DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND CYO GENERAL COACHES MEETING

DIOCESE OF
CLEVELAND CYO
GENERAL COACHES
MEETING
FALL 2016
The young person, not the athletic activity, is the primary focus of CYO Athletics.
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FALL COACHES MEETING
GENERAL SESSION AGENDA
1. Welcome and Prayer
2. The Mission and Culture of CYO
3. Code of Conduct
4. Long Term Athlete Development
5. General Program Information
6. Guest Player & Roster Additions
7. Team Formation, conferencing and blackout dates
8. Sport Specific Breakout Sessions
 Volleyball
 Football
 Cross Country
 Soccer
 Cheer
The young person, not the athletic activity, is the primary focus of CYO athletics.
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LEADER - Gracious God, author of all life, open our eyes to see your presence in the
world around us. Fill our hearts with the grace to build communities of peace
where we live and work. Grant us the wisdom to know how to relieve
suffering and injustice. Help our parishes, our schools, and all within CYO to
be beacons of light, transforming our lives, our neighborhoods, and our
world through faith, hope and love. We pray this through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
With God's ever present help each of us becomes a wise and loving child of
God, endowed with spiritual capabilities. God has created us to live in health
and success, to find joy and a sense of achievement in living.
ALL -
I affirm aloud in positive prayer "God knows the way; God shows the way; I
am empowered by God to do the perfect thing at the perfect time." I will be
shown what to do, and will have the courage and the faith to act.
LEADER - God has given you a heart of love, a mind of wisdom and an indomitable
spirit. You are capable of greatness because God is with you and God is
great. God believes in you because God created you and God wants the
best for you, it is God's will for your life.
ALL -
I rest in the realization, that with God, there is always a way. I may not know
the way to go next, but God does, and God is willing to guide me and lead
me.
LEADER - All people need guidance; in every life there are decisions to be made. In
every decision, each person would like to feel that the right choice is being
made and that it is the best way for all concerned.
ALL -
The answers we get from God will be
quite different from anything that we
have been able to think of thus far.
The answers may seem foreign and
strange to us. Let this be a day to
say to God, “not my thoughts but
Yours be done.”Knowing that God’s
light and direction are with us, we
pray to be inspired directly from God
so that we may always be beacons of
harmony and peace. Amen.
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Youth and Young Adult Ministry and CYO Office
7911 Detroit Avenue Cleveland, OH 44102 P 216.334.1261, F 216.334.1270
795 Russell Avenue, Akron, OH 44307P 330.379.3636, F 330.535.9040
www.dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
ATHLETIC STAFF
Christopher Farroni, Athletic Administrator
contactcyo@ccdocle.org
Cheer
(216) 334-1261 Ext. 12
Mary Ann King, Assistant Athletic Administrator
making@ccdocle.org
Soccer
(330) 379-3636 Ext. 17
Jamie Mewhinney, Athletic Director
jmewhinney@ccdocle.org
Football
(216) 334-1261 Ext. 13
Justine Kozlevcar, Athletic Director
jlkozlevcar@ccdocle.org
Volleyball (Grade 5, 6, 7 & 8)
(216) 334-1261 Ext. 19
Brian McLaughlin, Athletic Director
bpmclaughlin@ccdocle.org
Volleyball (Grade 3 & 4) & Cross Country
(216) 334-1261 Ext. 15
Vic Rosato, Athletic Program Coordinator
vrosato@ccdocle.org
Site Coordination
(330) 379-3636 Ext. 16
SPORT CONTACTS
CHEER
Marcy Kane
216.334.1261 Ext 46
mkane@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
CROSS COUNTRY
Kevin Leigh
216.334.1261 Ext 44
kleigh@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
216.334.1261 Ext 47
216.334.1261 Ext 49
216.334.1261 Ext 54
mcuccia@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
mpacak@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
mweidus@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
330.379.3636 Ext 17
making@ccdocle.org
216.334.1261 Ext 53
216.334.1261 Ext 45
216.334.1261 Ext 42
216.334.1261 Ext 41
jabraham@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
FOOTBALL
Mark Cuccia
Mike Pacak
Mark Weidus
MW, 4th-8th Grade
UnR, 4th-8th Grade
Flag, 1st-4th Grade
SOCCER
Mary Ann King
VOLLEYBALL
John Abraham
Linda DeCarlo
Marcia Fialko
3rd & 4th Grades
5th Grade
6th & 7th Grades
8th Grade
ldecarlo@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
mfialko@dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
The young person, not the athletic activity, is the primary focus of CYO athletics.
