OHSAA Harold A. Meyer Award Application

Waynesville High School Principal- Randy Gebhardt Athletic Director- Tim Gabbard Wayne Local Schools

Context

Wayne Local Schools – Long tradition of excellent sportsmanship from: Coaches Athletes Parents Boosters – Application spark great dialogue to improve sportsmanship – Building process and system to sustain excellence in sportsmanship Wayne Local Schools

1. WLS School Board Policy

School Board Adopted – Policy 2431 Interscholastic Athletics Revised 6/9/2008 – May 9 th , 2011 most recent H.S. Student Handbook Distribution (Fall 2011) – Student handbook & Athletic Handbook – All students – Available online for parents/community Oversight of policy – Athletic Director – Principal – Superintendent Wayne Local Schools

Wayne Local Schools

Policy: Athletic Code of Conduct

Wayne Local Schools

The final two paragraphs summarize the district sentiment toward – Value of extracurricular in conjunction with the whole process of education – Maintaining the highest standards of behavior in the classroom and on the field Wayne Local Schools

2. Committee

Past – No specific Sportsmanship Committee – Athletic Council (Principal, Coaches, and Administrators) Meet on Athletic Issues Vote on Sports Awards Review Athletic Department goals and issues including sportsmanship Future (Starting in 2011-2012) – Spartan Sportsmanship Committee – Purpose: Review sportsmanship policy annually, suggest initiatives and promote sportsmanship through extracurricular activity.

– Members: Principal Athletic Director Head Coaches from current season Classroom Teacher Athletic Booster Student Body Representatives from Student Council or National Honor Society Student-Athlete Previous year winner of Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award Wayne Local Schools

Committee

Spartan Sportsmanship Committee Meeting Times – Before each season and at the end of the year – August, November, March, and June Programs planned (to begin Aug. 2011) – Athlete of the Week (Edward Jones) Including possible selection based on Sportsmanship Website and announced at games – Recognize and promote sportsmanship – Sportsmanship Awards Given by Head Coach End of each season Winners are eligible to be selected by Sportsmanship Comm. to receive the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award and join the committee the following year.

– Website & Weekly Sports update email Updates and highlights of sportsmanship Wayne Local Schools

3. Presentations

Sport Pre-Season Meetings H.S. Gymnasium Fall-Winter-Spring Student-Athlete and Parent attendance required at 1 meeting prior to participation in activity.

Agenda set by AD & Principal Agenda – Welcome (AD or Principal) – Introductions of Coaches/Staff – Review Athletic Handbook & School Rules Attendance Grades Drug & Alcohol Policy Wayne Local Schools

Pre-Season Meetings (cont.) – Activity Fee & School Fees Due before competition Must Be current – Family Pass and Ticket Sales – NCAA Clearing House information – Roles of Athletes, Spectators and Officials in Competition.

– Dismiss to sport specific meeting The last meeting included – Coaches – Parents – Athletes Wayne Local Schools

Materials provided: – Student Insurance options – NFHS free course information Concussion in Sports Role of Parents in Sports – Athletic Code of Conduct – NCAA Clearing House guide – Sport Specific information – Mandatory forms Wayne Local Schools

Feedback from Meetings – AD & Principal allow feedback from: Coaches Parents Students – Currently all verbal – Possibly implementing an online survey through department website Wayne Local Schools

4. Ongoing Campaign

Activities- led by Athletic Director – Game Announcements Before During After – Coach evaluation on Sportsmanship – Promoting NFHS Free course Role of Parent Wayne Local Schools

Campaign Success

The game announcements have reached all of our home fans. – Have not had any major issues – Community, parents and students all present a high level of respectful behavior – Moving initiatives and announcements into Jr. High events Wayne Local Schools

Campaign Next Steps

Athletic Director and Spartan Sportsmanship Committee will be leading this starting Aug. 2011 – Increase the visibility and awareness by athletes and parents of signs and information promoting sportsmanship – Evaluate through online survey or team exit survey the effectiveness of sportsmanship initiatives from student-athlete perspective – Continue allowing coaches the public format to talk about sportsmanship at Pep Rally in the Fall and Winter Wayne Local Schools

5. Annual Coach Evaluation

Athletic Director evaluates coaches Coaches have an area on their evaluation for sportsmanship The coaches handbook includes: – Sportsmanship policy – Evaluation (including criteria for sportsmanship) Wayne Local Schools

Wayne Local Schools

Wayne Local Schools

Examples of Sportsmanship from Coaches – Baseball coach organized an event to feed opponent between games from a double header. Athletic director, Athletic boosters and parents helped contribute time and resource to sponsor the meal for both teams. – Cheerleading team made gifts for opposing cheerleading squad and ensured that they had enough water and cups at activities. Wayne Local Schools

6. Sportsmanship Investigation

Athletic director oversees fact finding for sportsmanship issues and informs principal of situation.

– This is from the student handbook.

Wayne Local Schools

The most recent sportsmanship issue was raised by a parent about another parent. The Athletic Director did fact finding discussing with the head coach and other spectators. With this information the AD approached the parent and successfully resolved the behaviors causing the original referral. Wayne Local Schools

7. Event/Situation Management

From the student handbook Athletic director communicates with – Event staff and security – Opposing Athletic Director or Principal – Coaches – Fans Wayne Local Schools

AD oversees items regarding: – Security placement – Spectator seating locations – Pre and post game procedures – Officials security When we have a potentially critical situation the above items are strongly reinforced with event staff. Also we have temporarily increased the seating available by renting or borrowing bleachers to ensure that large crowds have adequate seating and separate areas for fans.

Wayne Local Schools

8. Awards for Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship Award – Awarded by Head Coach – One to each sport Archie Griffin Award – Selection in May each year Previously made by Athletic Council Starting 2011-12 will be made by Spartan Sportsmanship Committee Candidates from individual sports Sportsmanship Award Winners from the current year. Wayne Local Schools

Recognition Options – Invite to school board meeting – Website article and Picture – Newspaper Press Release – Weekly Email newsletter Good News Friday Sports Update – Sports Awards Ceremony Wayne Local Schools

Community Service

Examples of athletes – Basketball players going to local nursing home over the holidays in the winter – Cheerleaders, baseball players and wrestlers volunteering to attend their respective youth practices and help pee-wee teams – Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Baseball and Softball players volunteering to help at youth camp events hosted by the h.s. teams – Football team helped clean up school and area after wind storm Wayne Local Schools