Transportation
Q - I want to pick up my son or daughter from a game. How can I arrange this?
A - We feel that riding with the team is an important part of being on the team, and so the expectation is that athletes ride on the bus unless there are extenuating circumstances. An email to the Athletic Director ahead of time that briefly explains why this request should be honored is needed. I will ok or deny it and include the coach on a reply so they have written authorization that someone is not riding the bus.
Q - When must a request to transport a student home happen?
A - This should ideally happen a day or so before the event. Sending it weeks early causes confusion about which event the athlete was being picked up for, and sending it too late could run into times when the Athletic Director has other issues and can’t respond to an email. Once buses have left, requests cannot be honored.
Q - Why is this so difficult?
A - Again, the thought is that being part of a team means riding together. We do allow deviations from that rule, but the most important thing is that coaches keep their teams safe. It isn’t fair to a coach to try to do head counts on the bus and make assumptions that they know where everyone is. They need to have something in writing ahead of time or expect everyone to be on the bus.
Q - Can a brother/sister/boyfriend/aunt/friend transport an athlete?
A - Probably not. Due to legal reasons only a parent/guardian may transport their own son or daughter. If someone is an “approved driver” they may then transport others, but in that case a note must come both from the driver (stating who they are transporting) and a parent/guardian of the athlete (stating that it is ok for whomever to transport them).
Q - How do I become an “approved driver”?
A - State law has recently changed and there is an additional requirement starting this year. The Hopkinton SAU must have a copy of a valid Driver’s License, proof of a certain level of insurance (check with the SAU), and new this year the driver must have undergone a background check through the State of New Hampshire.
Q - Can a student transport themselves to an away or neutral site game?
A - No. Students must ride the bus or, if approved ahead of time, ride with their parent/guardian.
Q - I want to pick up my son or daughter from a game. How can I arrange this?
A - We feel that riding with the team is an important part of being on the team, and so the expectation is that athletes ride on the bus unless there are extenuating circumstances. An email to the Athletic Director ahead of time that briefly explains why this request should be honored is needed. I will ok or deny it and include the coach on a reply so they have written authorization that someone is not riding the bus.
Q - When must a request to transport a student home happen?
A - This should ideally happen a day or so before the event. Sending it weeks early causes confusion about which event the athlete was being picked up for, and sending it too late could run into times when the Athletic Director has other issues and can’t respond to an email. Once buses have left, requests cannot be honored.
Q - Why is this so difficult?
A - Again, the thought is that being part of a team means riding together. We do allow deviations from that rule, but the most important thing is that coaches keep their teams safe. It isn’t fair to a coach to try to do head counts on the bus and make assumptions that they know where everyone is. They need to have something in writing ahead of time or expect everyone to be on the bus.
Q - Can a brother/sister/boyfriend/aunt/friend transport an athlete?
A - Probably not. Due to legal reasons only a parent/guardian may transport their own son or daughter. If someone is an “approved driver” they may then transport others, but in that case a note must come both from the driver (stating who they are transporting) and a parent/guardian of the athlete (stating that it is ok for whomever to transport them).
Q - How do I become an “approved driver”?
A - State law has recently changed and there is an additional requirement starting this year. The Hopkinton SAU must have a copy of a valid Driver’s License, proof of a certain level of insurance (check with the SAU), and new this year the driver must have undergone a background check through the State of New Hampshire.
Q - Can a student transport themselves to an away or neutral site game?
A - No. Students must ride the bus or, if approved ahead of time, ride with their parent/guardian.