St. James Athletics

Changes 2008-09

We look forward to the 2008-2009 school year, listed below are some changes for the upcoming sports seasons from the Kansas City Parochial League.

1. The Catholic Conference Board also has approved: For the 2008-2009 school year, 5th-8th grade students may play on two teams of the same sport during the season. Athletic Directors will be required to submit a list to the Parochial League Director of all students who are playing AAU/Club ball as well as on their parochial school team. No student may play for more than one Parochial League team, per season. With the only exception being playing boys volleyball and participating in track at the same time. This rule and its application is not permanent and the CCB Board will be closely examining the rule and its impact throughout the 2008-2009 school year and will be reviewed in the spring of 2009. The rule doesn’t allow for a PSR student to participate on his/her school team and a Parochial League team.

2. All head girls volleyball, basketball & boys volleyball coaches 4th – 8th grade with four or more years of experience coaching in the Parochial League will be required to complete the online test and achieve a 90% before they will be able to coach. All head coaches with three years or less experience coaching in the Parochial League will be required to attend a mandatory coaches meeting and coaches sport specific clinic prior to the season to be eligible to coach.

3. A mandatory scorekeeping clinic will be held prior to the volleyball season. For a team to be eligible to participate all teams are required to send a representative to the scorekeeper’s clinic.

4. The KCPL mission is to provide opportunities for youth to grow psychologically, emotionally and spiritually in the image of Christ through the benefits of positive athletic experiences. So beginning with the 2008-2009 school year the CCB Board has mandated that all new athletic directors, specific sport coordinators, head coaches and all assistant coaches will be required to attend a mandatory coaches training. Play Like a Champion. All athletic directors, specific sport coordinators and head coaches who attended the PLC training during the 2007-2008 school year will not need to do so again. The program Play Like A Champion Today was developed by the Center For Ethical Education at the University of Notre Dame. The program is similar in ways to the National Youth Coaches Association training used by the National Alliance For Youth Sports. However the important difference is the “Play Like A Champion Today” Educational Series takes a “child – centered” approach. It is supported by years of research into character and spiritual development. It looks at coaching Youth Sports as Ministry, to recognize the spiritual nature of athletics; and to foster youth character and spiritual development through sports.

There will be five training dates prior to the girls volleyball & football seasons, five training dates prior to the basketball season and one prior to boys volleyball and track seasons. However, each training session will be limited to 50 participants. So if a participant’s first selection is not available then they must choose another training session prior to that sport season. Reservations for a training session must be done by using the online registration process. Each training session is three hours in length. There will be a $27.00 registration fee due at the time of the online registration. This training is a onetime thing. Once a head coach, specific sport coordinator and athletic director has attended they need not attend the training again. Online registration will be available the first of August.

5. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year the Parochial League will be extending the PLC training to the parents. There were a number of incidents that occurred during the sports seasons and City Tournaments that has caused great concerns regarding parent’s behavior at Parochial League sporting events. To better inform the parents of the participants the CCB as mandated that all parents are required to attend a mandatory Parent Like A Champion Today training program. This program was developed by the Center for Ethical Education at the University of Notre Dame and relates closely to the PLC training that the coaches attend.

Training has been scheduled at St James for Sunday, December 7th. Each training session is one hour in length and two sessions have been scheduled for 2:00 pm & 3:30 pm. However, each training session will be limited to 100 participants. So if a participant’s first selection is not available then they must choose another training session offered at your school. Registration must be done in advance. There will be a $10.00 registration fee per family to cover both parents due at the time of the online registration. This training is a onetime thing and once the parents have attended they need not attend the training again unless designated by the CCB.

6. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year the following changes regarding the uniforms of teams participating in the Parochial League will take effect. Names or nicknames will not be permitted on the school uniforms. Only the school’s name may appear on the uniform. Biker shorts or spandex shorts may not been worn as the uniform shorts. Loose fitting gym shorts are the only shorts that maybe worn as the uniform shorts.