Team Handbook:
Philosophy and Policies
2024
The 2024 West Genesee Athletics Handbook contains an
excellent overview of the philosophy, practices and values of athletes in our
district, and I strongly recommend you read or re-read that document. Our brief
team handbook is more sport-specific and divided into three sections: 1. Our
team philosophy and expectations; 2. Nuts-and-Bolts information; 3.
Communications.
Coach Vermeulen
Team Philosophy and Expectations
The first is this: Show up. Spring is jokingly referred to as “the season
of conflicts,” but it’s no joke. There is a collection of spring special events,
functions or family plans that can conflict with our practices and meets. It is,
therefore, the obligation of the athletes and the parents to work with us to
minimize conflicts. A conflict should not mean that Track & Field obligations
alone will be sacrificed. It means the best compromise will be achieved. Why is
this important? For the straightforward reason that athlete mastery and
achievement of personal potential is dependent on training consistency.
Athletes will never reach individual potentials if missing practices repeatedly
due to conflicts. Any athlete training
inconsistently is unable to make maximum contributions to the team. Someone once
quipped, “you can’t teach an empty desk.” Neither can you coach a missing
athlete. We want all our athletes to enjoy the development of personal
greatness. Showing up is the first step.
The second expectation is this: Give Good Efforts.
That describes many more specific expectations, but basically it means
the athletes will provide the effort required on any particular practice day.
Some days, the athletes will work very hard; others, the work may be easier or
focused on technique training. Athletes are expected to appreciate the value of
all their training and apply the expected effort. Coaches welcome athlete
questions and curiosity about the training methods. The more the athletes know
about the why’s and when’s of their training, the better they will become. We
enjoy explaining all aspects of training, but we do not favor conversations
about doing less work. That would not contribute to the athlete’s maximum
development. Athletes should understand that we are an effort-based team, and
that all team members, regardless of talent level, can make—or learn to
make--the required efforts.
The third expectation is critical: Be a Good Teammate. Many athletes do
not appreciate the added benefits they create just by being a good teammate.
It’s ‘teamsmanship’ that makes average teams good teams--and good teams great
teams. Being a good teammate means becoming more other-directed. It means being
dependable. It means both supporting and holding teammates responsible
for what they can contribute. Someone once said, “On good teams, coaches hold
players responsible. On great teams, players hold players responsible.” Good
teammates want to be accountable to others because they understand mutual
accountability is what makes a team work.
Nuts ‘n Bolts
Program Statement
All
athletes can contribute to the team with their talents, their efforts and their
positive attitudes.
Athletes are expected to attend all required
practices, team meetings and designated meets. Missed practices require a parent
note or email to Coach Vermeulen(vermeulenjim@gmail.com). Any absence not
verified in that manner will be considered an Unexcused Absence. Athletes must
maintain an overall 80% practice-attendance average to be eligible to compete in
meets. Athletes who leave the team for
vacations or family trips or conflicting activities will be required to
‘recover’ the same number of missed practice or meet days when they return
before competing again. For example, an athlete missing 2 days for an extended
weekend will practice at least 2 days before being eligible to compete. If a
meet occurs in those two days, the athlete will not compete. Importantly, meets
are athletic opportunities that are earned through diligent and
consistent training. To ensure that team members are ready to compete safely, in
a healthy manner, and to the best of their ability, it is required that all
athletes complete at least 5 consecutive team practices/meets before any further
competitions. Any exceptions to
these requirements due to illness, minor injuries or family emergencies will be
made by the coaches.
We have a large number of athletes and only 5 boys/girls
coaches. This requires a significant level of responsibility from athletes to be
where they told and doing what they are told. Our athletes are typically
excellent about this, but those who do not follow the coaches’ directives will
be subject to team discipline policies as covered by the WG Athletics Code of
Conduct. Behavior issues with athletes will be handled privately before or after
practices. Training and meet roster decisions will not be discussed with parents
except by a coach’s choice. Athletes, of course, can discuss those with coaches
and then parents. Parents with concerns about the training or roster decisions
of their athlete must contact the Athletic Director, who may then schedule a
meeting with the coach, the parent and the athlete to address the
concern. Important personal/family information that may affect the conduct or
safety of athletes should certainly be shared directly with the coach.
Varsity Letters
All team members are eligible to earn a varsity letter.
To do so, they must meet the following standards: 1. Maintain a minimum 85%
attendance average through the end of the league dual-meet season (Athletes
with season attendances of 80-84% will be reviewed by the coaches, with possible
attendance credit awarded for days missed due to illness or injury. Any other
exceptions will be determined by the coaches). 2. Demonstrate Improvement in
a Primary Event over the course of the athlete’s season. 3. Meet the team
standard in at least one event(Team event standards will be revised and
issued soon). 4. Compete in a minimum of 4 scheduled dual meets. Any
exceptions to the four requirements will be up to the coaches.
Dual Meets – SCAC Metro meets with 1-2 other teams. We have two home meets this season.
Invitational Meets
– Friday or Saturday meets of 6-20 area teams. Coaches select rosters for these
meets based on achievement and effort. We have
3 invitational meets scheduled.
SCAC League Championship
– 2 entries allowed per event, with athletes chosen by coaches.
Class AA Sectional Championship
– Athletes must meet sectional standards to compete.
State Qualifier Meet
– Meet to determine state championship qualifiers. Athletes/Relays must meet
State Championship
– Athletes who qualify through the State Qualifier Meet.
Communications/Information
1.
Team Web Site:
the
www.wgrunners.com
web site provides team information, meet results and a team practice schedule,
among other features.
2.
Team Weekly E-mail:
team members are e-mailed each weekend(usually Sunday evening) with information
on the coming week’s practices, meets and other team information. Parents will
be included in this mail-out.
3.
Team Meet Sheets:
Meet results(and lap splits for middle-distance runners) will for emailed to the
athletes following each competition.
4.
Post-Packet:
at our annual post-season team picnic, athletes are presented a post-packet
containing seasonal team/personal achievement data.
Coach Vermeulen
E-mail:
vermeulenjim@gmail.com;
Cell: 315-263-6815
E-mail :
mppalmis@gmail.com;
Cell : 315-717-7936