COACHING STANDARDS

The Holy Cross School Board appreciates the endeavors of those individuals who comprise our coaching staff. The following standards have been developed to make the Holy Cross athletic program as meaningful as possible from the viewpoint of students, coaches, teachers and parents alike:

1. Before the season commences, a meeting must be held with students desiring to play and at least one parent attending, at which Holy Cross School Sports Participation Permission Slips must be completed and given to the coach and during which the coach will outline the specific program for the relevant sport and grade level.
2. As soon as possible, copies of team rosters must be given to the Holy Cross Athletic Director and the VP of Sports for the Boosters Club. The Athletic Director is responsible for submitting copies of rosters and team schedules to the Principal's office for approval.
3. A written schedule of practices and games is to be provided by the coach to the players and parents as soon as such are known. It is the responsibility of the coach to notify players of any changes in scheduling.
4. Each coach must have a first aid kit available at all practices and games. The Holy Cross Permission Slips also are to be on hand at all practices and games in the event of emergency treatment.
5. Transportation to and from practices and games is a parent's responsibility. Coaches should be aware of the fact that if they provide transportation to a player, they could be held personally liable in the event of an accident. Coaches are not covered under any school liability insurance policy, and must sign volunteer forms or other forms required by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
6. In order to have meaningful athletic participation consistent with the level of competition and to ensure the continued vitality of Holy Cross sports programs, the following general rules concerning player participation shall be enforced. More specific rules are set forth in the program write-ups governing all Holy Cross sports teams, a copy of which will be provided to each coach.

They are:

FOOTBALL
Junior Varsity - 6th graders will get substantial playing time in each game. Fifth graders may get to play in the games, but the coaching staff will determine playing time.

Varsity - No minimum requirement.

BASKETBALL
Fourth Grade- substantially equal time for each player in each game, other than tournaments.
Fifth Grade -substantially equal time for each player in each game other than tournaments.
Sixth Grade - minimum of one quarter for each player in each game other than tournaments.
Seventh Grade - no minimum requirement for conference or tournament games, minimum of one quarter for each player in each other game.
Eighth Grade - no minimum requirement.

VOLLEYBALL
Sixth Grade - substantially equal time for each player in each match.
Seventh Grade - no minimum requirement for conference or tournament matches, a minimum of some playing time for each player in each other game (not matches).
Eighth Grade - no minimum requirement.

The above represent minimum requirements. Coaches must remember that meaningful participation is an important element of the success and vitality of Holy Cross sports programs over the years. Accordingly, it is understood that coaches will seek to provide playing time in excess of these minimums (where applicable), consistent with the competitive postures set forth below:

• Junior Varsity Football, Fourth & Fifth Grade Basketball and Sixth Grade Volleyball are considered to be strictly developmental programs. The emphasis is on putting forth best effort; winning or losing is incidental.
• Sixth Grade Basketball is still developmental, but seeks to introduce the concept of differentiated playing time while maintaining a strong emphasis on participation over winning. Significant playing time differentials (the definition of which will vary depending upon the number of players) should be avoided. For example, given a 12-person roster and 1120 total minutes of game time, an acceptable differential would be 2 or 3 minutes per game between the players with the most and the least playing time.
• Seventh Grade Basketball and Volleyball seek to introduce the concept of playing to win while still providing adequate playing time for all players. Conference and tournament games are played to win; other games combine a developmental posture with making a reasonable effort to win.
• Varsity Football and Eighth Grade Basketball and Volleyball fully institute the objective of winning and the realities of team sports competition - the better players play the most, the lesser players the least.

7. Every coach will be required to submit personal information on an application pertinent to the completion of the Diocese C.B.C. (criminal background check). Completed forms will be submitted to the Athletic Director. Results will only be made available to the Principal and the Pastor. Any discussion regarding the outcome of these background checks will only be conducted by, and between, the Principal and Pastor.
8. Because the maintenance of proper discipline is important, a coach of a Holy Cross team may bench a player for an entire game if such a player has been missing practices or has been a disciplinary problem.
9. At Holy Cross School, academic effort, self-discipline and satisfactory behavior are a prerequisite to participation in school-sponsored athletic activities. The faculty may, as a disciplinary measure, temporarily or permanently suspend a student from participation in a sports program. Likewise, if the student is not a disciplinary problem but it appears to the faculty that athletic participation is interfering with the student's scholastic achievement, the faculty may suspend the student from the activity.
10. Every student must deliver a completed copy of a permission slip, signed by at least one parent or guardian, prior to the first practice. This permission slip must inform the parents that Holy Cross School does not provide automatic medical or health insurance. Parents will be given the opportunity to purchase accidental medical insurance through the school at an additional cost. The School Board will approve the form of permission slips.
11. Each coach must fill out an "Employment Form" and return that form to the Athletic Director. Every coach will be subject to a criminal background check (CBC).
12. All coaches should follow appropriate emergency and injury precautions. In case of an apparent serious injury, the coaches should immediately call for paramedics (dial 911 in most communities). In addition, the coaches should notify the parents or emergency contacts as quickly as possible, using the phone numbers listed on the permission slips. These permission slips should be present at all practices and games. When paramedics arrive, give them the permission slip (which has a section authorizing emergency medical treatment) and provide answers to any questions they may have concerning the circumstances of the injury. The coach should then complete a Holy Cross School accident report and submit copies to Athletic Director and Principal.