Athletics Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide comprehensive and relevant information for all community members associated with NFA’s athletic program, including student-athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators.  

The objectives of the handbook are to:  

• Promote desirable, ethical practices, sportsmanship, and productive relationships among schools, coaches, participants, officials, and spectators.  
   
• Provide information on the various regulations and policies of the Catholic Academies League (C.A.L.).  
   
• Provide information on the major procedures, regulations, and policies approved by the school administration.  

Provide information, guidelines, and relationships regarding the duties and responsibilities of coaches, participants, and administrators. 

The objectives of the athletic program in the Catholic Academies League (C.A.L.) include the following:  

• To promote an understanding of the value of athletics in our society through...
   
  • recognition of outstanding athletic performance 
     
  • by emphasizing the educational value of athletic participation.  
     
• To develop good citizenship and respect for rules and authority by...
   
  • instilling principles of justice, fair play, and good sportsmanship in students and... 
     
  • learning to be part of a team.  
     
• To promote and contribute to the goals of the total educational program...
   
  • through the development of physical fitness and the realization that a healthy body increases the probability of effective learning and...
     
  • by providing a strong program that attracts student body interests and motivates a positive learning atmosphere.

Spectators at athletic events are always welcome and are considered to be an important, supportive component of the athletic program. Student-athletes from both teams should expect and receive respect and support from spectators, regardless of the spectators’ affiliation with the student-athlete or the school. Proper behavior on the part of spectators is always appreciated and provides a good behavior model for all in attendance at an athletic event. 

Acceptable and expected behavior at events includes the following: 

• Spectators should be aware that only NFA employees and their staff are allowed on the fields of play. All others must remain in the spectator-designated areas.
   
• Spectators are expected to accept all decisions of officials. 
   
• Spectators are expected to acknowledge the importance of handshakes between participants and coaches at the end of the contest, regardless of the outcome of the game. 
   
• Spectators are expected to treat competition as a game. 
   
• Spectators, along with coaches and players, are expected to honor and applaud opposing participants to recognize them for outstanding performance or coaching. 
   
• Spectators are expected to applaud at the end of the contest for the performances of all participants. 
   
• Spectators are expected to show concern and respect for an injured player, regardless of team. 
   
• Spectators are expected to encourage fellow members of the audience to display only sportsmanlike conduct.
   
• Spectators are expected to avoid the use of profanity. 
   
• Spectators are expected to refrain from any use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products at games. 
   
• Spectators are expected to respect the rule that pets are not permitted on any NFA school athletic fields or facilities, and should, therefore, leave all pets at home.

Coaches and student-athletes must always conduct themselves in a manner that represents NFA in a positive way. There is an expectation for athletes to have dignity in victory and honor in defeat. Sports are intended to be competitive, but that should never extend past the field of play. All student-athletes, coaches, and fans should behave properly on the sidelines at all times. Coaches and players shall comply fully with the rulings of the officials. In no way - by voice, action, or gesture - shall they demonstrate in an unsportsmanlike manner their dissatisfaction with the decisions made. Obscene language or gestures, inciting violence, and general inappropriate behavior are unacceptable at any time for all members of the NFA community.

We encourage all members of the NFA community to attend home and away games in support of the student-athletes and their respective teams. 

• Students in grades 5-8 are permitted to attend home games on campus with the permission of their parents. This includes basketball and softball Any student who wishes to attend a home game must have permission from a parent.  This is a two-step process. Parents must:
   
  • Email the student’s homeroom teacher before dismissal (2:45 pm). If after 2:45, the parent must call the main office so the receptionist can inform the homeroom teacher.
     
  • Parents must complete this permission slip for their child to attend a home game.
     
• Students are not permitted to be spectators at practices. 
   
• Students are expected to adhere to the aforementioned spectator behavior guidelines. Any NFA students who violate these expectations or any of the rules outlined in NFA’s Code of Conduct may be suspended from attending future after-school games without a parent chaperone. 

Step 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT RECORD 

• The PA Physical Examination Form must be completed by a physician and filed with the Health Office BEFORE the first day of practice. Physical examinations expire 13 months from the date of the examination. 

Step 2: CODE OF CONDUCT CONTRACT FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES 

• By signing the NFA Athletics Handbook Acknowledgment Form, families of students participating in NFA Athletics agree to all expectations and guidelines outlined for student-athletes in this handbook. 

