Mission of the Office for Youth and Young Adults - CYO Athletics
Extending the ministry of Archbishop Brunett, the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM) provdes resources for comprehensive Catholic youth and young adult ministry.  Within OYYAM, CYO Athletics exists to provide opportunities for youth to develop strong moral character, positive self-worth, interpersonal competence, and a commitment to caring for others and their community through activities of a social, educational, and recreational nature based on Christian principles.

Youth
Boys and girls from ages 5 through 18 of any race or national origin participate in CYO Athletic programs.

Communities
The CYO athletics community is organized around the parish as its center of activities, as this is a natural environmental fact that provides a resource of volunteers and financial support necessary for the implementation of activities for youth in CYO. It is this environment that also encourages family participation in activities, as well as serving as a base of operations for coordinated programs and service projects to the greater community upon which youth can have a positive influence.

Quality of Life
CYO is committed to the dignity and worth of each child it serves, regardless of physical talents, mental strength, or emotional health, and hopes that the same respect for life will become a part of his or her value system. CYO wants each child to know that they are wanted and loved.

Philosophy of CYO Athletics
Athletic programs are seen as one way of implementing the mission of the CYO. Program goals include:

1. to increase self confidence and self reliance
2. to increase interpersonal competence
3. to increase a sense of caring toward others. This will help athletes understand the aspect of service to others, and will help them better understand their sense of belonging. Youth are brought together from different parishes and schools, and social backgrounds in an atmosphere that fosters the recognition of one's strengths and limitations, the lessons of winning and losing, and respect for all involved; fellow players, opponents, coaches, and officials. In other words, CYO is in the business of teaching life values that aid boys and girls in their development towards adulthood. It is worth noting that CYO athletics does not view itself primarily as a sport developmental program.

This philosophy is worthwhile only to the extent that it is incorporated into the CYO athletic programs. It is this philosophy that justifies CYO's involvement in athletics. It's implementation is not optional.

Guidelines for implementing CYO Philosophy
At practices, each youth will receive equal attention regardless of playing ability. The goal of CYO coaches should be to assist every player on his or her team to utilize their God-given talents to the best of their ability in the hope that each child will leave the season with a feeling of individual accomplishment and an increased sense of self-worth. To accomplish this, it may be necessary to limit the number of participants on a team.

Each child who faithfully attends practice must be given an opportunity to play in actual games. The degree of participation, while depending on many variables, will basically reflect the concern the coach has for each child. Each parish in this regard may determine specifics, but CYO expects each player, at a minimum to play 1/4 of the season in game or match competition.  Refer to the sport-specific sections for detailed playing time policies for each program.

Coaches must be constantly aware of the tremendous influence they have on their players, and should use this opportunity to always set a positive Christian example.

Coaches and parents must always accentuate the positive, win or lose. Comment on specific performance should always be in the context of an honest, heartfelt feeling of pride in the youth's effort. "We may have lost the game but I'm very proud because you gave it your very best"...or the sometimes applicable super honest approach..."We played poorly today but it certainly wasn't for lack of effort. You just keep working like you have and you're going to earn a lot of personal and team pride."

The overriding guideline to implementing the CYO philosophy ... Be Sensitive to the Uinque Needs of Each Individual on Your Team!

CYO recommends that, for varsity competition, parish athletic associations establish a firm rule penalizing unauthorized absences from practices. The rule must not violate the CYO playing time policy for the given sport.

Levels of competitiveness
The primary purpose of CYO is to offer quality athletic experiences that accommodate youngsters having different levels of physical abilities and aspirations. In view of this, two types of programs are provided: a RECREATION program, which is a mixture of fun and self-discipline with the emphasis on fun, and a COMPETITIVE program, which is a mixture of fun and self-discipline with emphasis on self-discipline. The desired degree of competitiveness is directly related with the skill level and age. It would be highly inappropriate to run the same type of program for 5th graders and 8th graders because of the differing levels of maturity.

"Recreational" Programs
Recreational programs include all sports offered in grades 1 through 5 and all junior varsity divisions. CYO believes practices should be low key concentrating on development of fundamental skills rather than offensive and defensive strategies. Therefore, CYO REQUIRES that each player suited up play a minimum of one quarter of the game. CYO ENCOURAGES coaches to play all participants equally. By doing this, all players will advance both in skill level and self esteem.

"Competitive" Programs
By the time a boy or girl reaches the sixth grade, a combination of heightening skill level and maturity allows most individual athletes to begin making reasonable assessments of their ability-in and commitment-to a sport. At this point, some youth choose in consultation with a coach and/or parent, to either discontinue participation in a sport or seek a lower level of competition commensurate with their abilities and/or interests. At this age, individual and team achievement orientations place heavier emphasis on development of athletic skill and competencies requiring increased sacrifices (self disciplines). Subsequent to this time, emphasis has been primarily on just going out and playing, whereas we now see the athletes consciously attempting to find a proper role to achieve individual and team goals. It is to be hoped that these goals are put in proper prospective by the coach.

