The purpose of this site, is to give parents and athletes more information about Gladwin's athletic program as it pertains to them.   It will make some decisions easier as to what to purchase for a specific team.  It will explain some of the process.   In addition, it will include the Handbook, for the rules and regulations from Gladwin Community Schools, that cover the athlete and their involvement.

Some things on this site will change from time to time, so be sure and check back regularly.

If there are more topics that you would like to have covered, feel free to recommend them to the athletic department.

1. Physicals and insurance fees

2. Pay to Play

3. What to buy?

4. Teams look alike

PHYSICALS

1.  A current physical signed by a licensed doctor, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner, and on kept on file at the school, is required by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.   No athlete may try-out, practice, or compete without it.   Any physical obtained after April 15th of the previous year, may be used for the current school year.

All potential athletes are highly encouraged to get their physicals completed prior to the beginning of the fall sports season!  It is a waste of time and talent to have an athlete have to sit and watch while their potential teammates are practicing, because they have not gotten their physical yet.

Athletes may contact their own physician/s office to obtain their physical whenever it is convenient.  Most  offices have copies of the physical form to be used.  You may pick up a physical form at the Athletic Office.  During the summer, one can also be picked up at the Superintendent's Office, upstairs at the Junior High.

Every summer, the Spring Street Family Practice holds special times to give athletic physicals, and gives them at a reduced price.  Watch for those dates in the Gladwin Record, or call the school for the information.   If you do not get your physical on those dates, you may still get your physical from Spring Street Family Practice without an appointment.  They will accept "walk-in" patients any time that they are open.   Spring Street Family Practice has physical forms, so it is not necessary for you to take one with you when you go.

Once the physical has been completed, turn it in to the High School Athletic Office.   A locked drop box has been added outside of the Athletic Office, so that physicals can be turned in any time, whether the office is open or not.  The drop box will be checked every day.   Even if the athlete is not going to participate in a fall sport, the physical should be turned in, so that it is on file.   This also prevents it from getting lost before a later season.

INSURANCE FEE  $5*

The insurance covers the difference between the school insurance maximum and the MHSAA minimum catastrophic insurance, so that athletes are covered for any potential injury.

This is supplemental insurance which pays, after your primary insurance has paid. If you have insurance, you must submit to them first.  Once you have determined what your primary insurance company will, you can submit any remaining costs to this supplemental policy. 

If you do not have insurance, this three-way insurance plan (School insurance, Supplemental insurance, and MHSAA catastrophic insurance) covers any athlete who is hurt during practice, during an athletic contest, or in the school bus transporting to and from our school's sanctioned sporting event.  Click HERE to download the Insurance Claim Form.

(*The insurance fee is required for all athletes.  It is to be paid when the physical is turned in, prior to the athlete trying-out or practiciing.   The fee is only paid ONCE per school year, regardless of how many seasons an athlete participates  Should an athlete pay the $5 and not make the team, the money will be refunded, or held for the next sport of the same year. )

2.  The cost for Pay to Play fees are as follows:

a.  Pay to Play for a High School Sport,  $75.

b.  Pay to Play for a Junior High Sport,  $25.

Pay to Play fees do not come close in covering the cost of our sports.  The purpose of the fee is to help the Board of Education continue to provide a full athletic program of offerings for all interested students.  The money reduces the amount that the Board of Education has to pay to fund the team, but is not close to covering the total cost.

The monies collected for Pay to Play help the Board of Education pay for:

a.  Coaching salaries

b.  Facility usage and maintenance

c.  Transportation

d.  Equipment and uniforms

e.  Officials

f.   Utilities

Paying a Pay to Play fee allows an athlete to have an opportunity to participate on a Gladwin athletic team.  With that opportunity, the athlete will be able to benefit from the instruction and practice time necessary to become a more skilled athlete.  They will benefit from the character-building process that develops when one is a part of an athletic team.  They will have the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable coaches and be mentored by them, as positive adult role-models.  They will receive compliments and correction aimed at making them be better athletes, students, and citizens.   All positive traits that can be obtained from being a part of an athletic team are learned daily during practice.

