Expectations

First and foremost thank you for supporting your student-athlete. Below are the expectations for the Liberty Lions Middle School Track and Field Program.

Being present and on time on a regular basis is critical to the success of our team and the overall personal development of each individual. It is important that we as coaches know as early as possible when a student-athlete is absent or going to be late so that we can adjust practice accordingly and be accountable for the whereabouts of our student-athletes should an emergency arise. With impeccable attendance and punctuality as a priority, our goal is to support our student-athletes in their personal development as well as their teammates overall success in track and field.

Meets, Academics, Attendance, and Behavior

Every participant will have the opportunity to compete in meets based on their current academic standing, attendance, and behavior. The number of events a participant, if any, will be allowed to compete in will be influenced by the participant’s current academic standing, attendance, and behavior. Meet participation decisions could be influenced by individual circumstance and degree of prior communication by the athlete, parent or classroom teacher. Academics are of the utmost importance to our coaching staff. We expect that participants are meeting expectations in all classes and will be required to complete academic checks. If a participant is not currently meeting expectations in a class(es), but is showing a good faith effort, reported by the classroom teacher(s), exceptions may be made.

Punctuality

Being on time is a valued priority in any walk of life. We encourage participants to create positive habits in this regard. Consequences for tardiness will be dealt with on a daily basis to accommodate for time missed in practice. Consequences could be less or more based on circumstance, prior communication, and prior behavior. Poor punctuality could impact meet participation. Two(2) tardies = 1 unexcused practice. 

Communication

If participants are to have meet participation suspensions due to academics, attendance, and/or behavior, a coach will contact the parent/guardian to communicate the reason for suspension.

Please be aware of the following are specific information:

Practice Expectations

We have a large number of kids out each season, and due to that we have some safety expectations for all the kids.  Expectations are for athletes to be at practice where we can keep everyone learning, busy and safe.

• 5 practices are required before an athlete can compete in a meet.

• Team will practice from after school 3:50-5:30pm daily.

• You must attend the complete day of school to practice, exemptions are listed on the acceptable excuse list below.

• Missing practice the day prior to a meet, disqualifies you from participation in the meet, unless absence is on the excused list below. 

• Appropriate attire (see below).

• You must finish the season to hold a school record. 

(Exceptions include injury, or situation deemed acceptable by the coaches)

Attendance

• Unexcused absences will disqualify you from the next meet.

• If you are unable to attend school, you may NOT attend practice.

• You must attend the complete day of school to practice, exemptions are listed on the acceptable excuse list below.

• Missing practice the day prior to a meet, disqualifies you from participation in the meet, unless absence is on the excused list below or there has been a prior arrangement with a coach.

Liberty Attendance Office Acceptable Excuse List

Family Bereavement

Family Emergency

Medical/dental appointments

Legal appointments

School related activities

School work on campus with teacher

Excused illness

Missed practice sessions for other reasons will count towards your allowed 3 missed practices and are not considered excused.  These include…

Liberty Track/Field Unexcused List

No practice clothes.

2nd tardy.

In school suspension. (not allowed at practice or meet that day)

Homework

Long term injury not covered by a doctor’s note.

Present at school all day but went home sick.

Inappropriate behavior at practice or meet

When the 3rd practice is missed and not excused, the athlete can petition and conference with the coaches for reinstatement.

Tardy To Practice

• You are considered tardy if you are not suited down in attendance lines by 4:05pm.

2 tardies=1 missed practice of your allowed 3.  

(If a note from a teacher or administrator is presented, the tardy is excused.)

Attire

• PRACTICE: Appropriate athletic clothing/shoes are required, no exceptions. Please do NOT wear jeans to practice. Remember we live in the Pacific Northwest... we may start practice with a nice sunny day, but could end it in a downpour. Please come to practice prepared for ANY type of weather.

• MEETS: Meet uniforms and warm ups will be checked out to each athlete prior to the first meet. The athlete is responsible for this equipment. Issued uniforms are for meet use only, NOT for practice.

Attitude

• We expect our athletes to show up to practice, be coachable and work hard. We value being competitive but more importantly exemplifying sportsmanship.

Important Meet Information

1. ALL athletes who ride the bus to a meet MUST sign out with their attendance coach BEFORE leaving the meet depending on how you arrived.(click HERE for more info)

2. If a student-athlete needs to be transported by another family, arrangements must be made through the athletic office prior to the meet so the coach has a note from the office. We are not allowed, in any situation, to allow a child to leave a meet with another adult (other than a family member) without clearance from the Liberty Athletic Office.

Other Important Information

• Athletes will not be allowed to go back into the school after practice starts. This includes restrooms.  We will have portable restrooms on campus by the track. 

• You will need to bring your gear up to the track.  We suggest you get a garbage bag for the rainy days. 

• If you are injured and cannot participate, for three days in a row, without a note from a doctor or parents, on the fourth day it counts as one of your 3 missed practices.

• If you see a doctor for an injury, you must have a doctor’s note to begin practice again.  Each day you do not have a note and therefore do not practice, counts against your 3 missed practices.

• If you do not practice at an acceptable level the day before a meet, or do not suit down, you will not participate in the meet. (Exceptions include school activity or family commitment, as long as it is excused)

• If you are sent to the Learning Center for disruptive behavior, for any part of the school day, you will not be allowed at practice or a meet.  You will make a phone call home from the Learning Center to your parents to let them know.

• When a participant receives a third trip to the Learning Center for disruptive behavior, they will be interviewed by the coaches to decide on action to be taken.