Physicals will be given at the McCalmont Gym by Dr. Duhart. This is available this year to both boarding and day students. Sign-ups will be occurring 1 week prior to date in Upper School Lobby. The sign-ups are first come, first served and will not, unfortunately, be able to accomodate every student.You must sign up in order to reserve your spot. ______________________________________________________________
Principia Athletics will be running several different summer sports camps in June 2008. If you are interested, please contact:
Soccer – June 1-7 located at Cedars Camp; Contact Travis Brantingham 314-275-3577 Travis.Brantingham@Principia.edu
Football – May 31 pm - June 3; Contact 314-514-3082 x2 or Brad.Warrick@Principia.edu
Volleyball – No camp
Softball – June 2-4; Contact Ken Leavoy 314-275-3540 x3430 or Ken.Leavoy@Principia.edu
Girls Basketball – June 10-15; Contact Leslie Nichols at 314-275-3532 x3415 or Leslie.Nichols@Principia.edu
Boys Basketball – June 2-8; Contact Tom Bania at 314-229-0276 or tbania@charter.net
Wrestling – June 3-12 located in Michigan; Contact Peter Switzer 314-757-0154 or peterswitzer@sbcglobal.net
If technical difficulties block any in-season schedules, please e-mail Principia Athletics — Christine.Fleer@principia.edu — for a schedule to be sent to you.
Athletics at Principia is a key aspect of Principia’s ‘whole man’ education that engages and seeks to reveal all aspects of the individual – the spiritual, moral, physical, intellectual, and social.
“Principia education should mean the education of the whole man – physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, as well as intellectually.This can be accomplished through athletics, sports of various kinds, academic training, association with each other under refined social conditions, and above all, through the unfolding of the spiritual nature in the daily practical application of the teachings of the Master.”Mary Kimball Morgan, EAP, p.69
One of the most important aspects of a Principia education is character training, or in other words the spiritualization of thought.The athletic department has defined team work, selflessness, and consideration for others (GOLD) partnered with physical demands that teach one to no longer lean on the material staff (BLUE), as our primary objectives in developing spiritualized thought.
The Principia athlete is high minded and hard fighting by expressing purity and courage in every challenge they face.Our goal is to foster a balanced education of learning how to work with others under the adverse circumstances that competitive sports uniquely offer.
“This ‘whole man’ whom Principia seeks to develop will live in a highly competitive environment when he leaves school.He will need to know how to get along well with others in competitive situations.He will need to know how to subordinate his own activities to a group plan, even when there is a chance for brilliant individual play that would bring momentary glory to the one, and perhaps ultimate defeat to the group.Nothing in the gamut of curricular and extracurricular school activities can be devised to do a better job of teaching this ability than a competitive sport…”Edwin Leonard, As The Sowing, p.13-14
PRINCIPIA ATHLETIC CREED
Aggressive without antagonism;
Working hard for skill in one’s sport and for mental and physical alertness;
High minded and hard fighting;
Always gracious, and win or lose, steadfast and loyal to team and school;
Doing all for the FUN in the game—
That is the Principia athlete.
That is the Creed or our teams.
ATHLETIC HANDBOOK
Questions and Answers for Parents
Why is participation on team sports and athletic teams so valuable in learning life skills?
We believe athletic experiences are invaluable because of the proving grounds that are provided for students to demonstrate their high Mindedness and their hard fighting attitudes.
The value of proper competition is learned.
Students learn the importance of building relationships. Trust , respect, unselfishness, cooperation and learning how to lead and follow as well as demonstrating moral courage contribute to good relationships.
The value of teamwork is learned.
Discipline, commitment, hard work, dedication and selflessness are life skills that will be learned.
How might I best support my son/daughter in their athletic team experience?
Understand that the athletic experience at Principia is an educational experience.
Metaphysically support your son/daughter. This is the most important.
Be a positive spectator.
Have dialogue with your son/daughter about what their experience means to them so you can be aware of challenges and triumphs.
Celebrate the good, success and support the learning that results from facing adversity, conflict as well as mental and physical challenge.
What might be the most challenging for you as a parent?
Allow your child to live their own experience while you support them.
Allow your child to discover on their own, yet be there to support.
Allow your child to fail and make mistakes, yet being there to support their learning.
Focus on your child and don’t compare. Each child develops and matures at different times.
Don’t make excuses for your child. Support their growth!
What is the expectation of parents at sporting events?
Please allow the student athletes the privilege of competing and the arena that provides for character growth and development. Coaches work daily with these athletes and they work hard to understand their needs and provide opportunities for their growth.