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Diocese of Cleveland CYO
Mission, Values, and Philosophy
(Article 2 and 3 of CYO Charter & Bylaws)
The CYO Mission Statement: CYO forms young people in Christian community as
followers of Jesus Christ through athletics.
How will you live out the Mission of CYO this season?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Values:

Dignity of Person: “…in the Divine image God created humanity…” (Genesis 1:27). CYO
Athletics shall contribute to the dignity of each athlete by accepting one another with
compassion, respect, patience, kindness, humility and understanding
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Concern for the Poor: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me...In
so far as you did this to one of the least of these sisters and brothers of mine, you did it for me.”
(Matthew 25)
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Justice: “This is what God asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk
humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). CYO Athletics shall create an atmosphere where
Sportsmanship and Fair Play are the cornerstones. CYO will develop the character of the
participants and emphasize the importance of integrity, respect and accountability in our
daily lives.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Hope: “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). CYO
Athletics shall nurture a positive spirit in each athlete by believing that each individual has
been created by God and is capable of making significant contributions to the community.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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
Stewardship: “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good
stewards of God’s varied grace.” (Peter 4:10). CYO Athletics shall nurture a spirit of
selfless service by providing opportunities and challenges to young people and adults as
they learn about themselves and others as they grow in service in their parish community
and beyond.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Philosophy
CYO Athletics endeavors to help the young people be more Christ-like in the way
they live.
The Young Person, not the athletic activity, is the primary focus of CYO Athletics.
Competition
Competition is an opportunity to demonstrate the developed skills of the athlete in concert
with the opponents, coaches, officials and fans.
“When sports are played and understood the right way, there is an
extraordinary expression of a person’s best inner energies and of the
ability to overcome difficulties, set goals to be reached through
sacrifice, generosity and determination in facing the difficulties of
competition.” – Saint John Paul II
Compassionate competition is an approach and mindset that teams compete with each
other, not against each other. This approach has teams striving to bring out the best in
themselves, but striving to bring out the best in their opponents. This healthy competition will
foster community and fellowship between the athletes, coaches, and community of both
teams.
Culture
Culture is the way we do things here. Culture is very important to any organization.
Culture in CYO fosters the Mission and Values of Catholic Charities and CYO Athletics.
Negative behaviors are the reason why culture in any organization would deter from
creating a positive culture. Negative behaviors will not be acceptable in CYO Athletics.
Coaches must have an active role in disengaging poor behavior and must immediately
share with their CYO Commissioner any act that contradicts the CYO Mission and Values.
As Coaches, we must understand the CYO culture and realize that organizations are not
perfect but can still be a positive influence for others. Your interactions with officials,
athletes, scorekeepers, site directors, and spectators must reflect and embrace a positive
CYO culture.
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Coaching in the Diocese of Cleveland CYO
Expectations of a CYO Coach
 Always set a good example for athletes and fans, exemplify the highest moral and
ethical behavior.
 Teach Sportsmanship and Gospel values to athletes and make it a high priority.
 Respect the judgment of officials, follow the rules and do not display any behavior
that could incite fans.
 Treat opposing coaches, participants and fans with respect. Shake the hand of
opposing coaches and officials in public.
Requirement for being a CYO Coach
To be a Grade School coach, the individual must be a minimum of 19 years old to be a Head
Coach and a minimum of 16 years old to be an Assistant Coach.
All Coaches must be approved by the Member Administrator and the Member Athletic
Director of the sponsoring team. A coach may not be the Head Coach of two teams in
the same sport during the same season.
All Coaches must complete the following requirements before they are permitted to begin
coaching.
 Read and Acknowledge the Diocese of Cleveland, “Policy for the Safety of Children in
Matters of Sexual Abuse”
 Read and Acknowledge the Diocese of Cleveland, “Standards of Conduct for Ministry”
 Complete a Parish Application
 Attend and approved abuse prevention program
 Attend a CYO Coaches Development Certification session
 Complete the required fingerprint based background check
 Complete the National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion in Sports
– What you Need to Know Training Program
COACHES ARE LEADERS - The Keys to being a good leader:
 TRUST
 LISTENING
 PERSEVERANCE
 WILLINGNESS TO SAY “I
DON’T KNOW”
 COMMUNICATION
 WILLINGNESS TO SAY
 ATTITUDE
“THANK YOU”
 FOCUS
 FAITH
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BYLAW 10 – CODE OF CONDUCT
10-1-1 CYO Athletics should be living examples of sportsmanship, fair play and Christian values. Everyone engaging in
the CYO experience: athletes, coaches, parents, spectators, administrators, officials and the greater
community, are to contribute to the positive environment that CYO creates for all of the athletes.
