Dear players and parents,

            Welcome to the 2008 Baseball Season!  Please let me introduce your coaching staff for this year.  My name is Landon Jacobs and this will be my second year as the varsity coach here at Branham.  I will be assisted by Kim Davison and Steve Janssen.  The  JV coaches this year are Branham Alumni who are entering their second seasons on the coaching staff.  Their names are Steve Lowrey and Josh Kepler.  Rod Davison will return as the JV assistant coach.

            The purpose of this guide is to communicate to you the basic elements and expectations of Branham Baseball.  As a staff we will do everything possible to ensure your student/athlete’s success in the classroom and on and off the baseball field.

ACADEMICS:

          Our student/athletes are expected to be just that; students first and athletes second.  Each student/athlete is expected to dedicate themselves to doing well in the classroom by putting in MORE effort than the normal student in order to offset the time spent on the baseball field.  Each player should take responsibility for his own work and grades and create a dedicated schedule to manage the time commitments of school and baseball.  A student/athlete may ask for time off from practice to complete work, but should not have to if he has managed his time effectively.

            Any baseball player with less than a 2.8 grade point average at any grading period from the end of the first semester on will be assigned tutorial hours according to the Branham Athletic Handbook (see a copy at the Branham website www.branham.cuhsd.org, link Athletics, link Athletic Handbook).

            Any player with less than a 2.0 at any grading period from the end of the first semester on will be academically ineligible to play baseball FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON.  Academic probation will NOT be offered.

BASEBALL SPIRIT PACK:

            Each student athlete trying out for baseball will be responsible for raising $250.  These funds will cover the athlete’s spirit pack and participation fee.  The Spirit Pack will consist of two navy Branham Baseball practice shirts, one navy dry-fit t-shirt, one fitted Branham hat, one pair of mesh Branham Baseball shorts, and a Branham Baseball Fleece (student/athletes making Varsity for the first year will receive their Columbia Jersey with their name on the back instead.  Varsity players will also receive a Varsity Program membership to the Hillsdale 24 Hour Fitness for use during the season. Click here to download the Fundraising Handout and the Player Fundraising Info documents.

TRYOUTS:

            The first day of baseball practice is Monday January 7, 2007.  Practice will be held Monday-Friday at 2:30pm daily until the season starts February 16.

            Depending on the number of players, there will be two rounds of cuts.  The first round will occur Friday, January 18 and will be based on players’ performance up until that point.  The second round will be held once all the student/athletes from winter sports come out.  Players must make both rounds of cuts to be on the travel team.  Students try out for the baseball program; the coaching staff decides where to place them within the program.

            Any student is welcome to tryout for the team.  If a student tries out and does not make the team they are welcome to tryout again the following year.  Any student that makes the team and quits will not be allowed to tryout in subsequent years.

FIRST DAY EXPECTATIONS (AND EVERYDAY THEREAFTER):

            Players will dress in the following practice uniform:

·        Grey baseball pants

·        Navy belt

·        Branham Baseball Hat

·        Navy Branham Baseball Tshirt

·        Navy baseball socks (long)

·        Be in shape!

·        Bring running shoes (to run on pavement and the track)

PHYSICAL CARDS:

            Each student athlete must have a completed physical card BEFORE coming out for baseball.  If the athlete had a physical done for another sport in the 07/08 year they are covered.  Physical cards are located in the main office.  Student athletes must take these cards with them to the physical and have their doctor fill it out.

COMMUNICATION:

            I will post information often on Schoolloop, so please make sure that you are registered for an account, and get yourself added to the Branham Baseball group.  You may follow the directions below to register, but you need to have someone already in the Baseball group add you.  I can do this, as can any returning player.

1.      From online, go to www.branham.schoolloop.com

2.      Click on the blue register now! button

3.      Click Parent Registration

4.      Fill in all the fields with your information as well as your student’s (you can find their ID number on their school ID, schedule, grade report, or on Aeries)

5.      Click Register at the bottom of the page

I will also send information out through email.

Again, welcome to the 2007 Branham Baseball season.  I look forward to working with you and your student/athlete!

 

Landon Jacobs

Branham High School

World History/Geography

Varsity Baseball Coach

ljacobs@cuhsd.org