Accepting a position on a team includes acceptance of interscholastic athletics procedures by both the student and the parent/guardian. Students and parents must recognize that coaches have the authority over who becomes a member of the team, which students play, and who is removed from the team. Coaching strategy is determined by the coaching staff.

As the parent of a student-athlete, you have a right to know what expectations are being placed on your child.

The coach should clearly communicate to parents:

• His/her philosophy of coaching.

• Expectations he/she has for your child as well as all the team members.

• Locations and times of all practices and contests.

• Team requirements, such as special equipment, off-season conditioning, etc.

• Procedures that will be followed should your child be injured during practice or a contest.

• Discipline that results in your child losing the privilege of being a member of the team

It is important to understand that there may be times when things do not go the way you or your child wish. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged. Appropriate concerns to discuss with the coach include the mental and/or physical treatment of your child, ways to help your child improve, and concerns about your child’s behavior or safety.

Topics that are not appropriate to discuss with the coach are playing time, team strategy, play-calling, and other student-athletes.

It is not appropriate to confront a coach before or after a practice or contest. When situations arise that require a conference between the coach and the parent, the following procedure should be followed:

• Call the high school to set up an appointment.

• If the coach cannot be reached, call the Athletics and Activities Manager. He/she will coordinate the meeting for you. If after the conference, you do not feel a satisfactory resolution was reached, contact the Athletics and Activities Manager at your child’s school. At this meeting, the appropriate next step can be determined.

All players are expected to follow HCPSS School Policies and Student Code of  Conduct

Attendance:

A. All players are expected to be at every practice.  If a player is absent from school, then he needs to provide a legal excuse to both the school and the coaches.  If a player has an unexcused absence or cuts a class, he is ineligible to practice or play on that day.

B. All players are expected to be on time for every practice.  If a player is going to be late to practice, he needs to inform the coaching staff ahead of time.

C.  Missing practice to work on long-term projects is not a legal excuse.

D.  The player is responsible for personally informing the coaching staff of any lateness or anticipated absences.  It is unacceptable for a player to inform the coaches after the fact or through another student or parent.

E. If a player has one unexcused absence, he will not play the first half of the next contest.  If a player has a second unexcused absence, he will miss a game. A third unexcused absence will result in the player being dismissed from the team.

F. An unexcused lateness counts as half an absence, so two unexcused latenesses will result in a half-game benching, four latenesses will result in dismissal from the team.

Appearance: 

To act like a team we need to look like a team, so the River Hill  lacrosse team will:

• Be clean-cut and clean-shaven, with hair cuts that show the players neck, ears, and eyebrows

• Not wear jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, anklets, or any piercings (NFHS rules, section 10, article 2)

• Have a white or grey undershirt in both practices and contests

• Have blue pads or white elbow pads. 

Transportation:

All players will travel both to and from away games on the bus.  Only in an emergency situation can an exception be made, and in this case, the player must ride with one of his parents.  This must be cleared with Mr. Creighhton or myself via e-mail 24 hours in advance.

Off-field behavior

The players on this team are a reflection not only of themselves but of the team.  All River Hill lacrosse players are expected to conduct themselves in a way that will make the school and the community proud.

Practice times missed for school disciplinary reasons are not excused absences.

Practice does not start until 3:00, so the lacrosse teams are expected to conduct themselves with decorum in the hour between the end of school and the start of practice.  Acceptable behaviors include:  studying, completing homework, working out, or working on individual skills. 

Playing Time

Playing time is not guaranteed; it is earned through hard work, skill, and attitude.  Our main goal is to achieve success as a team.  The coaches are always eager to discuss your child and his development, but we will not discuss playing time or coaching decisions. Please allow your sons to communicate/advocate for themselves about any frustration about playing time or any other coaching decisions.

RHHS Booster

We need at least two parents to volunteer their time to be the team’s booster representative.  We will later deliver a letter from  Boosters president and Regina Thyberg a prominent Boosters member outlining what the job of booster rep entails.

Communication

We will establish an e-mail mailing list to inform parents of updates to schedules and any pertinent information that they may need to know. As well as Twitter.

We are looking forward to a great year, and we are very excited about the teams.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at River Hill High School (410-313-7120) or email:

• Coach Keith Gonsouland, Head Varsity Coach keith_gonsouland@hcpss.org 

• Coach Breaon Hebron, Head JV Coach 

Breaon_Klein-Hebron@hcpss.org