CHS Sports - Updated Information (January 6, 2021)
The HCPSS 2020-2021 winter athletic season, scheduled to start on January 11, 2021, has been canceled due to the continuing high rates of COVID-19 infection in Howard County. The start of the winter athletic season had been postponed multiple times with the hope that community health metrics would improve in time for a modified season. Unfortunately, at this point, any additional postponement would result in a competition season of a maximum of one week due to the required number of practice days required by the state.
Howard County continues to regularly remain above 6% COVID-19 test positivity rate and a case rate of more than 30 per 100,000. The decision not to move forward with winter athletics aligns with the majority of Maryland counties and the health metrics adopted by the Board of Education. Understandably, this decision will be very disappointing for student-athletes and their families who had last year’s winter season cut short and this year’s season canceled due to the pandemic. Winter athletic coaches will continue to engage and support student-athletes virtually through the scheduled conclusion of the season on February 13.
The fall athletics season is scheduled to begin in-person practices on February 13, 2021, with the hope that the distribution of a vaccine will significantly improve the community health metrics. Online registration for fall athletics will begin on January 12, 2021, via HCPSS Connect. Directions can be found online.
HCPSS takes the safety and well-being of its students, staff and families seriously, and hopes that all its stakeholders are staying safe during this difficult time. Please visit the Howard County Health Department website for more information about the COVID-19 virus and how to remain safe. Thank you for your understanding and continued collaboration as we stay safe, healthy and able to focus on instruction and learning.
Students interested in trying out for a Fall Sport must complete the Online Athletic Registration thru HCPSS Connect (https://www.hcpss.org/connect/) no later than February 5th, 2021. This allows us time to create tryout pods. ALL Electronic forms are to be completed online, including the HCPSS COVID-19 form. Two documents must be uploaded to the parent portal, the preparticipation physical, dated on or after April 1, 2020, and a recent BGE bill dated no later than January, 2021.
Any questions, please feel free to email the Head Coaches below of each Fall Sport Program being offered. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Allied Co-Ed Soccer - Coach John Spaide - John_Spaide @hcpss.org
Cheerleading - Coach Alexandra Ward - Alexandra_Ward @hcpss.org
Boys Cross Country - Coach Rob Slopek - Robert_Slopek@hcpss.org
Girl's Cross Country - Kevin McCoyGirls - Kevin_McCoy @hcpss.org
Varsity Field Hockey - Ying Schaik - xiaoyingvs@yahoo.com
JV Field Hockey - Taylor Wallace - taylor@thefitfounder.com
Football (JV & Varsity) - William Martin - William_Martin@hcpss.org
Golf - Stephen Lee - Stephen_Lee@hcpss.org
JV Boys Soccer - Brandon Bascilio - brandonbasilio1998@gmail.com
Varsity Boys Soccer - Justin Thomas - Justin_Thomas@hcpss.org
Varsity Girls Soccer - Hank Hurren - soccermadd@earthlink.net
JV Girls Soccer - Meagan Monfrida - Meagan_Monfrida@hcpss.org
Volleyball (9th, JV & Varsity) - Michael Bossom - Michael_Bossom@hcpss.org
Athletic Eligibility Update - Winter Season
Due to the extended COVID-19 closure and in order to promote student engagement and well-being, the Board of Education waived the grading requirements for the winter season. Due to the ongoing changes in the schedule for athletics, HCPSS will also waive the athletic eligibility requirement that students must be enrolled in at least one course at their high school in order to participate on an athletics team. Students who enrolled solely at Howard Community College for the Fall 2020 semester and did not take any high school-based courses will be eligible to participate in athletics, effective immediately. For seasons that follow, Athletic Eligibility will be determined by the most recent report card before the start of the season will continue to be used to determine a student’s eligibility for participation.
Season Start Dates - The HCPSS has approved February 13th, as the start of the Fall Sports Season.
Here are the new start dates:
Fall Sports Tryouts – Starting February 13, 2021
Spring Sports Tryouts – Starting April 17, 2021
Online Sports Registration for Athletes: The Portal for Fall Sports will open on January 12, in the Parent Portal at HCPSS Connect. Please see below for important information related to Fall Sports. Please note - Do not use Cell Phones, Use Parent Portal, Allow Pop Ups, and Limit File Size (4MB) for all uploads.
Instructions for Sports Registration - Helpful “How to Guide” for completing On-Line Registration link: http://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/hcpss-connect-guide-hs-athletic-registration.pdf.
Athletic Registration Instructions Powerpoint:
**Reminder Physicals for Athletics are different from those used to register to attend school. The Athletic Physical includes a Clearance without restrictions by Medical Staff.
Please, make sure Physicals have all signatures (Parent/Guardian, Athlete, and Physician) before scanning and uploading. Winter 2020 physicals can be used for Fall 2021 and Fall Physicals can be used for the Spring 2021 season. Athletes will need a new physical for the next school year, dated no earlier than April 1st of the previous school year.
**Returning Athletes-If a Student Athlete is returning from Winter to play a Fall and/or Spring Sport season and wants to use their Winter physical, Parent/Guardians will need to click the checkbox (option to use physical on file dated...) and save. Otherwise, it’ll wait for a new one to be uploaded. Reminder, returning athletes will still need to complete permission information and upload a new utility bill.
Updated Physical Form link: https://www.hcpss.org/f/athletics/preparticipation-physical-evaluation-form.pdf
Updated Covid Information Form Link: https://www.hcpss.org/f/athletics/covid-info-signoff-form.pdf
Fall Sports, 2021, Tryout Information-1st Day of Tryouts begins 2/13/21
Make sure all paperwork online is completed. Reminder practices begin after tryouts are completed.
Specific Sport Information (coming soon)
Daily Tryout Schedule, Reminder that practices begin immediately after final rosters are set. Contact Coach for any additional information (emails below).
