The Benjamin School
Athletic Department Handbook

                                        Outline                                                               Athletics Home
                                                                                                             Benjamin School Home

I.            Philosophy

II.           Coaches Responsibilities

III.          Physicals, Birth Certificates

IV.         Uniforms and Equipment

V.          Transportation

VI.          Newspaper, T.V., etc.

VII.         Overnight Trips and Post Season Playoffs

VIII.        Sport Camps

IX.          Pictures and Filming of Games

X.           FHSAA District Meetings and Rules Clinic

XV.       XI.          Open Gym or Field

XII.          Off Season Conditioning and Weight Room Use

XIII.         Club Team

From Benjamin School Student and Parent Handbook

Athletic Policies

 

I.   PHILOSOPHY:

Our philosophy has and always will be to provide the opportunity for all our students to participate in as many sports as possible, in order to emphasize the team spirit for the athletic department as a whole.  Our program will have the best possible facilities and equipment, and will be operated in a first class manner.  We want to continue a winning attitude but at the same time keep in mind our primary goals, which are to teach self-control and good sportsmanship. We must also keep in mind the values of learning responsibility, daily needs of our athletes and look to the carry-over values, which will remain with our people for a lifetime.  By being involved in Benjamin athletics, each person will benefit from an experience that will make him/her a better person for having participated.

 

II.  COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.   Each coach must at all times conduct him/herself as a professional. 
      Remember our first interest is our students, second is the school, and last our egos.

2.   Each coach must submit a roster the first day of practice and make immediate updates throughout the season.

      a) District Roster - this roster will be confirmed with you by Mrs. Ream as your final roster and then faxed to FHSAA.
          Once the final district roster has been submitted, no names can be added to this roster.

3.  Coaches are responsible for all aspects of their team’s program and must be in communication with the Athletic Director.

Each coach:

a)   Must read and are responsible for adhering to the following By-laws and Administrative Policies in the
FHSAA Handbook.
A copy of the current FHSAA Handbook is in the office of the athletic director.
It is also available online at www.fhsaa.org/rules/2006-07/handbook.pdf.
 *Please be sure to read and understand the policy on recruiting.

b)   Must know rules of athletic department.

c)   Must know the rules of his/her sport.

d)   Must make sure players are aware of the student handbook, and abide by all regulations.

e)   Must update your web page daily.

4.   We have a No-Cut Policy unless there are extenuating circumstances.
      Every player does not have to receive a uniform, and playing time is not guaranteed, but must practice to fulfill a P. E.
      requirement.  Each new participant to a sport has a two-week grace period (10 school days) to determine whether or not
      he/she wants to remain in that sport.  A second year or more player may not quit unless he has talked to the coach,
      Athletic Director, and Headmaster. School policy states that a student who joins a team and then leaves it is ineligible to
      begin practicing with a team for a subsequent season until the previous team’s interscholastic season schedule is
      completed. (See example under Athletic Policy.)

               a)   School award forms and season won-lost forms will be passed out to each coach at the completion of their
                     season. Please try to have these in to either Coach Ream or Coach Hamel as soon as possible. They are
                     needed for the award ceremony. (Time is needed to order plaques and trophies.)

               b)   Any out of school award forms (Palm Beach Post Player of the Year, FACA Player of the Year, etc.) will
                     be passed on to you from the athletic department. Please fill them out as soon as possible so the athletic
                    department can fax them out before deadline.

5.   Each coach must keep a daily attendance record. If a player accumulates 3 unexcused absences, they are in jeopardy
      of losing their sports credit. The coach may dismiss them from the team.

6.   Each coach should arrange for a team manager and statisticians.
      Managers are a part of the team and should be treated as such.  Managers can be the most important students on a
      team if you delegate and require them to perform specific duties.  They are responsible to you and should be at all team
      activities unless excused by you. PE credit can be earned by being a manager or statistician.

7.   It is the coach’s responsibility to be aware of the players’ academic achievements and that the players are showing proper
     attendance in class.

8.   It is the coach’s responsibility to make practices organized and meaningful.  The coach must be the first person to
     arrive at practices and the last to leave.  Varsity and JV practices are to be no more than two hours, and middle
     school practices are to be no more than one and one-half hours.

 9.  Before departing to an “away” contest, check the appearance of the team members.  No player should be permitted on a
      bus to travel with a  Benjamin School team unless they are properly dressed according to the school dress code. 
      Coaches shall request attire to a game that can be no less than school dress.

10. Always be sure that the players conduct themselves with poise, dignity  and in a gentlemanly or ladylike manner, whether
     at home or away.  People judge the school by the teams that represent us.  The coach is responsible for the conduct of
     that team which is a direct reflection on him/her and the school.

11. Each coach is responsible to turn into Coach Hamel a schedule of all early dismissals and leave times for that season.

 

III.  PHYSICALS and BIRTH CERTIFICATES:

The athletic department and front office of the school will see to it that each player has a physical form and birth certificate on file. No athlete is to participate until these requirements are met.

 

IV.  UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT:

1.   Coach Hamel, with the assistance of the Head Coach, will issue the uniforms and an inventory check list for all uniforms
      with corresponding numbers and sizes at the beginning of the season.  This should coincide with the ending check list after
      the players have returned the uniforms to the coach. Coaches are responsible to see to it that each player is in proper attire
      for practices and games.

2.   If a uniform or piece of equipment is lost or stolen from the team please notify Coach Hamel immediately.

3.   The coach is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness, function, and safety standards of the equipment.

4.   Coaches are responsible for the security and the clean-up of facilities: fields, gym, classrooms, weight room,
      vans, buses, etc.

