Please remember to sign beside your child’s name before leaving this evening!

1. Clearspring Middle School andHPETA Grade 7 and 8 Participation Guidelines for Interscholastic Athletics

2. Please remember to sign beside your child’s name before leaving this evening!

3. Introductions • Mr. Ed Neufeld – Principal • Ms. MerrileePlett – Vice Principal • Mr. A.J. Neufeld – P.E. Teacher • Mr. Trevor Paton – P.E. Teacher/ 7 Boys Coach • Mr. Kevin Martens – Teacher/ 7 Girls Coach • Ms. Kyra Guenther – 8 Girls Coach • Ms. Martha Goertzen – 8 Girls Coach • Mr. Jason Winter – 8 Boys Coach

4. What We’re Here For… • 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

5. Middle Years Philosophy • 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

6. Middle Years Philosophy at CMS • 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

7. Grade 7 Guidelines for Participation • Primary focus • Fun • Fundamentals • Fair play • Fitness • Developing Friendships

8. Grade 7 Guidelines for Participation • 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

9. Grade 7 Guidelines for Participation • 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.

10. Questions regarding Grade 7 participation policies?

11. Grade 8 Guidelines for Participation • 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

12. Grade 8 Guidelines for Participation • 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

13. Why Equal Teams? • 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

14. Grade 8 Guidelines for Participation • Season length of approximately 6-8 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.

15. Grade 8 Guidelines for Participation • Every student will play in every game, with significant playing time for each player • 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

16. What Will “Significant Playing Time” Look Like? • This is ultimately the coach’s decision • In basketball it could look like… • An equivalent of one quarter on the floor • 4-5 consecutive minutes on the floor • An opportunity to have an effect on the game, make mistakes and learn from them without being immediately pulled from the game

17. What Does “Significant Playing Time” NOT Look Like? • The player sits on the bench for the entire game and only plays in the last 2 minutes 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 1 minute of game time).

18. What does CMS expect of our athletes? • …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”

19. Grade 8 Guidelines for Participation • 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

20. CMS Student-Athlete Contract • All interscholastic athletes in Grade 7 and 8 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

21. CMS Student-Athlete Contract • Decision making will generally rest with the athletic department… • A.J. Neufeld and Trevor Paton • …in consultation with: • school administration (Ed Neufeld and MerrileePlett) • coaches and teachers • parents of the athlete

22. We All Make Mistakes… • 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.”

23. Our Coaches… • 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!

24. Are There Any Questions?

25. Don’t forget to sign beside your athlete’s name(s) before leaving to indicate you were present this evening.

26. Thank you for coming!