Athletic Handbook

Revised July 2016

Table of Contents

Athletic Mission Statement and Program Philosophyp. 3

Goals of the CJB Athletic Programp. 3

Program Overviewp. 4

Responsibility for the Athletic Programp. 5

CJB Athletic Boardp. 6

Number of Teams and Selectionp. 6

Playing Time Guidelinesp. 7

Attendance Guidelinesp. 9

Selection of Coachesp. 10

  1. Process for Selection of Coachesp. 10
  2. Criteria for Selection of Coachesp. 11
  3. Coaches: Roles, Responsibilities and Code of Conductp. 12
  4. Monitoring Coaching Performancep. 14

Student Athletes: Eligibility, Expectations and Code of Conductp. 15

Parent/Guardian: Expectations, Responsibilities and Code of Conductp. 16

Spectator Expectationsp. 17

Grievance Procedure p. 17

Scheduling Considerationsp. 19

Safety Considerations p.19

Club Activitiesp. 20

Athletics Sponsoring Policyp. 20

Financesp. 21

Student Athlete Agreementp. 22

Child/Minor Acknowledgement Formp. 23

Consent for Health History Formp. 25

Code of Conduct Form for Coachesp. 26

End of Season Questionnairespp.27 - 28

CJB Athletic Team Coach/Player/Parent Agreement Grades 3rd-4th – 5th pp. 29 - 31

CJB Athletic Team Coach/Player/Parent Agreement Grades 6th -7th – 8th pp. 32 - 34

  1. Athletic Mission Statement and Program Philosophy

“As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. Now a body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,” it does notfor this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as intended. But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” Indeed the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary. . . . Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:12, 14-18, 20-22, 27

The mission of the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School (CJB)Athletic Program is to promote an opportunity for all children to develop their physical talents, increase self-confidence and self-esteem, and promote the values of sportsmanship and teamwork in a manner that is grounded in our love of Christ and Catholic faith.

The philosophy of the CJB Athletic Program is to preserve the virtues of teamwork even when different individual personalities come together, each with different talents, attitudes and viewpoints. CJB recognizes that our Catholic faith calls us to demonstrate our commitment to each other and to our brothers and sisters, and sacrifice for the greater good of the team. As a Catholic community, we cannot submit to the principle that certain conduct is acceptable because “others do it.” We must expect more of ourselves, and be guided by the values and sacrifices of Jesus Christ our Savior, with the realization that there is no greater responsibility from God than protecting the physical and emotional well-being of a child.

Through participation in the CJB Athletic Program, students may develop life-long skills and positive values, including leadership, healthful living habits, self-discipline, integrity, respect for rules and regulations, and the ability to participate with dignity and grace.

  1. Goals of the CJB Athletic Program
  • Promote and encourage the development of Christian values and character such as fairness, cooperation, leadership, and respect for authority and all others;
  • Provide all students the opportunity to develop strong, healthy, disciplined minds and bodies;
  • Encourage positive attitudes and the goal to try one’s best;
  • Develop sportsmanship by teaching the proper attitude toward winning, losing and competing with dignity;
  • Teach all students the fundamentals of each sport;
  • Develop school spirit and teamwork; and
  • Provide an enjoyable recreational activity which can be sustained into adulthood.
  1. Program Overview

The CJB Athletic Program provides an instructional sports program as an extension of the CJB academic

and faith-based curriculum. As such, each participating student must follow the policies and procedures

set forth in this handbook to ensure continued participation in the selected activity. The CJB Athletic Program will follow a “no cut” policy as long as participants practice with the team regularly, positively contribute to the team and maintain academic standards. All participants will learn the fundamentals and strategies of each sport and be given the opportunity to develop those skills in practice and games.

  1. Participation in the CJB Athletic Program

The school and gym at CJB were constructed bySt. Elizabeth Seton parish (SES). Neither building is owned by the school. In the early years of CJB School, a decision was made to allow joint participation in athletics by both SES religious education students and CJB students. To this end, SES hired an athletic director, who, with volunteers from both the parish and the school, developed a robust athletic program enjoyed by children at CJB and children enrolled in religious education at SES. Some teams had both school children and religious education children, and others, called parish teams, were composed solely of religious education children from SES. For many years, there were more parish teams than school teams, and the two types of teams co-existed under the guidance of a single athletic director, running a single athletic program.

