SPRING SPORTS MEET THE COACH NIGHT

Dear Towson Families,

You're invited to our Spring Sports Meet the Coach Night on Monday March 17th! We will start at 6:30 PM in the Towson High School Auditorium. This evening provides a great opportunity for parents and guardians to meet our dedicated coaches, learn about our Spring sports procedures/policies, and get an inside look at what to expect this season. You'll hear directly from the coaches about their plans, goals, and expectations for the teams.

Your involvement is crucial to the success of our sports programs, and we encourage all winter sports parents to attend this important event. Whether your child is new to our athletic program or a returning athlete, this night will provide valuable information to help you navigate the season. We look forward to seeing you there!

Breakout Rooms

Baseball-Gymnasium, Girls Lacrosse-Quiet Cafe, Boys Lacrosse-Main Cafe, Track & Field-Auditorium, Tennis-255 (band room) Softball-Room 136

*Spiritwear will be available for purchase

*Allied softball will not be meeting

Sincerely,

Justin Nash

Athletic Director

Towson High School

General Admission: $5.00

7 and Under FREE

Spring Sports Athletes-FREE

BCPS Employees with ID-FREE

MPSSAA Coaching Passes-FREE

Towson Sports Pass-FREE (Excludes Away Games and Playoffs)

Elementary and middle school students attending athletic events must be accompanied by an adult (18 years and older) and remain with the adult for the entire event.

Only the following types of bags are allowed: Small clutch bags, no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" or approximately the size of a hand. An exception will be made for medically necessary items and diaper bags. (NO BOOKBAGS)

Once spectators have entered a game, there will be no readmittance if they choose to leave before the game has ended. Loitering at athletic events or on school grounds after the conclusion of the event will not be permitted.

Before purchasing a Sports Pass, it's important to know that if you choose to become a Towson High School Sports Booster member and purchase a 5-Star Membership ($250), you will receive a complimentary 5-Member Family Pass ($125 value) for the 2023-24 school year. If you purchase a Maroon Membership for $100, you will receive a complimentary adult pass ($40 value).

• The philosophy of Towson High School’s Athletic Department is to foster a tradition of excellence through education and competitive experiences in athletics, to always have a focus on sportsmanship and to allow our students to grow beyond their classroom experiences. We believe that interscholastic athletics is a way to achieve a balanced educational program for our students with the understanding that academics are the student’s first responsibility.

• Athletic competition, by its nature, can contribute to a student’s greater awareness of self-discipline, a growth of emotional maturity and an increasing realization of the worth of the team. We work to promote teamwork, aid in building a student’s self-esteem and teach educationally sound sportsmanship practices.

• Students should realize that participation in athletics is not only a privilege, but it is also an honor that requires responsibility for maintaining one’s academic standing in the classroom and for maintaining high standards of conduct throughout the school day as well as outside of school hours. Our main concern for our students is their health and well-being and always comes before the outcome of an athletic contest.

• All our coaches should be leaders to our young men and women by constantly and consistently setting good examples of what sportsmanship is. It is expected that our coaches will be consistent and fair in all rules and regulations applied to the athletes they coach. They should be aware of all county and state guidelines and should be a reliable source of information concerning such.

• The primary goal of our interscholastic athletic program will always be to encourage effort, commitment, positive attitudes, and dignity. It is recognized that a positive athletic program can significantly contribute to the school’s morale and community pride as well as the pride and honor of all persons involved in the athletic program at Towson High School.

• It is important to understand that participation on an athletic team at Towson High School is a privilege and not a right. Being on and maintaining one’s membership means accepting all the responsibilities of a team. However, unlike recreation or intramural teams, equal or guaranteed playing time does not exist. It is up to the discretion of the coach to use players best suited to the conditions and demands of the contest at that time. Playing time is earned through performance and is not guaranteed to any student-athlete at Towson High School. Only student-athletes should request a meeting with their respective coaches regarding playing time if it becomes an issue. Coaches will provide honest and constructive feedback to the student-athlete and identify performance areas that can be improved to gain additional playing time and experience

• JV Teams exist to provide athletes prior to participation at the varsity level an opportunity to develop skills and gain experience. While the athlete’s age, size, or skill level may be the limiting factor in not making the varsity team, participation on a JV team may enhance the athlete’s potential to make the varsity squad in the future.

• Caution, however, must also be given. Being a member of a JV team does not guarantee that an athlete will automatically move up the following year to the varsity squad. The athletes best suited for varsity competition will make the squad each year. The development of athletes should be the ultimate purpose of a JV squad, while at the same time acknowledging the value of winning, learning, and enjoying being a member of a team.

• Unexcused absences or chronic tardiness to class or team practice may be sufficient reason for declaring a student ineligible at any time. The coach, in consultation with the Athletic Director, will determine the date and time of ineligibility.

• To participate in any athletic event or practice, athletes are expected to be in all of their scheduled classes the day of the event. The principal, assistant-principal, or athletic director may excuse an athlete for prescheduled appointments, such as a driver’s test, college visit, a court appearance, medical appointment, funeral, or an unforeseen emergency.

• A student who has any absence other than those specified may not practice or compete on that date. A student who violates the above or otherwise misses class due to an unexcused absence will not be allowed to compete in the next contest after the violation has been verified.

• Prompt, regular attendance at practice sessions is necessary for the safety and conditioning of the student as well as for the benefit of the team. Team members should notify their coach prior to any practice that they must miss and should offer an adequate explanation for the absence. Chronic tardiness to practice or unexcused absences will be dealt with by the coach.

Any student enrolled in a physical education class is expected to dress and participate daily in activity. Anyone failing to take part in the daily activity of the physical education class will be ineligible to participate in practice or contests that day.

While in season, distribution, consumption, or possession of drugs and alcohol by a student-athlete on school property or at a school-sanctioned event is verified, he/she will be removed from the team until completion of a drug and alcohol program through the Baltimore County Department of Health

The Athletic Department has adopted the following policy regarding the use of e-mail messages, websites, blogs, or other electronic communication: “The use of e-mail messages, blogs, websites, or other electronic communications to make inflammatory or derogatory comments, and/or inappropriate descriptions or pictures regarding another team member, another student, a coach, another school or team, or other staff member is prohibited. Possible consequences for violating this policy are: (1) Single game suspension; (2) Multiple game suspension; (3) Dismissal from the team.

In athletic settings, some may view hazing as a harmless rite of initiation or an important activity for team bonding. However, it is a form of harassment and represents a Baltimore County Public Schools Disciplinary Code offense. A more complete explanation of harassment can be found in the Baltimore County Public Schools Student Handbook. Hazing, therefore, cannot and will not be condoned or permitted in the athletic program at Towson High School. This means that hazing is not tolerated on the fields or courts, in the locker rooms, on the bus, or at any other activity in which student-athletes from Towson High School are involved. Seek the coach, Athletic Director or a member of the administration immediately if any concern of hazing exists.

At Towson High School, the following chain of command shall be followed:

• Principal, Athletic Director, Head Coach, Assistant/JV Coach, Player

If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to your child’s interscholastic participation, please communicate through the appropriate chain above. The initial contact should always be from the player to coach. All inquiries regarding procedures will be specific to your child and should not include references to other players on the team.