While we wait for all the inevitable legal wrangling to final put this sordid affair to rest, what we CAN do is take a look at some of the systems that were supposedly put into place to address some of the nastiness that transpired. One very interesting factoid that no one is talking about publicly is that all student athletes AND their parents are required to read and sign that they will live by the Sun Prairie Student Athlete Code of Conduct. Whooops! It seems some players and parents may have forgotten about those silly forms they sign. We're thinking that the signed copies of these forms likely will come back to haunt some folks real soon.
The Code contains the following:
The privilege of participating in our athletic and activities programs is extended to all students who are willing to assume certain responsibilities. Parents are expected to attend one extra-curricular code meeting with their child along with reviewing all policies in this handbook.
Your greatest responsibility is to be a credit to your team/group, school, parents, and community. Therefore, it is required that you…
• Display high standards of social behavior.
• Follow the student code of conduct on a year-round basis (365 days per year).
• Display outstanding sportsmanship as a participant and fan.
• Display proper respect for those in authority, including teachers, coaches, and officials.
• Display a real spirit of cooperation and sportsmanship.
• Dress appropriately when attending a contest or activity away from home.
• Use language that is socially acceptable. Profanity will not be tolerated.
• Provide a reasonable level of dedication/commitment to your school, activity, sport, coaches, advisors, and teammates.
Chain of Communication
Perhaps what's most intriguing about the student athlete Code of Conduct is the chain of command that student athletes --and their parents-- agree to follow:
CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION WHEN YOU HAVE A CONCERN WITH A PROGRAM
Communication among or between students, parents, and coaches is encouraged and becoming ever more necessary. Coaches are encouraged to operate under an open door policy where they will candidly respond to questions and concerns from either the athlete or the parent. 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 other’s position. When a conference is necessary, the following procedure should be followed to help promote a resolution to the issue:
1. If the student or parent has a question or concern about the program, the question or concern should be brought directly to the coach/advisor.
2. Contact with the coach/advisor should be accomplished as much as possible during normal school hours via the tool established by the coach/advisor (i.e. email, phone call, office hours, etc.).
3. Coaches/advisors should schedule the meeting with the student and/or parents in a private setting. Communication, by all parties, will be carried out in a rational, calm, mature discussion with respect shown to all.
4. If the student, parent, and coach/advisor cannot mutually resolve the concern or questions are not answered, the subject should then be brought to the Activities Director. The Activities Office phone number is 834-6715.
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Ssssh...be quiet for a moment. Do you hear that?
It sounds like a rather Rubenesque woman singing...doesn't it?
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