Athletics

“...See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous...” Colossians 2:7

The purpose of athletics at Lake Country Christian School is to glorify the name of Jesus Christ by our words, attitudes, and actions both on and off the field or while providing opportunities of Christian encouragement and fun for students through fellowship with other Christian athletes, fans, and faculty. Students will be responsible for obtaining their own physical examinations and physician’s approval in order to participate in athletics. 

Goals and Expectations 

There are five basic goals that LCCS Athletics strives to instill into each of its student-athletes:   

1. Develop Christ-like character in each student-athlete. - Galatians 5:22

2. Teach intensity, diligence, dependability, and self-control. - Philippians 4:13 

3. Teach submission to authority on and off the field or court. - Hebrews 13:17

4. Develop Christian leaders that can be examples for the entire student body to respect and follow. - Hebrews 13:7

5. Teach the Biblical definition of winning and how to make it a lifestyle. - Colossians 3:23, I Corinthians 9:24

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A current physical and medical history are required each year prior to practice and game participation. 

Athletes' Code of Conduct 

The student who chooses to participate in the athletic program will be observed by many public and private schools, media, parents, guests, peers, teachers, and the public at large. Participating in athletics provides the opportunity to demonstrate one’s desire to reflect Christ-like virtues in sportsmanship and in performance. In that regard, each LCCS student-athlete will be held to the following code of conduct:  

• After an athlete receives a suspension from school, the student will be suspended from his/her team for the next game. Further action will be at the discretion of the principal and/or athletic director.   

• A suspended athlete may participate in tryouts for a team, but may not actively participate in games until he/she has served a probationary period.  

• The use of profanity will not be tolerated. The use of profanity on or off the field may result in additional conditioning, a loss in playing time, or another form of punishment as agreed upon by the coach and athletic director. 

• Fighting during athletic events will result in a minimum two-game suspension. More severe discipline action may be enacted depending upon the circumstances.

• Lake Country does not condone and will not tolerate "hazing" or "initiations" of student-athletes by other student-athletes. Any such actions will result in suspension and/or dismissal from the athletic team. 

 Team Selection 

Because we are a competitive sports program, all team rosters are compiled through the tryout process. Student-athletes that represent our school will possess the abilities, character, attitude, commitment, time availability, energy, and academic standing to compete at this level. While this can be a sensitive issue among those students cut from a team, we encourage them to get involved in a league or coaching outside the school and try out again the following year.  For students that try out for a team and do not make the final roster, there are other opportunities for them to get involved in the LCCS Athletic Department. Each team in middle school and high school has need of managers, statisticians, and scorekeepers. Any student is welcome to visit with a head coach to get involved in that way.  

Middle School Team Selection 

We view the middle school years as an excellent time for our students to gain the necessary athletic experience that will prepare them to be a contributing factor on our high school teams. Therefore, it is our desire for each of our middle school students to have the opportunity to play the sport(s) of their choice. It is our desire to not make any cuts on this level. However, middle school cuts may be used on this level in order to maintain a manageable number of players for the available coaches to ensure the quality of instruction that can be given.  • 

High School Team Selection 

High school teams are obviously more competitive, and thus more selective, than that of middle school teams. Many factors go into the selection of a team. After a designated tryout period, each Lake Country varsity coaching staff is allowed to set the size of their team roster. All final rosters will be shown to the Athletic Director for approval before any official postings or announcements can be made. Students that do not make a particular team are encouraged to refine their skills and try out again in the future.  If enough interest is present on the high school level, a junior varsity team may be formed to facilitate the extra players who do not make the varsity team. It is the coaches' decision as to which players make the varsity team and which will play on the junior varsity team. Players may play on both teams if it is necessary to do so in order to form the junior varsity team. However, a player who starts for the varsity team may not play for the junior varsity team unless he/she is needed to have enough players to play. Also, any player who plays on both teams is limited in the total number of games that he or she can play in during the season (per TAPPS handbook).

Previous Athletics Participation 

Students who participated in a sport in either sub-varsity (i.e. junior varsity team, freshman team, etc.) or varsity in the 9th grade through 12 grades during the current or previous school year at another school MUST have the Previous Athletic Participation Transfer Form completed and returned to the athletic office BEFORE they are eligible to participate at the varsity level. The form is available at www.lccs.org/athletics. The Previous Athletic Participation form needs to be turned in to the Athletic Director once all necessary signatures have been obtained.

Pre-Season Parent Meetings 

A parent meeting between coaches, parents, and student-athletes will be conducted at the beginning of each athletic season. At least one parent is strongly encouraged to attend the pre-season meeting in order to allow their child(ren) to continue as a member of the team. 

Practice  & Games

Attendance Requirements 

Once any student-athlete has joined a team, he/she has committed attention and attendance to that team until the last game is completed. 

• Players must be at every practice and game unless excused for one of the following reasons:  doctor or dental appointment, personal sickness, death in the family, previously scheduled church commitment.

