Athletic Handbook

I. Cincinnati Country Day School Mission

Cincinnati Country Day School, founded in 1926, is a coeducational college preparatory school serving pre-primary through twelfth grade students. The school continues to emphasize educational excellence and character development. The school helps each student reach his or her potential by providing a strong academic program, offering opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities, developing responsibility and respect for others, embracing a diverse community and building self-confidence and self-esteem.

Each student leaves Cincinnati Country Day School with superior academic preparation, having grown personally in areas of social interaction and self- awareness. Each student, participating responsibly in the immediate and worldwide communities of which the school is a part, exhibits high moral character, integrity and respect.

Cincinnati Country Day School fulfills its mission by providing superior faculty and staff who build on each student’s uniqueness and encourage active participation in a varied curriculum rich in meaning. The school advocates a diverse community as an educational imperative and builds community through opportunities for student leadership and parental involvement. In superior learning facilities and in a climate conducive to intellectual, social, physical and artistic development, the school instills a lifelong love of learning.

II. Cincinnati Country Day School Athletic Mission

The Cincinnati Country Day Athletic Department is dedicated to providing opportunities for each student-athlete to achieve his/her athletic, academic, personal and social potential in support of the five core values of the School’s mission.

All department goals, principles and policies have been created in an effort to make the mission statement a true focus in the everyday life of the Cincinnati Country Day student-athlete.

III. OHSAA Mission Statement

Good sportsmanship is viewed by the National Federation as a commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity. In perception and practice, sportsmanship is defined as those qualities which are characterized by generosity and genuine concern for others. The ideals of sportsmanship apply equally to all activity disciplines. Individuals, regardless of their role in activities, are expected to be aware of their influence on the behavior of others and model good sportsmanship.

IV. Miami Valley Conference Mission Statement

The Miami Valley Conference coaches, officials, administrators and fans shall promote respect on and off the playing field. We shall be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Our mission is to aspire to these high ideals in word and deed, and at the same time, to have fun.

V. Expectations of Miami Conference Fans

Let the official handle the game.
No obscene gestures or language.
Be respectful and courteous to others.
Cheer and support the teams not against an opponent.
No taunting, use self control.

VI. CCDS Athletic Department Principles

The Cincinnati Country Day Athletic Department is dedicated to the following principles:

Interscholastic athletics are an important part of the overall educational program.
The total development of the student-athlete is the Athletic Department’s primary focus.
Athletics is a program that is always in the public spotlight.
Excessive development within any area of a student-athlete’s interest at the expense of another program is to be avoided.
Extra-curricular activities should enhance the school’s mission.
It is important to instill a loyalty in participants to self, team and school and to develop a competitive spirit that produces winners on and off the field.

VII. Resources Provided by the Athletic Department

The Athletic Department is committed to achieving its principles by:

Providing safe equipment.
Hiring educated and experienced coaching staff.
Maintaining safe, clean and accommodating facilities.
Actively assisting in finding post-secondary athletic opportunities by working with the athlete and college counselors.

Encouraging and supporting all student-athletes to participate and make a commitment to more than one athletic team during the year.
Balancing the athletic budget by adopting a process of thoughtful and meaningful planning.
Providing Professional Development money for coaches to attend local or national conventions.

VIII. Personal Development of the CCDS Student-Athlete

By participating in Cincinnati Country Day athletics, the student-athlete will be given the opportunity to develop a wide range of life skills. Sports participation will:

Increase communication skills necessary for learning and implementing strategy.
Increase the general fitness of each student-athlete by requiring physical work in aerobic endurance, muscular strength, flexibility and sport specific techniques.
Increase collaboration skills and qualities of a positive team member through commitment to common expectations.
Increase self-confidence and self-awareness as a result of daily challenges and risk-taking associated with public performance.
Teach integrity, discipline and self-restraint through the rules of the game.
Teach humility and grace through both winning and losing experiences.
Teach resiliency through risk-taking and perseverance.
Teach the importance of consistent preparation as a component of successful performance.

