A Parents’ Guide to Wooster Athletics

Drawing on the many parent inquiries over the years, we have compiled answers in one convenient place.  We hope you will find this to be a very helpful document. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions regarding Wooster’s athletic program.

Wooster has long been recognized as having one of the most successful and respected small school athletic programs in New England.  During my 20-year tenure, Wooster teams have:

• Increased in number from 15 to 31.
• Earned the HVAL’s most coveted honor – the Sportsmanship Award – 11 times in the last 14 years.
• Been honored with a total of 44 sportsmanship awards.
• Won 46 HVAL titles.
• Received 49 bids to the prestigious New England tournament.

Needless to say, we are very proud of the program that we have created.  One of the reasons for our success is that we have teachers who coach and Coaches who teach.  Nearly 100% of the coaching staff is comprised of Wooster faculty and administrators.  We firmly believe that our athletic program is only as good as its coaching staff.  The knowledge, organization, enthusiasm, and passion that a coach brings to his or her sport(s) have a direct impact on the benefits and experiences that the players will receive.  It has been through the leadership, efforts, and dedication of our Coaches that Wooster has achieved a premier reputation in both the Hudson Valley Athletic League and the New England Prep School Athletic Conference.  

Coaching is a highly specialized form of teaching.  Coaches have a powerful forum for discovering and creating “teaching moments.” It is through these moments that Coaches can foster respect, confidence, teamwork, skill, community, and character development.  These are the important values and experiences that will shape and stay with the athletes throughout the rest of their lives. 

As we begin our 85th year, we encourage you to continue to show your support and pride in your child’s athletic endeavors.  We hope that you will attend games, engage the coaching staff in conversation, and help make this the best year possible for our student-athletes.

Sincerely,

Dave MacNutt
Athletic Director              
203-830-3991

Educational Values of Athletics:  Wooster School strongly believes that:

• The benefits one receives from playing on a team sport go beyond the mere physical exertion of participating in athletics and include such skills/behaviors as: learning to rely on others, learning to work together towards a common goal, investing in the camaraderie that develops among team members who spend a great deal of time together throughout the season, sportsmanship, and respect.
• There are educational outcomes from a well established and dedicated program for the players, the student body, and the entire Wooster community.
• Students can learn to win and lose with dignity and honor.
• Schoolwork and interscholastic play are intertwined for the development and growth of the whole student.
• The entire athletic program, though differing in nature from the academic program, plays an instrumental and beneficial role in the educational experience for the participant.
• The welfare of the individual student is the top priority.  Athletics exist for the students – not vice versa.
• The athletic program provides many benefits that enhance the overall school atmosphere, such as community, school spirit, and morale.
• Athletics can establish models for cooperation and conflict resolution that carry over into every aspect of life.
• Athletics can help individuals achieve higher standards of mental, moral, social, and physical fitness.

Objectives of the Athletic Program

• To educate each student about the benefits of an independent school interscholastic program.
• To educate each student about the rules and regulations that govern the games in which he or she participates. 
• To foster a desire and willingness in each student to be the best that he or she can be.
• To foster a respect for all others as unique individuals with different goals and aspirations.
• To instill a determination in each student to do his or her best both in the classroom and on the athletic fields/courts.
• To teach students that rules are necessary for the athletic program to be strong and well respected by other school communities as well as our own.
• To gain a greater appreciation for the value of a community and its ideals.
• To strive for self-discipline, self-control, and emotional maturity.
• To foster pride in Wooster School and its athletic program.
• To gain an appreciation of the total school program and the role that athletics play.
• To promote honesty and respect.
• To develop a strong and healthy appreciation for competition.
• To understand that the desire to do one’s best is everything; winning is a bonus. 
• To build the confidence and self-esteem of every team member.
• To provide healthy competition and cooperation within and between schools, thus inculcating in each student the best principles of good sportsmanship.
• To encourage a lifelong appreciation for physical fitness

Code of Conduct and Ethics:  The following is a list of standards to which coaches, players, administrators, and spectators are required to adhere:

A.  Proper Conduct and Good Sportsmanship:  At the heart of this matter lie several terms that are often hard to define.  There is no more important a task that confronts teachers and coaches than to set standards that are fair and honorable.  Throughout this Code, when terms such as “proper conduct” and “good sportsmanship” are mentioned, they refer to such standards as these:

• Treat all others fairly.
• Regard the rules of the game as agreements, the spirit or letter of which should not be evaded or broken.
• Do not take advantage of others except by way of superior skill in a sport.
• Treat officials and opponents with respect and with good intentions
• Accept absolutely and without quarrel the decisions of any official.
• Honor visiting teams and spectators as guests and treat them as such.  Likewise, act as an honorable guest when visiting another school.
• Be gracious in victory and defeat.
• Be as cooperative as you are competitive.
• Remember that the actions of the coach (on and off the field/court) define him or her.

