REQUIRED FORMS FOR PARTICIPATION

 

All students that wish to participate in extra curricular activities are required by the district to complete and turn in a physical examination/parent-consent/medical-information/concussion-fact-sheet form.  Due to the way that these forms have been condensed into one singular form they are no longer available on-line through the high school's website.  Forms may be picked up at the Brandon Valley High School Office and Brandon Valley Middle School Office.  Additionally, those 8th grade students participating in school sponsored extra curricular activities for the first time (& students new to the district) are also required to have their parent/guardian sign a HIPPA Consent for Release of Medical Information form.  All students must have completed paperwork turned in to their head and assistant coaches prior to participating in their activity.  Those 8th grade students that have participated in a fall activity have current paperwork on file.      

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PLAYERS and PARENTS

If your student/participant has a medical condition (i.e. asthma, severe allergic reaction requiring an epi-pen, etc.) for their safety during practices and games please make sure that you contact and inform the coaching staff.  Additionally, please make sure your student has a set of all necessary medication(s) (i.e. rescue inhaler, epi-pen, etc.) that is clearly marked with their name that can be kept with the team medical kit throughout the season.  All unused medication(s) will be returned to the family/student at the conclusion of the season.  

 

Practice and game basketball jerseys will be provided by the school for your son.  All other equipment (i.e. shorts, T-shirts, socks, shoes, etc.) is to be provided by the player/family.  Participants need a pair of black athletic shorts for practices/games.  Participants must use the jerseys provided to them by the school; any jerseys that are lost, damaged, or stolen are the responsibility of the student they were assigned to.    

 

Practice is held every day after school (unless otherwise noted on the practice schedule for a morning practice or a day with no practice that is scheduled).  Practice is held from 3:30 pm until approximately 5:15-5:20pm at BVMS and occasionally at Brandon Elementary School.  We ask that all students be picked up or be walking/biking home by 5:30 pm.  If there is a 2-hour late start due to weather and we have a morning practice scheduled, practice is cancelled.  If there is an early dismissal due to weather and we have an after school practice scheduled, practice is cancelled.  If school is cancelled, there will not be practice that day.  There are no middle school boys basketball practices during the winter holiday break.    

 

The coaching staff realizes and understands that there are times where a participant may have medical appointments or dental appointments that conflict with practice.  These absences are considered excused absences and we would kindly ask that if your participant has an appointment you please contact the coaching staff and let them know.  Participants with unexcused absences (i.e. skipping practice) may see their participation in games shortened or suspended; participants with an unexcused absence will have their parent(s)/guardian(s) contacted by a member of the coaching staff; if two or more unexcused absences occur the participant will have a letter sent home, their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted by the coaching staff, and the participant may be dismissed from the team.  

 

On days where away games are scheduled, all students are required to be wearing pants and have a winter coat, a hat, and gloves/mittens for the bus ride to and from the designated game location.  Hooded sweatshirts are not considered a winter coat.  Those students that do not have the proper attire or necessary winter wear will not be allowed to board the bus and travel with the team as this is a safety issue should a bus break down in the cold weather. This important safety item will be discussed with all participants throughout the season on multiple occasions.

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During away games the BVMS 8th Grade coaches will contact all parents via Remind about the team's location and estimated arrival back to BVMS.  The coaches may also ask the participants on the bus to call/text their parents to alert them to the estimated arrival time.  We ask that all parents please arrive at the school prior to the arrival of the team bus to expedite the students return home.

 

During some away games the BVMS Boys 8th Grade Basketball team will stop to eat.  Each player is responsible to bring money with them to purchase a meal.  

 

For away games, students are permitted to travel home with their parents/guardians if they sign out with the coaching staff following the completion of all games.  Students are not allowed to be signed out by other family members (i.e. grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, etc.) or by another participant's family.  In the event that a student must travel home with another family member or another family, permission must be obtained from the district's athletic director, Mr. Marso (randy.marso@k12.sd.us or 582-3211), in advance of the contest and then that information will then be relayed to the coaching staff.  The coaching staff cannot ok a participant riding home with another family member or family.       

 

The coaching staff will be sending home information regarding parent sign-up for the Remind texting/messaging service.  This free service allows the coaching staff to quickly communicate with all parents in the event of unexpected schedule changes, cancellations, reminders of practice times, and notifications when the team is close to returning home from away games. This information will be sent home with your participant and we kindly ask for your participation.  If you have a smart phone, to receive push notifications, on your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/k47bbf and follow the instructions to sign up for Remind.  You'll be prompted to download the mobile app if you have not done so already for another activity (i.e. 8th grade football uses Remind as well).  You can sign up to receive text message alerts by texting the message @k47bbf to the number 81010.   Please note that those families that do not sign up, the coaching staff will enter in phone numbers on record with the school as Remind is our fastest method of communicating with all our families.      

 

The philosophy of the BVMS 8th grade basketball team is inclusion and participation.  BVMS 8th grade basketball plays three and four games depending on the opponent.  For ESD and other games (Mitchell, Yankton, Watertown, Brookings, Pierre, SF Christian) the BVMS 8th grade basketball team will play A, B, and C games all at the same location.  For games versus the Sioux Falls schools, A, B, C, and D games will be played with the A/B teams playing at one location (home or away) and the C/D teams playing at the opposite location of the A/B teams.   Please note that all players will participate in all games.  The coaches will work to ensure that all players participate to the maximum amount possible.  During the season participants may move between teams (A to B, B to A, C to B, etc) depending upon player development and decisions by the coaching staff to maximize team and individual success and participation.  

 

The BVMS 8th grade boys basketball team includes participants of varying degrees of skill and experience; players will be placed on teams by the coaching staff that are in the best interest of the entire team and its success; students will also be placed on teams that will put the participants in the best positions for team and personal success.