IX. Expectations for the CCDS Student-Athlete

A Cincinnati Country Day student-athlete will be expected to:

Accept an individual role as a member of a team.
Meet the defined sportsmanship expectations in the CCDS Code of Conduct.
Make a commitment to TEAM.
Represent Cincinnati Country Day with class and grace in victory and defeat.
Dedicate him or herself to be at all games and practices during the season.
Pick up for themselves after practices and games.
Dress in an acceptable manner when attending practices or after practices on the CCDS campus.
Adhere to all policies and practices set out by the Athletic Department

X. Code of Conduct

Athletic Department guidelines have been created with one goal in mind: to allow each athlete to become the best he/she is capable of being. The guidelines are formulated from the conviction that athletic achievement is enhanced by healthy diet, healthy personal habits and abstinence from alcohol and drugs. These guidelines exist to promote the soundness of body and mind that are the core of athletic excellence. Every CCDS coach and student-athlete is expected to represent the school in a manner wholly consistent with the CCDS Code of Conduct and our character values: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Compassion, and Courage.

Participation on any Athletic Department sponsored team/squad is a privilege. Participants must earn the right to represent Cincinnati Country Day School by conducting themselves in such a manner that the image of the school is not tarnished in any way. The discipline policies of the athletic department will follow the guidelines set forth by the upper school. Coaches are required to immediately report any serious violation of school rules to the Athletic Director. Any action taken against a student-athlete will be consistent with discipline policies and procedures set out in the CCDS Student Handbook.

XI. Policies of the CCDS Athletic Department

The Athletic Director and Director of Plant Operations shall direct the use of athletic facilities for practice, interscholastic competition and individuals or groups renting the facilities.
All coaches are expected to assist in, and contribute to, the success of the total athletic program.
The Athletic Director is the one and only official spokesperson for the Athletic Department. All coaches are expected to use proper “Chain of Command”, beginning with the Athletic Director.
All coaches should make equipment requests to the Athletic Director.
All coaches will be paid employees of Cincinnati Country Day School and will understand and uphold the school’s mission as well as the athletic department’s mission statement.
The Athletic Department will not schedule non-league games over the Thanksgiving break.
We take great pride in the fact our coaches are also educators. Therefore, it is the policy of the Athletic Department that CCDS student-athletes be universally held accountable to the code of conduct, regardless of their relative athletic ability.
Student-athletes are not to be penalized in any way for not attending a voluntary practice. Likewise, when planning voluntary practices over vacation times, consideration is to be given towards student family plans.
Requests to move games or times must come through the Athletic Director.
The school shall abide by the times of contests established by the league.
Players may not be excused from class time to practice, individually or in a group.
If it is necessary to leave class early to attend a competition, all players and coaches will be excused at a specific time agreeable to the Athletic Department and Upper School Head. These arrangements will be communicated to the Upper School Faculty via e-mail by the Athletic Department.
The coach is the recognized leader of the athletes of his/her team; the coach’s attitude and conduct should represent CCDS with dignity and follow the CCDS Code of Conduct.
At the Junior Varsity level, any player who has attended practice and demonstrated commitment to the team can expect ‘game time’. It is at the discretion of the coach as to when during the competition and for how long.
Every coach is a teacher of values as well as tactics.
Every coach will be proactive in modeling the positive behaviors that we expect from our student/athletes and fans.

XII. Sportsmanship

Student-athletes are role models within the school, the community, in the Miami Valley Conference, and around the state of Ohio. As such, they are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. A good sport knows that athletic competition builds character and shapes lifetime attitudes. Integrity, fairness, common decency, courtesy and respect are inherent principals of good sportsmanship. With them, the spirit of competition thrives, fueled by honest rivalry, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of the results.

Cincinnati Country Day Student-Athlete’s goals for sportsmanship include:

Developing a sense of dignity under all circumstances.
Respecting the rules of the games, the officials who administer the rules and their decisions.
Respecting opponents as fellow students; acknowledging them for striving to do their best while you seek your best.
Refraining from engaging in all types of disrespectful behavior, specifically taunting, trash talking and other forms of distracting or intimidating behavior.
Looking at athletic participation as a potentially beneficial learning experience, whether you win or lose.
Educating other students and fans to understand the rules of the game, and the value of sportsmanship.

