FUTURE LADY KNIGHT POLICIES
1. FLK Objectives.
 Teach and develop each girl individual skills and team skills in a competitive setting. Teach the
fundamentals of the sport, the value of teamwork, discipline, self-sacrifice, perseverance, goal
setting, punctuality, and hard work.
 Be a feeder program for Assumption Catholic High.
 Help each child to develop a love for the game and learn to have fun through hard work.
 Give a positive reinforcement based upon effort, not just results.
 Help develop her knowledge and ability to be successful at the next level.
 Teach her that “success” comes from doing her best effort. Keep winning/losing in perspective.
 Help each player set and meets her individual expectations and goals.
2. Overall FLK Team Rules.
 Win or lose, players, coaches and parents are to be gracious and show respect to the opponent,
other team, the officials and the fans.
 We will cheer for good effort of all the players on our team and all of the other teams, including
our competition. Cheering should be in a positive manner for all players.
 Be Respectful with each other and coaches. We can disagree, without being disagreeable.
 FLK will have non-parent long term coaches at 7th & 8th grade.
 Coaches at each grade level are to teach all girls the same thing, so they all understand the
fundamentals and can play as a team, even if they play in different groups during the season. All
FLK coaches are to teach each girl.
 FLK coaches are to follow FLK Coaching “expectations” and by-laws.
 Players to be at games 30 minutes before start time, ready to play. Team roster
is due 20 minutes before game time.
 Players are to be on time to practice and give 100% effort. Attendance will be kept.. If you must
miss practice, call the coach. What is taught at each practice builds on the last practice. So when
you miss, you will miss something that needs to be caught up. There is a difference between
excused absences (sick, family vacation, surprise test), and unexcused absences (“forgot about
practice”, “did not know about it”, “went shopping”, or “had to do homework, that she knew
about for a week and which she over procrastinated on”). Being “gone” from practice will affect
the player’s ability, skills, knowledge, confidence level, teamwork and teammate's confidence in
you. Unexcused absences and missing more than 1/3 of the weekly practices makes a poor
statement about your commitment level to the team and can result in discipline.
 FLK teams are to attend Mass together on out of town tourney trips.
3. Parent Concerns:
If there is a problem that you are concerned about, please discuss it first with the coach. If there is
something that you cannot communicate with the coach directly, talk with the “player representative” or
with a member of the FLK board. The Board and the coach want to know your concern directly, not by
the rumor mill. We make adjustments to the program often based on parent concerns. We listen. We will
respect your point of view. Please respect our point of view and listen to what we do and the reasons.
Please have specific facts to discuss and proposed solutions, and try to remove the emotional aspect. Tere
may be more than one way to do things right. We are doing many things right, but FLK also makes
adjustments from time to time.
4. Coach- Parent Relationship (adopted from Iowa Athletic Council):.
A. Communication parents should expect from their child's coach.
 Coach's philosophy.
 Expectations the coach has for your child, as well as other players on the team.
 Advance notice of locations and times of practices and games.

Team requirements and team rules (i.e. fees, special equipment needed, host’s school
rules, in-season and off-season expectations).
 Procedures to be followed if a child is injured, sick or violates team rules.
B. Communication the coaches expect from parents:
 Concerns your child expressed, but discuss directly to the coach at the appropriate
time and place.
 Specific concerns regarding the coach's philosophy and/or expectations.
 Notification of any schedule conflicts well in advance. As your child becomes involved
interscholastic athletics, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of
their lives. It's important to understand there may be times when things do not go the
way you or your child wishes. These are the times discussion with the coach is
encouraged.
C. These ARE appropriate matters to discuss with a coach:
 The mental and physical treatment of your child (ie. best ways to motivate the child,
child’s ability to handle stress/competition or coaches style).
 What your child needs to do to improve (individual skills, speed, and strength).
 Concerns about your child's behavior, health (ie the child is sick or stressed), condition
(ie asthma, injury), special situations (ie family problems, bullying).
D. Some Issues ARE NOT appropriate matters to discuss with your child's coach:
 How much playing time –PT- each athlete is getting. It is difficult sometimes to accept
that your child is not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches make decisions based
on what they believe is in the best interests of all players and the team. As you can see
from the list above, certain things can and should be discussed with your child's coach,
but other things must be left to the discretion of the coach, such as:.
 Team strategy or line up or player rotation play calling or game strategy.
 Situation that deal with other student-athletes (ie complaints that another players gets
more or less PT, or is not deserving or as good as another).
 There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and parent. These
are encouraged, as it is important for each person to have a clear understanding of the
other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following procedure is
suggested to help promote resolution to the issue.
E. Procedurally if a parent has a concern to discuss do the following:
 Make sure it is a concern of your daughter. Call the coach to discuss.
 If the coach cannot be reached, call a member of the FLK board or a “player rep” Ask
him or her to set up a meeting with the coach & you. You may request a board member
and other parent to be present.
 What do you expect to accomplish at the meeting. Stick to discussing the facts.
 Do not confront the coach before, during or after a game or practice. These can be
emotional times for both the parent and coach. Meetings of this nature do not promote
resolution of the situation, but often escalate it.
 What should a parent do if the meeting with the coach didn't provide satisfactory
resolution? Call a member of the board of FLK or any FLK player’s rep. to set up a
meeting with the board (the coach will also be invited to that meeting). At this
meeting, an appropriate next step can be determined, if necessary.
Coach’s Communication with the Player and Parent.
 Coaches should try to talk with and give individual attention to each player at each practice and
game. Coaches should try to get to know each of them, and let each player know that the Coach
cares for her as a person and as a player.
