2015 EVERGREEN COUGAR SUMMER BASEBALL TEAM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS OVERALL PHILSOPHY First and foremost, please understand that it is a privilege and not a right to be a member of the EHS Cougar Baseball Program. The honor of being an Evergreen Cougar brings with it responsibilities and expectations. As you know, our program slogan is: Pride In The Program. Respect For The Game. This simple phrase sums up the essence of what is expected of you as an Evergreen Cougar. Cougar Baseball is all about a baseball program-and not a platform to showcase individual achievement or abilities. If you act at all times in the best interest of the Program, then the big things will take care of themselves and your personal success in baseball will follow. I. CONDUCT GUIDELINES The following guidelines have been established by the Evergreen Baseball Booster Club (aka The Cougar Diamond Club) and Cougar Baseball Coaching Staff. All players are expected to adhere to the following team rules and expectations: Player Commitment. Players are expected to be fully committed to the Cougar Summer Baseball Program. Evidence of this commitment takes on many forms: Give 100% at every practice. 1
Give 100% at every game. Give 100% to your teammates. Do not miss practice unless you are ill or have a family emergency or the pre-approved consent of your head coach. Refuse to use tobacco, drugs, PED s and/or alcohol at all times. Be determined to reach team goals, be a team player and commit to The Cougar Way. Emphasis on individual achievement, individual goals and next level desires will be subordinated in all respects to the best interests of the team and the Cougar Baseball Program. Report to meetings, practices and games on time. Parent Commitment. All parents of our Cougar Players are expected to adhere to a similar level of commitment to the Cougar Baseball Program, including: Honoring all aspects of the Cougar Parent Statement of Support Timely payment of all fees Participation in Cougar Baseball Program volunteer activities On Field Actions. Practice begins at the time designated by the Coaching Staff - but please note that when a player enters the gate at Cougar Field or enters into the Cougar Cages or assembles on the EHS turf football field, they are an Evergreen Cougar with serious and purposeful obligations to the team, teammates, school and community. Players will be expected to represent Evergreen High School, the Evergreen community, their family and the Cougar Baseball Program in a positive light at all times. There will be no: Swearing on the playing field or in the Cougar Cages or at any Cougar baseball event. Arguing with umpires, opposing players, opposing coaches, Cougar coaches or Cougar teammates. Throwing of any equipment at practice or in a game. [If a player uses and breaks another player equipment, he (or his parents) will be responsible for replacing that exact item (at new item expense)]. No excessive celebrations or celebrations that insult or challenge an opposing player or opposing team. The Johnny Manziel money sign or other similar celebrations are strictly prohibited. Off-Field Actions. As an Evergreen Cougar and an ambassador to the Evergreen community, all players are also expected to act in an appropriate manner at all times when out in public-whether in Evergreen or elsewhere. All players and coaches will be expected to practice good citizenship as defined by the Code of Conduct of Jefferson County School District. Each instance of violation of this conduct code will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis with the assistance of The Cougar Diamond Club. 2
Missed Practices Or Games. If a player anticipates missing a meeting, practice or a game, he must notify the Head Coach (or a Coaching Staff member designated by the Head Coach) of the applicable team, in advance. Practice Attire And Uniform Rules. All uniforms and practice attire will be worn in a neat and clean manner. Uniform tops will be tucked in at all times. All EHS baseball caps will be worn with the bill facing the front (at all times). All Cougar players will wear cleats of the same manufacturer and colors as determined by our coaching staff (for 2015, this will be New Balance baseball cleats). The practice uniform will consist of EHS Cougar logo baseball clothing (i.e. wick dry top and shorts) (depending on the weather). Examples of unacceptable practice attire include: cut-off shirts or shorts, deck shoes or other street shoes, logo gear of another school (college or otherwise) or of a professional team. All team jerseys, warm-up jackets and equipment will be turned in at the end of the summer playing season. Failure to do so may result in charges being assessed for the replacement cost of such items. II. USE AND POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, DRUGS, PED s AND ALCOHOL The use and/or possession of tobacco, drugs, PED s or alcoholic beverages in any form will not be tolerated regardless of quantity. This is a year round rule and includes summer, fall, winter and spring seasons and applies regardless of venue (i.e. not just associated with a Cougar baseball event). The following consequences represent minimum sanctions for violations of these rules. In cases of greater severity, the Head Baseball Coach and The Cougar Diamond Club may increase the sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion from the team. Step violations are as follows: The first violation will result in the offending player being suspended from the team for five (5) games. The second violation will result in the offending player being suspended from the team for the rest of the summer season. 3
