ABOUT | pantherwrestling

RULES

Panther Wrestling Parent Contract and Training Rules

2019-20

The following rules will be enforced throughout the season AT THE COACH’S DISCRETION. If you do not believe that you can demonstrate the responsibility involved in maintaining a successful program and becoming a wrestler, please save yourself and the coaches time by letting us know NOW!

Our first priority is to create better young men. If we consistently do this, champions will emerge. – Coach D.

1. Report to practice and meets on time. If you’re tardy to a meet or practice you can be benched. If you are late for the bus, we will leave you. If you miss the bus, you will not be allowed to drive your own vehicle (better hope your parent’s are willing to haul you and can get you there on time).

2. Attendance. You must attend at least (4) classes that day to compete. Attendance at practice is MANDATORY!!! The excuses of work, doctor appointments, etc…are not valid reasons to miss unless cleared with your coaches in advance. If you miss practice the day before a tournament or school the day of a dual, you will be replaced in the lineup for that competition and must wrestle off in order to regain it. If you are ill, let your direct coach know asap. All wrestlers and parents may contact Coach Degginger in the following ways: degginger.jeffrey@brevardschools.org or by cell or text at (772) 812-7063 or on REMIND.com/coachjdeg (IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO RELAY A MESSAGE TO US BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOU OR YOUR PARENT). Missing a practice or match without contacting your coach first will result in consequences up to removal from the team. If the team can’t count on you, we don’t need you. All wrestlers will attend all practices and matches unless otherwise directed by your coaches. If you are unable to practice due to an injury, you are still expected to attend practice and matches (unless getting treatments and cleared in advance). By being there, you are supporting your teammates and you can you can assist (i.e. score keeping, clock, cleanup…etc.) while still learning.

3. Maintain a positive attitude. An athlete may be dropped from the program if his or her attitude is detrimental to the team. Be prepared to take constructive criticism. If you are unable to do this, wrestling probably isn’t for you. We only accept the “I CAN or I’ll keep trying until I CAN” attitude. The only way to remove a cancer is to cut it out.

4. Academics are very important! Your first obligation at school is to work toward a brighter future and to graduate. Eligibility is a requirement to compete. You must discipline yourself to do your homework. You will attend study hall as a team every Wednesday for 45 minutes…NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! We encourage you to bring homework on away trips. However, homework is NOT an excuse to miss practice. If you require additional tutoring or need to study for a particular exam…it must be cleared in advance.

5. Conduct yourself in an exemplary manner on and off the wrestling mat. If we create a team full of champions but fail to create quality, caring and polite young men and women, we have failed you as coaches. As a Panther wrestler, you are representing Heritage High School, your coaches, your team, your family, your community and yourself. It is strongly suggested that you remember this.

6. Dress in the proper team uniform for both practice and competitions. Practice: T or sweatshirt (tucked in), appropriate under garments, shorts or sweat pants, socks, headgear and wrestling shoes. Absolutely NO VINYL OR PLASTIC SWEATS!!!! Meets: Team Hoodie (warm up), team T-shirt, appropriate under garments, white socks, wrestling shoes and headgear (attached hair net for anyone with long hair and/or braids). Each wrestler is responsible to purchase their own wrestling shoes and headgear (I recommend www.wrestlinggear.com and go to their retired section).

7. Ethics. Smoking, drinking, use of drugs, stealing, cheating or violating team, school or district rules will result in an indefinite suspension and possible expulsion from the team. You want to be treated like an adult, act like one.

8. Training Rules. No extreme weight loss or dehydration practices are acceptable. All wrestlers will report promptly to the track after school. Practices are approximately 2 ½ hours long. Wrestlers will run a minimum of 1 to 2 miles along with several other exercises including a minimum of 120-200 pushups and 240-400 crunches daily. You can bring a water or Gatorade bottle in the room, but water breaks are at the discretion of the Coach and will be strictly regulated. No wrestler will be allowed to compete or practice while under a physicians’ care. A written clearance must be attained from the physician of record in order to participate once an injury has been documented.

