Foard High School Wrestling

Expectations and Rules

"In life, as in sport, you have a choice about the person you will become."

1*  Be at school and practice, and act like a gentleman at all times.   Treat teammates, coaches, and opponents with respect.   Anything at school or off campus that doesn't reflect the values of this program may result in extra conditioning, suspension, or dismissal.

2*  If you aren't at school, I want to be emailed at:  mike_carey@catawbaschools.net  or called on my cell phone by 8:15am.  Do not tell your friends to tell me; make sure to let me know personally.  If you leave school during the day; then make sure to come and see me before you leave campus.  You MUST be at school by 11:15 to be counted present and wrestle in a match.

3*  If you are late to practice for any reason or leave early; then you will do 5 minutes of extra work.  If you are absent and I have been informed (before practice) why you aren't there; then you have 10 minutes of extra work.  If you are absent, and I have not been informed; then you have 20 minutes of extra work.  Check the "Calendar & Schedule" for start times.  I am willing to let you attend tutoring sessions, but I must have a note before practice, and you need to be back by 4:30.

4* The coaching staff will ultimately decide who wrestles at each weight class.  Whether you wrestle a particular match or not is not up for debate.  Stay positive and do not pout if you don't like the decision.

5* Make weight if you tell the team or coach that you are going to do so!  The state won’t let you lose too much weight and become unhealthy, so if you decide to go to a certain weight class; then you need to make weight.  Failure to "make weight" is a selfish act.  You are not allowed to use any plastic or rubber sweat clothes.  Bring something healthy to eat and drink after weigh-ins.

6* If you are injured or sick; then let me know asap by calling me on my cell phone.  If you aren't at 100%; then I expect you to battle through that. There is a difference between being injured and being hurt...know the difference. You are still expected to attend practice/matches and watch if you are injured. 

7* If you get a skin breakout; then go to the doctor with this form:  "Physician Release Form"  (print).  Bring that paper back to Coach Carey filled out by the doctor.  Without it filled out by the doctor; the refs won't let you wrestle matches.  To help prevent skin breakouts, wear clean clothes to practice (long sleeves and sweatpants are the best to prevent skin problems), and wash the bottom of your shoes before each practice.  Use sanitation wipes after every match!

8* Bring your warm-ups, wrestling shoes, head gear, mouthpiece (required if you wear braces), and singlet to every match.  You may or may not have a match, but you need to be ready.  If you don't have your warm-ups; then you don't run out with the team.  Also, don't let non-wrestlers wear your warm-ups, etc. Your family members are welcome to wear Foard Wrestling gear.  I just don't want anyone else giving you a bad name by doing something they shouldn't while wearing Foard Wrestling gear.

9* No texting or talking on the cell phone during dual matches.  The first time you do is 100 updowns, the second is 200, and so on!  If you do text and talk on your cell phone; then you are telling your teammates that they aren't important.  You may listen to headphones before your match, but after you wrestle; then take them off and support your team.  You may text or talk on your cell phone at individual tournaments during down time.  Stay out of the stands during dual matches...stay with your team!

10* Appearance: You must keep your hair out of your eyes, and off your ear and collar (that means get a haircut).  We don't wear hair covers during matches.  Dyed hair and ear/nose rings are not allowed during the season (even at school).   You must keep your pants pulled up and hats are not to be worn backwards.   You must be shaved and have your fingernails clipped on match days.  We want to look and act like gentlemen.

*Failure to comply with team rules or uphold our values may result in suspension or dismissal from the team. 

                                                                              

 Foard Wrestling…
Where Character Matters!

  

Parents,  I ask a few things from you as well. 

1*Please be encouraging and positive with your son.  This is a really hard sport, and your son will need you to encourage him to make him the best he can be.  Don't let your son become discouraged and quit.  Quitting is not a character trait you want your son to have when something gets hard.  Teach him to persevere. 

2*Help your son with his choice of making a certain weight class.  The state does body fat analysis at the beginning of the season, and your son won't be allowed to go below the determined minimum weight set by the state.  However, if he chooses to make a certain weight class; then please help him make healthy choices so he can make that weight class. 

3*Please be on time when dropping off your son for a match or tournament, and when picking him up from practice.  The wrestlers are usually ready to be picked up 5-10 minutes after practice.  For example, if we end practice at 5:15, your son should be ready by 5:20-5:25.

4*If your son gets a rash or a strange bump, please let me know asap, and take him to the doctor.  Make sure to print this form, and get the Dr. to clear you to wrestle.  Return the form to me.  Encourage your son to wear clean, long sleeved sweatshirts and sweatpants, and to wash his wrestling shoes at least once a week.  This will drastically reduce the chance of a skin breakout.  You may want to get some Tolonate or Lamisil, and keep it around the house just in case your son has an outbreak.

5*Please make sure your son calls me if he leaves campus during the day or misses school by 8:15am.

6*Make sure your son knows this is not a Mt. View Recreation sport.  This is a North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) varsity sport, and the commitment to this program needs to be of the highest level.  You represent Fred T. Foard High School, and the members of this program who are counting on you to be at practices, matches, and tournaments.  I sincerely appreciate you working around our demanding schedule, and making sure your son is with his team!

7*The coaching staff will make the decision on who starts.  Pre-lim. matches are based on what wrestlers the other team has available, the amount of time we have available, and money to pay the official.  I will try to get every kid matches throughout the season, however, I don't plan on explaining "playing time" decisions.

8*Once we start a dual match, please do not come down to the team bench until after the match is over.  After the match, we welcome you to come down and be with the team!  You are more than welcome to sit with the team during individual tournaments.

9*If you have questions, I will be happy to talk with you, however, I prefer email over being called at home unless there is an emergency.  Long meetings after practice or matches are not the best for me since I value the time I have at home with my family.

10*Support and cheer for our team, but please don't give other wrestlers and coaches a hard time from the other school.  I know some other fans from other schools may do that to us, but let's be better then them.  Let's show some class, and let our wrestling do our talking.

I appreciate the opportunity to coach your son.  I believe in being tough, doing the right thing, and working hard.  I won't guarantee that your son will ever win a match, but I do guarantee that I will work hard for him, and teach him some valuable life lessons, and if he buys in to our program, he will become a better young man.

 

Success with honor.