I. ST. RAYMOND SPORTS PROGRAM

• The After school Sports Program at St. Raymond School/Parish provides students in 4th through 8th grade with the opportunity to participate in the Peninsula Parochial Schools League (PPSL). Game fundamentals, sportsmanship and teamwork are taught by volunteer coaches in a manner consistent with the attitudes and values stated in the St. Raymond School Handbook. Girls may play volleyball, basketball and track; boys, baseball, basketball and track

II. MEMBERSHIP

• All eligible students enrolled in St. Raymond School/Parish may be members. Boys' and Girls' teams will be fielded for grades 4 through 8. Track & field will be fielded for grades 6-8 only.
• The number of teams is determined by the number of children signed up per grade and by the number of coaches available.
• When necessary, classes are combined or registration may be extended to a lower eligible grade. Whenever possible, it is our aim that the player compete at his/her level of ability and grade level

  Academic Eligibility

• All St. Raymond School/Parish students who participate in the Sports Program must maintain an overall "C-" average and must maintain good conduct during sports activities, as defined in the School Handbook.

  Fees

• A registration fee is collected to offset each sport. Fees for boys' baseball are collected in the Spring of the preceding school year. All other fees are collected just prior to a sport's respective season.
• The Athletic Director administers the collection of the fees. NO child will be excluded from participation if he/she is unable to meet the cost.  The Athletic Director must be notified by the parents in these cases and he/she will discuss the individual situation with the Principal, who will make the final decision.
• There will be a deposit required at the beginning of the year for a St. Raymond uniform. The set amount will be determined by the Principal and Athletic Director.

III. ATTENDANCE

• It is the responsibility of the parents to see to it that their children arrive on time to practices and games and that they are picked up promptly. It is not the coaches' responsibility to attend to children beyond practice time. Coaches must be notified in the case of absences and late arrivals.
• Parents must not leave children unattended at games or practices. Before leaving, be sure that your child's coach has arrived. Every child will also receive a roster, practice and game schedules, and field directions.

IV.  CONDUCT

•  Coaches: In accordance with our school philosophy, coaches will be expected to conduct themselves in a Christian manner. Coaches should apply a "positive" coaching attitude, which simply means that a coach handles his team members with patience and understanding, remembering that his young players are, in most cases, either at a beginning or intermediate level of playing ability. A coach should reward effort and dedication, regardless of ability, since ability often accompanies physical maturity, regardless of a player's desire to improve and, to the best of the coach's ability, equal attention and consideration should be given to each player. Also, abusive language and/or name calling will not be tolerated. Fair playing time is strongly encouraged, assuming the player is showing up for practice and showing good sportsmanship.  Minimum playing time rules for each sport will be followed, according to PPSL and school rules.
• At game time, fair and honest play will be expected, and any decision made by a referee or umpire should be accepted graciously, even if the player disagrees with the call.
• After a game, regardless of the outcome, opposing team members should be congratulated on a game well played
• Parents & Spectators: Parents should also conduct themselves in a Christian manner. Though a parent may not agree with a call that is made by a referee or umpire, or a decision that is made by a coach, remember that these individuals are, in all fairness, trying to the best of their ability to do the best job possible. An unruly parent is an embarrassment to the team and to the school, and his or her behavior may result in the
• team being penalized in some way.  A child's values and behavior in sports are guided by parental attitude toward their child, the coach, the opposing team and officials. Criticism and disrespect undermines the purpose and spirit of the sports program. All spectators, family or friends, should conduct themselves with good sportsmanship and respect.
• Players: Players should participate in the St. Raymond's after school sports program with a commitment to sportsmanship and their team. Players should treat their coach, teammates, officials and opponents with respect and likewise show respect for the St. Raymond facilities or those of the hosting school. Participation on a St. Raymond team is a promise to obey the rules of the league and the game, accept decisions of officials with grace and conduct yourself with honor and dignity. Participation is a privilege and dependent upon compliance with these guidelines, Christian citizenship and acceptable academic performance.

