Student/Athlete Handbook

Mission

The mission of the Pembroke Hill School athletic department is to provide an athletic program that develops the whole person.  Valuable lessons include teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, respect, a strong work ethic, social responsibility, competition and how to win and lose gracefully. These attributes serve students well for a lifetime. The athletic competition fosters a source of pride for the students, alumni, school and staff, and community.

It is the goal of all involved with sports at Pembroke Hill School for student-athletes to reflect positively on their experiences and develop a greater appreciation for athletics. These specific goals will help guide these experiences:

• Provide each student athlete with the opportunity to grow personally and display integrity and give respect to each person we encounter;
• Maintain highest standards for health and safety of every student athlete in practice and games;
• Provide opportunities for individuals on the basis of merit in a non-discriminatory manner;
• Develop caring relationships with all student participants;
• Strive always for playing excellence that will produce highly competitive teams within the bounds of sportsmanship while enhancing the mental health of athletes.

Vision

The vision for the PHS athletic department is to provide student-athletes an environment that develops a lifelong love of sports and a physically active lifestyle.  Our commitment includes hiring quality coaches and support staff while providing leadership for each of them to develop their own personal program that would support the mission of the Pembroke Hill Athletic Department.  

We are committed to:

• Developing skills and strategies necessary for healthy competition
• Developing a full commitment to the team 
• Leading in a positive way and show good sportsmanship
• Fostering qualities such as respect (for self and others), honesty, integrity, perseverance, reliability and hard work.
• Ensuring physical and mental growth and development that enhances a competitive environment.
• Developing a program that produces teams that will be highly competitive and consistent with the school values of scholarship, integrity, respect and compassion.

Requirements For Participation

Before a student may participate in any athletic practice, each student must have the following paperwork completed:

1. Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation 
   All pages of the form must be completed. The first page is completed by and signed by the healthcare professional. The second and third pages are to be completed by the student/parent and must have signatures of both the student and the parent.  This form is valid for two years.
    
2. MSHSAA Pre-Participation Documentation - Annual Requirements 
   All pages of the form must be completed.  The first page is completed by the student or parent and must be signed by both the student and the parent.  The second page is completed by the parent and signed by the parent.  The third page must be read and signed by the student and parent.  Note that in the second section, the student and parent need to read the NFHS materials on Concussions.  You may find these materials on the school website under Parent/Student Resources.  Click on Athletic Forms and find A Parent’s/Guardian’s Guide to Concussion.  The final section of page three, the Emergency Contact Information, needs to be completed legibly.  This form must be completed each school year.

Before students may compete in any athletic contest, the following forms must be completed:

• Athletic Code/Policy Acknowledgement on file with the athletic office. (Due before each season of competition.)
• Transportation Permission Form found in Veracross is to be completed. (Due as you first enter middle school and again as you enter the upper school. Changes need to be made when your needs or requests change.)
• If staying overnight, the Student Overnight Travel Release Agreement Form  must be completed, signed and returned to the coach before each overnight trip.

In addition to these forms:

• Students must be academically eligible. Students must take a minimum of five classes and are required to pass all classes in which they are enrolled.

• Students must have completed 14 days of conditioning practices  Boys and girls golf, tennis, cheerleading and dance require 10 days of conditioning practices. These conditioning practices must be completed prior to participation in any athletic contest.

• Students must exhibit good sportsmanship.
   
• Students must have returned all athletic equipment, uniforms and/or supplies checked out to them or paid for lost items.

Attendance For Extracurriculars

Students must be in school by 8:45 a.m. (or 10: a.m. on late start Thursdays) and attend all of their classes on the day of the scheduled activity unless an excused absence has been approved by the athletic director or division head prior to that day.  An illness/injury will NOT meet the excused absence requirement that allows participation in extracurricular activities.  Keeping a student home for extra rest in the morning will NOT meet the excused absence requirement. Medical appointments, with a confirmation note from the doctor’s office, are excused and students may participate in their activity.  Extra-curricular activities include practices, rehearsals, games, sport competitions, academic competitions and performances.

Major Training Rules

During the entire athletic season (beginning with the first day of regularly scheduled practice and ending with the last contest) in which the student participates, the student shall not: 

• Consume or possess beverages containing alcohol;
• Use tobacco products or vapes, 
• Use, consume, have in possession, buy  sell or give away marijuana or any substance defined by law as an illegal drug or controlled substance. (It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally-defined drug that is specifically prescribed for the student’s own use by a doctor or is used in a religious ceremony.)
• Display conduct in and out of school will bring discredit to the athletes, their parents, the school or the team.

Penalties For Violating Training Rules

Violations of major training rules can result in suspension from team as designated by the policies related to interscholastic athletics.

First violation: After confirmation of the first violation, the student shall lose eligibility for the next athletic contest in which the student is a participant.

