Athletic Parent Athlete Meeting Spartan Athletic Mission The

Athletic Parent & Athlete Meeting

Spartan Athletic Mission The Sossaman Middle School Athletic Program is committed to uphold a positive culture in which coaches, parents, fans, officials, and athletes work together to create a first-class experience that will have a long-term impact. Our coaches strive to create an encouraging environment that will allow each student athlete to learn life lessons that have value beyond the game. Our athletes will learn the skills, tactics, and strategies of the game and improve as players while feeling valued as team members.

Why do we do this? • Developing skills and physical abilities • Increasing resilience to overcome challenges • Building relationships with teammates • Learning from positive adult role models • To become champions in the game and in life

Overview of Sossaman Athletics • We are members of the EVC East Valley Conference. • For schedule, standings, and maps to away games: Link of conference we compete in • The conference includes a total of 10 schools from Queen Creek, Higley, and Chandler.

We follow HUSD rules • HUSD follows AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) • Students are required to complete athletic packet. • Parents and students should be aware of the risks of being involved in sports.

Their motto is “Better Athletes, Better People” www. positivecoach. org We are partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance

Double Goal • Our coaches have the goal of winning but even more important- the goal of teaching life lessons through sports (a primary initiative of the Positive Coaching Alliance). • Triple-Impact Competitors – • Making themselves better through individual effort. • Making their teammates better through being a supportive teammate. • Making the sport better through following rules, honoring officials and demonstrating sportsmanship.

Boys Basketball 8 th – Jesse Brown Jesse. Brown@husd. org • 7 th – Lena Dibartolomeo • Lena. Dibartolomeo@husd. org

Cross Country Coaches – Tracy Maluski and Troy Emenecker Tracy. Maluski@husd. org Troy. Emenecker@husd. org

Softball • 8 th – Ashlyn Leyba • Ashlyn. Leyba@husd. org 7 th - Alix Hoyt Alexandra. Hoyt@husd. org

What to Expect • Season schedule includes home and away games, playoff, and championship game. • All students who “suit up” will have game time. • Coaches are responsible for determining the duration of play.

Student safety • Coaches are first aid/CPR trained. • First Aid kits are at every game. • Water is provided. • Heat guidelines are followed. • Accident reports are filed for any injury. • Emergency action plans are in place.

Responsibilities • There is a $100 athletic fee (nonrefundable) per season, with a $350 family cap per year • Please take it upon yourself to track the amount you have paid in athletic fees for the current school year. • Uniforms are loaned from the school and must be returned in good condition at the end of the season or you will be charged to replace it • Stay a positive leader on campus.

Eligibility • The first eligibility check will be run at progress reports. • After progress reports grade checks will be run every week. • Any student who is failing a course will be ineligible. • Students may become eligible by submitting an signed grade check form after pulling up their score in the class which they are failing. • Students who are deemed ineligible are required to miss at least one athletic competition.

Eligibility Continued… • Students with misbehavior at school may not be eligible for participating in games as determined by the coach and athletic director. • Students who serve ISS during the school day will not be allowed to participate in any GAMES that day. • Students must attend at least 3 class periods in order to participate practice or games. If a student is out ill they may not return for athletic competition.

Transportation • You may only transport YOUR • Busses depart from SMS before student. dismissal • Team must travel to athletic events together • Parents may pick up at the away location but must sign out the student

How Can You Help? • Coordinate snacks for games • Carpool for practices • Support a positive team culture • Be a good example of sportsmanship • Cheer for our players without coaching • Stay positive about coaches and players and officials • Address concerns with coaches first • Please wait 24 hours before discussing concerns with the coach. • Do not approach coaches at or immediately after an athletic competition

Help students succeed in sports and in life • BE A DUAL GOAL PARENT • Encourage your child to give maximum effort • Use sports as a learning experience • Help your child get past mistakes • Be an example- respect the rules, opponents, officials, teammates, and self • Encourage your student to self-advocate for their athletic and academic needs.

Athletic Recognition • Pep assemblies • Team pictures • Morning announcements • Quarterly athletic banquet • MVP • Most Improved • Spartan Strong • Participation

We are always looking for sponsors • Encourage friends and family to donate to Sossaman Middle School • Community partnerships • Community Donations • Business sponsors- banner

Fundraising • Individual teams can raise money for their program • Using tax credit donations can save your family $200 - $400 a year • We can’t charge admission at our events but we can run concession tables at home games • Please contact me for more information.

SMS Athletic Boosters • The Spartans have a highly successful booster organization which promote school spirit and pride • The PTSO can help raise money to support transportation costs, replace or upgrade equipment, provide grants, organizing raffles, selling concessions, or seeking out sponsors takes a team.

It costs about $40, 000 to run our program annually. $100 individual athlete participation fees go towards: • Coach salaries • Transportation • Officials • Equipment • Conference Dues • Facility maintenance and upgrades • Participation fees can be paid using tax credit donations • Tax credits can be $200 individually or $400 per family • Any tax donation monies paid will be reimbursed by the state at the end of the tax year.

Communication • Follow us on Twitter • @sossamansports • @SMS_Spartans • Information and Forms can be found on our website • District forms and documents • Constant Contact • Directions for signing up can be found on our website. • Constant contact e-mail updates • Notice of changes to athletic information will sent automatically to you.

Athletic Director • Brandon Keeling - Athletic Director • Brandon. Keeling@husd. org • 480 -279 -8513 • Angie Marqueling– Administrative Assistant • Angie. Marqueling@husd. org • 480 -279 -8513