COACHES - PLEASE REVIEW MANUAL IN ITS ENTIRETY. GO THROUGH THE CHECKLIST, SIGN AND RETURN TO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR THE COACHING AGREEMENT.
Introduction:
The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is a parish based program which provides opportunities for youth to grow in faith and understanding of their Church through involvement in parish, regional, and Archdiocesan life. The CYO's five phase approach to youth ministry - athletic, social, cultural, service, spiritual - is a model of youth ministry which involves youth from grades five through twelve in youth related activities and programs.
Through a total youth ministry concept, the CYO collaborates on all youth related programs offered by the parish. The emphasis of the CYO is to enable and empower youth to become responsible participants in their faith community.
As a coach for one of the Saint Isidore CYO programs, you and your assistants have a unique opportunity to help our children grow in the CYO spirit through participation in one of the finest grade school programs in the area.
Working with youth is certainly a very challenging yet rewarding experience. While you will probably be spending numerous hours throughout the season with practices, games, and tournaments, the greatest satisfaction will come when you see the healthy development of fine Catholic youth: competitive, yet respective, energetic, yet disciplined, not overly proud in victory nor completely rejected in defeat.
It is the coaches and their staff who set the general tone and atmosphere for their particular sport. Therefore, it is imperative that a Christ-centered attitude prevail. While particular situations may cause impatience or frustration, the coach is charged with being a moderating influence in maintaining civility and a solid Catholic approach.
It is the official policy of the Saint Isidore CYO that character building, not the number of victories is the primary goal of our athletic program. Coaches are to aid in the development of our children's physical potential, while at the same time refining their spiritual, social, and personal traits. While we want all of our teams to be competitive, we must first of all teach our children true sportsmanlike behavior. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win, it's needing to win that's futile.
The purpose of this Coach's Manual is to help you become familiar with some of the responsibilities of your position as well as outline the expectations of a Saint Isidore coach.
May the grace of God continuously shine upon you as you lead our youth in this athletic phase of our CYO program. The Priest Moderator reserves the right to modify any policy stated within coach's manual.
COACH'S MEMO FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The following is a brief summary of certain duties which coaches must perform to ensure proper student compliance.
- Any student who has been suspended from any sport activity during this academic year may only participate if the Executive Director has approved that student's participation. (This paragraph applies to students who were removed from a team).
- All CCD students must be actively enrolled in the Saint Isidore Prep/CCD Program.
- Coaches must remember that they as coaches have the responsibility to report any participant misconduct. Coaches must also be aware that as a coach, you have the authority to discipline and/or suspend any participant with the approval of the Athletic Director or Executive Director.
Background Check and Safe Environment Workshop:
All coaches and assistants will undergo a background check by submitting form SP4-164 to the PA State Police as well as a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Form. Results are to be returned to the Executive Director for file. Failure to satisfy the background check requirements may result in dismissal. All coaches are required to participate in the Safe Environment Workshop mandate by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Coaches Meeting:
A coaches meeting will be held at the beginning of each season to establish tryout and practice schedules, review the coaches manual and archdiocese handbook, and to address any issues. All coaches are required to attend.
Sign-ups/Tryouts:
Sign-up/Tryout dates must be published in the Sunday Church Bulletin for three consecutive weeks prior to their being held. When school is in session, coaches should arrange for an announcement and/or take home flyer to be distributed at Saint Isidore School (including CCD students) with all pertinent information relating to sign-ups/tryouts. Tryouts should be scheduled over a two week period to minimize absences due to illness.
Since this is a Parish program, tryout times must be scheduled to accommodate both Saint Isidore and Public or Private schools.
Season Schedules:
Occasionally, the Priest-Moderator will request all coaches to suspend practices and games both home and away in order to allow the students the opportunity to participate in other components of the CYO. All coaches are required to abide by the request.
Uniforms:
Each player is responsible for the care and condition of all uniforms and equipment assigned to them. Uniforms must be returned washed and equipment cleaned. Parents may be charged for uniforms/equipment that is lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the player being prohibited from participation in future CYO activities. The coach is ultimately responsible to ensure that all uniforms and equipment are returned to the Athletic Director in proper condition within two weeks after the end of their season.
Gym Equipment:
Coaches are responsible for setting up and putting away the all gym equipment (i.e. scoreboard, volleyball nets, etc.) and having someone operate same for all scheduled games (including games not involving Saint Isidore teams).
The only balls (basketball, volleyball, etc.) allowed in the gym during games are those brought in by the respective coaches. Coaches are asked to remind their teams of this rule.
CYO Archdiocese Coaches' Accreditation:
All coaches and their assistants must attend an Archdiocese Accreditation Program within ONE year of their initial assignment. Failure to do so may jeopardize the team's eligibility in the Archdiocese league.
Practice:
Practices must be limited to a maximum of 3 per week and should not last longer than 2 hours while school is in session. Team meetings count as a scheduled practice. Practices should be held at a time and location which is accommodating to all players. At the beginning of each season the coaches, Athletic Director and school Principal will meet to schedule tryout and practice times.
Reassignment of previously scheduled practice times can be coordinated between coaches.
Prayers MUST be conducted at the beginning and end of every practice. Failure to follow this policy may result in removal of coaching privilege.
Service Duty:
Each team is expected to complete various service requirements as required by the Director of Service/Athletic Director/Executive Director (i.e. set-up/knock-down of tables for Sunday donuts, stuffing bulletins, soup kitchen, nursing homes, fundraiser, etc.) in support of the CYO Youth Ministry service phase.
Parents' Meeting:
At the beginning of each season (Fall, Winter, Spring), a general meeting is held with the parents of all students who are rostered to play CYO athletics during that particular season. At this meeting, the Priest-Moderator, Executive Director, Athletic Director will review the various requirements for participation in the CYO athletic program
This is also an opportunity for each coach to meet the parents of his players, outline his coaching philosophy, and reinforce his expectations of the parents during the upcoming season. Coaches should also reinforce that the purpose of our program is not to create high school athletes but to formulate better Catholics.
If not already determined, team parents will be selected at the Parents' meeting.
Miscellaneous:
Every practice/game should begin and end with a prayer.
If Saint Isidore School is closed due to inclement weather, all other scheduled activities at the school are also canceled.
No games or practices may be scheduled during Holy Week (Thursday thru Easter Sunday), 40 Hours Devotion, before exam days, and any other special religious event designated by the Priest-Moderator.
No practices/games should be scheduled before 1:00 P.M. on Sundays. Use of the facilities or outdoor fields shall not be scheduled during 5:00 P.M. mass on Saturdays.
The Executive Director reserves the right to make exceptions or to add to the requirements without prior notice.