Second violation: After confirmation of the second violation, the student shall be dismissed from the sport’s team for which they are participating for the remainder of the season.

If students violate the school’s alcohol and drug policy, they will be referred to the division head for further discipline. For example, if a student consumes alcohol and then attends a school function, the student has violated both athletic training rules and the school’s rule.

Penalties shall be cumulative beginning with and throughout the student’s participation in a single season of athletic competition.

All athletes placed in a position of leadership (captain) will be removed from their position if they violate the athletic code related to the use of chemicals or for major misconduct/disciplinary action.

Due Process Procedure

The Pembroke Hill athletic department provides due process for students concerning any disciplinary matter. 

• Infractions of team rules will be handled directly by the head coach. These decisions can be appealed to the athletic director. 
• Infractions of the PHS Code of Conduct will be reviewed by a committee that includes the head coach, athletic director, Honor Council chair and the division head. The committee will make a final decision regarding consequences, or the division head may choose to convene the Honor Council. Possible consequences for infractions involving the Code of Conduct include detention, disciplinary probation, suspension from team or activity, out-of-school suspension and, in some cases, expulsion.

All PHS upper school students who participate in extracurricular activities must have a signed Code of Conduct Policy Agreement on file in the upper school office. (located under Upper School Forms in the Parent and Student Portals) 

Transportation Policy

All athletes are expected to travel to and from contests with the team, unless permission is granted by the coach and athletic director. This will include travel to out-of-town contests. Parents may request permission to transport their child to and from contests. The coach may or may not grant this request depending on individual team policies.

No student may be transported to or from a contest with another student or another student’s parent/guardian without prior written request. All parents are required to complete the transportation form in Veracross at the beginnnig of each school year.

Injuries/Medical Insurance

All students and parents have been informed that participation in interscholastic athletics includes the risk of serious bodily injury. The MSHSAA By-Laws provide that a student shall not be permitted to practice or compete for a school until it has verification that they have basic health/accident insurance coverage, which includes athletics. A parent/guardian is required to provide this information on the second page of the MSHSAA Annual Documentation form. A supplemental student accident insurance policy is provided to assist families with out-of-pocket expenses resulting from an injury at school or at official school events. The policy covers expenses after existing insurance policies have responded.

When an injury occurs that is likely to result in the family seeking medical treatment (i.e. emergency room or doctor’s visit), a claim form will be sent along with a copy of the student accident report. Claims need to be filed directly with the policy administrator within 90 days of the injury.

Contact the division head's office if you did not receive a claim form. If you have questions about the policy itself, please contact the business manager.

Concussions

It is important for students and parents to know the definition of a concussion, symptoms of a concussion and what to do if it is possible that the student has a concussion.  Each student and parent is responsible for reading the NFHS Parent’s/Guardian’s Guide to Concussions found on the school website under Athletic Forms.  As part of completion of the MSHSAA Pre-Participation Documentation Annual Form, the student and parent sign the section regarding Concussions.  When a student has been diagnosed with a concussion, the child will need to complete the MSHSAA Return to Play protocol.  Contact Larry Huff, Athletic Trainer, to get a copy of the MSHSAA Return to Play form or you may find a copy at www.mshsaa.org.

Team Meeting With Students And Parents

All upper school athletic teams are required to hold a parent meeting prior to the first competition.  During this meeting, the following outline should be used:

• Introduce coaching staff;
• Introduce parent liaison(s);
• Exchange contact information between head coach and families;
• Present team expectations and requirements;
• Cover team rules and regulations;
• Cover school transportation policy;
• Explain lettering procedures;
• Explain MSHSAA sets rules and regulations for all to follow;
• Explain MSHSAA correspondences occur through the athletic director;
• Verify that all needed forms have been signed and collected;
• Emphasize the importance of eligibility by maintaining good grades and being a good citizen; and
• Explain the athletic department Form 5.13 - Non-school Competition

Driving Directions

Directions to away contests can be found in the school’s Parent Portal.  If there is a discrepancy with the accuracy of the directions, please contact the athletic department.

Changes/Cancellations/Inclement Weather

If the contest changes (locations, time, date, etc), the athletic department will disseminate the changes to the head coach.  The head coach will share these changes with assistant coaches, players and parent liaison. Parents/students can receive location and schedule changes by adding the team’s schedule to their personal calendar through the Pembroke Hill website, www.pembrokehill.org.

The following was taken from the MSHSAA Guide.
 

Eligibility to represent a school in interscholastic activities is a privilege students may attain by meeting the essential eligibility requirements established by member schools through this association and any additional requirements set by a member school for its own students.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Citizenship

Students who represent a school in interscholastic activities must be a credible citizen and judged so by the proper authority. Those students whose character or conduct is such as to reflect discredit upon themselves or their schools are not considered "creditable citizens."