CCDS athletes are spokespeople for Cincinnati Country Day School when representing the school in athletic competition. Their actions are viewed by family, friends, opposing fans, the local community and the media. Displaying good sportsmanship will show the most positive things about the individual athlete and Cincinnati Country Day School.

The OHSAA has established specific rules for the promotion of sportsmanship and the reduction of participation when unsportsmanlike conduct is displayed during a contest. The OHSAA handbook has outlined consequences for players in the following manner:

Any player ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct or flagrant foul shall be ineligible for contest for the remainder of the day as well as for all contests in that sport until two regular season/tournament contests (one in football) are played on the same level of ejection.

If the ejection occurs in the last contest of the season, the student shall be ineligible for the same period of time stated above in the next sport in which the student participates. A student under suspension may not sit on the team bench, enter the locker room or be affiliated with the team in any way traveling to, during or after the contest.

A student who is ejected a second time shall be suspended for the remainder of the season in that sport.

The Cincinnati Country Day Athletic Department fully supports the state policies of the OHSAA and will ensure their compliance. In addition, any athlete ejected from a contest will meet with the Athletic Director and may be required by the coach to complete extra activities before rejoining the team in a competitive manner.

Cincinnati Country Day fans/parents will be held to the same standards as our student/athletes. Fans are guests at athletic contests. As such, spectators should conduct themselves in an appropriate manner for a sporting contest among young athletes. CCDS Administrators reserve the right to remove a spectator from an athletic facility for inappropriate, unsportsmanlike behavior.

XIII. Scholastic Eligibility for Students

OHSAA Scholarship Requirements and By-Laws (Re-Printed from the OHSAA Bylaws printed in 2000)

1-1-1 The bylaws and sports regulations apply to all participants in interscholastic athletic contests involving students in grades seven through twelve and include matters of eligibility, contracts, qualifications, responsibility and behavior of various personnel.

3-4-1 Athletic participation forms for the participants in any of the grades 9-12 shall be signed by a medical examiner, the participant and by a parent or guardian. These forms must be on file with the principal or designee before

any candidate for a team may participate in a practice. These forms shall require the medical examiner to certify the individual’s physical fitness no less than once each calendar year.

3-5-1 At the beginning of each sport season the principal or the official designee of

each school shall prepare an eligibility certificate listing only those students eligible under OHSAA rules to represent the school in each sport.

4-1-1 Each student shall meet all requirements in this bylaw to be eligible to

Participate in interscholastic athletic competition.

4-2-1 If a student enrolled in high school attains the age of 19 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in high school interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

4-2-2 A student shall become eligible for high school athletics when the student

Attains the fifteenth birthday before August 1, or when the student attains ninth grade standing. The student is eligible at the school where the student is expected to enroll at the ninth grade level.

4-3-4 After a student completes the eighth grade, the student shall be eligible for a period not to exceed eight semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the student participates or not.

4-4-1 In order to be eligible in grades 9-12; a student must be currently enrolled and must have been enrolled in school the immediately preceding grading period. During the preceding grading period, the student must have received passing grades in a minimum of five one-credit courses or the equivalent which count towards graduation.

4-4-2 The eligibility or ineligibility of a student continues until the start of the fifth school day of the next grading period, at which time the grades from the immediately preceding grading period becomes effective. EXCEPTION: Eligibility or ineligibility for the first grading period commences with the start of the fall sports season.

4-4-3 A student enrolled in the first grading period after advancement from the eighth grade must have passed 75% of those subjects carried the preceding grading period in which the student was enrolled.

4-4-5 The eligibility of a transfer student must be established by school records or verification from the sending school. The responsibility for establishing eligibility rests with the receiving school.

4-4-6 Summer school grades earned may not be used to substitute for failing grades of the last grading period of the regular school year.

4-4-7 Tutoring or examinations to complete the preceding grading period requirements is permissible providing the inability to complete the required work on time is due to illness or accident verified by a physician and the procedure applies to all students in the school.

4-6-1 A student is eligible at the public or non-public school located in the district where the parent resides.

4-7-1 A transfer student is one enrolled in and attending a member school outside the district of residence of the parent or legal guardian.

4-7-2 The transfer bylaw applies to all students enrolled in grades 7-12. It applies to all member schools, both public and non-public.