10-1-2 Athletes are to work to develop their skills to the best of their ability and always give their best effort. They
are to learn and compete within the spirit and letter of the rules. Athletes are to demonstrate good
sportsmanship and respect toward opponents, officials and teammates. They are to uphold the dignity of all
CYO personnel and be a positive influence on relationships on their team and with the opponents and officials
throughout the season.
10-1-3 Coaches, Officials and Administrators are to conduct themselves in a Christian manner that will be a credit to
the CYO program. They are to administer the program within the spirit and letter of the rules. They are to
show good sportsmanship and respect toward the athletes, opponent, officials and administrators at
meetings, practices and competitions. Coaches and Administrators will respect the dignity of every athlete
and be a positive influence on the relationship the team and community has with the opponents, officials and
administrators throughout the season.
10-1-4 Parents and Spectators are to be role models for the athletes and other spectators in attendance at an event.
They are to conduct themselves in a Christian manner that will be a credit to the CYO program. Parents and
Spectators are to remain in the spectator area at all sporting events and respect the decisions made by
officials and coaches. They are not to make any derogatory comments, gestures or distractions to athletes,
coaches, officials, administrators or fans.
10-1-5 Conduct issues are not expected in the Diocese of Cleveland CYO. If any of the following conduct issues
occurs, consequences will be assessed.
A. Individuals who display conduct that is contrary to the mission, values and philosophy of CYO will be
asked to leave the competition or event by the officials, coach, site director or supervisor, diocese or
member administration. Based upon the actions, there may be additional consequences.
B. Individuals who are removed from an athletic event are barred from attending the next scheduled
competition for that team. The individual must meet with the member administrator about the incident
and obtain a signed letter from the member administrator asking CYO diocesan administration to permit
the individual to attend upcoming competitions.
C. An individual that is removed from an event for a second time will not be permitted to attend any
competitions for the remainder of the season. The individual must meet with the member administrator
about the incident and obtain a signed letter from the member administrator asking the diocesan
administration to permit the individual to attend events in the subsequent season.
D. Coaches who are removed from an event for the second time in the same season will surrender their
coach’s credential to the site director or member administration immediately. These individuals must
attend a Coaches Development Program and meet with the member administrator about the event and
obtain a signed letter from them asking the CYO diocesan administration to permit the individual to coach
in the subsequent season.
E. A team that accumulates a total of 3 removals/ejections by a coach, athlete or spectator during the same
season will be immediately suspended for the remainder of the season and may be subject to further
penalties outlined in Bylaw 11.
F. Actions by coaches, athletes, spectators or others that did not result in removal from the game or event,
but are still in conflict with the standards of the Diocese of Cleveland CYO, may be assessed consequences
as outlined in bylaw 11.
10-1-6 General Diocesan Rule on Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
A. Coaches, athletes, managers, statisticians, scorekeepers, cheerleaders, spectators, site personnel,
commissioners and contest officials in the CYO athletic program are prohibited from using any form of
alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco products, or from carrying a firearm or deadly weapon at CYO athletic
competitions or practice sessions.
B. Alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco products, or firearms and weapons are not permitted anywhere on the
premises of a CYO event. Penalty for violation is disqualification from that contest and possible legal
action. The CYO Member is responsible to enforce this policy.
C. CYO contest sites are drug, alcohol, tobacco and firearm free zones.
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4 P’S OF COACHING – Vince Guider, North Lawndale Kinship Community,
Chicago, Il
 PARTICIPATION - COACH FOR LEADERSHIP TODAY
 PERSEVERANCE - KEEP GOING BECAUSE IT MATTERS
 PURITY - KEEP THE GAME PURE
 PROSPERITY - SPORTS LEAD YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROSPER
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE ATHLETE - COACHING TOMORROW’S
LEADERS TODAY:
 ATHLETE JOURNALING - “As learning tools, notebooks and journals
serve as a place for athletes to analyze and reflect… writing has the
potential to offer a powerful difference for teams and athletes.”
Richard Fisk – writingathletes.com
 ATHLETES RETREAT - We prayed and then we played…we were there
for each other. Bonding experience
 TEAM SERVICE DAY - Get your team involved in a service project
during the season. Have the parents be involved as well as your team is
very reliant on the parents.
 TEAM MEALS - Bonding experience that does not take place on the
court, field or course
 TEAM RULES - Act as the authority figure. Enforce the rules, Do what is
best for the team
 ATHLETE CONVERSATION - How can we show respect as a team to
the following; Each other, Opponents, Officials? How can we work
together more effectively as a team?
