Western Pennsylvania Intramural Therapeutic League Coaching Sportsmanship Curriculum Fall 2016

Mission Statement The focus of the Western Pennsylvania Intramural Therapeutic League is not about winning and losing, but rather to promote participation and to teach our student athletes fair play, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship Curriculum Each student must complete the Sportsmanship Curriculum in order to participate in the WPITL. If a student is new once the season has started, simply printout the PowerPoint and have them read and answer the questions. Student Athletes must complete the Sportsmanship PowerPoint for every sport they play. (Fall, Spring, and Winter) I will add videos with different questions for each season.

Coaching Requirements Review both the Coaching Sportsmanship Curriculum & Students Sportsmanship Curriculum. Read “Heads Up Concussion Guide” http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/highschoolsports/coach_guide-a.pdf OR Read “ Concussion Training for Coaches” http://www.parklandsoccer.org/docs/CoachesCorner/Concussion%20Training%20for%20Coaches.pdf Complete “Heads up Concussion Quiz” http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/youthsports/heads_up_quiz-a.pdf Turn Quiz into your Athletic Director.

Coaching Requirements Video- Concussion in Youth Sports http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/Training/index.html (Video is not required , but it’s a very informative)

Empathize, Empathize, Empathize! Its not about winning and losing! Losing to Win: The Lady Jags - A basketball story... (Great team video about winning & losing) Participation Teamwork Fair play Respect

Keeping Score For the 2016-2017 school year we will not be keeping score for any sporting event. The scoreboard will only be used for keeping the time. We have to remember the goal is not about winning, its about teaching athletes through sports & socializing with other student athletes.

Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is key when working with our population of students. Our students don’t respond well to negative criticism; it only makes them less confident, more hesitant, and more aggressive. Make positivity the primary driver of instruction, you reinforce the good, which makes the students more receptive and open-minded to constructive feedback.

Teachable Moments Use teachable moments to discuss real-life examples of positive teamwork.

Unacceptable Behaviors Taunting, Trash Talk and other intimidating actions. Yelling at opponents. Disrespectful cheers, chants, songs or gestures. Booing or heckling an official’s decision.

Unacceptable Behaviors Laughing or name-calling to distract an opponent. Use of profanity or displays of anger that draw attention away from the game. Blaming the loss of game on official's, coaches, or participant. Refusing to shake hands or give recognition for good performance.

Physical Altercations If a fight occurs try your best to separate the students, once they are separated redirect your students to a safe place and away from the problem. Students fighting at sporting events we be suspended the next game/event.

Physical Altercations Suspension If a player is suspended for fighting, sit down with them and process who what where when and why about the situation. These are teachable moments that would benefit our students in the long run.

“Trash Talking” Coaches need to take responsibility for students when they start “trash talking” by redirecting them or asking them to sit out of the game. Pulling the athlete and letting them know that  this is not good sportsmanship and don’t let them return to the game until they understand. I know this will take time to learn and it won’t work every time but it’s a teachable moment. 

Losing Losing isn’t the real disaster for our students, their relationship to losing, is the disaster. It is our job as staff to teach these kids right from wrong when it comes to sports.

20 Coaching Tips 1. Develop a positive relationship with your athletes. 2. Make good sportsmanship a fundamental value for your team. 3. Help athletes take away life experiences and lessons from sports 4. Support your athletes in being student athletes. 5. Communicate your expectations clearly.

20 Coaching Tips 6. Explain to your athletes and their parents that sport participation is a privilege and not a right, and that they must follow the rules and meet team expectations. 7. Provide clear expectations about teamwork. 8. Encourage athletes to support and praise one another. 9. Develop a season plan, as well as a plan for each practice/event. 10. Be prepared on game day with transportation, equipment, rosters, medical kit, lunches, and uniforms.

20 Coaching Tips 11. Supervise and explain what the athletes who are not competing should be doing. 12. Maintain composure and monitor your body language. 13. Let the officials officiate. 14. Win and Lose graciously. 15. Shake hands with the officials and opposing team after the game.

20 Coaching Tips 16. Exhibit your love for the sport. 17. Smile, laugh, and cheer. 18. Enjoy your athletes as young people. 19. Celebrate good sportsmanship with your team. 20. Understand that sports might be the only positive activities outside of school in these kids life.

Example of Athletic Contract

JRB Athletic Contract 2016 Mission- JRB sports mission is to provide participation in flag football, basketball, and kickball in order for students to learn teamwork, fair play, and personal enjoyment.  We want our students to attend every event in order to get experience being out in the community and interacting with students their own age to improve social skills. Total Points required: 168 points total. 85% of points the week of the game. (Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday) Students will know Thursday morning if they are able to attend the game.   10 students max can attend.  If more than 10 kids have earned it, only the top 10 can attend due to taking two 10 passenger vans. Practice- All students can attend practice to promote participation and getting the experience of being part of a team.    Major Behaviors for Automatic Loss of Game Noted on the Point Sheet (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday) 2.         Physical Aggression- Intending or causing physical harm to a peer or staff member. 7.         Elopement- Leaving school property. All other behaviors are the daily points. Additional Factors and Information: Point sheets must be turned in to Mr. Nixon daily the week of the game. (M-T-W) If a student loses there point sheet they will get 0’s for that day. Students must be in school Monday Tuesday Wednesday to participate in Thursday game.  Teachers, BHW’s, ETS’s and Therapists cannot determine whether or not a student can attend practice or games. The point sheets will determine whether or not they can attend a game. The sports program is considered a therapeutic league. The purpose and mission of the sports program is stated above. Practice is for all students no matter what level they are on. At JRB, the overall goal is for every student to participate.  Please do not hold sports over students' heads or use it to get them to complete a task in class.  Examples of what NOT to say- "If you don’t do your assignment you won’t attend the basketball game." "You’re not going to basketball for talking to me that way and not listening." Instead say- “If you don’t do your assignment it could affect you attending the basketball game this week due to you losing points.” “You’re losing points for your inappropriate language which will reflect on your point sheet”