7/20/17
Dear Parents,
I hope you all are having a great summer filled with lots of enjoyment, relaxation, and great memories with family and friends. As I have taken some time to reflect over the past year, I am excited for the potential that exists with athletics moving forward. I spent a great deal of the past year doing more listening than talking, hearing the perceptions of various groups and using that to lay some groundwork for sustainable success well into the future. My meetings with coaches, students, alumni, faculty, and parents provided a great deal of insight on the history, experiences, and observations of each group. This process will be no quick feat, but I want to reiterate my desire for us to consistently field competitive athletic programs that continuously play a vital part in the overall learning experience of our student athletes here at St. Anne's-Belfield. Athletic participation is a privilege, one that promotes a process driven mentality in addition to intangible values such as leadership, commitment, self-confidence, and sportsmanship. Better said, our athletic programs should shape the minds and hearts of our student-athletes for the future. It is the Athletic Department's focus to ensure that the students' experience remains competitive and enriching, stemming from a commitment of our coaches to create a well-rounded athletic experience and a dedication of our students to strive for excellence both in and out of the classroom.
I look forward to heading into phase two of building a strategic model for continued athletic success. As I mentioned in my spring letter, the goal in this next phase is to have thoughtful discussions that are centered around the major areas of feedback received from this past year. These expanded conversations will allow me to assess the desires and expectations of each constituent group as we work to build on the great foundation of history and tradition that currently exists. The goal is not to shift the focus or downgrade; the goal is to do the opposite by thinking proactively on ways to ensure that our athletic programs remain an educational and successful part of the School given the ever-changing landscape. More information will come soon regarding chats, meetings, and discussion groups for the upcoming year. I hope you all can be a part of this experience and help us continue to build in an upward direction.
That said, the Athletics department has been working this summer to prepare for another successful school year. Our entire team has been working on ways to enhance the operations, experience, and overall vision moving forward. I am excited to be working with such a great group, and look forward to the continued impact they will have this upcoming year.
A few changes have happened in our department that I wanted to briefly touch on. As you all know, Mark O'Donnell has moved on from the School and will be missed for his great contribution to the Athletic Development program. That said, I believe our program is in great hands moving forward. Chad Powlovich is our new director of Athletic Development, and has hit the ground running to ensure our program serves our student-athletes in the best way possible. I am excited to see his continued impact in that program, and I strongly believe you all will see the benefits in the health of your children and their performance both on and off the playing surface.
We also had a change in our Sports Medicine department. After an extensive search, I am proud to announce that Lizzie Leitch has joined the St. Anne's-Belfield community as an associate athletic trainer to replace Johanna Schutzer, who left the School to relocate closer to her family. Lizzie is familiar with our community as she served at St. Anne's-Belfield in the 2014 - 2015 school year as a graduate assistant. She spent the last two years as an assistant athletic trainer at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Lizzie has good experience in sports medicine, in addition to a familiarity with our School and students. She began her appointment on July 5 and I am excited to have her as a part of our team moving forward. Jeremy Eith is returning as our head athletic trainer.
I am truly excited to work with such an enthusiastic and experienced group of people to ensure that our athletic programs are fulfilling their mission and serving as an integral part of the St. Anne's-Belfield experience.
The following is some information regarding Athletics that you all should note. As you read through the contents, be sure to store important athletic requirements, dates, and equipment needs to ensure that each student athlete is prepared for the first day of fall sports.
Athletic Requirements for Sports Medicine
Athletic Physical: Yearly form that must be completed by a physician and dated AFTER May 1, 2017. Please ensure the form is signed appropriately by both parent and student. Mail completed forms to: St. Anne's-Belfield School, ATTN: Athletics, 2132 Ivy Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Parent & Student Concussion Education: This year we are using XLNTbrain for our concussion education. The platform will look different than in years past. One parent from each household, all athletes, and all Upper School students must complete this training.
Concussion Baseline Testing: Many students completed this requirement in the spring. Testing is done in coordination with UVA concussion research and must be completed during specific time slots on the Belfield campus. Summer testing will take place Aug. 2 & 3. If you have questions or are unsure if your child has completed this requirement, please email jeith@stab.org or lleitch@stab.org.
Concussion Cognitive Baseline Testing (at home): This is a requirement for all Grades 7 - 9 and new students. Testing can be done on any computer with internet access. It is VERY important that students thoroughly read the instructions prior to taking the test. It takes about 20 minutes.
Student Athlete Handbook
I am in the process of finalizing the student athlete handbook for the 2017 - 2018 school year. This handbook will be the athletic go to guide for all parents and students. In it you will find vital information such as our school athletic philosophy, policies and procedures, code of conduct, athletic expectations, sport requirements, and insight into many areas of the athletic operation. Once available, download the handbook and keep it handy in the case that you have questions throughout the school year. The handbook will be posted on the Athletic Forms & Requirements page of our website and shared digitally once completed.
Parent & Student Feedback
In an effort to help our coaches and athletic programs continuously develop and improve through self-reflection and constructive feedback, we have transitioned to a web-based program that will allow for parent and student feedback following participation in a particular sports season. All student athletes and their parents will receive a link via email at the end of the season that will allow you to provide insight on the coaching staff and your observations throughout the season. I ask that you please take two to three minutes to complete these brief surveys, as it will help generate beneficial discussion for our coaches and their programs.
