The following changes are effective immediately.
Communicating with players / families: Communication between the coach and player should go through the parent and not directly to the players. Guidelines for communicating with a minor are addressed in the Safeguarding All God’s Family Social Networking Policy but are not specified in the athletics section of our policies. This is particularly relevant as social media evolves and with our younger coaches, and especially those who are not parents. This policy is being reviewed for updating and will be added to the athletic section moving forward.
Transportation: Whenever possible, athletic teams should be transported to games and tournaments by a parent or guardian, or in a yellow school bus. Coaches are strongly discouraged from transporting minors other than their own children to and from games and practices and making transportation arrangements to games for students when group transport is not provided. In the event that a coach chooses to transport minors, the following conditions must be met for parish employees and/or volunteers using their own vehicle:
- A leased or privately owned 10-15 passenger van may not be used to transport school-aged children (grades K- 12) for athletic events.
- The driver must be 23 years of age or older, unless 21-22 and approved by Catholic Mutual.
- The driver must have a valid, non-probationary driver’s license and no physical disability that may impair the ability to drive safely.
- The vehicle must have a valid registration.
- The vehicle must be insured for minimum limits of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence.
- The driver must complete the Volunteer Driver Information Sheet.
- Drivers must complete the on-line video, “Be Smart - Drive Safe,” found on the Catholic Mutual home page at http://www.catholicmutual.org. With the exception of emergencies, any coach who feels he/she might transport students should complete a Volunteer Driver Information: Form 6153 (c).
The above changes came from the Archdiocese. The BCA board also is adding the following clarification regarding team splits.
GUIDELINES FOR NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER TEAM Final determination of team sizes for all sports will be decided by the Athletic Board. Numbers of players on each team will be based on the number of players in that grade who have signed up by deadlines, and the number of coaches who have volunteered. When a split is possible to maximize playing time for the student-athletes, splits in 5th and 6th grades are to be even splits without a tryout (talent and quantity divided evenly resulting in equal Blue and Gold teams), and upper grades will be split on talent and numbers (resulting in an A-Team and B-Team) in a tryout observed by three judges from outside the program at the discretion of the board.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Scott Stevens
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