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Long Term Athlete Development Model in the Diocese of
Cleveland CYO
The Diocese of Cleveland CYO Member and Diocese Administration have the
responsibility of planning and monitoring the process through which the young people of
the Diocese experience and develop in an athletic setting. In order for the young person in
the Diocese of Cleveland CYO to reach their potential, a systematic approach to their
development must be agreed upon by the Member and Diocesan Administration, coaches,
and families participating in the CYO. The Diocese of Cleveland CYO has partnered with
Notre Dame University’s “Play Like a Champion Today” program to promote the overall
development of the young person participating in CYO.
In order to best accommodate the young person in their overall physical and mental
development a comprehensive Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program must be
properly implemented. The LTAD model is a physiological framework proposing what will
best benefit youth athletes at specific ages and stages in their development. An LTAD
program begins at the youth level and continues throughout adolescence to adulthood. The
implementation of the LTAD model can enhance sports programs and athletic development
by identifying gaps, and providing guidelines for kinesiology, improving performance and
detailing a framework to develop physical literacy, physical fitness for life and competitive
athletics.
The following information provides insight on the LTAD for the coach and family
when preparing and monitoring the development of the young person in the Diocese of
Cleveland CYO toward attaining better health and higher achievement within our Catholic
Community of the CYO.
 FUNdamentals Stage (Females 6-8, 3rd Grade and Males 6-9, 3rd-4th Grade) During this
stage children will develop the fundamental movement skills, including the ABCs of
Agility, Balance, Coordination, and Speed. Children need a solid foundation in these
fundamental movement skills before they will have success in acquiring sports skills.
Participation in a wide variety of sport activities will enhance the development of these
basic fundamental skills. An emphasis on having fun while still learning the rules and
ethics of the sport in the FUNdamentals stage will help children reach their full potential.
 Learn to Train Stage (Females 8-11, 3rd-6th Grade and Males 9-12, 4th-7th Grade) During
this stage children are ready to begin developing foundational sport skills. This stage is
“The Golden Age of Learning” for specific sport skills. The Learn to Train stage is the most
important stage for the development of sport-specific skills as it represents a sensitive
period of accelerated adaptation to skills training and fine motor control. It is also a time
when children enjoy practicing their skills and seeing their own improvement. An
emphasis on acquiring a wide range of skills necessary for a number of sporting activities
will assist the child’s development. Although it is often tempting to overdevelop “talent”
at this age through excessive single-sport training and competition, this can have a
negative effect on later stages of development over a child that pursues a late
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specialization in sports such as volleyball or football. The early specialization promotes
one-sided physical, technical, and tactical development and increases the likelihood of
injury and burnout.
 Train to Train Stage (Females 11-15, 6th-8th Grade and Males 12-16, 7th-8th Grade) During
this stage, young athletes build an aerobic base and consolidate their basic sport-specific
skills; in other words, is it time to start “building the engine”. The young person in this
stage may play and do their best to win, but they still need to spend more time on skill
training and physical development and less time trying to win (process vs. outcome). The
Train to Train Stage makes or breaks the athlete over development. Concentrating on
the process as opposed to the result of a competition will lead to better development.
This approach is critical to developing top performers and maintaining activity in the long
term.
All sports begin with basic fundamental movement and core sports skills. Children
must have a solid foundation in fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, and
throwing before they will have success in acquiring sport-specific skills. Research has shown
that children who have a strong foundation in a variety of these movements will have
increased potential for future success in sports. The highest potential for success also comes
from the athlete being well rounded and playing multiple sports. Specialization at an early
age limits children from acquiring a broad spectrum of athletic movements and skills that
can limit or put a cap on their overall athletic potential.
As a player progresses through the LTAD stages, their mental training component
should evolve from having fun and respecting opponents, to visualization and selfawareness, to goal setting, relaxation, and positive self-talk. Athletes need to focus while
remaining calm and confident. The mental training program is critical at all stages of LTAD,
as dealing with success and failure will determine continuation in the game and physical
activity in general, having an affect on both active lifestyle and podium performance. A main
goal of young athletes should be to continually improve while developing their physical and
mental skills for long term success.
In today’s society, there are many issues young athletes face; a sedentary lifestyle is
one of those issues. Sport participation can be a countermeasure to this clearly prevalent
and dangerous lifestyle. Often, young people experience failed attempts to participate in
organized sports because too much emphasis is placed on competition, with little attention
on developing proper athleticism. Individuals with limited sports and movement skills often
stop participating. In turn, this neglect often leads to a decreased interest in any type of
physical activity leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary living results in health problems
like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic
diseases that evolve from a lifelong problem starting in childhood.
