Sports Policy Statement  2/14/06

The purpose of this policy statement is to provide important information to the parent or legal guardian of any child who would like to tryout for one of the competitive sports teams at St. Rose of  Lima.  Prior to a child trying out for one of these teams, the child’s parent or legal guardian must read and sign this statement as well as return the following forms included in this package to the head coach:

·        Medical History and Consent for Athletic Participation

·        Emergency Treatment Form

·        Parent Sportsmanship Guidelines

·        Student-Athlete Conduct Statement

No child will be allowed to tryout for a team until all the above-mentioned forms have been submitted to the coach.  For purposes of this statement, “competitive sports” refers to those teams that compete in league play with other schools, for which tryouts are normally held to select players for the team, and “recreational sports” refers to those programs for which participation is open to anyone who is interested.

Competitive Sports at St. Rose:

Parents and players alike should understand certain aspects of the competitive sports program at St. Rose. Assuming there is sufficient interest in a particular sport, full tryouts will be held and some children will not make the team. In selecting players, coaches will use their best judgment to select players that demonstrate the skills and talents that will be most valuable to the team. During games, coaches will also use their best judgment regarding which players to play at a given point in the game. As a result, there may be situations in which one or more players on the team will not get to play in a particular game. Although the coaches of the competitive sports teams are strongly encouraged to look for opportunities to play each player in a given game, especially at the Junior Varsity (generally fifth and sixth grade) level, the St. Rose Athletic Association does not actually require minimum playing time per game. Coaches may not be afforded an opportunity in each game to get everyone into the game. 

Before permitting your child to tryout for a team, you should help your child evaluate whether a competitive program is appropriate for your child. Some children may fully understand the consequences of trying out for, and participating in, competitive sports, while others may not. There are a few things the child, as well as the parents should understand. First, the child may not make the team.  Second, due to the competitive nature of these teams, if the child is not as skilled as the other players on the team, he/she will probably not see as much action in games as some of the more highly-skilled players. With assistance from his/her coach(es) and parent(s), the less-skilled player will have to work on improving his/her own skills to a level where he/she will be more competitive. Third, the child must realize they are making a big commitment to the team. They are expected to attend all practices and games, and carry out their individual role in the best interests of the team. If a child has an interest in a particular sport, but is not yet prepared to participate at a competitive level, a parent may want to encourage the child to engage in the sport on a recreational level through either municipal recreational programs or the St. Rose intramural program, if applicable. The environment in a recreational program is different from competitive programs because the recreational programs typically insure all players get equal opportunity to demonstrate and develop their skills in game situations.

Parent’s Responsibilities:

Parent(s) of any child who participates in the St. Rose Athletic Programs have a responsibility to support the team in various respects.  Depending on the sport, the parent will have to help with the scorebook, field or gym maintenance, or concessions, etc. Parents who fail to fulfill this obligation will forfeit their “service deposit”.  In addition, during games, parents are expected to support and applaud the accomplishments of the entire team, refrain from “coaching from the sidelines,” and exemplify good sportsmanship through their own behavior.  Parents also play a vital role ensuring that open lines of communication are maintained between coaches, parents, and players.  For a complete description of the roles and responsibilities of parents, players, and coaches please refer to the sports section of the St. Rose of  Lima website at www.stroseoflima.com.

Liability Statement:

Parents/Guardians can expect school authorities to exercise reasonable precaution to avoid injury that may occur, these school authorities will assume no financial or moral obligation for any injury.  If the need arises, the parent/guardian will assume responsibility for taking their child to the family doctor.  The parent/guardian understands that any injury that requires a consult with a doctor MUST be reported to the school nurse and coach, accompanied with a doctors note on the day the student returns to school.  The parent/guardian also understands the athlete will not be able to resume practices or games until a note from his/her physician is submitted to the school nurse stating the athlete is cleared to resume participation.  Further, the parent/guardian realizes that their son/daughter must abide by the rules and procedures above.  The parent/guardian their son/daughter in all their endeavors, which will help promote a happy, healthy, safe, and enjoyable experience.

Acknowledgment and Permission to Tryout:

I have read the policy statement regarding sports at St. Rose of  Lima.   I have discussed this policy with my son/daughter _______________________ and grant my permission for him/her to tryout for the St. Rose of  Lima _____________________ team for the year ________.

____________________________________                         ______________________________________     
Print Parent’s or Legal Guardian’s Name                             Signature                         

Date: _____________________