ATHLETIC HANDBOOK

Philosophy

The program of interscholastic athletics at Lake Worth Christian School is designed to develop within each athlete Christian values and Christian attitudes toward one another.  It allows for the development of physical skills in individual and team sports and for proper health habits to aid in the development of these skills.

  • To recognize that each individual student is a unique creation of God, and to provide the opportunities for maximum participation for all students in a variety of activities and play.
  • To develop within each athlete the individual and team skills necessary to compete successfully and reach for that individual's God given potential.
  • To develop within each athlete strong team spirit and a loyalty to the school.
  • To teach good sportsmanship.
  • To provide opportunities for athletes which encourage self-confidence, sociability, initiative, and a feeling of belonging.
  • To promote an understanding of body growth and development and the importance of good health habits in aiding that growth and development.
  • To provide the leadership, rules, and disciplines necessary to assist each athlete in attaining all of these objectives.

 

 

General Beliefs

We believe that the whole program is important

  • We believe that playing on a team is a privilege, not a right.  We believe that each sport provides an activity through which students may express themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally.
  • We believe that coaches have the unique opportunity to direct and encourage students in the development of their life.
  • We believe that the head coach is the department head of the sport for which he/she has been selected. The head coach is responsible for the organization of the staff associated with his/her sport. He/she must work closely with the athletic director and principal.  
  • The athletic director has been assigned by the principal to administer the athletic program.  Head coaches are directly responsible to the athletic director and are charged with the supervision of those coaches related to their program.

Administering the Athletic Program

 

  • Athletics are to be closely coordinated with the general instructional program and properly articulate with other departments of the school.
  • Athletics are to be conducted under the rules of the Florida High School Athletics Association, of which Lake Worth Christian School is a member.
  • Athletics should be amateur competition in procedure and in spirit. Students should consider participation as recreational and should play for the joy of the game rather than for anticipated material awards. They should always play to win, but winning should not overshadow spiritual or educational goals.
  • It is of vital importance to the entire department, as well as to the boys and girls, that professional loyalty exists on the highest levels.

 

Lake Worth Christian Interscholastic Activities

Lake Worth Christian offers the following activities that will participate in competition against other schools.

Fall

Varsity Boys Golf

Varsity Boys Cross Country

Varsity Girls Cross Country

Middle School Girls Volleyball

Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball

Varsity Girls Volleyball

Winter

Middle School Girls Soccer

Middle School Boys Soccer

Girls Varsity Soccer

Boys Varsity Soccer

Middle School Girls Basketball

Girls Varsity Basketball

Middle School Boys Basketball

Varsity Boys Basketball

Varsity Girls Cheerleading

Spring

Varsity Girls Softball

Boys Middle School Baseball

Boys Varsity Baseball

Boys Varsity Tennis

Girls Varsity Tennis

 

Expectations of Competition Levels

 

It should be understood that the varsity program is the paramount of each sport.  The middle school and junior varsity athletes will be coached in a manner that helps prepare them to become an asset to the varsity team of the particular sport that they compete in. 

At the middle school level more athletes will be kept on the team for educational and developmental reasons.  While it is not a requirement that each participant play in every game, it is a goal to get each player game experience to prepare them for the future.

On the junior varsity level competition will become more important than on the middle school level, however athletes will continue to go through the developmental phases in preparation for the varsity team.  Not all athletes will play in every game or match.

On the varsity level, it is expected that athletes are prepared to participate.  Competing at a high level becomes even more important and, while instruction will take place, the fundamental development of the athlete will become less of a priority.  It is not expected that every athlete will play in a game or match.

In some cases, a coach may choose to keep additional athletes as practice players as opposed to cutting them from the team.  That will be done at the discretion of the coaches and players kept as practice participants should have no expectation of playing in games.  It is important to remember that playing on a team is privilege, not a right.

 

Athletic Discipline Policy

 

Disciplinary action for athletes who violate team and/or school policies will be at the discretion of the coaches, in conjunction with the athletic director and the principal.  All disciplinary issues should be reported to the athletic director.

The following rules apply to specific issues that may arise as a result of poor choices by an interscholastic athlete.  These rules are the minimum and the individual coach may choose to expand upon them.

