IMPORTANT DETAILS

Priorities

To be successful on and off the field, student-athletes should keep these priorities in order:

Family
Academics
Athletics

Philosophy:

The high school philosophy focuses on emergent programs that are developmentally sound and success oriented. Students will be provided opportunities to: develop skills, gain knowledge, appreciate others, set goals and experience competition. Some areas of major emphasis include: sportsmanship, citizenship, self-discipline, commitment, teamwork and competition.

Game Conduct:

It is an expectation that all student athletes and coaches will represent WHS with the utmost dignity and respect at all events, whether at home or on the road. It is our goal that all parents and fans will set a positive example for our athletes and the rest of the league by cheering positively for our team and refraining from negative comments toward the other teams or officials.

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA):

The MPA oversees eligibility for high school athletes and coaches in Maine; they offer championship tournaments/meets in all interscholastic sports; they are the governing body of high school sports in Maine; and they determine the classification of schools in the spring of each two year cycle: WHS is mostly in “A and B” classes in our sports. The MPA outlines rules related to transfer and recruitment which clearly state: a student who transfers from one school to another without a change of address will be ineligible to participate until both principals sign a waiver; and schools and school representatives are banned from enticing student-athletes to transfer from one school to another for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics. The MPA sets a minimum standard for its member schools; however, each school is free to add to those minimum standards. Once the school rules are set they become the rules for that school and must be followed at all times.

General requirements before stepping onto the playing surface:

Proof of a physical exam, administered by a licensed physician, within the past two calendar years from the start date of the season. (WHS has also partnered with Greater Portland Health to allow students to get a physical through them at the high school.)
Signed up on our athletic website under the sports sign-up form. This includes insurance and parent info.
Academically- students must be enrolled in and passing 5 classes at the end of the most recent quarterly grading period.

Sportsmanship:

It is a privilege to play
Athletes represent their school, community and family
Emotions must be controlled
Respect for all participants is an expectation
Playing to win within the rules is demanded
Be motivated to win, be willing to learn from losing

Athletes who receive technical fouls, yellow cards, misconduct penalties or demonstrate other unsportsmanlike behaviors will meet with the Athletic Administrator to determine an appropriate course of corrective action.

Parents are also expected to act in a sportsmanlike manner when a spectator at athletic contests. If a parent needs to be spoken to for unsportsmanlike “fan” behavior at athletic contests it will likely result in removal from the game and could jeopardize a parent's ability to attend any athletic contests.

Athletic Trainer:

Sarah Tuttle, ATC, MSAT, LSAT
Present at all home varsity contests
Present in the training room on a limited weekly basis for rehabilitation, injury consultation, referral, etc.
Serves as a link to Maine Heath for injury care.

The Westbrook High School Athletic Training Staff will be available to visiting team athletes before, during, and after contests of home games. However, visiting teams are asked to bring their own medical supplies.

Visiting athletes should see the training staff as soon as they arrive at Westbrook High School.

A jug of water will be provided to all visiting teams.

The Westbrook Athletic Training room is located out in the Announcer booth for outside activities, and outside the gym for inside activities.

Visiting teams school Trainer should communicate any necessary issues regarding their student/teams to the Westbrook Athletic Training staff prior to the game/contest.

General Rules:

Athletes travel with the team to and from all team events
A student who chooses to quit the team should see the coach and turn in all gear
Students must be in school the entire day in order to participate
Athletes should report all injuries to the AT and coach immediately

Equipment/Uniform Policy

Athletes are responsible for missing equipment and/or uniforms. An athlete will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activity until all equipment has been returned or financial restitution at the replacement cost of the uniform has been made. Westbrook uniforms are not for sale and a uniform will be confiscated when it is recognized in possession of an unauthorized person.

WESTBROOK STUDENT ATHLETIC/ACTIVITY PROGRAM GUIDLINES

When Westbrook High School competes with other programs and teams, our tradition has been to do so with honor, sportsmanship, and class. While we certainly strive to win, we do so while showing honor and grace to the other communities that we compete with. Over the years our teams, clubs and activities have achieved numerous recognitions as well as sportsmanship awards. We take great pride in our winning and successful traditions in all of our extracurricular activities. However, we never condone winning at all costs. We will always discourage any and all pressure that reinforces lack of commitment to academics, positive mental and physical health and/or negligence of good sportsmanship.