Allow the officials, referees, umpires, coaches to do their job. They will make mistakes. They are apart of the game experience and they are trying to do their best for all involved.
Play time is the discretion of the coach(s). There are many reasons why a coach will substitute and award playing time.
Cheer and provide good school spirit!
When a parent has a concern or frustration following an athletic contest, what should they do?
Please do not confront the coach immediately following a contest. Allow the coach to focus on all the aspects following the game and call him/her the next day. The conversation and feedback may lead to better resolution and dialogue when both parties are prepared to talk.
We encourage you to contact the coach first, then the athletic director if there is a further need.
Be alert to handling frustration and give yourself time to think it over. Don’t react on impulse.
How is “playing time” handled?
It is the intent of each coach to find opportunity for each player to participate in an interscholastic competition. However, game, clock, scoreboard, skill, practice attitude and participation, effort etc. all are reasons one might or might not participate.
If you should have a problem regarding this, please talk to the coach about how your child can improve and learn. The coach will not discuss playing time but will be happy to provide information that will supportthe growth of your child.
Depending on the age/level of play will “playing time” be determined. Regardless of the age/level coaches are training students the importance of learning how to earn a position as well as life skills such as discipline, commitment, hard work, dedication and selflessness.
What steps might I take if my son/daughter’s experience is not meeting their expectations?
Help your child see the big picture.
Encourage them to go directly to the coach and have a conversation.
Prepare your child to be receptive to what a coach might challenge them with.
Try not compare them with other student athletes.
Recognize that the “process” is the most important part of the learning and growth in athletics.
Parents attending practices?
Parents are allowed to attend practice but not make it a daily habit. This is your child’s experience. Allow them to explore on their own.
Why are the pre-season fall sports camps important? (2 weeks for most sports and 1 week for Tennis and Cross Country)
MSHSAA requires 14 days of practice prior to a sport’s first interscholastic competition. (7 days for 1 week camps)
We are unique in that we have a day student and boarding situation. Most local schools practice during the summer and prior to first competition.
Teams have a tremendous opportunity to bond, unify, and build come comradre in preparation for the season.
Training and skill development takes place.
Saturday, weekend practices?
Saturday practices are under the discretion of the coach of the sport.
No Sunday practices are allowed, however, open gyms/fields are provided but not required.
Meals and travel arrangements for athletic contests?
Principia will provide funds for meals if teams will not be able to return to campus in time for boarders to eat at the school cafeteria. Day students will not be charged. Teams will stop at a local restaurant on the way home.
Buses will provide transportation for teams to away contests. Students are expected to travel to and from the games with the team. Coaches will drive the buses.
What do I do if sports camp conflicts with my child finishing up summer camp?
·Contact the coach of the sport and discuss an agreeable solution.
What about camps for winter and spring sports?
·Winter and spring sports teams may require student athletes to return a few days early from vacation to practice. All schools vacations do not coincide.
·A summer/winter 3-4 day mini camp may be available depending on the sport.
How do I get directions for local sporting events?
See the back pages of the PPA telephone directory for school addresses and directions. Please call the “sports hotline” 314-514-3082 x1 for updated game and local information. If neither place provides the directions you are seeking, we would advise looking up directions on MapQuest.com or Googlemaps.com. Please let the Athletic Department know of this so that we can update our information as well.
Physical Exams and why do we need them?
As members ofMSHSAA and participating interscholastically in athletics, it is required by law to have a yearly physical exam. Any exam done after February 1 may be used for the following year.
Beginning in late spring of 2008 the athletic department will have a local physician come to school and perform physical exams for day students and boarders. The cost will be communicated to the parents and billed to your school account.
Officials. Referees, Umpires?
They are doing their best to support the educational environment of athletics.
They will make mistakes.
Allow them and expect they will be doing the best job they can.
Respect their role.
They are apart of the game. They support the atmosphere of the event.
Depending on the age/level, the experience and proficiency of the official, referee, or umpire may vary.
Coaches of Varsity contests evaluate and rate officials, referees and umpires.
Try it sometime – it’s a tough job!
Athletic Website?
Please check the website for rosters, schedules and coaches objectives and goals for that sport. We work to keep the website up to date.
The athletic homepage will be updated with” need to know” current information and reminders.
www.Stl.com is a website that provides local statistics and opponent schedules and information.
Electronics?
Students will be asked to put cellphones and iPods away during athletic practice/games.
IPods and head sets are not to be taken when traveling to away games. Students need to be focusing on game preparation.
