Hempstead Track & Field

Parent/Athlete Letter
Welcome Parents! I am Mark Ressler, the Hempstead Men’s Head Track & Field Coach; I look forward to
coaching, teaching, and getting to know your sons. In addition, I look forward to getting to know the parents who
have raised those sons. My intention in sharing this letter is to give you basic but important information. Additional
questions you may have can be answered at the Parent Meeting on Monday March. 1st, 2021 at 6:30 pm via Zoom
meeting.

THE SPORT: Track and Field is a team sport which will require every athlete to put the needs of the team
first before the needs of the individual. The sport consists of individual and relay events that require each athlete to
dedicate himself to excellence, healthy habits, and self-improvement in all arenas of life to ensure the success of the
team.

INVOLVEMENT: Parents are urged to support the program, coaches, and the athletes in a positive manner.
Please contact the coaches with any questions or concerns. There are many ways parents can be involved with
Hempstead Track and Field. The program always needs help when hosting a meet and most jobs offer a view of our
athletes competing! Another opportunity for supporting the program might be hosting a Team Pasta Dinner on
nights before a home meet. Ideally, multiple families combine their efforts to supply a healthy meal to 50 - 80
teenage boys. If you are interested in hosting nearly 80 hungry, high school athletes, then please sign up at the end of
the parent meeting. We are also in need of sports drinks and healthy snacks for post-meet bus rides. Of course, any
other ideas in supporting our runners are welcomed. Lastly, we have a dire need for help with fundraising. In 14
years as head cross country coach at Hempstead, I have proven to spend funds each season as equally as possible
between varsity, JV, and 9th/10th graders. New Nike warm-ups (jackets and pants) are being provided this season
solely because of the $7,500 donation from the Hempstead Booster Club. We also have significant needs in
fundraising for roll-out runways for daily practice in addition to other implements to ensure our athletes have every
opportunity to succeed. Lastly, the Drake Relays will be a challenge each year to support our athletes in competing
in the unique and prestigious event. Any support in donating or raising funds will be greatly appreciated!

BUS TRIP MEAL: Your son will need food for each meet to which we travel. Typically, a track and field
athlete will bring a sub sandwich and healthy side dishes such as crackers, cheese, bananas, peanut butter, bagels,
baby food fruit jars, etc. He may want to eat a small meal while riding to the meet’s venue, healthy snacks in-
between races, and a larger meal on the trip home. So, plan meals according to your son’s appetite! It is also
important to rehydrate; so, pack water and a sports drink for the ride home.

Mark Ressler
English Educator
Head Track & Field
Head Cross Country Coach
563-543-3888 – cell
mressler@dbqschools.org

Sprint Coach: Gavin Kaiser

Jumps Coach: Justin Simmien
Throws Coach: Al Freiburger
You will be participating in one of the hardest working Track & Field programs in the state of Iowa. The team concept is very
important and every runner is EXTREMELY important! We need all athletes working hard to improve themselves and push
their teammates to improve. The team should be a very close-knit group of athletes. Family members, former runners and
interested individuals cheer for the entire team. A meal is shared the night before each home meet. Camaraderie is built at
practice, during team-building activities, during the team service project, at team pasta dinners, on bus trips, and during
competition.

Goals for our team are to assure that each athlete knows he is an important contributor to the
success the team enjoys. In the process, we become fit, gain friends, and have fun!

Whether you are a freshman or senior competing in Track & Field for the first time or a veteran varsity
athlete, the athlete’s attitude, hard work, dedication and contribution are extremely important to the
success of Hempstead Track & Field!

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING! Practice Times are:

1. March 1st through the rest of the season, practice will be from 2:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m (Monday – Friday).
2. Saturday morning practices are required at certain times in the season from 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
3. Attendance at practices is an absolute expectation for participation in meets. If a runner must miss a practice,
except for illness, they must be excused by the head coach prior to that practice. After the 2nd unexcused absence,
an athlete will only be eligible for one event at the next meet. After any subsequent absences, an athlete will be
held out of a meet for each unexcused absence. (Ex. 3 rd unexcused absence, miss the next meet. 4 th unexcused
absence, miss the next meet. You get the picture.)
4. Religious holidays are honored as an excused absence and in no way are held against an athlete.
5. Excused absences should not exceed two excused absences (including Saturdays and Spring Break).
6. Athletes who leave a meet before the team break down at the conclusion of the meet will be counted as an
unexcused absence.