To be announced
1st Semester Virtual Engagement Continues thru March – Meeting Codes
Virtual Meetings will continue for Fall and Spring students should Winter Sports begin on January 11, 2021. Fall Sports Meet on Monday’s and Spring Sports will meet on Friday’s. Students may register for these at any time during the 1st Semester. Directions for Virtual Engagement Participation, all students must register thru their Parent Portal for VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT at https://www.hcpss.org/connect/; Students may choose to engage in any sports that interests them, but they may only choose one per season. *Only Centennial High School students are eligible to engage in the meetings and they must use their HCPSS email/Google account to log in. It is the same process as logging into a class.
1st Semester Virtual Engagement Registration Information and meeting codes - Click on the link below to obtain the dates, times and Google Meet Code of each Coach's weekly meeting: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zediAzFSBzxYD9mu3igPJ4obieG3GekLS1m8c-vONpM/edit?usp=sharing
1. Do we need to turn in all paperwork or complete online registration before an athlete is allowed to tryout? Yes
2. How long are tryouts? Student athletes are given 3 days from the scheduled start date for tryouts
3. When do practices begin after tryouts? Regular Practices begin immediately after rosters are finalized at the end of tryout period.
4. How long is the Impact Test (Concussion Baseline) good for? The Impact test baseline is good for 2 years.
5. What is the roster size for _______ ? Each team roster is determined by the coaching staff.
6. Why do we have to begin on a particular date (i.e. August 12 for Fall, November 14 for Winter, and March 1 for Spring)?
The MPSSAA establishes start dates for all sports in Maryland
A member MPSSAA school (includes athletes) may not participate in a regularly scheduled game until at least 20 calendar days have elapsed after and including the first day of practice. Golf is the only exception.
This is why we are required to begin on August 12th so we have enough days (including the 3 Heat Acclimation days) of practice before the 1st play date which happens to be Friday September 4, 2020
Issues could arise if we don't allow enough time for proper Heat Acclimation and/or preparation of athletes.
7. What is the link for the NCAA Eligibility Center? contact information? (For student athletes interested or planning to play in college)
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/eligibility-center
For students and parents with eligibility questions:
877/262-1492 (toll free)
317/917-6222
Additional NCAA information can be found at http://www.hcpss.org/athletics/ncaa-participation/
Guidelines for Parent/Coach Communication
Parent/Coach Relationship:
By establishing an understanding of each position, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefits to our children. As parents, when your children become involved in our program, you have a right to understand what expectations are placed on your child. This begins with clear communication from the coach of your child’s program.
Communication you should expect from your child’s coach:
1. Philosophy of the coach.
2. Expectations the coach has for your child as well as all the players of the squad.
3. Locations and times of all practices and contests.
4. Team requirements, i.e. fees, special equipment, off-season conditioning.
5. Procedure should your child be injured during participation.
6. Discipline that result in the denial of your child’s participation.
Communication coaches expect from parents:
1. Concerns expressed directly to coach.
2. Notification of any schedule conflicts well in advance.
3. Specific concern in regard to a coach’s philosophy and/or expectations.
As your children become involved in programs at Glenelg, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. It is important to understand that there also may be times when things do not go the way you or your child wishes. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged.
Appropriate concerns to discuss with coaches:
1. The treatment of your child, mentally or physically.
2. Ways to help your child improve.
3. Concerns about your child’s behavior.
It is very difficult to accept your child not playing as much as you may want. However, playing time is earned in the estimation of the coaches and is not an entitlement. Coaches are professionals and they make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be the best for all students involved. As you have read from the list above, certain things can be and should be discussed with the coach.
Issues not appropriate to discuss with coaches:
1. Playing time
2. Team strategy
3. Play calling
4. Other student-athletes
There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent. It is important that both parties involved have a clear understanding of the others’ position. When these conferences are necessary, the following procedure should be followed to help promote a resolution to the issue of concern.
Procedures to follow to discuss a concern with a coach:
1. Wait 24 hours before you make initial contact with the coach.
2. After you have waited 24 hours call or email the coach to set-up an appointment.
3. If the coach cannot be reached, email/call Dan Sageman, the Athletics and Activities Manager, and a meeting will be arranged for you.
Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest or practice. These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach. Meetings of this nature do not promote resolution. This is why waiting 24 hours before the initial contact with the coach is such a crucial step in the resolution process.
Parents are encouraged to discuss issues and problems with the Athletics and Activities Manager. However, if a parent has specific complaint regarding a coach, then the coach must have the opportunity to be present to meet with the parent.
Academic Eligibility
A full-time high school student earns academic eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities by maintaining a 2.0 grade-point average (GPA), calculated using credit or non-credit courses, with no more than one failing grade for the marking period which governs eligibility for that activity. If a student withdraws from a course, the grades at the time of withdrawal will be used in determining academic eligibility.
At all Howard County athletic events, we strive to provide a pleasant and safe environment for all spectators and participants. We ask fans to refrain from:
Admission is a privilege to observe a contest, not a license to display insensitive or offensive behavior. Enjoy the event! Be a fan, not a fanatic!
Student athletic policy agreement form for new student athletes.
Sports Concussion Testing Program and Release of Information
Agreement for families that acknowledge HCPSS may administer pre-concussion baseline testing and post-concussion testing after a sports-related injury.
HCPSS Athletics Concussion Information Sheet
Overview of concussion signs and symptoms that can occur in student athletes.
Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Form
Physician forms for future student athletes to fill out prior to sport seasons.
Medication Procedure Information
Protocols for administration of student medication during school hours along with a medication administration history form for physicians.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Information
Acknowledgement statement and guidelines for identifying and responding to a cardiac arrest scenario.