Athlete Expectations/Code of Conduct

LUHS Track and Field

Being an athlete for LUHS Track and Field is a great privilege that provides individual and team opportunities. As this sport is co-ed, it can provide necessary and unique skills and opportunities that other sports cannot.  The school and all coaches place a high expectation of honesty, accountability, responsibility, dependability, excellent sportsmanship, leadership, and respect to all in every athlete that signs up to participate as a member of the LUHS Track and Field Team. Every athlete has their own reason for signing up for this team and it should be honored as such. Our goal is to grow to become one through the expectations above, have faith and trust in each other, and most definitely, have a lot of fun along the way. Our track season is short, especially when we are up against weather and sharing facilities. In order to achieve more during our practices and to have as a successful season as possible, we expect all athletes to be ready and on time; be attentive so instructions are not repeated unnecessarily; give their best effort of task requested; help set up and clean up any equipment as necessary or when asked.

Unacceptable Behavior

Our Track and Field Coaches are bringing the best of themselves every day to help every athlete within the team. It is expected that the same follows suit with each athlete. Anything less may be a disappointment and a setback to work prepared or achieved. Any athlete that partakes in unacceptable behavior of use, possession, buying or selling of non-religious tobacco, alcohol, drug or controlled substances will be in violation of Lakeland’s Activities and Athletics Expectations rule (370) found within the handbook. Violations will be brought to the Activities/Athletics Council.

Practice Attendance

Attending practice is mandatory. Practice will begin either in the gym or on the track at 3:45 PM. Be on time and ready to go. Any change in time (indoor season may vary) or place will be notified on the Student/Parent Square.

Clothing attire: Be prepared during the whole season – This means being dressed for the weather every day. Understand that our season is indoor and outdoor with majority being outdoors. We will deal with all-weather types. Have layers, extra socks, shoes, hats, gloves, jackets, etc. with you. Workouts may fluctuate on what we do and where we do it, along with unpredictable weather; have a stock with you so it is not an issue. We will be expecting you to change into your practice attire before entering the gym or other designated place.

Athletic Trainer: If you need to see Athletic Trainer, get there promptly after school so you can be attended to as soon as possible and return to practice. Notify your coach.

Missing Practice: It is your responsibility to contact the coach BEFORE practice if you know you will miss part or all of practice. IN WRITING.  An absence that is considered unexcused is if your coach is not notified in advance and/or the excuse is not related to illness or injury. Absence because of employment is not an excused absence. Certain excused absences may be at the discretion of the coaches.

Family Vacations: parents/guardians will need to inform coach of the dates their child will be missing as soon as possible IN WRITING. Please do not expect your coaches to remember every advanced notice through verbal communication only.

If injured: you must still attend practice, unless an emergency or illness prevents you from attending. It is important to observe your team, listen to your coach’s instructions or demonstrations even if you cannot physically participate. There may be important information for you to know that will be discussed at practice before the next day. If you are unable to attend, a doctor’s note is preferred.

To Simplify: With roughly 60+ athletes, your Head Coach wants to keep things as simple as possible. As young adults, athletes will be expected to be responsible and accountable for their participation/actions and realize that what they put into this sport is what they will get out of it. If it is deemed that athlete is later not responsible, accountable or dependable, their position within the team, relay or as a team captain will be sacrificed. Communication, preferably early, is the key to helping everyone and everything work out as best as possible for the team.

Meet Attendance and Conduct

Home Meets: Athletes will be expected to be in uniform, with any warmups if applicable, and ready to go ONE HOUR before meet starts. This means that athlete is changed, and on the track/field for warm up one hour prior to meet start time.

Away Meets:  Athletes will be expected to be in uniform, with any warmups if applicable, and ready to go at the North side doors at designated meeting time before departure.

Uniforms: School issued uniforms or warmups, any self-purchased “Lakeland” or “Lakeland Track and Field” similar attire in school colors is acceptable and suggested/appreciated. We will dress and look like a team. Clothing and uniforms are to be clean. Uniforms or other attire given to student by LUHS is property of LUHS and if proper care is not taken, that individual will have the replacement cost charged to them for the damaged or lost item(s).

Other Clothes & Conduct:  School rules and expectations apply at all Track and Field functions including practices, meets and the travel to and from. Therefore, abusive language/gestures verbally or on clothing will not be tolerated whether at team meetings/practices, on the bus/van, locker room, gym/track or anywhere else that you are representing Lakeland Union High School.

Athletes will refrain from altercations with Track and Field officials, coaches, teammates, other athletes and spectators before, during, and after meets. As a LUHS athlete, you will be expected to win and lose with good sportsmanship, reflecting respect and dignity.

Transportation

All athletes must ride the team bus/van to a meet. If a player needs to provide their own transportation, the coach must be notified at least 24 hours in advance. Athletes may ride home with someone other than their parent (another student’s parents or older sibling) if they bring an advance note to school the day before or the day of the away game. The note must be signed by high school administration.

All Athletes who are transported to or from school must comply with the regulations made by the driver of the bus in which the student athlete is riding. If a student is insubordinate when riding on a school bus/van, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. If the student is disobedient again, they will be deprived of future transportation for the duration equal to the severity of the act.

Social Media

Athletes using social media in a negative way towards other teams, teammates, or coaches, will result in disciplinary action that can include removal from the team. E.g., comments or posts with negative connotation towards any member of the team, coaching staff, or opposing teams.

School Attendance Policy

A student must be in attendance at school the entire day in order to practice or participate in a contest on that date. The only exception to this would be an advanced notice, excused absence or an absence due to an emergency situation by administration.