General Requirements

The on-line registration must be completed through Rank One prior to active participation in athletics.
To start the athletic season physicals have to be valid through the last play-day of that sport season.
Students who owe obligations to the school (uniforms, other items from the previous season, etc.) will not be permitted to participate until those obligations are satisfied.
Team Selection/Cutting: It is our desire to have as many students as possible participate in the extra curricular program while at Westbrook. Our coaches/advisors try to keep as many students as they can without unbalancing the integrity of the activity. Safety, time, space, facilities, equipment, ability and other factors will be some of the considerations as to the most effective squad size for a particular activity. Choosing the members for extracurricular teams is the sole responsibility of the coach/advisor. When it is necessary for a coach/advisor to cut a student from a team/club activity, they will inform each student and a reason(s) will be cited. A determination will be made on the first day of the season (first practice/try-out) for that sport as to whether ”cuts” are necessary. Students involved in “cut” sports must participate in the try-out period. Students who do not participate in the try-out period forfeit their ability to participate in that sport for that season unless they receive prior approval from the Director of Athletics and Student Activities.
There will be no roster additions made after the first countable varsity contest for that sport/activity. All other rules and requirements must be met prior to the student-athlete competing in any contest.
Length of Sport Season: A sport season begins on the first day of practice for that sport. The season officially ends with the MPA State Championship date for that sport.
Hazing: Maine statute defines injurious hazing as “any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student enrolled in a public school”. Westbrook Public Schools believes that injurious hazing activities of any type, on or off school property, by any student, staff member, group, or organization affiliated with the schools, are inconsistent with the educational process and shall be prohibited. No student shall plan, encourage, or engage in hazing activities. Violators of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension from school and/or extracurricular activities, expulsion or other appropriate measures.
Transfer Rule: A student who transfers enrollment to another school without a corresponding change of residence by his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may become eligible to participate in interscholastic activities if a “Transfer Waiver Approval Form” is properly filed with the MPA office. The form must be initiated by the receiving school with the student, parent/guardian, sending and receiving principals all certifying that the transfer was not primarily for athletic purposes. (WHS Athletics/Activities procedures must be completed)
Exchange Students: Exchange students do not pay tuition, must have a J-1 visa limited to one academic year and should be placed by a Council on Standards for International Educational Travel(CSIET) listed foreign exchange program. Schools must ensure that a student has not graduated from the home country’s equivalent of high school. If the student has graduated they will be limited to participation on the sub-varsity teams.(WHS Athletics/Activities procedures must be completed)

EARNING A VARSITY LETTER

The athletic department believes that, for students at Westbrook High School, earning a varsity letter should require evidence of commitment to the team and expertise in sport. The criteria are set according to standards the coaching staff believes are high, yet reasonable. The guidelines are intended to encourage students to persevere toward the goal of earning the varsity letter rather than to discourage anyone who fails to attain the standards. These coaching considerations include the following: a clear identification of an athlete who is an important part of the success of the team, playing in a percentage of varsity games, consistent attendance, willing participation at practice – (no unexcused absences), an athlete who has faithfully committed to the team, perform satisfactorily academically (as defined by Westbrook High School), and be listed on a varsity roster.

Inclusion on Varsity Roster

An athlete must be a varsity athlete. Letters are not awarded for playing junior varsity or other sub-varsity levels. The rationale behind that requirement is that a varsity sport is time-intensive and physically demanding -- more so than sub-varsity sports. In order to make a varsity team, a high level of skill is required. Also, the varsity athlete must have superior time-management skills.

Performance and/or Play Time

Another criterion for lettering might be a predetermined amount of actual play time and/or performing at an expected level as determined by the varsity head coach. For instance, in order to earn a letter, a varsity baseball player might be required to play in 70 percent or more of the total innings on the schedule. A varsity basketball player may have play in 80 percent of the schedule games. To earn a varsity track letter, an athlete might be expected to accumulate a predetermined number of points throughout the season, etc.

Good Academic Standing

Must consistently meet Westbrook High School’s academic eligibility standards. Attaching an academic element to the lettering policy not only meets local and State guidelines but might serve to motivate athletes to perform well in the classroom in order to be eligible for participation and or letterman status.

Coach Discretion

The Varsity Head Coach always reserves the right to award a varsity letter to those players that are deemed deserving of a varsity letter. This statement is in place so that a coach has the opportunity to letter a deserving candidate who has fallen short in any category except academics. Perhaps there is an individual who is on the varsity team and has played for four years but due to a cycle of top talent has not received the required playing time. Perhaps he/she has a superior work ethic and top-notch leadership skills, having been a value to the team.

Behavioral Requirements

Coaches from time to time may deny an athlete a varsity letter if the athlete has a habitual discipline problem. A hardline coach might even institute a lettering policy that forbids any disciplinary referrals during the season. This can be an effective deterrent to violating school rules.

Westbrook Athletics & Activities