B.  Guidelines for Coaches:

• Coaches must remember that school athletics are primarily a part of each student’s education, not a goal in itself.
• Coaches shall use athletics to help each student achieve the standards listed in this handbook.
• Coaches must assist each student toward developing his or her fullest capacity in athletics. 
• Coaches must give each student equal and fair attention.
• Coaches must remember that the behavior of a team can reflect the coach’s own manner, attitudes, temper, and approach to athletics, and, therefore, coaches must conduct themselves in a way which brings credit to themselves, the team, the sport, and the school.
• Coaches must be responsible not only for coaching the team, but also for running games, dealing fairly and properly with officials, meeting before and after games with visiting coaches and players, and maintaining an objectivity and sense of balance along with good sportsmanship. 
• Coaches must preserve the tradition of teams shaking hands after games.

C.  Guidelines for Players:

• Players must at all times represent themselves and the school with honor, proper conduct, and good sportsmanship. 
• Players must understand that healthy rivalries, based on respect for opponents, are good, but that disrespect for opponents is both unhealthy and unsportsmanlike. 
• Players must confine the competitiveness of the game to the field or court, and in particular behave properly on the sidelines and in the locker room both before and after games.
• Players must comply fully with the rulings of the officials.  In no way, by voice, action, or gesture, should players demonstrate their dissatisfactions with the decisions made.
• Players must not deface property or remove equipment of any kind from our own or another’s school.

D.  Guidelines for Spectator

• Spectators – whether students, faculty, parents, alumnae/i, or friends – bear important responsibilities to the school for the atmosphere and conduct of games, whether home or away.
• Spectators must watch games from those areas defined by each school as spectator areas. 
• Spectators must not run up and down sidelines, call to players, coaches, or officials in an unsportsmanlike manner, go onto the field of play, or deface property.  Any action that detracts from the ability of a coach, a player, or an official to do his or her best is not acceptable.
• Faculty members must share responsibility for student discipline at games. 

E.  Guidelines for Officials:

• Officials must arrive at school well in advance of game time, make themselves available to coaches and other officials, and be prepared to start the game on time.
• Officials must, in dress, conduct, and knowledge of the game rules, advance the objectives of the Code of Ethics.
• Officials must bring understanding and patience to situations that involve young players who err through lack of skill, experience, or maturity.
• Officials must deliver in energy and speed work commensurate with their fullest capacities.
• Officials should always do their best, regardless of the level of competition.

Wooster’s Athletic Offerings

Requirements:  Each year, all Upper School students are required to participate in one team sport and one physical activity (which can be another team sport).

Differences between our Middle School and Upper School Athletic Programs:

• Our Middle School teams practice 3 class periods per week totaling 2 hours, while our Upper School teams practice 6 days per week totaling 10 hours.
• Our Middle School teams generally play 1 game per week, while our Upper School teams play 2 games per week.
• Our Middle School program is an all-inclusive, fun, friendly, starter program, while our Upper School program is more serious and competitive, and the pursuit of excellence is emphasized more.
• Participation in the Middle School program is entirely optional, while there are athletic requirements in the Upper School.

Middle School Interscholastic Offerings:

Students in grades 7 and 8 are encouraged to try out for Upper School teams, but participation will be determined by the Athletic Department and Middle School Administration.

Upper School Interscholastic Offerings:

Athletic Leagues and Affiliations:

• Hudson Valley Athletic League (HVAL): Darrow, Marvelwood, NYMA, Oakwood Friends, Poughkeepsie Day, Storm King, and Wooster comprise the HVAL. The varsity level sports played in the HVAL include coed cross country, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, boys’ basketball,  girls’ basketball, baseball, softball, boys’ tennis, girls’ tennis, boys’ lacrosse, coed golf, and coed ultimate.
• New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC): Wooster is in the Western division (District IV) of this league – called the Western New England Prep School Athletic Association (WNEPSAA).  There are individual Coaches associations for every sport we participate in (i.e. Western New England Prep School Women’s Basketball Association, Western New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association, etc.)

