Team Guidelines:

1. Practice: During the month of March, practice times will alternate between early and late every week. Early practices will start at 3:00 and end at 6:00. Late practice will be from 4:15 until 6:30. Check monthly schedules for a more complete rundown of practice times. You are expected to be in attendance for the full amount of practice time and at scheduled Saturday practices. Saturdays are mandatory.

2. Attendance: Attendance at practice and games is mandatory. If you know you are going to miss practice, please have a parent/guardian provide me with a note, email or phone call describing the reason for your absence. Do not have another player relay a message to me. Acceptable reasons to miss practice include family emergencies, unavoidable doctors appointments, academic commitments and being sick from school. Academic commitments should not result in missing an entire practice. All other excuses are not acceptable and will result in an unexcused absence. Only one appointment per season will be allowed as an excused absence. Any other appointments must be made outside of practice time or you will be assigned an unexcused absence. If you miss a practice before a game and its an excused absence you will not start that game if you are a starter and you may be asked to sit a total of three innings. If you are a nonstarter you will lose your opportunity to play in the game all together. If you miss a practice before a game and its unexcused, you will not be allowed to play (starter or nonstarter) and depending on the situation, you may be removed from the team. (There are certain exceptions to this rule and I reserve the right to make decisions that are fair to both the team and individual involved.) Only one unexcused absence and two excused absences will be allowed each season(This rule has some flexibility in circumstances where a player has been sick and is missing school). If a player speaks to me about a conflict with practice and it doesnt meet the criteria above it is still an unexcused absence. Excused absences are only absences where I see a note and its a legitimate reason. Again, excessive doctors appointments, academic commitments, etc. are not legitimate reasons. This is a team sport, commitment is mandatory.

If more than one unexcused absence is recorded or more than two excused absences are recorded, you will be asked to meet with the coach and you will be removed from the team. Certain circumstances, like health related issues, are an exception to this rule. Extracurricular activities are a privilege, not a right, and you must follow team rules to stay on the team. You must be in school the day of a game and practice in order to participate that evening. Appointments during the day, as long as I see a note, are acceptable. If you arrive late to school and it is not excused or I dont see a note from you, you will not be allowed to practice or play that night. Please understand that staying home because you are tired is not an appropriate excuse, even when parents write you notes. It is important to be in school and to show your teammates that you are committed. There are absolutely no exceptions to this. 3. Grades: All players must maintain a grade of a C- or better in every class to be eligible to play. (However, I reserve the right to modify requirements based on individual circumstances.) If you are unable to meet that requirement, you will be expected to practice but will not be allowed to play in games until the grade improves. In extreme circumstances, a teachers note will be required to allow you to play. If you need help with a specific class, please talk to me as soon as possible so we can make arrangements to help you. 4. Practice Clothes/Uniform: For games you will be expected to wear the same color and type of undershirt as the rest of your teammates. If you do not have the correct color on game days you may not be allowed to play. I suggest having both black and white undershirts for every game. Also, you need to have a slider if we decide to wear shorts and black socks. You will be expected to slide even if you dont have a slider. I do not make exceptions to this rule. For practice you need to have all the appropriate clothing for all types of weather. We do not cancel practice because of cold temperatures or light rains. When we are in the gym you are expected to have sweat pants so we can do sliding drills. Out on the field you need to have cleats, pants and or slider, your glove and any other layers you need. You may not practice in small tank tops. 5. Games: Conference games start at 5:00(Unless followed by B-squad, then 4:30), all other games will be at 4:30. For home games you will be expected to be dressed, stretched out, and ready to play by 3:30 at the latest. Bus time

for away games is listed on the schedule. You need to be dressed when you get on the bus.

