Simsbury High School
Department of Athletics

Directions to Other Schools

Directions to Simsbury High School:

OFF OF I-84

From Route 84, take Route 4, Exit #39. This is the Farmington exit.
Go to the second set of lights and make a right turn (Rts. 10 and 202). Farmington Country Club is on the corner.
Follow Route 10 to Route 44 (about 5 miles). Make a left turn onto Route 44.
Continue until you come to Route 167 (Bushy Hill Road) and make a right turn.
At the end of 167 take a left on Route 309. Simsbury High School is on the right side. Enter at the 2nd driveway-- this brings you to the front of the school.

OFF OF I-91 FROM SPRINGFIELD

Exit #40 off of I-91 onto Route 20--Granby/Old Newgate Prison exit.
Continue on Route 20 until you come to the center of Granby.
Turn left onto Routes 10 and 202--continue through center of Simsbury.
At the stoplight (big white Congregational Church on your right) bear to the right onto Route 309. This is also West Street.
Continue on West Street--through two stoplights and the high school is on your right. Drive into the second entrance--this brings you to the front of the school.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

We would like to welcome you to the Simsbury High School Athletic Department web page, which has been created to help provide you with information regarding our program and to answer any questions you might have.

It is important to know that we encourage all students at the high school to participate in our interscholastic program. We believe that the opportunity for participation in a wide variety of student-selected activities is a vital part of a student's total educational experience. Lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, competition, and fair play are all integral parts of the athletic experience. Participation is a privilege that carries with it responsibilities to the school, to the sport, and to the students themselves. These experiences contribute to the development of the well-rounded individual allowing them to maximize their potential for success.

Selection of team members is subject to the discretion of the coaching staff. Obviously, time, space, facilities, equipment, coaching preference, and other factors will place limitations on maximum team size. While every attempt will be made to involve as many student athletes as possible, the number of interested students may exceed our ability to safely and effectively accommodate them; therefore, a selection process may be necessary. Student-athletes are encouraged to refer to the coach for the selection process of a particular sport and for levels of participation in that sport.

While the high school athletic program serves as an arena for the student-athlete to display his/her talent, student athletes must in turn be willing to assume certain responsibilities. These responsibilities are listed in the student handbook.

ATHLETICS PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY, GOALS, AND PRINCIPLES

Program Philosophy

We believe that the interscholastic sports at Simsbury High School can be an integral part of the educational experience. We attempt to provide a broad, comprehensive program that will allow students to excel in a field of their choosing. Competitive activities are selected according to the needs, interests and abilities of our students, and are organized appropriately for their physical and emotional maturity. We will provide as many athletic teams as we can adequately coach, accommodate and support.

When utilized properly, athletics can serve as a foundation for the development of a positive self image. Athletic competition encourages cooperation, teamwork, dedication, self-sacrifice and commitment. Playing a sport also improves physical fitness and emotional maturity. We believe that our students can gain a great deal from participation in the sports program, mentally, physically and socially.

Program Goals

Our primary goal is to help each participating student achieve a high level of skill, an appreciation for discipline and sportsmanship and an increased level of self-esteem. While winning is certainly important, we also attempt to stress the objectives of conditioning, strategy, sportsmanship and game skills.

Listed below are some points our program attempts to highlight:

• Teamwork: Teamwork helps develop self-discipline, respect for authority and a rigorous work ethic. Also, a student will learn to place the goals and needs of their team above personal goals.
• Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship embodies treating the opposing team with respect and honor. Emphasis will be placed on emotional control, honesty and cooperation.
• Striving for Success: Students will learn to perform to the best of their ability, to win with hard play and dedication, and to accept defeat in an honorable fashion.
• Enjoyment: We must never forget the primary reason sports are played in the first place: to have fun.

Program Principles

To provide our students with the best athletic opportunity possible, the Simsbury High School sports program will:

• be a well coordinated part of the secondary school curriculum
• be accounted for through a cooperative budgeting process
• be based upon the spirit of amateurism
• be conducted by certified school teachers, administrators and/or state certified coaches
• provide many students with an opportunity to participate in a variety of sports through three seasons
• foster the learning of game ethics and sportsmanship for athletes and spectators
• be conducted under the rules of the appropriate governing athletic body

Students planning to play a spring sport should be reminded that all candidates must have a copy of a current physical examination or medical clearance from a doctor on file with the Health Office in order to register for sports.  Medical clearance from a doctor is required once a year.   If you have not already done so, please send a copy of your current physical or a note from your doctor stating that you are medically cleared to participate to the Health Office.  If you need to schedule a new physical with your doctor, the Blue Physical Examination form is available online either through our Website or directly on the Health Office Website. 

