UNION CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL
ATHLETIC HANDBOOK

The purpose of this Athletic Handbook is to place in one unit the basic philosophies, objectives and regulations pertinent to the operation of the athletic program as a part of the total educational program of Union City Middle School. We sincerely hope that this handbook will be of service to the athlete and his/her parents and will aid us in showing the true objectives of athletics.

The contributions by athletics to the education of those who are fortunate enough to take part may be a greater bonus than imagined.  The special environment and experience that promote the values of competition, based on a citizenship concept that included loyalty to a cause, are to be found in the special world of athletics. If something is educational, it must change or re-enforce young people, it must make demands. Too many young people have been led to believe that the sport need them more than the athlete needs sports. We would like to invite those interested to accept the challenging opportunity called athletics, and base their goals on these thoughts.

Table of Contents

General Information & Athletic Eligibility Requirements
Academic Eligibility
Training Rules & Due Process
Athletic Code & Philosophy
Travel, Locker Room & Euipment
Definitions
Sportsmanship & Potential Dangers in Athletic Participation        
Athletic Responsibility Acknowledgment (pdf)

General Information

Remember that an athlete is not eligible to begin practice any sport until the following items have been completed:

  1. Physical examination(turned into the office)
  2. All lost equipment fees are paid
  3. Responsibility sheet signed and turned in

General Athletic Eligibility Requirements

Scholarship: The Michigan High School Athletic Association requires that you pass 50 percent of the total periods of work carried in the semester previous to your participation.

Age:  

Amateur Practices: Students shall not be eligible if they accept any money or merchandise for participation of athletics.

Limited Team Membership: An athlete may not participate in any outside competition in a sport during the season after they have represented their school in that sport. Nor may they participate in any so-called All-Star, charity or exhibition football or basketball game.

Dropping or Transferring Sports: On occasion an athlete may find it necessary to drop a sport for a good reason. In this the following procedure must be followed:

  1. Talk with your immediate coach
  2. Check in all equipment issued
  3. Report this situation to the Athletic Director/Principal

Academic Eligibility

Eligibility Requirement: Any student having a failing grade in more than one class from the beginning of the marking period through the Friday prior to the scheduled extra-curricular activity shall be ineligible to represent UCMS during that eligibility participation period and any subsequent periods until the eligibility provisions of this policy are met. If a student is failing the same class two weeks in a row he/she will be considered ineligible. This policy shall be enforced by the principal.

Curfew: Proper rest is essential in maintaining good health. Therefore, athletes should have good sleep habits. Each coach will stress this and instruct athletes as to what are considered proper hours.

School Suspension: If an athlete is suspended from school, he/she will not be allowed to participate in practice. If any games fall during the suspension, the athlete will not be allowed to participate.

School Absences: A student must be in school for the whole day in order to participate in practice or in an interscholastic contest on that day. The principal has the power to waive this rule depending on the circumstances. To be able to participate in extra-curricular activities, athletes must have a pre-approved excuse or their parent must call and speak directly to the principal to have the absence excused in times of emergency. A phone call to the attendance line in the morning explaining your absence does not qualify as an excuse and allow you to participate. All school related absences for field trips, etc. are excused.

Training Rules

A training violation shall include the use of, possession of, or being under the influence of any of the following:

Verified violations of the above training rules by a responsible adult will result in the following:

First Violation: Suspension from athletics for 1 year from date of violation. An athlete has the option of applying for reinstatement three (3) months after his/her violation, as long as he/she has successfully completed a rehabilitation and counseling program as approved by the Athletic Council.

Second Violation: Termination of athletics at Union City Middle School. An athlete has the option of applying for reinstatement after serving a one (1) year suspension (from date of violation) and successfully completing a rehabilitation and counseling program as approved by the Athletic Council.

Third Violation: Termination of athletics at Union City Middle School.

Once an athlete appears on a master roster list at Union City Middle School, he/she will be considered “in training” during the full school year (including summer). The above rules will be in effect when a student is classified as an athlete and will terminate upon his/her move into the high school where the high school policy will come into effect. Parents will be notified upon any alleged training violations.

Due Process

Any athlete accused of a training violation will be given the right of procedural due process.

THE ATHLETIC CODE

Philosophy         The Athletic Program at Union City Middle School is designed to give students an opportunity for physical, mental and social growth through competitive sports. A Union City athlete is expected to stand high above their peers in personal habits, attitudes, character and appearance. It is the hope of those involved in supervising the athletic program that by demanding the above mentioned virtues along with a demand for the highest physical performance by each athlete on the practice field and on the playing field, that the athlete will be better prepared to meet the demands they will face as they progress in their athletic as well as academic career.

Further, it is felt that if an athlete chooses not to abide by the above standards, they should disassociate themselves or be disassociated from the athletic program.

General Attitudes
Recognizing that the word “team” implies a unified effort, the wishes and desires of the individual must be directed toward the best interest of the team. It must be clearly understood that the attitude of the athlete is the most important single factor in achieving a successful athletic program. Any candidate for an athletic team must accept the full responsibility of conducting himself in an appropriate manner at all times.

