Lower School Parent Athletic Guide

TMS Lower School - Parent Athletic

Mission

TMS is committed to excellence in Athletics as a part of a larger commitment to excellence in Education. At TMS, athletics is an integral component of student life, and we strive to provide an innovative and successful program. We pride ourselves in providing an educational experience that is balanced amongst our 4 Pillars: Athletics, Arts, Citizenship and Academics. It is our belief that through participating in Athletics, student-athletes are further developing character traits of high value that not only enhance success in the classroom, but also make an impact later in life as they progress through university and adulthood.

Vision

At TMS we strive to be a successful and competitive school within the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) through providing a balanced program that is based on a commitment to support athlete development appropriately across different ages and stages of growth.

Philosophy and Core Values

At TMS, every student has the chance to participate in athletics while pursuing academic success. The focus of our athletic program is to provide opportunities for students to continue to develop and apply a variety of interpersonal skills while enhancing their physical fitness and sport specific movement skills.

Specific core values of the program include but are not limited to:

• participating in a program that supports personal growth, development and overall pursuit of excellence;

• developing character values such as leadership, esteem, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, integrity, and respect;

• adopting a long term appreciation and commitment to leading a healthy and active lifestyle; and

• providing a vehicle to ignite school spirit and pride while building a greater sense of community.

Program Goals

The primary focus of the TMS Athletic Program is to provide a venue for students to develop their fitness, physical literacy and sport specific skills through healthy competition and training. We closely align our specific program goals with the Long Term Athlete Development Framework designed by the Canadian Sport for Life Organization. We feel this is how we can best support our student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence. The learning process outweighs the outcome at TMS; we highly value that our student-athletes are provided ample opportunities to grow within their sport and achieve personal health, fitness and sport-related goals. Character development through Athletics is of utmost importance; perseverance, accountability and sportsmanship are essential to the process.

Program goals and considerations include but are not limited to:

• providing a structured and appropriate periodization of training and competition to support various ages and stages of athlete development;

• further developing, refining and applying:

o Overall physical literacy

o Fundamental movement skills

o Sport-specific movement skills (basic and complex), knowledge and strategies

o Fitness-related skills such as speed, power, agility, coordination, reaction time and balance, etc.

o Health-related components of fitness, including muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardio-respiratory capacity (aerobic and anaerobic) as well as joint flexibility;

• learning how to cope with the various physical and mental aspects of competition through positive self-talk, mental imagery and visualization;

• adopting strategies to manage emotions (anger, stress, anxiety, etc.) effectively, and build resiliency and self-discipline;

• developing positive team players, supportive leaders and effective communicators; and

• introducing time-management skills related to sport involvement.

Athletic Affiliation (CISAA)

TMS is a member of the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) and participates in a range of competitive sport leagues with fellow CISAA member schools. The CISAA mandate is to provide the students with exciting athletic opportunities through challenging competitive experiences and to teach and demand positive attitudes and respect for others. The federation has a firm belief in the cultivation of a learning mindset for athletes as well as creating supportive and inclusive environments that are centered on athlete development. To learn more, please visit their website (www.cisaa.ca).

Student Participation and Sports Offerings

At TMS, all students are provided the opportunity to participate in Athletics. We hope students will be active throughout the school year whether it is through our SSAF inter - school or intramural programs.

Intramural Program

The intramural program at TMS runs all year and is open to all students. Intramurals is an excellent way for students to get involved with sport and be on a team. Intramurals include a variety of low-organized games and sport. Intramurals are scheduled at recess time. The goal of the intramural program is to provide a fun, inclusive and supportive team environment where students of all abilities can participate in sport together in a non-competitive fashion. Students build self-esteem, self-discipline,

respect and confidence through participating on a team. The intramural program is a great way to build relationships with peers while getting in your daily physical activity time!

Interschool Athletics

The TMS Interschool Athletic Program encompasses approximately 11-13 competitive sports teams within a variety of age groups. The Athletic year is divided into 3 seasons: fall (September – end of October), winter (early November – late February) and spring (late March – l a t e May). Tryouts for teams commence at the beginning of each season, and practices are scheduled 2 – 3 times weekly afterschool (4:00pm – 5:00pm) depending on the competition schedule and gym availability.

Sports Offerings Include: Additions/Revisions are subject to change annually based on participation and other contributing factors that will support appropriate growth ofprogram.