PAY/PLAY Registration

Due to the fact that Medical Clearance dates must be verified, along with the collection of the Pay/Play fee, registration to play a sport must be done in person.   The Sports Contract is available on line.  All other paperwork necessary to register to play a sport will be available in the Athletic Office at the time of registration.

Pay for Play Registration will take place out of the Athletic Office starting Wednesday, March 7th from 8:00 - 4:00 pm daily.

The first tryout date for Spring Sports will be Monday, March 19th.  In order to try out you must have registered prior to the start date.

The dates, times, and locations for all sports will be posted on our website on Thursday, March 15th.

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC OFFERINGS
Badminton-Coed (Fall)
Baseball-Boys (Spring)
Basketball-Boys (Winter)
Basketball-Girls (Winter)
Cheerleading-Coed (Fall/Winter)
Crew-Boys (Fall/Spring)
Crew-Girls (Fall/Spring)
Cross Country-(Boys Fall)
Cross Country-(Girls Fall)
Cross Country Skiing-Coed (Winter)
Field Hockey-Girls (Fall)
Football-Boys (Fall)
Golf-Boys (Spring)
Golf-Girls (Spring)
Ice Hockey-Boys (Winter)
Ice Hockey-Girls (Winter)
Indoor Track-Boys (Winter)
Indoor Track-Girls (Winter)
Lacrosse-Boys (Spring)
Lacrosse-Girls (Spring)
Rugby-Boys (Spring)
Rugby-Girls (Spring)
Soccer-Boys (Fall)
Soccer-Girls (Fall)
Softball-Girls (Spring)
Swim & Dive-Coed (Winter)
Tennis-Boys (Spring)
Tennis-Girls (Spring)
Track-Boys (Spring)
Track-Girls (Spring)
Volleyball-Boys (Spring)
Volleyball-Girls (Fall)
Wrestling-Boys (Winter)

NOTE: As each season approaches, you can find information on tryout dates, times and locations by clicking on the Announcements button above.

Procedures and Forms Students Need to Participate in Sports:

• Copy of a current physical examination or medical clearance from a doctor on file with the Health Office is required in order to register for sports.  Medical clearance from a doctor is required once a year. THE BLUE FORM is available on the Health Services website.
• Pay/Play fee. All student-athletes must pay a participation fee of $175.00 per sport per season. There is an additional assessment fee of $200.00 for those trying out for the ice hockey and swim teams. Checks should be made payable to Simsbury High School. Students who are experiencing extraordinary financial difficulties may request, through the athletic director, a fee reduction or waiver of the participation fee.
• Due to the fact that Medical Clearance dates must be verified, along with the collection of the Pay/Play fee, registration to play a sport must be done in person. The Athletic Office is open 8:00 am-3:30 pm., Monday-Friday.
• All forms necessary to register for sports are available for pickup in the Athletic Office at the time of registration.

Participation Requirements

Selection of team members is subject to the discretion of the coaching staff. Obviously, time, space, facilities, equipment, coaching preference, and other factors will place limitations on maximum team size. While every attempt will be made to involve as many student-athletes as possible, the number of interested students may exceed our ability to safely and effectively accommodate them; therefore, a selection process may be necessary. Student-athletes are encouraged to refer to the coach for the selection process of a particular sport and for levels of participation offered in that sport.
While the high school athletic program serves as an arena for the student-athlete to display his/her talent, student-athletes must in turn be willing to assume certain responsibilities. In addition to the regular “Rules and Regulations” for students in Simsbury High School, participants are also governed by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) policies.

A. In order to be eligible for interscholastic athletics, students must be enrolled in five (5) units of course work.

B. All student-athletes must pay a participation fee of $175.00 per sport per season. The participation fee for swimming and for ice hockey is an additional $200.00. Checks should be made payable to Simsbury High School. Students who are experiencing
extraordinary financial difficulties may request, through the athletic director, a fee reduction or waiver of the participation fee.

