THS Football Parent’s Meeting

1. THS Football Parent’s Meeting 2012

2. Important Dates • Friday June 15th- Mini- camp for all 9th-12th graders. The camp will begin at 8:00am and run until 11:00 am. • Our athletic department is offering physicals and an opportunity to turn in paperwork, activity fees, and physical forms on the 15th. Physicals will begin at 12:30 and be given until 3:00. All THS student/athletes must have a pre-participation (at the very least) on file in the athletic director’s office to participate on any given team. Cost is $15.00. Appointment must be made through the Athletic Department

3. Summer Conditioning • I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending these workouts. The stronger, more flexible, and conditioned our kids are is the best injury prevention plan that I know! • We will also be teaching our offense and defense during the summer; it is the only way to hit the ground running when we start camp. • The workouts will begin on Monday, June 18th and run through the first week in August. We will start promptly at 8:00am and have typically wrapped things up before noon. We will work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

4. Youth Camp • We will run our youth camp on Tuesday, June 26th though Thursday June 28th. • Cost is $50.00; however, no one has ever been turned away due to an inability to pay.

5. 7 on 7 • These are passing dates that apply to the Varsity candidates and others who will be invited by our staff. • Here are the dates we have right now; they may be subject to change! • June 18th @ Dearborn High School • July 11th @ THS • July 14th @ South Lyon • July 18th @ Dearborn High School • July 22nd @ Saline High School • I have one more date to use; at this point, still looking around.

6. Dead and Down Weeks • The dead week is the week of July 2nd through the 6th. By MHSAA rule, this week is a no-contact week for athletes and coaches. Players may organize informal workouts during this time; however, a coach may not be present. • The down week is the week of July 30th through August 3rd. This week is deemed a non-football week. Coaches can still lead conditioning activities, but they cannot include football related activities—such as 7 on 7. We will use this week to condition and handout equipment. The schedule is as follows: Monday- 12th graders will draw their equipment; Tuesaday-11th graders will draw equipment; Wed.-10th; Thursday- 9th. We will begin each day at 8:00am with conditioning.

7. Double Sessions • Double Sessions will begin on Monday, August 6th at 8:00 am. We have historically run the morning work until 11:00 am. The first 3 days our Touchdown Club has offered lunch for the low cost of $20.00. We will begin the second practice at 1:00pm and will conclude around 4:00. No athlete is forced to buy lunch—they can always bring their own. We will; however, keep them on campus those 3 days. • Once we get into pads (Thursday) we lengthen the break by 30 mins. allowing them to leave campus if they desire.

8. Discount Card Sales • On Wednesday, August the 8th, our players on all levels will go door-to-door in the city selling our discount card. This is one of our biggest fundraisers; all of our kids are expected to participate. We will begin selling at 6:00 pm and conclude around 9:00 pm. In the past, our kids have done a tremendous job, and we expect this group to do the same.

9. Program Pictures • We will take pictures for the program on Sat., August the 11th at 9:00am on the game field (weather permitting). This is an opportunity for each family to take pictures of your son in his game blues. The kids will have brought home a picture packet for you to purchase professionally taken pictures of you sons. If you son is not there, he will not appear in the program. We do this early so there is time to get the pictures into the program.

10. Family Picnic • This will be the 22nd year of this family event. We will gather “under the trees” and celebrate the beginning of another football season. This gives everyone an opportunity to meet other families and see our kids. Really, it is just a chance to get to know one another off of the football field. This event has been well-attended in the past. We will gather on Wednesday, August 15th at 6:00pm. Each group will be assigned a particular dish to bring. Each family needs to bring chairs, paper plates, utensils, and something to drink. There will be opportunities to purchase gear and sign up for the many activities that need manpower. • Afterwards, we will move to the football stadium where we will “meet the 2012 Trojans.”

11. Scrimmage • The format for the scrimmage will remain the same as last year. We will scrimmage only Riverview and try to stage it more like a game than a scrimmage. • The date of the scrimmage is Thursday, August 16th at THS. 9th graders will begin at 4:00 on the practice field; the JV team will begin at the same time on the game field. These lower levels may choose a different format than the varsity. Our rain date will be Friday the 17th. The times will be dependent on how much of the scrimmage was washed out. • The Varsity scrimmage will begin at 6:00 and run until we have gotten our work done. • Admission will be canned goods which will be donated to the Trenton Food Pantry. Just another way to give back to this fine community.

12. Membership • I have never cut since I have been a head coach and have no intention of starting now. • If a young man makes the varsity team and does all the things we ask him to do, he will earn his letter. • Our rules are very simple; they are the same rules that most of you have in place at your house. We expect that our kids are going to be where they are asked to be; that they behave in a manner that does nothing to harm this team, school, community, or your family, that they are honest and work hard. • Consequently, if any of these expectation are not met, we will apply a consequence—up to dismissal from the team. • Just like all of you have to be at work to get paid; our players must be at practice (even if injured) to have a chance to earn playing time and to remain on the team. • Absences are determined acceptable or not by me!

13. Eligibility • In accordance with the MHSAA, a student is eligible to participate if they pass 4 of 5 classes and maintain a 1.5 GPA! We follow the standard that the state sets down. • Parent Connect is a great way to help your sons stay on track in the classroom. Hopefully, it is also teaching some accountability to each of them. The bottom line is they are here to get an education and play football.

14. Injuries • The only way we can help an injured athlete become healthy again is through treatment. We cannot do that if they are not with us. An injured athlete is still a member of this team and will be treated as such. • We have an incredible trainer(Lori Holcomb) who can nurse them back to health; however, she does not make house calls!

