WINDERMERE PREP LAKERS ATHLETICS

ABOUT ATHLETICS

The Windermere Prep athletics program strives to provide a high quality competitive opportunity for our students that aims to enrich lives, enhance the educational growth, promote the image of the school while building on the school’s UNITAS mission and vision. Athletics are an essential component of the educational experience. Interscholastic athletic competition is an extension of the classroom and an educational activity that provides outstanding opportunities to teach life lessons. Through athletics, student-athletes will develop the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership while learning how to win with humility and lose with grace. While our Athletics Department takes great pride in winning, we will never condone winning at any cost. Additionally, our focus will be to discourage any and all pressures which might neglect good sportsmanship and mental health.

The interscholastic athletics program at Windermere Prep strongly encourages the participation of all students. Through athletic participation, students learn to work efficiently in groups, develop time management skills and team spirit, while fostering a healthy desire to excel. The athletics program is an intrinsic part of our students’ educational experience; therefore, we provide this policies and procedures manual for students, coaches and parents/guardians to establish goals, rules, and procedures to accomplish the aforementioned belief.

COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS
All students of Windermere Prep are responsible for their academic success. This essential responsibility serves as our guideline for the role athletics has in the life of the student. Academic commitments take precedence over any athletic interest. Given the demands of time and schedule made on the student, the planning and preparation of academic work is critical. Participation in athletics is not an acceptable excuse for poor academic performance. In other words, schoolwork comes first! In addition, all disciplinary obligations must be fulfilled before a student may participate in any extracurricular activity. 

STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPECTATIONS

1. Athletics serves as an extension of the classroom. You are a Windermere Prep student above anything else.
2. RESPECT all coaches, teachers, peers and especially teammates. Failure to be respectful could result in IMMEDIATE removal from the team. Disrespect will NOT be tolerated.
3. Student Athletes will be supportive and encouraging towards every teammate. Celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
4. Windermere Prep athletes will conduct themselves and treat others with the utmost respect and kindness. Any behavior that is considered disrespectful or inappropriate may result in loss of playing time or removal from the team.
5. Work and play hard every day to improve as individuals and as a team.
6. Be dressed, on time and ready for every scheduled practice, game and team activity.
7. Acknowledge that playing time on this team is an HONOR and a PRIVILEGE, not a right.
8. Student athletes are expected to attend EVERY scheduled practice, scrimmage, game and all other team related activity. 

PARENT EXPECTATIONS
As each student explores extracurricular activities that interest him or her in the upcoming year, we expect that parents will reinforce the importance of commitment to those areas and help control the total number of commitments entered into by their child/children to avoid the pressure of too many commitments. Please read through the student-athlete expectations, found above, for involvement in athletics and reinforce these guidelines as the year unfolds. Parents play an essential role in helping our children learn the value of winning and losing. Parents and spectators are encouraged to cheer for our athletes and not against the other team. Allow the coaches to coach; let the players play; and let the officials officiate and everyone can then enjoy all athletic events.

ATHLETIC OFFERINGS
Windermere Prep is a member of the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association.) FHSAA rules are the rules of the Windermere Prep athletics program. Please feel free to visit the FHSAA website at www.fhsaa.org for more details surrounding the association. All direct communication with the FHSAA should occur directly through the Windermere Prep Athletics Department. Windermere Prep is a founding member of The Citrus League, a six-team private school league with the premier private schools in Central Florida. 

Fall Season: Cheerleading, Cross Country (Boys & Girls), Football, Golf (Boys & Girls), Swimming (Boys & Girls), Girls’ Volleyball
Winter Season: Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Weightlifting
Spring Season: Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Boys’ Lacrosse, Girls’ Lacrosse, Softball, Boys’ Tennis, Girls’ Tennis, Track & Field (Boys & Girls), Boys’ Weightlifting

HIGH SCHOOL GRADES (9-12) ATHLETICS
9th Grade and Junior Varsity Programs are designed and intended to developmentally prepare student-athletes for varsity competition. The amount of playing time will always be determined by the coach and is not guaranteed. Close communication between the varsity head coach, the junior varsity head coach and student-athletes is important and expected. Coaches will be using similar principles and strategies, so the transition from junior varsity to varsity will be seamless. 9th grade and Junior Varsity programs will not be available for all sports offered by Windermere Prep. Varsity Program Goals - Competition at the varsity level is the culmination of each sports’ program. All student-athletes are expected to put forth their best effort always, especially when they are wearing Windermere Prep colors. We strive to compete at the highest level in each varsity sport, while upholding our ideals of sportsmanship, respect, commitment and integrity. At the varsity level, coaches are not expected to give playing time to all athletes. Playing time is based on talent, performance and caliber of opponent. Varsity athletics is a competitive experience in which achievement and outcome are high priorities.

MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 6-8) ATHLETICS
Middle school programs are designed for students to develop a passion for sports and athletic competition. Through physical education and athletics, early adolescents develop and use their physical talents and skills. Each student-athlete will have the opportunity to play at some point during the season unless his/her abilities and the game situation make it unsafe for them to participate. As long as the student-athletes are committed to and are capable of participating, everyone should have the opportunity to compete at some point during the season. There will be specific game/opponent situations that will not be conducive to every team member getting playing time. Windermere Prep will create multiple team levels to support strong participation. If a student-athlete demonstrates more advance skill sets, he/she may be asked to move up to a more competitive level. Student athletes will never be asked to move down to play below their grade level. The head coach of the program along with the varsity coaching staff will make this decision after consulting with the student-athlete and the athlete’s family.

The 6th Grade Level Program is designed to introduce the concept of a competitive team environment. The primary goal at this level is to have student-athletes learn to effectively function as members of the team (we/ us/our - THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM) and HAVE FUN! Sport-specific skill development will be the main focus of instruction at this level. Encouraging students to have fun and enjoy physical activity, while improving health and wellness, is crucial to their overall development. Coaches will be encouraged to promote playing time for each student-athlete in every contest. Not all sports offer exclusive 6th grade team programs.

The 7th Grade Level Program is designed to continue to develop and enhance sport-specific skills enabling student-athletes to compete at a more competitive level. Coaches at this level will build on the fundamentals introduced in the 6th grade and begin teaching more advanced skills and techniques. While Windermere Prep does not guarantee equal playing time, everyone will have an opportunity to compete at some point during the season. A skill-based selection process is utilized by coaches during the designated tryout period and can result in interested students being “cut” from the team roster.

The goal of the 8th Grade Level Program is to prepare student-athletes for the transition to high school athletics where they will be competing on Junior Varsity or Varsity Teams. Team practices will emphasize skill development, individual improvement, self-confidence and teamwork. While Windermere Prep does not guarantee equal playing time, everyone should have an opportunity to compete at some point during the season. A skill-based selection process is utilized by coaches during the designated tryout period and can result in interested students being “cut” from the team roster.