Step 3: CONSENT / REGISTRATION / PAYMENT

• An Athletics Registration Form must be completed each season, indicating the sport in which the student-athlete will be participating. Within the form will be an integrated link in which you will pay the registration fee required. Athletes will not be able to participate in their sport until they are both registered and paid for. 

The academic success of our students is our primary purpose at NFA. NFA’s Athletics Programs, although secondary, are a very important part of our overall educational program. It is expected that all students will maintain passing grades. 

Prior to report card distribution student-athletes' grades will be reviewed by the Director of Athletics and Assistant Director of Athletics. Those students who are deemed academically ineligible will be notified in a meeting with their parents and the Director of Athletics. A proposal will be developed to put in place support for academic improvement, and the Director of Athletics will work with the student in developing a plan whereby they can still feel connected to the athletic community.

In the case of an alleged infraction of the NFA Code of Conduct, the student-athlete may be suspended, and subsequently expelled, from practices and participation in practices and games at all levels of competition, as determined in the regulations documented in the Code of Conduct. In these cases, due process procedures will be followed per the following: 

• If an alleged infraction/violation occurs, the coach will notify the Director of Athletics and/or school administrators (in the absence of the Director of Athletics) and conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of the alleged misconduct or violation and determine if disciplinary action is warranted.  
   
• If, after the above investigation, a determination is made by the school administrators to suspend the student-athlete, the suspension shall take place immediately. The school administrator will give written notice to the student-athlete’s parents/guardians and the Director of Athletics, stating the reasons for the suspension. The Director of Athletics will notify the coach(es) of the suspension. 

• A student-athlete must attend school in order to participate in a sporting event or practice that afternoon or evening. Permission from the Director of Athletic Programs is required for any exceptions.  
   
• Student-athletes who are absent from school or leave early due to illness are not permitted to participate in or attend games or, athletic practices on the same day of the absence. 
   
• School Suspensions: Student-athletes serving a school suspension whether in-school or out-of-school are not permitted to participate in any game or athletic team practice, nor may the student-athlete appear on school grounds, off-site practices, or home and away games.

Attendance of student-athletes at practice and games is vital to the success of the athletic program at NFA. Every member of the team plays a crucial role in the success of the team as a whole. Student-athletes are expected to attend all NFA practices and games during the season they are associated with at the time. Excessive absences may result in removal from a team or not being played in games, as directed by the coach and/or Director of Athletics.

• Students must get permission from the coach to miss practice or a game to attend a recreational, club, or organized team practice or game for another team. This is highly discouraged at the Varsity level. 
   
• Tardiness to practices or games is unacceptable as punctuality is expected at all times unless communicated by a parent. Tardiness will be handled first by the coach. Excessive tardiness may result in additional discipline or removal from a team, as directed by the coach and/or Director of Athletics. 
   
• Unexcused absences from practices are highly discouraged. Practice attendance is important to game participation. If a student-athlete misses the practice prior to a game due to an unexcused absence, the student-athlete may not participate in that game, at the discretion of the coaching staff.
   
• Parents/guardians must contact the coach in order to excuse their child from a practice or game.

• All cancellations and postponements will be communicated by the school. 
   
• When school is dismissed early due to inclement weather, no practice or games will be conducted. All students will go home. 
  • A One-Call will be sent home to families to inform families of the update as well as posted on the team's MyNFA page. 

• In the event any scheduled athletic event has to be canceled or postponed:
  • The Athletic Department will post the information on each individual team's MyNFA page.
     
  • An announcement will be made over the school’s PA system. 
     
  • A One-Call will go out to each family with the updated information. 

• Student-athletes are expected to use the transportation services the Department of Athletics arranges both to and from the games, scrimmages, or events. This practice protects student-athletes from potential harm and contributes to the building of proper team camaraderie.  
   
• School bus rules are in effect when student-athletes are being transported for a game, scrimmage, or event. Infractions of bus rules will be dealt with in the same manner as the administration deals with school time bus violations.  
   
  • A coach will always be present on the bus when a team is traveling by bus. If the coach cannot be present due to an emergency, the Director of Athletics or Principal will assign a supervisor to ride the bus with the student-athletes. 
     
• It is recognized that there will be times when extenuating circumstances may make it necessary for a student-athlete to travel to or from an athletic event separately from the team. In the event that a student-athlete needs to travel separately from the team, the child’s parent must email the coach and Director of Athletics in advance of the game or practice. 
   
• Students will be released only to their own parents/guardians. If you are not picking up your own child, please email your child's coach as well as the Athletic Department to inform them of who your child will be going home with. If you are unable to or run into a problem with picking up your child, please contact the coach, Director of Athletics, and your team parent.
   