Fall Winter Spring

U10 Co-ed Soccer (Grade 4)

Cross Country (Grade 3 - 6)

U12 Boys Volleyball (Grade 5 and 6)

U12 Girls Basketball (Grade 5 and 6)

U10 Girls Basketball (Grade 4)

U10 Boys Basketball (Grade 4)

U12 Boys Basketball (Grade 5 and 6)

U12 Girls Volleyball (Grade 5 and 6)

Track and Field (Grade 3 - 6)

U12 Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee (Grade 5 and 6)

U12 Girls Soccer (Grade 5 and 6)

Student - Athlete Expectations

Student-athletes at TMS are not only participants within the program; they are rolemodels for their peers and ambassadors of their school. First and foremost, they are students, which implies that it essential they demonstrate to be accountable and responsible within their academic endeavours as well as their athletic endeavours.

It should be considered an earned privilege to represent TMS in an athletic competition. Therefore, certain behavioural expectations come with this selection. Student-athletes who participate within the Athletic Program should recognize that they have an obligation to themselves, their teammates, their coaches and the school community to strive to develop excellence, respect the integrity of the game and to never accept mediocrity. It is hoped that participation in the program will enable students to value competition, instill self-discipline and self-control, exercise good sportsmanship and mature judgment at all times.

Prior to committing to a team, students must sign the “Informed Consent to Participate in Co-Curricular Athletics” (See Appendix) which outlines the student-athlete expectations all TMS athletes must adhere to throughout the season. This is a contractual agreement between Athlete and Coach and must be submitted prior to a student’s first competitive game. If athletes fail to uphold the expectations stipulated in the Athlete Code of Conduct, a meeting will be set-up with the Coach and Athletic Director (possibly the Head of Elementary) to discuss future participation. A probationary contract may be created to help support the athlete’s success moving forward or, dependent on the severity of the situation, participation could be limited or withdrawn for the remainder of the season.

Expectations of student-athletes include but are not limited to: making academic achievement their highest priority, and ensuring that they are accountable to their studies and prioritize their time to manage deadlines, while staying up- to- date with any missed work;

• notifying teachers ahead of time if they will be missing classes for games or tournaments and catching up on any missed tests or assignments;

• attending all scheduled practices and games, including tournaments and playoffs. ( In the event of an emergency situation which prohibits attendance, it is the student-athlete’s responsibility to communicate this information to the coach and to understand that failure to attend a practice may result in reduced playing time or removal from the team);

• displaying good sportsmanship, and exhibiting fair play and proper conduct on and off the playing surface;

• treating teammates, opponents, coaches and officials with respect both in victory and defeat, and encouraging other athletes to do the same; and

• respecting the integrity and judgment of other student-athletes, coaches or officials.

What do coaches expect from their players?

• maintain academic success;

• be coachable; strive for personal best and accept constructive feedback to promote growth and development in the sport;

• be committed to the team for the entire season, ensuring attendance at all scheduled games, practices and team events;

• arrive on time for all scheduled practices and tournaments;

• self-respect and respect for their teammates, referees, coaches and spectators

• talk to the coach directly if there are any issues or concerns; be a self-advocate;

• trust the coaches decisions, knowledge and experience for the game

Role of Coach

All coaches at TMS are employees of the school and appointed by the Athletic Director. A coach’s primary role is to provide skill development, offer guidance, and to create a positive learning environment that promotes enhancement of character traits and knowledge of the game. Coaches must demonstrate professionalism, conduct themselves as positive role models and adhere to the TMS ideals. They should make every effort to model good habits, desirable attitudes, display a strong sense of leadership while being enthusiastic. At times, Coaches may need to provide discipline if warranted; and only in the effort to enhance athlete growth, development and team morale.

What can players expect from their coaches?

• make it a fun, inclusive and challenging environment;

• be fair and unprejudiced with players, considering individual needs and differences;

• lead and motivate players to bring out the best in themselves;

• self-respect and respect for the team, opponents, referees, spectators etc.;

• teach appropriate age and stage sport-specific movement skills, strategies and build overall fitness;

• be approachable and willing to talk;

• care about the players beyond the sport;

• make the season rewarding and fulfilling regardless of the team’s record; and

• communicate clearly and provide constructive criticism

Team Selection

Each coach is responsible for his or her team selection. Coaches are required to take the maximum number of participants which is realistically feasible for their respective sport and complies within the sport-technical guidelines governed by the C IS A A. There will be scheduled tryouts for respective sport teams and participation is mandatory. The Head Coach establishes criteria for selection with input from his or her assistants and Athletic Director. This may involve a number of variables including coachability, skill, attitude and attendance. Participation on a community team does not guarantee any player a spot on a school team. The CISAA is highly competitive and coaches make their selections in order to ensure they have a well-rounded team of capable athletes who can fill a variety of positional roles. Students who do not make the official roster for their respective team may participate in other activities within the school such as intramurals.

