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Sports Participation and Release and Waiver Form

GO BLAZERS

St. Domitilla Athletic Handbook

Introduction

This handbook has been prepared to make information readily available to you and to help in making your athletic experience at St. Domitilla School more successful. Read it carefully, and also make it available to your student athletes. A thorough knowledge of our policies and procedures will aid in the understanding of the programs and make for a memorable experience.

A great amount of money is spent every year to purchase and maintain our facility and equipment. You, the parents, the athletes, and the fans help to finance our programs in various ways. Please do your part to help by taking pride in what we have, and in exercising good judgment in its use.

Your student athlete’s presence on an athletic team draws focus of public attention as a representative of St. Domitilla School. Please have your child assume this responsibility, along with your support and guidance, as the St. Domitilla athletes will be respected and admired as champion citizens as well as fine athletes.

After reading this handbook, both athlete and parent must sign and return the form at the back of this handbook. These signatures indicate that both the athlete and parent have read the handbook and agree to the policies and procedures described within. The parent’s signature also serve as permission for their child to participate on an athletic team.

Philosophy

Intramural and interscholastic competitive activities compliment and enhance a school’s physical education program, and are a natural extension of a well rounded physical education curriculum. The educational experiences range from social interaction, through skill enhancement, to the cognitive learning processes. Athletics also require the student/athlete to assume various responsibilities, as well as to develop varying degrees of self-discipline. Competitive athletics also provide for the development and / or maintenance of a high level of physical fitness. Athletics also provide a healthy outlet for youthful energy.

Mission

St. Domitilla School offers multi-sport activities to our students. These activities include volleyball, soccer, basketball, and cheerleading.

Our purpose is to begin at the instructional level (4^th/5^th grade) to teach, develop, and promote team play and sportsmanship while encouraging the competitive nature of the sport.

Our goals, for the participating students in St. Domitilla athletics, are to better prepare the athletes for the next level of play and foster the Catholic identity. We provide guidance for athletes to set and achieve team goals, along with providing a release as well as a balance with the athletes’ academic requirements. In addition, we strive to instill confidence in our athletes.

Athletic Programs

Volleyball – Girls (5^th – 8^th)

Competition Cheerleading (4^th – 8^th)

Spirit Squad Cheerleading (4^th-8^th)

Soccer – Coed (4^th- 8^th)

Basketball – Girls (5^th – 8^th)

-- Boys (5^th – 8^th)

Intramurals – Coed (1^st – 4^th)

2006-2007 Athletic Association Goals

Celebrate Catholic Identity

Individually

Leadership, sportsmanship, self image

Team

Athletic Sunday, team prayer

Community

Service Projects

Maintain standards for coaches/athletes/board members
Enhance Current Programs

Provide facilities/equipment to support programs offered
Maintain facilities, i.e. Hanley Hall, Fr. Frank’s Food Court
Continue Fundraising Opportunities
Provide Social events/activities

Exhibit Accessibility

Open Monthly Meetings
Presence at events/activities

Responsibilities of Board Member

Exemplify Catholic identity

through regular attendance at Mass
through appropriate Christian behavior at all times
by offering activities encourage athletes to strengthen their Catholic identity

Attend meetings with appropriate committee reports on a regular basis

(failure to attend 3 meetings may result in dismissal)

Support athletes through attendance at events of all levels of competition
Be a resource for all volunteers within the organization
Participate in fundraising efforts

Responsibilities of Athlete

Strengthen Catholic Identity

Attend ATHLETIC SUNDAY masses
Support any community service projects organized by the Athletic Association

Participate in practices/games

Notify coach if unable to attend/participate

Maintain a “C” average (minimum) & maintain appropriate behavior expectations

3 DETENTIONS WITHIN A 4-WEEK PERIOD WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSION

Arrive at games/practices in a timely fashion and in appropriate attire with all necessary equipment
If ill from school athlete may not participate in practice or game that day
Sportsmanship – Zero tolerance for un-sportsman like behavior

