FALMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ATHLETICS
BOOSTER HANDBOOK
2/17/16
BOOSTERS’ CLUB MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
Booster Club Guidelines
II.
Fund Raising Guidelines
III. Summer Programs
IV.
Home Contest Assistance
V.
Sample Sport Booster Agenda / Minutes
VI.
MPA Code of Ethics for Secondary Schools
VII. MPA Sport Season Policy
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BOOSTER CLUB GUIDELINES
Athletic Booster Clubs at Falmouth High School are entirely voluntary and exist for the single
purpose of enhancing and enriching the competitive sports programs for students. The primary
function of Booster Clubs is to provide manpower and funds to augment school sanctioned
athletic programs. All officially sanctioned high school and middle school athletic programs will
remain under the complete control and direction of the Falmouth School Department and its
Administration.
The Falmouth School Department does not direct how booster group leadership is organized or
selected. Booster groups may be headed by a coach, parent, community member or a formally
elected board of officers.
1. A Booster or Booster organizations must submit the following information to the Athletic
Director on an annual basis. A list that includes addresses, phone numbers (home,
cell and work), and email addresses of all elected officers or main contact individuals.
2. Participation in a booster organization and in any associated responsibilities shall be
completely voluntary.
3. All decisions made involving a school sanctioned athletic program must have
the endorsement and support of the head coach and the school administration.
4. Any concerns involving the athletic program and coaching staff should be addressed
individually through the school department’s chain of command starting with the
coach, then the athletic director, and finally the principal. It must be remembered that
the Booster organization has no evaluative responsibilities relative to the coach,
the student/athletes, or program administration.
5. The role of the head coach relative to the Booster Club should be a major one. The
head coach should be involved with all decisions that directly involve his/her team. All
expenditures by the Booster Club must have head coach and school administration
authorization. The Falmouth School’s Superintendent and potentially the Falmouth
School Board may need to approve plans/ideas that would impact/change the design of
existing facilities or amenities. Also, the same higher level approval may be needed to
insure that donated supplies or equipment are safe and appropriate for School
Department use. All donations or suggested improvements over ($5,000.00) five
thousand dollars needs Falmouth School Board approval.
6. As mandated by the MPA: Booster organizations may not fund athlete participation in
camps, practices, or other activities outside of the sports season. This does not
include the summer season.
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7. A copy of the Booster Clubs year-end financial report should be sent to the athletic
director prior to February 1st. The spending of booster funds is at their discretion,
but the athletic director will be kept informed of expenditures helping to avoid
duplication when ordering equipment and supplies.
8. All orders that will be made expecting to use the Falmouth School’s tax-exempt number
or made using the Falmouth School Department name/brand must be processed
through the athletic directors office before the order is placed. All equipment,
supplies and uniforms purchased by a Booster or Booster Organization become the
property of the Falmouth School Department.
9. End of season banquet arrangements should be made well in advance. Invitations
should
be sent to all athletes and parents involved in the athletic program being recognized.
The banquet organizer may wish to extend additional invitations to volunteers, family
members, administrators and any other person (s) deserving recognition or thanks for
their efforts in making a specific season more productive and enjoyable. All aspects of
the end of season banquet should be approved by the head coach and athletic
administrator.
10. Booster clubs and all their members must be vigilant in assuring that club activities
follow all Federal/State Laws and Falmouth School Board Policies when sponsoring
or hosting activities involving Falmouth Student/Athletes. Due to the fact that all the
student/athletes are minors, there should be no alcohol or drugs of any kind at
member or club sponsored events including team dinners and other bonding
activities.
11. Booster supported activities that involve travel and participation in out of State
Tournaments and Competitions must be approved by the athletic administration
well in advance. Boosters should be sensitive to any costs that the student/athlete
or their parents might have to absorb to participate in these activities.
12. Information related to coach employment, applications, discipline and termination is
confidential under Maine law, and Booster organizations have no greater right than the
general public to obtain information relating to employment decisions.
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FUND RAISING GUIDELINES
1. Fund raising projects are subject to state law. Nonprofit or tax-exempt status can be
obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.
