Westford Academy Athletics

Fall Preseason Information NightSeptember 2nd, 2015

WELCOME BACK!

www.wagreyghosts.com Twitter @WAGreyGhosts

Westford Academy Athletic Booster Club

• Support for all student athletes• New Faces always welcome• Main Fundraisers include:– Scholarship Drive– Winter Blues Party– NE Patriots Basketball Game– Trivia Night

Tonight's Guest SpeaskerTom Hermanowski

• Executive Director of the ADAPT Program

• Tonight's Presentation: “It’s Your Team, It’s Your Performance, It’s Your Decision”

Staff

• Dan Twomey, Athletic Director – 978-692-5570 x 2108 dtwomey@westfordk12.us

• Betsy Parke, Administrative Assistant – 978-692-5570 x 2121 bparke@westfordk12.us

• Bill Bombaci, Head Athletic Trainer– 978-692-5570 x 2133 bbombaci@westfordk12.us

• Emails for all coaches listed on www.wagreyghosts.com

Athletics Mission Statement

• The purpose of the Westford Academy athletic program is to provide an opportunity for student athletes to participate and share in a positive environment of spirited competition. Our goal is to instill basic values that build student athlete character as an individual and member of a team through the involvement in the interscholastic athletic program.

Student-Athlete Character • Fun• Work Ethic• Commitment• Leadership • Chemical Health/Wellness• Communication• Time Management• Patience• Overcoming Adversity• Discipline• Pride• Toughness

• Spirit• Pursuit of Perfection• Citizenship• Sense of Community• Effort• Confidence• Intensity• Winning/Losing Graciously• Accountability

Student-Athlete Expectations

• Team/Program Rules– Breakout Sessions/Team Meetings

• Student Athlete Handbook– http://wa.westfordk12.us/pages/

WestfordWA_Athletics/handbook.pdf• MIAA Blue Book– http://www.miaa.net/bluebook.htm

• WA Handbook– http://wa.westfordk12.us/pages/

WestfordWA_guidance/WAhandbook.pdf

Fall Important Dates/Conflicts• Preseason Coaches Meeting 8/19/15 4pm• 8/31 Teachers Return• 9/1 9th Grade Orientation Day• 9/1 Senior Kick Off Meeting PAC 6:30 PM• 9/2 10-12 Classes Begin• 9/2 Fall Sports Preseason Meeting Night

6:30• 9/4 No School Labor Day Weekend• 9/7 No School labor Day• 9/12 Team Picture /Booster Club

Scholarship Drive• 9/14-9/15 Rosh Hashanah• 9/16 ½ Day• 9/22-9/23 Yom Kippur• 9/25 Mr. WA Contest

• 10/1 BACK to School Night- No Afternoon Practices or Games- NO School

• 10/3 SAT Date • 10/12 Columbus Day No School• 10/13 NO School – Professional Devel.• 10/19-10/23 Spirit Week• 10/22 Lady Ghost Flag Football• 10/23 Homecoming Tailgate and Football

Game• 10/24 ACT• 11/5 DCL Cheer Comp.• 11/7 SAT’s

Student-Athlete Eligibility and Information

• Academics• Attendance• Medical• Chemical Health/Wellness• Transportation• Uniforms/Equipment• Code of Conduct• Bullying/Harassment• Bona fide Team Rule

Student Athlete Eligibility

• Academics - A student is eligible if they fail no more than one (1) course…

• Attendance - A student must be on time and attend school until the end of period 4 or by the start of period 3 and remain for the remainder of the day…exceptions are made for legitimate excuses i.e. medical appointment, personal family matters, etc. A student must be in attendance on the Friday before a weekend event in order to participate…

• Medical- Physicals valid for 13 months.

Student Athlete Information• Transportation: Student athletes must ride

transportation to and from events• Uniforms/Equipment: Take care of your stuff,

health concerns, return at end of season• Code of Conduct/Fan Behavior – Behave, cheer

for our teams, Lay off officials please.• Bullying/Harassment- WA Handbook• MIAA Bona fide Team Rule: Student Athletes not

to miss a practice/game for another non school practice or event.

Bullying/Harassment/Hazing

• M.G.L. Chapter 269, Sections 17, 18 and 19.• “Shall be punished by a fine of not more than

three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment”

• “It gets a little worse each year” • No place for hazing at WA!

Bill Bombaci – Athletic Trainer

• Located in hallway by lockerrooms/music rooms.

Student Athlete Medical Issues

• MRSA/Staph Infections– All equipment/uniforms are on loan. Take care of

them!– Regularly wash and clean uniforms and practice

gear. – Wash hands consistently– Shower after practices and games ASAP– Cover open wounds – Something Suspicious = report it to Billy or Nurse

Concussions • Responsibilities of Parents– Before the Season-

• Complete free online concussion course one time per year www.wagreyghosts.com

• Complete online registrations with accurate and up to date information on concussions and other med info

– During the season-• Any head injuries “outside of athletics” must be reported• Provide any doctors notes clearing students to return to

participation• Make us aware of anything that is not immediately reported

Student Athlete Eligibility

• Chemical Health/Wellness - – During School event- WA Handbook Policies +

MIAA Rule– Out of school – MIAA Rule … “found to be in the

possession of, consuming, buying/selling, under influence of… beginning of interscholastic school year to last day of school.” First Violation = 25% of season . • Memorandum of Understanding with Westford Police

OPTIMAL? Healthy Brain Marijuana Brain

Amen Clinics

16 yr. old daily user

meeting

• American Athletic Institute has studied the impact of alcohol on condition in elite athletes. Impact has shown significant

projections in lost physiological condition that correlates to as much as 14 days of lost training effect…for each time drunk…

AMERICAN ATHLETIC INSTITUTE 2005

Keeping PerspectiveNCAA Stats: HS to College to Pro

Role of Parents in HS Sports

• How do you define success for your son or daughter?

• It’s a fun journey, so enjoy it! • How do you act after your son/daughters

tough loss/win?• Let the coach…. Coach!

Role of Parents in HS Sports

• What are your sons/daughters goals for the season? What do you want your son or daughter to get out of season?

• Grandparents approach• What are things that parents do that student

athletes really appreciate? Support whole team, food, cheering us on even when losing badly, telling them they did a good job, never yelling at a coach or ref, not talking negatively about my teammates

Conflict Resolution

• Communication is key• Address at the earliest stage possible• Chain of Communication- Start with student

athlete and coach• 24 hours after a game to contact a coach

Fall 2015 Other Items

• Fees $275 per sport. Please turn in check to coach before first game.

• New schedule system. www.miaa.net– Download App

Fall Picture Day/ Boosters Scholarship Drive Saturday 9/12

• Varsity Field Hockey 8:30• JV Field Hockey 8:35• 9th Field Hockey 8:40• Varsity Boys Soccer 8:50• JV Boys Soccer 8:55• 9th Boys Soccer 9:10• V Volleyball 9:15• JV Volleyball 9:20• 9th Volleyball 9:25• Varsity Girls Soccer 9:30• JV girls Soccer 9:35• JVB Girls Soccer 9:40• Cross Country 9:45• Golf 9:55• Varsity Cheerleading 10:00 • JV Cheerleading 10:05 • Crew 10:10• JV Football 10:15 • Varsity Football 10:30

Team/Program Locations• Football -Auditorium• Field Hockey- Library• XC -Cafeteria• Volleyball -Main Gym• Cheer -Lecture Hall RM 144 • Girls Soccer will meet at a later

date • Boys Var. Soccer – 143• Boys JV. Soccer- 139• Boys 9th Soccer- 145• Golf Classroom - 101