TEAM HANDBOOK

ROYALTON FOOTBALL

HANDBOOK
 

“Trust the Process”

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Football Handbook- Table of Contents

 

I. Team Philosophy

II. The Process

III. Being a RHS Football Team Member

IV. Lettering Criteria

V. Team Rules

VI. Football Program Layout

VII. Contacts & Coaches

              

I. RHS Football Team Philosophy

 

Our philosophy as football coaches is to teach discipline, cooperation, sportsmanship, and responsibility through participation in the sport of football. 

 

 

II. The Process

        

This is our code in what we live by that determines if we will/are having a successful season of and off the field. The process has two parts the first is our core values:

 

1. Respectful – Respect each other, coaches, the game. Respect also means accountability. Do not hold someone to a lesser standard for which you do not hold yourself.

2. Obsessed- We need to be obsessed with getting things done right and look to do our very best. There is no such thing as perfect, but striving for perfection will get you that much closer to being perfect.

3. Yield less- Never stop, never give up. Always finding ways to push yourself on and off the field.

4. Attitude- The difference between success and failure is attitude. We will never be cocky but always confident!

5. Leadership- Is fighting for the hearts and souls of the men that you go to battle with and getting them to follow you. It is sports greatest intangible.

6. Selflessness- Teamwork! Individual talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. Be prepared to give yourself to the betterment of the team. Life will always give you personal wins, but the greatest win is when you share it with others.

 

The Second is how we go about our business to ensure that we are successful. By using a pyramid to build our foundations upon, we trust this process to help us succeed as a football program

 

 

 

III. Being a Member of RHS Football

 

All participants of RHS football must have or be:

 

1)  Making satisfactory progress towards high school graduation.

2)  MSHSL Eligible- Must be in good standing according to the MSHSL rules regarding chemical, academic, and general eligibility. 

3)  All permission forms, physical forms, and activity fees turned in as directed by AD.

 

All participants of RHS football are EXPECTED to be:

1)  Good citizens in school and the community.

2)  Punctual to school and to practice/games.

3)  Respectful to opponents, coaches, officials, and teammates.

4)  Students who work at being successful in the classroom.

5)  Students who stay out of detention or suspension.

6)  Students who represent RHS and RHS football in a positive way. 

7)  Students who are willing to cooperate and discipline themselves for the good of the team.

8)  Students who stand up for and help other students or people in need.

 

 

 

** RHS football players are held to high standards.  They are expected to follow all school rules and encourage others to do so as well.  ALL participants in activities offered through the school district are expected to obey MSHSL and Royalton High School rules regarding participation in extra and co-curricular activities.   Failure to follow these rules may lead to suspension or expulsion from the activities program for a period of time to be determined by the high school principal. 

 

Coaches and advisors have the authority to set rules for their sports and activities.  These rules will include all High School League and school district rules and may include additional guidelines that the coach feels are necessary to run a quality program such as dress codes for game days and curfews etc.

 

Participation in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities is a privilege and not a right. It should be understood that the high school principal has the authority to deny membership in any organization or activity due to scholastic difficulties, unsatisfactory conduct, or other factors for students who may be representing the school.

 

Royalton High School is a member of the “Be a Good Sport” Sportsmanship program administered by the Minnesota State High School League.  It is the responsibility of the coach to practice good sportsmanship at all times.  All students involved in RHS activities are required to practice good sportsmanship in practice, games, team busses, visiting schools, and anywhere they are representing an RHS program.

 

IV. Lettering Criteria and Playing time

 

Football players in grades 7-12 are eligible for a varsity letter award if they have:

1) Played in 10 quarters throughout the season.  This includes special teams play.  If a player plays at least one play or down in a quarter, the player receives that quarter towards earning a letter. 

 

2) All seniors who have gone all the way through the football program without MSHSL violations since 7th grade will letter in football their senior year regardless of quarters played. 

 

** Players will be ineligible for a letter award if they receive a MSHSL violation during football season, or they serve the penalty phase for a violation during the football season.

 

Playing time- The head coach reserves the right to no discuss playing time with a parent unless that parent has done the following:

1) Must have student athlete first have a one on one with coach(s) with regards to playing time and ways to improve.

2) If that was not satisfactory, the parent may ask the coach for a meeting but only after the parent(s) come to watch a complete practice on Tuesday/Wednesday when most the instructional work is done.

3) If that was not satisfactory then a meeting with the AD/Coach/and potentially the principal can be called for further discussion. 

 

V.  Team Rules

 

1) Practices will start at 3:30pm.  FB players are expected to be ready to go at that time.

2) Players who miss practice without notifying a coach MAY lose playing time if the circumstances allow.  It is extremely important to attend practice, and those who are there will be given the first chances in games. 