Participation Requirements
Upper School students entering the ninth grade are required to complete six trimesters/seasons of physical activity and/or sport participation over the course of their time in the Upper School to fulfill the physical activity credits needed for graduation. Four seasons must be completed by the beginning of their junior year, and two of the six seasons must be with a School-sponsored sport or activity. Students should ensure that they are fulfilling this requirement as they progress through the Upper School.
Seventh and eighth grade students are required to participate in two seasons of physical activity and/or sport participation each year. One season each year must be with a school sponsored sport or non-competitive activity. This requirement is a great way to promote physical activity, relationship building, and school pride.
Athletic Requirements
The Athletics Forms & Requirements page of our website is a great place to visit to ensure student athletes are cleared to participate on the first day of practice. It is a four-step process that must be completed each year, and it involves student and parent participation. If you have questions, we encourage you to visit the Frequently Asked Questions sheet first, prior to contacting the Athletic Training Office. Please note that all requirements must be completed before a student is allowed to participate in tryout or practice. There are no exceptions.
Upper School Athletics
Practices for fall sports will begin at 4:10 p.m. during normal school days. However, pre-season practice times may vary from the normal practice time. Visit the team pages to ensure you have the accurate practice times for tryouts and the first week of pre-season. Also, please note that most Varsity sports will start practices at an earlier date than JV sports. If you are an Upper School student interested in trying out for varsity, you should plan to be present for tryouts and contact the coach of that respective sport to get additional information.
Grades 7 & 8 Teams
Grades 7 & 8 team practices will start on the first day of school, Aug. 24. All 7 & 8 practices run from 2:50 - 4:10 p.m. Monday - Thursday. In sports where Upper School team numbers are low, seventh and eighth graders may be allowed to try out for JV/varsity team participation. These tryouts happen by invitation from the coach ONLY, and will consist of the JV/varsity coach observing the student during the course of a 7 & 8 grade team practice. If the JV/varsity coach decides to add the student to the team, communication will take place with the student's advisor and family to ensure that they are aware of the differences in the level of commitment and schedule structure. All seventh and eighth graders must start the season with the 7 & 8 grade team, even if they aspire to make a JV/varsity team.
For some interscholastic sports (cross country, tennis, squash, swimming, diving, golf, and softball) we do not offer a 7 & 8 grade team and, therefore, allow seventh graders to try out for the JV teams and eighth graders to try out for JV/varsity teams. JV/varsity team practices take place Monday – Friday, and can run from 4:10 – 6:30 p.m.
Equipment & Clothing
From the dry days of August to the chilly days of October, our weather can be quite unpredictable throughout the season. Students should ensure they have appropriate clothing for the weather conditions each day. Shorts and t-shirts for warm days (no spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, or undergarments showing), and sweatshirts and long pants for cooler days are recommended. Players should also prepare accordingly for rainy days (we play games in rain unless there is thunder, lightning, or heavy downpour). Practices moved indoors will require indoor shoes that are appropriate for the wood floors in the gym. Players may need to wear long sleeved shirts under their uniforms on cooler days. All team members must wear the same color undergarments and they must match the uniform. The same is true of hats and headbands. Specific colors for these items are decided on by the coach. The following are items that will be needed if your child is participating in a fall sport:
- Cross Country: Comfortable running shoes, undershirt, running shorts, and leggings for cooler weather (optional).
- Field Hockey: The NFHS requires that Field Hockey players have protective eye wear during competition. All goggles must now meet the ASTM F2713-14 approval standard. Athletes will need to purchase these before the first game. Athletes should check their current goggles to ensure that they comply with the new standards. More information on the updated NFHS requirements and compliant goggles can be found here and here. Other necessary equipment includes: Stick, cleats (turf cleats are for use on our turf, not grass), long white socks and long maroon socks (home and away), mouth guard, NOCSAE approved shin guards, and gloves (optional for cooler weather). Most Field Hockey gear can be found at www.longstreth.com.
- Football: Comfortable pair of football cleats and pair of gym shoes for indoor use, shorts, t-shirts, and tights for cooler weather (optional). Players will receive helmets, pads, and practice jersey/pants. Students will not be allowed to use their own helmets or shoulder pads as our equipment is certified and approved by NFHS standards.
- Soccer: Soccer cleats, NOCSAE approved shin guards, long white socks and long black socks (home and away), mouth guard (optional), and athletic supporter (optional).
- Tennis: Racquet, court shoes, hat/visor (optional, but must match uniform).
- Volleyball: Court shoes, knee pads, black tights worn as shorts or under team shorts (optional, but must match the uniform and the rest of the team). The athletic department has spandex tights available for those who need them for $13.
Uniforms & Equipment
The Athletic Department assigns uniforms and sometimes equipment to student athletes participating in certain sports. In these situations, it is the students' responsibility to ensure that they keep up with all assigned items throughout the course of the season. Students should not switch numbers or other assigned gear without notifying the coach and/or the Athletic Department. Students will be responsible for turning in all assigned items to the Athletic Department at the end of the season. Any items not returned will be billed at the cost of a single replacement. If someone misplaces an item or picks up a wrong one by accident, they should notify the coach immediately to get the item back into the right hands. Students who do not return a portion of their uniform will not be given a uniform for another sport until they have either returned or paid for the outstanding item.
I hope you all enjoy the remaining weeks of summer and I look forward to seeing our fall athletes back on campus in just a few short weeks. If there are any questions about the contents of this letter, or athletics in general, please do not hesitate to contact me at drobinson@stab.org.
Best regards,
Dewayne Robinson
Director of Athletics
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