6. Traveling: You need to be aware of when the bus leaves for all away games. We have a lot of equipment to take with us so please do not get on the bus until you are sure we have all our stuff. If you bring food on the bus please be respectful of your teammates and the driver and clean up your mess. I ask that you stay away from pop and any caffeinated products before a game. You should also consider consuming something healthy. You must stay seated at all times and the volume needs to be kept to a minimum. I expect you to concentrate on the game ahead while on the bus. All distractions, including the baseball players and your cell phone need to be ignored. You are not allowed to sit near the boys, we will sit at the front of the bus and if room allows we will leave seats between the two teams. You are also not allowed to use your cell phones on the way to a game. If this rule cannot be followed I will take all cell phones as you get on the bus and return them when we get home. I expect all players to ride to and from games on the bus with the rest of the team. Only in extreme circumstances will I make exceptions. Work commitments are not extreme circumstances. You need to schedule plenty of time to be able to do both.

7. Lettering: Any player who is an active and dedicated member of the varsity team will letter. This includes, but is not limited to, participating in team building activities, following workout routines, being active in classroom activities, and giving 100% in practice and games. You will letter if you practice with the team and only see limited playing time as long as I feel youve given the team your best and strived for excellence. You are not an automatic letter winner just because you are a junior or senior. Players who are brought up for playoffs may earn a letter if they make a significant impact on the team during that time. Also, a failure to follow team guidelines, depending on the severity, could make you ineligible for a varsity letter.

8. Captains: All players are eligible to be voted as a captain regardless of age. The team will vote for captains sometime before the first game. Two captains

will be named unless the votes are close and then I will name a third captain. I reserve the right to deny any player the opportunity to be a captain based on the level of effort in practice, inability to work with all teammates and/or other school related issues. I also reserve the right to choose captains based on all the criteria listed above.

9. Playing Time: Just because you are a member of the team it does not mean you will play the same amount as everyone else. Everyone will have a role on the team and it is up to you to accept and fill your role to the best of your ability. I will never close the door on any player and you will always have the option to work for a specific spot. Please trust that I will make decisions on playing time based on the teams needs. Do not take any coaching decisions personal. Playing time doesnt reflect seniority so dont assume that if you are an upperclassman you deserve the right to play. Everyone will earn their positions.

10. Sportsmanship: It is necessary that you practice good sportsmanship on the playing field and in practice. You are not allowed to question an umpire, taunt other teams or put down fellow teammates. You may not throw bats, helmets or gloves at any time. I expect that you remain positive with yourself, your teammates and coaches at all times.

11. Attitude: As student athletes, I expect each one of you to be leaders in the classroom, on the field and outside of school. You need to make good, quality decisions at all times. If discipline or behavioral issues arise during school and I hear about them, depending on the severity, your playing time may be affected. This includes being kicked out, tardy or disruptive in classes. The same rule applies for anything that happens outside of school. Be smart and make good choices.

12. School Guidelines: All players are not only under the rules of the team but must also follow the code of conduct for students and athletes of Blooming Prairie High School. 13.Vacations: Vacations are not considered excused absences unless they are part of a school trip. Although I understand the desire and importance of traveling with family, I cannot fairly hold positions for players choosing to be

gone during the season. Players who miss large amounts of time will be expected to make-up that time and may see limited playing time the day(s) following their return. All situations will be handled separately and consequences will be assessed based on individual circumstances. Please be respectful of your teammates and coaches when deciding to miss practice and games.

14. Concerns: If at any time you would like to discuss playing time or other concerns, please see me as soon as possible. It is important to keep our line of communication open at all times. I will not tolerate hearing from your friends and/or teammates that you are unhappy with a coaching decision I made or with the team as a whole. If parents wish to talk to me about an individual situation, Im more than happy to do that once the player affected talks to me first. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. I expect all concerns to be addressed in an appropriate manner and on a private basis. This means issues are not to be brought to Mr. Worke before they have been brought to my attention. I will not take phone calls at home regarding playing issues or during practice and after games. I will also not tolerate parent visits to my home. Please set up a time so we can have a meeting. I can be reached at school by email: amach@blossoms.k12.mn.us or by phone, 583-4426 x245. My free period is 2nd hour from 9:00-9:55 A.M. My website, which can be accessed on the school site, will also have updated information available to you. Im looking forward to a great and successful season. Please take the time to read this, sign it and review it whenever necessary. Your signature indicates that you understand the correct method of communication and all the guidelines surrounding the 2014 softball season. Thank you!

Ali Mach

Player: ________________________________________________________________

Parent(s): _____________________________________________________________