Athletics

Elementary School Athletics

Our Catholic elementary schools participate in board wide events for cross country, volleyball and basketball. Please contact your child’s school for dates and locations of events. Please print, sign, and return the elementary athletic letter to give your child permission to participate on the team. If the team includes an overnight trip, parents must print and sign the overnight trip contract as well.

Secondary School Athletics

Our Catholic secondary schools participate in many sports with competitions across Ontario. Please print, sign, and return the secondary athletic letter to give your child permission to participate on the team. If the team includes an overnight trip, print and sign the overnight trip contract as well.

Secondary school athletes participate in Central Ontario Secondary School Athletics (COSSA), Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics (LOSSA), and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSSA) competitions. View each organization’s website for eligibility, directors, conveners, transfer policy, and schedules.

Our Athletics Program

The Board aims to provide students with an education that offers a variety of year-round sport training and athletic activities. Athletics provides students with continuing opportunities to build self-confidence, develop physical fitness, learn movement and fair play skills, demonstrate courage and commitment, experience success, and participate in a sharing of talents in a fun and safe environment.

Guiding Principles

All administrators, teachers, and coaches follow these guiding principles:

• Provide balanced school healthy active living and sports programs that offer significant opportunities for all students to benefit from their involvement with sport and physical activity
• Recognize the existence of barriers to participation that exist for our students, including issues related to gender, physical development, and accessibility to programs, and take action against these barriers through conscientious programming
• Provide fun, safe, and positive environments
• Ensure that ethical conduct governs all forms of physical activity, including abiding by the rules and participating in the spirit of the game
• Ensure that the environment for physical activity excludes drugs, tobacco, and alcohol
• Support professional development opportunities for all teachers and coaches in the areas of healthy active living and sports

Codes of Conduct

Players

• Treat officials, players, and coaches with respect and dignity
• Communicate with players, coaches, spectators, or officials respectfully
• Strive for personal best while following the rules and displaying the highest level of fair play
• Strive for success while following the rules and displaying the highest level of fair play
• Support all players
• Be gracious regardless of the results
• Play for the love and enjoyment of the game

Coaches

• Treat officials, players, and coaches with respect and dignity
• Communicate in a positive and calm manner
• Teach players to strive for success while playing fairly, following rules, and displaying the highest level of sportsmanship
• Be a positive role model for your students
• Promote fun and enjoyment of the game
• Be generous with praise for players of all teams

Spectators

• Display good sportsmanship and respect for all players, coaches, officials, and fellow spectators
• Communicate positively with players, coaches, officials and other spectators
• Promote fun and enjoyment of the game for all athletes

Referees

• Review and follow tournament rules and league play guidelines
• Control the game effectively and respectfully by being courteous and considerate without sacrificing firmness
• Be loyal to fellow referees and consult with other referees in a timely fashion
• Conduct yourself honourably at all times and maintain the dignity of the game and its players

Responsibilities and Guidelines

Administrative Responsibilities

• Ensure adequate supervision to accompany each team to events
• Ensure that supervisory practices are gender appropriate.
• Ensure that the coaches and athletes are aware that they are ambassadors of the school and their behaviour should reflect the school’s Code of Conduct.
• Address the breaches of Code of Conduct that arise at activities caused by student athletes, coaches, parents/guardians, and spectators
• Withdraw a student athlete, coach, parent/guardian, and/or spectator from any activity

Coaches Responsibilities

• Conduct themselves in an exemplary manner demonstrating Catholic values and adherence to the school’s Code of Conduct
• Ensure all participants have completed an appropriate participation form for activities
• Communicate their philosophy with regards to playing opportunities to student athletes prior to the start of the season
• Ensure that student athletes selected for a team have an opportunity to play and develop skills during the season
• Ensure that students are made aware of event expectations
• Read the event rules/guidelines carefully for information regarding the schedule and tiebreaking procedures prior to the tournament
• Bring a first aid kit, have an emergency action plan, and fill out the appropriate injury report form when necessary
• Attend all required coaches meetings prior to competition
• Establish a procedure to monitor the change rooms if the coach is not of the same gender as the student athletes
• Ensure that athletic equipment is not used in the change rooms, on stage, or in the halls
• Ensure that change rooms are restricted to student athletes and coaches only (no spectators, parents, or other students)
• Remind student athletes that safety is a priority for all participants
• Ensure that participants treat officials, players, and coaches with respect and dignity

Parents, Guardians, and Spectators Responsibilities

• Show respect for the safety and well-being of the student athletes, coaches, teachers, referees, parents/guardians, and spectators
• Obey and abide by the rules and regulations of the event
• Direct any communications regarding your student athlete to the appropriate coaching staff
• Read thoroughly, sign, and return the appropriate participation forms

Student Athletes Responsibilities

• Conduct themselves in an exemplary manner demonstrating Catholic values and adherence to the school’s Code of Conduct
• Demonstrate respect for the safety and well-being of self and others
• Exercise self-discipline at all times
• Show respect for school and personal property
• Report all incidents of injury or vandalism
• Be a cooperative team member and a good sport at all times
• Read thoroughly, sign, and return the appropriate participation forms

Team Player Prayer

God, let me play well and fairly, by respecting the rules, opponents, and officials. Lead me into treating all participants justly and with dignity. In competing, help me to learn something that matters.

Let the competition make me strong but never hostile, humble never boastful. May I rejoice in victory but never let myself rejoice in the adversity of others.

If I am fortunate enough to win, allow me to be happy. If I am denied, keep me from envy. Remind me that sports are just games and that I set an example, so help me to ensure that it is a good one.

Amen.