To optimize the development of CYO athletes, coaches must fully understand how to
implement a Long Term Athlete Development model. Scientific research concludes that it
takes 8 to 12 years for a talented athlete to reach elite levels. It can be argued that it takes
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that long, if not longer, to produce quality youth coaches who understand how to develop
proper kills in children. A well-planned and balanced schedule of training, practice,
competition, and recovery will enhance the possibility for optimum development
throughout the young person’s athletic career.
Coach education is the foundation of the program’s success. The emphasis must be
placed on development and allowing the child to have fun while also improving their
physical and technical skills. As the CYO preaches, the young person, not the athletic activity,
is the primary focus of CYO athletics.
Long Term Athlete Development Model
Answer the following questions is small groups with the coaches around you. Be
prepared to answer and discuss.
1. You are a 3rd Grade coach. What should a typical practice look like?
2. You are an 8th Grade coach. What should a typical practice look like?
3. You are a 3rd Grade coach with an inexperienced team, which stage are you and
your team in?
4. You are a 7th Grade coach whose athletes are getting more competitive while
still keeping their focus on their physical development and acquiring a wide
range of skills. Which stage are you in?
5. A parent wants their 8 year old child to stay in Volleyball year round. What do
you tell them and which of the key factors do you refer to?
6. As the season begins, you begin to plan practices and recovery days. Why are
you doing this and what key factor are you using as a reference?
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Diocese of Cleveland CYO Resources Available to you!
WELCOME TO THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND CYO WEB SITE
www.dioceseofclevelandcyo.org
Home of all of your CYO athletic information needs!
Twitter - @CYOSportsDOC
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SCHEDULES & LOCATIONS
The schedules will be posted by grade levels and colors. Once you visit a schedule, you will
view the game time, opponent and location. If you click on the location a map will open up
and you can enter details to obtain directions to the venue.
Fall schedules will be posted by Thursday, August 18 by 11:59 p.m. Tournament Brackets
will be posted at a later date on the web site.
Cancellations and announcements will be posted on the right side of the schedule page.
You can also follow CYO sports on our twitter handle: @CYOSportsDOC for prompt game
day announcements and cancellations.
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COACHING RESOURCES
Visit the Video Library section of the CYO Website at http://dioceseofclevelandcyo.org. To access
the PlaySportsTV video library, click on a topic and enter the following password cyovideos2011.
The Coaches – Resources page also contains links to general and sport specific development
information.
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? NEED DOC, NOT A PICTURE!
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Diocese of Cleveland CYO
Athletic Advisory Committee
The Athletic Advisory Committee provides support and recommends ideas and
programs to the Athletic Administration of the Diocese of Cleveland CYO
Athletic Programs. The Committee works within the CYO Charter and Bylaws
to assist the Administration in developing new programs and sport’s rules to
continue the success and strength of the CYO program within a spirited
Christian atmosphere. The Committee also encourages parents, coaches and
athletes to compete in a Christian spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork and
cooperation.
Over the years the Athletic Advisory Committee has helped establish rules and
participation standards for each sport, organize the annual membership
conference, review parent and coach season evaluations, create the CYO Hall
of Fame and the Bishop Roger Gries CYO Good Shepherd Fund.
Committee Officers – 2016-2017
Chair
Tim Schmidt
St. Mark - Cleveland
Vice Chair Vacant
Secretary Dave Stefanski St. Michael - Independence
2016-17 Committee Meetings
November 14, February 13, May 8
Section Representation Needs
The following sections are in need of voting representatives:
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This is your CYO “City Council Meeting”. Each meeting has a place on the
agenda for Athletic Director to address the committee.
Athletic Advisory Committee website
2016-17 Committee Initiatives
Strategic Planning Phase II
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Athletic Advisory Committee Member
Section Assignments 2016-2017
Section 1 – Elyria Catholic High School, Holy Trinity-Avon, Sacred Heart Chapel-Lorain, St. Anthony of PaduaLorain, St. Joseph-Amherst, St. Joseph-Avon Lake, St. Jude, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, St. MaryElyria, St. Mary-Vermilion, St. Peter-Lorain, St. Thomas the Apostle-St. Teresa of Avila. (12) (Denise
McDonald-Curry – Jamie Mewhinney – Wendy Mask)
Section 2 – St. Angela Merici, St. Bernadette, St. Brendan, St. Raphael. (4) (Rachelle Watters - Jamie
Mewhinney – Wendy Mask)
Section 3 – Lakewood Catholic Academy, Metro Catholic, Our Lady of Angels, Our Lady of Mt. CarmelCleveland, St. Christopher, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Ignatius High School, St. Luke, St. Mark, St. PatrickCleveland, St. Rocco, Urban Community School. (12) (Tim Schmidt - Jamie Mewhinney – Wendy Mask)
Section 4 – Incarnate Word Academy, St. Adalbert-Berea, St. Bartholomew, St. Mary of the Falls, St. MaryBerea, St. Peter-North Ridgeville, Sts. Joseph & John. (7) (Tim Meehan – Brian McLaughlin – Roz Dowdell)
Section 5 – Holy Family-Parma, Mary Queen of Peace, St. Anthony of Padua-Parma, St. Bridget of Kildare, St.
