2013-2014 landon family athletics handbook landon school

2013-2014
LANDON FAMILY
ATHLETICS HANDBOOK
LANDON SCHOOL

CONTENTS
Athletics at Landon School 4
Athletics Mission and Philosophy 5
Sports Offerings 6
Sports Sign-up
Sports Schedule 7
Season Start Dates
Practice and Game Times
Uniforms 8
Transportation 8
Inclement Weather 9
Mid-Day Fitness Program 10
Sports Exemptions 11
Team Manager Exemption
Daily Eligibility and Health-Related Exemptions
College Recruitment of Student Athletes 12
Affiliations 12
Interstate Athletic Conference
Positive Coaching Alliance
Landon Athletic Development Framework 13
Athletic Department Contacts 14
Athletic Department Hotline
Whom Do I Contact? 15
1

Athletics at Landon School
Athletics are an integral part of the Landon School day. All students will attend athletics every afternoon
unless officially excused by the Athletic Director. As the state of Maryland requires units in physical
education, it is imperative that every student regularly attend practice. Those students who partake in
team competition have a responsibility to manage their time in order to commit fully to their teams,
their teammates and the obligations that come with team participation. As in classroom attendance, it
is expected that parents will understand and explain the significance of this requirement to their sons.
Learning to balance coursework and athletics can be challenging, but mastering this process is one of the
great benefits of a stringent educational athletic program.
Off-campus medical appointments should be planned in advance in order to avoid conflicts with athletics.
Requests by parents for early dismissal from athletics must be cleared by the coach or Athletic Director.
With regard to interscholastic sports, coaches and athletes are expected to represent Landon with the
highest level of respect, moral character and integrity both on and off the playing field. As an institution,
Landon School rejects a “win at all cost” approach to competition and values honorable pursuit of victory
over scoreboard results. Landon strives to win games, meets, matches and championships, but never at
the expense of its principles. The School celebrates the virtues that athletic competition can instill, such
as teamwork, selflessness, sacrifice and resilience, and recognizes that success in these areas will ultimately
produce favorable results.
Finally, athletics are a tremendous source of pride for the Landon community. The School cherishes the
opportunity to come together in support of its teams and to display its appreciation for their efforts on
the playing fields. Landon participants bring passion and spirit to all athletic events and civility with
regard to spectator conduct. Landon never takes for granted the privilege of participation, recognizing
how fortunate it is to partake in the dynamic experience that is youth sports. Most of all, the athletic
experience at Landon should be an enjoyable one for all involved.
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Athletics Mission & PhilosOphy
Mission
The mission of the Landon School Athletic Department is to support the School’s commitment to
cultivating principles of perseverance, teamwork, honor and fair play in each student. In addition, the
Athletic Department will provide support for the teacher-coaches in their efforts to build and maintain
strong athletic programs.
Philosophy
The Landon Athletic Department is wholeheartedly committed to maintaining a positive teaching and
playing environment for its coaches, teachers and students.
These are the School’s philosophical tenets with regard to athletics:
• The primary objective is to facilitate meaningful athletic participation for all students at the
interscholastic and intramural levels.
• The athletic experience should be enjoyable and rewarding for all participants, coaches and spectators.
• Athletics is a proven and fruitful avenue through which character development can take place.
• Landon is committed to the faculty-coach educational model. The School hires non-faculty, parttime
coaches only when necessary to complete the coaching staff.
• Landon School is committed to the principles of Positive Coaching (see page 12).
• Citizenship is among the most valuable lessons that athletic participation can instill.
• Educational athletics should play a major role in shaping young people’s paths to adulthood.
• Systematic development of young athletes is a sign of thoughtful programmatic thinking.
• Every team member is equally important.
• Athletics can and should develop positive character traits on the field that can be used off the field.
• Physical exertion has immeasurable immediate and long-term benefits.
• Athletics can and should provide valuable socialization through peer interaction and adult
relationships.
• Individual and team success should be measured through the athletes’ effort, progress and resilience.
• Adults in an athletic environment must embody the traits the program seeks to cultivate in young
people.
• A healthy athletic environment is inclusive, and calls for all members of the community to work in a
positive and supportive manner.
• Winning is not an appropriate goal of educational athletics but, rather, is a by-product of virtuous
individual and team character traits.
3

