Immanuel's philosophy with our athletic program is to encourage students to be the best they can be and give their very best to the glory of God.  

Objectives

• To implement a successful sports program which demonstrates a Christian and enthusiastic attitude. 
• To encourage athletes to strive for excellence and to do their best regardless of the outcome.
• To assist the athlete to develop their basic skills and talents.
• To teach athletes to participate as a team, which cooperates, supports, and works together.
• To provide athletes an experience in which they can develop leadership skills, self-confidence, and poise.
• To encourage and promote school spirit and good sportsmanship.

Interscholastic Sports Offered

• 5th - 8th grade Girls Volleyball (Aug-Oct) 
• 5th - 8th grade Girls Basketball (Nov-Feb)
• 5th - 8th grade Girls Cheerleading (Nov-Feb)  
• Girls Soccer will be offered this spring, grades TBD
• 5th - 8th grade Boys Soccer (Aug-Oct)
• 5th - 8th grade Boys Basketball (Nov-Feb)
• 6th - 8th grade Girls and Boys Track and Field (Mar-May)
• 5th - 8th grade Girls and Boys Cross Country (Aug-Oct)

Students in 4th grade may only participate when teams are limited in numbers and that child is deemed fit by the coach.  

Cheerleading

Cheerleading was re-introduced at Immanuel this year as a cheerleading ambassador program.  Participating students cheer at volleyball and basketball games and assist with track.  In addition, cheerleaders greet students at the beginning of the school day, provide encouragement to our student athletes, lead pep rallies, and work to enhance school spirit.  There will never be try-outs for cheerleading. 

Try-Outs

If there are more students interested in participating on a team than the determined number of players per team, try-outs will be held.  Students are required to attend try-outs.  Those not in attendance will not be considered for team placement.  Limitations on team sized do occur in volleyball (12 per team max) and basketball (15 per team max). 

Conduct 

Athletes, parents, and coaches are to model Christ-like attitudes, serve as Christian examples of fair play and good sportsmanship, and emphasize the glory of God over the glory of self and school. 

Eligibility

A student displaying a general lack of effort in their schoolwork may be suspended from an athletic activity.  This includes all middle school athletes, cheerleaders, managers, and students serving on student council.  Students effort will be evaluated weekly and is explained in detail in the Athletic Handbook.  If an athlete is to practice or play in a game, they must have participated fully in classes that day.  If a student misses school (any part of the day) because of illness, they will not be allowed to play in a game that day.  Participation in games in relation to missing practice shall be dealt with on an individual basis.  In fairness to all ILS athletes, playing time and starting positions may be affected based on a lack of attendance at practices and games. 

Sportsmanship

Respect of sportsmanship for athletes, parents, and coaches includes: 

• Respect for yourself, your coach, your team, the officials, and the opponents.
• Positive behavior when we win and positive behavior when we lose. 
• Appreciation of teammates, coaches, spectators, and others that support the athletic program. 

Code of Ethics

A detailed description of Immanuel's code of ethics for athletes, parents, spectators, and coaches is outlined in the Athletic Handbook.  The golden rule applies to sports as in all other things; to do unto others as we would like them to do unto us.  We play hard, follow the rules, are enthusiastic, accept the the decisions of officials gracefully, are never disrespectful of the other team, behave as Christ-like role models for others, and encourage athletes to reach their full potential. 

Supervision

The safety of our students is a great concern.  For home games, students playing the early game are to report to their coaches in the gym.  Students playing in a later game may 1) be picked up by their parents or carpool and report back in time for the game, 2) put on their uniform and sit in the gym to watch the game or do homework, or 3) report to a classroom if a parent provides supervision.  Students are not to leave the school property without adult supervision or written permission from parents/guardians. 

For away games, students are under the supervision of their coach and the parents who are transporting them to the game.  Students may be released to the supervision of their parents or another adult for the return trip home if written permission has been provided prior to the game. 

Transportation

Parent drivers are required for all away games.  Parents are responsible for either driving their own child or finding them a ride with another adult.  Any parent driving an ILS student other than their own child MUST HAVE a Parent Driver Form on file with the school.  Please plan ahead, the approvals time may be as long as 6 weeks.  Parents should NOT rely on the coaches for transportation.  Parents will be given information regarding dismissal times if the team needs to leave before the end of the school day. 

When the van or bus and a driver are available, all athletes are expected to ride the bus to the away game.  Riding the bus is reserved for athletes, coaches, and parents of athletes.  Athletes may make other arrangements for riding home from the game, but they must provide the coach with a written permission slip from the parents prior to the game. 

Communication

Practice and game schedules will be distributed to all athletes at the beginning of the season.  Tournament information will be distributed as soon as it is available from the host school.  If you are upset about anything related to the ILS athletic program, we ask you to follow the 24 hour rule.  Do not approach the coach or athletic director for 24 hours before or after a game. 

ILS Athletic Handbook

Additional information regarding Immanuel's athletic program is available in the ILS Athletic Handbook.  It can be obtained in the school office or from our athletic director, Tim Aho.  

Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2