V.  PARTICIPATION

• PPSL "GENERAL RULES" state that "each team member must participate in each game played" subject to the School's rules concerning practice attendance and observance of both PPSL and School rules of conduct and that "no student may be placed on the roster after the team's first league game". Further, any team member who voluntarily quits a team after the PPSL League Roster has been submitted may not participate in the next sport offered.(*) St. Raymond's shall consider that the PPSL Rosters are submitted immediately upon formation of the teams. Thus, any athlete who voluntarily quits a team after a try-out process has been completed, may not participate in the next sport offered.
• (*) If a parent/guardian advises the Athletic Director and Principal in advance that participation in a team is being terminated in order to concentrate more time on academic matters and the student is not participating in other extra-curricular activities (i.e., soccer, gymnastics, Pop Warner football, swim teams, etc.), at their sole discretion, the Athletic director and Principal may suspend enforcement of this rule.
• games and practices unless they are instructed not to do so by the Coaches, the Athletic Director (with the concurrence of the Principal), the Principal or the Pastor.
• Players who miss practice or who have discipline problems may forfeit their right to play in games. Players who miss two consecutive unexcused practices or a total of three practices during the season may be dismissed from the team
• Coaches, the Athletic Director (with the concurrence of the Principal), the Principal or the Pastor may require a student athlete to forfeit the right to "suit-up" for the next game(s) for failure to observe the rules of conduct or attend practices. Excessive failure to observe either the rules of conduct or attend practices may result in permanent removal from a team.
• Student athletes who have been benched may not, by PPSL rules, sit on the bench with their teammates during games, but are expected to attend all team functions including
• Children whose general behavior continually differs from that which is expected as outlined previously, may be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the coach.  Discipline, as with the school, is to be considered as a form of moral guidance and not simply a form of punishment. The purpose of discipline is to assist the students to assume responsibility for their own actions.  These actions include benching, suspension, and dismissal.
• The Principal shall be notified immediately prior to any suspension or dismissal
• Parents will be notified immediately of any such actions by the coach and Principal.

• Any parent may air a grievance concerning the program. The procedure is as follows:
  • Discuss the matter with the coach handling the particular sport or team for which the grievance is being presented
  • If that proves unsatisfactory, present the matter to the Athletic Director.

VII. SCHEDULING

• Games are scheduled by the league.  Girls, generally play on Saturdays, or on weekdays after school; boys, generally on Sundays. (This may differ if the school is entered in tournament play). Practices are held after school hours (sometimes evenings and weekends) at local fields and at our own gym. 24-hour notice of practice and game schedule changes will be given, whenever possible.

• SPORTS/SCHEDULES

• Members of the PPSL
  • South
    • St. Pius (Redwood City)
    • Nativity (Menlo Park)
    • St. Charles (San Carlos)
    • Mt. Carmel  (Redwood City)
    • St. Gregory (San Mateo)
    • St. Matthew (San Mateo)
    • IHM  (Belmont)
    • Notre Dame  (Belmont)
  • North
    • All Souls (South San Francisco)
    • Holy Angels  (Colma)
    • Mater Dolorosa  (South San Francisco)
    • O.L.A. (Burlingame)
    • St. Catherine(San Mateo)
    • St. Dunstan (Millbrae)
    • St. Robert  (San Bruno)
    • St. Timothy(San Mateo)
    • St. Veronica (South San Francisco)

     

  Division Name	Eligible Grade
  Varsity	7th & 8th
  Junior Varsity	6th & 7th
  Sharks	6th, 7th, 8th
  Eagles	5th & 6th
  Cubs	5th
  Lions	5th & 6th
  Training	4th

• Each child is responsible for damaged (due to neglect) or lost uniforms. All uniforms should be washed before they are turned in to the Athletic Director(s).

1. All fees or uniforms from previous sport must be collected before new uniforms can be issued to each player.
2. The issuing and returning of uniforms should be checked by each coach. Uniforms should be returned cleaned by players or when returned to the Athletic Director.
3. Equipment such as balls, bats, etc. should not be allowed to be misused by players during practices or games.
4. Equipment should only be used in areas designated for its use, ie: basketballs and volleyballs are to be used only in the gym.
5. Coaches are responsible for any equipment lost during their practices or games at home or away.
6. Any damaged equipment should be returned immediately to the Athletic Director and new equipment should be issued or replaced.