4-7-3 If a student transfers after the first day of the student’s ninth grade year from a non-public to a public, from a public to a non-public, from a public to a public, or from a non-public to a non-public, the student will be ineligible for one year from the date of enrollment.

NOTE: The student-athlete’s advisor, Athletic Director, coach and Upper School Head will monitor the eligibility. The advisor and Athletic Director will notify student-athletes of their eligibility status. If a student-athlete becomes ineligible he/she will not participate in any contest until eligibility has been re-established. Ineligible students will be allowed to practice. Students are strongly encouraged to take a minimum of six full credit courses during each quarter

XIV. Multi-Sport Student-Athletes

All Cincinnati Country Day athletes, parents and coaches should understand the importance of the multiple-sport athlete to our program and support, encourage and allow student-athletes to participate in one, two or three seasons as they so choose. At no time should a CCDS coach encourage a CCDS athlete to specialize in one specific program. Coaches should do their best to support the multi-sport concept. End of the year awards look strongly at individual student-athlete participation in the entire athletic program for all four years.

XV. Team Offerings for the Upper School Student-Athlete

Fall Sports

Football—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Boys Golf—Varsity, Junior Varsity—(maximum of 14 golfers)

Girls Golf—Varsity

Boys and Girls Cross Country—Varsity

Boys Soccer—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Girls Soccer—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Girls Tennis—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Girls Volleyball—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Winter Sports

Wrestling—Varsity

Gymnastics—Varsity

Boys and Girls Swimming—Varsity

Boys Basketball—Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman

Girls Basketball—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Spring Sports

Boys Baseball—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Girls Softball—Varsity

Boys and Girls Track—Varsity

Boys Lacrosse—Varsity

Boys Tennis—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Boys and Girls Crew—Varsity, Junior Varsity

Girls Lacrosse --Varsity

XVI. Duties of the Athletic Director

The Athletic Director shall be responsible as the administrative head of the athletic program; he/she shall represent the school and serve as the liaison officer with participating schools, school officials, coaches, boosters and the general public.
The Athletic Director shall represent the school at state, district, and league meetings.
The Athletic Director shall supervise the complete athletic program and advise the administration on policies and procedures for the athletes.
The Athletic Director along with the members on his/her staff will handle all paper work which includes: correspondence with coaches, records, inventories, contracts, publicity for events, officials vouchers, purchase orders, budgets and bus schedules.
Execute the purchase and distribution of supplies.
Prepare and update the handbook with administrative approval.
Draft schedules with the assistance of the coach for each sport.
Supervise preparations of fields and courts for home games.
Provide necessary dressing rooms and accommodations for visiting teams.
Make sure coaches know time and location of tournament draws.
Arrange a program to honor the student/athletes.
Maintain harmony among the members of the coaching staffs; in cases of dispute among coaches, settle them in the best manner possible.
Make certain the directives of the school authorities are carried out.
Provide all safety precautions available to players, students and others.
Make sure that each coach takes care of his/her equipment, including marking, proper storage, inventory, issuing, and collecting at the end of the season.
Maintain harmony with other schools.
Seek candidates for open coaching positions, by looking at our teaching staff first.
Arrange for staffing of contests where admission is collected.
Discuss OHSAA rules, MVC rules and athletic department rules with coaches to assure complete understanding.
Promote good relations with the public, news media, civic organizations and boosters.
Coordinate all planning for such special days as Homecoming, Hall of Fame Banquet, Varsity Dinner, Athletic Assemblies.
Coordinate the use of facilities.

