PHILOSOPHY
OBJECTIVES
TEAMS
ELIGIBILTY
SPORTS PHYSICALS
PARTICIPATION/ABSENCES
UNIFORMS
TRANSPORTATION
CONCESSIONS
GUIDELINES FOR ATHLETES, PARENTS, & COACHES
CONFLICT RESOLUTION

 St. PaulLutheranSchool

Athletics Handbook

PHILOSOPHY

The athletic program, in keeping with the philosophy and objectives of St. Paul Lutheran School, is Christ-centered and student-oriented. The goal of all extra-curricular activities is to be in ministry to the students of St. Paul Lutheran School.

Above all, St. Paul’s Athletic Program exists to teach Christian sportsmanship. We encourage all children to celebrate their God-given talents, respect their opponents, and respond humbly to a game’s outcome, win or lose. We recognize our interscholastic sports program is an extra-curricular part of our instructional program, and expect all participants to be in good standing academically.

We encourage coaches, parents, and fans to model the attributes of our Lord and Savior in word and action. We believe that as we work together, our athletic program can help each child gain the proper skills and Christian attitude necessary to compete, and to be successful later in life.

OBJECTIVES

Athletics exist at St. Paul Lutheran School for the following reasons:

• To teach athletes the skills, knowledge, and appreciation of sports which will enrich their lives in later years.
• To teach and exemplify good sportsmanship among athletes, coaches, parents, and fans.
• To build self-confidence.
• To encourage athletes to strive for excellence.

TEAMS

Fall:

7/8 Girls Volleyball
5/6 Girls Volleyball
7/8 Football (through Lutheran West “Shorthorn” Program)

Winter:

7/8 Girls Basketball
5/6 Girls Basketball
7/8 Boys Basketball
5/6 Boys Basketball
Cheerleading
Wrestling (through Lutheran West Program)

Spring:

7/8 Coed Softball
5-8 Boys Track
5-8 Girls Track
Golf

There are two levels of interscholastic competition at St. Paul. Fifth and sixth grade athletics teach skills and provide opportunities for all to participate. Winning, while always a goal, is not emphasized.

Seventh and eighth grade competition is designed to be more competitive, with the emphasis on winning increasing.

Not all team members will necessarily play in each game, although efforts will be made to accomplish this. JV teams are formed when the number of interested participants in a sport exceeds a workable amount for one team. As need arises, students at the fifth and sixth grade level may be asked to participate at the seventh and eighth grade level. This is done only through agreement by parents, coaches, and the Athletic Director. An athlete is not allowed to participate at both the fifth/sixth and seventh/eighth grade level for a certain sport.

ELIGIBILTY

Participation in an extra-curricular activity such as athletics at St. Paul Lutheran School is a privilege, not a right. To be considered eligible for participation a student must first maintain an acceptable level of academic achievement and Christian conduct. Parents are ultimately responsible for determining the level of achievement they find to be acceptable for their child, and they have the option

of removing their child from an activity at any time. In addition, the school has established the following guidelines to determine each individual student-athlete’s eligibility:

An “F” grade for any grading period (midterm/quarter report card) will make a student ineligible for team participation for a probationary period of one week. At the end of the one week probationary period a determination will be made whether the student’s grade has improved to a passing level.

SPORTS PHYSICALS

All students participating in the school’s interscholastic sports program are required by law to have a physician’s approval. Physical forms are available at registration or in the

school office. The completed form must be turned in to the school office before an athlete will be allowed to play in a game. Physicals are good for one year from the date they are performed.

PARTICIPATION/ABSENCES

Athletes absent from practices or games should be excused in writing or by phone to the coach. Regardless of reason, an athlete who misses any practice during the week may be ineligible to play the next game at the coach’s discretion. If a student is absent from school, he/she is not allowed to participate in a game on that day. Unless cleared by a doctor, this also includes students who arrive after noon or leave before the end of the school day due to sickness. In addition to missing games, athletes with multiple unexcused absences from team events are subject to removal from teams.

