Sports Information Handbook

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28,282

GESU SPORTS INFORMATION HANDBOOK
2010-2011

Dear Parents:

The Athletic Director, Brian McLaughlin, Gesu Booster Board, and Athletic Advisory Committee (“AAC”) welcomes parents and athletes to another exciting year of Gesu CYO and intramural competition.

The Gesu Athletic Program is an important part of the educational experience our children receive. Through athletics, our children learn the fundamentals of sports that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. They can also learn lessons on teamwork, competition, discipline, and how to win or lose with class. The Gesu Athletics Program is run by the Athletic Director, Brian McLaughlin. Among many other things, his duties include, coach selection, maintaining the athletic event calendar, student sports registration, facilities arrangement, uniform and equipment coordination, and along with the “AAC”, policy administration.

The Booster Club is a voluntary organization that provides support to the Athletic Director, the Pastor and the Principal in running an excellent program dedicated to encouraging and supporting youth athletics for both Gesu School and PSR children in Grades 1-12.

This year, including intramurals, over 600 students will participate in Gesu’s sports program. Our Family Center will host volleyball and basketball games, which will allow many of our children to experience the support of the “home crowd”. The Booster Club budget covers costs such as uniforms and equipment, league and referee fees, tournament entry fees, and coaching certification and training amongst other financial responsibilities. The sports participation fees and family fee paid each year covers 45%-50% of the operating budget, with the remainder generated through various other Booster functions.
Our two fundraising events for the year are the Gesu Cornhole Classic held in September and the Gesu Booster NCAA Tournament Party held in March. Your $30 family fee can be used as a one-time deduction for attendance at either event. Support of these fundraising efforts is vital in keeping fees down from year to year. We have also instituted a fee tracking program through the new Gesu Athletic Website (www.gesubulldogs.com). All students who want to play, regardless of the ability to pay, will play. Payment from everyone else is expected and required.

Ultimately, success of the Gesu Athletics Program is dependent on the volunteer work of many. We recognize the great contributions of the coaches who give their time and expertise to teach and mentor the students. The Booster Club invites invites you to consider coaching or joining one of the existing committees, as well.
The Booster Club meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:30pm in the Xavier Room. You are most welcome to attend. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and good luck to all of our teams and players this year.

GO BULLDOGS!
Sincerely,
The Gesu Booster Club 2010-2010

SPORTS INFORMATION HANDBOOK 2010-2011

Gesu Booster Club

The Gesu Booster Club is a voluntary organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting youth athletics for both Gesu and PSR children in Grades 1-12. As a parish service organization, the Boosters operate under the auspices of the Parish Council and abide by the rules of the Cleveland Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization (“CYO”). Grades 1-3 participate in an intramural (“IM”) program and grades 4-12 participate in CYO sponsored sports.
The overall administration of the Gesu Athletic Program and its policies is directed by the Parish Athletic Director and is assisted by the Athletic Advisory Committee (“AAC”) and the Booster Club Board. The AAC consists of two Booster Board representatives as well as veteran coaches, Father Snow, Mary Carol Jones. The AAC meets quarterly with the Athletic Director, Brian McLaughlin. Membership of the Gesu Booster Club consists of all parents of participating athletes, all coaches and their assistants, and any parishioner interested in the club and its activities.

Meeting

The Booster Club Board meetings are held each month August through May and are open to all who are interested. Parents who have specific questions or comments concerning CYO or the Gesu Athletic Program must contact the Booster Club President prior to a meeting for agenda consideration.

Gesu Sports Participation Philosophy

The Gesu Booster Club, Athletic Director, and its coaches support and abide by the rules set forth by the CYO office on participation. The Booster Club believes in providing the opportunity for competition for every interested child in Grades 1-12 to the extent that the availability of coaches, practice facilities and financial resources permit. The programs sponsored by the Gesu Booster Club are open to all children who are members of the parish and who attend either Gesu School or Gesu PSR regularly. This means attendance and enrollment in good standing at Gesu School or meaningful and actual PSR attendance. Registration is PSR for no apparent reason other than to gain CYO eligibility at Gesu will not be considered a valid basis for participation.

Coaching Assignments

Volunteer coaches are the heart of the Boosters Athletic Program. Anyone interested in volunteering to coach a particular sport should contact the Parish Athletic Director.

