Track Rules

Student name_________________________________________ Date ________________________ Rules for Heights track parents and students 1. Because we don’t have safe pole vault facilities, pole vaulters will practice vaulting at Piedra Vista with Coach Leupold after the regular track practice is over. All other athletes will practice here at Heights until our season is completed. 2. Practice normally will be from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We practice in all kinds of weather, snow and rain included. The only time we will not practice outside is if it is lightning, and the coaches will make the decision to use the gym instead. Parents should pick up their athletes right at 5:30 on practice days. Students will be bused to the meets we have at Farmington High, but we will only have one bus return as most parents sign out their athletes. 3. Spring in Farmington is fickle. Sometimes it’s a beautiful day. Sometimes it snows, and the wind blows like crazy. Parents and athletes are responsible for making sure students have enough clothing to keep the students warm at practices and meets. That includes windbreaker and heavy coat (or layers of clothing), gloves, and ear or head protection. Athletes are responsible for having all their clothing before they leave practice or a meet. Sport bags help keep items safe and dry. Check the weather forecast every day. 4. We will keep strict attendance records. Students who miss practice may not be allowed to travel with us to the next meet. Parent excuses are vital. “DIDN’T WANT TO COME TO PRACTICE” IS NOT AN EXCUSE. DO NOT SIGN FOR YOUR STUDENT IF THIS IS THE CASE. Students who are injured must be at practice to help as they can, learn what they can, and support the team. We will have them walk as many miles as they can during practice. Students who are sick must clear that illness with Coach Leupold. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT DRINK EACH OTHERS’ DRINKS, AS DISEASES CAN BE PASSED THAT WAY. We really don’t want half the team down with the flu as we prepare for the Basin track championships. Since we figure out our entries during the week, we must know ahead of time if a student cannot participate in the meet. If a student is sick the day before a meet or the day of the meet, please contact Coach Leupold at 599-8611, Ext. 6031, or at wleupold@fms.k12.nm.us. Since missing practice means losing out on training, students who miss practice for any reason will do extra work when they return. The athlete or a parent must either tell Coach Leupold or e-mail or voice-mail him the day of the absence, or the athlete will have to do two extra workouts instead of one to make up for the time missed. Athletes who miss Friday practices will have two extra workouts to make up, three if they don’t inform Coach Leupold on the same day that they miss practice. 5. Heights students in basketball and other winter sports here or at a high school are expected to come out for practice as soon as their winter sport season ends. Students who try out for spring sports at the high school but get cut from their teams are allowed to join the Heights track team as long as they do so immediately after they are told they didn’t make the high school team. Students must practice with the track team for five days before they will be eligible to compete in a track meet. 6. Students who miss school the day of a meet cannot compete in the meet. Students who miss practice the day before a meet may not be allowed to compete in the meet. However, students who miss school and practice for school-sponsored activities such as choir, band, or Honor Society can compete. 7. We will have seven meets, starting in early March and ending with the Basin championships in April.

8. Coaches each week during the competition season will e-mail a list of events in which students will perform. Students are not to leave a meet until they have contacted a coach to ensure they have run/jumped/ thrown in all their events. Team members must stay until the trophy presentations after the city championships and the Basin championships. Then their parents can check them out. 9. Any student caught smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or stealing will be dismissed from the team. 10. Students are expected to behave in class, at practice, and at track meets. Horsing around, fighting, and hazing will not be tolerated. Students will be expected to support teammates at practices and meets. 11. Students will be allowed to travel home from out-of-town meets only with their parents unless the parents have filled out a special form and have designated another parent as chauffeur. At out-of-town meets, parents will be allowed to take their student home after they sign the checkout list held by a coach. All other students will be required to take the bus home. 12. Cellphones and all forms of electronics, from music to video games, will not be allowed during practice or during warmups at meets. Students who take them to meets do so at their own risk. 13. Students will not be allowed to practice until their physical form, a copy of their medical insurance card, a certificate that shows the student completed an online concussion awareness course, and the athletic participation form have been filed online with the RankOneSports website and have been approved by the Piedra Vista trainers. Students who don’t have medical insurance can buy school insurance for about $70. 14. We will work with students who play other sports. If the other sport is a nonschool sport, they will have training to do here before they can leave practice for their other sport. If it works out that students who are playing a sport at the high school also can run with us, that can be worked out as well. It is hoped that coaches of nonschool sports will realize that their athletes are running track at the different middle schools and will schedule their practices under the lights, say, for soccer or baseball. 15. Siblings and friends are NOT allowed to stay at practice with athletes. 16. Parents can e-mail Mr. Leupold at wleupold@fms.k12.nm.us so a track e-mail directory can be created. Parents’ contact numbers (Please write carefully so coaches can read your writing.) Dad: Home_____________ Work______________ Cell_____________E-mail_____________________ Mom: Home_____________ Work______________ Cell_____________E-mail_____________________ Student: Cell _____________ I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the rules for the Heights track team. ___________________________________ Student’s signature ___________________________________ Parent’s signature ___________________________________ Parent’s signature