Athlete Handbook

Introduction and Welcome

The Board of Directors of PALMS TO PINES PARASPORTS (PPP) are very happy that you’ve chosen to participate in our programs. We offer a variety of opportunities for physical and personal achievement of athletes of all ages and at all levels, with physical disabilities in the Riverside County/Southern California area. We hope you will take full advantage of these opportunities offered throughout the year as an athlete in PPP’s programs. We are thrilled that for you to join our team! PPP is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of community members who represent various fields of knowledge. We welcome your involvement in making PPP an organization that truly serves the health and wellness needs of individuals with physical disabilities.

PPP’s Vision is a world in which adaptive athletes have the same opportunities to lead as full a life as their able-bodied peers. Palms to Pines Parasports strives to create a more inclusive society by providing competitive and recreational opportunities for people with physical disabilities while instilling a lifelong passion for wellness, thus, helping athletes realize their full potential.

PPP has five major goals:

1. Deliver a broad array of adaptive sports and activities through a sustainable non-profit organization;

2. Create greater awareness of the capabilities of people with physical disabilities through outreach and support; 

3. Enable people with physical disabilities to achieve and lead fulfilling lives and to challenge themselves, by playing sports in a safe environment, applying “sports lessons” to all aspects of life;

4. Establish itself as the go-to organization in finding resources and information for people with disability; and

5. Introduce athletes to sports and wellness, providing opportunities for acquiring the necessary tools to participate.

We RISE to the challenge of providing adaptive sports for everyone based on their individual needs. We take our values to heart ensuring PPP will be a leading adaptive sport organization:

RESILIENT

We take pride in what we do. We prepare for a future without fear, prejudice or discrimination.

INCLUSIVE

We embrace diversity by being open to everybody wishing to participate. We seek out other perspectives and consider the impact of our decisions on the community as a whole;

SERVICE

We have a passion for compassion. We understand and support everybody in order to bring out their best. We dis(cover)abilities; and

EXCELLENCE

We are honest, fair and transparent. We proactively seek out partnerships with others to create the best-possible outcomes for participants.

Basic Information

Staff are enthusiastic and committed to providing programs that empower athletes. Coaching staff are well-informed and trained in the sport, where applicable. All staff will receive the following:

• Positive Coaching

• Safe sport training

• Background checks upon hiring

• Concussion Awareness training

• CPR/Basic First Aid certification

• Child Abuse Reporting and Training

Athletes can expect to participate in PPP programming via

• Weekly or bimonthly practice during the season to enhance skills

• Participation in tournaments (if applicable for the chosen sport)

• Special events (e.g.,holiday or end-of-season parties)

• Access to talented, dedicated, and knowledgeable staff and volunteers

• On-site administrative support with prompt, thorough communication, and regular office hours to address each member’s needs

• Priority to rent equipment based on availability.

Recreational Athletes

Palms to Pines Parasports values every athlete who is interested in playing adaptive sports for regular physical activity, social interaction, and leisure pursuit. Recreational sports are available for athletes who desire to explore adaptive sporting options, skill development, and/or sport-specific competency. Recreational athletes are not mandated to attend practice. though they are encouraged to try various sports and participate on a frequent basis.

Competitive Athletes

Palms to Pines Parasports is a Paralympic Sports Organization that offers competitive athlete opportunities to compete at the Paralympic level. At PPP, competitive athletes are expected to have an athlete’s mentality, including a motivation to compete at their best. Competitive athletes are held to a higher standard of performance expectations, team commitment, and additional training outside of practice. The guidelines in this handbook are a basis to ensure a clear understanding of what it means to be on a competitive team and the obligations associated with that commitment.

Families can be involved by:

• Supporting your athlete and their team at practice and/or tournaments

• Engaging in prompt and thorough communication to address each athlete’s needs

• Being a part of our program and learning how to advocate and raise funds for your athlete’s team to compete

• Becoming part of a community that supports one another through the journey of living with or caring for someone with a disability

Annual Sports Calendar

Schedules will be communicated to the athletes and their families by the coach at the beginning of each season. Any additional information or changes will be communicated in a timely manner. All participants must register for each sport that they want to participate in.

