The medical examination is the first and most important measure to be considered in the proper health supervision of the athlete. In most schools, it is a routine procedure for the athlete to have a medical examination prior to her acceptance in a school sponsored sports program. An examination should be given each academic year and should be sufficiently thorough to evaluate the student's health status. It should include weight, nutrition, heart, blood pressure, lungs, abdomen, glands, and general health of hair, skin, and nails. It is most desirable to be able to give the examinations free of charge or at a reduced cost before the beginning of the athletic season. Continuous medical supervision of all students engaged in competitive athletics should be maintained and re-evaluations made as the physician or coach deems necessary. After a confining illness or injury, the athlete should be re-admitted to athletic participation only upon recommendation of the medical doctor.

Cumulative records of the health examination, dental records, description of injuries and illness of the athlete should be maintained. The record makes decisions concerning participation more meaningful and protects the school system and coaches against claims of injury while in the competitive program.

Health and accident insurance should be carried by each athlete. If the student does not have such coverage, the school system should make available such insurance at a reasonable cost to the participant. Personal liability insurance should be the concern of every coach and athletic director. Parental permission slips may have little legal value, but they do serve as statements of parental acknowledgment that their daughter is participating in athletics.

Academic Eligibility

Since the beginning of athletic competition in schools, athletic eligibility has been a questionable pre-requisite for competitive participation. Academic regulations, rightly or wrongly, are based on the assumption that scholastic achievement is the primary purpose of schools and that varsity sports take time needed for study. Many administrators feel that unless definite standards of academic achievement are maintained as a form of restraint, some students and coaches would focus all time and effort on their sport and neglect scholastic responsibilities. Any student should be allowed to try-out for or to participate in any school activity as long as she is a bona fide member of the student body and fulfilling its institutional requirements. Students under temporary suspension or probation for disciplinary reasons should not be allowed to participate. Members of a team should be shown no special favors, nor should they be made to meet any requirements not expected of other members of the student body.

Conduct during the Game

The game should be played for the benefit of the players - not the coach, officials, spectators, or school. Toward this goal, the following suggestions are offered.

Players should focus only on playing the game. There is no time for a thinking player to make comments to opponents, officials, or spectators during the course of a game. Students should respect their opponents for the competition they are providing. Unsportsmanlike or disrespectful conduct can never be condoned, even in the most undesirable situations. Certainly this includes players' conduct toward officials. Facial expressions and gestures can be as undesirable as verbal expressions of displeasure.

Players and sympathetic spectators tend to react as the coach and players react. Less sympathetic spectators react to the coach and players' reactions and if the coach or team's response is questionable, the result is an overemotional situation in which the game is taken away from the players. It is never acceptable for the coach to yell at officials or opponents, or allow his emotions to be uncontrolled. The coach should be able to control spectator and player actions through the respect they have for the coach's judgment and personal control.

Spectator conduct is the concern of the school administration, student body, the team and the coach. Spectators tend to react to the coaches and players, and a team's conduct can do much to bring about favorable spectator response.

Hosting Games

Visiting teams are invited guests and as such should expect and receive certain social courtesies and physical comforts. They should be provided with their own dressing facilities - a clean private place to dress, shower, and rest between matches. There must be a safe place for storing equipment and valuables. On the court, teams should be furnished an area of their own with benches or chairs for coaches and team members. When the visitors arrive, they should find a clean, safe playing court.

The host school is responsible for providing practice/game balls, first aid supplies and emergency medical information if the situation should arise.

Away Games

Teams traveling from their school should be accompanied by a coach from that team. When preparing for departure, use the following items as a check list.

1. Check with proper school administrator for mode of transportation.
2. Notify the team members of time and place of departure, length of trip, and estimated time of return. If at all possible, include a map and a set of directions to the away game site (for the parents.)
3. Take the necessary playing equipment, towels, first aid supplies and player emergency medical consent forms.
4. Announce what constitutes appropriate dress for the team members. Short trips are often made in playing uniforms but players may wish to wear warmer clothes for the return trip.

