 Outline Hanover Physical Education Teachers Association (HPETA) Guidelines for Participation in Interscholastic Sports  Clarify how these guidelines will be applied in CMS sports teams  Answer questions

 School should be a safe, supportive, stimulating and invitational environment  Inclusive and creates a sense of belonging  Adolescents are capable of far more than adults often assume

 CMS is built upon Middle Years Philosophy  We believe:  Athletics is a vital component of school culture  Athletes should be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports  Interscholastic athletics should reflect the same values that the rest of the school is built upon

 Primary focus  Fun  Fundamentals  Fair play  Fitness  Developing Friendships

 More emphasis on individual skill development and team concepts in preparation for Grade 8 and Senior Years competition  No tryouts or cuts  If there are enough players to create 2 teams, we will try to do that

 All players will participate in games with equal playing time.  Please note that our coaches will make every effort to make this happen, but some circumstances are beyond their control  Athletes are expected to consistently attend practice in order to receive equal playing time  The Grade 7 league is developmental and has no playoffs or championship.

 Start time is now 5:30 (warmups 5:15)  No score kept  Games will be timed (14 min. length)  No timeouts will be allowed  No subs will be allowed

Questions regarding Grade 7 participation policies?

 Primary focus  Fun  Further development of individual and team skills  Demonstrate the principles of fair play  Continue to develop and grow friendships  Develop a recognition and appreciation for participating in interscholastic sports as part of a healthy and active lifestyle

 HPETA guidelines provide the option for schools to hold tryouts and cut athletes from teams  CMS will not hold tryouts or cut players in Grade 8.  If possible, we will attempt to create 2 teams in order to allow all athletes with the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sport  Players will be divided with the intention of creating equal teams  “A” teams, “Traveling” teams, or “Tournament” teams will not be created

 Middle Years Philosophy demands inclusion and a safe environment in which students (and athletes) are willing to take risks  Creating an “A” team sends a message to those players who did not make that team that they are “not good enough”  These are the players who take the risk in participating  Players who are cut or are relegated to “B” teams often stop participating in that sport entirely  It is our goal at CMS to use interscholastic athletics to promote participation in sport as a healthy part of an active lifestyle

 Season length of approximately 6 weeks  Playoffs and a championship final will follow  Championship and Finalist Banners will be awarded There is a greater emphasis on competition in the Grade 8 League, in preparation for Senior Years participation.

 Every student will receive equal playing time during regular season games  During Playoffs…every student will play in every game, with significant playing time for each player  Playing time during playoffs is at the coach’s discretion  Playing time for each athlete may not be equal  Each athlete can expect to play in a significant portion of the game they play in

 This is ultimately the coach’s decision  In volleyball, this could look like…  A significant portion (eg points) of 1 game  Smaller portions (10-14 points) of more than 1 game  Situation or role specific substitutions  An opportunity to have an effect on the game, make mistakes and learn from them without being immediately pulled from the game

 The player sits on the bench for the entire game and only plays in the last 2 points of a game whose outcome has been decided  The player is substituted into the game, makes an error, and is immediately pulled off the floor; the player does not play again.  The player is consistently substituted into the game for very short intervals (eg back to back sideouts).

 Games begin at 5:30 5:15)  Scores kept, but games will be timed  No time-outs  No subs  Scores are still submitted for end of season standings

 HSD Middle Years Athletics Philosophy is developmental  Moves from…  non competitive in Grades 5/6  introduction to competition in Grade 7  some elements of competition added in Grade 8  more elements of competition added in Grade 9

 …From our student athletic contract…  “CMS athletes are expected to uphold the ideals of being a TRAILBLAZER.  A TRAILBLAZER  is respectful and courteous to all teammates, coaches, opposing players, officials and parents.  works hard to be the best s/he can be in class, in practice and in competition  is a leader who makes good choices, even when they are difficult to make  perseveres in the face of challenges  takes risks to improve  attends all practices and games/competitions  demonstrates the ideals of a TRAILBLAZER during regular school hours and during competition”

 An athlete’s playing time is dependent on their ability to uphold the ideals of being a TRAILBLAZER  Coaches and/or the school administration have the right to reduce the amount of playing time an athlete receives if that athlete…  Does not come to practice or games  Demonstrates inappropriate behaviours in practices, games or during school hours  Is behind in his/her schoolwork

 All interscholastic athletes in Grade 7, 8 and 9 are accountable to uphold the values identified in the contract  Significant issues and concerns related to an athlete may be referred by a coach or teacher to the athletic department

 Decision making will generally rest with the athletic department…  A.J. Neufeld and Trevor Paton  …in consultation with:  school administration (Ed Neufeld and Merrilee Plett)  coaches and teachers  parents of the athlete

 From our student athletic contract… “WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES and deserve the opportunity to correct our mistakes. An athlete who is suspended from participation will have the opportunity to correct their mistakes, demonstrate that s/he is a TRAILBLAZER and return to competition.”

 Our coaches are all volunteers who are coaching because…  They love sport  They love working with kids  They want to share their love and knowledge of the sport with our students. There would be no athletic program if it were not for our coaches!

 If possible, we will arrange transportation by bus for games outside of Steinbach  With the exception of multi-day tournaments  We will ask for volunteer drivers for games within Steinbach  Volunteer Drivers must submit to a Child Abuse Registry Check and submit copies of a valid drivers licence and vehicle registration to the school  Please notify the school if there are any changes in the status of your licence or registration

 Athletes may only be transported to an HSD event by the following  Parent or Legal Guardian  HSD Registered Volunteer Driver  HSD employee  Coach  Please do not arrange alternative transportation unless the driver falls into one of these categories.  Athletes may not walk home from a venue, but may walk home from CMS

 Please be aware of the approximate time your athlete needs to be picked up  Please be considerate of the time commitments/demands of our coaches and supervisors

 There will be an opportunity to complete volunteer driver registrations at the conclusion of this presentation

Are There Any Questions?

Thank you for coming!