Forms to be completed and on file in Activities Office by first day of practice:

1. Physical – every athlete must have an updated Physical form on file with Wanda in the Activities office. Wanda will
then give you a Practice Permit which you must submit to coaching staff in order to practice.

Academic Eligibility:
1. The athlete must be passing all classes with a 60% or better in order to travel with the team. If an athlete is not
passing, he should remain in school and focus on academics.
2. Grade-Checks will be conducted on March 31 st, April 14th, and April 28th. If an athlete is not in good standing with
any of his coursework on those dates, then he will be ineligible to compete in meets until his grades have
improved. “Good Standing” will be coach’s discretion with input from teachers and parent/guardians.
3. All students must contact teachers about homework before missing class due to leaving school early for a meet.

Training & Competitions:

4. Workouts will vary a great deal depending on time of year, condition of the runner, and the weather. Athletes will
only improve if they believe in & follow the program’s training.

5. The athlete must contact the head coach if he will be absent. The athlete should inform his/her parents of any
injuries and then contact both the head coach, assistant coach, and athletic trainer, Brian Regan. Note: there is a
difference between soreness/pain versus injury.

6. We understand Track & Field is taxing; we are here to challenge our athletes. Throughout the season, athletes will
experience pain, discomfort, and soreness which do not necessarily indicate injury. If your son is taking advantage
of, circumventing, or abusing the protocol for dealing with pain, discomfort, and soreness, then he will need to
meet with his coaches, athletic trainer, and parents to address the issue.

7. If an athlete cannot consistently practice, he will not compete in meets.

 8. The coaching staff is the only party that determines the meet line-up. Note: we often seek input from the athletes;
however, the coaching staff is the only party that establishes which athletes will compete in events. Furthermore,
the coaching staff will not entertain meetings to discuss past or future meet line-ups.

Equipment:
1. The equipment to outfit the team is – warm-ups, running uniforms, field event implements. Athletes should take
good care of all equipment. They should dress and wear their uniforms/warm-ups properly. Athletes are
responsible for any lost and damaged items and will be charged accordingly. Track and Field uniforms and warm-
ups are not to be worn at any times other than at practices or at meets. Uniforms need to be washed after each
race; DO NOT dry them in the dryer… air dry them please! Follow washing instructions that were provided at the
assigning of uniforms.

2. No sweats, T-shirts, etc, with the name of another high school or inappropriate logo may be worn at practices or
meets. Only the official HHS Track and Field Team shirts or gear along with team issued gear should be worn at
meets!

Professional Team Photo:

On picture day, money is necessary for prompt orders to be processed. Feel free to email photos to coaches from
meets for display on the website, posters, and on social media.

Letter Requirements:
1. All athletes will letter at the level they compete (Freshman letter, Sophomore numeral, JV letter or Varsity letter).
To earn a letter, athletes must attend practice on a regular basis, display good sportsmanship, and
practice/compete at the best of their ability. Seniors failing to make the Varsity squad will receive a Varsity letter if
they have been a member of the team for three years in good standing.
2. A runner may lose his/her letter, be dropped from the squad, or be withheld from competition in meets for
infractions that include, but are not limited to the following:
 Excessive absence or unexcused absences, missing a scheduled meet, or cutting a practice short
 Refusal to participate at the level assigned in a meet
 Refusal to compete in an assigned race
 Inappropriate/disrespectful behavior at practice, meets, or on the bus
 Failing to do proper warm ups and cool downs according to coach’s requirements or other practice violations
 Breaking rules and/or conditions set forth in the Hempstead Student Handbook
 Harassing teammates
 Discipline by school authorities
 Vandalizing personal or public property
 Failure to participate in clean-ups of our team camp
3. Coaches’ discretion.
Part-time work:
Be sure to schedule work after 6:00 p.m. and avoid Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Work cannot take the place of
a practice or a meet.
Transportation:
All participating members are expected to ride the team bus to and from meets. Only in extreme cases of need, with
written notice in advance, will other arrangements be made. One must contact the Hempstead Athletic Director in advance
and provide a written note to the Head Coach. Room on the busses is limited. Depending on seat availability, injured athletes
may not be able to ride the bus to a meet. If bus accommodations cannot be made, the runner is welcome to come to the
meet on their own.