C. All student-athletes and their parents are required to sign the Simsbury High School Sports Contract (Exhibit 3) which acknowledges their awareness of the required rules and regulations for members of the Simsbury High School athletic teams at the beginning of each sports season. Each season’s start date will be the first day of practice or tryouts, as stated by the CIAC. As of this date, the Simsbury High School Athletic Contract will be in effect regardless of whether the athlete has started his/her season or signed the athletic contract. When a violation of the contract is reported and verified by the coach or the administration, a meeting will be held with the student/athlete, parent/guardian, and an administrator.

D. The school nurse must have written authorization by a physician on file for a student to participate in any interscholastic sport at Simsbury High School. Authorization must be made renewable each and every school year the student is enrolled and participating in sports.

E. No athlete may quit one sport and participate in another sport after the first playable date as established by the CIAC.

F. Athletes must travel to and from contests, away from Simsbury, in transportation provided by the school. The only exceptions are:

1. injury to a participant which would require alternate transportation
2. prior arrangement between the participant’s parent/guardian and coach for alternative transportation.

G. Completion of the sports season is required in order for the student to be eligible for letter or certificate awards (exception: injury which limits participation). No awards shall be given to any student suspended for the remainder of the season for rules violations.

H. Some behaviors will be considered serious violations of the Simsbury High School athletic code and school rules and could result in loss of privileges. These behaviors include but are not limited to the following.

1. civil law infraction
2. malicious destruction of school property or individual equipment
3. misconduct by a student athlete that is potentially detrimental to the athletic program, school, or school district
4. theft
5. unexcused absence from practices or contests
6. unexcused absence from class
7. unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent or official
8. sale, possession, and/or consumption of illicit drugs, alcohol, marijuana, and/or anabolic steroids
9. possession and/or use of tobacco products

I. In conjunction with CIAC policy, any Simsbury High School student-athlete ejected from a contest for fighting/unsportsmanlike conduct will not be permitted to participate in the next scheduled contest.

J. Additional rules or regulations adopted by a head coach for a particular team or sport will be approved by the principal and athletic director. Such additions will be in writing and on file in the office of the principal and athletic director.

In all cases, the student will be verbally advised by the head coach of the alleged violation, and the student shall have an opportunity to explain or justify the action. If, after such conference, the head coach decides that a penalty is justified, the student will be notified.

Communication & Conflict Resolution

Communication & Conflict Resolution Statement

Attendance Requirements

1. Students must be officially present in school for the entire day to participate in any activity after school. Any unexcused absence from class or study hall, or any suspendable offense verified on the day of occurrence will result in denial of participation in the after school activity that day. Exceptions include approved college visitations, family emergency, approved medical appointment, or other reasons approved by the school administration.
2. If a student is absent the last school day of the week, and the competition is on a non-school day, the student must bring to the coach a signed statement from the parent/guardian that permission is given to participate. It is recommended that the coach call the parent regarding the absence.
3. A student who has been injured and has had medical treatment cannot participate again until the date indicated by the student’s doctor.

Sportsmanship Expectations

CIAC Sportsmanship Committee Belief Statement

Captain's Practice

It is important for parents and student-athletes to understand that Simsbury High School does not in any way sanction, encourage, or condone pre-season “Captain’s Practice.” Participation in these types of activities will have no bearing on whether the student is selected to the high school team in that sport. Students should not participate in these pre-season activities.

Athletes’ Rights of Due Process

A copy of this information may be obtained from the Athletic Director’s office.

Eligibility Determination

Student eligibility will be determined for all students on the date that report cards are distributed or on the fourteenth calendar day following the end of the marking period, whichever comes first. Scholastic incompletes must be made up within ten (10) school days following the date that student eligibility was determined for the respective marking period as defined above. Incomplete grades are not to be considered as passing grades. Final grades from the previous school year determine Fall eligibility.

NOTE: All forms necessary to register for sports are available for pickup in the Athletic Office at the time of registration. Procedures for participating in sports may be found by clicking on the Participation in Athletics button above.

