Academic Eligibility:

In order to be eligible to participate in Wrestling meets, practices, and activities, athletes must:

1) Be passing four full credit courses at the end of the previous semester.

2) Have at least 27 contact hours per week at AHS (making them a full-time student).

3) Attend a minimum of one half of scheduled classes on any given day.

Good Conduct Eligibility:

Purpose:

A student who engages in or has been charged with misconduct may be ruled ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics. The determination and enforcement of ineligibility and the period of ineligibility are the responsibility of the school principal /or designee.

Offense(s):

A student who engages in misconduct related to alcohol, controlled substances, look-alikes or substitutes might be ruled ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics.

Sanction(s):

First Offense
Athlete will miss the next 25 percent (rounded up) of the total number of regular season
contests

Second Offence
Athlete will miss the next 50 percent (rounded up) of the total number of regular season
contests

Third Offence
Athlete is ineligible for one calendar year from the date of the infraction.

Appeal(s):

Due process will be granted to all athletes. Athletes have the right to appeal the decision of the coach/athletic director, however, they are ineligible until the appeal is heard.

Transportation Policy

When traveling to away games, for legal purposes as well as team bonding, athletes (at all levels) are reminded that when traveling we follow a simple motto…

We go as a team and we come home as a team.

After games, it is important that the team be together to help each other deal with the outcome of the game. Share joy and pain of a win or loss. Athletes are expected to stay until the completion of the varsity contest. They will not ride home with parents unless there are extenuation circumstances.
If, due to a unique situation, an athlete does ride home with their parents, there needs to be direct communication between the coach, athlete and parent. For legal purposes, in those unique situations when athletes must ride home with their parents, there must be written confirmation that their parents are in fact, taking them home.
Under no circumstances should an athlete ride home with anyone else other than their parent(s) unless cleared through the Athletic Director/Principal prior to the contest.

Attendance Policy

When participants on the Ames High Wrestling Team are selected, a commitment has been made to that individual by the coaches, wrestlers, and administration. Each student –athlete is expected to make that same commitment to the AHS Wrestling Team. As a part of that commitment, it is expected that each individual attend all practice, meets, and official team events during the season.

If a wrestler chooses to attend an activity that causes he/she to miss a meet, that wrestler will sit out of the next meet upon return. If two consecutive meets or more are missed, then the athlete will miss that many consecutive meets. That wrestler’s status and position on the team is not guaranteed upon return (ex. -a starter may not start upon return, the first sub off the bench, may no longer be the first sub). An athlete will have to earn their spot back on the mat and off.

Practices are also an important part of the team development process. If a wrestler misses a practice, the head coach will determine the consequences on and individual basis. The penalty may include extra conditioning (before or after school or practice).

The following reasons will be considered “excused absences” to miss a meet or event for which there will be no penalty:

1.Religious commitment
2.Significant family commitment
3.Academic school issue (failing a class, need tutoring, etc.)
4.Other issues to be determined by the head coach

In fairness to all, communication between athletes, parents and coaches, a list of suggested protocols is listed to help clarify a chain of communication. If a parent has concern about some component of the program, here are some thoughts to consider.

Coach-Parent Contact Protocols

1) Have you asked you athlete if he/she knows the answer to your question?
-Many times, the athlete can answer questions because information has already been shared with the team.

2) Is this a good time?
-After meets, win or lose, are not a good time to talk about concerns.
-If calling the coach at school or home, make sure it is a good time to talk about your
athlete or the team.

3) Is this a question about my athlete, the team or another athlete?
-Coaches will not and should not discuss other athletes with parents.
-Questions about your athlete or the team will be answered as honestly as possible.

4) Do we need to meet face to face to talk about this issue?
-Many times a face to face meeting is better than phone calls.
-Email is not a good way to discuss concerns of magnitude. If you have a quick question or minor concern email may be appropriate, however face to face contact or phone contact is still the best way to communicate with a coach.

-If a meeting is necessary, coach (es), parent(s), and athlete should all be in attendance.