Extra Mural Policy Document - Sport
[These links will take you further down the page]
- Sports Policy (download a copy in PDF format)
- Spectator Code Of Behaviour
Mission Statement
EHS is committed to providing the best environment and facilities possible, so that every pupil in the school is able to participate in the activity of their choice. This commitment endeavours to provide for the full spectrum of EHS's pupils; from the ambitious and talented to those who wish to enjoy their activity on a more social level. Futhermore, the coaches and staff are committed to creating an environment in which each pupil is encouraged to participate in the correct manner.
Involvement
All pupils are expected to be involved at least twice per week. No pupil is permitted to give up an activity unless permission to do so has been granted by the Deputy-Principal in charge of extra murals and written permission is given by the parents.
Coaches and Staff Involvement:
Every team that represents EHS will have its own coach, who will either be a member of the academic staff, or a private coach specifically chosen for his/her ability to coach sport. The private coaches, who take teams, will be monitored by the staff member (team manager) of that sport and by the Deputy-Principal in charge of Extra Murals.
Under no circumstances will a team representing EHS leave the school or play a match unaccompanied by its coach or the manager.
All members of the permanent staff are expected to coach/manage a sports team or a cultural activity.
The Sports Committee:
The Sports Committee consists of all the persons in charge of sports and is chaired by the Head of Sport. The functions of this committee are to discuss all matters relating to games/activities and facilities and to make recommendations thereon to the Deputy-Principal in charge of Extra murals. No recommendation of this committee shall be of any effect until it has been confirmed by the Principal.
Awards - information can be found here
The Awarding of Scroll Awards:
The nomination of Scroll Awards has always been left to the discretion of the staff member in charge of each respective activity.
Scroll Awards:
Awards may only be awarded after the Head of the sport/culture concerned has discussed each individual case with the Sports Committee. The names of the pupils must then be submitted to the Principal for his approval. Under no circumstances are awards to be published before final approval has been obtained.
Levels of awards:
- Coach's certificate for dedication and effort
- Ties (sport): for committee members or 1st team members who have played/been involved in 50% of the seasons activities;
- Merit: participation at the required level for the season;
- Colours: stands out above the rest of the team/committee;
- Honours: U18 / senior provincial representation.
Budgets:
The Deputy Principal, in conjunction with the Heads of Sports, will be required to develop a budget for each sport for the next financial year, for approval by the Financial Manager. The Deputy Principal shall then administer the finances of each sport in association with the Heads of each sport.Transport:
A private transport company is used to transport EHS pupils. This company is chosen based on:
- Top quality vehicles
- Qualified careful drivers
- Top notch insurance cover
A staff member or coach is to be on all buses. The staff member or coach accompanying the pupils is expected to check that the bus and the drivers conduct meets our satisfaction.
Queries or concerns should be raised with the Deputy-Principal in charge of
Extra murals.
In the case of an accident the Principal must be contacted immediately the situation has been assessed.
Steps to follow:
- Calm all concerned as required and attend to any injuries (panic helps no-one).
- Take all license details of vehicles and drivers from discs on vehicles and ID books, driver's licenses etc.
- Call police, ambulance etc. as required.
- Do not allow unqualified interference of pupils etc
- Call Principal (if not available then Deputy Principal in charge of Extra murals) - give names and details of pupils involved/injured
- Principal/coach to call parents of injured (Medical Aid, destination - hospital)
- Stay with injured pupils until parents or Principal arrive at the scene or hospital NB: Treat child as your own in terms of care and attention (this is essential as we need to show that negligence was not an issue as the coach/team manager is tasked with the role of "parent").
Sports Policy
This policy defines procedure, practice and a course of action. It serves as a mode of management and a code of conduct (a set of rules to govern behaviour and organization).Team Sports:
Strong emphasis is placed on team sports for the following reasons:
- It teaches children to work together;
- Develops leadership skills;
- Teaches pupils to be independent and to be co-operative;
- Helps to inculcate a selfless attitude and camaraderie;
- Creates opportunities for synergy.
| Rugby | Hockey | Cricket | Tennis | Softball | Road Running | Swimming |
| Cross-Country | Netball | Table Tennis | Soccer | Body Boarding | Golf |
Attendance:
- No pupil may ever miss a practice or match without permission from his coach, in advance.
- A letter must be written by the parent stating the reason.
- The abovementioned letter must be handed to the coach before the end of the school day.
- If a pupil is absent on the day of a match or on a Friday, he may not be permitted to play sport on the following day. The parent is required to call the school and inform the coach of the pupils inability to attend the match as a result of illness.
