ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

ATHLETE, COACH AND PARENT COMMUNICATION

The Mt. Carmel High School Athletic Program strives to provide a variety of experiences to aid in the development of favorable habits and attitudes in Student-athletes preparing them for a successful life in our society. We have three areas that we would like all of our athletes to learn and appreciate:

1) RESPONSIBILITY / COMMITMENT/ COMMUNICATION

2) HARD WORK LEADS TO SUCCESS

3) HOW TO BE A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF A TEAM

Each coach, parent and athlete has a part to play if these program goals are to be accomplished.  By establishing an understanding of each of our responsibilities, we are better able to accept the actions of the others and provide greater benefit to our student-athletes.

ATHLETE RESPONSIBILITIES

Attendance

1. Be at all practices and games.
2. Be on time.

Attitude

1. Represent Mt. Carmel in a positive manner at all times.
2. Come prepared to be a part of the team.
3. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices to help the team.
4. Come prepared to do your best. This includes proper nutrition, sleep and care of injuries and illness.
5. Be positive with your team and your coaches

Communication 

1. Communicate any problems with the coach.
2. If you don't understand something ask the coach.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Attendance

1. Try to schedule vacations, appointments etc. other than during practice or game times.
2. Encourage your student-athlete to be on time so that the time of others is not wasted.

Attitude

1. Help your student-athlete to know and understand school and team rules.
2. Help your student-athlete to understand the team concept by explaining and supporting their role on the team.
3. Help your student-athlete to come prepared to do his/her best by encouraging them to be physically and mentally prepared. This includes; proper nutrition, sleep and care of injuries and illness.
4. Help your student-athlete to understand that the team comes before the individual.
5. Sacrifice might be necessary.

Communication

1. Encourage the student-athlete to communicate with the coach.
2. Use the system of communication set up by the Athletic Department

COACHES’ RESPONSIBILITY

            Attendance

1. Provide schedules of all practices and games.
2. Communicate any changes in schedule.
3. Be on time.

            Attitude

1. Come prepared for all practices and games.
2. Encourage the athletes to do their best.
3. Apply all school and team rules to all athletes equally.
4. Be professional in all actions and words.
5. Be positive about your team.

            Communication

1. Philosophy of Coach
2. Expectations of athlete and team
3. Location and times of all practices and games
4. Communicate all CIF, District, MC and team rules to athletes and parents clearly.
5. Communicate to individual athletes their role on the team.
6. Return parent phone calls in a timely manner.

Communications Guidelines

Both parenting and coaching are extremely challenging in today’s world. Both coaches and parents are for the most part, tremendous people, not perfect, but tremendous.  By providing these helpful communication guidelines, we believe we can best help our athletes reach their potential and allow them to enjoy their high school sports experience.

Communication you can expect from your athlete’s coach:

1. Philosophy of the coach
2. Expectations of athlete and team
3. Location and times of all practices and games
4. CIF, District, MC, and team rules
5. Athletes role on team

Communication that coaches can expect from parents:

1. Concerns expressed directly to the coaches
2. Specific questions about philosophy or expectations
3. Notification of any illness or injuries
4. Any absences prior to practices or games

Appropriate concerns to discuss with coaches:

1. Treatment of your child (mentally or physically)
2. Ways to help your child improve
3. Concerns about your child's behavior/academic problems

It can be very difficult to accept when your athlete is not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches make decisions based on what they believe to be in the best interest of the team. The coach must take into account all members of the team not just one individual.  As noted in the above lists, certain concerns should be discussed with the coach. Other decisions like the examples on the list of "inappropriate concerns” need to be left to the discretion of the coach.

If you have a concern to discuss with the coach, please use the following procedure for best results:

1. Call the coach at school and set up an appointment.  Talk with the coach first. 
2. Mt. Carmel High School’s telephone number is 484-1180 ext.... 0. Ask for the coach by name.   If the coach is JV or Frosh coach and is not a MCHS staff member, leave a message with the Varsity coach of that sport. If the Varsity coach is not a MCHS staff member call the Athletic Secretary, Linda Uribe, at ext.3110 and leave a message.
3. Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest. This can be an emotional time for both the parent and the coach. Confrontations of this nature usually do not promote positive resolutions.

If a satisfactory resolution between parent and coach does not take place after the initial communication:

1. Contact the Athletic Director, Randy Wright, at ext. 3109.
2. The Athletic Director will set up a meeting with the Parent, athlete, and coach.
3. The Athletic Director will attempt to mediate a resolution.

If a satisfactory resolution is not reached at the meeting.

You will need to contact the Administrator in charge of Athletics, (Greg Magno). The Administrator will set up another meeting with all parties and will try to mediate a resolution.

 It is our intention to do our best in positively resolve situations between parents, athletes and coaches.  We ask that you work with us toward this result.