Baseball Policies

PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IS DEPENDENT ON YOUR ELIGIBILITY. WE WILL FOLLOW THE PINE ISLAND SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AS NOTED IN THE EXTRA-CURRICULAR HANDBOOK.

DETENTIONS DURING THE BASEBALL SEASON
1st Detention - Miss one game
2nd Detention - Miss two games
3rd Detention - Miss the remaining games on the schedule *  If the player is an underclassman, they may continue to practice with the team.

MISSING SCHOOL, A GAME OR PRACTICE DUE TO AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
1st Unexcused Absence - Miss one game
2nd Unexcused Absence - Miss two games
3rd Unexcused Absence - Miss the remaining games on the schedule * If the player is an underclassman, they may continue to practice with the team.

GAMES
All players are expected to attend all games on the team schedule.  However, players will be excused for other school activities, illness, injuries, personal problems, or family commitments.  Parents need to send a note or e-mail a coach about possible conflicts where the player will be gone.

PRACTICES
On school days practice will begin at 3:30 pm.  When school is not in session, the starting time for those non-school day practices will be communicated to the players. When we practice indoors due to the weather, grades 9-12 will practice from 3:30-5:30 and Jr High will practice from 5:30-7:30. When we are able to start practicing outside, practices may go later than 5:30!  If a player needs to leave practice at 5:30 or before for any reason please let your Coach know in advance and we will make sure to get the player dismissed when needed.  If a player has a conflict and must miss a practice, they need to personally contact the coach. Any player showing up late for practice without a valid excuse, will have consequences.
Arm care practices (1st week) will be no longer than an hour and a half, 3:30-5:00 for C-12 and 5:00-6:30 for Jr High IF we are inside, IF we are outside everyone will practice from 3:30-5:00 arm care week.  New in 2024 Jr High will practice on Wednesdays.  If we are outside Jr High will practice from 3:30-5:00, and if we are inside on a Wednesday they will practice from 5:30-6:30.
   
COMMUNICATIONS
Parents and coaches are important role models for athletes. They both provide necessary guidance to young adults in their development and understanding of the world in which they will live and work. The first link in the communication network is the one established between coach and athlete. Our staff as well as parents should encourage an athlete to exercise the opportunity to speak directly with their coach about any topic, before a parent/coach conversation is instigatedThere are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent such as the emotional and physical development of the athlete, ways your athlete can improve, concerns about an athlete’s behaviors with the team and/or on the field. However, under no circumstances will a coach speak to any parent regarding playing time, another student athlete/parents, and the organization or administration of team and program. Pine Island Baseball has a 24 hour rule in which a parent must wait 24 hours before they may make contact with the particular coach. Please do not attempt to contact a coach before, during or after a game. These can be emotional times for both parent and coach. Often times, when we allow time to reflect and compose our thoughts it has a much more positive outcome. If a meeting is still needed, please either call or email the coach directly and they will respond to your request within 48 hours.


POOR SPORTSMANSHIP
The Pine Island Baseball Program is proud of their tradition of sportsmanship.  If a player is eliminated from a game due to poor sportsmanship, they will have to sit out the next game (MSHSL Rule).  The coaching staff will determine if additional suspensions will occur if the action is flagrant.