Sports Offerings
Lower
School
Middle
School
Upper
School
FALL WINTER SPRING
Interscholastic Intramural Interscholastic Intramural Interscholastic Intramural
Football (5 th )
Soccer (5 th )
Cross Country
Football (Bear,
6 th , 120lb.)
Soccer (6 th ,7 th ,
Bear)
Cross Country
(V, JV)
Football (V, JV)
Soccer (V, JV, F)
Water Polo (V,
JV)
Football
Soccer
Strength &
Conditioning
Water Polo
Strength &
Conditioning
Mid-Day Fitness
Basketball (5 th )
Wrestling (5 th )
Basketball (8 th ,
7 th , 6 th )
Ice Hockey
Swimming
Wrestling
Basketball (V,
JV, F)
Ice Hockey (V,
JV)
Swimming
Riflery
Winter Track
Wrestling (V, JV)
Basketball
Street Hockey
Wrestling
Basketball
Street Hockey
Strength &
Conditioning
Strength &
Conditioning
Mid-Day Fitness
House League
Intramurals
Baseball (5 th )
Lacrosse (5 th )
Baseball (A, B, 6 th )
Golf
Lacrosse (A, B, 6 th )
Tennis
Track & Field
Baseball (V, JV)
Golf (V, JV)
Lacrosse (V, JV, F)
Rugby (V)
Tennis (V, JV)
Track & Field
Baseball
Lacrosse
Track & Field
Strength &
Conditioning
Strength &
Conditioning
Mid-Day Fitness
Club Sport (Upper School Only)
Squash
Fencing
Ultimate Frisbee
All students will attend athletics every afternoon unless officially excused by the Athletic Director. All
students must sign up for a sport using the sports sign-up link online or by contacting the Athletic
Department directly.
All freshman are required to participate in an interscholastic sport for the fall season. Specifically, the
options for freshman are football, soccer, cross country or water polo. Freshmen can participate in
intramural sports at any time in their Upper School career after this first season.
Students who don’t make the team they’ve selected, or who change their minds about their selection, have
the responsibility to contact the Athletic Department immediately and select an alternate sport.
Add/Drop
Any student wishing to change sports must do so within the first two weeks of the sports season. After
that time period has passed, a student may request to change his sport using the Add/Drop form. Add/
Drop will be approved by the Athletic Director, advisor, coaches and parents as described on the Add/
Drop form. Add/Drop forms are available online.
4

Sports Schedule
Season Start Dates
Fall Sports Pre-season (Upper School sports only)
Cross-Country – Monday, August 19
Football – Wednesday, August 12 (Varsity, JV)
Soccer – Saturday, August 17 (Varsity, JV), Thursday, August 22 (Freshman)
Water Polo – Thursday, August 15 (Varsity, JV)
Winter Sports – Wednesday, November 13
Spring Sports – Wednesday, February 26
Practice and Game Times
Weekdays
Most practices and games are scheduled during standard Lower, Middle and Upper School sports times.
In the Middle and Upper Schools, depending on the sport, there likely will be at least some evening and/
or weekend games scheduled.
Practice End Times
Varsity – 6 p.m.
Junior Varsity – 5:45 p.m.
Freshman – 5:30 p.m.
Intramurals (Upper School) – 5:30 p.m.
Middle School – 3:40 p.m.
Intramurals (Middle School) – 3:40 p.m.
Lower School – 2:20 p.m.
Weekends
There may be Varsity team practices held on Saturdays. There will be no Club Team, JV, Freshman,
Middle School or Lower School practices on Saturdays, except under special circumstances. In such
cases, Athletic Director approval is required. No practices will be held on Sundays, unless approved by the
Athletic Department and Administration.
Practices on Saturdays must be scheduled at least one week in advance. This lead time is a courtesy to our
Athletic Training staff and Grounds Crew, allowing them to plan staffing and maintenance accordingly.
Holidays
There may be Varsity team practices held on school holidays. There will be no Club Team, JV, Freshman,
Middle School or Lower School practices on school holidays, except under special circumstances. In such
cases, Athletic Director approval is required. No practices will be held on major holidays.
Practices on school holidays must be scheduled prior to the start of the season. This lead time is a courtesy
to our Athletic Training staff and Grounds Crew, allowing them to plan staffing and maintenance
accordingly.
5

Uniforms
Practices
Each coach will communicate to players the required practice uniform. All students (interscholastic and
intramural) are required to wear Landon-issue attire at each practice session. Shirts must be worn at all
times.
Games
All players on interscholastic teams will be issued a team uniform. In some cases, this uniform may consist
of a standard-issue Landon Athletics gray t-shirt and white shorts. All players are required to wear their
full game uniforms to all athletic contests.
Players are required to return all game uniforms after each game to a designated area inside their
Locker Room. Game uniforms will be laundered and then distributed to players on game days. It is the
responsibility of each student to pick up his game uniform from a designated area inside the locker room
in a timely manner.
Transportation
The Landon Athletic Department takes responsibility for transporting all student teams to their away
games and off-site practices. In some cases, special arrangements may be made by a team’s head coach that
allow for students to drive themselves or for parents to transport players. Any “one-time” arrangement
(after a game, to a particular practice) must be approved by the head coach. Any long-term, ongoing,
special arrangements must be approved by the Athletic Director. Our goal is to minimize the number of
students driving to athletic commitments and to centralize travel on Landon vehicles operated by licensed
coaches.
Parking Policy
A limited number of parking spaces are available, and school officials may find it necessary to restrict
the number of students permitted to drive and park on campus. All student vehicles must be registered
with the school and must display a current School parking sticker (registration forms are avaialable in the
Parent Portal). Students who park illegally or drive over the speed limit will have their driving privileges
suspended. Second time offenders may have their privileges suspended for up to one year. The campuswide
speed limit is 10 mph.
All drivers are expected to find a designated parking space. Campus events (i.e. crowds of 100 or more)
will include designated parking areas.
6

