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The Nye County School District Parent-Athlete Handbook is available. It's important reading for adult and student alike.

The handbook is for all of the county's schools -- in Pahrump, Beatty, Tonopah, Round Mountain and Gabbs.

The table of contents includes: insurance requirements, football only warning, residency requirements, off-season sport conditioning permit, parental approval form, NCSD violation of training rules/mandatory penalties, and NIAA amateur standing.

First, a note vital to all student-athletes: physical examinations by a physician are required each year for all prospects. Forms must be completed before a student-athlete is eligible to participate in preseason workouts. Contact respective schools for further information. Each student-athlete is also required to have insurance.

Now, some basic information provided in the handbook ... and some comments.

Parents and fans should be exemplary role models in every manner possible. Help promote a positive competitive attitude in all areas of school athletics,

This is one of the more important paragraphs in the handbook. Too often, adults let emotions get in the way of good sense and conduct, spoiling the game and the reason for competing. Games are entertainment; fans don't have a license to misbehave -- nor do athletes.

Fans may not agree with all of the decisions by a coach or an official, but it is important on how one's opinions are expressed.

There is a chain of command. Talk to the coach at a time convenient to him or her -- not immediately after the game. If the problem is not resolved, then talk to the athletics director. Next in the chain is the principal.

Be aware that football is a contact sport, and that players can be injured. There are standards of conduct by players; they are designed to minimize the chance of injuries, inflicted on an opponent -- or themselves.

To be eligible to participate in a Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association-sanctioned sport, a student must be in the school located in the attendance zone or boundary of the athlete's parent or legal guardian physical residence.

The burden of proof of residency rests with the parents/guardians by providing documents to the school.

To be eligible to compete, a student must be in the ninth, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades in a NCSD school; the student cannot be 19 on Sept. 1 of the year in which he or she competes.

The student-athlete must be in good standing and not under current suspension or expulsion from any school in the NCSD or any other school district.

Any absence, excluding pre-arranged or approved by a doctor's excuse, during a school day will make an athlete ineligible to participate in that day's practice or contest.

Participants in any interscholastic sport must have at least 10 days practice under the direct supervision of a coach, except in golf.

There is a whole page dedicated to the NCSD's policy concerning violation of trainingc rules and the mandatory penalties. The bottom-line message: Don't mess with alcohol, drugs and tobacco products.

Get a copy of the handbook. Read it. Understand it. Let the 2007-2008 school year be the best ever.