Upon arrival at the host school, have the athletes walk as a group into the building to the dressing area. After dressing, the athletes should report to their team's area at the match site. Once everyone is together, a short team warm-up should be conducted by the game captains or designated leaders. This settling-in period is very important in establishing both the physical and psychological readiness of the team. The team warm-up must not be without a purpose. The warm-up must be well organized and with an intended result in mind. After the team warm-up, the squad may be separated into varsity, junior varsity teams for more intense warm-up of skills or assigned roles of taking statistics.

After the contest, the team members should shake hands with their opponents. No one is excused from this responsibility.

Equipment and Facilities

A coach inherits existing facilities, and frequently, limited equipment. Much can be done to improve both, even with a limited budget, if small amounts are put into improvements over a period of several years. The secret to adequate and improving facilities is constant attention and maintenance. The requirements do not demand a great expenditure of capital. Program needs must be defined and priorities established. This involves coaches and the athletic administrator.

Uniforms and Dress

Uniforms are important to a team. First, they distinguish one team from another during competition. Secondly, the uniform is designed to permit the freedom of movement which is necessary and appropriate for a particular activity. Third, uniforms develop and support team morale and unity. Uniforms should be washable and require little or no ironing. Uniforms should never make the wearer self-conscious. Whenever possible, every team member should wear the same style and color uniform. A player should not "share" another player's uniform. The uniform need not be expensive. However, good quality material and workmanship cost less in the long run.

Responsibilities of the Coach

The coach is ultimately responsible for the safety, welfare, and conduct of his/her players. He/she is responsible for all those students on his/her team (athletes and managers) and their behavior. A coach must recognize this as he/she assumes the leadership responsibilities that accompany coaching. The following serves as a lit of general responsibilities and duties for anyone involved in coaching.

General Responsibilities and Duties:

1. The coach is a leader. In accepting the position as coach, an individual assumes the responsibilities of conducting him/herself in such a manner that he/she is a fine example of good sportsmanship and upright conduct.
2. The coaches in the various schools are responsible to the school principal and the Athletic Director. The Athletic Director holds the junior high coaches responsible for carrying out the styles of play and the teaching of fundamentals as the varsity head coach may determine. At the same time, the junior high coaches should be tempering their coaching styles in keeping with the stages of development of the junior high athlete and the junior high program.
3. The head coach in any interscholastic sport sponsored in the high school has been given authority to determine the style of play to be used in that sport on the high school and junior high levels. The limitations upon athletic schedules have been determined by the state athletic association and the school system's Athletic Board. Junior high school coaches are expected to cooperate fully with the senior high school athletic staff by fulfilling responsibilities which will help further the athletic program. Included in these responsibilities will be scouting assignments during the sports seasons involved.
4. The coach shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the organization and administration of the coaching of the team under his/her direction.
5. The coach shall enforce all athletic rules and policies of the school system. The coach will be held responsible for any violation.
6. The coach shall be the first person to enter the building. Under no circumstances will a player enter before the coach arrives.
7. On all occasions the coach shall be the last person to leave the building. The coach must be the first to arrive and the last to leave.
8. The coach shall promote community and school interest in the athletic program through the use of local newspapers, radio, and television stations, and school announcements.
9. The coach shall file, with the Athletic Director, anaccurate, up-to-date roster with the home telephone number and guardian/parent of each player.

• Remember that you are a teacher first.
• Judge the athlete by what she can do.
• Promote success and the morale of your team.
• Be alert for the safety and health of your team.
• Develop teamwork and loyalty.
• Stress sportsmanship and courtesy.
• Insist on high scholarship and fair play.
• Be friendly and courteous with parents.
• Respect the officials.
• Uphold the name of your school.
• Establish and demand strict adherence to rules of training and conduct.
• Handle all injuries and accident reports immediately.
• Cooperate with other coaches in meetings and assignments, and adhere to the regulations established by the national, state, school, and league athletic associations.
• Promote community interest in the athletic program of your school.