SCHOOL - Each school shall diligently and completely investigate any issue that could affect student eligibility.

LAW ENFORCEMENT - A student who commits an act for which charges may be or have been filed by law enforcement authorities under any municipal ordinance, misdemeanor or felony statute shall not be eligible until all proceedings with the legal system have been concluded and any penalty (i.e. jail time, fine, court cost, etc.) or special condition of probation (i.e. restitution, community service, counseling, etc.) has been satisfied. If law enforcement authorities determine that charges will not be filed, eligibility will be contingent upon local school policy. Minor moving traffic offenses shall not affect eligibility, unless they involve drugs, alcohol or injuries. After a student has completed all court appearances and penalties, and satisfied all special conditions of probation and remains under general probation only, local school authorities shall determine eligibility.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY - Each student is responsible to notify the school of any and all situations that would affect his/her eligibility under the above standards. If the student does not notify the school of the situation prior to the school's discovery, then the student shall be ineligible for 365 days from the discovery, pending review by the Board Of Directors. The school would have to forfeit all contests in which the ineligible individual competed.

2. Academics

Students must take a minimum of five classes and are required to pass all classes in which they are enrolled. Credits earned or completed after the close of the semester, or in summer school, will not fulfill this requirement.

Grades 7-8

Students must be enrolled in a normal course load for their grade at the member school.

Students must have been promoted to a higher grade at the end of the previous year. However, even though they may have been promoted, they will be ineligible if they failed more than one course the previous semester.

3. Transferring Schools
 

If students transfer schools and their parents do not move into the district of their new school, they will be ineligible for 365 days - unless they meet one of the exceptions listed in the MSHSAA Residence and Transfer Rules.

If students move with their parents to their new school district, they will be eligible at their new school provided they were eligible in all other respects at their former school. A student shall not be eligible to represent two different schools in the MSHSAA state tournament series in the same sport during the same season.

Students should always check with their school principal before they transfer to determine whether it will affect their eligibility.

4. Participation Limits

Grades 9-12

Students are eligible to participate in any sport for a maximum of four seasons. Any part of a contest played during a season counts as a season of participation.

Students' eligibility to participate in high school activities begins when they first enter the ninth grade and lasts for the next succeeding four consecutive years (eight consecutive semesters).

Grades 7-8

Students are eligible for only their first two semesters of attendance in the seventh grade and for only their first two semesters in the eighth grade.

Students are not eligible to compete with or against students enrolled in the tenth grade or above when they are enrolled in either the seventh or eighth grade.

NOTE: Students should check with their school principal for exceptions to this rule if they are ineligible for their grade level because of age.

5. Entering School
 

Students must enter school within the first 11 school days of the semester in order to be eligible.

6. Amateur And Awards Standards
 

An athlete must maintain "amateur standing" 365 days a year in the sport concerned in order to participate in interscholastic athletics - the following restrictions govern the receipt of awards in both interscholastic play AND non-school competition/participation.

After entering a member school, you will become ineligible in the sport concerned if you receive any of the following PROHIBITED awards for participating in an athletic contest or being an athlete:

• An award of cash, a gift-certificate/gift-card or an award that is the equivalent of cash is PROHIBITED for amateurs.
• Merchandise that exceeds a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $250 is PROHIBITED for amateurs. However, there is no value limit in regard to awards that are symbolic in nature, such as medals, ribbons, trophies, plaques, etc.
• Awards should be approved in advance by the school.
• Commemorative jewelry may be presented by the school (i.e., championship ring or necklace, no value limit).

7. Age Limits

If students reach 19 years of age prior to July 1, they will be ineligible the next school year.

Over-aged eighth graders may move up to the senior high team to have eight semesters of eligibility.

Grades 7-8

In order to participate on or against teams made up of only seventh graders, students must not have reached 14 years of age prior to July 1, preceding the opening of school.

In order to participate on or against teams made up of only eighth graders, students must not have reached 15 years of age prior to July 1, preceding the opening of school.

In order to participate on or against teams made up of only ninth graders, students must not have reached 16 years of age prior to July 1, preceding the opening of school.

However, students may participate with the next higher grade when they no longer meet the age limit for their grade.

NOTE: Students should check with their school principal for options available to them if they are ineligible for their grade level because of age.

8. Non-school Competition

 

Students are not allowed to play on an outside team (same season, same sport). Please note that golf, tennis and swimming/diving have exemptions. See the athletic office for further information.

Students can play on an outside team (same season, different sport) only if they have received the proper permission from the school administration. See form 5.13.