XVII. Duties of the Upper School Head Coach

Prepare a wish list for their sport which details the equipment needed to run their program.
Select needed equipment after the budget has been approved.
Be responsible for cleanliness, team behavior, and over-all condition of locker rooms, training rooms, and equipment rooms during the year.
Collect all equipment and store in a safe location at the end of the season.
Turn in a complete inventory of all equipment.
Turn in names of athletes who have lost equipment—they will be billed to their student account.
Prepare a complete roster of players, their jersey numbers, grade, and other pertinent information. This list should be turned into the Athletic Department as soon as possible after the start of practices. The Athletic Director will verify eligibility of the student-athletes.
Attend OHSAA rules interpretation meetings.
File with the Athletic Director, a certificate that indicates successful completion of sports medicine and CPR training which satisfies state requirements.
Keep storage areas clean and neat at all times.
Supervise conduct in dressing rooms and locker rooms at all times, reporting any case of vandalism to the Athletic Director.
Make certain that each student-athlete has had a complete physical examination before the season starts and is covered by insurance or a standard disclaimer form. No student-athlete is permitted to practice until both of these requirements are fulfilled.
Instill in each player a respect for equipment and school property.
Obtain a list of all student-athletes interested in college athletics or student-athletes who you think ought to pursue college athletics. Submit this list to the Athletic Director.
Do all the necessary paper work to promote the student-athletes who wish to play college athletics.
Set up a schedule for practice sessions starting with the first day permitted by OHSAA.
Follow to the letter the administrative policies set forth by the Head of School. Abide by all state and league policies.
Be responsible for the selection and certification of all tournament teams, league meets, invitational tournaments and seeing that proper information is recorded with the tournament manager.
Report all new equipment and supplies to the Athletic Director.
Coordinate the distribution of equipment must be with the Athletic Director.
Assume all other duties assigned to them by the Athletic Director.
Work with the Middle School coaches to insure that there is a bridge between the Middle School Athletic program and your varsity and junior varsity levels.
Assist in planning special end of the season programs for their sport.
File a summary report of the season with the Athletic Department—win/loses, award winners, honors.
Supervise student-athletes who remain on campus after school ends (3:15 p.m.) waiting for a late practice or game. Have
Supervise team members who remain on campus waiting for the bus for away games.
Supervise team members when they return from away contests and be responsible for them until they leave the building and the campus.
Be responsible for making sure that any team member who is picked up after practice or an away game (e.g. by a parent) is not left alone at school. In the event the coach finds he or she frequently has to remain at school to wait for a parent to pick up a student-athlete, the coach should report this to the Athletic Director. If necessary, the Head of the Upper School will meet with the parent to discuss the matter.

XVIII. Duties of Assistant Coaches

The assistant coach is defined as any coach in a particular athletic season other than the head coach of the team.
Assistant coaches are responsible to the Athletic Director and their head coach.
Practice schedules, personnel and other team plans should be discussed with the head coach to assure program unity and balance.
It is the responsibility of the assistant coach to promote and improve the varsity program to the best of his/her ability.
Assistant coaches will assume any duties assigned to him/her by the Head Coach pertaining to the overall athletic program of their particular sport. Some of those duties are: conducting practices, handling equipment, working with student managers, scouting, statistics, video taping, be at all varsity contests.

Assistant Coaches should notify the Head Coach if they expect to be absent from practice or a game.

XIX. Equipment and Uniforms

Each Cincinnati Country Day School student-athlete is financially responsible for any equipment that is issued to them for play on a team. The student-athlete should keep it clean and in good condition. Each student-athlete should plan on purchasing personal equipment necessary to practice and compete in their sport.

Each student-athlete will be issued a team uniform that must be worn to contests; uniforms for most sports will not be issued on the day of the contest. The team uniform will be returned to the head coach within two weeks of the end of the season. The replacement cost for any uniform is three times the cost of the item due to the purchase of single items. Replacement costs will be charged on the student bill if a uniform is not returned or has been destroyed.

XX. Transportation

The Athletic Director is responsible for arrangement for team transportation to away contests. Transportation will be provided by yellow school bus, school vans or charter company. Exceptions to this rule will be given on a case-by-case basis where written notification from a guardian is submitted to the Athletic Director and Head Coach prior to the event. Students MAY NOT transport other students in their car to away contests or practices. Athletes wishing to go home with their guardian after a match must communicate this to the head coach before being dismissed. After returning to CCDS, all students should remain in the school building until they are picked up.

XXI. Insurance and Medical Information

Any Cincinnati Country Day student who wishes to participate in the athletic program must submit evidence of a recent physical examination each year. This medical form must be signed by the examining physician as well as by a parent or guardian and must be on file in the Athletic Director’s office before any student will be permitted to practice. These forms are mailed home with fourth quarter grades or are available from the Upper School Office or Athletic Department. These forms are required by OHSAA.