An athlete should not only be a sportsman, but a true representative of Union City Middle School. Therefore, it must be realized that an athlete may be dropped from an athletic team if his/her attitude is believed by the coach or Athletic Council to be detrimental to the team or program.

A Set of Values for the Athletes
On occasion an athlete may have a conflict of responsibilities. We suggest the following set of values to aid them in determining their prime responsibilities:

  1. Home responsibilities
  2. Academic responsibilities
  3. Athletic responsibilities
  4. Social and School responsibilities

Your Philosophy as an Athlete

The philosophy influencing your athletic efforts should promote the following behavior:

  1. Instead of worrying about your game, work on your weaknesses. Spend extra time on those things that will increase your value to the team.
  2. Be confident that you can and must improve. Think about “winning the game, scoring points, succeeding”, but respect your opponent’s abilities and realize your own weaknesses that must be improved.
  3. Set definite goals for yourself. Try to keep moving up on the team. Your best way to become a necessary part of this team, or next year’s team, is to try to make yourself a better all-around athlete.
  4. If you are satisfied with your present spot, you will be the same next season and someone will beat you out. You have to continue to get better or you will get worse.
  5. Do as many things as you can in every game that will help the team. Remember that you can tell if some other athlete is “all for themselves” very quickly, and others can detect the same characteristics in you. Think of team success, not individual success.
  6. Avoid being critical of teammates; it is the coaches job to coach. Avoid Alibies.
  7. Operate as a “team family”, constantly conquering your selfish desires for the sake of the betterment of the team.
  8. Avoid forming small groups on the team. Make an effort to show no partiality to your best friends on the playing floor or field.
  9. Take all personal grievances and problems to your coach. He/she is experienced in the game, and can advise you.

Travel

  1. All athletes must travel to and from out-of-town contests in transportation provided by the athletic department. If a coach receives a personal request from a parent to ride home from a contest, it can be allowed. The athlete will only be released to a parent/guardian.
  2. The athlete will remain with their team and under the supervision of their coach when attending away contests.
  3. Follow all regular school bus rules, including food, noise, remaining in seats and respect for equipment.
  4. Dress in good taste. A dress code may be established by the coach that all team members can adhere to.

Locker Room Requirements

  1. Proper conduct is expected at all times
  2. No glass allowed in the locker rooms.
  3. No running or horseplay.
  4. No swearing.
  5. No one is allowed in the training room without a coach or manager.
  6. Any athlete causing damage to school facilities will be charged for that damage.
  7. No picture taking devices are allowed in any locker room.

Equipment

School equipment checked out by the student athlete is his/her responsibility. The athlete is expected to keep all equipment clean and in good shape. Loss of any equipment is the financial obligation of the athlete (replacement value). The student will not be allowed to participate in any other sport until the financial obligation is met. This can be taken care of through the Athletic Director.

Definitions

Athlete: Any student who has appeared on a Union City Middle School athletic team roster.

Athletic Council: Decision making group consisting of Principal, Athletic Director and Coaching staff.

Equipment: Anything assigned by the coach to the athlete.

School Year: The school calendar as set by the Board of Education.

Suspension: An athlete suspended from school may not participate in extra-curricular activities on each date of suspension or during inclusive dates.

Training Role Confines: An athlete is in training during the entire school year.

Season: Time comprised from the first day of practice through the last game and/or the bus ride back to school.

Sportsmanship

The Michigan High School Athletic Association lists various ways in which student/athletes can practice good sportsmanship and bring about desirable relationships with other schools. Union City students should try to do the things advocated, which are:
UCMS students should set a good example in the matter of sportsmanship and should quickly condemn unsportsmanlike actions of other students and adults. To this end, they should:

  1. Remember that student spectators represent their school the same as does the athlete.
  2. Recognize that the good name of the school is more valuable than any game won by unfair play.
  3. Accept decisions of officials without comment.
  4. Recognize and applaud an exhibition of fine play or good sportsmanship on the part of the visiting team.
  5. Insist on the courteous treatment of the visiting team as it passes through the streets or visits the local school building.
  6. Acquaint the adults of the community with ideals of sportsmanship that are acceptable to the school.
  7. Advocate that any spectator who continually displays poor sportsmanship be requested not to attend future contests.

Potential Dangers in Athletic Participation

Parents and student/athletes should fully understand and appreciate the risk
of personal injury associated with participation in the educational sports program provided by Union City Community Schools. Participation in school athletics involves flying objects, and swift movement of bodies, which many times are airborne and can cause unavoidable collisions.
Athletic activities are hazardous (especially football, where bodily contact is part of the game) and taking part in such activities is a calculated risk taken by the student/athlete and their parent/guardian. It is also understandable that with many young adults the potential benefits exceed the potential hazards. The very element of a calculated risk makes the participation a stimulating adventure and satisfies the student/athlete’s desire for competition, strenuous effort, and creative activity. Reducing injuries to a minimum without subtracting from this adventure is a continuous goal of our coaching and administrative staff.