Coaches Handbook - University Liggett School

Pre-Season Responsibilities• The MHSAA requires varsity head coaches to attendannual rules meetings. The dates and locations ofthese meetings are posted on mhsaa.com. Coaches arestrongly encouraged to check for and arrange to attendthe rules meetings far in advance of the start of theseason. Some rules meetings will be offered online.Coaches and schools can be subject to penalty if acoach fails to attend the rules meetings.• In addition to attending the MHSAA rules meetings,coaches are expected to attend league and conferencemeetings and the ULS coaches meetings (held prior toeach season).• Confirm your season schedule, including busdeparture times, with the athletic department. Bringany questions or concerns regarding your schedule tothe attention of the AD. Do this as soon as possible soconflicts can be resolved.• If applicable, review practice schedules for sharedfacilities.• Confirm all uniforms and equipment are ready fordistribution. It is the coaches’ responsibility to keepaccurate lists of items issued to the student-athletes.• Sign-up meetings will be held during upper schoolcommunity time a few weeks prior to the beginningof the season. Coaches should use this opportunityto communicate schedules, policies and expectationswith the athletes. At this time, coaches need to informstudent-athletes if they do not have an IAPF on filein the Athletic Department. Following the meeting,coaches need to provide the Athletic Department a listof student-athletes signed up for their sport.• Coaches must communicate with parents at thebeginning of the season. Coaches may choose tohold a parent meeting or send a letter of informationor both. Topics that should be communicated withparents include: coaches’ contact information, gameand practice schedules, expectations, teamrules/policies, criteria for earning a varsity letter,process used for choosing team captains, process usedfor team placement (JV or Varsity), playing timedecisions and any other information you feel will behelpful in making the coach-parent relationship asstrong as possible.Game Day Responsibilities• Fully stocked medical kits and ice are to be with theteam at all games and practices. Med kits and icecoolers are available from the athletic trainer.• IAPFs (athletes’ medical forms) are to be with thecoach during all games and practices. Student-athletesare required to have a completed IAPF on file in theathletic office prior to beginning practice. If a coachdoes not have a copy of an athlete’s IAPF, that athletemay not participate in practices or games. It is thecoaches’ responsibility to monitor this. Per theMHSAA, a game may be forfeited if an athleteparticipates without a completed IAPF on file.• Coaches, or individuals assigned by coaches, areresponsible for facility set-up: scoreboards, tables,score sheets, time keepers, line judges and any otherequipment or personnel (not including officials)necessary for the contest.• Officials’ payment will no longer be available ongame day. Coaches must have officials complete an“Official’s Voucher” (available in the Athletic Office)and return this form to the Athletic Office thefollowing day. Officials will not be paid without theseforms. Checks will be mailed on Fridays.• Greet, or appoint an assistant coach, team manager orparent to greet, the opposing team and show them totheir locker room or team area.• Away games: verify location, time and directions;board the bus on time and at the designated location.• Varsity coaches: Call newspapers with game results.JV and Varsity coaches: post game results on teamportals and email game results to the AD.University Liggett School Coaches Handbook 2008-09 3