In recent years, the look of the CJB athletic program has changed due to declining enrollment in the parish religious education program, resulting in a smaller number of religious education teams, to the point where school teams now draw from a larger enrollment. Going forward, the CJB Athletic Program will be a sports program with two tracks, a track with school teams (“school track”) and a track with religious education teams from SES (“parish track”). Both tracks of the CJB Athletic Program will be subject to the policies and procedures of the 2011 Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Handbook for Athletics, the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School Athletic Handbook and the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Athletic Board Constitution and By-Laws.

Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, enrollment in the CJB Athletic Program will be as follows:

•Students that attend Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School shall only participate on teams in the school track of the CJB Athletic Program;

•Religious education children from SES who previously played on school teams will be allowed to play on those same teams, as they will be “grandfathered” into that part of the school track of the CJB Athletic Program until they graduate from grade school;

•All new religious education children from SES seeking athletic involvement (or those religious education children who do not wish to enroll in the school track) will be directed to the parish track of the CJB Athletic Program.

Continuing in this manner will address the legitimate needs and expectations of St. Elizabeth Seton parishioners. This policy was developed in consultation with the Executive Pastor, Principal and SES Pastor. This policy, like others, will be evaluated over time to ensure the mission of the CJB Athletic Program.

  1. Athletic Activities

The following activities are subject to the policies in this handbook and currently comprise the CJB Athletic Program:

School Track (“Bernardin Cardinals”)Parish Track(“Seton Saints”)

Girls Basketball (grades 4-8)Basketball

Boys Basketball (grades 4-8)Volleyball

Girls Volleyball (grades 4-8)Baseball

Boys Volleyball (grades 4-8)

Cheerleading (grades 3-8)

Boys Baseball (grades 5-8)

Bowling*

Chess Club*

Boy’s Golf*

* denotes school club activity for CJB students

The activities sponsored by the CJB Athletic Program are subject to change from year to year by the CJB Athletic Board if deemed appropriate based on a change in circumstances.

The CJBAthletic Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national or ethnic origin in governing, managing and financing its athletics program or in selecting participants. No liquor may be issued at school-sponsored CJB sports events. There will be no smoking or alcoholic consumption at any CJB sporting events. This policy conforms to policies, procedures, and rules established by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and/or the Office of Catholic Schools.

  1. Responsibility for the CJB Athletic Program

Since the CJB Athletic Program is an extension of the school and its curriculum, these programs are subject to the authority of the Executive Pastor by virtue of his office (Archdiocesan Policy), the Principal (Archdiocesan Policy), the CJB school handbook, the CJB School Advisory Council, and the CJB Athletic Board. TheExecutive Pastor and Principal are the primary authority of the CJB Athletic Program with final decision-making authority on any issue within the athletic program. The only exception to this rule would involve matters raised in the Grievance Process involving SES religious education students, as any decisions would involve final review and approval from the SES Pastor. The Executive Pastor and Principal, along with the SES Pastor, have consented to the establishment of the CJB Athletic Board, which works cooperatively with the Executive Pastor and Principal, as well as the SES Pastor when necessary. The CJB Athletic Board is comprised of an Athletic Director (AD) and nine other selected members, as described in the Constitution and By-laws of the CJB Athletic Board. All CJB athletic programs and sports events fall under the jurisdiction and authority of the CJB Athletic Board with the consent of the Executive Pastor and Principal,as well as the SES Pastor. Pursuant to the consent of the Executive Pastor and Principal, as well as the SES Pastor, the CJB Athletic Board shall set guidelines and procedures that govern the scope and direction of the extracurricular sports programs and student participation in such programs. The CJB Athletic Board will work in cooperation with the school faculty members,the CJB School Advisory Council, parish leaders and religious educationstaffs, and parents. The Principal and the Executive Pastor expressly reserve the right to immediately review and reverse any decision or policy of the CJB Athletic Board, if deemed appropriate by the Principal and Executive Pastor, to protect the best interests of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School and its students.

  1. CJB Athletic Board

The Executive Pastor and Principal, with the approval of the SES Pastor and CJB School Advisory Council, have authorized the formation of the CJB Athletic Board. The CJB Athletic Board is comprised of the Athletic Director (AD) and nine(9) other selected individuals that will act as a standing committee of the CJB School Advisory Council, with ultimateaccountability to the Executive Pastor and Principal, as well as the SES Pastor when certain Grievance Process matters are involved. The AD is an ex officio member of the Athletic Board with no voting privileges. All policies and procedures created by the CJB Athletic Board must be in accordance with all school and Archdiocesan policies and guidelines. The CJB Athletic Board administers the CJB athletic program in consultation and collaboration with the Executive Pastor and Principal, as well as the SES Pastor when necessary. The operation and management of the CJB Athletic Program is set forth and defined by the Constitution and By-laws of the CJB Athletic Board, which are expressly incorporated in this Athletic Handbook by reference as if more fully stated herein.