• THE BLUE FORM is available on the Health Services website.
• Sports Contract: Please note that this is a TWO PAGE document, therefore, to submit it, please print back-to-back on one sheet or staple the two pages together. All forms, including the sports contract, are available for pickup in the Athletics Office on the day of registration.

(May 17, 2010) CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT: With the state passage of concussion legislation that was recently enacted, high schools are now required, by law, to have all coaches trained in concussion management. The CIAC, State Athletic Directors, and the State Athletic Trainers Association have developed a 3-hour course, approved by the state, that each coach must go through before they can coach next year.

View a PowerPoint presentation about athlete concussions

THE BLUE FORM is available on the Health Services website.

List of all coaching staff and contact information

This area has been developed to assist our various sport booster clubs and parent groups in their support of our athletic programs.

The following guidelines have been established as a way to keep all sports activities in accordance with the overall goals and objectives of the Interscholastic Athletic Program at Simsbury High School.

FUNDRAISING

It should be understood that the approved BOE budget for Interscholastic Athletics covers all the necessary expenditures needed to operate our sports program adequately. If it is the desire of the individual booster clubs or parent groups to solicit funds to enhance our program in the areas of banquets, jackets, warm-ups, awards, or specialized equipment that the school can not provide, we ask that the following guidelines be followed.

l To assist the school in remaining Title IX compliant, program enhancements must be applied equally to both boys and girls teams within a given sport, i.e. boys' soccer and girls' soccer. Therefore, working with the coaching staff, written objectives should be established prior to the season regarding desired expenditures and submitted to the athletic office for review and approval.

l All fundraising activities need to be approved by the school administration before they are conducted.

l Fundraising activities are to be optional for both students and parents with no repercussions for those choosing not to participate.

l Financial ledgers shall be maintained listing all revenue and expenditures over the course of the season and submitted to the athletic office at the conclusion of the season. Receipts for expenditures should be maintained.

l Two signatures should be required for the drafting of bank checks.

l Coaches are not allowed to sign or countersign checks.

l No item exceeding $1500 in value can be accepted by the school department without prior BOE approval.

l Fundraising activities are not to be used to subsidize any coaching salaries without prior BOE approval.

l Gifts for volunteer coaches should not exceed $100 in value.

SEASON ENDING BANQUETS

While end of the season banquets have become a highly anticipated event, we ask that each group work closely with the varsity coach in setting the time, place, and agenda for the activity. We ask that the following guidelines be used in the planning of the banquet.

l We encourage the use of the high school cafeteria whenever possible.

l If an outside venue is desired then the cost is not to exceed $20 per person all inclusive. Any banquet that exceeds $20 per person needs to be approved by the school administration.

l The dinner and program should be planned for 2 ½ hours in length, but must not exceed 3 hours in length. One suggestion for saving time is to play team videos, especially if they are lengthy, during arrival time and throughout dinner.

l We strongly discourage fundraising efforts during the banquets. If a raffle is part of the program, there should be a very limited number of prizes with modest values. Please do not solicit local businesses to donate prizes.

l Some teams have chosen to do an invocation as part of the opening of the banquet. We must remind you that this is a school event, and religious prayer is not appropriate in such a setting. We ask that you talk with the captain who is assigned this portion of the program to keep the greeting to a message of general gratitude and thanks.

TEAM DINNERS

Team dinners have become an important part of the team bonding process for many of our sports teams. While it is a tradition that has grown over the years, there is a concern regarding the additional time requirements placed on the students who attend. While we do support the concept of the team dinner, we ask that they be limited to one per week and preferably on a non-school night.

SANDWICH BOARD ADVERTISING

The town requires a permit for use of sandwich boards for advertising on other than school property. If you intend to utilize this form of advertising on locations other than at the high school, please secure the proper permits. The application for a permit is made at the Town Hall. If you choose to set up a sandwich board at the high school, please place it at an adequate distance from the entrances so not to block the view of drivers entering and exiting the school.

CASCIAC Website The Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference

Eligibility Rules CIAC brochure

CIAC Final Report (March 2008)

Adults:  $5.00
Students:  $3.00
Children 10 and Under:  Free when accompanied by an Adult
Senior Citizens:  No Charge

(Excluding any C.I.A.C. Tournament Games)