment and uniforms. If there is loss, theft, or destruction because of poor care, the player will be billed for the item and for replacement costs. The school views the care and maintenance of uniforms and equipment as a very serious responsibility for all of our athletes.
Because of the difficulty of collecting uniforms and equipment, the Athletic Department has instituted a uniform return policy. The student-athlete will not be allowed to begin their next season until the uniforms or equipment from the preceding season is returned.
With busy locker rooms, great care should be taken to protect what is yours. Personal possessions are the responsibility of the individual (not the school) and should be locked at all time in the lockers provided. Students are expected to clean out their lockers by the dates, which are posted throughout the year. Lost and Found bins are located outside of the boys' and the girls' locker rooms, and students are expected to retrieve only those items that belong to them.
College Athletics
KIMA is fortunate that many students possess the talent, interest, and discipline to pursue and excel in athletics at the collegiate level. We are proud of the many student athletes that have gone on to college to continue their athletic careers. The school is interested in helping any student explore realistic opportunities to participate in athletics beyond KIMA. The athletic directors, head coach, and (KIMA’s college counselor) will work together to assist the families as they go through the athletic recruiting process.
Other Athletic Opportunities
To explore other opportunities outside of KIMA School in any particular sport, please contact the head varsity coach. He or she will provide students of all ages with information regarding clinics, leagues, and camps.
Hawk Pride
KIMA’s athletic program is the focus of Hawk Pride, a volunteer parent group representing different teams in the athletic program. The parents help boost the spirit of the school in a variety of ways, such as organizing seasonal celebratory dinners, running concessions stands at the games, and facilitating communications among coaches, students, and parents. The Hawk Pride welcomes all parents.