• Students will be provided with one-way transportation to practice and to away games. Students will need to be picked up by a parent at the end of each practice and away game. Pick-up is at the Sister James Anthony Hall car line. 
   
• Locations for practices are as followed:

A team captain should have the following leadership qualities (as selected by the coaching staff or voted on by the team):

• Be a role model for the other student-athletes on the team. 
   
• Be a hardworking, committed, dedicated team player. 
   
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and show respect for coaches, teachers, adults, and peers. 
   
• Exhibit good citizenship and be dependable, loyal, trustworthy, and unselfish. 
   
• Show a great deal of pride in the team, the school, and the community. 
   
• Have a strong self-image, be mature, be motivated, and have good communication skills. 
   
• Demonstrate good school behavior and maintain acceptable academic progress. 
   
• Act as a liaison between teammates, coaches, and the Director of Athletics, as appropriate, and assist in the process of resolving conflicts, issues, and problems.  

Team Captain Selections 

• Candidates will be students in good academic standing
   
• Coaching staff will address the team about the importance of leadership and the honor that goes with being a captain.
   
• At that time the coach is expected to outline for all team members the qualities of an effective leader and the responsibilities of a captain of that program. 
   
• The school administration, the Director of Athletics, and the head coach will review the student-nominated candidates (if this is the route coaches use for team captain selection) to determine their eligibility as measured by the leadership qualities listed above. 
   
• The school administration, working with the Director of Athletics and the coach, reserves the right to withdraw a candidate from the slate of nominees on the basis of academic or disciplinary record. 
   
• The student-athletes will vote for a captain(s) on a ballot following the administrative review of nominees (or coaching staff will choose captains)

A very important aspect of the Department of Athletics’ mission statement is to honor student-athletes who have met and exceeded expectations and standards for performance. Each coach will select the Most Improved player for each season. All students will also receive pins and letters related to their individual sports. 

Team parents are volunteers in charge of organizing and delegating the various activities that take place within a specific athletic team. Team parents connect with the coach to obtain a roster of the athletes’ names, emails and phone numbers that comprise the team. The Team Parent communicates important information to families. This includes the following:

• Organizing end-of-season team party or other team activities
   
• Organize refreshments
   
• Send out reminder emails to other parents, including an introductory email identifying yourself as the parent liaison
   
• Communicate schedule adjustments that have been posted by the Athletic Department. 
   
• Organize gifts for coaches
   
• Assisting in the collection of uniforms
   
• Organizing carpools when necessary from games
   
• Recruiting volunteers to assist with the scorebook and scoreboard operation when needed during the basketball season.

Team Parents are NOT RESPONSIBILE for the following:

• Communicating schedule changes - these changes will be reflected live on the school’s Google Calendar and communicated directly from the Athletics Department. 
   
• Changes on the day of a game or practice will be communicated through a One-Call from the Athletic Department. 

This is the protocol to follow to resolve conflicts within the athletic program.  

If there is a concern that needs to be discussed, parents should follow the following steps:

• Email the coach and CC the Director of Athletics and Assistant Director of Athletics on your email
  • ​​​​​​​Please email as soon as the concern arises, this will allow the Athletic Department to resolve issues in a timely manner. 
     
• If needed, the Athletic Department will notify the principal with the concern to further discuss and resolve the conflict at hand.

The Athletic Department will be used as the liaison between coaches and parents, parents and administrators, and most importantly student-athletes to teammates and coaches. The Athletic Department is open to all communication and wants to create a positive and open relationship with both parents and athletes. 

Appropriate concerns to discuss with the coach:  

• The treatment of your child, both mentally and physically.  
   
• Ways to help your child improve.  
   
• Concerns about your child’s behavior. 

The following topics/decisions are the responsibility of the coaching staff:  

• Playing time for individual student-athletes is a decision made by the coaching staff and based on the needs of the entire team. Playing time is not guaranteed for every player in every game. Factors to be considered for playing time are overall skill, effort, attendance, and safety.
   
• Coaching strategies are decided by the coaching staff in keeping with best practices and standards, applicable to the specific sport.  
   
• Please understand that coaching staff are not obligated to discuss other student-athletes on the team or in the program. 

When a resolution cannot be reached between the parent and the coach, the Director of Athletics will facilitate a meeting and act as an objective third party. In most cases, the Director of Athletics will include the parent(s) and the coach to help all parties come to a satisfactory resolution. The Principal will be notified and included in meeting(s) as deemed necessary by the Athletics Department.