Research has shown that the number one predictor or success as an adult, is participation in extra-curricular activities.   This participation is not based on playing time, positiion, "starting", or statistics.  Those traits that contribute to a child's future success comes from the experiences of day to day practice, mentoring, relationships, work eithic, learning to follow directions, striving to be successful, conquering defeat, and working with others for a common goal.   We believe that nothing does all of this better than a strong athletic program. 

It is our goal, that no student be denied the opportunity to participate on an athletic team, because of they may lack the financial resources.  We have a limited number of athletic scholarships available for students who cannot pay the entire Pay to Play fees.  If your child cannot pay the Pay to Play fee, please contact the Athletic Office to make arrangements.   Getting financial help for a child to participate is based exclusively on need, and never on who the athlete is or how experienced or skilled they are.  

If you would like to assist an athlete who cannot afford the Pay to Play fees, please contact the Athletic Office to make a scholarship donation. 

Although we know that everyone could appreciate the help, we ask that parents do not abuse this option.    People and clubs have donated so that athletes who could not participate in any other way, can participate.   Though it is not a requirement, we generally, we ask if the athlete or parent would be willing to volunteer some time to assist the athletic department in some of the extra tasks that must be done.   Most are more than willing to help the department that makes it  possible for their child to participate. 

The Pay to Play fee does not guarantee that an athlete will consistently be called upon to participate ("play") in extracurricular contests.  Coaches want all athletes to be able to participate in games, but it is not always going to happen at the High School level of competition.  Failure to get into a contest, or limited playing time, does not prevent a student-athlete from receiving all of the potential benefits of their involvement in extra-curricular athletics.   It also does not say anything about the quality of the person or  the parents.

Younger athletes will see more playing time during contests.  Varsity athletes may see  more limited playing time.

3.  Shoes

Expensive shoes are not a necessity for any of our sports.  It is not necessary to pay for all of the "bells and whistles" extra,  just because your athlete wants a specific brand name or look.

a.  Make sure that the surface of the shoe is going to provide what your athlete needs.  Generally, this can be accomplished by purchasing a shoe designed for a specific sport, or type of sport.  A good indoor shoe could be used for either basketball or volleyball.  A skateboard shoe, however, would not work well for any sport.

b.  Make sure that the shoe fits well.  If they don't have the style that your athlete wants in his/her size, do not sacrifice fit for the style.  The shoes of athletes must fit well, for maximum performance, and for maximum injury prevention.

c.  Make sure that the shoe has ample support.  Most athletic participation and all skills begin from the ground or floor up.   Proper footwork, balance, and foundation are critical in all sports.  There is great stress on the feet, so make sure that they are taken care of, with good support.

d.  Our philosophy is that our athletic teams should have individuals who look alike, when they compete as part of a team.   Therefore, we ask that the shoes are part of that uniformity.   We will not ask that you purchase a particular brand name of a shoe.   One style may not be available in all sizes, and one style may not be comfortable to each participant.   Cost might be prohibitive, as well.   Rather, we will ask that you purchase a specific color for your athlete's shoes.  That will allow for differences in style and cut, cost, and preference, and still have your son/daughter dress as they are a part of the team.

Please use the following standard of colors for purchasing shoes for a sport, unless directed by the coach.   If there are any questions, contact the varsity coach, prior to purchasing shoes.  Parents will not want to buy shoes of one color, only to find out later that a different color is necessary for the team uniform.

Baseball                        Black

Football                         Black

Basketball                    White

Volleyball                      White

Softball                          Black

Wrestling                      Black

Soccer                           Black

Golf                                 Uniform colors may not be an option.

Cross Country and Track and Field have different needs.  Athletes in these sports, need to find the right fit, for the right events or distance.  Different colors may be necessary to meet the needs of the individual athletes.

4.  In a team sport, team members should look alike.  Wrist bands, head bands, ribbons,hats, etc. should not be worn, unless they are part of the team uniform, worn by each member.

Any player who has a tattoo, will need to have it covered at all times, while participating with his or her team.  It is recommended that athletes not get tattoos until after their athletic career is done.  This avoids the problems of trying to find suitable ways to cover them.

Facial hair is another issue that can keep teammates from looking like each other.  Therefore, athletes are asked to not have facial hair while they are in-season.