Attendance:
Practice begins at 3:15 pm every day, and is at the high school track (weather permitting), unless notified otherwise. Athletes will walk over to the high school track after school. If the weather is bad or forecast is not positive, we will practice at OMS - a message will be sent to parents via Remind App as early as we can get it out.
Practice ends by 5:00 pm everyday for the first two weeks. There will be lifting throughout the season for 8th grade after practice M-Th, however, it is not mandatory - if they are lifting after practice before Spring Break, they will be done by 5:30 pm. There will be no lifting the day before a track meet.
After Spring Break practices will end at 4:45 pm each day - if they are lifting after practice, they will be done by 5:45 pm.
If your athlete is in a field event, they will practice that event from 4:45 - 5:15 pm. Field event rosters will be finished by Spring Break.
Attendance will be taken each day at the beginning of practice. We use school definitions to determine excused and unexcused absences.
Unexcused absences and being late to practice will result in disciplinary action, up to and including missing meets, or dismissal from team.
Personal Conduct:
Phones, Earbuds, & Speakers will not be allowed at practice or meets (most meets ban cell phone use around the track) unless given permission by a Coach.
Due to some issues in the past, there will be no extra practice use of the track and facilities after track practice. If you would like some extra practice with your athlete, you may use the facilities on weekends.
Athletes will not leave practice without a Coach's permission.
Athletes will maintain appropriate dress, including always having clothing to go outside; clothing with inappropriate slogans/pictures is prohibited. Athletes should always have sweatshirts and sweatpants available to them during each practice.
Athletes will not use inappropriate language during practices and meets.
Bullying will not be tolerated.
Athletes will show respect and listen to any and all coaches working with them. Disrespect will not be tolerated.
Athletes must be at practice the day before a meet in order to participate - coach's discretion on some cases.
Locker Room/Bus Conduct:
Everyone will be expected to keep lockers and locker rooms clean
Food and drink in lockers is prohibited, except for water bottles
Shoes must be wiped off before entering the locker room
There will be a zero tolerance behavior guideline for the bus
Inappropriate activity on the bus will not be tolerated
Athletes will not tamper with the bus or equipment at any time
Athletes are expected to follow the rules of the bus driver
Boys and girls are to sit separately on the bus
Academic Eligibility (from the OMS Athletic Handbook):
Students should keep their grades up. Eligibility sheets are circulated to all teachers every Friday. If a student is failing in any subject, the teacher will mark him/her as ineligible. Grades are calculated cumulatively each week within the 9 weeks. That student may not participate in games/meets for the week he/she is ineligible. The eligibility period shall run from Monday through the following Sunday. Any student who is ineligible to participate in a game must still attend practice. Mini-course, band, art, and choir are all considered in all eligibility as well as all other subjects.
“No student shall be allowed to carry an “F” in any course at any time during the season without being subject to the eligibility code. The season begins on the first day of practice or the first day of try-outs for a particular grade level. Eligibility for each athletic season will begin when the eligibility sheets are given to the teachers. Depending upon administrative decisions, there may be a lag of 1 to 3 weeks before eligibility begins or continues at the beginning of school in August or right after a major Winter or Spring break. Generally it is 3 weeks in August and 1 week each following break.”
Any “F’s” appearing at any time, in any subject, will follow the eligibility removal sequence. It does not have to be continuously or in the same subject. It will only take 1 “F” to begin the process; multiple “F’s” in one week will not count any more than 1 “F”. Any 4 weeks during the season with an “F” will have removed you from the team.
Eligibility Sequence
1st week with an “F” = warning and team rules apply
2nd week with “F”= practice, no play next week of all games
3rd week with “F”= practice, no play next week of all games
4th week with “F”= removed from the team
**If a student needs to miss practice to get help from a teacher or tutor, please speak to a coach.
Failing two core courses during a semester shall result in a student’s ineligibility for the next semester as well.
Meet Conduct:
Athletes are required to ride the bus to and from each scheduled meet, unless a parent or guardian signs them out. NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO SIGN AN ATHLETE OUT. You must sign out with a COACH before you leave
Athletes will not argue or complain to an official. If there is a problem, talk to a coach
When we arrive at the meet, we will designate a spot for the team camp. EVERYONE will camp in/help set up the area. The TEAM will do a 1-2 lap jog around the track as an initial warm up - additional warmup will be required before their event
At the conclusion of the meet, the team will make sure all equipment and trash is picked up. The area will be as neat and clean as it was when we arrived. Any trash left will result in disciplinary measures
Throwers are responsible for the equipment they use. We will have a sign-out to keep track
Rules not followed will result in disciplinary measures
Track Rules/Consequences:
Late to practice:
1st time = Free
2nd time = Extra Conditioning
3rd time = Suspension from team
Unexcused Absence:
1st time = Free
2nd time = 1 meet suspension/extra conditioning
3rd time = Dismissed from team
Personal/Locker Room/Bus and Meet Conduct Violation:
1st = Warning from Coach
2nd = Extra Conditioning/possible meet suspension
3rd = Dismissed from the team
These policies may be individually amended due to illness, injury, or special circumstances, but will otherwise be strictly enforced. Our goal is to provide a safe, fair, enjoyable atmosphere for all student-athletes on the Track & Field team. If you have any issues or problems, please speak with the coaches first. Students are responsible for notifying the Coaches AHEAD of time if they are not going to be at practice, a meet, or if they are going to be late. Notes can be left in the track mailbox in the office or messages can be left with the office staff at OMS.