Charles Borromeo, St. Columbkille, St. Leo the Great, St. Mary Byzantine, St. Thomas More. (9) (Vacant –
Brian McLaughlin – Roz Dowdell)
Section 6 – Assumption, St. Albert the Great, St. Ambrose, St. Francis Xavier. (4) (Tony Rohloff – Brian
McLaughlin – Roz Dowdell)
Section 7 – Archbishop Lyke, Communion of Saints, Gesu, Holy Name, Sacred Heart of Jesus-South Euclid, St.
Adalbert-Cleveland, St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima, St. Aloysius-St. Agatha, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Jerome,
St. Stanislaus, St. Thomas Aquinas. (13) (Michael Connors – Justine Kozlevcar – Noelia Speringo)
Section 8 – St. Barnabas, St. Basil the Great, St. Benedict, St. Joan of Arc, St. Michael, St. Monica, St. Rita. (6)
(Dave Stefanski – Vic Rosato – Martha Huber)
Section 9 – Emmanuel Christian Academy, Queen of Heaven, Sacred Heart of Jesus-Wadsworth, St.
Augustine, St. Francis de Sales-Akron, St. Matthew, St. Paul-Akron, St. Sebastian, SS. Peter & Paul, SS. Philip &
James. (10) (Brian Saus – Mary Ann King – Martha Huber)
Section 10 – Holy Family-Stow, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Seton Catholic School, St. Mary-Hudson, St.
Patrick. (5) (Paul Marshall – Vic Rosato – Martha Huber)
Section 11 – Our Lady of the Elms, Spring Garden Waldorf School, St. Anthony of Padua-Akron, St. Hilary, St.
Joseph-Cuyahoga Falls, St. Vincent, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS. (7) (Leave of Absence – Mary Ann King – Martha
Huber)
Section 12 – Gilmour Academy, Our Lady of the Lake, SS. Robert & William, St. Anselm, St. Clare, St. Francis of
Assisi, St. Paschal Baylon. (7) (Ed Fowler – Justine Kozlevcar – Noelia Speringo)
Section 13 – Catholic Montessori School, Immaculate Conception, Mater Dei Academy, Notre Dame
Elementary, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Wickliffe, St. Gabriel, St. Helen, St. John
Vianney, St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Mary-Chardon. (11) (Joseph Muscatello – Justine Kozlevcar – Noelia
Speringo)
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Hall of Fame & Recognition Award Program
Hall of Fame induction is presented to individuals that have made significant contributions to
the Diocese of Cleveland CYO as a player, coach, athletic director, clergy, commissioner or
other member of the community. Individuals whose accomplishments have been of utmost
merit and whose actions have brought the Mission of the Diocese of Cleveland CYO to life
over an extended period of time can be nominated.
Recognition Awards are presented to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in
carrying out the Mission and Philosophy of the Diocese of Cleveland CYO for its participants
as a coach, athletic director, clergy, commissioner, site director or other member of the
community. Tell us about a deserving member by making an on-line nomination at:
www.dioceseofclevelandcyo.org, and click on the left-hand toolbar, “Hall of Fame”.
Deadline for Nomination is September 30, 2016
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Sportsmanship Awards Program
The Diocese of Cleveland CYO presents the Sportsmanship Awards to those teams who
exemplify good sportsmanship and Christian values by living the CYO Mission: CYO
Athletics endeavors to help young people be more Christ-like in the way they live. Our CYO
program focuses on the total development of participants in order to influence the formation
of Christian values.
Each season, coaches, parents, players etc. have the opportunity to nominate teams that
demonstrate good sportsmanship. The nominations go through a selection process
conducted by the CYO staff and final selections will be invited to the CYO Sportsmanship
night to receive their award. You can nominate your team or an opposing team by visiting
www.dioceseofclevelandcyo.org.
Fall 2016 Sportsmanship Events
Cleveland State University Volleyball Match - October 28
University of Akron Volleyball Match - October 29
John Carroll University Football Game - November 5
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CYO Partnership Communication Plan
External CYO Communication Plan
Internal Parish Communication Plan
Student- Athletes
Parents
CYO Commissioner
CYO Contact Us
CYO Site Director
Parish Commissioner
Athletic Director
Note the internal and external lines of communication. The situation will determine which line of
communication the coach uses. Below are examples of common situations and who the coach
should contact.