- If a pupil is concussed, he/she must remain off sport for three weeks, or until given clearance by his/her doctor.
Injuries:
EHS 1st Aiders are to be booked by the coach for all home games.
All injuries that occur while playing sport at the school or whilst playing for an EHS team, must be reported by the coach/supervisor to the person in charge of that sport.
Recent concerns over the dangerous UV levels have highlighted the danger of skin cancer. The policy is that, where it is appropriate, pupils must wear hats and use block out creams.
Tours:
Tours would be for first team senior squads only and would not include any U15 players unless permission is granted by the Principal. Younger groups have the opportunity to travel on internal tours and to various festivals.
Only current EHS pupils are to tour with an official EHS tour. As far as possible, two staff are to accompany a touring team and the group should not exceed 20 pupils.
Fund Raising:
This may take place with the permission of the Principal and should not conflict with other school fundraising. Fund raising would only normally be granted to cover costs of overseas tours. Money raised will be used to:
- Cover costs of pupils who are unable to afford the costs involved. Parents who are unable to offset a tour, may apply for assistance to the Principal with relevant supporting documents. Said parents are expected to be actively involved with the fund raising efforts of the team concerned.
- The funds raised should be used to offset the overall tour costs of all pupils touring as an official EHS team.
- Funds raised should be submitted to a Tour Fund Account administered by the school and distribution be arranged by the Deputy-Principal.
- A manager and assistant (staff) should accompany the tour and their costs are to be included in the cost of each pupil.
- Should permission for fund raising be granted, a Tour Fund Raising Committee would need to meet with the Deputy-Principal and the coach involved to agree to the process of fund raising.
Dress:
The official dress code is:
- School Tracksuit
- Practices - Phys.Ed. shorts/skirt and top or acceptable sports clothing, appropriate shoes. Matches - see pictures on webpage applicable to a particular sport.
Age Groups:
All pupils are expected to play for the teams that are in accordance with their age group. In effect, this means that a pupil may not play for an U16 team when he/she is still U15.
Exceptions to this regulation are possible, but only with the approval of the Deputy-Principal in charge of Extra murals, after consultation with all interested parties. This would include the parents and coaches.
In the case of teams, which do not have an age structure such as golf, pupils of all ages may compete for places in all teams. In sports, such as tennis, swimming, cycling etc. junior pupils may represent the school at senior level as long as they have earned their place in the side by working their way through the lower sides.
For the teams that do have an established age structure i.e. under 14, 15, 16, such as rugby, hockey and cricket pupils are expected to play within their age groups.
The Calendar Year:
It is a firm policy no sport may be played or practiced out of season.
In effect this means that winter sports may not commence until the last week of the first term, and then only, if the cricket season has completed. Similarly no summer sport may commence until all winter sports have been completed.
Exceptions to this regulation are possible, but only with the approval of the Deputy Principal in charge of Extra murals. An example of an exception would be pre-season fitness training for contact sports such as Rugby. The most likely exception would be for a team preparing itself for a pre-season tour or festival. During each term, specific times have been arranged for each sport to hold practices. It is a fundamental policy that these times are respected by every other sport, as well as academic departments, so that clashes do not occur and pupils are not put under unnecessary pressure and demands.
Sports may not take place at any other times other than their allocated practice days.
Code of Conduct for Sportsmanship:
Although participation in sport implies physical activity and involves competition, there is a very important element of sportsmanship involved.
The true sportsman will uphold the "unwritten rules" of the game.
It is expected that all EHS pupils will abide by the following code:
- Maintain a sense of balance. Play the game to win, but not to win at all costs;
- Know all the rules of the game and stick to them. Rules will not be bent to suit the team. It is dishonest to cheat;
- Accept all decisions made by the umpire or referee without backchat or moaning. Emotions to be controlled at all times;
- A true sportsman never loses their temper;
- A sports team only has one captain. Support them at all times;
- A true sportsman will not look for excuses if the team loses. Accept the fact that your defeat was because the opposition was superior on the day;
- Be hospitable to visiting teams. Mingle with your opponents at after match functions;
- Always wear the correct sports dress and attire.
Spectator Code Of Behaviour
Edgemead High School is committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of participants and officials at all School Sport events and to also providing a safe environment for all spectators.
Guidelines for Managing Spectator Behaviour contrary to Edgemead High School Codes of Behaviour
Before the Event:
- Edgemead High School will distribute School Sport Codes of Behaviour to all team members, their families and all team officials.
