Other Athletic Issues
GENERAL ATHLETIC RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. All athletes are required to meet all the elements listed in the Dallas Lutheran School Student and Athletic handbooks.
2. All athletes are expected to conduct themselves on and off the court in a manner that would reflect well on Dallas Lutheran School and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
3. Athletes are to be clean, neat, and well-groomed since as an athlete, you are constantly in the public eye and are the representatives of DLS. Hair styles, length of hair, etc. are all part of the normal dress code. All athletes shall not wear earrings or other body pierced ornaments during games, practice, or before/after games while representing DLS as a team member. All athletes are to be clean shaven. Boys are not allowed to have facial hair as stated in the school dress code.
4. If a student/athlete is expelled from DLS and is allowed to re-enroll the following year or at a later date, and the criteria have been met to be accepted as a student, then to be eligible as an athlete again, they will serve the same game suspension as the off-season athlete; (Suspended from playing in any contests for 14 calendar days missing a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 contests ).
5. Each coach is responsible for establishing his/her own set of training rules to be approved by the Athletic Director. Athletes participating in the sports program are expected to abide by the training and team rules for his/her sports season as established by the coach. It is important for athletes to get adequate rest both in and out of season.
6. The dress code for home games for all athletes prior to and upon completion of games is to be one of the following; a) classroom school uniform, b) team polo shirt, c) blazer, d) or their team uniform.
7. The dress code for away games for all athletes prior to and upon completion of games is to be one of the following; a) classroom school uniform, b) team polo shirt, c) blazer, d) or their team uniform. In the case of teams changing at DLS before traveling warm-ups or team sweats may be worn upon approval of the Athletic Director. On extended tournament days T-shirts can be worn in between games provided they are Dallas Lutheran T-Shirts.
8. Female athletes and managers are not permitted to wear shirts or T-shirts which reveal undergarments. All shirts are to be in good repair, good taste, and should cover entire abdomen.
9. All athletes are required to wear shorts that are in good repair, good taste, and are of appropriate length and fit as to contribute to a modest Christian atmosphere.
10. Each athlete is to make arrangements to be picked up no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled conclusion of practices and games. Consistent problems in this area may cause a player to be removed from a team.
11. Athletes at Dallas Lutheran are not permitted to participate in two (2) sports (club or otherwise) simultaneously. (Exceptions for special circumstances must be made in advance, in writing, from the Athletic Director and Executive Director. In the case where sports seasons overlap, an athlete is to give full priority to completing a season before starting another. No coach can require that a player report for pre-season practice while he/she is still “in-season”.
12. Any athlete that quits or is removed from a DLS team may not begin practicing with another DLS team until their previous team is finished with their season in its entirety.
13. In order to reduce the risk of injury, and to help each individual maximize their God given ability, EVERY athlete at Dallas Lutheran School is EXPECTED to fully participate in ALL DLS organized “in-season” and “off-season” training activities. (Namely the BFS program)
14. Practices, games and lifting sessions are official team functions and attendance is expected. In the rare case where an athlete is going to miss or be late to an official team function the coach should be notified. Special exceptions will be reviewed and ruled on by the Director of Athletics on a case by case basis. An athlete may come late to practice following after school tutoring only if he/she brings a pass from their instructor. Because of the nature of “team” sports even valid and excused tardies or absences may result in reduced playing time.
15. Bullying and intimidation tactics used by and towards students at Dallas Lutheran will not be tolerated. Involvement in this type of behavior is grounds for disciplinary action by a coach or the Athletic Director.
16. Hazing or initiations of any kind will not be tolerated at Dallas Lutheran. Any involvement in an activity that could be defined as hazing or an initiation can be grounds for the immediate removal from any team at DLS. Upper classmen and others in leadership positions at Dallas Lutheran are expected to lead following the example set for us by our Lord and Savior.
17. Any involvement of a middle school student in a high school program must meet the requirements set down by T.A.P.P.S. and be authorized by the Middle School Principal and the Director of Athletics.
18. Playing time and the decision of whom makes a particular team is at the discretion of the coach and will be based in part on the following criteria: (Not in order of importance)
a. Attendance at off-season BFS training.
b. Attitude
c. Skill Level
d. Position Played
e. Fitness Level
f. Team Needs
g. Past track record with coach and team
h. Academics
i. Effort given in and out of practice
j. In-season attendance
k. Personal character
19. It is not appropriate for a parent to approach a coach following a game and share a complaint or concern. All parent to coach communication should occur by appointment only.
STUDENT INSURANCE:
All students participating in interscholastic athletic activities are required to validate some form of accident insurance to be eligible to compete. This form must be on file with the Athletic Department before an athlete competes in either practices or contests. A form is provided for this purpose.