Playing Time

Team selection, practice design, and decisions regarding game situations are the responsibility of the coaching staff. Playing time is dependent on skill and judgment and is earned by players based on their commitment, performance and perseverance demonstrated at practice. Players must display athletic competence, an understanding of the “game plan”, and have the required level of conditioning necessary to perform. It is the Head Coach’s right to make these decisions. Our program structure allows for growth of the athlete, and the opportunity to demonstrate that he or she has earned the right to play.

Starting positions and playing time are not guaranteed to anyone; each is earned. Equitable playing time and positional roles will vary. Coaches will make every effort to provide gametime opportunities for all. As competition level increases, playing time will become more contingent on performance factors and competency. Each team member is valuable to the team’s overall progress regardless of minutes earned. Athletes should set personal goals to achieve throughout the season. Players can learn many valuable lessons whether it is during practice, on the bench or game-time situations; it is important that players develop a sense of putting their team above themselves, learn how to accept instruction and criticism, and take responsibility for one’s own actions and growth in the sport.

Role of Parent

Your family’s interest in and support of our athletic program is welcomed and appreciated. We firmly believe that all students should be involved with an athletic team and that it is an essential aspect of their educational experience at TMS. We are most interested and concerned with each student’s personal development through athletics.

Parents can expect the following from coaches:

• The coach will ensure a safe and inclusive environment.

• The coach will promote good sportsmanship.

• The coach will provide appropriate training that supports athletic development.

• The coach will be a positive role model and help build confidence and character traits.

• The coach will abide by the policies and principles of the TMS Athletics Guide.

Parents are expected to:

• understand the importance of the student’s commitment and help facilitate mandatory attendance at all practices, games, tournaments and play-off competitions;

• sign and return the “Informed Consent to Participate in Co-Curricular Athletics” (See Appendix) in a timely fashion;

• ensure the coach is notified of any scheduling conflicts well in advance;

• leave coaching decisions up to the coach (positions, strategy, playing time, roster, etc.) while being understanding that coaches sometimes make mistakes but are working hard for the success of the team and individuals on that team;

• encourage students to be self-advocators and to communicate directly with the coach if any issues arise;

• exercise good sportsmanship and communicate with the coach or any parties (referee, opponents, etc.) in a respectful and civil manner; and

• set up a meeting with the coach to discuss any ongoing issues or concerns that the athlete is having trouble dealing with. If further support is needed, parents may then contact the Athletic Director to help provide a positive solution for all.

The Athletic Director will regularly update tryouts, schedules, photos and results. This memo can be found on the Athletic Portal.

How do I access the TMS Athletic Portal?

• Go to the TMS website – www.tmsschool.ca

• Access the “My TMS” section

• Log-in to Parent Portal

• Access Lower School Athletic Portal

Jerseys and Equipment

All athletes participating on a team will be supplied a team jersey by their coach prior to competition. Please note that athletes are responsible for their jersey; and all given items (shorts, shirt etc.). These items should be handled with care and returned to the coach at end of the season/tournament. Unreturned or damaged items will be charged and billed to the student’s account.

Safety and Medical

Please be aware that with all sports, there are inherent risks such as, sprains, strains, abrasions, bruises, concussions etc. By volunteering to participate in a school-sponsored athletic activity, a student and his/her parents acknowledge the potential risk for physical injury to occur. In the event of serious injury, parents will be informed immediately. Coaches must complete the appropriate Accident Report Forms and submit it to the Athletic Director for review and then it will be filed at the Main Office.

In the event that a sport-specific injury occurs during a practice or game situation, appropriate first aid response will be provided, and dependent on the severity of the injury an ambulance may be called for support. If an athlete requires hospital care, a coach will provide support and supervision until a parent arrives onsite.