- Parents/guardians of all team members whould be required to sign a consent form which acknowledges their responsibilities in regard to the Codes of Behaviour for Parents and Spectators.
- Where an adult other than a team or event official contravenes the School Sport Codes of Behaviour for Parents and Spectators, the following course of action should be implemented.
During the Event:
- The offending adult should be familiarised with the School Sport Codes of Behaviour by the EHS coach or team manager and compliance requested.
- If contravention of the School Sport Codes of Behaviour continues, the EHS staff member or team manager should warn the offender that the game/s in progress will be stopped until such time as the offender modifies his/her behaviour.
- As an absolute last resort, the EHS staff member or team manager has the authority to advise the offender that he/she is causing a willful disturbance and is requested to leave the grounds immediately, the police/District Watch may be summoned. (Only in extreme cases should this action be carried out)
- Should the police be summoned, the EHS staff member or team manager should advise the Principal or Head of Sport of the incident in writing.
After the Event:
- The incident will be tabled at the next Schools Discipline Council meeting and the Chairperson should write a letter to the offending adult outlining the breach of the Codes of Behaviour for Parents and Spectators and outlining the consequences of such action.
- The offended party should be informed of the action taken, but should not receive a copy of the letter sent to the offending adult.
Edgemead High School Sport Codes of Behaviour
Any contravention of the listed behaviour will be tabled at the Schools Discipline Council and the severity of the misconduct aligned with the School�s Code of Conduct and further sanctions may follow.
Examples of inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable includes:
- Having or consuming alcohol
- Having or using other illegal drugs or substances
- Smoking
- Sexual activities
- Sexual harassment
- Vandalism or other criminal offences
- Swearing or abusing others
- Physical violence towards others
- Harassment or vilification of others
- Refusing to comply with instructions
- Poor sportsmanship or cheating
Players' Code of Behaviour:
- Be a good sport.
- Play for enjoyment
- Strive for personal excellence
- Work hard for your team as well as yourself
- Treat all team mates and opponents as you enjoy being treated yourself
- Play by the rules
- Cooperate with team and game officials
- Control your behaviour on and off the field
- Learn to value honest effort, skilled performance and improvement
Parents' Code of Behaviour:
- Encourage participation by your children
- Provide a model of good sportsmanship for your child to copy
- Be courteous in your communication with players, team officials, game officials and sport administrators
- Encourage honest effort, skilled performance and team loyalty
- Make any new parents feel welcome on all occasions
- Do not interfere with the conduct of any events
- Support Edgemead High School Sport's policy of a smoke and alcohol free environment
Spectators' Code of Behaviour:
- Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour
- Remember children play for enjoyment. Don't let your behaviour detract from their enjoyment
- Let game officials conduct events without interference
- Support skilled performances and team play with generous applause
- Demonstrate respect for opposing players and their supporters
- Support Edgemead High School Sport's policy of a smoke, alcohol and weapon free environment
Team Managements' Code of Behaviour:
- Set a good example for your players
- Encourage and create opportunities to develop individual skills
- Teach a wide range of team skills
- Ensure that the sport is appropriate for the age group and the skill development level of the players involved
- Teach your players to be friendly towards officials and opponents
- Give all interested students a chance to participate in training and in games
- Remove from the field of play any of your players whose behaviour is not acceptable
- Keep your own knowledge of coaching and the developments of the game up
- to date
- Support Edgemead High School's Sport policy of a smoke, alcohol and weapon free environment
- No tour official of the opposite gender should enter the team change rooms until all team members have completed changing
- It is most unwise for any team official to be in a situation where the official is alone with a team member
Administrators' and Officials' Code of Behaviour:
- Ensure rules, equipment, training schedules and games are safe and match the needs and skill level of the children involved
- Ensure that equal opportunities for participation in sports are available for all children
- Involve children in planning, evaluation and decision making
- Ensure everyone involved, including parents, understand their responsibilities regarding fair play and appropriate behaviour
- Encourage a positive attitude towards children's sport:
- emphasise fun and enjoyment
- encourage both teams
- set a good example
- encourage the pursuit of personal excellence
- Be consistent, courteous and helpful toward all participants.
- Use common sense to ensure that the 'spirit of the game' for children is not lost by overcalling violations.
- Ensure that adequate supervision is provided by qualified and competent coaches and officials capable of developing appropriate sports behaviour and skill technique, and that these officials are given the opportunity to improve their coaching and officiating.
- Remember that children play for enjoyment, downplay the importance of rewards.
- Avoid allowing children's sports programs to become primarily spectator entertainment. Focus on the needs of the participants rather than the enjoyment of the spectators.