All student-athletes must be covered under their own medical and hospitalization insurance. CCDS does not assume responsibility for insuring student-athletes.

In injury cases, all major decisions regarding a student-athlete’s readiness to play must be determined by the physician and/or parents. The coach is obligated to abide by these decisions. The coach is responsible for the necessary communication with the parents.

XXII. Attendance at School and at Practice

In order for a student-athlete to be eligible for a game or practice, he/she must be at school by the beginning of 3rd bell. Possible exceptions to the above will be dealt with by the Athletic Director and Upper School Head.

If school is dismissed early or cancelled for any reason, games or practices must be approved by the Athletic Director.

XXIII. Athletic Participation

Participating on a CCDS Varsity team is a privilege, not a right. Varsity team membership is based on fitness, ability, attitude, consistent effort, knowledge of fundamentals, and commitment. A student-athlete earns the privilege to make a team and play. The best student-athlete, at the coach’s discretion, plays as much as required in an attempt to achieve competitive excellence and win the contest. A team member, in good standing may play the entire contest or not at all.

Junior Varsity athletics develops athletes to compete on the varsity level either in the immediate or distant future. The goal and emphasis at the Junior Varsity level will be participation of every member of a team and the further development and participation in the sport in succeeding years.

At the discretion of the coach, student athletes at any level who have not attended practice consistently or whose efforts in practice is detrimental to the team dynamic may not receive playing time.

XXIV. Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Illegal Drugs

Cincinnati Country Day School is concerned with the healthful habits of all students and is convinced that participation in athletics and the use of controlled substances are not compatible. Athletic participation and its life-long benefits for students cannot be compromised with substance abuse. A student athlete who chooses to use banned or controlled substances jeopardizes team morale, team reputation, team success, and most of all, self growth and personal health and safety.

The following acts are strictly prohibited:

Use or possession of alcohol or harmful drugs not prescribed by a physician during the sports season.
Use or possession of tobacco in any form during the sports season.

Any consequence for the student/athlete will be consistent with the schools response for other CCDS students.

XXV. Policy Regarding Potential Collegiate Athletes

Students are expected to:

Inform their coaches of the colleges to which they plan to apply as a recruited athlete.
Make contact with the college coaches themselves early in the application process.
Pass on requests for athletic information to their coaches and requests for academic information to the Director of College Counseling.
Register for NCAA Div. 1 & 2 clearances if necessary. Forms are available from the college office.

Student-Athletes can expect coaches to:

Make contact with coaches when requested to by the student.
Return requests for information from college coaches with the permission of the student.
Meet with the student and his/her parents to discuss the possibility of the student’s participation in collegiate athletics when a meeting is requested by the student or parent.
Give an honest appraisal of the student’s chances of competing at a particular level.
Be aware of academic requirements.
Be aware of the rules and regulations regarding the requirement of athletes.

Information regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse and eligibility can also be found on the web at www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa

XXVI. Grievance Procedure

Occasionally, a situation might arise whereby a student-athlete is concerned or unhappy about the way he or she feels they have been treated. These are usually the result of misunderstanding or miscommunication, rather than malicious intent. The ability to manage difficult or uncomfortable situations or relationships is an important life skill. Moreover, most situations are not as bad as they first might seem and can be resolved quickly in a straightforward way, when confronted directly. Any student-athlete who feels he or she has a grievance of any kind should first approach the Head Coach of the sport he or she is participating in. If this route does not lead to a mutually agreeable outcome, or if the nature of the situation means the student is uncomfortable approaching the coach, the student-athlete can approach the Athletic Director for assistance. If the matter still remains unresolved, the student-athlete should contact the Upper School Head.

Cincinnati Country Day School

Athletic Department

Student/Athlete Contract

Name______________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________

City and State_______________________________________________

Phone Number______________________________________________

This contract states that I have read the Athletic Handbook and can abide by all the policies and information that is laid forth. As a CCDS student/athlete, I will represent Country Day to the best of my ability both on the playing field and off.

Athlete’s Signature:__________________________________________________

Parent’s Signature:__________________________________________________