Athletic Director

Laurie Leaf

leafl@ricelake.k12.wi.us

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RLMS Athletics

Purpose of MS Athletics

• Heart of the North Philosophy
• The purpose of middle level school activities is to develop interest and participation by a large number of students and not just the best athletes. Provide training in athletics for all who desire it.
• Participation by as many athletes as possible
• No league trophies
• Certified/registered officials
• No win/loss records kept

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Cross Country – Co-ed Grade 5, 6, 7, 8

• Meets will start no earlier than 4:30 unless agreed upon by participating schools
• Maximum length of course is 4000 meters
• Maximum number of meets is eight

Cross Country Expectations

• Attendance at practice is a prerequisite to participating in a meet
• Meet procedures are discussed
• You need to be used to running the distance of a meet
• We are building team chemistry during practice to help each other during the meet

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Volleyball – Grades 7, 8 (girls)

• Games will start at 5:00 unless an earlier start time is agreed upon by the two schools (home games will start at 4:30)
• No libero position to be used at the middle level
• Four games will be standard procedure to ensure participation

Volleyball Expectations

• Coaches are focused on teaching the fundamental techniques of each position to all athletes
• Participation in practice is needed to achieve playing time in games
• Depending on the number of athletes, teams will be divided as equally as possible

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Basketball - Boy’s & Girl’s grades 7, 8

• Boy’s season runs from October-December
• Girl’s season runs from January-February
• Full court press is only allowed in the final two minutes of each half unless the team pressing is up by ten or more
• Only man-to-man defense is allowed

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Basketball Expectations

• Coaches are focused on teaching the fundamental techniques of each position to all athletes
• Participation in practice is needed to achieve playing time in games
• Depending on the number of athletes, and the flow of the game, playing time will be divided as equally as possible

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Swimming – grades 5, 6, 7, 8

• Girls season runs from September until October
• Boys season runs from November until December
• Students can also swim with the Otters swim club
• Most meets are away
• 5th grade can practice but doesn’t compete

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Archery – Co-ed grades 5, 6, 7, 8

• Archery Club
• Starts in November and runs up to Christmas break
• For beginners wanting to learn the basics of NASP
• No competitions
• Meets at most 2 nights a week

Archery – Cont.

• Archery Team
• Team is for students that have gone through the basic NASP program either with club or summer school
• Practice 2 times per week
• Participants are asked to shoot on two weekends at competitive tournaments
• Tournaments start in January and conclude with state in March with one home tournament

Wrestling – Co-ed Grades 5, 6, 7, 8

• One year grade difference in opponents is allowed
• Rating system used to match “like” opponents
• No more than three matches per meet
• Wrestling season begins in the end of February

Wrestling Expectations

• Coaches are focused on teaching the fundamental techniques to all athletes
• Participation in practice is needed to achieve matches at meets
• The number of athletes available at a meet will determine the number of matches – no more than three per meet.

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Track – Co-ed Grades 6, 7, 8

• An individual may participate in a maximum of three events of which only two may be running
• Team scores are kept, but no awards presented
• 3-4 meets per year with one home meet

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Track Expectations

• Attendance at practice is a prerequisite to participating in a meet
• Meet procedures are discussed
• You need to show that you know the proper protocol for field and running events
• We are building team chemistry during practice to help each other during the meet

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Tennis – Co-ed Grades 5, 6, 7, 8

• Coaches are focused on teaching the fundamental techniques to all athletes
• Currently there are no meets

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Golf– Co-ed Grades 7, 8

• Coaches are focused on teaching the fundamental techniques to all athletes
• Potentially one meet
• less than 9 holes, players chosen at random

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Protocol if you have questions

1. Talk to your athlete
2. Talk to the coach
• Wait for 24 hours after a game to talk to the coach
• Please set up a time to talk, not after a game/match/meet
• Not in front of our athletes
• Not in front of other parents
3. Talk to the athletic director

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Forms

• Registration for MS sports will be done online through your Skyward Family Access account
• Athletic Code, concussion and sudden cardiac arrest fact sheet

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• Coaches may have a form more specific to their sport when each sport season begins outlining the specific practice and contest dates, equipment needed, a reminder of the code of conduct and attendance expectations

Code of Conduct

• Academics
• Grade checks will be weekly
• Academic probation if you have F or D-
• Will be on probation 1 week to get grade up to ≥ D
• School Attendance
• Travel to and from events
• Remember only parents/guardians are allowed to pick up athletes at events and provide transportation. Please hand the coach a note prior to taking your student-athlete home!
• Injuries – please report any injuries to the coach or Athletic Director

Concussions

• http://www.wiaawi.org/Health/Concussions.aspx

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• By Law a student athlete may not participate in the athletic activity until they have been cleared by a healthcare professional
• We need a note from a doctor!

Conclusion

• We want all of our students to be able to participate and receive training in the sports that they choose
• We are here to build team chemistry and sportsmanship

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Go Warriors!