Sophomore Football 2011

Required Paperwork:  The following must be turned in to the athletic directors office before you can begin practicing.

1. Copy of a current physical – Physicals expire after one calendar year.  Your physical must be good through the end of October 2009.
2. Insurance Waiver – Gold form.  Temporary insurance is available through the school.
3. Hitting Contract – Must be signed by you and your parents.
4. Concussion Form

Attendance: I expect you to be at practice every day.  Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.

1. IHSA Rule – You must participate in 3 days of practice before you are allowed to wear pads, and 12 days of practice before you are eligible to play.  We have 15 possible practice days before the first game.  Failure to turn in paperwork will make you ineligible to practice.  IHSA rules require that you get in 12 days of practice before playing in your first game.  If you are not practicing by Friday the 13th, you WILL BE INELIGIBLE for the first football game.
2. Excused Absence – You inform me AHEAD OF TIME, and I approve the absence (won’t happen often).  If you are going to text or call please identify yourself.  If you are injured, you must still attend practice.  If you miss school due to illness, your absence will be excused.  (going home after school because you feel ill will not be)
3. Unexcused Absence – Everything else.
   • 1^st Offense – sit out the next game
   • 2^nd Offense – dismissal from the team
4. Tardiness
   • 100 yards (1) of Armstrongs for every minute that you are late (maximum 500 yards per practice, to be completed that practice).
   • During the school year, if you are with a teacher for academic help, you must bring a valid pass that explains why you were there.

Behavior and Discipline:  I expect you to behave as a model student in school and in the community.  Teachers and administrators will contact me if there are problems.  Academic eligibility will be checked every week.  You will have to maintain a passing grade in at least 5 classes to remain eligible.  This team will honor all school disciplinary actions.  After-school detentions assigned by teachers will cause you to be late, and result in Armstrongs.  After-school detentions assigned by the administration will cause you to miss the first half of the next game (ex: 3 Tardies).  You must be present at the 2 practices prior to a game in order to dress and play.  Saturday schools will cause you to miss an entire game on the day of the Saturday (obviously) or the first half of the next game if it is assigned for after our season concludes.

Other things you will need:

1. Combination Lock – You are responsible for all equipment that you are issued.  Lock it up in your own locker.  You may select any of the large purple lockers (varsity gets first choice).  You will be required to pay for any lost equipment. 
2. Spikes – Due to the dry conditions of our practice field, molded cleats are best to practice in.
3. Mouth pieces – Buy 2-3 of them, mold all of them and keep them in your locker.  You are never to be without one.  No mouth piece = no practice.  Stay away from the clear mouthpieces (officials frown on these).
4. Practice Kits – Shorts, t-shirt and practice jersey for $35.00.  Can be purchased in the coach’s office.  Shorts and t-shirts can double as P.E. uniforms.  Sophomores must wear white practice jerseys for practice.

Thoughts:

Sophomore football is the most important of your four years, but at the same time can be seen as the least rewarding.  You must truly be dedicated to the sport.

      Why it is seen as less rewarding:

-          You will spend all week preparing the varsity team for Friday night’s game.  In other words, if you allow it, you will get pounded all week.  In effect, you are a varsity player without the varsity rewards

-          The crowds will be smaller than they were for last year’s freshman games

-          Winning is important, but not most important

-          Playing time is not guaranteed, but is determined by effort, attitude, performance, and opportunity for team success!  We: not I or me.

Why it is most important:

-          Dealing with the above points will prove your determination to your coaches

-          This year will most likely see you settle into the position you will play as a varsity football player

-          You will work with the same position coaches you will as a varsity player and they will start evaluating your varsity potential NOW

-          You will be running the EXACT same offense and defense as the varsity program and will be expected to know it when you return as a junior

-          You will be expected to develop a sense of ownership of the program and know that it will only go as far as you choose to take it

-          While good coaches know that the sophomore W-L record isn’t necessarily an indicator of varsity success, some players don’t.  You have the chance to gain a psychological edge for the next two years (we own the Big 12 Conference – remind them every Saturday morning)

Goals:

1.      To improve as people and players.  Every day, every practice, every game.

2.      To prepare the varsity football team for Friday night’s game.

3.      To win as many games as goals 1 and 2 will allow.