CASCADE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD HANDBOOK - 2018 Introduction Cougar Track and Field Athletes and Parents, The Cascade Cougar coaching staff would like to welcome you to the 2018 Track and Field season and thank you for making the commitment to your team. Our goal at Cascade is to introduce athletes to track and field and train them to be successful in each of the events they compete in as well as to have some fun and meet new people. Track is a fun and rewarding sport in which all those willing to work hard, have a chance to succeed both individually and as a team. Are You Cleared for Track and Field? If you have played a sport that required you to be cleared, then all you have to do is sign up for track and field at the activity office window, see Mrs. Bagnall. If you did not participate in a sport this year, you need to get cleared to participate. In order to be cleared one must follow these steps: 1. Get a physical from your doctor. (Physicals last two years) 2. Pay for your ASB card 3. Fill out your clearance packet and return to Mrs. Bagnall at the activity office window. You can get and turn in all of the forms and pay for your ASB card at the activity office window located just outside the main office. Behavior Policy: Policies / Procedures Participation in sports at Cascade Middle School is a privilege that requires great pride in both athletes and their families. It is a responsibility that demands extra commitment once you decide to wear the school colors and represent your teammates, coaches, school and community. Standards of behavior are high and a willingness to live up to them is part of being a member of our team. Each athletic team member should recognize and understand their responsibility to the basic concepts of good citizenship, good sportsmanship, mature behavior and proper training regulations. Listed below are the basic training rules and some examples of behavior that are considered to be a violation of the behavior policy.
Examples of improper behavior: Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, poor school citizenship, cutting classes or school, cigarette or tobacco use, being a negative influence in terms of team morale or effort, not making a sincere effort or not complying with eligibility policy, stealing of any kind, including athletic clothing ours or opponents, vandalism or property destruction, any other behavior that casts a negative reflection on our athletic program and our school. Fighting, harassment, foul language, horseplay, name calling, disrespect of a teammate, coach, or any staff/teacher will not be tolerated. Consequences 1 st Offense Conference with the coaching staff/individual coach/or head coach 2 nd Offense One track meet suspension 3 RD Offense Removal from the Track and Field Team At the coaching staff s discretion, an athlete whom the coaches feel is a detriment to the team will be removed from the team if progress is not made by the athlete to improve their behavior, attitude or effort. Academic Requirements Grades: All Track and Field athletes will be expected to maintain academic eligibility as required by Cascade Middle School and the Evergreen School District. Our district policy is a 2.0 grade point average and no more than 1 "F". We give waivers to students who do not meet this requirement, if they are able to show that they are making academic progress as defined by their coach and their teacher(s). If a track team member is below these standards, they can practice, but they will not be allowed to participate in any track meets until their grades are acceptable. If the student is trying to improve their grade, they may stay after school (prearranged with a teacher) to complete work and then come to practice once finished.
Attendance Attendance Rules: 1. School attendance: You need to be in school on the day of a practice or meet to be eligible to participate. If you miss part of a day due to a legitimate reason, you can participate as long as you didn t miss more than half the day. Truancies or excessive tardiness from practice and meets will result in disciplinary action or removal from the team. 2. Practice attendance: Attendance at all meets and practices is mandatory unless cleared with a coach ahead of time. a. 1 st offense-- Conference with the coaching staff b. 2 nd offense One meet suspension c. 3 rd offense Removal from the Track and Field team 3. Punctuality: Being on time to meets, buses and practice is essential to us achieving our team goals. Consequences for being late include possible suspension from the team if it becomes a constant problem. Practices When and where are practices? Practices will be everyday Monday through Friday, starting PROMPLTLY at 2:50 and ending at 4:20. Athletes need to be picked up no later than 5:30. You will be assigned an attendance/warm up coach who you will report to. All female athletes will meet and warm up in the small gym and all male athletes will warm up in the big gym. Our warm up routine will begin every day at 3:00 and will last about 8 minutes. This warm up will be followed by a stretching routine which too will last about 8 minutes. Once stretching is finished, we will meet in grade level attendance groups for attendance to be taken for that day. After warm-ups, stretching and attendance, you need to pick a coach who coaches one of your events and they will have a 15-20 minute workout for you to complete. Try to go to different coaches throughout the week in order to get a different workout. Distance runners may go for a long jog, sprinters may run on the hills, throwers may stay and lift in the weight room or throw in the small gym. There is no real set time that practice ends as athletes will be finishing at all different times depending on their events and how much they are willing to work. Parents can expect to pick athletes up starting around 4:20. If you are getting picked up early you must have your personal items with you as the locker rooms will be locked during practice time.
