Sports Information and Calendar

Fall Sports, Spring Sports, Sign up, Team Selection, Coach Volunteers, Fees, Forms, Team Commitment, Eligibility, Sports Board/Booster Club, Booster Club Board

Aim and Philosophy

The aim of the extracurricular athletic program at the school is to promote teamwork, enjoyment of sports, physical fitness and knowledge of the rules of the game.   The overriding philosophy of athletics at the school is that "any student that wants to play may play."   The Athletic Director supervises and coordinates the athletic program at St. Rita with the support of the Sports Board and the Booster Club.

Governing Organization

The Governing organization is the Dallas Parochial League. www.dallasparochialleague.com     

Sports Offered and League Structure

FALL

SPRING

Sign Ups  

Sign up sheets are posted in the gym (bulletin board by P.E. teachers' office)   typically about 3 to 4 weeks before a sport starts.     

Team Selection  

At St. Rita, our athletic philosophy is to allow every child an opportunity to play if so desired.   As a result, there are no cuts made in any sport - that is to say, every child will be placed on a team if they wish to participate in a particular sport. In 5th grade it is DPL and St. Rita policy to split teams evenly in those sports in which more than one team is participating.   This means that every attempt is made to evenly distribute talented and not so talented individuals across the board.   In the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, teams are divided into Division 1, Division 2 and in basketball Division 3 teams, based on talent and competitiveness.   Team selection methods may vary from sport to sport.   For example, in volleyball, camps will be conducted before the season where the 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls will be evaluated throughout to place them at their appropriate competitive level.   In basketball, tryouts are conducted for each grade to place them appropriately.   Baseball and softball are similar in that the teams are divided up according to talent and competitive level after a tryout.  Ultimately it is the athletic director's decision as to where a child is placed from 6th grade through the 8th grade.  

Coach Volunteers

At St. Rita, volunteer coaches are the backbone of the program.   Without them, teams will either have to be combined and/or reduced in number.   Typically, volunteers for a particular sport are solicited in the Spartan Speak that comes out the month or so before the sport starts, as well as a general call for coaches at the beginning of the year.   As the child progresses in school, usually most of the coaches continue with their teams as they move on to 6th , 7th and 8th grade.   Ideally, each team will have a coach who has knowledge and experience with the sport, as well as a positive approach in dealing with the particular age group they are coaching.   Using parent volunteers as coaches is certainly not a perfect system, as there are often issues of favoritism , insufficient knowledge and/or experience and even just plain personality conflicts to combat.   Coaches meetings are conducted before each season to discuss expectations, techniques and communication to hopefully prevent some of the aforementioned problems.  All coaches must go through safe environment training and a background check required by the diocese.   Forms for the background check are available through Carolyn Shaw.  The actual safe environment training course is put on periodically at St. Rita as well as other parishes and usually encompasses about a 2 hour session of information.   Dates and times are usually published in the bulletin.  

Fees

Fees range and what they cover -   The athletic budget at St. Rita is self supporting; that is to say it must pay for itself.   In order to do that, athletics must raise a certain amount of revenue.  The main avenue for raising that money is through our sports fees.  The DPL charges each school an assessment for administration of the DPL office and its employees as well as a certain amount to enter each team in the league in its respective sport.  These fees cover the costs of administering the league games, official payments, etc.  At St. Rita, uniforms and practice equipment are provided for our athletes in each of the sports.  Those of course need to be replaced and/or repaired over the course of the years.  To meet these costs, a reasonable fee is charged per sport ranging from $100 for football, to $10 for swimming.  If a child is not financially able to pay a particular sports fee, there is help available.  No child will be kept from playing for financial reasons.   The fees are collected at the beginning of each season, usually before the uniforms are issued.   All uniforms need to be returned at the end of each season clean and in good condition.  Failure to return a uniform will result in a hold placed on a student's report card.

Forms

Each student must have a signed release form and a current physical before participating in any athletic activity.  It is recommended that the physical be completed in August right before school - that will cover a child for the whole school year in whatever sport they choose to play.  Click here to get the forms.

Team Commitment - Practices, Games

Most sports at St. Rita follow the typical format of two practices a week with a game or games on the weekends - either Saturday or Sunday and sometimes both days.   If your child is involved in other "outside" teams (i.e. select or rec. soccer, baseball, basketball etc.) you should strongly consider the time commitment involved before your child chooses to participate.   It is the hope and expectation that if your child plays for a St. Rita team, they will participate in both practices and games as a priority.  It is hard to justify allowing a child to participate on a team if the commitment to attend is not there.  While many coaches are willing to work with those that play in outside leagues, it is our strong desire that during a particular season a child puts their St. Rita sport first if at all possible.  Coaches have the leeway to curtail playing time as deemed appropriate in situations where practices and games are missed.  In 5th and 6th grade volleyball, basketball and to a certain extent baseball and softball, there are (DPL) mandated playing time requirements for each player.  At the varsity level, those requirements no longer exist. (other than D3 basketball)

Eligibility

Academic eligibility is reported at the end of the first three quarters and when progress reports are issued. (see eligibility section in handbook) Ineligibility prohibits a student from both games and practices, including suiting out and sitting on the bench.   Any student that misses school for illness will not be able to participate in a game or practice on that same day.

Sports Board and Booster Club - Functions and Make-up

The Sports Board was established as an advisory arm for the Athletic Director.   It is not a policy making organization.  Three of the current School Advisory Council members sit on the Sports Board as well as volunteer members and the head of the Booster Club.  Typically there are about 10 people on the board.  It meets once a month and a variety of topics are covered, from awards ceremonies, fee amounts, timelines etc.  There are committee chairs, such as concessions, team managers, awards, and equipment.   

The Booster Club is the main support group, both financially and physically, for the athletic department.  The Booster Club has a membership drive to collect money to fund some "extras" as well as some necessities.  For example, the Booster Club funds the awards ceremonies each year as well as field maintenance and improvement projects for our playing fields.  The working aspect of the booster club involves field preparation and set up for football games as well as providing barbecue during football and basketball seasons. The Booster Club meets once a month also, usually right after the Sports Board meeting.  Everyone is encouraged to join and there are leadership opportunities available.