South Pasadena Middle School Athletics
1600 Oak Street, South Pasadena Ca. 91030 626-441-5830
Mercedes Metz, Principal, Robert Yim Assistant Principal
Home of the Tiger Cubs
Philosophy
The athletic program at South Pasadena Middle School is an integral part of the educational program. It is meant to provide learning experiences for the students who participate. It should help develop habits, attitudes and ideals necessary for ethical competition and cooperation in our society. It should also provide our students with the unique opportunities for self-discipline, self-sacrifice, loyalty to the team, the school and to the community.
Interscholastic athletics is a voluntary program. Thus, competition is a privilege and not a right. Along with that privilege is the responsibility to conform to standards established for the School athletic teams. This privilege may be revoked when the athlete fails or refuses to comply with the established rules, policies and norms.
Sportsmanship
The Athletic Department as a unit is dedicated to practice good sportsmanship in our practices and ultimately in contests. Therefore, we are asking each athlete to make sportsmanship their personal goal. South Pasadena Middle School is making sportsmanship a major goal. We then, are taking a harder look at the way in which our athletes represent our school community. Our expectation is that after we beat our opponent soundly we will shake their hand and congratulate them for good competitive effort. We also expect that our athletes and coaches will accept a loss with dignity.
Athletic Goals
1) Provide an athletic program that meets the expressed needs and abilities of the students, consistent with available facilities, equipment and quality staff.
2) Provide an athletic program that will compete at the highest level without sacrificing good sportsmanship and integrity.
3) Provide equal opportunity for all students.
4) Provide an athletic program which will promote the physical well-being and desirable attitudes in leadership and sportsmanship for both the athletes and spectators.
5) Provide an athletic program which is an integral part of the educational program.
Athletic Objectives:
The student athlete shall learn.....
To work with others: In our society a person must develop self discipline, respect for authority and the spirit of hard work and sacrifice. The team and its objective must be placed above personal desires.
To be successful: Our society is very competitive. You learn to accept defeat only by striving to win with earnest dedication. We want our athletes to desire to succeed and work to achieve that goal.
To develop sportsmanship: To accept defeat like a true sportsman, knowing that we did our best to win, we must treat others as they would like to be treated when we are victorious.
To improve: Striving to improve is essential to achievement. Our athletes will continue to strive to reach higher goals. “If you’re on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there” Will Rogers.
To develop leaders: Any successful athletic program has student leaders as its core. “The coach on the floor/field”. Leadership is essential in life. Student/athlete leaders help direct the team by insisting that the teams goals are continually in focus.
To develop healthy personal habits: As people, we need to develop desirable social traits. Including; fair play, emotional control, honesty, cooperation, dependability, respect and hard work.
General Athletic Rules and Expectations
Conduct and behavior:
The student/athlete represents SPMS, The Community and his/herself. Therefore, the student/athlete is expected to act accordingly. Appropriate language and behavior are expected and will be insisted upon. All school/classroom discipline consequeces will be suported by the coaches and athletic department.
Travel: The following guidelines should be followed:
An athlete may be released to his/her parent only with a note written by the parent and signed by an administrator.
The coach is responsible to supervise the athletes until the parents pick them up. Coaches will wait until the last student athlete leaves. Coaches are not responsible to give rides home to athletes. Team members will stay with the team at all times during contests and/or practices. Appropriate behavior to games and at the opposing schools site is expected.
Team expectations:
The Varsity coach of each sport makes the final decision as to the level each athlete plays. Each Varsity coach will establish and communicate team rules, expectations, and consequences.
Practice sessions are mandatory. Tardiness or unexcused absences will not be tolerated. A practice schedule will be distributed to each player. Continued tardiness or unexcused absences will result in suspension from the team or removal from the team.
School owned uniforms and equipment, if issued, will be issued to players. Each player is responsible to maintain and return equipment. The parent/player will be responsible to pay the fair market replacement cost of lost or stolen equipment. Athletes can be restricted from playing in the next season of sport until all obligations are cleared.
Many sports train, practice and play contests during the summer period. Athletes will be asked and expected to participate during these training times. Each Varsity coach will communicate summer training expectations to athletes. Athletes are encouraged to communicate their schedules and availability to the Varsity coach.
Quitting a Sport:
Athletes who quit, or are removed from, a sport are not allowed to train or join another sport until the sport from which the athlete quit is over, unless mutually agreed upon by the coaches. This includes the playoffs. Students may or may not be allowed back on team after quitting. This is at the varsity coaches discretion. Athletes who quit a team may lose all benefits of a team member including, but not limited to, awards and/or post season honors.
Parent Concerns/Grievances:
It is our belief that a quick and honest discussion between all parties will result in the positive resolution of concerns and an improvement of the atmosphere for both athletes and coaches.
The list below of legitimate and non-legitimate concerns/grievances is intended to be a guideline, not an all inclusive list. Note: Please do not approach a coach immediately following a contest. Emotions are high and often communication becomes confused. If a question arises, call the next day to set up an appointment with the coach. Also, interrupting a practice session is not an acceptable time to air concerns/grievances.