VI.Number of Teams and Selection

●The CJB Athletic Board shall determine the number of teams to be established for each grade level for each sport. Maximizing playing time for all participants shall be an important factor in establishing the number of teams for each sport at each grade level.

●If it is determined that there will be more than one team for a particular grade level and sport, the CJB Athletic Board shall secure an independent evaluator that is not directly associated with the CJB Athletic Program to conduct an evaluation of each child that wishes to participate in a sport from grades 4 through 8. Reasonable notice shall be provided to parents/guardians and athletes regarding the scheduled times of any evaluations.

●The evaluation shall be designed to provide each participant reasonable opportunity to demonstrate their ability and skills. The evaluation must be a formalized assessment with a standard template developed by the AD and approved by a majority of the CJB Athletic Board. The results of these written assessments shall be made available to any parent/guardian upon request for the sole purpose of educating the student-athlete on any identified strengths or weaknesses. The disclosure of the written assessment shall not be used by the parent/guardian or student as an opportunity to request an amendment to the results of the evaluation.

●During the evaluation process, the independent evaluator shall consider any past written player evaluations completed by CJB coaches. Coaches may participate in the evaluation process only so far as to clarify any information noted in any past written evaluations. All other involvement by coaches in the evaluation process is prohibited.

●At the conclusion of the evaluation, the independent evaluator shall determine the placement of participants on teams based upon the following guidelines:

●4th and 5th grade: The rosters of each team shall be selected by the independent evaluator so that the talent level is evenly split among the established teams.

●6th, 7th and 8th grade: Team rosters shall be determined by the independent evaluator based upon the results of the evaluation of each participant’s ability and skills.

●Team rosters shall be posted outside the AD’s office at CJB within 7 days after the last evaluation.

●The general rule is that specific requests for team placement by a parent/guardian will not be honored. In limited circumstances and for reasonable cause, the AD is granted the discretion to modify any player placement on a team by the independent evaluator, provided thatthe modification occurs prior to the posting of any team rosters and with the approval of a majority of the CJB Athletic Board.

●If a student misses the evaluation process, a second day of evaluations by an independent evaluator will be scheduled for all students at all grade levels that missed the initial evaluation session.

  1. Playing Time Guidelines

As a Blue-Ribbon Catholic School, the CJB Athletic Program has a responsibility to each of its participants to provide an athletic experience that is not based solely in terms of winning and losing, but rather in terms of improvement, enjoyment, and building of self-confidence for our children. In order to accomplish these goals, the participants must become gracious winners and losers, and understand that team participation and goals are more important than individual performance or expectations. The concept of teamwork allows the students to experience individual growth while encouraging growth of their teammates, peers, friends and competitors. As a Catholic community, we strive to develop positive character traits, focus on effort rather than outcome, and on learning rather than comparison to others.

From grades 6 through 8, there will be “A” and “B” level teams for each sport as allowed by athlete participation, league limits, coaching positions, gym availability or in unforeseen circumstances. An evaluation process will determine player skill level. Once placed on a team, a player will not be switched to another team unless allowed to do so according to league rules,nor given a monetary refund if participation is withdrawn.

The following playing time guidelines shall apply to all sports in the CJB Athletic Program:

3rd,4thand 5thgrade teams

●Playing time should be equal for all team members during regular season games, playoffs games and tournament games. The focus at this level is on development. The emphasis is on putting forth best effort regardless of the outcome of the game. Every player on the team will play substantially equal time in each game, including tournaments, except in the case of disciplinary action. Significant playing time differentials must be avoided.

●The equal playing time standard in 3rd,4thand 5thgrade assumes that each player has maintained academic eligibility requirements, attended and participated in practices regularly (unless properly excused), and demonstrated a positive attitude towards his/her fellow teammates, coaches, and members of teams of opposing players. Any student that has not met these requirements shall not be entitled to this equal playing time presumption. The coach must notify the player and parent of their decision and the rationale for that decision.