Any TECHNICAL FOUL will result in immediate ejection from event & one (1) game suspension (next scheduled game)

Responsibilities of Parent(s)

Support/reinforce CATHOLIC IDENTITY within the athlete by attending Athletic Sunday celebrations and supporting other activities that reinforce this goal.
Assure athlete is prepared to participate in practices/games, i.e. uniform, equipment
Maintain the condition of the uniforms throughout season-return clean in a timely manner according to the deadline established at the close of the season.
Provide/arrange transportation to/from practice/games
Support fundraising efforts of the Athletic Association
Foster & encourage SPORTSMANSHIP by respecting officials, coaches, opponents, & other fans
COACHES & OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED AT EVENTS…direct comments/questions to coordinator of the sport.

Responsibilities of Coach

Exemplify/support CATHOLIC IDENTITY by attending Athletic Sunday and supporting other activities that reinforce this goal
Conduct regularly scheduled practices
Maintain “Just Cause” documentation, play ALL ATHLETES unless “Just Cause” documentation supports otherwise- NOTIFY athlete & parent when participation is suspended due to “Just Cause”
Attend all games in appropriate attire i.e. provided coaches’ shirts, collared shirt & tie
Communicate with parents, at onset of season, expectations and needed information via mandatory parents meetings
Support the Athletic Association by attending/supporting fundraising efforts and cooperatively assist in establishing team goals & guidelines
Exemplify SPORTSMANSHIP – any coaches receiving a technical foul or displaying unbecoming behavior will be disciplined by the Rules & Discipline Committee

Policies

Participation: Programs are governed by an ALL Play policy. This policy is enforced if the student athlete fulfills the academic and athletic criteria listed within the handbook. “Just Cause” documentation supports deviation from this policy. “Just Cause” documentation reflects practice attendance, conduct at practices & games, disobedience of team/program rules or guidelines.

Student athletes will play the required minimum outlined below:

Soccer: JV – 4 minutes per half

V – 2 minutes per half

Volleyball: JV – 6 points per match

V – 3 points per match

Basketball: JV – 5 minutes per game

V – 2 minutes per game

Cheerleading: Competition Squad – All Competitions

Spirit Squad – All Games

Late Registration: A completed registration form for participation in any programs is due by the designated date established by the Athletic Association. Fees for participation must be current within 5 days of registration. All fees will be increased by $20.00 for non-compliance of this policy.

Athletic Director (non-applicable to newly enrolled students) must approve deviation of this policy.

Fundraising: All families are required to assist in the concession stand during the sport seasons. This service requirement applies to each student each sport.

Sportsmanship: A ZERO TOLERANCE policy is strictly enforced for athletes, coaches, and families involved in St. Domitilla Athletics. The Association, School, or Parish will not tolerate any unacceptable behavior.

8^th Grade Athletic Scholarship

It is a proud tradition for the St. Domitilla Athletic Association to award a female and male 8^th grade athlete with a scholarship. Special recognition and a $100.00 savings bond are presented to the recipients at the 8^th grade breakfast in May.

The selection process runs throughout the school year, with honorable mentions at Athletic Association meetings as people recognize any behavior outlined below. The Athletic Association & Administration of St. Domitilla make the final selection at the May meeting.

Criteria for selection of a recipient are based on the philosophy of the athletic program of St. Domitilla.

The athlete must display:

a strong Catholic identity
sportsmanship/team play
ability to maintain academic standards

Athletic Association Meetings

St. Domitilla Athletic Association conducts open board meetings on the 1^st Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in Fr. Frank’s Cafe between September and May (unless otherwise noted).

Athletic Sunday Mass

St. Domitilla Athletic Association & Athletes participate in Athletic Sunday on the 1^st Sunday of the month between September and May at the 9:30am Family Mass (unless otherwise noted).