 FLK have your daughter’s best interest at heart. We will work hard to help her develop her talents
and abilities. Many times, we need your help. FLK has an open door policy. Please talk to us
about anything, but not to the Coach immediately before, during or after a game about an
important matter. If you are uncomfortable talking to the coach, talk to a Future Lady Knights
board member or player representative.
 If your daughter says that the coaches said something, but it just does not sound right, it probably
is not right. Call us and get the facts.
 We will respect you and your point of view. Please respect our point of view. There is no
absolute single answer on how to best teach-coach her. You know your daughter and her
personality better than we do. However, we may see some things that you have not recognized
yet. We try to set high goals for her, and challenge her.
 A coach may yell during games or practices for many proper reasons, including: To be heard over
the noise, or because he is enthusiastic, or needs to get a player’s attention and instruct in a loud
gym.
 Coaches try to give positive feedback for effort. Coaches and parents should remember that there
is a big difference between critiquing the performance (which will occur) and criticizing the
individual (which should not happen).
 The coaching goal is to sandwich a critique of a girl’s effort/performance between praises of her
other actions, efforts or performances.
 Email may be used as the way to keep you up to date about schedules (games and practices), team
events, changes in schedule, and other matters. Check it daily.
6. Player Expectations.
 Take personal responsibility for your development as a person and player.
 Priorities: God, family, school, team.
 Get your school work done on time, and well. Plan ahead so you can fully partipate on the team
and make practices and games.
 Work hard. Work Smart. Have Fun.
 Give 100% efforts at all times, and then give the “second effort”.
 Learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, and self-sacrifice.
 Practice at home on your own skills. Discipline yourself, so no one else has to.
 Give your full attention and effort and be willing to learn at practice and in the games.
 Be coachable, willing to learn and to try what the coach asks. Have a positive attitude.
 Be on time and be mentally ready at practice and at games.
 Be prepared. Watch what is going on and be ready to play at all times.
 Show respect each other, the coaches, parents, officials, and the other team.
 Look for the “good” in each other.
 Support each other with a positive attitude, on the court and off the court.
 Work on your own time, outside of the team practice, by playing basketball and improve your
individual skills and strength, endurance, speed and quickness.
 With the coach, set your goals for the year, keep track of them and adjust as needed.
 Be honest, trustworthy and accountable for your actions.
 Learn to grow as a person through the success and failures that you and your team have.
 Learn to be a leader in your school. Be a “class act” at all times.
 Be gracious in a win, and if you loss.
 Communicate and again, Communicate (with coaches, teachers, parents and teammates)
5.
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
It is ok to make mistakes. You can learn from them and grow as a person/player.
Players (and Parents) involved with FLK especially at 7th-8th grade are, by their participation,
saying that they intend to go to Assumption High school. This is a matter of personal honor.
7.Parent Role Models:
Practice good sportsmanship. Be a positive role model. Encourage it in others. Act as though you are
being videoed on TV and your children are watching you. We are on display to all. Our actions and
words are held to a high expectation. We reflect and represent Assumption Catholic High school and
each other. Show respect for each player, coach, officials, all teams, and fans.
 Show appreciation for outstanding play by either team. Cheer for the efforts of both teams and all
of the players.
 Be a "team fan” not a "my child” fan. Cheer for all team members, not just your
child. A parent should not criticize, instruct, critique your own child from the stands, and do not
criticize-compare-critique another child with your child in the presence of children.
 Remind and motivate my daughter to practice her individual skills at home.
 Help teach your child (as the coach tries to teach), that "success" is measured by
development of skills, not just the winning or losing of a game.
 Try to make athletics a positive experience for everyone involved (participants,
coaches, officials and spectators).
 Having the players to practice and games on time and picking them up on time.
 Parent-coach discussions about a parent concern should be at an appropriate time,
place, but never before, during or immediately after a game. Discussion should be
at time
when both parties are not emotional, but can coolly and objectively discuss their point of views.
 Notify the coach at least 24 hours in advance of practices (and one week in advance of game
conflicts) of any schedule conflicts when your child will be late, need to leave early or not be
present. All absences affect her performance. Numerous absences affect team performance.
 It is not appropriate for a parent to discuss with the coach or any child how much playing time
each athletic is getting, team strategy, play calling, or any situation that deals with someone else’s
child or student athlete.
8. Parent Help. Parents are an important aspect of the team can to help the team by:
 Parents are invited to watch practices, but the coach runs the practice.
 If you want to help coach, please contact the FLK board prior to the 1st practice.
 Please volunteer. Teams need tourney score keepers or to keep a coach’s separate score book or
videoing the game, help with car pooling other children to practices and games.
 Help by watching your daughter’s diet and sleep habits at home. Make sure she gets
plenty of fluids on the day of the game and avoids certain foods (i.e. pizza, cheese etc)
 Remind your daughter of the team rules and expectations and to practice at home.
 Get to know the coaches and give the coaches a chance to get to know you & your child.
 Monitor and supervise all players between games and get them to team Mass on Sunday.
9. Playing Time
We promise she will get good fundamental coaching and PT at practice. We will teach her the
individual skills and team skills needed to play and improve. She will be worked hard and given the
opportunity to get better and to develop her skills as a player and a team member. Remember that 90%
of her “playing time” is in practice. There is no guarantee of “PT” during a game. At this level
there are drastic differences in size, strength, speed, ability, desire, skill level and competitive
opponents. Actual playing time during a game depends on the player’s individual skill level, her
attitude, team chemistry, her effort during practice, attendance, plus the quality and size of the
opponent. Practice is where she learns the most, develops individually and as a member of the
team, and proves her ability to play in a game.
FLK Board: Joe Creen*, Matt Gannon*, Paul Venagli*, Ken Rapp*, Gary Thrapp, & Deb Giganti
(*player reps). Policies adopted/revised: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, rev’d 06-07