With the advisement of AAC, the Athletic Director is responsible for making all head and assistant coaching assignments.
Priority is given to qualified non-parents especially at the junior high level. In addition, qualified female coaches will get priority considerations for the girls’ teams.
All coaches at the CYO level are to be certified through the certification program provided by CYO. The Booster Club will pay for or reimburse the certification fee.
All coaches will be required to submit to a criminal background check funded by the Booster Club.
All coaches and volunteers must participate in the “Protecting God’s Children” program known as Virtus training.
All coaches are required to be fingerprinted.
All coaches are to adhere to rules set forth by Gesu and CYO. They will be responsible for reading and knowing the rules of the game and the eligibility rules of the sport.

Responsibilities and Commitments

Students and parents involved in the Gesu Athletic Program are expected to treat all teammates, coaches, opponents, and referees with respect. Students and athletes must read and sign the “Gesu Athletes and Parents Responsibilities / Code of Conduct. This must be done on the Gesu Athletic Website (www.gesubulldogs.com) when registering for sports.

Academic excellence must always be the first priority for everyone involved in Gesu athletics. It is the responsibility of the parents to make the judgment call if athletic participation is appropriate. If a child is in an athletic program causing academic performance to suffer, the parent is obligated to address the situation and if they wish, advise the coach and/or athletic director who will assist in any way they can.

A specific commitment is requested from a student and their parents when selected for a 7^th and 8^th grade “A” team. The athlete, with parental support, must recognize that, and endeavor to make his or her attendance at team practices and competitive events a priority over other extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, participation in other non- CYO sports.

Objectives for Team Selection

The Athletic Director, with the input of the respective head coaches, will make all decisions concerning the division of talent. Talent at each level will be evaluated during the preseason practices or assessments. All athletes wishing to participate on CYO 7th-8^th Grade JV and Varsity “A” teams must make a 100% commitment to the team. Boys and Girls participating on any other basketball, soccer, and hockey team (e.g. Cleveland Heights Rec.) or JO Volleyball during a CYO Season is not eligible to play for the Gesu CYO “A” team without special permission from the Gesu Athletic Director. If given permission it will be up to the coach and Athletic Director as to whether the athlete plays more than minimum playing time. They may play on the “B” team if the numbers allow it. Gesu and their coaches are no different than any other league or coach, attendance at practices and games are a must.

Division of Talent
At the 8^th Grade level, Gesu will field teams that will be the most competitive composed of the 8^th Grade Gesu students and 8^th Grade PSR students for the purposes of competing for the CYO Diocesan City Championship. Other 8^th Grade level teams will be sponsored as player interest and available coaching permits, and the talent will be divided evenly. For Varsity Football, the Athletic Director and coaches will field the most competitive Varsity Football team comprised of 7^th and 8^th Grade athletes if the numbers allow. The other 7^th and 8^th Graders will be placed on a team and will play in a lower Varsity Division.
At the 7^th Grade level, if there are multiple teams in a sport, the most talented players may be placed on the same team together.
If numbers are low at both the 7^th and 8^th grade level the grade levels will be combined to field one or multiple teams. All boys and girls will try out for the Varsity “A” team slots and the remainder will play on the Varsity “B” team. For example, if there are (16) 8^th grade players and (6) 7^th grade players, all 22 will be combined for 1 team or all 22 will be evaluated for the Varsity “A” team and the remaining players will be on the Varsity “B” team.
At the 4^th through 6^th grade levels where there are multiple teams at a given grade level, the talent will be assigned among the teams evenly. The emphasis at these levels is on skill development and participation. There will be draft by the coaches and Athletic Director if needed to draft even teams.
All intramural teams are divided by homeroom or in terms of talent.

Playing Up

Teams for various sports will be formed on the basis of grade level, except:

If there are not enough players at a grade level to meet CYO roster requirements, then teams may be comprised of players from different grade levels only to the extent necessary to meet minimum roster requirements.
In football, the weight of an athlete prohibits him from participating at his own grade level the athlete may play at a higher level.
If a 6^th or 7^th Grader possesses unique skills, then the 6^th or 7^th Grader may participate at a higher grade level. This is a rare exception and will only be considered if a request is submitted in writing by the player’s parents to the Athletic Director one month before practices for the sports season begins. The player’s parents must present the reasons that their child should be allowed to play at a higher level, after which the Athletic Director will decide on whether the child may try out for the sport at the higher grade level. If the child is allowed to try out, final decision on whether they may play at the higher level will be made by the coaches and the Athletic Director who may request the assistance of the AAC. No 4^th or 5^th grade athlete will be permitted to move up.