15. Playing Time Playing time is determined by this coaching staff and the daily effort of your son. Off-season work, summer dedication, ability, daily effort all factor into the decision. Ultimately, the final call is mine. Playing time is not a discussable topic. I feel very fortunate to have the men that I have on this staff; all are fair, moral individuals. The conversations that we have about playing time take into consideration the individual, our team needs, and the effect that decision will have on our team. At times it is not easy, nor pleasant, but it is something that has to be done. I believe I have heard just about everything in the 30 plus years I have coached. When it came down to it, I make the decision that best suits this program and its membership.

16. 24 hour rule • This axiom was put into place to head-off confrontation. Should you, as a parent, have a question or complaint about the treatment of your son, we are telling you to wait 24 hours until that complaint is verbalized formally. That gives everyone time to calm down, think things through, and frame a productive comment. No coach on this staff will be part of a “parking lot” conversation. Anything that needs to be said should be said in a formal, calm manner.

17. Issues • Here is how I believe we can best tend to any issue we have---we are also teaching our kids to practice adult behaviors (productive ones). • If there is an issue, we first want your child to go to their position coach and verbalize the problem. • If there is no resolution, we are asking them to come to the head coach. • If there is no resolution at that level, we are asking you, as a parent, to call a meeting between all parties and the athletic director. • Should the issue be so severe that it cannot be resolved, the director of athletics will organize a meeting with his superiors and the parties involved. • Again, there are items that are not negotiable---like playing time, schemes that we employ. • Issues such as safety and treatment of your son have to be made public and rectified. You owe that to yourself and your son.

18. Zero-tolerance • A player who is caught with alcohol and or drugs will be dismissed from the team immediately. I do not adhere to the adage, “Boys will be boys” as an excuse for illegal activities. I trust that all of you would agree. • Please be aware that this policy goes above and beyond that of the athletic department. • This policy is enforced from the first day of practice (August 8th) through the end of the season. The Athletic Department policy handles all other times of the year. • It is my hope that this policy will prevent our kids from makes poor decisions.

19. Special Health Situations • Number one…each of our players must have health insurance. Should you not have personal insurance, we do have the ability to offer you some coverage. • Secondly, if there is anything “health” wise that we need to know about your child, let’s not have the conversation at the emergency room of the hospital! Number one, we want to keep our kids safe and healthy. • I am wondering if we need to start to look at more protective mouth pieces?

20. Misc • Banquet- 10th -12th…no disrespect to our 9th graders..just felt like it was expensive and long for them. They will have a get together after their season. • please pay special attention to any washing instructions!!!!! • Recruiting/camps/combines- I think we have done a great job over the years of getting our kids looked at by universities/colleges. Hudl program has allowed kids to create their own high light film to send out. Just remember this rule of thumb…if they haven’t called, they are not being actively recruited..they are simply on a prospect list..and will receive an incredible amount of mail or emails. Our association and the colleges and universities through out Michigan have composed a position letter concerning the many combines that are spring up. • In terms of affordability, each university/college has a net calculator on their websites---will ask financial information—claim less than 2% error—should give you a good idea whether you can afford to send your son to that school. • Trenton Touchdown Club- I need all of you to help with the activities of this group…not only because of the scholarship component…but because the more help they receive the easier it is for everyone. We cannot get to a few doing all of the work. If we want our kids to be industrious, we must teach by example! • We also will continue teaching from our Character Manual. This has become an incredible tool.

21. More Misc. • We will still teach and preach from our Character Manual. I have a few copies in the front if anyone would like to see it. • Jersey Night • Letters to Mom • Aug. 12th Motivational Speaker @ Faith United • Sept 15th Victory Day

22. Community Service Opportunities • Our players will have the opportunity to help at the Lupus Walk which is held in Woodhaven at their community center. • Also, we will host the 3rd annual Victory Day which was a huge success last year. This great event will take place on Saturday, September 15th @ our stadium. • All are invited to participate; this is another chance for you and your son to create memories that will last a life time. • Coach Aaron is working on a “celebrity” to help us!

23. Friday morning mass • We have offered the opportunity for all of our parents, cheerleaders, coaches, and players to attend mass/service with us since I took this job 22 years ago. We have started to go to Faith United Methodist Church each Friday; the kids seem to be very comfortable there. • This is not something that is pushed on anyone; it is just an opportunity for our football family to be together in worship. • This is not mandatory!!!!!!!!!!!!!

24. Budget • Due to the budget cuts that are being made, we will not receive a budget from the school. Consequently, everything that we buy, we must pay for through fundraising efforts. • Discount card • Youth Camp • Reverse raffle • Letter solicitations • Donations • No one wants it to be this way; however, the situation is what it is. We can moan about it and call it wrong, or we can roll up our sleeves and do what needs to be done.

25. In Closing • Let us all put our energy in the proper area: • 1. Be supportive • 2. Be encouraging and positive • 3. Please enjoy the fact that your son is willing and physically able to participate • 4. Help us teach that our performance and our purpose in life are two separate entities. • 5. Let’s keep our eye on the ball---let this experience be fun for your kids. Help us teach the kids that fun and hard work are not enemies---we all know the satisfaction of working hard and reaping the reward that comes from that effort. • 6. Let’s love each and everyone of them…from our best through the least talented. At my age, that is all that makes sense. • 7. Please share in this experience with your son; this time goes by very fast---take pictures—be a part of it---let’s all try to give them memories that will last a life-time.

26. Website • www.trentonfootball.net • Calendar Tab • E news