A student must be in school the entire day following a contest, unless: (a) he/she has an advanced notice excused absence; (b) he/she has an excused absence due to illness or injury or has a doctor’s appointment due to illness or injury; or (c) he/she has some other absence and this requirement is waived by administration. A student not meeting this requirement shall be suspended from the next contest or activity.

Care of Equipment

All athletes will be expected and responsible for the care of equipment. We are a team so many hands make work light. To increase productivity and help with organization of practices and meets, we ask and expect that all athletes help move equipment before, during, and after practices / meets, whether they use it or not. Athletes are to remain after practice until everything has been put away properly or they have been excused by coaches. Disciplinary action may be taken if neglect of equipment becomes a problem and/or damage fee(s) may be charged.

Student/Parent Square Communication     

All Communication will be processed through the new “Student” or “Parent Square” platform. This is taking over the previous “Remind” app. All athletes and parents/guardians are to read about information on downloading or registering for an account. Information regarding practice or meet time changes, cancellations, specific athlete communication, communicating with coaches, concessions or other pertinent season notes will be posted there. It is each athlete and parent/guardian’s responsibility to use the S/P Square. There are tutorial videos once logged in to help if needed or please reach out to us or a school staff member.

Most or all students already have a student square account. Mrs. Larson will enter their email addresses into the Track and Field group. Parents/guardians are first expected to log into the LUHS Infinite Campus to verify their email addresses, any cell phone numbers and make any necessary changes. Then they are expected to register for a Parent Square account. Can be done by downloading an app on their cell phone and/or online at https://www.parentsquare.com/signin

**The same email and cell phone numbers will need to be the same as information in Infinite Campus. This is why parents/guardians are to verify Infinite Campus information first.

**Any questions or concerns regarding the Student/Parent Square platform, please contact Coach Strasburg via email at: strasburg@lakelandunion.org 

Concessions: You may find that not all Track and Field Meets have concessions. With regular meets lasting typically 4 hours, having concessions can be a nice option for athletes and spectators alike. For away meets, please be mindful of your hungry athlete with having either extra food packed or some cash for them to purchase concessions if available. The team/bus may or may not be stopping for food somewhere after the meets as well, depending on certain circumstances, so having cash handy for this option is advised. We will typically not know in advance which meets have concessions.

We will have 1 Indoor meet and 2 Outdoor meets (one being Conference). We are looking to have concessions at all of these meets. First, it is nice to have food available for all. Secondly, it is a great way to raise money for our sport/team. There are many items/equipment needs that would be purchased through these means. Without fundraising, we cannot or may not get. Although it is not mandatory at this point, I’d like to hope that most to all parents/guardians will be able to participate in organizing and helping with the concession events. With the number of athletes we have, parental help should not be difficult to find. Many hands make work light and do know that we greatly appreciate it.

There will be a link coming out for our Indoor meet concessions. This will be set up through “Sign up Genius”. The two additional concession events can be set up this way or possibly through the S/P Square. We would be graciously looking for someone or a group of people to set this up and organize.

 Coaches/Assistants/Volunteers — Volunteer list subject to change

Stephanie Strasburg (Head/ Technical Sprints/ Blocks/ Hurdles/ 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 400 Sprint Relays, Instagram, Website, Probably loudest cheerleader)

Gordy Hartzheim (Assistant/ Mid and Long Distance)

Andrew Schilling  (Assistant/ Mid and Long Distance)

Greg Eichelkraut (Assistant/ Shot Put/ Discus/ Basic Pole Vault/ Equipment Guru)

Rick Fuhrman (Assistant/ Shot Put/ Discus)

Jeff Zeman (Assistant / technical sprints/ sprint relays/ Long Jump/ Triple Jump/ 200-400/ statistical and website support)

Mandy Zeman (Weekly or Frequent Volunteer/ Hurdles/ statistical & website support)

Kayela Carroll  (Volunteer/ Pole Vault)          *true availability unknown            

Dan Sweeney  (Volunteer/ Hurdles/ High Jump)         *true availability unknown

Kaitlin Miesbauer    (Volunteer/ Pole Vault/ Hurdles/ Long Jump/ Triple Jump/ Other Sprint or Head Coach assistance) *true availability unknown

Olivia Wingo (Volunteer/ Pole Vault)  *during college vacations or after May 15.

Jake Gibson  (Volunteer / Long Jump/ Triple Jump/ Sprint assistance) * true availability unknown

Jake Strasburg (Team Volunteer/ “Team Dad”/ driver)   

Amie Rein (Uniforms Volunteer) 

Track and Field Expectations Signed Agreement

Athletes and Parents/Guardians: Initial each line, sign and date below. Return to Coach Strasburg BEFORE practice begins.

_____I understand that I am independent and therefore will uphold myself as dependable, responsible, accountable, honest, helpful and exude good sportsmanship.

_____ I will portray myself, my family, and my team in a respectful way at all times.

­­­­­­­­­­_____I will kindly refrain myself from people, places, or things that will be a distraction or temptation as something that may have a negative effect on me.

_____ I will take my education seriously and do my best in school and with schoolwork.

_____ I will avoid the use of vaping, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

_____ I will refrain from using social media in a negative way towards coaches, teammates, or opposing teams.

_____ I will be on time for practices and meets. I must communicate in advance when I will not be on time or able to attend by utilizing the Student/Parent Square as the primary communication method.  Secondary method: strasburg@lakelandunion.org

_____ I will do my best in track practice and meets.

These signatures state that I have read and understood all expectations the Lakeland Union High School Administration and Coaches of LUHS Track and Field Team have for the 2023 season. I also understand that failure to act in accordance with the expectations, I, the athlete will be subject to consequences laid out by coaching staff and/or administration of LUHS and could also lead to suspension or removal from the team.

Player Signature  ______________________________________________           Date_________________

Parent/Guardian Signature  __________________________________________ Date _________________