Please read the information below carefully and in its entirety. Coaches are responsible for knowing what they are agreeing to.
SECTION 1 of 3: A coach's priorities and obligations
As a Minnesota High School Bowling (MHSB) coach, it is imperative that you understand and agree that winning cannot, and must not, be any High School Bowling coach's top priority. Some duties and responsibilities that must be priorotized ahead of winning include:
a. Providing proper supervision to all players, striving to keep all bowlers safe from physical and mental harm (including bullying, harrassment, and unreasonable exclusion)
b. Providing proper bowling instruction, to the best of your capability, to all bowlers in your program
c. Enforcing team, league, and bowling center rules and regulations to the best of your ability
d. Consistently striving for player improvement on and off of the bowling lanes
e. Creating the best experience possible so that bowlers will enjoy bowling, want to continue bowling, and will look back on their High School Bowling experience as a positive and fulfilling time in their life.
All coaches that will be working with bowlers during practices agree to complete SafeSport training. Coaches must be members of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) in order to be eligible for SafeSport training, which is free to any and all USBC members. Coaches that have questions about how to complete SafeSport training should direct their questions to Josh Hodney at josh@mhsb.org.
SECTION 2 of 2: ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY
All High School Bowling coaches should be mindful of the fact that participation in Minnesota High School Bowling events and activities include possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Although particular rules and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of you contracting an infectious disease, including COVID-19, remains.
By participating in a Minnesota High School Bowling event or activity, you freely and fully assume the risk of the possibility of contracting an infectious disease, including COVID-19, and understand this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form is intended to cover any and all claims, demands, or causes of action which are in any way connected with your contraction of any infectious disease, including COVID-19, at any Minnesota High School Bowling bowling event or activity arising from negligence on the part of BPAM’s Released Persons and Entities. This release does not apply to claims arising from reckless or intentional conduct.
By signing this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form, you expressly acknowledge that you have had sufficient time to read this entire form and, should you choose to do so, consult with legal counsel prior to signing. Also, you understand that your participation in the league might not be made available to you if you were to choose not to sign this Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS DOCUMENT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS. BY SIGNING BELOW, I DO HEREBY CONSENT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY FORM, AND I SIGN OF MY OWN FREE WILL.
SECTION 3 of 3: ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LEAGUE'S CODE OF CONDUCT & AGREEMENT TO ABIDE BY ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LEAGUE'S CODE OF CONDUCT
The board of directors of the Bowling Proprietors Association of Minnesota (BPAM) and the commissioners of Minnesota High School Bowling (MHSB) believe that all students and their guardians, as well as coaches, should consider participation in MHSB as both a privilege and a responsibility.
The privilege is the opportunity to take part in the league provided by the BPAM and its participating bowling centers. This privilege may be revoked when a student, coach, guardian, or spectator fails or refuses to comply with league rules or when it is clear, according to common sense, that an individual is causing unnecessary disruption or stress to coaches, teammates, opponents, bowling center employees, and others.
The responsibility involves maintaining high standards of citizenship and sportsmanship at all times. Respect for and compliance with the league's rules and code of conduct is expected and required of every student who participates; every coach that coaches; and every spectator.
All individuals involved with MHSB, including, but not limited to, athletes, guardians and coaches, must understand that if the commissioners of MHSB determine that any person(s) has abused their privilege or not acted responsibly, that person(s) can be suspended or dismissed from any and all MHSB events, including practices and competitions. Failure by a guardian to abide by a suspension or dismissal will likely result in the guardian's bowler being suspended or dismissed from MHSB practices and/or competitions.
Grievance Procedure: The grievance process is intended to be a process whereby concerns of alleged unfair treatment of any individual can be addressed in a timely manner. The list below of legitimate and non-legitimate grievances is intended to be a guideline, not an all inclusive list.
Legitimate grievances:
● Failure to provide due process in disciplinary action
● Mistreatment of any individual
● Any violation of an adopted code: ethics, conduct, and expectations
Non-legitimate grievances:
● Athlete not given enough playing time
● Athlete not playing the right position
● Strategies used by the coach
● Win/Loss record of the team or coach
Legitimate grievances should be addressed first with the coach at a scheduled time (not before, during, after practice or contests). If this meeting does not bring about a satisfactory resolution, the league's executive director should be contacted (preferably by email).
Social Media Policy:
Athletes, guardians, and coaches are responsible for good behavior on the Internet just as they are in a school building or in a bowling center. If an individual's use of the Internet creates a disruption to a school, bowling team, or bowling center, the individual will be held responsible and will face consequences as determined by the commissioners of MHSB, including but not limited to:
● Suspension from the team or team events
● Dismissal from the team or team events