5.   Any needs for this year or next year should be requested well in advance of the season. Do not under any circumstances
      buy uniforms
, equipment, etc. without approval; otherwise it will be at your expense.

6.   If any special need occurs during the course of the season, please see the Athletic Director.

7.   Coach Hamel will issue a cooler to each coach who needs one. It will be the responsibility of the coach to make sure the
      cooler is filled and available for use.  Coach Hamel will also have cups available.  Please return coolers cleaned.

 

V.  TRANSPORTATION: 

1.   To drive a van you need a regular Florida Drivers’ License. The two white vans are to transport cargo only. 
     You cannot transport students in the vans.

2.   Class C Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) with a passenger endorsement is needed in order to drive the white buses.
     A class C Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with air brake endorsement and passenger endorsement is needed to drive
     the yellow buses. Please see Coach Hamel on the procedure for obtaining a CDL. It is recommended that all coaches
     become drivers for their respective teams.

3.  Any transportation requests and keys will be handled by Coach Hamel.

4.   Players and managers must go to and from a contest with the team.  A player is not permitted to drive him/herself or any
     other players to and from games unless approved by the Headmaster or the Athletic Director.

5.   Before leaving the bus compound, start up the vehicle, let it run for a few minutes and do a visual check of the entire vehicle.
     Look for anything out of the ordinary (oil leaks, low tires, warning gauges, tail lights out, dents, etc.)

     Note: The Buses have a Diesel Engine.  When starting them up please turn the key half way, let the gauges on the dash go
     to the right and come back down, (this primes the oil); then turn the key the full way to start engine.

6.    Make sure everyone is buckled up for safety.  Coaches, please go out of your way to tell them to buckle up and remind
      them of the importance of seat belt safety.

7.    It is the coach’s responsibility to make sure that each bus is cleaned after an away game. 
     
Leave the bus in the condition that you would have wanted it. 

8.   If you are traveling and come back to school late, it is your responsibility to see that all players have a ride
      home and to stay until the last person is gone.

 

VI.  NEWSPAPERS, T.V., ETC.: 

1.      It is the coach’s responsibility to see that all varsity game results are called in to the papers regardless of win or loss,
       home or away.  If you are long distance, they will take collect calls.

        POST  820-4440

        SUN-SENTINEL 1-800-776-6979

        JUPITER COURIER 746-5111

        HOMETOWN NEWS  575-5454

2.      The numbers for the T.V. stations are:

        Channel 5:    655-5455

        Channel 12:  844-1212

        Channel 25:  694-2525

3.      It is also the coach’s responsibility to call in Week Ending Statistics and Athlete Of The Week nominations.

 

VII.  OVERNIGHT TRIPS AND POST SEASON PLAYOFFS:

1.      Due to the increase in the number of athletic teams and regular season overnight trips, the Athletic Department WILL NOT be able to cover regular season overnight trips.  Each team will be responsible for meal money, and overnight lodging. The Athletic Department WILL cover gas, tolls, and coaches expenses.. 

2.      The Athletic Department WILL pay for lodging and coaches’ expenses during state tournament play.  

 

VIII.  SPORT CAMPS:

1.      NO student is required to attend a summer team or individual camp to be a member of a team.

2.      All team camps on or off campus must be cleared through the Athletic Department.

3.      If a team is attending an off campus camp, the coach of that team must accompany them to the camp.  The coach is responsible for gas, meals, and rooming for their team.  None of these expenses will be paid by the Athletic Department.

 

IX.  PICTURES and FILMING OF GAMES:

The following teams will be permitted up to six game films paid for by the Athletic Department. Arrangements must be made through the Athletic Department. Teams are: Volleyball, b/g soccer/ b/g basketball, b/g lacrosse.

X.     FHSAA DISTRICT MEETINGS, RULES CLINICS, AND FINES:

1.      The FHSAA has a mandatory attendance policy for all District Meetings and Rules Clinics.   There is a $50.00 fine for missing a District Meeting and a $50.00 fine for missing a Rules Clinic.  Most rules clinics can be done online through the FHSAA website. There is also a minimum $100.00 fine and a one game suspension for being ejected from a contest.

2.      Note:  Each coach will be held responsible for his/her own fines and attendance at these meetings.  The Athletic Department WILL NOT pay for any of these fines.

 

XI.  OPEN GYM OR FIELD:

1.      Open gym or field will be allowed during the school year, with authorization from the athletic department. 

2.      There will be no Open Gym, Field, or practices allowed on Sunday.

 

XII.  OFF SEASON CONDITIONING AND WEIGHT ROOM USE:

1.     All conditioning and weight room use must be supervised by a coach. No student athletes are to use the weight room without supervision.

2.      The Athletic Department encourages weight room use.  Please be sure to schedule your team’s time in the weight room with the Athletic Director.

 

XIII.  CLUB TEAM:

1.      NO Benjamin Head Coach is allowed to coach a team of that same sport with other Benjamin students participating on it outside of the FHSAA mandated season for that sport. 

2.      However, in the case that a student would like to play on a club team outside of the school and asks the coach to find him/her a team to play on; then it is within the coach’s responsibility to help the player find a place to play.

3.      During the summer off season, any Benjamin Head Coach can coach a summer team of that same sport with Benjamin players.  However, the team cannot use the Benjamin name or Buccaneer Logo/Trademark.  Players are not required to play on these teams in order to make the regular school team.

 From "The Benjamin School Student and Parent Handbook" :

a. Extra Curricular Activities

b. Athletics

c. To earn a sport credit:  See pgs. 34-35 of the Student Handbook

© 2006 The Benjamin School