• No student may participate in any afternoon/evening athletic events or other co-curricular activities unless he or she is present for at least one-half day (equivalent to FOUR 45minute classes) on the day of the event. *College visit days may be exempted from this rule.  

• Student-athletes and/or their parents are responsible for communicating ANY ABSENCE to their coach BEFORE the practice or game, unless there is an unexpected emergency. 

• Any student-athlete who misses a practice or game (excused or unexcused) may have to make up practice activities (i.e. conditioning) and face the team's policy for a reduction in playing time. This is not meant as punishment for an excusable absence, but a reward and incentive to those team members who were present. 

• A team member who must miss a practice or game may return to their former status as soon as they have fulfilled the team's policy for absences, which have been announced by the respected coach. Multiple unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the team. 

• LCCS is supportive of its student-athletes being involved in their local church/youth group. We would never schedule a game on Wednesday or Sunday that would interfere with a regularly scheduled worship service. In order to allow our student-athletes ample time to prepare for a mid-week service, no Wednesday practice will go past 5:30 pm.  

Middle School Practices

Most team practices for our Middle School teams will be held before school or during their PE period. Coaches may call additional practice time as needed (and facilities permit), but sufficient notice will be given to both the student-athletes and parents.   

High School Practices

Most practices for our high school teams will be held during the athletic period or after school hours. They can typically last anywhere from 1-3 hours, may include Saturdays, and may vary depending on the coach’s availability. These are possibilities that should be considered by both students and their parents before committing to play for a team. 

Playing Time 

Lake Country’s goal is to provide a competitive athletic program. Coaches determine playing time based upon various factors. These include, but are not limited to, a student’s athletic skill, attitude, work-ethic, performance and attendance in practice, and “in-game” needs. Our goal is for all players to gain in-game experience. However, this will not be done in such a way that it adversely affects the team’s ability to be in a position to win. Participating on any team, and more specifically playing in games, should always be considered a privilege and not a right. Student-athletes who have questions regarding playing time should visit with their coaches to discuss what they can do to earn more playing time.    

Positions/Events 

Each one of LCCS’ coaches is given the charge to field the most competitive team possible based on the members of the team. Therefore, they have the freedom to place student-athletes in positions/events that he or she feels is best for the team. Student-athletes are expected to give their best at that position/event assigned barring any physical injury that prohibits them from participating.  

Injuries 

We understand that injuries are a part of playing sports and that at times an injury may preclude a student-athlete from competing in practices/games. If a student-athlete has an injury that keeps them from competing, a parent note will be accepted for the first 2 days. After 2 days a doctor’s note will be required as severe injuries must be dealt with medically to ensure the health of our student-athletes. Student-athletes and parents must also understand that missed practice time may or may not result in diminished playing time in a game. That is at the discretion of the team’s coach. 

Eligibility 

LCCS academic eligibility will be checked in accordance with each progress report/report card during each grading period. All standards for checking academic eligibility are in accordance with TAPPS standards. Student-athletes are required to continuing practicing with their team during their time of ineligibility. 

Uniform Responsibility 

All uniforms are the property of the Lake Country Christian School Athletic Department. This is one of our largest expenditures as an athletic department, and so it is important that we try to maximize the life of these items. 

Do not make alterations unless given permission by the Athletic Director.  

Uniforms become the responsibility of the student-athlete as soon as they are issued until the time that they are returned. 

Athletic uniforms are only to be worn for games, not practices or other functions and they are not permitted as part of your school uniform at any time. Any damage that is done during that period, other than normal wear and tear, is the responsibility of the student-athlete and will be billed to them accordingly.  

All uniforms and equipment must be returned to the coach or athletic director within one week after the last game of the season. Any student-athlete who does not return uniforms and/or equipment will have his/her report card held and costs for replacement charged to his/her school bill. A student-athlete will not be allowed to participate in another sport until all overdue uniforms, equipment, and fees have been turned in. Any lost items will be billed to the student-athlete at full replacement value.  

Any auxiliary items (i.e. socks, practice uniforms, baseball hats, etc.) will be purchased by the individual student-athlete. The items are the property of the student-athletes. 

Student-athletes should also give special attention to the use of proper footwear for each sport. 

Out of Season Expectations 

During the school year, student-athletes are expected to give the in-season sport in which they are participating first priority over any type of off-season leagues or training. 

Any organized training for another sport during the season in which a student-athlete is participating (such as an open facility or league) should be cleared with the current in-season head coach. 

During the summer, all 9th-12th grade student-athletes are expected to work on and develop their athletic abilities. Understanding that family and personal time take first priority during the summer, there are various opportunities for student-athletes to train when they can. 

If a student-athlete is in town and not committed to a family activity, it is assumed that he/she will be engaged in some sort of athletic development program.