III. TRANSPORTATION All players will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Cougar Summer Baseball events. IV. CARE OF EQUIPMENT Loss or damage of any team equipment or of teammate equipment will be the athlete s (or athlete s parents ) responsibility to replace at a cost of new equipment. V. CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP Along with other members of the Jefferson County 4A Baseball League, Evergreen High School has formulated a code of conduct for students and parents of the team ( Code ) to try to make a good sportsmanship a habit in the school and at all athletic activities. This Code will also apply to the 2015 Summer Cougar Baseball Season. VI. OTHER SPORTSMANSHIP REMINDERS FOR SPECTATORS/PARENTS Remember that as a spectator, you represent Evergreen Cougar Baseball as much as any team member. The good name of our Baseball Program is worth more than being a poor sport. Learn the rules of the game so that you can be an intelligent spectator. Support your team enthusiastically but with consideration and respect for opponents, whether we are winning or losing. Recognize outstanding efforts and abilities, whether of our players or of our opponents. Remember that officials are trying their best under challenging circumstances. Be courteous and friendly to opposing team members and spectators. Be considerate of any injuries to our team or to our opponents. Be mature in your behavior, set good examples of sportsmanship and quickly condemn unsportsmanlike and disruptive conduct on the part of other Cougar parents or Cougar spectators. 4
Cooperate and follow the directions of any and all league and playing site administrators in charge of the game. VII. A SPECIAL WORD FOR OUR PARENTS Make sure that your student-athlete knows that win, lose, scared or heroic, YOU LOVE THEM and you appreciate their efforts. Try your best to be completely honest about your son s athletic ability, competitive attitude, their sportsmanship and actual skill level. Be helpful, but don t coach your student-athlete on the way to the field, while they are on the field or on the way back from the game. Teach your student-athlete to enjoy the thrill of competition, to try to be the best they can and to always be striving to improve their skills and attitudes. Try not to relive YOUR athletic life through your athlete in a way that creates pressure. Remember, you made a mistake once yourself; you lost as well as won; and you backed off at times. Don t pressure your student-athlete because of your lost pride. Refrain from competing with the coaching staff. Please do not enter onto the playing field at any time, including upon the conclusion of a game, unless you have been assigned field maintenance duties by the Head Coach or Booster Club Board. Refrain from comparing the skill, courage or attitudes of your student-athlete with other members of the team. Get to know your athlete s coaches so that you can be assured that their philosophy, attitudes, ethics and knowledge are such that you are happy to have your student-athlete under their leadership. Remember that some students tend to exaggerate, both when praised and when criticized. Temper your reactions as a parent and investigate before overreacting. Suggest that your athlete talk to the coaching staff if they are upset or confused about any aspect of their role as an EHS athlete. Make a point of understanding courage and the fact that is it relative. Explain to your athlete that courage is not the absence of fear but a means of achieving in spite of fear or discomfort. The job of the parent of a student-athlete is a tough one, and it takes a lot of effort to do it well. 5
Abide by and honor the Cougar Parent Statement of Support adopted by the Cougar Diamond Club (aka Evergreen Baseball Boosters). In order to be eligible to participate in the Cougar Summer Baseball Program: (i) all Cougar Player parents must sign and return to The Cougar Diamond Club, the Cougar Parent Statement of Support and (ii) all Cougar Players must sign and deliver to The Cougar Diamond Club, the Player Pledge. All playing tine decisions are within the sole discretion of the Cougar Coaching Staff. Playing time decisions will not be discussed with parents. 6