# Team Creation and Tryouts # Announcement of Dates Dates must be announced in advance of tryouts (minimum two weeks) via the *Weekly Word*, morning announcements, and the MPCS website. Contact the marketing and communications office to have these announcements included in all correspondence. # Team Levels 1. **Varsity:** A varsity team is a highly-competitive environment, where the best players will garner most of the playing time. Playing time is NOT guaranteed. 2. **Junior Varsity:** The junior varsity team is a high school team that will compete at the highest level possible, however, development will be a main concern. Playing time is still not guaranteed, but the focus is skill and strategy development. 3. **Middle School A Team:** This is the highest level of the “feeder” system for middle school. Playing time is not guaranteed. This is generally an eighth-grade team. While skill and strategy development is important, team success is a focus. 4. **Middle School B Team:** This is a developmental team. Most players should receive playing time, though not necessarily equal. The team usually consists of sixth and seventh graders. # Tryout Criteria for Cut Sports 1. All skills to be evaluated must be clearly communicated to the students. 2. The tryout period should last two to three days. 3. Written evaluations must be kept for each session. 4. Any absences from tryouts must be cleared by the head coach in advance. # Excused from Tryouts Players currently in season on another MPC team and/or players who are injured will be allowed to try out at an appropriate later date. # Cutting Procedures “Cuts” are not an easy part of selecting teams, but they are a fact of life. Without competition, we cannot get better as a program. The majority of sports on campus have two levels of involvement (varsity/JV or middle school A/B). In addition, a no-cut sport is offered each of the three seasons. “Cuts” may be made by voicemail or a posted list of those who MADE the team only. Never put in public print the ones who were cut. Documentation is required when making cuts. # Publishing Rosters Only the players making the team will be posted online. A “cut” list is not to be made public, and all documentation pertaining to student evaluations in tryouts will be shredded within one week of the last day of tryouts. # No-Cut Sports Coaches in no-cut sports should substitute an evaluation period for the tryout period, and all of the guidelines in sections 6.2 and 6.21 should still be followed. The cut-off date for joining any team in a no-cut sport will be 14 days after the first practice. Exceptions may be made by the athletic director(s). Fifth-grade students are eligible to participate on no-cut sports teams. # Establishing Expectations for Team Members Coaches will arrange brief individual meetings with each student-athlete who makes the team to discuss his/her anticipated role for the season and to complete his/her Personal Plan. These meetings should include discussion on 1. Areas of strength and weakness, 2. Skills to develop in order to improve as a player, and 3. Playing time. # Preseason Parents Meeting Every team will conduct a preseason informational meeting for the families of their student-athletes. These meetings are an important tool of communication between athletics and our families and are essential to ensure that the season begins well. These meetings should always be positive, opened in prayer, and include the following: - Explanation of required forms to be completed (MPCS Consent Form, Emergency Medical Form, GHSA Physical Form); - Explanation of parent-athlete-coach relationship, distribute Athletic Information Brochure and reinforce the philosophy and core beliefs of MPC athletics; - Discussion of the coaching philosophy, plan for handling disciplinary issues, and expectations for the season; - Reinforce that character development and spiritual formation are priorities in athletics; - Explanation of player pack components, pricing, and expected delivery; - Inform our families of how injured players will be cared for, and review the requirement that each student-athlete have health coverage; - Distribution of practice and game schedules; - Solicit parent volunteers (Team Parent, scorekeeper, concessions, gate, etc.); and - Promote involvement in the Eagle Backer Booster Club and the importance of parent volunteers. # Multi-Team Players Many of our players will be asked to play at multiple levels within the same sport (i.e. playing on both the JV and varsity teams). To ensure success for these players, coaches should consider the following: 1. Will the player excel with both teams? 2. Can the player manage the extra time demands, both athletically and academically? 3. Will the player be able to identify socially with teammates on both squads? \*GHSA rules must be adhered to in regards to the maximum number of games/quarters played for all high school players. METRO 10 rules also must be considered. # Playing Up Younger student-athletes “playing up” more than one level above their grade is not usually encouraged but may occur occasionally. (For example, freshmen playing on the varsity team.) Coaches should discuss these situations with the athletic director prior to publishing rosters. Consideration should be given to 1. Impact on academic performance; 2. Impact socially with classmates and older teammates; 3. Playing time – will the player receive significant game time to warrant the promotion?