Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: When is the summer's moratorium week?
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The IHSAA has mandated that all high schools have the same moratorium week (a time away for student-athletes and coaches where NO athletic activities or contact takes place). This will be June 27 - July 5 in
2009. Bishop Chatard also observes another moratorium for most sports to provide another
break for student-athletes & coaches just before the first Fall Sports Official Practice
dates. The BCHS moratorium dates are July 25 through Aug 2, 2009.
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Q: What is the inclement weather policy for practices & contests?
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A: If we are not in school due to inclement weather, then there will be no practices
conducted or games contested. [Exception to this could be a city or state tournament
activity may take place if the host school or IHSAA so chooses.]
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Q: How much of the school day does a student-athlete need to attend in order to participate in a practice or game on that day (or over the weekend if Friday is in question)?
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A: ALL OF IT!! Only exceptions: field trips, funerals, doctor's appointments (with note), retreats, or college visits.
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Q: Help..I still do not understand the GPA requirement.
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A: Our athletic GPA requirement is this: a student-athlete must earn a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible to compete as a BCHS athlete. A student-athlete may
regain their eligibility at the conclusion of the next quarter in which they attain the required 2.0 GPA. (NOTE: the athletic department works closely with the guidance
office in these matters.)
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Q: Aren't grade requirements and the Code of Conduct unfairly singling out athletes?
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A: Singling out athletes . yes...unfairly . no. Athletes are ambassadors of the school.
Young eyes are on them and they need to keep that in mind with their daily deportment.
It is a choice to consistently do what is right. As for grades, we would be doing our
athletes a great disservice if we let them go through their high school career and then hit
a wall while not being able to think for themselves &/or meet the NCAA
Clearinghouse minimum standards.
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Q: What are the athletic department's expectations of parents?
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A: Support your child, the coaches, the program, & the athletic department/school. Do it
in that order, while keeping in mind the role of each party involved. Everyone is
entitled to their own opinion in regards to "how a game plan was executed or calls that
are made during contests", but anything short of positive support during a contest is
unproductive & detrimental to the student-athletes and their team.
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Q: How important is winning to BCHS?
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A: As Director of Athletics I will not care if we ever win a contest, as long as I am
convinced that our student-athletes were prepared & confident of doing their best. I
believe that the competitive outcome we experience is purely a by-product of our
preparation & attention to detail. Athletics is (or should be) about teaching &
confidence building. Most often the edge that separates one competitor from another is
not pure ability, but rather the intelligent preparation & positioning that one
accomplishes over their opponent. If a student-athlete works hard in the classroom &
on the field/court, is coachable & teachable, truly understands the concept of team,
brings out the best in the people around them, & represents BCHS with class &
dignity; then they are successful. Winning contests is earned only after doing the
correct things consistently. No coach at BCHS in the past several years has been
released because they did not win contests.
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Q: How much playing time should my child expect?
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A: The philosophy we promote to all of our coaches is that the younger the age of the
team, the more the playing time should be spread around. This is a difficult concern
even for the most conscientious coach, because all student-athletes want maximum
playing time & it is just not possible for everyone.
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Q: What forms are needed before a student can participate in a Bishop Chatard sport?
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Any student-athlete wishing to participate in a Bishop Chatard athletic program must have a completed IHSAA physical form, Code of Conduct, emergency information card, travel authorization and HIPPA form on file in the athletic office before the first official practice of the sport in which they participate. Click on "Physicals/Forms" above for further information and forms.
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Q: How are decisions made as to who 'makes the team' in the various sports?
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A: The head coach of each sport is responsible for determining the criteria for making the
team & remaining on the team. Intangible factors can affect the choosing of an athletic
team. We ask that coaches make the criteria clear beforehand & offer to talk with any
student-athlete who has been cut to explain the reasons & discuss the individual's
'work areas' should they want to try out again in the future. (Some sports, simply by
their nature, do not need to make cuts.)
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Q: To whom do I go if I have a concern/problem with a coach?
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A: It depends on the source of the concern/problem. If the issue is between a student-
athlete & coach, then a direct one-on-one is best. We need to teach our children to take
that initiative. They should ask for an appointment with the coach to discuss their
issue. If the parent has concerns about the way a coach is doing their job, then the
appointment should be between the coach & respective parent(s). Direct one-on-one
communication is always best - but if there is no resolution, an additional step may
need to be taken (bring in the sport's head coach if the issue is with an assistant, or the
AD if the problem is with the head coach, etc.)
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