Athletics

ETJ ATHLETICS EXPECTATIONS LETTER

Dear Families -

The beginning of a new sports season is a time filled with anticipation, excitement, and most likely, quite a few nerves. The promise of a successful season & the certainty of individual improvement combine with the mystery of the unknown to generate a thrilling time to be a member of the Bulldog community. 

The start of a new season is also a perfect time to communicate the school’s philosophy and expectations to the families of our athletes. While coaches of specific teams will have their own expectations/requirements of those athletes under their charge, the following is the set of universal standards that we believe should govern our athletics program. In general, if our student/athletes are following our school’s motto of “Show Up, Work Hard, & Be Kind,” then  

1. Students/athletes are STUDENTS first. The primary job of students is in the classroom. Participation in athletics is a privilege, and to enjoy this privilege, students must prioritize their schoolwork above all else. Students-athletes are expected to work hard at their sport while maintaining the same effort in the classroom. 
2. All members of a team are expected to attend all practices & games/matches/meets. By joining a team, student-athletes are making a commitment to their coach, teammates, and themselves, and honoring this commitment is an important part of our students’ growth and a valuable lesson in responsibility.
3. Fans of our Bulldog teams should focus on cheering for their own team, rather than disparaging the opposition or the officials. Our children learn from the examples that we, as adults, provide, and we want to be sure that we are modeling kind behavior in all we do.
4. Members of our athletic teams will receive uniforms and/or equipment from their coach. These uniforms are property of ETJMS, and are being loaned to the student/athlete for the duration of the season. All uniforms/equipment should be returned at the end of the season in the same condition in which they were received. Those who do not turn in uniforms/equipment will be billed at the end of the season. 
5. Please remember that a coach’s job is to drive the success of the entire team, not just a select group of individuals. Please also remember that success is not always measured by wins & losses, but can be measured in growth, improvement, and enjoyment. 
6. Please be respectful of the ending times of practices/games, and be prompt in picking up your student at the conclusion of a practice/game. Remember that a coach cannot leave the facility until all members of the team have been picked up by their families. 
7. If any issues arise during the season that require the attention of coaches or administration, please follow the chain of command to address the matter in question. The coach should be contacted first, followed by the athletic director, and finally, as a last resort, the issue can be addressed directly with a school administrator.

Ultimately, the goal of our athletics program is to give students an enjoyable experience in their chosen sport. Coaches will work tirelessly to achieve this standard, and if our student-athletes follow our school’s motto of “Show Up, Work Hard, & Be Kind,” then, together, we can create a sense of pride in being a member of the Bulldog family.