Lincoln Southwest High School

Men's Soccer Program Expecations

Coaching Foundation

BELIEF - We at LSW believe that we are the best at what do and that our athletes are in the best program in the state of Nebraska. We believe in each other as professionals and as men.  We believe in each athlete.  We believe that each person brings good with them in what we do as a program.

HUMILITY - Know we are the best but concede that we can know more.  We concede that other programs have great kids and great coaches.  We will always speak positively about each other, LSW and other schools.  We wish to give respect to other programs and other coaches.  We will always show humility, build respect and appreciation in our athletes. We will always speak well about our athletes in front of other athletes in our program around parents, other kids and other programs.

PROFESSIONALISM - We are professional coaches.  We will always reduce the rumor mill by helping interact with parent and communicate with our athletes every day.  No concern will go unnoticed or unaddressed.  We demand that the boys keep issues they have IN THE PROGRAM!  We will look like a soccer coach, act like a soccer coach and speak like a soccer coach.

CAMRADEREE – We build camaraderie and esprit de corps within each team and within the program.  There is time to have fun and a time to work.  We build team.  There will be NO hazing in the program.

CONSISTENCY – We will build principles into our players through consistency and discipline.  We will speak the same common language through out the program.

DISCIPLINE – We will take care of discipline issues for our teams using captains and the coaching staff.  We will communicate discipline issues and infractions to team rules within the coaching staff.  Discipline requires fairness, immediacy, consistency, and brevity. We will use the Hawk Council whenever possible.

Policies and Procedures

TRUANCIES - If a student is truant from class they will be disciplined with as outlined in the discipline guidelines.  If they are truant for any three classes cumulative this semester they will be suspended for play for one game, will receive counseling and face discipline guideline outcomes. A second offense will result in an indefinite team suspension.  Consistency will increase student appreciation for the few rules we have as a program.  Each coach will check the athletic office each day for student record of truancies.

TARDIES AND CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR - If athletes are a problem in the classroom, they will be disciplined using the truancies policy.  Students misbehaving in class will also be subject to discipline guidelines.  We believe in being good students and good stewards of our community.

GRADES - Beginning the second week of practices, coaches will monitor student grades each week. Every athlete in the program will participate in weekly grade checks. Every Monday, coaches will give each athlete a Grade Check sheet.  Athletes will have their teachers sign them with their current grade in class, the teacher signature and any comments they have.  If athletes are not getting at least a C or better in ALL classes, they will attend a study hall before school.  If they are failing a class, they will be ineligible to play in matches, but must still practice. The study hall shall meet in room A118 Forum at 7:15 am Monday-Friday.  All athletes will adhere to this policy. 

TEAM CAPTAINS -  Each team will elect team captains after the first two weeks of the season, prior to the first matches of the season (March 19, 2009).  The Hawk Council will consist of the Varsity Captains (3), JV Captains (2) and Reserve Captains (2) and one representative for each grade level on the varsity team.  The Council will have a mandatory weekly meeting starting on March 16th for a minimum of 15 minutes between themselves plus 15 minutes with all coaches for a total (minimum) meeting time of 30 minutes.  This will be an open forum meeting to express any and all concerns within the program.

Attendance

Athletes are required to be at all team functions as directed by the coach.  A team function includes but may not be limited to practices, matches, team meetings, team dinners, team social engagements, scouting matches. 

Athletes are asked to be at practices and meetings at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled practice or meeting.  Athletes are asked to be at matches at least one hour prior to the scheduled match.

Any unexcused or unproved absence from a team function, practice or match will cause the athlete to be ineligible to compete in the next scheduled competition.  After three excused or unproved absences the athlete could be permanently removed from the team. 

All athletes, while competing for the LSW Men’s Soccer program will make all required team functions.  Failure to make all team functions will be subject to team discipline procedures.

Excused absences may include a doctors appointment, a death in the family, an illness in the family, player excused illness prior called in by a parent, or a parent acknowledged absence.

Unexcused absences may include work conflicts, sleeping in, car problems, class disruptions (taking a test or working on course work), club conflicts, etc.

While an athlete is competing and training with LSW they are expected to compete and train for the duration of the spring season with no conflict.

LPS Policy - Students may practice and compete with a National Team or in an Olympic Development Program as per the NSAA approved rulings and interpretation 3.5.1.  If participation in these programs requires the student athlete to miss high school practices or competitions they need to be aware they could be subject to any existing team policies regarding absences.

LSW Policy - Participation in any Olympic Development event or National Team participation requires a prior approval waiver from the NSAA.  This waiver has to be submitted by the LSW athletic department.  Athletes wishing to participate in these Teams must first fill out the required waiver with the LSW Athletic Office.  These waivers must be submitted prior to the season.  Please keep in mind that any absences from LSW team functions, practices or competitions due to Olympic Development/National Team participation could be subject to current team absence policies.

Discipline

The discipline policy of the LSW Men’s Soccer program subcedes the Lincoln Southwest High School and Lincoln Public Schools Policies. 

Any act that is in disobedience of school, community or team rules, laws or regulations will be subject to team discipline.  Any one of these may include but are not limited to:  smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages or drugs, illegal activities to school or community, non-obedience of team rules, excessive profanity, belittling another team member, fighting on or off the field, missing practice, talking behind a fellow player or coaches back (not confronting a problem with the person with whom you have a problem), red or yellow card(s) in a game, etc.

Discipline will progress as followed, unless the action requires school and Athletic Director intervention.

              1.)  Exercise discipline

              2.)  Suspension from one half (1/2) a game

              3.)  Suspension from one (1) game

              4.)  Suspension from the team for a specified time (several game suspension)

              5.)  Suspension from the team indefinitely

If you are disciplined for any reason, such as being suspended from one or many games you are still required to come to and participate in practice.  If you choose not to come to and/or participate in practice, you will be disciplined even more, up to the maximum (that being kicked off the team indefinitely).  Here is a short list of things to keep in mind about being a team member:

              1.)  Always give 100% in drills during practice and in games.

              2.)  Do not goof-off or horseplay during practice or drills.

              3.)  Do not back talk or talk under your breath after a coach has told you to do something, or has given you feedback for some reason.  If you have a problem with something coaches, captains or other players on the team say or do, discuss it with us after practice.  There is a time and a place for everything.

              4.)  If you have a problem with me, another coach or one of your fellow teammates take it to that person in a respectful manner.  Don't talk behind each others back.  It angers people, and destroys relationships that make a team.

              5.)  DO NOT belittle one of your fellow team members for any reason. 

              6.)  Be a team member.  Work hard for each other.  Push each other hard in drills to make one another better soccer players.  This will make you, the people you go against and us as a team better.  If I know you will lay it all down for me, I will do the same in return every day, all the time for you and every member of our team.

              7.)  Believe in what you say.  We will win, means that you believe every day that we will win.  Don't say it and not believe it, if you do not believe in what we say and what we do, it will show in your performance.