3) Dress Code- FB players should always be wearing school appropriate clothing to school and school events.  The following is the dress code for football game days:

HOME GAME WEEK-   Thursday- Dress up

                                             Friday- Jerseys

 

AWAY GAME WEEK-   Thursday- Jerseys

                                         Friday- Dress up

 

            **Dress up days mean that players should wear at the very least a pair of dress pants (or nice, clean, well-fitting jeans), a polo or button down shirt.  T-Shirts, baggy jeans, sweatshirts, etc…are not acceptable for team dress up days.  We WILL look like a team when we travel to other schools!

 

4) Players are expected to use appropriate language at all times. 

5) Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors may be asked to play in JV football games on Mondays. 

6) Seniors are not allowed to play JV unless special circumstances allow. 

7) Players are responsible for the following school-issued equipment and will be charged if lost or unreasonably damaged through negligence:

a. Helmet                                      ($125)

b. Shoulder Pads                         ($100)

c. Home Jersey                            ($75)

d. Away Jersey                            ($75)

e. Game Pants                             ($75)

f.  Practice Pants                         ($30)

g. Pads (hip, knee, thigh, tail)    ($25)

h. Practice Jersey (school owned)  ($25)

i.  Belts                                          ($10)

j.  Travel Bags                             ($50)

k. Girdles                                     ($25)

l.  Footballs                                  ($80)

 

8) Sportsmanship is mandatory!  Yelling at teammates, officials, coaches, fans, opponents will not be tolerated.  Players may lose playing time or be excused from the team for sportsmanship issues. 

9) Players who are having trouble academically may be allowed by the head coach to miss practice to get homework completed.  This missed practice time will not affect that players playing time, as long as that student stays after school to work on it, and reports progress to the coaches.   SCHOOL 1st, FOOTBALL 2nd.

10) Players will be expected to do a fundraiser for the football team each season.  These fundraisers will be kept as short and are vital to our ability to maintain our equipment, awards, and supplies.

11) Players will be expected to ride the team bus to and from away games.  Players will be allowed to ride home with their parents, only if a signed note is presented by the parents to a member of the coaching staff.  Players will not be allowed to ride home with anyone other than their own parents, unless a prior arrangement has been made and cleared through the high school principal. 

  

 

VI.   Football Program Layout

        

         Junior High Football- Junior high football is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game of football without focusing “too much” on winning and losing.   At the junior high level, we will always try to create equal amounts of playing time, have fun, instructionally important practices, and teach the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork among the players.

         9th Grade Football- 9th grade football is designed to expand on the fundamentals and skills learned in junior high.  Players will most likely start specializing in a few positions, but this is by no means what they will play for certain as they advance to JV and varsity.  At the C-Squad level, we will still strive for equal playing time at the beginning of the season, but will start to give more chances to those who perform well in practices.  C- Squad football players will travel and dress for varsity games and may become role players at higher levels. 

         JV Football- JV football is designed for those juniors, sophomores and possibly freshman who are not quite ready or are backing up more experienced players at the varsity level.  A higher emphasis on winning is placed at this level, as these players most likely see significant non-starting varsity time throughout the season.  Players are refining skills in preparation for varsity competition. Varsity players may play JV, but will not play a position for which they are a varsity starter.  Seniors will NOT play JV football in Royalton.

         Varsity Football - Varsity football is the pinnacle of the High School football program.  At this level, players are expected to have firm knowledge of the fundamentals of the game and be practicing and polishing these skills consistently in practice.   At this level, we aim to put the best players on the field in an effort to be competitive and win football games.  Even with this approach, we will always look for ways to incorporate players into the game as much as possible. 

 

 

VII.        Contacts & Coaches

Head Football Coach-                  Jamie Morford      320-293-9502

Assistant Football Coach-            Randy Thielges     320-584-5229

Assistant Football Coach-            Nick Lanners         320-420-6640

Assistant Football Coach-            Ryan Wiener         320-360-4822

Assistant Football Coach-            Brad Baumann      651-238-3909

Assistant Football Coach-            Gavin Suska          320-630-7351

Vol. Asst. Football Coach-           Joel Swenson         320-360-9135

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Junior High Football Coach-       Dylan Kummett    320-584-4000

Junior High Football Coach-       Jeremy Albright    320-584-4000

 

                       Athletic Director-                         Kaitlyn Frenchick     320-584-4257

     Principal-                                   Joel Swenson          320-584-5531

 

** Questions or concerns about the football program should first be brought to the attention of the head coach, from their it should go to the AD, then the principal, and finally through to the superintendent. Please go through the chain of command with questions or concerns about the football program. 

 

** For all other RHS Activities rules and regulations, please refer to the RHS Activities Handbook.