Approval To Participate On Outside Team (Different Sport) During MSHSAA Athletic Season

• This form must be completed and submitted to the director of athletics prior to the start of the season.
• Request must be granted before non-school participation in conjunction with school participation is allowed.
• Request will be approved only if the following requirements are met:
  • No school-sponsored contest (MSHSAA activity) will be missed.
  • Practice sessions of the school's team will not be missed without advanced notice (at least three days) to the coach, which he/she must approve. Requests for absences from practices must not be excessive.
  • No school instructional time will be missed unless approved by the principal two weeks in advance of contest.
• Any violations of these requirements will result in the student's immediate removal from the school's team and a possible ruling of ineligibility by MSHSAA for 365 days.

9. All-Star Games
 

(All-Star is defined as, but not limited to, when the selection process is based upon ability and/or no open tryouts are held.)

Students may not compete in an All-Star game or contest before they complete their eligibility in each high school sport. Participation in an All-Star game or contest before ending their high school eligibility will result in them becoming ineligible to participate in any high school sport.

A senior with no high school eligibility remaining for a specific sport may participate in one All-Star game for that sport during the school year. Students should see their administrator before agreeing to play.

10. Recruiting Of Athletes
 

Students will be ineligible for 365 days if they are influenced by a person or persons to attend upon promotion or transfer schools for athletic or activities purposes.

11. Transfer For Athletic Reasons
 

Students shall become ineligible for 365 days if they transfer to another school for athletic reasons, as defined in MSHSAA By-Law 238.

12. Athletic Seasons
 

FALL SEASON	Begins Aug. 9, 2021
Sport	Head Coach	Email
Boys Soccer	Matt Pritchett	mpritchett@pembrokehill.org
Boys Swim/Dive	Chad Holmes	cholmes@pembrokehill.org
Cross Country	Tom Medlock	tmedlock@pembrokehill.org
Fall Cheerleading	Tina Budzinski	tbudzinski@pembrokehill.org
Field Hockey	Avery Hughes	ahughes@pembrokehill.org
Football	Sam Knopik	sknopik@pembrokehill.org
Girls Golf	Andi Wolfe	awolfe@pembrokehill.org
Girls Tennis	Mike Duckworth	mduckworth@pembrokehill.org
Volleyball	Lynn O'Toole	lotoole@pembrokehill.org
WINTER SEASON	Begins Nov. 1 for Basketball & Wrestling Nov. 8 for Girls Swim/Dive
Sport	Head Coach	Email
Boys Basketball	Jeff Hawkins	jhawkins@pembrokehill.org
Dance	Tina Budzinski	tbudzinski@pembrokehill.org
Girls Basketball	Delischa Anderson	lmonahan@pembrokehill.org
Girls Swim/Dive	Chad Holmes	cholmes@pembrokehill.org
Winter Cheerleading	Emma Davis	edavis@pembrokehill.org
SPRING SEASON	Begins Feb. 28, 2022
Sport	Head Coach	Email
Baseball	Jeff Diskin	jdiskin@pembrokehill.org
Boys Golf	David Burke	dburke@pembrokehill.org
Boys Lacrosse	David Colbert	dcolbert@pembrokehill.org
Girls Lacrosse	Madeline Gilstrap	mailto:mgilstrap@pembrokehill.org
Girls Soccer	Matt Pritchett	mpritchett@pembrokehill.org
Boys Tennis	Scott Hanover	shanover@pembrokehill.org
Boys & Girls Track/Field	McCay Tuttle	mtuttle@pembrokehill.org

 

During the school year outside of the school sport season, athletes may attend a non-school sponsored specialized sports camp or group instruction, provided it does not result in any loss of school time; attendance does not occur within 14 days of the start of the school sport season for the sport concerned; it is not a team camp; no competition occurs other than limited scrimmaging; and no member of the coaching staff of the school the athlete attends (or will attend) is involved in any way.

During the school sport season, an athlete may attend a non-school sponsored specialized sports camp or group instruction provided a school coach attends with the athlete; camp attendance does not result in any loss of school time; it is not a team camp; there is no competition other than limited scrimmaging; and a school administrator approves the athlete's participation.

The athletes or their parents must pay all camp/clinic fees, tuition and other related expenses. A scholarship or waiver of fees shall result in the loss of an athlete's eligibility. The school may provide transportation at no cost during the summer or during the school sport season.

Athletes may attend only ONE sport camp per sport during the school year by special invitation. They may attend any number of "open" sport camps.

Note: Before attending any specialized athletic camp(s)/clinic(s) or group sport instruction, athletes should consult with the principal or athletic director to make sure it meets the criteria published in the MSHSAA Official Handbook.

13. Sportsmanship
 

If students should commit an unsportsmanlike act while participating in an event, they could become ineligible.

If their conduct as a spectator is found to be unsportsmanlike, they could be barred from attending any further high school athletic contests.

The unsportsmanlike conduct of any spectator - regardless of age - could cause that spectator to be barred from attending school athletic contests.

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Note: An infraction of a Missouri State High School Activities Association rule may result in the student-athlete being declared ineligible to represent his/her school in competition for a period of 365 days and in some cases longer.