1.  Arbiter Sports Registration

All athletes must have an updated physical on file for 395 days along with being registered prior to starting their sport season.

2. Arbiter Sports CLS Website
3. GoFan-  GoFan is the ticketing platform used to purchase tickets.  Family and season passes are available for the following sports we charge admission to:  Football(Fridays), Volleyball, Basketball, and Wrestling.  
4. Hudl:  We will live stream varsity only events at the stadium, contest gym, and varsity soccer.  This is a free service.  NFHS will be used only for IHSA post season and there is a cost to that if you would like to live stream post season events.
5. Perry Weather:  The widget attached will give weather information in the event there is a lightening or wet bulb temperature delay.  There will also be a horn that sounds that is located on top of our press box in the event delays are enacted.

There is no longer a $100 athletic fee to participate in sports from the District.  There may be fees associated with each individual team and any questions regarding those fees should be directed to the program’s head coach.

Academic eligibility is an important part of being a student-athlete at Crystal Lake South. Students must be passing 5 classes, including PE if NOT exempt, to remain eligible for athletics each week and must  pass 5 classes at semester to participate in the following semester, in accordance with IHSA By-Law.

Weekly Eligibility

• Eligibility reports will be run every Thursday. The first trial report will be run September 3rd.
• Coaches will communicate with students who have a C- or lower on the Thursday report.
• If a student believes there is a discrepancy, they must contact the teacher directly.
• If the grade is changed to a passing grade, the teacher must notify the Athletic Office by 3:00 p.m. Friday or update their gradebook by 3:00pm Friday.
• A final eligibility report will be run at 3:00 p.m. Friday, and that report will determine final eligibility.
• There are NO extensions or exceptions to the Friday 3:00 p.m. deadline.

Semester Eligibility

• Students must pass 5 classes, including PE, Band, and Choir, during the semester to remain eligible for athletics the following semester.
• For example, if a student passes only 4 classes during the first semester, they would be ineligible to compete during the second semester.
• Likewise, if a student passes only 4 classes during the second semester, they would be ineligible for Fall 2026 athletics.  Students can take summer school classes to be eligible for the fall. Please reach out to student services for more information.

Students are responsible for monitoring their grades, communicating with their teachers, and taking action before the Friday deadline. Academic success is a shared responsibility, but ultimately the student is responsible for maintaining their eligibility.

We want our athletes to take advanced weights when signing up for PE classes if it fits your schedule.  We would love to have all our athletes in that class, and we do our best to put athletes in like sports together so they can get their workouts done during the school day. This also would give them an additional class towards academic eligibility.

Being present at school and traveling with your team are important responsibilities of being a student-athlete.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Students must attend at least half of the school day to participate in athletic events after school.

• Half of the school day is defined as 5 class periods.
• Students who are absent for fewer than 5 class periods may participate in that day's athletic event.
• Any special circumstances must be communicated to the  coach ahead of time.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences must be communicated to the coach ahead of time.

• School emergencies and family emergencies are considered excused.
• All other absences are subject to coach discretion.
• Students should communicate with their coach as early as possible when they know they will miss school or an athletic event.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

The first unexcused absence from practice may result in the student not being allowed to compete in the next contest. The second unexcused absence from practice may result in the student being dropped from the team for the remainder of the season. If an athlete has an unexcused absence from an athletic contest, he or she may be dropped immediately from the team. In the event of such action, the athlete shall not be permitted to participate in any other team sport during that season, with the exception of overlapping seasons. In the event that a new sports season begins prior to the conclusion of the current sports season from which the athlete was dropped, she/he will be permitted to begin the new sport. 

TEAM TRAVEL

The expectation is that student-athletes travel to and from athletic events with their team.

• Students are expected to ride team transportation to and from competitions when transportation is provided.
• Students may be picked up directly from an athletic event rather than returning with the team. The District Travel Release form must be completed ahead of time and students can only leave with their parent(s).
• A completed and signed Travel Release Form is required before a student may be released from team transportation.
• Students may not leave with another student or adult.

KEY CONCEPTS

• Be present.
• Communicate ahead of time.
• Travel with your team.
• Follow the release procedure.

When in doubt, communicate with your coach or the Athletic Department before the event or absence.

• The senior awards banquet is open to all seniors who complete their senior sport season. All seniors who attend will get an award and there will be special awards for some athletes as well. The date will be in May.
• Senior Banners: Given to seniors who complete their sport their senior year.  If they quit, they do not get a banner.

Productive Communication is the Goal.

A Partnership Between Parents, Student-Athletes & Coaches

At Crystal Lake South, we believe that open and productive communication is an important part of a successful athletic experience. Questions and concerns will naturally arise throughout a season, and we encourage parents to communicate with our coaches when they do.

Our goal is to make sure concerns are addressed in a way that is respectful, timely, and focused on finding solutions. The following guidelines are designed to help ensure that communication is productive and that the appropriate people are involved in each step of the process.

The 24-Hour Rule

We ask parents and student-athletes to allow 24 hours before initiating communication regarding a concern that occurred during or immediately following a competition, practice, or other emotionally charged situation.

This time allows everyone an opportunity to process the situation and approach the conversation with a clear mind and a focus on finding a solution.

Communication Process

Step 1 — Student-Athlete & Coach

Athletes should talk to their coach first.

Whenever appropriate, we believe student-athletes should learn to advocate for themselves and communicate directly with their coach. This is an important part of developing confidence, responsibility, and leadership and part of our above the line behaviors.