2. The head coach should be involved with all decisions that directly involve his/her team. All
expenditures by the Booster Club that impacts an athletic program should have coach
authorization and athletic department approval.
3. The athletic director should be notified, in advance, of all fundraising activities, such as
raffles, sale of merchandise and concessions. This is important to avoid duplication of
effort since student government and other clubs are also involved with fundraising.
4. All major fundraising activities such as invitational tournaments must be cleared through the
athletic director well in advance of the activity. This is necessary to avoid conflicts with
other school activities and to obtain a sanction from the MPA if necessary. As a guideline,
sanction forms need to be in the MPA office at least two months prior to the event. In
general, when conflicts exist regarding fundraisers similar in nature during a specific sports
season, programs presently participating in their sport season will have priority.
5. Student athletes may participate in fundraising activities only during their sport season or
summer months. Clarification: A student athlete involved with a fall activity may not
fundraise for that specific fall sport during the winter or spring athletic seasons. However,
provided the athletic director clears the fundraiser, parent boosters may have fundraisers
outside the MPA sports season.
6. Sales campaigns should be planned carefully to insure that the projects provide dollar
value for items sold, and that most of the money raised stays with the booster club for
funding purposes.
7. Fund raising should support the educational goals of the school and should not exploit
students. Activities and projects should be investigated carefully before committing the
school’s support.
8. Coach’s requests for purchases/expenses should have prior approval of the athletic
director before submission to boosters.
9. Booster officers and volunteers should account for any monies exchanged during fund
raising activities. A paper record with two signatures should be required when counting
cash collected at events such as the concession stand.
Summer Athletic Programs
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Summer athletic sessions involving Falmouth Coaches and Athletes are considered an
extension of the Falmouth Public Schools and/or Falmouth Recreational offerings. The
following expectations will assist in providing consistency in the manner in which programs are
presented. It is the responsibility of adult leadership, parents and staff, to ensure that summer
participation in athletics is an enjoyable and stress free experience for athletes involved.
Expectations of Summer Programs:
• Contests will be scheduled in a manner which ensures that athletes involved in more
than one summer activity will have few conflicts. Contests will take priority over another
program’s practices.
• Maximum number of days per week for each program, contests and practices, will not
exceed three (3). Exceptions will be made for weight training regimen and summer
tournaments
• Summer participation is optional but it is assumed that players will improve in direct
proportion to the amount of work they are willing to put in during the off-season. Coaches
will be presenting skills, formations and strategies that they will be using during the
up-coming season so those players who attend summer sessions may gain an
advantage.
• Focus will be on player development, not wins and losses during summer sessions.
Expectations of Booster Organizations involved with the summer season:
• Assistance with collection of participation fees if needed to pay for clinics, entry fees,
officials, scholarships, tournaments etc. etc.
• Disburse payment for:
1) League fees
3) supplies/equipment
2) Officials
4) Facility rentals
5.) camps
6) other payments as they arise
• All athletes shall have equal access. Those demonstrating financial hardship may
have registration fees waived or funded by the booster organization.
Expectations of Coaches:
• Work with Boosters if needed to ensure the quality of summer activities
• Facilities will be scheduled through Falmouth Community Services for all home contests
and practices
• Provide a safe and supervised environment that is all inclusive
Fees:
• Boosters or coaches may be involved with paying or collecting participation fees
during the summer season. A record should be kept for all monies collected and
and disbursed.
. Coaches may charge participants a minimal fee to cover their own expenses during the
summer season. It is expected that these fees will be less than $50.00. Coaches must
keep a record of all fees collected and how they may have been disbursed.
BOOSTER CLUB
HOME CONTEST RESPONSIBILITIES
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A booster club may have responsibilities in helping the
Athletic Department conduct certain athletic programs.