Inclement Weather
Weather conditions often result in adjustments to practice and game schedules. In all cases, the
considerations are player and spectator safety, safe transport, field conditions and long-term field health.
Decisions on game postponements, cancellations and terminations (after game has started) will be made
collaboratively by the Athletic Director, coaches and game officials.
Rain
Practices and games may be postponed, cancelled or halted in the event of excessive amounts of rain.
Snow
Late opening – All practices and games as scheduled (pending facility availability).
Early dismissal – All practices cancelled, and games postponed.
School cancellation – All practices cancelled, and games postponed.
Heat
Practices and games may be postponed, cancelled, or halted in the event of excessive heat.
Lightning
An athletic contest in progress shall be suspended immediately by the Athletic Director, the official in
charge of the contest or the head coach when the first sound of thunder is heard and/or the first sighting
of lightning is observed. Under no circumstances should a contest be resumed until at least 30 minutes
have passed since thunder was heard or lightning observed. The clock timing the 30 minute waiting period
is reset each time thunder is heard and/or lightning is observed, regardless of the perceived location of the
storm.
If the contest should be resumed, the official in charge shall inform the head coach of each team that the
contest may be continued if both head coaches agree to play. The contest shall not be resumed unless both
head coaches agree to play.
7

Mid-Day Fitness
Eligibility
The Upper School Mid-Day Fitness program will be offered on a “first-come/first-served” basis with the
following stipulations:
• Participation during fall season is for Forms IV, V and VI students only.
• A student may only participate in this program for one season per academic year.
Time: 12:20 p.m. - 1:05 p.m.
Program: The groups will alternate between weight training days and game/aerobic days.
8

Sports Exemptions
Team Manager Exemption
An Upper School student may request an exemption from Landon’s sports requirement in order to
serve as a team manager of a Varsity team. As a Team Manager, the student support the coaching staff
and players by aiding with equipment, statistics, game scoring and filming. Team Managers are strongly
encouraged to participate often in appropriate team drills and conditioning at the coach’s discretion. Team
managers are required to attend all team practices and games (home and away). A student may only serve
as a Team Manager for one season per school year. No team will have more than one Team Manager. This
exemption is not available to Freshman.
Team Managers can become critical members of the overall support network for a varsity team, and the
experience is useful and relevant for a student seeking subsequent opportunities in the ever-competitive
fields of sports management, sports business, athletic training, or coaching.
Boys petitioning for a Team Manager exemption must meet with the Athletic Director prior to the start
of the season in which they will be the Team Manager.
Daily Eligibility and Health-Related Exemptions
Upper School
In order to be eligible to participate in an interscholastic game, a student is expected to be in full
attendance during that school day. A student who is not able to attend to his academic responsibilities
should not, under normal circumstances, be involved in extra-academic performances, particularly if
the cause of his absence is illness. Exceptions can be made, however, for unavoidable commitments, for
scheduled appointments or for other situations where it is clear that the student has made a good faith
effort to meet all of his school responsibilities.
It is the responsibility of the student to inform his coach as soon as possible if he will not be or has not
been in full attendance at school on the day of a game. If the coach feels that there is sufficient reason
to consider an exception to the rule so that the student can play, he is to confer with the Division Head,
Athletic Director or the Headmaster for a ruling on the case.
Middle School
If, for medical reasons, a boy is unable to participate in sports on a given afternoon, a note to that effect
should be submitted to the Middle School office by 10 a.m. If a boy is to be excused for an extended
period of time, the dates are to be included in the note. In addition, all boys are expected to attend
practice unless otherwise specified. Landon considers athletics a vital part of its educational mission and
trusts that parents will avoid casually requesting that their son be excused from participating in sports.
If during the day a boy becomes ill, he must report to the School nurse who will determine his capacity for
participating in sports that day. A boy will not take it upon himself to miss a practice nor should he ask
his coach at the beginning of practice to be excused. A boy who has asked to be excused from participating
in sports will be expected to observe sports that day unless there is a reason he cannot go out-of-doors.
Lower School - VPH (Very Poor Health)
If a boy is feeling under the weather, but is not really “sick,” a parent may want to keep him out of sports.
Parents should send a note to the School nurse, Mrs. Weiss, and she will put the boy on VPH. Students
cannot put themselves on VPH; only the nurse has that authority. If a boy asks to be taken out of sports
for a reason other than sickness, parents will want to further address the reason, as it is important to
understand what concerns their child. They should not allow him to use VPH as a general excuse.
9

