


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



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


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

Primary focus
Fun
 Fundamentals
 Fair play
 Fitness
 Developing Friendships



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

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.
Questions regarding Grade 7 participation
policies?

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



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


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



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.


Every student will receive equal playing time
during regular season games
During Playoffs…every student will play in every
game, with significant playing time for each
player

Playing time during playoffs is at the coach’s discretion

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

This is ultimately the coach’s decision

In volleyball, this could look like…
 A significant portion (eg 15-20 points) of 1 game
 Smaller portions (10-14 points) of more than 1 game
 Situation or role specific substitutions
 An opportunity to have an effect on the game, make
mistakes and learn from them without being
immediately pulled from the game



The player sits on the bench for the entire game
and only plays in the last 2 points 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 back to back
sideouts).





Start time is now 5:30 (warmups begin @ 5:15)
No score kept
Games will be timed (14 min. length)
No timeouts will be allowed
No subs will be allowed





Games begin at 5:30 (warmups @ 5:15)
Scores kept, but games will be timed
No time-outs
No subs
Scores are still submitted for end of season
standings


HSD Middle Years Athletics Philosophy is
developmental
Moves from…
non competitive in Grades 5/6
 introduction to competition in Grade 7
 some elements of competition added in Grade 8
 more elements of competition added in Grade 9


Equal playing time during regular season

Playoffs


Playing time is at coach’s discretion
Our general expectation is that athletes will receive
significant playing time as already defined



…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”


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


All interscholastic athletes in Grade 7, 8 and 9
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

Decision making will generally rest with the
athletic department…
 A.J. Neufeld and Trevor Paton
 …in consultation with:
 school administration (Ed Neufeld and Merrilee Plett)
 coaches and teachers
 parents of the athlete

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.”

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!
Are There Any
Questions?

If possible, we will arrange transportation by
bus for games outside of Steinbach


With the exception of multi-day tournaments
We will ask for volunteer drivers for games within
Steinbach
 Volunteer Drivers must submit to a Child Abuse Registry
Check and submit copies of a valid drivers licence and
vehicle registration to the school
 Please notify the school if there are any changes in the
status of your licence or registration

Athletes may only be transported to an HSD
event by the following






Parent or Legal Guardian
HSD Registered Volunteer Driver
HSD employee
Coach
Please do not arrange alternative transportation
unless the driver falls into one of these categories.
Athletes may not walk home from a venue, but may
walk home from CMS

Please be aware of the approximate time your
athlete needs to be picked up

Please be considerate of the time
commitments/demands of our coaches and
supervisors

There will be an opportunity to complete
volunteer driver registrations at the conclusion
of this presentation
Thank you for coming!