The following list will identify Booster responsibilities for
each school sanctioned athletic program
A. Basketball
J. Skiing, Alpine
1. Timer ( A.D.)
1. Gate Keepers (BOOSTERS)
2. Scorer ( A.D.)
3. Announcer BOOSTERS
K. Skiing, Nordic- (ALL BOOSTERS ll)
4. Ticket Taker(s) A.D
1. Timers (2)
5. Concessions BOOSTERS
2. Starter & Skier Alignment (4)
B. Baseball
3. Scorer (2)
1. Scorer (Coach/BOOSTERS)
4. Pinnies issue/collection (2)
2. Scoreboard (Coach/BOOSTERS)
3. Announcer: BOOSTERS
L. Soccer
C. Cross Country
1. Timer/Announcer ( A.D.)
1. Timers (coaches, A.D., parents BOOSTERS)
2. Scorer (Coach/Boosters)
2. Scorers (Coaches, A.D. parents BOOSTERS)
3. Ball Boys / Girls (BOOSTERS)
3. Chute Control (Coaches, A.D., parents(Boosters) 4. Ticket Takers (A.D.)
D. Field Hockey
M. Softball
1. Timer ( A.D.)
1. Scorer (Coach/BOOSTERS)
2. Scorer (Coach-parents-BOOSTERS)
2. Scoreboard )Coach/BOOSTERS)
3. Concessions (BOOSTERS)
N. Swimming
4. Tickets (A. D,)
1. Computer Operator (Home pool)
E. Football
2. Back-up Timers(6-8)(BOOSTERS)
1. Timer (Officiating crew)
3. Scorer(s)(2) (Coach/ BOOSTERS)
2. Public Address (BOOSTERS)
O. Tennis - none
3. Sideline Crew (BOOSTERS)
P. Track & Field (Parents/BOOSTERS)
4. Ticket Takers A.D,
1. Event Officials (12)
5. Concessions (BOOSTERS)
2. Event Assistants (14)
F. Golf – none
3. Timer (10)
G. Ice Hockey
Q. Volleyball (ALL BOOSTERS)
1. Timer ( BOOSTERS coordinate w/ A.D.)
1. Score Panel (coordinate w/ A.D.)
2. Scorer (BOOSTERS coordinate w/ A.D.)
2. Scorer (coordinate w/ A.D.)
3. Public Address (BOOSTERS coordinate w/ A.D.) 3. Line Judge (2) (coordinate w/ A.D
4. Ticker Takers (BOOSTERS coordinate w A.D.)
5. Concessions (BOOSTERS coordinate with Arena)
H. Lacrosse
1. Timer/Announcer ( A.D.)
2. Scorer ( BOOSTERS coordinate w/ coach and A.D.)
3. Penalty Timer(s) (BOOSTERS coordinate w/A.D.)
4. Ball persons (BOOSTERS/Youth Groups
5. Tickets (A.D.)
SAMPLE BOOSTER’S CLUB MEETING AGENDA
Meeting Date:
I.
Location:
Introductions
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II.
Booster Club Manual
A. Booster Club Guidelines
B. Fund Raising Guidelines
C. Role in Summer Program
D. Contact Lists
E. MPA Code of Ethics for Secondary Schools
F. MPA Sport Season Policy
1. Booster Clubs – Extension of the athletic program
III.
Specific Booster Club Responsibilities
1. Ticket Takers
2. Timer / Scorer
3. Public Address
IV.
Fund Raising Activities
1. Simultaneous Sales Coordination
2. Calendar of Events
3. Concession Stand Responsibilities
a. Multi Booster Club Use and Logistics
b. Food and Beverage Purchasing
V.
Educational Meeting for 8th Graders – Coordinated w/ head coach
1. Handout (i.e. Booster Club Information for Parents and Summer Workout for
8th Grade Athletes)
VI.
Next Steps
1. Follow up to decisions made
2. Assignment of tasks
3. Minutes for distribution
SPORTS BOOSTER MINUTES
(SAMPLE FORM)
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Date & Time of Meeting:
Location:
Officers Present:
Members Present:
Summary of discussions:
Treasurers Report: Income & Expenses
Current Balance
Fundraising events:
Date of next meeting:

All minutes should include, at a minimum, the above info.

Please forward minutes to the AD’s office promptly. Thank you.
MPA CODE OF ETHICS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
It is the duty of all concerned with secondary school activities programs to…
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1. Cultivate an awareness that participation in high school activities is part of the
total educational experience and, as such, no one should either seek or expect
academic privileges for the participants.
2. Emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play as
they relate to the lifetime impact on the participants and spectators.
3. Develop an awareness and understanding of all rules and guidelines governing
competition, both in letter and intent, and to comply with them in all activities.
4. Recognize that the purpose of activities in school programs is to develop and
promote the physical, mental, moral, social, and emotional well being of
individual participants.
5. Avoid any practice or technique that would endanger the present or future
welfare or safety of a participant.
6. Avoid practices that force or encourage students to specialize or which restrict
them from participation in a variety of activities.
7. Refrain from making disparaging remarks to opponents, officials, coaches, or
spectators in any aspect of school activities.
8. Vigorously encourage the development of proper health habits and discourage
the use of chemicals, including alcohol and tobacco.
9. Exemplify proper self-control at all times and accept adverse decisions without
public display of emotion or dissatisfaction.
10. Encourage everyone to judge the true success of the activities programs on the
basis of the attitude of the participants and spectators, rather than on the basis of
a win or loss.
Sport Season Policy
Introduction
The MPA Sport Season Policy has been written and accepted by the membership for the
following reasons:

to provide a "level playing field" between schools, so that one set of students is not
placed at a disadvantage to others with whom they compete for state championships;
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
to create definable seasons of competition which allows students to participate in
various activities without coaches feeling the need to "compete" with each other for
athletes within their own school;

to discourage specialization in the sense that students are not deprived of a variety of
co-curricular experiences which the high school "exploratory" life stage provides;

to create a corridor which protects some personal time for students between activities;

to provide opportunity for families to clearly define times for vacations and other family
functions; and

to prevent the exploitation and "burn out" of participant student athletes and coaches.
ARTICLE I - SPORT SEASON POLICY
Section 1
MPA member schools are required to limit all participation, play, or practice in a sport by all
teams and individuals to the season to which the sport is assigned. This policy applies to all
team and individual interscholastic competition grades 9 through 12 during the school year only
and does not apply during the summer recess.
In order to provide a window of personal time similar to the time available prior to the winter and
spring sports seasons, summer recess is defined as the time period between the last day of the
spring sport season to August 1 or fourteen (14) days prior to the beginning of the fall sport
season, whichever occurs later. This does not exclude individual students from attending camps
during this two-week period of personal time as long as all other Sport Season Policy
requirements are met. Individuals choosing to attend camps during this two-week period may
use school protective gear or track and field implements.
The principal of an MPA member high school may request a waiver for a spring sports season
coach to continue to have contact with specific spring student athletes during the two-week
period prior to the fall sport season. The request must be in writing and must be received by the
Executive Director no later than July 25. The Executive Director is authorized to grant waivers
only in unusual and specific instances (Example: American Legion coach). This waiver process
is not intended to permit a coach to extend a summer program or to work at a camp during this
two-week period.
Booster Clubs are an extension of the athletic program and, therefore, are subject to the
restrictions of the Sport Season Policy. It is understood that fund raising (by adults) is exempt
from this restriction.
The sport seasons shall be preceded by a practice period of a minimum of two weeks and a
maximum of three weeks. During the practice period, teams may participate in clinics,
scrimmages, round-robins, exhibition games, and invitational events.
MPA sports committees will establish dates for first practices, first countable games, last
countable games, and play-off/tournament games.
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Exceptions to the Sport Season Policy have been granted for teams invited to participate in
MPA invitational tournaments, the Aroostook potato harvest, Deering-Portland football game,
skiing (when weather conditions dictate delays), and faculty/student exhibition games conducted
following the sports season.
Section 2
Violations of this policy will occur when MPA member schools permit a team or individuals to
play or practice a sport outside the sport's season through use of school equipment, provision of
transportation by the school or a school-affiliated organization, or use of the school name for
out-of-season sports activities.