Thus, in the upper grades, in individual's amount of playing time in actual games, while still important, is tempered by a commitment to team goals and a realization of their present skill development. As an example, a 7th grade player with below average skills normally would not want to go in for a highly skilled teammate in the 4th quarter of a one point championship game. Understand, however, that the eighth best player on the 7th grade team might surpass, in ability, all present teammates by the time he or she is a junior in high school. The focus, in the upper grades, should be on how much each individual is progressing in terms of skills and values.

The recommendation we suggest is that parishes, when possible, have their most technically competent coaches work with the older grades.

Athletes who discipline themselves to work hard at practices have earned the right to evaluate their development through game situations during the regular season. Of all CYO sports, past experiences have shown that basketball has the greatest "playing time" problem. This is understandable when comparing the different sports. As an example, Soccer has 11 players on the field and a total plying time of 60 - 70 minutes. Basketball has a 5 players on the court and playing time is 24 - 28 minutes. To assist basketball coaches in the development of their athletes, CYO has limited boys and girls team rosters to fifteen players. 

CYO EXPECTS each player, at a minimum, to play 1/4 of the season in game or match competition.  During post-season tournament play/playoffs, CYO EXPECTS that each player be given the opportunity to participate for a reasonable time in all games to help them contribute to team goals. 

Please check each sport section for specific playing time rules!

CYO PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

Each player and parent/guardian will be presented with a CYO Participant Agreement at the beginning of their athletic season. Both parties are required to sign this document and return it to their parish/school, who will keep it on record for the athletic year. Both players and parents/guardians will receive a copy of this agreement so that all parties understand what is expected of them by CYO Athletics.

The Catholic Youth Organization is a program that, through the vehicle of sports, aids youth to become better Catholics and Christians and collaborate with other athletes throughout the  Archdiocese.  CYO collaborates with other programs including Athletes for a Better World to provide the best educational opportunities for all involved.  It is with these goals in mind that we present the following agreement.

Because I have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others, I commit to the following Code for Living.   I will take responsibility and appropriate actions when I fail to live up to this code.

As an individual:

• I will try to develop my skills to the best of my ability and to give my best effort in practice and competition.
• I will compete within the spirit and letter of the rules of my sport.
• I will respect the dignity of every human being, and will not be abusive or dehumanizing of anyone either as an athlete or as a fan.

As a member of a team:

• I will place team goals ahead of personal goals.
• I will be a positive influence on the relationships on the team.
• I will follow the team rules established by the coach.

As a member of society:

• I will display caring and honorable behavior off the field and be a positive influence in my community and world.
• I will give of my time, skills, and money as I am able for the betterment of my community and world.

Remember (all spectators):

• That the players are children and are playing for their enjoyment, not yours. 
  To remain seated in the spectator area during all contests.
• To respect decisions made by contest officials.
• Be a role model positively supporting teams and not by shouting instructions or criticism to the players, coaches, or officials.  Please do not coach from the stands! 
• Make no derogatory comments or gestures to players, coaches, or fans of your own or the other team.
• Remember that the adults set the example for the behavior of their team's fans.  If you see negative behavior, please try to appeal to their conscience at the appropriate time.
• Any spectator who interferes with the conduct of a CYO activity, at the discretion of the spectator's parish, league, or the Archdiocese of Seattle, be barred from attendance at subsequent CYO athletic activities.

SUMMARY
 
CYO feels that it is important that the Parish/School Athletic Associations take into consideration age, skill level, and the uniqueness of individual sports when constructing rules and procedures to implement the CYO philosophy of youth athletics. They should be careful to differentiate between "Competitive" and "Recreational" programs. The bottom line remains..."Be sensitive to the unique needs of each individual." This cannot be legislated; however, it must be the constant focus of all committed Christian adults to help our youth grow in all dimensions through athletics.

Divisions

Participants in activities of CYO Athletics will be divided into divisions based on grade level in school and in age (with more emphasis given to the individual’s grade level in school). A student may participate in a higher grade division, but not vice-versa. A student playing in a division above their grade level is subject to commission review and approval.

3rd Grade 9 years of age and under (Born 1999 or after)

4th Grade 10 years of age and under (Born 1998 or after)

5th Grade 11 years of age and under (Born 1997 or after)

6th Grade 12 years of age and under (Born 1996 or after)

7th Grade 13 years of age and under (Born 1995 or after)

8th Grade 14 years of age and under (Born 1994 or after) Sophomore 16 years of age and under (Born 1992 or after) Senior 18 years of age and under (Born 1990 or after)

NOTE: The age and grade of each participant as of January 1, 2009 will apply.

In some sports, a varsity and junior varsity level of competition will be offered. It is the responsibility of the parish athletic coordinator to determine the level of competition in which to register the teams.

·     The varsity level of competition will be for teams that seem to have average or above average ability.

·     The junior varsity level of competition will be for teams that seem to have below average ability.

·     For assistance in determining proper classification, parishes may call CYO Athletics. We will send out a knowledgeable commissioner to help evaluate the situation.