Step 2 — Parent, Student-Athlete & Coaching Staff

If the concern remains, contact the level coach to arrange a meeting.

The next step is a meeting that includes:

• Parent/Guardian
• Student-Athlete
• Head Coach
• Appropriate Level Coach

The goal of this meeting is to listen, better understand the concern, and work together toward a shared understanding.

Step 3 — Athletic Department

If additional support is needed, the Athletic Director may become involved.

The final step in the process is a meeting that includes:

• Parent/Guardian
• Student-Athlete
• Head Coach
• Appropriate Level Coach
• Athletic Director

This allows the Athletic Department to help facilitate the conversation and work toward a shared understanding.

Use ParentSquare

Student-athletes and coaches should not communicate through personal cell phone numbers or personal text messaging.

Crystal Lake South Athletics will use ParentSquare as the primary communication platform for appropriate coach-to-family communication.  Please do not use parent square to communicate concerns with coaches during events for any reason other than an emergency.  Playing time is not considered an emergency in this case.

Response Time

In most cases, parents and student-athletes can expect a response from a coach within 24–48 hours during the week, and on Monday if communicated on the weekend.

Please understand that coaches may be teaching, coaching, traveling, or otherwise unavailable during portions of the school day, weekends or athletic season. Allowing appropriate time for a thoughtful response helps create more productive communication.  

Our Shared Goal

We recognize that parents, student-athletes, and coaches all want the same thing: a positive and meaningful experience for our student-athletes.

When concerns arise, we ask everyone to approach conversations with respect, assume positive intent, listen to understand, focus on the intended goals of the meeting and focus on solutions rather than blame.

By following this communication process, we can work together to support our student-athletes while helping them develop the skills of communication, accountability, responsibility, and leadership

Supporting the Athlete and the Overall Sport Environment

Parents play an important role in creating a positive athletic experience. The way we respond to success, failure, adversity, officials, coaches, and our own children can have a lasting impact on the development of our student-athletes.

Our goal is to create an environment where athletes can compete, make mistakes, experience adversity, learn from failure, and develop the confidence and resilience necessary to succeed both in athletics and in life.

Focus on What You Can Control

Encourage your athlete to focus on the things they can control:

• Attitude
• Effort
• Preparation
• Response to adversity
• Communication
• Commitment to the team
• How they respond to coaching and feedback

We cannot always control the outcome, playing time, officiating, an opponent, or what happens during a competition. We can always control how we respond.

Allow Your Athlete to Experience Adversity

One of the hardest things for a parent is watching their child struggle.

Our first instinct is often to solve the problem, remove the struggle, or take away the pain. While this comes from a good place, constantly removing challenges can prevent athletes from developing the skills they need to handle adversity on their own.

Instead of immediately trying to fix the problem, resist the urge to remove the struggle and embrace the opportunity for growth.

Consider encouraging your athlete with messages such as:

“This is going to make you better.”

“This is an opportunity to grow.”

“You don't have to have it all figured out right now.”

“This is part of the process of getting better.”

The goal is not to eliminate adversity from the athletic experience. The goal is to help our athletes learn how to navigate adversity successfully.

Communication with Coaches

Email and communication with coaches should be used thoughtfully and primarily for informational purposes.

Please avoid statements such as:

• “I usually don't do this, but…”
• “I'm not one of those parents that does this, but…”

If you have a concern that needs to be addressed, we encourage you to follow the communication process outlined by the Athletic Department.

A Few Important Things to Remember

• Information and concerns shared with the Athletic Department or coaching staff will be communicated to your son or daughter when appropriate.
• If your concern involves your student-athlete, they will be included in the conversation.
• Concerns are best addressed through a phone conversation or scheduled meeting with the coach and student-athlete.
• Please do not attempt to address concerns with coaches before, during, or immediately after practices or games unless a meeting has been arranged in advance.

Our goal is to have conversations that are calm, respectful, productive, and focused on the best interests of the student-athlete.

Creating a Positive Game Environment

Be a Supporter — Not a Coach

One of the most important things a parent can do during a competition is let the coaches coach and let the athletes play.

Please avoid:

• Coaching your athlete from the stands.
• Giving instructions that conflict with the coach.
• Criticizing or yelling at officials.
• Criticizing opposing players or teams.
• Allowing frustration with the outcome to negatively impact the experience of your athlete or others.

Instead, focus your energy on being a positive supporter.

Cheer for your athlete.
Encourage the team.
Respect the officials.
Let the coaches coach.
Let the athletes compete.

Respect for Officials

Officials are an important part of the athletic experience. They will make mistakes, just as athletes and coaches will.

Our athletes are watching how adults respond when things do not go their way.

If frustration begins to affect your experience at a competition, consider:

• Taking a break from the stands.
• Moving to a different area away from the action.
• Taking a moment to reset before returning to the competition.

Important Reminder Regarding Game Ejections

Parents and spectators are expected to follow all IHSA and school expectations regarding sportsmanship and behavior.

If a parent or spectator is removed from a contest by an official, the consequences can extend beyond that contest. A removal will result in a suspension from the next contest or additional consequences, including a longer or indefinite suspension, consistent with applicable IHSA and school policies.

Remember

Your athlete will remember more about how you responded than what the final score was.

The most supportive sport parent is not the parent who eliminates every obstacle. It is the parent who helps their athlete learn to handle challenges, respond to adversity, accept coaching, take responsibility, and continue growing.