California Interscholastic Federation

  Parents Newsletter

Committed to Developing Student-Athletes of Character

Issue # 6

March 2009

What Parents
Can Do to
Help Make the
Sports Experience
Enjoyable

Before the Game
· Tell your child you are proud of him/her regardless of how well he/she plays.
· Make a commitment to honor the game no matter what others may do.

During the Game
· Cheer good plays by both teams.
· Mention good calls by the officials to others.
· Encourage others to honor the game.
· Remember to have fun! Enjoy the event.

After the Game
· Ask your child open-ended questions:
  "What was the most enjoyable part of the game for you? Least enjoyable?"
  "Do you feel you gave it your best effort?"
  "How did you respond to any mistakes you made?"
  "Did you bounce back?"
  "What did you learn from the game?"
· Tell your child again that you are proud of him/her! (Especially if the game didn't go well)
· Thank officials for doing a difficult job.
· Thank the coaches for their effort.

What If...
· The official makes a "bad" call against your team?  Respect and Honor the Game-be silent!
· Another spectator on your team begins to berate the official? Ask him/her to Respect and Honor the Game, that officials are human and make mistakes.

Modified and adapted from:
Positive Coaching Alliance

www.positivecoach.org

STATE CIF
 Championships

 Bring your family and come enjoy the best and the brightest of education-based athletics as Farmers Insurance presents the CIF State Championships.

Tickets are on sale at the box office on the day of the event. 

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Winter 2009
CIF Regional
and State
Championship Events

State Wrestling Championships

Fri-Sat. March 6-7, 2009

Rabobank Arena

Bakersfield

Northern California Regional Basketball Championships

Sat. March 14, 2009

ARCO Arena, Sacramento

Folsom High School

Southern California Regional Basketball Championships
Sat. March 14, 2009

UCLA - Pauley Pavilion

Cal State Fullerton

Southern California Regional Soccer Championships
Sat. March 14, 2009
Downey High School
Warren High School, Downey

State Basketball Championships

Fri-Sat. March 20-21, 2009

ARCO Arena, Sacramento

 PRESENTED BY
FARMERS INSURANCE

Dear Parents,

We hope you enjoy this newsletter published by the State CIF for parents and guardians of California Student-Athletes.  We encourage you to forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom to other parents. You may also "unsubscribe" if you do not want to recieve future monthly issues.

SMOKELESS TOBACCO

Up to 20% of high school athletes are using smokeless tobacco. It is not a "safe" alternative to smoking cigarettes as some people believe. It is addictive, contains cancer causing agents, increases risk for cardiovascular disease, and damages teeth and gums.

What is it?
Two main types of smokeless tobacco:
1.  Chewing tobacco  - Comes as loose leaf, plug or twist.
2.  Snuff  -  Finely ground tobacco that can be dry, moist or in sachets.  

• Most users suck on the tobacco and spit out the juices

How is harmful?  

• 28 cancer-causing agents increases the risk of mouth, throat, stomach and bladder cancers
• Leukoplakia - white precancerous lesions in the mouth
• Addiction to nicotine
• Users more likely to become cigarette smoker
• Mouth sores and bad breath 
• Cracking and bleeding lips and gums
• Gum recession, loosened teeth, tooth loss and teeth staining yellow-brown
• Teeth abrasion, wearing enamel and increasing hot & cold sensitivity
• Interferes with sense of taste and smell. Increased blood pressure and heart rate, increasing risk for heart attack or stroke 

It is Against the Law

California law makes the possession of tobacco products illegal for anyone under the age of 18.

California Tobacco Free Schools (A.B. 816 and Prop. 99) has prohibited the use of tobacco products by ANY individual on a school campus or at at school sponsored for over a decade.

CIF Bylaw Article 1.12.A.(14) states: 
"To safeguard the health of athletes and the integrity of the sport, school sports programs must actively prohibit the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and performance-enhancing substances, as well as demand compliance with all laws and regulations, including those related to gambling and the use of drugs."

Reference:
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/smokeless/index.htm

Pursuing Victory with Honorsm in Action

SPORTSMANSHIP VIDEO OF THE MONTH

Click below to take the:

Character Counts! Sportsmanship Survey for Parents and Students

CIF SPIRIT OF SPORT
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PROGRAM

GOAL: To recognize student-athletes who are positive role models within our schools and the community at-large. Integrity, fairness, character and respect are inherent principles of good sportsmanship.

CRITERIA: Winners will be selected based on demonstrated principles of good sportsmanship, school and community service, and leadership.

NOMINATION PROCESS: Each CIF member school may nominate, during each season of sport, one male and one female student-athlete who possess exemplary sportsmanship/citizenship. Nominations must be submitted during the season of sport for which the student-athlete competes in a CIF-approved sport. Ask your school athletic director or principal to submit your nomination!

AWARDS: All finalists receive a sportsmanship medal, while the winners will receive a $500 scholarship for college and are recognized at a State CIF dinner and award presentation.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS CAN BE DOWNLOADED in the "Parents and Students Center" at  www.cifstate.org. The application deadline for student-athletes who participate in sports during the spring season is Wednesday, April 1 2009.

Sports Injuries

www.cifstate.org

  For  more information on:

Student Scholarships for College

NCAA College Entry Information for Students

Sports Medicine Information
for Parents, Students and School Personnel

Supplements, Steroids and Nutritional Information

CIF Bylaws and Eligibility Rules

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Quick Links

Parents Resource Center

Pursuing Victory with Honorsm

CIF Sports Medicine Handbook