Participation in athletics should be an enjoyable, rewarding and enriching experience for all parties involved: student, coach and parent. There is no doubt that participation tends to be emotionally charged, and dealing constructively with these emotions can be an excellent learning experience. In most cases, athletic competition is extremely positive and complements the educational experience enjoyed by students at Newton North High School. Occasionally conflicts between coaches and students arise. These conflicts must be addressed and resolved immediately so that the many benefits of athletic involvement may continue to contribute to the emotional and physical growth of Newton North High School students.

Coaches are first and foremost teachers; athletes are first and foremost students. Each should exhibit on the playing field the same high standards one would find in the academic classroom.

The assumption is that every man and woman who coaches high school students views himself or herself as a teacher first. It is within the relationship between the teacher-coach and the student-athlete that life lessons and values are taught and learned. The school's initiatives in wellness, citizenship, sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics affect most student-athletes when our coaches emphasize these values.

In most instances, during the season of play a student-athlete spends more time daily under the direct supervision and guidance of his/her coach than any other adult. This time spent should be enjoyable, educational, positive and worthwhile.

At Newton North High School, athletes should expect to be treated with respect and to be treated fairly by their coaches. The coaches are professionals who are aware of and committed to upholding the responsibilities they have to follow, the policies and regulations of the MIAA, the Bay State Conference and Newton North High School.

Each student must be treated as an individual, yet as part of the team. Rules and regulations must be uniformly and fairly enforced at all times.

The percentage of student athletes whose participation in organized sports ends with high school is overwhelming (well in excess of 90%). Therefore, we focus our attention upon developing goals that will develop contributing members of society after high school: goal setting, quality of effort, commitment, teamwork, dedication and a competitive spirit. Winning and championships become a byproduct of this quality of our efforts.

Communication: Practice, game schedules and other time commitments, consistent with the guidelines mentioned previously in this booklet, will be distributed in writing to all team members. All head coaches will conduct a preseason informational meeting for all team members and parents to disseminate team expectations, rules, regulations and schedules.

Team rules and regulations, in addition to the ones stated in this booklet, will be well defined, distributed, discussed and enforced with all team members. Self-discipline of all student athletes will be encouraged. Penalties for rule violations will also be well defined, and applied fairly and consistently.

Individual Success: The coach will make every attempt to provide an opportunity in practice and contests for each athlete to succeed to the best of his/her abilities. The least skilled athlete deserves the same energy of teaching as the most skilled.

Social and Emotional Growth: The coach will attempt to assist each athlete to grow socially and emotionally. This aim is most easily accomplished with positive feedback and timely and sensitive communication with each individual team member.

“Tiger Pride” is a contagious community rallying cry and it is expected that Newton North teams will support each other, not compete against each other for recognition.

Athletic Performance: Individual performance by an athlete will be critiqued by a coach and shared with each student at the appropriate time.

Each athlete will be encouraged to work towards his/her full potential and each coach shall be involved in developing a positive self-image in all team members. Coaches will not negatively critique an athlete's performance via the media.

Skill Development: Each athlete will be taught the rules and skills of the game with the goal of developing maximum proficiency in the specific sport area. Each athlete should leave our program technically and tactically improved.

Approachability: The coach will be available to all of his/her athletes. Team members are encouraged to approach the coach about any topic that they wish. Students should make every attempt, if a matter is of a personal nature, to approach the coach privately and when there is sufficient time for worthwhile discussion. Coaches should be open and receptive and encourage these individual opportunities to educate and communicate.

Competitiveness: According to the MIAA philosophy, “winning contests, rather than losing them, is a laudable goal,” but “it should not supersede the primary priorities of high school sport programs” as listed in this document. Newton North High School coaches and athletes do and should play to win. All involved enjoy winning rather than losing, but they also know that preparing students to succeed rather than merely to win games is more important. Win or lose, students should learn lessons of a lasting and positive nature.

Each coach employed by Newton North High School is evaluated on his/her performance at the conclusion of each athletic season. The evaluations are performed informally by the head coach for each of his/her assistant coaches and formally by the athletic director for each head coach.

The formal coaching evaluation consists of adherence to the policies stated in this “Guide to Athletics at Newton North” and the following:

In addition, coaches are given a “Coaches Self-Evaluation Questionnaire” that affords them the opportunity to evaluate their coaching characteristics. Many coaches also use this tool to allow their teams to provide constructive feedback for enhancing their programs.

Athletic involvement is highly emotional and very time consuming. Sometimes conflicts arise between students, coaches, and occasionally parents. However, the student's interest is best served when each participant understands the position of the other. This understanding can only be accomplished by open and honest communication. When conflicts or issues arise it is important that they be addressed immediately, and as directly as possible, so that they can be promptly resolved.

Students and their parents should use the following process as a guideline when seeking resolution to conflicts or issues between an athlete and a coach:

The athlete should present the conflict/issue to the coach as soon as possible. If personal contact is not practical, a student may ask his/her team captain to approach the coach. If the personal or captain route is not possible, contact may be made by the athlete's parent at an appropriate time. In order for the contact to be as productive as possible, times that athletes, captains or parents should avoid are

Perhaps the best solution is to ask the coach, either over the phone or in person, if an appointment could be made to discuss the issue. A parent or student may also leave a note for the coach in the athletic office.

If a satisfactory solution is not reached through direct contact with the coach, the student and/or parent should contact the Athletic Director. The coach should be informed that this contact is going to be made. If this discussion does not result in a satisfactory conclusion, then a meeting will be scheduled involving all concerned parties in an attempt to reach a satisfactory resolution.

There should be no delay in airing any and all concerns since this process could take time and athletic seasons are relatively short, it is very important for all students and their parents to know that any comments, concerns or issues raised to the Athletic Director will be addressed. Parents and students may also expect to hear from the Athletic Director as to the disposition of their concerns.

While there can be no guarantee that all parties will agree with all resolutions or findings, a thorough, respectful airing of different perceptions and experiences can lead to more productive relationships and clearer understandings in the future.

If there is still not a satisfactory resolution, the student or parent may contact the high school Principal. The Athletic Director should be informed that this contact is going to be made.

Students and parents must be confident that the voicing of an opinion or concern, using the proper forum and method, is not only free from penalty or retribution, but also is strongly encouraged. The Athletic Director and coaches are committed to insuring that after a student or parent raises an issue or concern, there shall be no “retribution” in any form within the athletic department at Newton North High School. If at any time, a student or his/her parent suspects that some form of retribution is surfacing as a result of the voicing of a concern, opinion, or issue, using the proper forum and method, he or she should contact the Athletic Director immediately.