Playing Time:

All playing time is set forth by the CYO. All Gesu coaches will follow the participation rules of CYO. However, all Gesu coaches have the right to sit a player for any reason listed in the “Code of Conduct”. Some examples detailed in the “Code of Conduct” are unexcused abscences, poor grades, and conduct detrimental to the team.

Gesu Booster Club Grievance Policy:

It is the policy of the Gesu Booster Club that in the event of a sports related dispute or disagreement, the parent should first attempt to resolve the issue with the appropriate team coach. Parents should remember that all coaches are volunteers, have a multitude of other commitments, and are part of the Parish community. If the grievance cannot be resolved at this level, the parent should bring the problem to the attention of the Athletic Director. As policy administrator, it is the responsibility of the Athletic Director to investigate the grievance and determine a resolution. The Athletic Director may seek consultation from the Pastor and the AAC if needed.

Sign up Procedure, Uniforms and Costs

The Gesu Sports Program is divided into two major categories based on grade level. CYO sponsored sports are offered to grades 4-12 while the Gesu Intramural Program provides sports to children in grades 1-3. The following is a breakdown of the various sports offered by season:

CYO (Grades 4-12)

Fall:                 CYO:                                                       Intramural:
                        Girls Soccer                                                                     1-2 Grade Homeroom Soccer
                                    Boys Soccer                                                                     3^rd Grade Soccer Clinic
                                    Girls Volleyball                                                             Cross Country
                                    Boys Football                                                                 Flag Football
                                    Cross Country (Co-ed)
                                    Cheerleading (8^th Grade only)

Winter:          CYO:                                                       Intramural:
                        Girls Basketball                                                             Pillo Polo
                                    Boys Basketball                                                             2^nd Grade Basketball Clinic
                                    High School Basketball                                            3^rd Grade Basketball League

Spring:           CYO:                                                       Intramural:
                        Girls Softball                                                                   Track
                                    Boys Baseball
                                    Track

Sign Up Procedure
All sports registration is done online on the Gesu Athletic Website, www.gesubulldogs.com
In order to register, the Code of Conduct must be signed electronically.
Registration is done by season and you must register before the designated deadline.
Athletes are allowed to participate in only one Gesu CYO sport per season with the exception of 8^th Grade Cheerleading.
All athletes who sign up for a sport will be notified by a coach or the Parish Athletic Director and informed about practice times.
Medical Health Forms
A medical health form is required by CYO for each athlete participating in a CYO level sport.
Medical forms can be found on the Gesu Athletic Website and the CYO Webiste
www.gesubulldogs.com
www.clevelandcyo.org
Health forms are to be completed by a physician and returned to the Athletic Director before the athlete may begin team practices.
The physical health form is good for 13 months from the date of the exam.
Uniform Policy

The Gesu Booster Club provides uniforms and equipment for all CYO and Intramural sports teams.

All CYO team participants will be given a full uniform prior to the start of each season with inventory control number on each uniform that is recorded by the Athletic Director or his staff.
The Athletic Director will notify coaches and participants through the Gesu Athletic Website, as to the day and time of uniform distribution. All Uniforms will be issued with recorded inventory control numbers to each athlete.
The Athletic Director and Coaches will notify parents and athletes through the Gesu Athletic Website when uniforms can be returned. All uniforms can be returned to the Athletic Director or his staff in the Family Center, Room 102. Athletes who do not return uniforms may not be allowed to participate on the following season’s teams as well as be charged for the replacement cost of the uniform.
Costs
PLEASE KNOW THAT EVERY CHILD WHO WANTS TO PLAY WILL DO SO WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ABILITY TO PAY. IF THE PARTICIPATION FEES AND FAMILY FEES PRESENT AN UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN, PLEASE CONTACT MS. MARY CAROL JONES AT (216)932-0620 X. 136 OR EMAIL HER AT . THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL AND NO EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY.
The Booster Club may require a yearly, in advance Family Fee of $30.00. This annual charge per family will help keep the athletic program strong and growing at Gesu. It may be used as a one-time credit against admission to the Booster Cornhole or March Madness event. This fee applies to all families who are either Gesu parishioners, have children enrolled at Gesu School or registered as PSR students.

Visitor #: 28,282