Athletic Program Highlights and Momentum

• Wooster School:  Wooster has won the Hudson Valley Athletic League’s most prestigious and highly coveted honor – the Sportsmanship Award – 11 of the last 14 years.
• Sportsmanship Awards: Wooster teams have won 44 in the last 17 years.
• League Titles and New England Tournaments: Wooster teams have won 46 league titles and earned 49 bids to the New England tournament in the last 17 years.
• Varsity Girls Soccer: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” Tournament Final Four and has played in the New England tournament 11 times in the past 18 years.
• Varsity Boys Soccer: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” tournament. This team has been selected to play in the New England tournament 6 times in the past 14 years.
• Varsity Girls Volleyball: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” Tournament Final Four.  The team made it to the New England tournament 3times in the last 4years.  This team has won the HVAL season and tournament championship twice in the last 4 years.
• Coed Cross Country: Finished 3^rd out of 10 teams at the HVAL championship meet.
• Varsity Girls Basketball: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” tournament Final Four.  This team earned their 1^8th consecutive bid to the New England tournament, setting a small school New England record.  This team has won the HVAL “Hudson Division” season and tournament titles in 12 of the last 18 years, and has won the Ed Costello Holiday Classic 7 times in the past time in the last 9 years.
• Varsity Boys Basketball: Won the HVAL Season title this season and advanced to the New England tournament Finals.
• Varsity Girls Tennis: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” Tournament Semifinals.
• Varsity Boys Tennis:  Made it to the “Hudson Division” Tournament Final Four and advanced to the New England tournament for the 9^th time in the last 12 years.
• Coed Golf: Earned a 3rd place finish in the HVAL.
• Varsity Boys Baseball: Co-Champions of the HVAL “Valley Division” tournament.
• Varsity Girls Softball: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” tournament Final Four.
• Varsity Girls Lacrosse: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” tournament Final Four and has earned the HVAL season and tournament titles 4 times in the last 8 years.
• Varsity Boys Lacrosse: Made it to the HVAL “Hudson Division” tournament Final Four, earned a 2nd place finish in the HVAL, and earned a 4th place finish in all of Division III.
• Ultimate Frisbee: Made it to the HVAL “Valley Division” tournament finals for a second consecutive season – and posted its first winning record.

Responsibilities of the Director of Athletics and Assistant Director of Athletics

• To oversee and evaluate every aspect of the interscholastic program.
• To schedule, confirm, or cancel any and all games, transportation, and officials.
• To provide coaches with a game schedule, an indoor practice schedule (for the winter season and for rainy days), a transportation schedule, an initial roster, scrimmage vests, vouchers for officials, score books, rule books, and other necessary game and practice supplies/equipment.
• To order all supplies and equipment. 

Responsibilities of the Athletic Trainer

• Preventing, recognizing, evaluating, managing, treating, and rehabilitating athletic injuries.
• Communicating with parents, coaches, players, and the School Nurse.
• Determining whether a player will play.
• Providing and replenishing medical kits and water bottles for every game and practice.
• Providing and monitoring medical cards.
• Providing filled ice coolers for every game.
• Coordinating with the School Nurse, who manages all medical documents.
• Administering the ImPACT neurocognitive testing program.

Responsibilities of Wooster’s Coaching Staff:  Please visit the “Documents” page on our website: www.GoGenerals.org

General Information:

• 90% Rule: All Upper School student-athletes must be present for 90% of the games and practices in order to receive team sport credit.
• Athletic Hotline:  The easiest way to find out if athletic contests are happening on a daily basis is to call the athletic hotline at 203-830-3990.  The voice message is updated daily and includes information such as game times, cancellations, and return times. 
• Coaching Evaluation Process: Each Wooster coach goes through an extensive evaluation process every three years.
• Coaching Staff 2011 – 2012: A list of coaches (and their contact information) can be found in the “General Information” section of our website: www.GoGenerals.org
  
• College Recruitment Process:  Information can be found in the “Documents” section of our website: www.GoGenerals.org
• Concussion and Neurocognitive Testing Policy:  In the interest of student safety and well being, the Athletic Department and Health Services will administer the ImPACT test to all students in grades 9 through 12. The ImPACT test is a neurocognitive, computer based exam which provides Wooster and the student’s healthcare provider with a baseline measurement for brain function in the event of a head injury. This is not an IQ test. Scores are not published and are protected as confidential information and used only in the event the student suffers a concussion.  It is Wooster School’s policy that any student who is suspected of, has a history of, or is displaying signs and symptoms of a concussion be retested in a timely manner and have that score compared to a baseline score to measure brain function levels. All testing results will be made available to the family and the student’s healthcare provider. Prior to returning to the classroom a student must have be symptom free at rest for 24 hours. Symptoms may include but are not limited to headache, sensitivity to light and/or loud noises, and inability to concentrate.
   
  After taking the ImPACT test students will not be retested again until their junior year. All new students will be tested regardless of Upper School grade in order to obtain a baseline score before participating in athletics.
   