Situation
Requesting Blackout Dates
Practice Times
CYO Rule Clarification
Forfeit of a Game
Incident at a Gym
Report of Good/Poor Behavior
The
Internal/
External
Internal
Internal
External
External
External
External
Who To Contact
Member Athletic Director
Member Commissioner
CYO Commissioner
CYO Commissioner and/or CYO Athletic Director
CYO Site Director
CYO Contact Us – website
button is on the homepage of the CYO Website.
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Guest Player Rule - Bylaw 5-3-2
If a team will not have enough players (1 more than the number of players needed to fill
the positions at the start the game/match), a guest player may be moved from another
team with the following restrictions:
How many Guest Players can be invited from another team in your sport if you? Find
your sport and fill in the number of guests that can be added to your team for the game.
Cheer
__________
If 5 players are available on game day?
Flag Football
__________
If 6 players are available on game day?
Soccer (11v11)
__________
If 10 players are available on game day?
(8v8)
__________
If 8 players are available on game day?
(6v6)
__________
If 5 players are available on game day?
Tackle Football
__________
If 12 players are available on game day?
Volleyball
__________
If 6 players are available on game day?
Guest Players must be currently rostered on the same member’s CYO team in the same
sport and same gender. If a player is not listed on any member’s roster for the current
season, a player may not be used as a Guest Player.
Guest Players may be moved up from a lower competition division team or within the
same division if he/she meets the age/grade restrictions of the team. Please refer to
bylaw 3-3-1B for exceptions in the sport of cheer.
8th Grade - Individuals in grades 8, 7, 6; ages 10-14
7th Grade - Individuals in grades 7, 6, 5; ages 9-13
6th Grade - Individuals in grades 6, 5, 4; ages 8-12
5th Grade - Individuals in grades 5, 4; ages 8-11
4th Grade - Individuals in grade 4, 3; ages 7-10
3rd Grade - Individuals in grade 3, 2; ages 7-9
2nd Grade - Individuals in grade 2, 1; ages 6-7
1st Grade - Individuals in grade 1; ages 5-6
The same Guest Player may be moved for no more than two (2) games to the same
team during the season. Please write a few sentences why the Guest Player cannot be
invited onto the same team as a Guest Player more than twice.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Once the Guest Player is invited onto your team, the player must comply with the
number of games per day competition limits as defined in the sport specific rules. For
example:
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



Tackle Football: No team or player may play in more than 1 game in a day. No
team or player may play more than 2 games per week.
Volleyball: No team or player may play in more than two (2) matches in a day. No
team or player may play more than five (5) matches per week. The week runs
Sunday through Saturday.
Soccer: No team or player may play in more than two (2) matches in a day.
Flag Football: No team or player may play in more than two (2) matches in a day
93 hour rest).
Whenever a Guest Player is invited onto another member’s team, the Guest Player must
meet the participation limits outlined in the sport specific rules. Reference your sport
specific rules for specific participation rules.
Before a Guest player can participate in a game, they must be reported to the diocesan
administration prior to the game/match by following the process below:
 A coach must report to their Athletic Director your intent to use a Guest Player
and comply with the process established at your parish/school.
 Once the process is completed at the parish/school level, the coach or Athletic
director must report the Guest Player to CYO. On the CYO website, coaches tab,
coach’s information tab, Guest Player Reporting tab (blue box), the Guest Player
information will be added. Once the information is submitted, the Guest Player is
eligible to compete.
Guest players cannot be used for CYO
championships or Sanctioned Events.
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Additions to the Roster
Athletes are permitted to be added to your roster up to 14 days after the start of the regular season.
This is a change from the 2015 season. If there are young people that wish to be added to your
team, have them contact your Member Athletic Director for registration details.
If your team does not have the minimum number of players stated below, the team is permitted to
add to the roster beyond the 14 day deadline, until the roster reaches the minimum number. If there
are young people that wish to be added to your team, have them contact your Member Athletic
Director for registration details.
Athletes added to the team must meet the sport specific acclimation or training days needed
prior to engaging in any competitions!
Minimum number by sport
Cheer – 6 per squad
Cross Country – 7 per competition division
Flag Football – 10 per team
Soccer 11v11 – 14 per team
8v8 – 11 per team
6v6 – 9 per team
Tackle Football – 20 per team
Volleyball – 8 per team
Team Formation - Bylaw 6
Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 If a CYO Member sponsors multiple teams in the same grade; the teams must be split evenly
and must experience the same degree of coaching, curriculum, practice facilities & practice
frequency
 Assessments are to be held on at least 2 days before team formation is made. The
assessments are to be conducted by 2 individuals that will not be coaching the team. The
final roster must be approved by the member athletic director and the announcement is to be
made by the member athletic director with Dignity & Respect.