X.  GYM

1. PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE GYM WITHOUT ADULt SUPERVISION.
2. If condition of gym is not clean upon arrival, please notify Athletic Director or school office, immediately.
3. After practice, make sure all debris is picked up in the gym and on stage area.
4. Make sure all windows, doors, etc. are closed and locked when the last practice is over.
5. These rules should also be taken into consideration when using other gyms or practice fields, during practices or games.
6. The stage is off limits.
7. Parents are responsible for their children in and out of the gym.
8. No food or drink shall be allowed in the gym at any time.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GYM TO USE, AND AT ALL TIMES IT MUST BE KEPT CLEAN AND MAINTAINED BY ALL OF US.

XI.  SPORTS AWARD NIGHT

• Sports Awards Nights will be held after each sport. At these events all player participants will be recognized for their participation in the program. The awards will be as follows:
  1. Every player will receive a participation award.
  2. All division championship team players will receive a trophy.
  3. Each year, one eighth grade boy and one eighth grade girl will be awarded the Outstanding Student Athlete Award.

ST. RAYMOND'S OUTSTANDING STUDENT ATHLETE AWARD

• Each year, one eighth grade boy and one eighth grade girl will be awarded the Outstanding Student Athlete Award. Any student who has participated in a minimum of 3 sports while in the eighth grade will be eligible. (Boys - baseball, basketball and track. Girls -basketball, volleyball and track) This student will be chosen in the following manner:
• Eligible candidates are awarded points by all 8th grade academic teachers for grade point average, conduct (at school) and leadership (in class).  Points are also awarded by all 8th grade coaches for athletic accomplishments, sportsmanship, and leadership (on the team).  Raw total points determine the athlete-scholar award recipients.  If the scores are tied, two awards are given.

XII. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM

  A.  Athletic Director - Job Description

•   Supervise after school interscholastic sports program
  1. Represent St. Raymond School at all PPSL meetings with   appropriate Sports Commissioner.
  2. Recruit and select coaches for all sports teams grades 4-8.
  3. Inform coaches of league rules and policies.
  4. Address complaints from players, coaches and parents.
  5. Assure that equipment and uniforms are available and in good   condition.
  6. Distribute and collect uniforms and equipment to teams.
  7. Secure fields and gym for home dates;  provide preparation and   scorekeepers when necessary.
  8. Plan and conduct annual Sports Award Night.
  9. Establish practice schedules.

•   Financial Management
  1. Create an annual budget to be submitted to the Principal and the   Men's Club.
  2. Manage expenses during the fiscal year.
  3. Approve all expenditures prior to the Principal's final approval.
  4. Work with the Men's Club to develop plans for extraordinary   expenses in the future.

  B.  Responsibilities of Coaches:

1. A team roster will be given to each coach, he or she will check to make sure that all players have a required permission slip and a medical emergency form. Check with the Athletic Director if there are any discrepancies.
2. Practices should be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. Practice/Game   schedules must be given to parents before each season.
3. More than two (2) unexcused absences from practices and/or games may result in the dismissal of the student from the team and from pareticipation in the next sport. For our purposes, unexcused absences will include weak   excuses (e.g. "I didn't have a ride, I forgot, I had a hair appointment, I was grounded, I had too much homework," etc.).  For our purposes, unexcused   absences will also include conflicting elective activities: vacations, weekend   ski trips,  participation in another sport, music, scouts and any other activity   over which one has control.  Excused absences include illness, death, and   singular conflicting unreschedulable events such as a family wedding, 50th   anniversay, etc.  Should a dismissal situation exist the Coach, Principal, Athletic Director and the Boys or Girls Commissioner shall convene and make a decision appropriate to each case.
4. At all times the safety of players should be considered during practices and   games.
5. All injuries should be reported immediately to the Athletic Director, school   office, and parents.
6. All problems should be handled between the coach and player; see   "grievance procedures" if problem cannot be handled at the coach-player   level.
7. Coaches must notify parents of canceled practices or games.
8. Coaches shall understand and accept the rules of the particular sport, the specific rules of the PPSL, the rules of St. Raymond School/Parish and the   school and league standards of eligibility.
9. It is the coach's responsibility to advise the parent of: a) any misconduct at   practices or games; b) attitude problems; c) possibility of injury.
10. If a coach is dissatisfied with the results of meeting with a parent, then the coach should present the matter to the Girls' or Boys' Athletic Director.
11. If after presenting the matter to the Athletic Director the parent or coach is dissatisfied, the Principal should be consulted.