Facilities

PPP policies apply to all indoor and outdoor facilities owned or used by PPP. Many of these facilities belong to community partners; it is a privilege to have access to them. Therefore, it is expected that PPP athletes will honor the rules and regulations in place, including:

• Only participants are allowed in the designated playing space.

• All equipment in the gym or event area, including balls, are for athletes ONLY.

• NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES, except water, are allowed within the playing space.

• Youth MUST be supervised by a parent or guardian.

• Please do not interrupt coaching staff while in a training session.

• Please inform staff if any equipment needs attention

Participation

Being a member of PPP is a privilege that carries certain expectations and responsibilities. Athletes are held to high standards because of their high visibility as representatives of PPP, the local community, and the Paralympic Movement as a whole. All athletes make a commitment by accepting a position on a PPP team. Therefore, our athletes are expected to maintain certain standards on and off the designated playing space.

Athletes are required to read and sign the Athlete Handbook Agreement (attached at the end of this document) that outlines athlete expectations and commitments required for participation in PPP programming.

Attendance

All trainings, practices, competitions, clinics, meetings, service projects or fundraising ventures are mandatory for each competitive athlete. Our schedules are provided in advance, and we expect athlete absences/tardiness to be infrequent and clearly communicated with the coaching staff. If an athlete is unable to communicate for themselves due to an illness or injury, a family member must inform the coaching staff of the absence as soon as possible. Failure to communicate with coaching staff regarding athlete attendance is a serious infraction.

Team Commitment

To be successful, every member of a team must work together to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Sacrifice, loyalty, common goals, working with others, communication, and sharing responsibility are all important components of teamwork. PPP teammates are expected to hold each other accountable on and off the designated playing space.

PPP desires each team to be a family.

When attending practice, athletes must be on time, focused, and ready to learn. To be on time, one must have all necessary equipment and be ready to follow directions at the start of each practice. Recreational sports practices are not mandatory, but PPP encourages frequent practice attendance and exploration of our sports programs.

Competitive sports practices are mandatory, and absences/tardiness should be infrequent and clearly communicated by the athlete directly with the coaching staff. PPP expects competitive athletes to show dedication to their sport(s). Individual hard work and resilience will lead the team to success.

Athletes also are expected to keep each practice location neat and organized by disposing of all trash and lining up belongings or placing them in a location specified by the coach. Athletes must put all training equipment away in its proper place and ensure that all belongings have been taken with them when leaving the practice location.

Playing Time

Playing time refers to the amount of time that an athlete actively plays in a game or match. This varies from athlete to athlete and event to event. Our experience has shown that the concept of “fair” playing time has a different meaning for coaches, parents, and athletes. Disparate views on what constitutes “fair” playing time is the most common source of athlete and/or family member frustration in sports.

To minimize the potential for misunderstandings between coaching staff, athletes, and family regarding playing time, it is important to recognize the following:

• “Fair” playing time does not mean “equal” playing time.

• Playing time philosophy and its distribution across team members will differ depending on age, commitment to the team, conditioning, and competitive level. Unique athlete roles, by nature of position, skill, or ability, can lead to differences in playing time that is appropriate for each athlete.

• Athletes with concerns regarding playing time should address their coach directly. Any conversation with a PPP staff member or board president, other than the coach, pertaining to playing time will be held by appointment only. This may require the presence of another PPP staff or board member.

Setting up a Meeting with Your Coach

Participation on a sports team will likely lead to some of the most rewarding moments in life. Similarly, there will be instances when things do not go according to the wishes of your athlete.

This is a time when the athlete should schedule an appointment to talk with the coach. This type of communication will give both the coach and the athlete the opportunity to gain a better understanding of personal and team goals.

Procedures to follow if you have a concern:

1. Email the coach to directly set up an in-person Athlete/Coach meeting. Athlete attendance is required and if the athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian must attend as well.

2. Please do NOT discuss concerns regarding playing time, team performance, athlete role, or other coaching responsibilities with coaches immediately before, after, or during practices or competitions. Coaches are responsible for the supervision and safety of the athletes during these times. In addition, these can be emotional moments when moments when emotions can escalate.