Weather/Fun days The track and field season occurs during the cool, wet and rainy season. We will practice if it is raining, however we do have the ability to practice inside if necessary. If there is a lightning storm nearby or any other type of potential problem, we may have to cancel practice for safety reasons. Other sports participation If you play another sport such as softball, baseball, soccer, dance team, golf etc. you may still participate in track and field. We as a coaching staff are willing to work with your schedule if you are willing to work hard while you are at track practice. Competition for Spots: We will have our 3 fastest runners in all of the sprints (100 and 200) which will be determined by run offs initially and then by the times from our first track meet. Each position coach will determine who is competing at each of the track meets. If you haven t practiced your event, a coach may take your name off the event list. If you challenge for a relay, you have to be one of the four fastest runners and practice handoffs to compete. If you are not practicing with your relay team, you will be removed from that particular relay team. The fastest relay team of the season will represent our school in each relay race at districts as long as all participants have been practicing with their team. Each relay team has one alternate. Gear Practice Gear/Meet Gear During the season an athlete should always have some sort of warm clothing to keep dry. On wet, cool days, keeping warm could help prevent injuries. Appropriate clothing is required at all times. The coaching staff will issue a sweat top and sweat bottoms to each team member. This check out time will be determined at a later date and will be announced to you at practice. In order to get this gear you must be cleared. All gear must be returned or you may be fined for each individual piece. If you are on a relay team your outfits must match exactly. If they do not match your team will be disqualified. You may wear your sweat top to school only on meet days. Do not lend you gear out to anyone, they may lose it and you will end up having to pay for it.
Do not bring Skateboards or bikes are not allowed during practice. For safety reasons and so they don t get stolen, IPODS, ETC are NOT ALLOWED at practice or at meets. Lost or stolen Ipods, Ipads, Cell phones, etc. are not the responsibility of the Cougar coaching staff. Please keep any valuables or other important items locked up in your locker during practice or meets. Locks/Lockers. You need to purchase a lock from the store or you can buy one through the P.E. department. No locks are allowed to stay on a locker over night. Meet Day Events/Competition The order of events: 1600 meter Run **the following field events go on throughout the meet 100 meter Hurdles Shot Put 100 meter Sprint Long Jump 400 meter Sprint Discus 200 meter Sprint High Jump 800 meter Run 4X200 meter Relay 4X100 meter Relay We will be competing against each of the other middle schools one time in a dual meet. We have home and away meets, and a District Championship meet, please see schedule on the next page. In order to qualify for the District Championship Meet, the top 9 runners in the district in each race automatically qualify, plus two alternates will be selected to compete. The top 12 high jumpers and the top 18 throwers/long jumpers in the district will also qualify to compete in their respective events. Pre-Meet Checklist 1. Running shoes (flats or spikes ¼ or 1/8 ), Spike wrench 2. Extra pair of socks 3. Towel 4. Extra shirt/sweat shirt/long sleeve shirt
5. Tights (optional) 6. Plastic garbage bag with tie for wet clothing or for covering belongings 7. Healthy snack 8. Meet uniform Relay teams must match 9. Meet sweats Meet Schedule All dual meets will start at approximately 3:50. All transportation to and from away track meets will be provided by the Evergreen School District bus services. IF A STUDENT WANTS TO LEAVE FROM AN AWAY TRACK MEET WITH THEIR PARENT, THEY NEED TO HAVE A WRITTEN NOTE OR HAVE THEIR PARENT PRESENT GIVING THEM PERMISSION TO DO SO. NO ATHLETE WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE WITH ANOTHER ATHLETE S PARENT UNLESS IT HAS BEEN PREARRANGED. WE ALSO WILL NOT LEAVE ANY ATHLETE BEHING WAITING FOR THEIR RIDE. IF AN ATHLETE S RIDE IS NOT THERE BY THE TIME THE BUS LEAVES TO HEAD BACK TO CASCADE, THAT ATHLETE WILL GET ON THE BUS AND BE PICKED UP AT CASCADE. Greater St. Helens League (Middle School) Cascade Middle School 2018 Track Schedule All Meets start at 3:30 p.m. except for the district meet and that time will be told to athletes once it is established. Tuesday April 17 Skyridge @ Cascade Thursday April 19 Frontier @ Cascade Thursday April 26 Cascade @ Shahala Thursday May 03 Cascade @ Pacific Tuesday May 08 Cascade @ Covington Thursday May 10 Wy East @ Cascade Tuesday May 15 Liberty @ Cascade Thursday May 24 District Track Meet @ Doc Harris Stadium (Camas) After each week s track meets, coaches will be updating the results for each student athlete that participated in events to the website athletic.net. This is a website that will have all the current times and distances for each grade level in our district. To check out your child s results, simply go to athletic.net and click on track and field, then click on the state of Washington, then click on Greater St. Helens League and then filter through to your child s grade and events and you will have the updated results.