Additionally, activities organized for the purpose of an out-of-season practice, as defined by the
Sport Season Policy, are prohibited. Coaches or advisors are prohibited from coaching or giving
instructions about a sport to members of their teams individually or collectively outside the sport
season for that sport. Others who may not organize or coach include, but are not limited to,
school affiliated organizations and their members, captains, and players. Exceptions to this
paragraph are:
1. A (one-time) meeting for the purpose of administrative organization is permissible.
2. High school students may assist their high school coaches in providing instruction to
middle level or elementary schools following the regular season for any three week
period designated by the high school principal.
3. The Sport Season Policy restrictions on coaches will be waived in the sport of
gymnastics. The severe lack of qualified gymnastics coaches places students at risk
without this permanent waiver.
4. Senior athletes may work with their coach after the close of the sport season in all sports
except fall cheerleading, cross-country, and winter track.
Coaches whose employment by a school is limited to coaching duties shall be subject to the
same restrictions as regular school employees with respect to the Sport Season Policy.
Traditionally, fall cheering squads in many schools have been chosen in the spring in order to
allow the group to attend cheering camps during the summer; this is a violation of the Sport
Season Policy. The rationale is to allow all students an opportunity to attend cheering camp to
improve their skills before tryouts rather than the former, more restrictive practice which
eliminates students before such an opportunity.
Section 3
The principal of MPA member schools is responsible to interpret both the meaning and intent of
the Sport Season Policy for the local school and is also responsible for its enforcement.
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Section 4
Violations reported under this policy will be dealt with as outlined in Article IV of the MPA ByLaws. Violations of this policy may result in sanctions against the school; in no case will
violations of this policy affect a student's eligibility.
ARTICLE II - WAIVER OF THE SPORT SEASON POLICY
Requests for waivers of the Sport Season Policy except for end of summer process may be
made to the Interscholastic Executive Committee and must be written in advance of the
effective time of the activity or date. The request for waivers of the Sport Season Policy must be
made by the school principal. In no case shall the waiver be for a period of time to exceed one
season.
ARTICLE IV - ASSIGNMENT OF SPORTS TO SEASONS
Section 1 - Sports Assigned to the Fall Season
Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball
Section 2 - Sports Assigned to the Winter Season
Basketball, Cheerleading-Competitive Season (Note: Although cheerleading is assigned to the
Winter Season, the Sport Season Policy applies the year around.), Gymnastics, Ice Hockey,
Skiing, Swimming, Track-Indoor, Wrestling
Section 3 - Sports Assigned to the Spring Season
Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, Track-Outdoor
ARTICLE V - DEFINITIONS (SPORT SEASON POLICY)
Clinics - Program conducted for purpose of instruction in rules, playing techniques,
demonstrations or other teaching purposes. Clinics conducted for players must be held within
the designated sport season; the Sport Season Policy does not apply to clinics for coaches only.
Coach - An individual who has been selected by the local governing agent to assume
responsibility for an interscholastic team, who provides coaching/instruction, and who selects
team personnel. The coach will be considered a coach of a team until the local governing agent
has named his/her replacement.
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Coaching - For Sport Season Policy purposes, coaching is the giving of instruction, selection of
team personnel or conducting a practice or game. This also includes directing a team-only, offseason activity related to conditioning or other type of activity related to the sport.
Exhibition Games - Contests conducted under game conditions but not intended to count as
official games for tournament qualification.
Intramurals - Activities conducted for students of a school for which all students in the school
are eligible to participate.
Open Activities - Activities approved by the principal scheduled for a gym, pool or other facility
for which all students or age groups are invited to participate; adults involved in such activities
should be supervising and should not be coaching or giving instruction.
Practice - Any organized activity, the purpose of which is selection of team personnel or the
coaching of participants.
School affiliated organization - Athletic booster clubs, friends of programs or other support
groups who are aligned with athletic organizations of high schools.
School Year - For purposes of the Sport Season Policy, the school year shall be from the
beginning of the Fall sports season to the last day of the Spring sports season.
Summer Recess - For the purposes of the Sport Season Policy, summer recess is the time
between the last day of the Spring sports season to the beginning of the Fall sports season.
Use of the weight room - A coach may supervise a strength or fitness area outside of his/her
coaching season provided that this area is open to all students in the school.
Volunteer coach - A coach who meets the above definition for coach, but who serves without
compensation.
Adopted: August 2012
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