9. Travel. All students will ride with the team both to and from all athletic contests. Parents can pick you up from the high school after all gear is turned in. You can only leave with your parents from an event if approved by the Head Coach. Once you report to the school, the athlete cannot leave without permission from the coach.

10. Follow good sportsmanship. Refrain from arguing with teammates, fans and opponents. NEVER ARGURE WITH YOUR COACHES OR OFFICIALS!!! YOU CAN’T WIN AGAINST EITHER AND LOSING IS COSTLY TO BOTH YOU AND YOUR TEAM!!!! Always show class…not your…. (you get the point).

11. Equipment. Once equipment is issued, it is the athlete’s responsibility. All equipment must be returned at the direction of the coach. Any loss or damage to equipment must be paid for. An athlete may not compete on another team, receive report cards or graduate until all charges are paid in full.

12. The Freshman and JV teams are required to stay for all Varsity home matches. You will help set up, tear down and clean. Leaving early will result in disciplinary action.

13. Cell phones are not allowed at practices.

14. See your coach if you have a complaint or problem. Parents and wrestlers are both encouraged to speak to the Head Coach with any concerns or problems. However, practice and meets are not the proper place or time. Please call Coach Degginger and set up a time to talk.

15. The Varsity Lineup is set by using the wrestle off format. Each wrestler will have the opportunity to compete for a Varsity slot by wrestling against all challengers at his/her weight class. You must be within 5 pounds of your weight class in order to challenge. The winner of this contest will hold the Varsity slot while the runner up will be the starting J.V. and Varsity backup. Any other wrestlers at that weight class can then challenge at the next higher class for a position or will get wrestling time at the Coach’s discretion. *The Head Coach reserves the right to pull a wrestler out of the starting lineup at his discretion. This would only occur as a disciplinary action or for the benefit of the team…i.e. to get a JV wrestler more experience or rest a Varsity starter. A wrestler that is undefeated or placed in the top 3 at the last Varsity meet cannot be challenged. There will be NO challenges after the conference championships.

16. No Cursing. This includes any derogatory speech. Cost is 25 pushups per incident (this includes the coaching staff). I do not consider crap, ass or any derivative thereof to be cursing. Banned words include but are not limited to the following:

( F-bombs, d*mn, b*tch, c*nt, n*gger, spick, d*ck, p*ssy, fag, cracker, any derivative of the afore mentioned or bullying speech)

17. Hygiene. Skin infections sideline more wrestlers every year than injuries. With the introduction of antibiotic resistant infections such as MRSA, it is imperative that you wash daily within an hour of practice using antibacterial soap. Also, you will not be allowed into the room with dirty or smelly clothes (including shoes). You will have a fresh set of workout clothes daily. Shoes will be sprayed or powdered daily and washed as needed. Lockers will not be issued. You will take all of your gear home to be washed daily.

18. Prayer. There is a non-denominational prayer before each team competition. Participation is not mandatory. Each wrestler is encouraged to pray in the faith (or non-faith) of their choice (I once had an atheist wrestler who prayed to the flying spaghetti monster). The prayer is there to remind the wrestler to be thankful, respectful and that your little angel isn’t the center of the universe.

18. Parents and other guests are not allowed in the wrestling room without prior approval. We have very limited space and it becomes a safety issue when too many people are in the wrestling room. The only exception to this is the last 15 minutes of practice. Parents can come in and watch the final conditioning as they wait to pick up their wrestlers. Parents are invited and encouraged to occasionally watch practice with the Head Coach’s approval.

19. Uniform/competition fees must be paid before your child can compete. There is a $175 uniform/competition fee for the season. This works as a fundraiser and pays for the wrestler’s hoodie, t-shirt, shoe bag and shorts for the season. The fee is taken against each wrestler’s fundraising efforts. For example:

10 wrestlers work a fundraiser that brings in $800. Each participating wrestler will have $80 taken off of the $175 total and that wrestler would owe $95. Most of our wrestlers pay off their fees strictly through fundraising. NO WRESTLER WILL EVER BE TURNED AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY.

If your wrestler quits before the uniforms are handed out, they will not be eligible for or receive any gear. We won’t have quitters wearing our colors!

20. It takes 24 Varsity points to earn your letter.