1. The coach shall be sure all participants have a physical card and insurance form on file with the Athletic Director.
2. The coach shall outline and give to each participant a copy of the training rules and policies.
3. The coach shall complete the eligibility form provided and return it to the building principal and Athletic Director.
4. The coach shall explain to the participants the eligibility procedures which will be followed.
5. The coach shall have a "parents meeting" after the team has been selected and prior to the first game. This meeting will be used to introduce the coach and his/her assistants to the parents. At this meeting, the coaches will explain their purpose for the program and their expectations of the athletes. This meeting will also be used to answer any questions the parents might have for the coach.

1. The coach shall not reduce the number of participants during the preliminary practice sessions until the squad has practiced one week.
2. Keep notes on each player as it can help to make decisions later.
3. Whenever a coach needs to talk to a player privately, be sure to have another adult present.
4. When reducing team members, be sure to talk to the individuals separately and alone and explain to them why they are being "cut." Tell them what they can do to improve for the next season. Be honest, but be kind.

1. The coach shall notify the building principal, Athletic Director, and parents if a player is dismissed from the team.
2. If a player leaves the team, the coach must notify the building principal, Athletic Director, and parents.
3. The coach must keep accurate records of:
   • Equipment
   • Uniforms
   • Daily attendance
   • Statistics
4. The coach should keep players, parents, and administration informed of the team's progress throughout the season.

1. The coach shall organize and plan each practice session. It is recommended that junior high practice should be 1 1/2 - 2 hours in length. High school practice should be 2 to 3 hours in length.
2. The coach shall maintain control of players at all times. Discipline is an important ingredient for success in athletics.
3. At no time shall the coach allow players to roam the building. Keep them in the specified areas. If the players are to remain in room prior to the coach's arrival, make this room and time a "study" period where the athletes are to complete any homework or study for any future tests.
4. The coach shall contact the building principal when practice is canceled or changed.
5. The coach shall advise the building principal and Athletic Director of any practice sessions on Saturdays or holidays. No practice sessions on Sundays.
6. The coach shall select a time to end practice and adhere to the ending time. Remember that parents will probably be picking up junior high players.
7. The coach shall give the players a minimum of 15 minutes to leave the building.
8. Before leaving, the coach shall:

• Check the playing area for cleanliness and any equipment which has been left out.
• Check the locker rooms for cleanliness and make sure the showers and lights are turned off.
• Close all windows and doors.
• Turn off all lights.
• Make sure all doors and gates are locked.

1. The coach shall secure the proper game help and prepare the playing area.
   • Clean the playing surface, check game equipment and playing surface for anything that might endanger a participant.
   • Scorer, timer, scoreboard operator, linejudges, etc.
   • The Athletic Director or building principal will acquire crowd control help.
2. The coach shall involve as many players as possible
3. The coach shall report the game results to:
   • The newspaper
   • Radio station
   • Building principal for school announcements
   • Any statewide associations that keep track of this information
4. The coach shall secure the building.
   • Locker rooms (home and visitors)
   • Turn lights out
   • Windows closed and doors and gates locked
5. The coach shall inform the players of the expected return time for out of town trips. The players should inform the parents.

Too often the captain of a squad or team is merely a title which carries with it little or no responsibility. A captain should be more than the person who meets with officials to deliver instructions from her coach or the one who raises his/her hand to indicate that the team is ready to play. How much responsibility the captain should assume depends upon her leadership ability, the age and maturity of the team, the coach, and the situation. The captain should have a good rapport with the coach and the team and act as liaison between them. The captain should have complete understanding of and know the reasons for the plan for practice and games. The captain should lead the team in enthusiasm and seriousness of purpose.

Specific responsibilities might include:

1. Conduct warm-up for practice and games.
2. Directing changing patterns of play during the game while on the court.
3. Offer encouragement to team members when needed.

Some of their responsibilities might include:

1. Providing game equipment and first aid supplies at all practice sessions and games.
2. Keep records as assigned by coach.
3. Put equipment away at end of practices and games.
4. Conducting visitors to proper areas.

Requirements for achieving an award vary greatly, often depending on the philosophy of the athletic department of the school. In the case in which a definite team is selected at the beginning of the season, it seems appropriate that all members should receive the same awards. Some programs do give full and equal awards to all members on the selected squad while other programs require fulfillment of a quota system of total amount of participation. Whichever system, a definite policy and definite standards must be established before the season begins and the participants informed.