3. If an issue is not brought to resolution through a meeting with the coach, a parent/guardian or family member may make an appointment with the board President to discuss issues of concern so that an appropriate plan of action can be developed.

Injury Prevention

Participation in sports always has the potential to result in severe injury. Changes in rules, improved conditioning programs, modern equipment, and medical coverage have reduced this risk but it is nearly impossible for us to prevent such incidents from occurring. However, the chance of injury is greatly reduced by obeying all safety rules, reporting all injuries to the coach, and inspecting equipment before each practice. Palms to Pines Parasports athletes are responsible for keeping coaches informed about injuries, absences, rehabilitation, and other medical processes. Injured athletes are still encouraged to attend practices, competitions, and other team activities to remain engaged in their respective sport.

Injury prevention is critical to an athlete’s success and it is a necessary component of a comprehensive training program. More training does not translate to greater success in the absence of knowledge of injury prevention and the implementation of an active injury prevention and physical recovery program.

Critical to maintaining a healthy and fit athlete are the following:

• Understand and implement injury prevention exercises and other healthy behaviors in their regular weekly routine;

• Family support and encouragement and execution of the exercises and other preventative measures are very important; and

• Periodically, PPP will host healthy awareness activities to educate families on good practices. Please take advantage of these when they are available.

Some degree of pain and discomfort is inherent in all athletic play. This makes knowing the difference between “hurting” and “being hurt” especially difficult. Keeping an athlete healthy, minimizing injury, avoiding injury aggravation/escalation, and returning from injuries takes the collective attention and efforts of athletes, family members, and coaching staff.

An athlete’s disclosure is the necessary first step in diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from an injury. Failure to disclose an injury, regardless of what seems to be a good reason (e.g.. “my team needs me”), is both dangerous and a serious concern. Reporting injury, pain, and/or discomfort is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of responsibility to yourself and your team. Report all injuries to your coach.

Overuse injuries are the result of repetitive movement. Prevention relies on awareness first, action second. Ignoring an injury will never make it go away, however, identifying the problem can easily prevent the injury from worsening. Athletes and parents should understand that responding to early warning signs is a responsible form of action and does not define an athlete’s ability to play.

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. It can also be caused by a blow to another part of the body with the force transmitted to the head. They may result from athlete collision, contact with the floor, or contact with an object. An athlete suspected of sustaining a head injury in practice or a game shall be removed from competition at that time and possibly for the remainder of the day. PPP strongly recommends that an athlete receives clearance from a physician after any head trauma that occurs as concussions can have a cumulative effect.

The importance of good nutrition and hydration practices cannot be overstated in the area of preventing injury. A balanced diet is necessary for our athletes to have the strength and endurance to participate fully in practice and competition.

Parent/Family Expectations

Family members of PPP athletes contribute to the success of each athlete, team and the organization as a whole. They are regarded as an integral part of Palms to Pines Parasports and it is therefore expected that they will maintain certain standards alongside our athletes. These include the following:

• Team practices are limited to specific days/times;

• Parents and spectators are welcome during practices, however, please minimize any disturbances that might distract athletes or negatively impact training;

• Refrain from giving coaching advice to your athlete during practices or competition as conflicting instructions can hinder the development of an athlete and their team;

• Instead, please encourage the coaching staff and celebrate the team;

• During practices in which coaches allow family members to join the training session, family members are expected to come with the same readiness to play as the athletes (e.g. prepared, enthusiastic, etc.); and

• If needed, family members are responsible for their athlete’s transportation to and from practice.

Relationship with Coaches

The following communication can be expected from an athlete’s coach:

• Individual coaching philosophy;

• Expectations of each athlete and team;

• Locations and times of practices and competitions;

• Team requirements and actions that may be taken if policies are not adhered to; and

• Availability if a meeting has been requested

Parents/Caregivers expected communication to coaches:

• Encourage athletes to initiate communication with their coach;

• Notification of any schedule conflict that may involve absence from practice or tournament; and

• Palms to Pines Parasports uses email as a primary form of communication. Reading and completing actionable items in a timely manner is expected. If you are not receiving information, please inform the coach, PPP staff, or Board President.