Athlete College Recruitment
The Landon Athletic Department will play an active role in supporting our students with aspirations to
play sports at the collegiate level. Through close collaboration with Landon’s college counseling staff, we
will assist families in several areas:
• informing them of the process of establishing contact with college coaches;
• educating them on NCAA rules and regulations governing the recruiting process;
• aiding in the assessment of suitable matches from the universe of college athletic programs; and
• serving as the primary contact point for college coaches interested in recruiting Landon studentathletes.
The College Counseling office at Landon is the lead resource for all issues pertaining to the college
selection process.
AffIliations
Interstate Athletic Conference
Landon participates athletically in the Interstate Athletic Conference (I.A.C.). The other I.A.C. members
are:
• Bullis
• Episcopal
• Georgetown Prep
• St. Albans
• St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes
The I.A.C. has a long tradition of spirited competition. All member institutions take tremendous
pride not only in the impressive competitive history, but, more importantly, in the mutual respect that
underscores our relationships.
Positive Coaching Alliance
The Landon Athletic Department has established a partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).
Based at Stanford University, PCA is a non-profit organization that works closely with youth sports
organizations across the country on preserving the educational and character development benefits in
athletic environments. PCA conducts separate workshops for all Landon coaches, parents and Athletic
Department staff. Please contact the Athletic Department for information on workshop dates and times.
For more information on PCA, visit their web site at www.positivecoach.org.
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Framework
Lower School
EMPHASIS
Physical exertion
Participation
Exposure to athletics
Equal playing time
Basic motor skill development
INTRODUCE
Rules of the game
Self-control in physically active settings
Team dynamic
Middle School
Physical exertion
Participation
Skill development
Accepting challenge
Leadership
Minimum play requirement
Competitive spirit
Upper School
Physical exertion
Participation
Ownership of skill development
Connection with teammates
Leadership
Transferable skills
Embracing challenge
Respect for opponents
Competitive spirit
No minimum play requirement
Strength and conditioning
Enhanced communication with coaches
11

Department ContactS
Administration
Athletic Director David Holm – 301-320-1081
Associate Athletic Director Paul Padalino – 301-320-1106
Special Assistant Mac Jacoby – 301-320-1082
Asst. Athletic Director/Weight Room Marty Klingelhofer – 301-320-1089
Communications Coordinator ellie Malakasis – 301-320-1083
Upper School Coordinator David Holm – 301-320-1081
Middle School Coordinator Michael Cooke – 301-320-1086
Lower School Coordinator Paul Padalino – 301-320-1106
Equipment Manager Paul Miller – 301-320-1088
Athletic Training
Head Certified Athletic Trainer Stephen Herman – 301-320-1085
Assistant Certified Athletic Trainer Cameron Danish – 301-320-1398
Fax 301-320-1139
Email
athletics@landon.net
Direct Email
firstname_lastname@landon.net
Website
www.landon.net/athletics
Athletic Department Hotline – 301-320-1080
The Landon Athletics Hotline contains current and pertinent information regarding daily practice and
game schedules for all teams in Lower, Middle and Upper School. In addition, all postponements and
cancellations of team practices, games and intramural activities will be announced on the Athletics
Hotline. The Hotline is updated each weekday morning by 9 a.m. and is updated throughout the day as
changes occur. Please check back frequently.
Please use the Hotline as your primary information source for routine questions.
Like us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/landonschool
Follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/landonschool
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Whom Do I Contact?
The following is a list of primary contact points for frequently arising issues. Please keep in mind that much of this
information is available on www.landon.net.
For issues pertaining to:
General Inquiries
Lower School Practice and/or Game Schedule
Middle School Practice and/or Game Schedule
Athletic Attendance
Upper School Practice and/or Game Schedule
Athletic Attendance
Game Results
Weather-Related Schedule Changes
Departmental Policies
Officials/Referees/Umpires
Coach Conduct
Team Issues and Policies
Injury and Rehabilitation
Strength and Conditioning
Equipment/Lockers
Special Events (Awards ceremonies, etc.)
College Recruitment
Summer Leagues
Facility Rental
contact:
ellie Malakasis
Athletics Hotline
Paul Padalino
Athletics Hotline
Michael Cooke
Athletics Hotline
Paul Padalino, David Holm
www.landon.net
Athletics Hotline
www.landon.net
David Holm
Mac Jacoby
David Holm
team Head Coach
Stephen Herman
Cameron Danish
Marty Klingelhofer
Paul Miller
ellie Malakasis
College Counseling
varsity Head Coach
ellie Malakasis
13