Handbook

JHS Girl’s Tennis Handbook

Fall 2023

• The best way to contact Coach Coltharp is through the “Discord” app. This allows for important text messages from Coach Coltharp about match changes/postponements, practice time changes, and other important information. We will also use this to coordinate court locations for matches and tournaments.

• Athletes must have the following forms on file in the athletic office in order to practice:

  • Physical within the last two years (cleared for sports)

  • The medical History Form must be updated yearly

  • The concussion and insurance Form needs to be updated before the season begins and must include a policy number

  • Drug Testing Consent Form completed once during the high school career

• Athletes must earn at least 6 credits in the previous semester and be enrolled in at least 7 credits to be eligible to participate. At least 2 of those credits must be in person.

• Athletes who earn 3.5 GPA or higher make our All-Scholar-Athlete Team.

• Athletes with prior and/or current injuries must go through a protocol that involves clearance from Tracy Saunders. If you are cleared by another doctor you still need to go through Saunders to get the all-clear. Failure to do so could result in missing matches.

• We practice Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00 PM (once school starts) at the JHS tennis courts.

  • Being late without prior notice will result in staying longer after practice.

• If it rains, we will practice in one of the gyms, unless communicated otherwise.

  • Practices due to rain will be shortened to an hour-long.

• The pickup location following matches is in the FTC parking lot.

• Athletes must attend 14 practices before participating in a match.

• 3 unexcused absences will result in a conference with the coaches to review your status with the team

• Lettering: Athletes must compete in at least 3 varsity matches. The decision is ultimately up to the coaches.

  • In tennis, only the #1-#6 ranked players participate in Varsity matches.  All other athletes play at the JV level.  I will determine if our Varsity #1-#6 spots need to be altered based on practice performance and challenge matches that I organize throughout the season.

  • Players not ranked in the top six will have the opportunity to move up based on practice performance and JV match play.

  • Varsity/JV placement is EARNED based on the following:

    • Match Play/Performance

    • Attitude

    • Work Ethic

    • Skill Level

    • Mental Toughness (“Tennis is 90% mental”)

  • I will do my absolute best to be fair and honest throughout this process.

• Our schedule is available online (MSHSAA and our webpage).

  • All JV players participate in JV tournaments.

  • For away V/JV duals, not everyone will attend (communicated through Discord).

  • For varsity tournaments, the top 6, 7, or 8 ranked players attend.

  • When we have a match or a varsity tournament scheduled, JV will not practice unless specified otherwise.

  • Players should not be on the tennis courts unless a coach is present.

• 'Eagles Serving Eagles' - high school sports is a great and common way to facilitate and instill responsibility and leadership in students. “Servant Leadership” is a powerful leadership theory and one that is important to me. A couple of pillars of Servant Leadership are having an unselfish mindset and fostering leadership in others. Eagles Serving Eagles will be an opportunity for team growth and giving back to the community. One Saturday towards the beginning of the season, as a team we will volunteer for community service for the city of Joplin. The schedule for this day:

  • Morning - Community Service

  • Afternoon - Short practice (an extra opportunity to make up a practice if you'd missed one)

  • Evening - Millennium Pool Party

• Academic Integrity

  • Any grade of a “D” or “F” – Athlete is required to attend any two (2) tutoring sessions offered at JHS, whether it’s a designated time in the morning, or with the specific teacher during the course of a week until the grade is brought up to above a “D.”  

  • Athletes will still be able to participate in practice and matches. Attending tutoring, students must sign a log-in sheet or have their teacher write them a note, so I can verify attendance at tutoring sessions.  

  • If a student's grade has not improved to above passing within two weeks, possible match and practice suspension may occur.

• Snacks

  • We will need everyone to bring in at least one snack and/or one case of water. Only approved snacks are allowed. (Crackers, cheez-it, trail mix, granola bars, and other light healthy options)

  • We have an opportunity to make money for the program every time the booster club offers us a concessions date.

• Spectating

  • We want to respect our athletes and our opponents. We want to make sure we have positive cheering i.e. When our athlete hits a good shot, or the athletes have a long rally.

  • When our athletes finish a match they should be taking time to cheer for their teammates.

  • Players may not leave a match early if we are playing at home. This includes varsity and JV matches. If we are at an away match, and you have been told you are done with your matches for the night, you may leave if you are going home with your own parent/guardian. You cannot go home with another parent.

    • Permission may be given to leave early if coaches are notified of an emergency prior to the match.

• Travel

  • Show up 10 minutes before our departure time.

  • Students are not allowed to check out early to get ready for a match.  

    • (This applies if you have a doctor’s appointment or another cleared absence that takes you away from school)

  • If a student checks out of school early unexcused, they will not be allowed to compete that day.  

    • Athletes will be released from school with plenty of time to get ready before a match.

  • If a student misses class(es) without being excused by an administrator, they will not be able to compete in that day’s contest.

  • If a student misses more than 3 periods without excusal by an administrator, the student shall not be eligible to participate in practice/contest on that day.

  • Help with loading and unloading the bus. You cannot leave until everyone and everything is off the bus.

  • Be sure you let a coach know when you are leaving when we arrive at the school so everyone is accounted for.

  • Always pick up trash off the bus.

• All decisions made are in the best interest of the team.