Athletes who become discipline problems for the coach during a practice and/or game may be ineligible for the next game or event. The coach must inform the athlete of his/her ineligibility at least one day in advance of that contest.

UNIFORMS

Many teams wear uniforms that are the property of St. Paul Lutheran School. Uniforms will be handed out prior to the first game. While in possession of the uniform athletes and parents are responsible for its proper care. If a uniform is lost or damaged, parents will be assessed the full price of the article.

A timely return of the uniform is expected when the season is finished. The clean uniform should be returned no later than one week after the team’s final contest.

For some sports, team members may purchase team T-shirts which they will keep at the end of the season.

TRANSPORTATION

The athletic director and coach will help arrange transportation to events that are scheduled immediately following the school day. Each child that is transported will wear a seat belt.

It is the responsibility of parents to transport their children to games scheduled at night or on weekends. Parents are expected to see that athletes arrive at destinations on time and have transportation home after events are completed.

CONCESSIONS

At home volleyball and basketball games it is the responsibility of parents to operate the concession stand. The athletic director will create a schedule prior to the first game of the season. Each family with a child participating in a sport that season will be assigned at least one evening to work at the stand.

GUIDELINES FOR ATHLETES, PARENTS, AND COACHES

Athletes

Athletes will represent their school and their Lord in a Christ-like manner.

Athletes will respect their coaches as figures of authority.

Athletes will make an extra effort in the classroom. Time spent at practices or games will take away from homework time. Therefore the student-athlete must budget time appropriately.

Athletes will treat opposing players and coaches with respect.

Athletes will show respect for buildings and property when visiting other schools.

Athletes will not question the decision of referees, but accept those decisions gracefully.

If the grade has improved, eligibility will be restored. If it has not improved, the student will remain ineligible until the next grading period (midterm/quarter report card).

A student whose conduct in class and school falls below Christian expectations of the classroom teacher(s) may be declared ineligible for team participation. A student who receives multiple detainments or detentions in the classroom is not exhibiting an understanding of the responsibility facing the Christian student-athlete.

This will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

A student who is suspended from school for behavioral reasons is suspended from athletic participation indefinitely. Return to any sports team will only be possible by recommendation from the principal.

Students that turn 15 years of age prior to August 1st of a given year are not eligible for seventh and eighth grade athletics, but are eligible to participate in high school athletics. Those with a disability may qualify for an exception to this regulation.

All athletes must maintain “amateur status” under OHSAA bylaws in order to maintain eligibility.

Parents/Spectators

Spectators are expected to show Christian sportsmanship during games and contests. Parents and fans that display unsportsmanlike conduct will be asked to change their behavior or not to attend events.

Spectators should be kind and polite to opposing teams, coaches, and fans.

St. Paul fans should follow all building rules when attending events, whether home or away.

Younger children attending contests should be monitored at all times. Children not participating in the contest should not be “dropped off” without an adult present to monitor them.

Coaches

Coaches will represent their school and their Lord in a Christ-like manner.

Coaches will make prayer an important part of the team experience.

Coaches will discipline athletes who are not demonstrating Christian behavior by removing them from competition.

When questioning referees’ decisions, coaches should do so in a God-pleasing manner.

Coaches are to instruct their players in a kind and loving manner, never berating the children in their care.

Coaches will remain at game and practice sites until all athletes are under proper supervision.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

In keeping with our Lord’s teaching in Matthew 18, disagreements and concerns between athletes, parents, and coaches should be handled in the following manner:

Meet directly with the parties concerned to discuss the problem and a resolution. *

If a resolution cannot be reached, arrange a meeting with the coach, athletic director, and all concerned parties.

If a resolution has still not been reached, meet with the principal and athletic director.

*Anonymous complaints cannot be dealt with in a proper manner.