St. Bernadette CYO Coaching Information

On behalf of the CYO Board, players, and parents, thank you for volunteering your time and energy to coaching with the CYO. Balancing the home, work, and volunteer time can be difficult, yet incredibly rewarding when you teach a skill, reach a child, or just re-live some of your own sports memories!

Many of you are seasoned veterans as coaches with the program (some serving on the board as well). Some of you are brand new. As your CYO board, we are here to help and support you in doing your job in coaching our children in baseball, softball and/or T-ball.

We’d like to review a few policies and resources with you so you can better understand the program and know where and how to solve any issues should they arise.

The CYO Mission:
The primary purpose of the CYO at St. Bernadette’s Parish is to conduct the parish based youth athletic programs that foster personal and spiritual growth and commitment to the youth of the Parish. The Organization develops and provides the resources for the programs of its membership and addresses the needs of the youth involved in the program.

What this means to you as a coach:
We strongly encourage all of our coaches to read carefully the Athletic Handbook on the ADW CYO website at www.washcyo.com. In it you will find the CYO philosophy and how CYO Athletics are an opening to young people’s active participation in the Church. “By attentive listening and with Christian conduct a coach, athletic director, or parent of a youth in CYO helps the young people in CYO to reflect on the action of God in the events of his or her life….and you can assist young people in finding the answers in the light of the Gospel.” (Excerpt from the ADW Athletic Handbook)

Duties of a Coach:
Coaches can find a specific list of requirements, criteria, and duties at the ADW site at www.washcyo.com in the Athletic Handbook. Answers to most questions can be found here. Again, we strongly encourage all coaches to read this handbook.

Resources available to you:
If coaches are unable to resolve an issue with a player, parent, spectator, referee, gym/field use representative, etc… please communicate through the chain of command. First go through your Commissioner (please place your commissioners home and cell phone number in your cell phone for game time questions). If the problem is still unresolved then go directly to anyone of the CYO board members.

Hierarchy of the Program:
Our Program at St. Bernadette is set up in the following way.

• CYO Board – President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and 3 Members At Large
• Commissioners – We run each season with 3 Commissioners
  • K-2nd Grade (boys and girls) – Intramural (Cadet) Program
  • 3rd -8th (or 12th) – boys
  • 3rd – 8th (or 12th) - girls
• Coaches – 1 to 2 per team – Head and Assistant coach (can accommodate more if there is parental interest (but only 2 will receive Tier credit – for school purposes)

St. B’s CYO provides sports programs for children in the following grade categories for Fall Soccer, Fall Cross Country, Basketball, and Spring Baseball, Softball and T-Ball

• K-2nd – Intramural (Cadet) Program – Coed or gender specific depending on breakdown of children and up to the discretion of the board and commissioner
• This program runs mostly independent of the ADW – teams play other St. B’s teams for basketball and spring ball, but fall soccer plays other local school teams for 1st and 2nd grade. There is no Cross Country program for K-2nd grade at present.
• 3rd – 4th – Rookie Non-Tournament Program – Players are evaluated at this level and teams are decided upon by Commissioner with coach input for evenly balanced teams. These teams are gender specific and play against other ADW teams. One exception to this is 3rd grade basketball – which plays in the Montgomery County League.
• 5th – 6th – Junior Varsity Tournament/Non-Tournament Program – Players are evaluated at this level by as objective a panel as possible to assign A, B & sometimes C Teams. Ultimate team assignment is determined by the Commissioner. The number of teams and players per team are decided upon by number of players registered. Teams are gender specific and play against other ADW teams and some tournaments.
• 7th – 8th – Varsity Mid-Atlantic/Tournament Program - Players are evaluated at this level by as objective a panel as possible to assign A, B & sometimes C Teams. Ultimate team assignment is determined by the Commissioner. The number of teams and players per team is decided upon by number of players registered. Teams are gender specific and play against other ADW teams and some tournaments.
• 9th – 12th – Senior/Intermediate Mid-Atlantic Program (Basketball Only) – Players are split generally by grade if there are enough players. Teams are gender specific and play against other ADW teams and some tournaments. This program provides high school students an opportunity to continue to play and compete on an intramural level.

Child Protection Policy:
Anyone coaching or in “substantial” contact with children is required to complete an application, training and fingerprinting/background check process before doing so. Contact our Virtus Coordinator for questions on how to complete the process.

On that note, it is not uncommon for parents to “step-up” and assist at practices and games. The definition of “substantial” contact is a tenuous one and our recommendation is to ask those helping out if they are in compliance with the Virtus process. If the said individual is replacing you for a practice/game and/or will be in “substantial” contact, it is your responsibility to verify their compliance with our Virtus Coordinator, Mrs. Perry or Delfina Castro.

Uniforms:
We currently do not take a deposit for uniforms. We have a Uniform Commissioner who will communicate with Athletic Commissioners and sometimes directly with Coaches regarding uniform policies. Our K-2nd program distributes T-Shirts and sometimes hats for its players that are meant to be kept at the end of the season by the players. For 3rd – 12th Grade – uniforms are mostly distributed on loan to our players due to the high cost.

Coaches are asked to assist Commissioners in collecting all uniforms at the end of the season and doing their part to encourage 100% return policy. This means phone calls, emails, and drop-off

locations. Lost uniforms quickly equates in increased CYO fees and more fundraisers to cover costs.

Equipment:
Before the start of each season, the Athletic Commissioner will contact you with team selection and coaching placement. Equipment will be distributed to coaches for the appropriate sporting season. As the coach, you are responsible for the collection of all equipment at the end of every practice and game. At the end of the season the equipment must be returned to the Commissioner in a timely fashion. Drop-off times are usually arranged.

Requirements off the Field:
All K-2nd Grade teams for Soccer and Spring Sports are requested to staff the Snack Shack with volunteers generally one Friday evening per season. Commissioners generally manage the notification and scheduling of this duty – you as coach are required to notify your team and recruit helpers.

All players’ families will be asked to provide assistance with Christmas Tree Sales. This will be scheduled and families will be notified at the end of November or start of December of their commitment date.

Ways you can help your players grow – on and off the field:
The current CYO Board suggests some of the following ways to encourage camaraderie among players and development of physical, emotional, and mental ability of all players (not just your rising stars!)

• Team Prayer before all games
• Participation at CYO Team Mass each season – usually during a 9am Mass
• Know your players names (bring a list and practice it)
• Encourage team parents to organize a social event (before, during or after the season) to build team identity
• Verbally reward good sportsmanship in front of the team
• Brush up on Game Rules and practice Drills to increase excitement for practices and clear focus of the team
• Don’t follow the “minimums” for play time – Remember the CYO is all about PARTICIPATION! Let all the players get time on the field and court so not only the best players build lasting memories and personal confidence
• Develop with your team a “motto” or goal to work toward for the season
• As a coach, set personal goals with each child on the team to develop before the end of the season – not just the goal to win games – if you have time, discuss those goals with the parent

Have a great season – do not hesitate to search us out for any questions or problems or suggestions for a better program. Volunteers are never turned away! Stbernadettecyo@gmail.com