In the event of a suspected head or neck injury, athletes must seek medical attention and be assessed by a doctor before they return to learn or play. With any suspected head or neck injury, athletes must follow our TMS Return to Learn protocol which is overseen by our Learning Strategist. Athletes must have detailed supporting medical documentation to provide evidence that they are able to Return to Play on their respective TMS teams.

As a school, TMS, adheres to Rowan’s Law (Bill 193) in regards to provincial regulations pertaining to any head/neck injuries. TMS will follow in accordance to the law and our school policies align with such. Athletes and parents must be aware, agree to and recognize this prior to commencing any physical activity associated with TMS. In order to participate in TMS sport, it is required that each student completes the following:

- Receives appropriate Concussion Education and Awareness annually; as provided by TMS at the beginning of each School Year

- Concussion 101 video (8 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8HbNORdw00

- Acknowledges the sport-specific risks pertaining to Concussions, if they choose to participate on TMS school teams. They must be willing to receive this information from their Coaches prior to competition. Afterwards, they must sign the Player Code of Conduct outlining they understand the risks associated; if the Athlete is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian must sign off as well.

Transportation

In most cases, bussing is provided for all students to and from competition sites. When venues are in close proximity to the school, a cab may be used instead. If for any reason, a parent chooses to transport his or her child to or from the game, the coach must be informed well in advance.

Athletic Awards

At the culmination of the school year, one “Titan” Award will be given out for each team along with the Major Athletic Awards. Each will be acknowledged during the TMS Awards Ceremony. The Major Athletic Awards include Athlete of the Year, 3D and Jordana Fiorini Spirit Award. These major awards are earned by athletes who show outstanding commitment to the TMS Athletic Program and who participated on a team regularly throughout the year. They also must fit the qualifiers below to be considered as a nominee.

Award Description

Major – This award encompasses the whole Athletic Program. Recipients must be heavily involved in a range of sport commitments across the entire school year (each season). 1 male and 1 female recipient will be recognized in each age category: U11 (grades 5 and below ) and U12 (Grades 6). These are determined by the Athletic Department and are presented at the TMS Awards Ceremony in June.

Athlete of the Year This award recognizes an athlete who demonstrates extraordinary performance and contributes significantly to the overall success of the team.

3D This award recognizes an athlete who demonstrates stellar dedication to athletics while consistently performing with desire and determination within their team.

Jordana Fiorini Spirit Award This award recognizes an athlete who consistently acts as an ambassador for the school and best exemplifies the attributes of character, integrity and sportsmanship.

Individual Team – Each coach will nominate 1 athlete per team that best meets the criteria stated for each award. These awards are presented at the end of each respective season during our Athletic Assembly.

Titan Award

This award recognizes a player that is extremely coachable and an excellent team player. They demonstrate exemplary attitude, commitment and perseverance.

Respect yourself:

• I will wear the proper equipment and wear it correctly.

• I will develop my skill and body strength so that I can play the game lo the best of my abilities.

• I understand that a concussion is a serious brain injury that has both short- and long-term effects.

• I understand that I don't need to lose consciousness lo have had a concussion.

• I understand that any blow lo the head, face or neck. or a blow to the body which causes a sudden jarriing of the head may cause a concussi1on.

• I understand that if I suspect I might have a concussion I should stop playing the sport immediately

• I understand that continuing lo play with a suspected concussion increases my risk of more severe longer lasting concussion symptoms as well as increases my risk of other injury_

• I will not hide my symptoms. I will tell my coach. trainer parent, or other responsible person if I am concerned I have had a concussion and/or experience any signs and symptoms of concussion following a collision.

• I understand I will not be able to return to play following a collision where I experience signs and symptoms of concussi:on.

• I understand I will have lo be cleared by a physician or qualified medical professional preferably one with experience in concussion management. prior lo returning lo play.

• I understand I will have lo follow the 6-slep Return lo Play guidelines when returning to activity_

Respect Others:

• I will respect the rules of the game.

• I will respect my opponents and play fair.

• I will not fight or attempt to injure anyone on purpose.

• I will respect my coaches. trainers parents and the medical professionals and any decisions made with regards to my health and safety_

Player:

APPENDIX

Informed Consent to Participate in Co-Curricular Athletics

Injurydue tousualriskoftravelingbyeither school-providedor private transportation to and from the activity.

Injury due to a studentathlete falling,collidingwith objects orother participants,or otherwise becoming hurt while engaged in theactivity.

Injury due to the inherent nature of the activity.