Grades 6, 7, 8
 If a member sponsors multiple teams in the same grade; the teams may be split according
to player ability (team strength – A/B, Stronger/Weaker) All teams must experience the same
degree of coaching, curriculum, practice facilities & practice frequency.
 Assessments are to be held on at least 2 days before team formation is made. The
assessments are to be conducted by 2 individuals that will not be coaching the team. The
final roster must be approved by the member athletic director and the announcement is
made by the member athletic director with Dignity & Respect.
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League Formation - Bylaw 6
Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 Teams are not rank by strength in these divisions.
- Conferencing Process - Teams are conferenced together by location.
Grade 6
 Members that sponsor only 1 team in the 6th grade division, must Identify the team’s strength
as either; A – Stronger Team or B – Average Team.
 Members that sponsor multiple teams in the 6th grade division must identify the stronger team
as A – Stronger Team. The remaining teams can be identified as B - Average Team or C Weaker Team.
 If the member creates the multiple teams that are split evenly, they are to contact the CYO
athletic director for ranking assistance.
 Conferencing Process
- Single team members conferenced together by strength and location
- Multi team members conferenced together by strength and location
- Reality may be – All conferenced together by strength and then location
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Grade 7 & 8
 Members are assigned to divisions for the purpose of registration.
 Members that sponsor only 1 team in the 7th or 8th grade division, must Identify the team’s
strength as either; A – Stronger Team or B – Average Team or C – Weaker Team.
 Members that sponsor multiple teams in the 7th or 8th grade division must identify the
stronger team as A – Stronger Team. The remaining teams can be identified as B - Average
Team or C - Weaker Team.
 If the member creates the multiple teams that are split evenly, they are to contact the CYO
athletic director for ranking assistance.
 Conferencing Process
- Once all teams are registered, the number of teams in division 1 & 2 will be balanced by
recalculating the average enrollment break point.
- A member’s only team OR A-Team is to be registered in their assigned division.
- A member’s second team may be registered in a lower division(s).
- Teams are placed in conferences by strength and location with-in the division.
- If there is a low number of teams in a division, teams may be placed in conferences
based upon location ahead of strength.
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Team Conflict and Blackout Dates - Bylaw 5
At the CYO Membership Conference that was held in June, Member Athletic Directors were
reminded that one of the most important responsibilities they have is to complete the team
registration process! When this process breaks down, it could have detrimental effects.
The Team Registration Process consists of the following steps:
1. Complete the general team entry by the deadline. This step includes the registration of the
team in the correct program. Giving the team the appropriate strength ranking. Providing
the contact information for the head coach. Submitting team “blackout Date Requests” and
paying team entry fees
2. Submit ERF & Merger Applications by the deadline
3. Complete the coaches and player roster by deadline. This includes updating Roster
information as soon as possible and giving each coach a copy of the CYO Eligibility Roster
4. Follow the Late Addition and Guest Player policies
Team Blackout Date requests are an important part of Step 1. These requests are to be submitted
through the team registration process by the member athletic director. Requests must be submitted
by the team entry deadline. What are the important elements of a blackout request?
 Requests must include the date; time and reason a team cannot compete on identified dates.
 All submitted requests must reflect the minimum amount of “blacked out” time needed.
 All submitted requests must contain a detailed description of the reason for the request.
 Team conflict dates with a description submitted at the time of entry will be considered in the
following rank order priority:
- Religious events for athletes – Sacraments, Rehearsals, Retreats, etc.
- School academic events for athletes – Science Fair, Music/Writing Competitions, etc.
- School other events for athletes –Plays, Socials, Field trips
- Coach related conflicts – Specific Family events, etc.
- Other, Generic or items without a description will not be observed.
The CYO administration also has responsibilities to facilitate efficient team registrations. With
regards to team blackouts, the CYO administration has the following responsibilities;
 At the end of the team entry period, review the details and reason provided for requested
dates teams cannot compete and make efforts to observe those requests that were provided
within the team entry period according to the priorities noted above.
 Communicate to member administration submitted requests that cannot be honored through
the scheduling process.
 Review conflict dates submitted after the team entry deadline for accommodations that can
be made.
Please note that late blackout date requests often require 3 hours or more of staff time for each
request due to the chain of events involving the availability of opponents, officials, facilities, site
director’s, athletes, and parents. Therefore, late blackout date requests are strongly discouraged
and may not be granted.
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