  For those students who suffer a concussion, an ImPACT test will be administered post concussion.  A student with normal neurocognitive test scores relative to their baseline score can return to school and activities, as long as the student brings with him/her a written letter of clearance from their healthcare provider.  For student-athletes to return to sport they must have normal neurocognitive test scores, a note from their healthcare provider and complete the 4-phase return-to-play protocol listed below: (in-season athletes only).

–Day 1- 20 minute walk on treadmill or outside when possible (if symptom free, move to Day 2) supervised by athletic trainer

–Day 2 -20 minute jog on treadmill or outside when possible (if symptom free, move to Day 3) supervised by athletic trainer

–Day 3 -20 minutes of sport specific exercises/drills with the athletic trainer (if symptom free, move to Day 4) supervised by athletic trainer

–Day 4 -Participate in full practice avoiding all contact drills (if symptom free, full return to sport is granted).
 
Based on research demonstrating that multiple concussions have a negative long-term effect on overall neurocognitive health, Wooster School has established the above approach to prevent a student from returning too early to the classroom, after school activities, and to sports after a concussion. Please note that final responsibility for returning a child to any category of school related activities rests with the School’s Nurse, Athletic Trainer, and/or Medical Director.

After careful review of our concussion protocol, the Athletic Department has determined that it is in the best interest of everyone involved for the concussed student-athlete to be excused from all Wooster sponsored afternoon and evening activities until the student has made a full recovery and progressed through our return-to-play protocol.  This includes, but is not limited to, attending practices or games, participating in practices or games (including riding on the bus or van), attending Monday afternoon art classes, evening YRTA meetings, afternoon Newspaper, as well as evening events, such as dances, meetings, coffee houses, etc.

• Directions to Away Games: can be found in the “General Information” section of our website: www.GoGenerals.org
• Emergency Action Plan (EAP): Please visit the “Athletic Trainer” section of our website (www.GoGenerals.org) for full details on our EAP for each facility.
• Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention: Our teams are required to incorporate the performance enhancement exercises developed by our Athletic Trainer, who is also a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, into the start of daily practice sessions.  The proven benefits include:
  • Improved performance
  • Improved body awareness and control
  • Decreased risk of injury – especially rupturing the ACL ligament in the knee
  • Improved core strength – especially because of the enormous amount of time spent in a seated position both in school and at home in front of a screen
  • Improved neuromuscular efficiency – ability of the brain to acknowledge what is happening at the muscular level and manipulate it as quickly as possible
  • Improved muscular efficiency – ability to have the right muscle fire at the right time at the right intensity

• Practice Times: Practices extend from Self-help until 5:30 pm Monday through Friday (Wednesday until 3:30).  Many Coaches extend practices beyond 5:30.  Players are encouraged, but not required to stay beyond 5:30.  Each coach may determine his or her own Saturday practice schedule in the fall and spring seasons.  On days when school is not in session, practice times must be scheduled through the Director of Athletics in advance (these practices will be optional).
• Pre-Season Athletics:  There are optional pre-season team practices each season .  While these sessions are optional, attendance is strongly encouraged.  The majority of our competitors have mandatory pre-season practices and we would like to avoid putting our student-athletes and athletic program at a distinct disadvantage.  Visit the team pages of website (www.GoGenerals.or) for further information.
• It is important to note that student-athletes will not be permitted to participate in any athletic events, including pre-season workouts, without having an updated medical form and an updated emergency card on file with the School Nurse.  Please check with the School Nurse (203-830-3925) in advance of pre-season to ensure that your child will be cleared for participation.
• Senior Independent Study: During the spring season, 12th graders are required to go on Senior Independent Study (SIS).  Seniors who are fulfilling their team sport requirement in the spring need to attend 90% of the practices and games in order to receive team sport credit.  Seniors may receive physical activity credit if they fail to meet to the team sport criteria.
• Student Drivers: Students are expected to travel to and from away games with the team in transportation provided by the school.  On rare occasions, students may drive to and from a game provided the coach receives both written permission from that student’s parents and verbal permission from the Director of Athletics.  Students are not permitted to drive with other students, unless the coach receives written permission from the parents of both the driver and the passenger.
• Web Page: You can access a variety of information regarding Wooster Athletics by visiting our NEW website: www.GoGenerals.org. You will find:
• Team Pages 
• Team Rosters
• Game Schedules
• Game Results
• League Standings
• Game Articles
• Directions to schools
• Program Highlights
• Athletic News
• Names of award recipients throughout Wooster’s history
• The ability to sign up automatically generated email notifications informing you of changes to the schedule.