Legitimate concerns/grievances:
1. Failure to provide due process in disciplinary action.
2. Failure to provide a fair opportunity to compete to make the team.
3. Mistreatment of athletes:
Putting students down, insults of a personal nature
Foul, inappropriate language
4. Any violation of an adopted code: ethics, conduct, expectations.
Non-legitimate concerns/grievances:
1. Athlete not given enough playing time.
2. Athlete not playing the right position
3. Strategies used by the coach.
4. Win/loss record of the team or coach.
How Parents/Players should communicate their concerns/grievances:
1. A meeting between the player and the varsity coach.
The player should request a short meeting with the coach
2. A meeting between the parent(s) and the varsity coach.
The parent and varsity coach should meet at a time and place
convenient to each away from the event to discuss the issue.
Note: where the concern is from a lower division player, the
meeting will include the lower division coach and the varsity
3. A meeting between the parent, varsity coach and athletic director.
At this point all parties have been unable to come to agreement
on the issue. At this meeting the following procedure will be
followed:
1. Identify the nature of the problem
2. Reason(s) for the problem
3. Prior communication that has taken place.
4. Efforts that have been made to correct the situation.
5. Acceptable solutions for or exception of each party.
4.A meeting with the Assistant Principal in charge of Athletics. This meeting will also consist of the athletic director, head coach, parent and player. If the problem is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, a written statement of the conference should be generated by the athletic director and kept on file.
If the problem is not resolved, and the student/parent decides to pursue the concern/grievance further, a written summary of the student/parent concern and summary of the conference are to be submitted by the athletic director and the parent to the site principal for further consideration.
Next a committee consisting of the Athletic Director, Assistant Principal of Student Activities and the Principal or his designee. This committee will meet with the player and parent to reach a final solution to the issue.
School Eligibility
An Eligibility Packet must be filled out completely before a prospective athlete practices or plays in a contest. The packet can be obtained from the athletic office. The athletic eligibility packet includes:
SPMS Athletic Eligibility Form
SPMS Medical Examination Form
SPMS Code of Ethics
SPUSD Travel Permission Form
Once these forms are returned to the Athletic Office, a master eligibility list will be given to the Head Coach of each sport. This list determines when the player can begin practice.
Academic Eligibility:
Each student must:
Maintain a 2.50 grade point average (‘C’) or higher in all classes they are enrolled in.
This requirement is rechecked each quarter. Students who receive
one or more grades lower than a ‘C’, will be removed from the team
until the next grading period. Students that are academically
ineligible are not allowed to practice or participate in games. Note:
grades are checked at the Quarter, progress reports are not official
grading periods for the purpose of athletic eligibility.
Attend all classes on game day. Our expectation is that our
athletes will attend all their classes all the time.
Student Participation--Conduct Penalty:
Student participation in athletic contests is a privilege. As a student athlete, you are expected to conduct yourself in an exemplary manner at all times. During participation in all competition, a student who is ejected or disqualified from participating in the remainder of a contest will be ineligible for the teams next contest.
Practices:
A practice schedule should be distributed by the Head Coach. Practices are manditory for all members of the team. If a player is absent from school, it is the players responsibility to notify the coach before practice on the day of the absence.
Programs offered:
Fall:
Flag Football, Coed, Varsity and JV
Girls Volleyball, Varsity and JV
Winter:
Boys Basketball, Varsity and JV
Girls Basketball, Varsity and JV
Boys Soccer, Varsity and JV
Girls Soccer, Varsity and JV
Spring:
Boys Volleyball, Varsity and JV
Girls Softball, Varsity and JV
Note: Some sports will have roster cuts as certain sports have roster limits in terms of the number of players that is manageable for that sport. Every effort will be made to field as many teams as possible. The number of games for each level or each sport will vary depending on the availability of opponents teams to play.
Summary of the Athletic Program at South Pasadena Middle School:
The SPMS Athletic Program can be described in three phases:
Phase 1:6th Grade Program
oIntramural
oNo 6th graders will participate in interscholastic competition
oInstructional, learning of skills
oNo roster limits, everyone participates
Phase 2:7th Grade or “JV” Program
o7th Graders may be chosen for the “Varsity” Team
oTryouts, some roster limits or “cuts” will apply depending on the sport, the number of players trying out and roster limits if any. Efforts will be made to keep as many players as are manageable in each sport.
oRegular practice times scheduled
oGames versus other schools
oInstructional with competitive contests
oSome sports may not field JV teams or games may be less than a “Varsity” team due to opponent availability and other factors.
Phase 3:8th Grade or “Varsity” Program
oTeams comprised of 8th, and some 7th grade students.
oTryouts and roster “cuts” may apply.
oPlaying time is based on ability, not grade level.
oCompete in the “210” League.
oSome competitive tournaments.
The “210 League”:
The “210 League” is a collection of schools that have organized themselves to form a league in which middle schools can participate. This league is loosely based on the Rio Hondo League in which South Pasadena High School participates. Middle schools are not regulated by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). As such, middle school leagues are organized and run by the school administrators. Regular meetings are held to continue to improve the experience for middle school students
