TENNIS TRYOUTS 2014-2015 Mansfield tigers TRYOUTS Days: August 4, 2014 – check in 9 am -check and/or turn in packets and physicals August 5-8 & 11, 2014 – Tryouts; Starting time: 8 am – 11 am -have your own racquet and water jug Place: Mansfield High School Tennis Courts MUST HAVE PHYSICAL FORMS COMPLETED TO TRYOUT!!! *Workouts will begin the week after* **Varsity tennis matches will begin immediately** (Subject to Change – Please check website for any updates) http://mansfield.mansfieldisd.org/page.cfm?p=3840 Tryouts are mandatory for all athletes interested in playing tennis during the 2014-2015 school year. Please do not schedule camps (including tennis), vacations, college visits, etc...during tryouts or matches. Late tryouts (to take place the following week) will only be granted for new residents who move into the district and for students who have a major family or financial commitment that can not be changed. Students who need exemptions from summer tryouts or matches must contact either the Varsity or J.V. coach prior to Aug 1st, 2014. Late tryouts can no longer take place during the first week of school due to student schedules needing to be in place starting with the first day of school. Tryout Procedures: Tennis tryouts are based upon results from match play. The coaches will observe players and seeding information will be turned in on the first day. Please be prepared to give the coaches a list of your tournament scores from SWTC (southwesttenniscircuit.com) and USTA tournaments. Please include USTA ranking and level if applicable. (We encourage you to participate in these tournaments.) Beginning the first morning, a tryout tournament will be held and will continue throughout the week. USTA rules will apply during all match play. Specific information about the round robin will be available at tryouts. An athlete may have to play up to 3 matches in one day. It is strongly advised to come to summer tryouts physically and emotionally prepared for a tough tournament schedule. Returning Varsity Players: All new and returning players must attend tryouts. They will be required to drill and play matches to help establish a current challenge ladder as well as doubles positions. Lower players do not automatically move into vacated spots by graduating seniors. ***Physicals*** All athletes must have a physical before tryouts. Your physical must be brought with you to tryouts. You will not be allowed to tryout unless you have a physical. Forms can be picked-up in the athletic director’s office or at the middle schools. This is a mandatory school policy. Please get a physical and fill out all the proper paperwork prior to August 4, 2014. If the physical is not done properly you will not be able to tryout. Physicals will also be given at Mansfield High School on Saturday, August 2, 2014 from 9 am to 12 pm. Website for additional physical forms/ athletics participation packets: http://www.mansfieldisd.org/page.cfm?p=4511 The Varsity and JV teams will have a minimum of 7 boys and 7 girls. District scores are based on the top 7 players for the boys/girls team. After tryouts are complete, the coaches will turn in a list of players to the counselors, who will then make the proper schedule changes. Any questions about tryouts or the MISD Tennis Teams should be directed to: MHS – John Stafford Brandi Gates johnstafford@misdmail.org brandigates@misdmail.org Athletic Coordinator: Coach Hulme Athletic Coordinator: Kate Goldberg Tennis Expenses Tennis players will have an approximate cost of $150 - $175 to pay for t-shirts, sweats, bags and uniforms that are not school issued. If there are any financial difficulties, please contact the coach. Workouts and Matches 1. Workouts will be during class time and after school and will last no later than 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Junior varsity workouts will be determined by the coach and may be subject to change. Most matches will be on Tuesday and Friday for Varsity and Thursday for JV. However, you must be available to participate on any day you are called upon to do so. 2. Workouts will consist of conditioning, drills, and match play. Players are expected to be prepared for practice every day. Students will have all the proper equipment/attire including a water jug. Walking on and off the court will not be allowed except during breaks. 3. Other school functions, doctor appointments or other non-school functions are discouraged and must be scheduled after designated workout times or approved by the coach before such appointments are scheduled. 4. Any loss of workout time that is not authorized in advance will result in loss of playing time. This includes tutoring and school functions. 5. Following the team tennis season, the daily workout will be comprised mainly of fitness, strength, and conditioning. Students will be released when school is out, but are encouraged to stay and practice on their own. 6. If unsure of workout because of weather, substitute, etc, meet in the study hall(Coach Gates’ classroom) for instruction. 7. Players with jobs will have to alter their work schedule in order to accommodate all practices and matches. Court etiquette and behavior 1. When on the tennis court, demonstrate sportsmanship at all times. You are representing not only yourself, but the entire team and MISD. 2. Loud and inappropriate language, racquet-throwing, or hitting balls indiscriminately is prohibited. Appropriate behavior on the tennis court is expected at all times. 3. Any insubordination on your part to the coach or any other adult will not be tolerated. General Rules 1. Alcohol and drug consumption will not be tolerated at any time. Violators will be released from the team at the coach’s discretion. 2. All players are required to wear appropriate tennis attire for practice and matches at all times. 3. Students not maintaining adequate academic progress will be dismissed from the team at semester. 4. All team members will be present at all varsity home matches until released by the coach. 5. Tennis office is off limits to players unless specific permission is given. 6. If a student is at school he/she is expected to be at practice. If a student is physically unable to practice he/she is expected to stay until practice is dismissed. 7. Lettering will be at the discretion of the coach. Students will have the opportunity to letter during the Fall and Spring seasons. 8. Playing order is to be determined by the coach Behavior Management 1. Drug, alcohol, and tobacco policy is discussed in the MISD code of conduct. 2. Players are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. This will include proper behavior for matches, practice and when traveling on the bus. The bus will be clean before players are released. 3. The coach will determine discipline consequences. The severity of a punishment is determined by the type of behavior problem. 4. The coach will discipline a player within MISD guidelines. The discipline procedure will include conditioning, match suspension, or expulsion from the team. 5. The coach and MISD are not responsible for any theft of school or personal belongings. The player is responsible for all issued equipment. Players will be issued lockers and are expected to keep them locked. Travel Policy 1. All players will ride on the bus to and from the athletic event. The coach and the school are responsible for the players from the time they get on the bus to the time we arrive back to Mansfield/Legacy. 2. No player may ride with his/her parents to an athletic event in which a bus/ suburban is used. 3. If a player misses the bus, he/she will not be able to participate in the athletic event. *Tennis players will be given Athletic Code/ Player Policy forms to be signed after tryouts. Do Not forget *Players are expected to prepare for tryouts by competing in tournaments and match play. Go to southwesttenniscircuit.com for dates/info. About local tournaments throughout the summer! *make sure to have your Summer Resume, physical, athletic participation packets, and emergency cards notarized and completed by tryouts on August 4! *Mandatory Parent Meeting!! for the Varsity and JV team on Monday, August 18, 2014, 6:30 pm, Library Play lots of Tennis! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! SEE YOU IN AUGUST!