Drinking and Smoking:

First Violation – Two-week suspension from practice and games

Second Violation – One season suspension

Additional Violations – To be decided on by athletic director and principal

Drug Abuse:

Any Violation – Minimum one season suspension with probability of more severe consequences

 

Athletic Policies

 

  • Absence from school - The student may not participate in practice or in a contest on a day that they are absent from school, unless excused by an administrator.  A student must be in school for 4 class periods, excluding lunch,  in order to be allowed to participate in a game or practice that day.
  • A student must be in school for 4 class periods, excluding lunch , on the day before a break from school in order to participate in a game or match on non-school days.  For example, a student must be in school  periods 4-8 on Friday in order to participate in a game on Saturday.×
  • A student should be dressed appropriately, as a representative of Lake Worth Christian School, while participating in any interscholastic activity.  The Lake Worth Christian School Dress Code should be enforced during any interscholastic activity.
  • Quitting without coach's consent or being removed from a team by the coach after the first week - Suspension for rest of the season, AND HALF OF THE NEXT SPORT SEASON THE ATHLETE PARTICPATES IN.  Athletes are to fulfill their obligations to their team, therefore, quitting on a commitment will be dealt with severely. The student may decide not to participate on a team during the first week of practice for the season without having the aforementioned consequence.
  • If a student has to miss any game or contest he/she must notify the coach at least one week in advance. If it is an Unavoidable Absence, no penalty will follow.
  • Players must ride school transportation to and from all away games. They may be released to their parents only after a game, if the coach has a signed permission slip from the parents and the coach is agreeable to letting the student go home from the game with the parent.  Team policy may be for the athlete to ride home with the team.  In such cases, that is to be honored by the athletes and their parents.
  • For practices or team activities that are held off campus, students must have a note from a parent on file in the main office that states the athlete may drive himself or herself and/or ride with another student driver to and from the venue.
  • Future eligibility of an athlete who is dropped from a squad for disciplinary reasons not contained in the rules listed above will be determined by the Athletic Director.

 

Definitions:

Suspension – Athlete may not participate or dress in a scheduled game.  The coach may require the athlete to participate in practice depending on the type of suspension given.  The coach also may require the athlete to join the team at a game or match.

Season – A season begins on the first day of practice, as determined by the FHSAA.  The season ends when the Lake Worth Christian Season ends and may include any district, regional, or state playoff competitions.

 

Limit of Practice Days and Times

 

Coaches are to hold practices when they deem necessary and should expect to have all team members in attendance.  No organized Sunday practices are allowed.

Open Gym/Field Policy

 

Open Gym/Field PolicyOpen Gym refers to off-season workouts or practices that are called by the coach for the purpose of helping athletes improve their skills at a particular sport.  Coaches are encouraged to have as many of these as they deem necessary in the off-season.  Athletes are strongly encouraged to attend, although attendance is not mandatory. 

Rules:

  • Any student may participate.
  • A coach or school employee must be present.
  • Coaches will submit their times to the athletic director in advance to avoid usage conflicts.

Chain of Events for Athletic Dilemmas

 

During a season it is not uncommon for issues to arise that involve athletics.  In the event that this does occur, the communication should take place as follows.

  • The athlete should discuss the issue with the head coach and try to come to an understanding.
  • If the above discussion does not provide an adequate conclusion to the issue, the parent should meet with the coach to discuss the issue.
  • If the above discussion does not provide an adequate conclusion to the issue, the athlete and parent should discuss the matter with the athletic director.
  • If the above discussion does not provide an adequate conclusion to the issue, the athlete and parent should discuss the matter with the principal.

 

Athletic/Activity Conflict Policy

All students participating in extra-curricular activities should be advised of the procedure that will be followed in the event of a conflict. This should occur prior to the beginning of the season or the activity.

The sponsors or coaches shall meet with the principal and athletic director to identify anticipated conflicts before they occur. Once this meeting occurs the sponsors and coaches are to meet to resolve the identified conflicts while adhering to the guidelines of this policy on or before the conflicts occur. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the sponsors/coaches.

The purpose of these meetings will be to determine possible conflicts and to resolve them by using the following criteria:

  • District, conference, sub-district, regional, sectional, semifinal, or state competitions should have priority. If two similar events occur on the same date, the participant will perform in the event which has the greatest importance toward the team, group, or individual event or outcome. If both events are of equal importance to both parties then the decision will be left up to the student.
  • Consideration should be given as to how the loss of the individual will affect the group or team concept and the total function of the program before a decision is made. Regularly scheduled contests or performances over any type of practice session.
  • Decisions should be made by the sponsors/coaches (when possible) prior to getting students involved.
  • A student may not be penalized in the event a conflict still exists after all options have been exhausted by the sponsors and the student makes the choice.
  • Disagreements between sponsors pertaining to student conflicts will be handled by the principal and shall be final.
  • It is expected all school-related activities take precedent over non-school activities.

 

Athletic Eligibility

 

  • Each coach will be responsible for checking the above rules and regulations which affect the eligibility of his/her athletes.  The athletic secretary will assist in this procedure.
  • Eligibility must be certified under FHSAA rules.
  • Before a student is permitted to draw equipment, practice, or play in a contest, he/she must have a physical examination and parental consent form signed and returned to the athletic secretary.