Program Rules

The following rules are one that all players must follow, regardless of the level the play

1. Be present

-Ready to play when practice starts, not arriving at the start time.

-Absences will be logged and dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the coaching staff. Directly notifying your coach of an absence is required, not telling someone to tell them. You can contact your coach via email or an other format they have approved. Click here for coach contact information.

-Notify your coach appropriate to the absence. For example, a doctor's appointment is generally not scheduled the day before, while getting sick at school would justify late notification. Not studying for a test you knew you had for an entire week and notifying your coach the day before is not an appropriate reason to skip practice.

2. Be participatory

-Don't take a break until all balls are picked up after a drill.

-All balls must be picked up/supplies put away before anyone leaves at the end of practice.

-Busses must be cleaned before players leave. The coach will do a last check after all players have exited and waited for dismissal. Trash left on the bus will result in running gorillas for every piece found after players exit the bus.

-We get it, you own a cell phone...be present with your team and coaching staff, save the cell phone for non-tennis time.

3. Be prepared

-Athletes should come to practice and matches prepared to play. Getting dressed at practice or putting on shoes when we arrive at a location is not helpful. Do it on the bus or prior to coming to practice.

4. Be a good teammate

-When you are finished competing or if you are not competing you should be supporting your teammates.

-Be the type of teammate you wish to have.

-All players are required to wear the approved program uniform. Spirit wear is for non-match days. Players will not wear spirit wear on the bus rides to matches or while warming up. Be a good teammate to others so we can look like a united program.

5. Be respectful

-You must use language, behavior and actions appropriate to a school setting, even if you are not currently at Brookfield Central. This conduct applies to matches, practices and other tennis-related activities.

Note for parents: Any discussion of playing time between parents and the coaching staff should formally or informally take place outside of practice times or competition. Additionally, any discussion of playing time needs to follow this process

Step #1: The player needs to discuss the question directly with the head coach

Step #2: After doing so, a parent may reach out to the coach to discuss. Note, no discussion of playing time will occur until 24 hours after the match.

Step #3: The head coach can meet with both the parent and players to discuss, but only to discuss the role the player has on the team and how to improve, not how the player stands in relation to specific players on the team.

-The coaching staff has the final say in all lineup decisions.

-Our pledge to you: Any player or parent should be able to ask any coach where they stand in the lineup, why they are there, what their role is on the team and how they can improve their game. All coaches are expected to be able to communicate those details to all players on their team.

Miscellaneous

Varsity lettering: Any player who competes in a minimum of 75% of varsity meets (including conference tournament) will receive a varsity letter. Any player who competes in either the GMC tournament or the WIAA sub sectional will receive a varsity letter regardless of the percentage of meets the player competed in during the regular season.

Violations of team rules will proceed through the following process:

First time: Player will receive a verbal warning

Second time: Coach and player will discuss, player will receive an opportunity to change their behavior

Third time: Coach will place a phone call to the parent, an email summary will be sent to the parent and athletic director

Fourth time: Player will subject to disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension or removal from the team

Note: certain actions will skip levels and could lead immediately to a suspension or removal from the team. Such actions include but are not limited to: fighting, refusal to follow directions of coaching staff, severe unsportsmanlike or dishonest conduct during a match