MEDICAL CARE:
1. Each athlete is required to fill out and turn in to the Athletic Director an “EMERGENCY MEDICAL RELEASE” form.
2. Dallas Lutheran School CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE for injuries which occur as a result of an athlete’s participation in the athletic program.
3. Athletic injuries should be reported immediately to the coach so that he/she might recommend the medical attention that should be given to the injury. THIS IS IMPORTANT OR MORE SERIOUS IMPAIRMENT MIGHT RESULT.
4. The coach must file an injury report so that the insurance company can be notified of the pertinent information.
5. Injuries requiring immediate attention will be treated by the team trainers or in the emergency room at a hospital. An athlete will be taken to the nearest hospital unless the family has stated on the EMERGENCY MEDICAL RELEASE FORM, a specific hospital or doctor.
EQUIPMENT:
1. Dallas Lutheran School athletic equipment is to be worn or used for practice sessions and/or athletic contests only. Any violation of this rule may result in an athlete losing the privilege of using such equipment.
2. An athlete is financially responsible for any athletic equipment issued to him/her. Lost equipment which is found later is to be turned in and not kept and worn as personal clothing. A refund will be given to the person who paid for the lost equipment (under normal circumstances).
3. An athlete should wear only the equipment issued to him/her and they should NOT permit its use by other student-athletes. Equipment is school property and will be picked up from unauthorized wearers.
4. Equipment from other schools is not to be worn by Dallas Lutheran athletes at any time.
5. All equipment is to be turned in promptly.
a. Athletes who are no longer a member of the team are to turn in their equipment within one (1) week.
b. All athletes who complete the season in a sport are to turn in their equipment within one (1) week following the end of the season. Many teams will now turn in their uniforms immediately after the last contest. Violation of this rule will result in the athlete being held out of classes until ALL issued equipment is turned in.
6. Any athlete that has DLS equipment issued to him/her for a given sport season, must have turned in to the Head Coach, all equipment from the finished sport season, before said athlete may begin to practice for another sport or be issued more equipment.
7. Certain uniforms or equipment that are deemed suitable for replacement by the Principal, Athletic Director, and coaches, will be made available for sale in the Spring, to the athletes involved in the sport. Any previous year senior may reserve his/her uniform by contacting the coach. Present year participants will be given the option to purchase based on seniority.
COST OF OVERNIGHT HOUSING
When a team “chooses” to be involved in staying over night for non-district tournaments and games the following guidelines apply:
a. The cost of the hotel rooms will be paid by the participants not DLS.
b. Chaperones will stay “free” (e.g. the total cost of the housing will be divided by the total number of players/participants.)
c. Each coach, chaperone, athlete, student manager, statistician etc. would be responsible for the cost of their meals, and other miscellaneous personal expenses.
HOUSING OF ATHLETICS FOR T.A.P.P.S. REQUIRED PLAY
When a “varsity” athletic team competing for Dallas Lutheran School is required by T.A.P.P.S. to compete in a location that would require the team to stay overnight outside the Dallas area the following guidelines apply:
a. Outside the Dallas area is defined as a location over 150 miles away from the Dallas Lutheran School Campus.
b. Required is defined as District, Bi-district, Regional, or State Tournament play.
c. The cost of the hotel rooms will be paid by Dallas Lutheran School.
d. Chaperones will stay free.
e. Each coach, athlete, student manager, statistician etc. would be responsible for the cost of their meals and other
miscellaneous personal expenses. (Chaperones may choose to turn in receipts for reimbursement of fuel and food expenses.)
f. All expenses incurred by Dallas Lutheran School must receive prior approval from the Director of Athletics.
IMPORTANT T.A.P.P.S. REGULATIONS:
I. Age
A student who has reached his/her nineteenth (19th) birthday prior to September 1st of the current school year may not compete in interscholastic athletics.
II. Amateurism
a. All contestants in a school sponsored event must be amateurs.
b. A person who has ever received money or any other compensation for teaching or participating in any athletic sport or who has played with someone who has received such compensation, is not able to take part in any District or State athletic contests.
c. The penalty for violation of this rule is loss of eligibility for one (1) school year.
RULES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS:
I. Age
A student who has reached his/her fifteenth (15) birthday prior to September 1st of the current school year is ineligible for interscholastic competition unless approved by the league.
II. Academic Eligibility
See eligibility listed for Varsity sports.
III. Awards
All students fulfilling the specific requirements for the individual sport in which they engaged will receive a Certificate of Participation. These certificates will be presented at the Awards Recognition Evening following each season. The requirements are the same for Middle School sports as they are for the High School sports. (see requirements for letter section)