ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

The goals of Claremont Prep's Athletic Program are to improve each student's physical fitness, to develop his/her motor skills, to encourage good sportsmanship and to help each student's social and emotional development. These aims are achieved by providing a variety of athletic opportunities so each athlete can find his/her area(s) of interest. We encourage students to participate in lifetime and leisure-time activities. Finally, we encourage students to embrace physical activity that enhances health and wellness.

Our physical education classes and after-school activities encourage a multitude of values: Self-respect, admiration for others, responsibility for oneself and others, a sense of fair play, cooperation and school spirit. Through an integrated program of physical education classes, interscholastic activities and intramurals and clubs, Claremont students learn, experience and display these values.
Below is a list of goals for playing at each team level. We understand that circumstances differ from game to game. We offer these goals as suggestions:

• Middle School Teams:               
  Although the Middle School program is competitive, it is designed to meet the developmental needs of its participants. At this level, there is a no-cut policy. The focus is on learning athletic skills, game rules, the fundamentals of team play and sportsmanship. Middle School coaches make every effort to provide each team member with an opportunity to play in every game or, if the numbers make that goal impossible, to develop a rotation that will ensure meaningful playing time for each team member in as many games as possible.

High School Teams:

• Junior Varsity Teams:               
  At the Junior Varsity level, athletes are expected to commit themselves to the team and to continued self-improvement. Increased emphasis is placed on physical conditioning, fundamental skills, strategy and teamwork. At the Junior Varsity level, coaches make an effort to provide meaningful playing time for all team members, yet the outcome of the game becomes a more important consideration than at the middle school level, and the amount of playing time in a given game and throughout the season has more to do with the coach's assessment of how that player will perform in a given game against a specific opponent than in the Middle School program.
  
  Faithful attendance and effort at practices become more important at the Junior Varsity level. Participants should prepare themselves for a five-day a week commitment that will be expected of them at the Varsity Level. In addition, participants should be prepared to return to school for fall pre-season practices beginning in late August.
  
  
• Varsity Teams:      
  Team size at the Varsity level is limited. The number of participants on a team is based on the number needed to conduct an effective practice and its need to compete in interscholastic games. A student who chooses to participate on a Varsity team needs to understand his/her role on that team. While we understand that playing time is important to every team member, coaches make efforts to give every Varsity athlete a meaningful amount of playing time over the span of a season, however it is never guaranteed.
  
  A positive attitude and a high level of skill are prerequisites for a position on a Varsity team. Participation on a varsity team will require a five-day a week commitment. As with Junior Varsity teams, this commitment may extend into vacation periods.

These guidelines pertain to student-athletes in good standing. (i.e., students who attend practice, have a positive attitude and follow all team rules). An athlete who does not attend practices or follow team rules will not play in games even if he/she is our best player and the team is playing the most important game of the season.

All coaches work with administration, the school psychologist and teachers to promote the educational welfare of our student-athletes.