Multiple Sports & Activities 

We encourage student-athletes to be well rounded, participating in different activities both athletically and otherwise. Different sports challenge student-athletes in different ways and the skills developed through the training methods used in one sport will often help the student-athlete in another sport. Additionally, the discipline and work ethic required in fine arts is similar to those in athletics.   

When student-athletes do participate in multiple sports, good, open communication between the student-athlete, his/her parents, and the two coaches involved are tantamount and a priority will be declared in the case of scheduling conflicts and agreed upon by the coaches. 

In regard to practice time, the team sport will always take priority with the student-athlete taking responsibility to get their individual sport training in on their own time.  Regarding multiple activity participation, student-athletes may participate in a non-athletic department (i.e. fine arts) program and on an athletic team at the same time. Leadership from both activities will work closely together to minimize conflict; however, there will be times when a family will have to choose between two competing commitments. Where there is dual commitment and schedule conflict, there must be a declared priority and agreements made between student, parents, and team or department leadership before the seasons begins as to how the student will divide his/her time between the activities. The decision to participate in multiple sports or multiple activities should ultimately be decided by the parents and student. 

Lettering in Varsity Sports 

Student-athletes in grades 9-12 can earn a varsity letter in a sport under any of these qualifications:  

• Playing/Participation Time – varies by sport as agreed upon by the Varsity Head Coach and Athletic Director. These requirements will be communicated to student-athletes and their parents at the beginning of each sport season.  

• Servant-Leadership – for those team members who do not meet the minimum playing time requirement, they may qualify for a varsity letter under servant-leadership by demonstrating commitment, positive attitude, and enthusiasm and serving the team in a significant way throughout the season, as decided by the Head Coach. 

• Completion of season – a team member must complete the season on the team’s roster. If a player quits a team or is dismissed from a team, he or she will not qualify for a varsity letter. If an injury or season-ending injury impacts the minimum playing/participation time qualification, then it is at the discretion of the Varsity Head Coach and Athletic Director to determine whether or not the playing/participation time qualification would have been met based on to-date contribution at the time of the injury.

Quitting a Team 

At LCCS we believe that Godly character is never formed by quitting. Responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and honoring commitments are all attributes that we wish to instill in our student-athletes. We also believe that students and parents need to realize that participating on an athletic team, whether in middle school or high school, is going to require some effort and sacrifice of time and resources. 

When a student decides that they want to play on a team and begin a season they are making a commitment to that team.  If after the season begins the student-athlete decides that he/she wishes to quit the team, he/she needs to realize that it is hurting the team by not honoring the commitment that was made when the season began. We feel that a student-athlete needs to take seriously the decision to play for a team, and if he/she makes that choice then everything needs to be done in his/her power to honor that decision.  

A student has 7 practices (including scrimmages) from the TAPPS official first day of practice with a team to quit without any consequence. Any student who leaves a team after the “grace period” will become ineligible in ANY sport for one year period of time (365 days) beginning on the date he/she leaves the team. *Exceptions from this must come directly from the Athletic Director.

There should be a strong sense of belonging to the team even when personal injuries would restrict the individual's participation in practices and games. An injured player is expected to be at all practices and games as if he or she were healthy, unless approval is received from his or her coach.  

Authority

The level of authority at Lake Country is as follows:  

1. Coach  

2. Athletic Director  

3. Dean of Students/Principal 

4. Head of School  

If any concerns are not addressed in the above order, they will be redirected to the appropriate step. It is also important to not confront a coach before, during or after a game or practice. These can be emotional times and not best for resolving conflicts. A 24-hour waiting period is a must to address any concerns. After the 24-hour waiting period, a parent can contact the coach and set up a conference time to share his/her concerns. 

Expectations from the Parents

At Home

• Encouragement of your athlete in the development of their skills, work ethic, attitude, and team spirit. 

• Please, no negativism in his/her presence toward other players or his/her coach.

• Partner with the coaches and school to help hold your athlete accountable to the guidelines listed in the school and athletic handbook.

At Practice

Unless otherwise noted, practice sessions are closed to anyone who is not involved with the team on a daily level (coach, player, manager, etc.).

At Games 

• Support and encouragement for all LCCS players as well as one another. At LCCS we cheer for our teams and not against other teams.  

• As it is the coach’s responsibility to lead and instruct the team, parents and others are asked to refrain from “coaching” from the stands or interacting with the student- athletes. This is to minimize confusion as to who is giving our student-athletes instruction. 

• We ask that parents treat ALL officials with the utmost respect. Being an official is a difficult job  and we want them to enjoy coming to LCCS. 

Concession Stand and Gate 

Every athletic family will be required to volunteer in the concession stand and gate a minimum number of times per sport. This is essential to be able to coordinate a successful concessions operation. If you are scheduled to work a particular time and are not able to fulfill your obligation, please contact another parent to switch days/time and contact the appropriate Booster Club member immediately. Failure to notify the athletic director will result in a $25 charge to off-set the cost of paying someone to cover the assigned duty.