Middle School Athletics

Mission Statement and Philosophy

St. Anne's School of Annapolis encourages all students to participate in its interscholastic sports programs. The primary goal of the athletic program is to develop athletes in their respective sport, help the student-athlete understand the importance of commitment, demonstrate an ethic of good sportsmanship, and educate the students to continue lifelong fitness and love of competitive play.

Coaches strive to assist the student athletes in the development of their athletic skills, while also serving as role models for fostering a climate of good sportsmanship, fair play and a sense of community. The goal of the program is not winning at all cost, but winning as a by-product of the teaching skills and love of the sport, sportsmanship, and fair play.

The athletic program at St. Anne’s School has been established to promote the spirit of team competition for students in Sixth through Eighth Grade. The main goal of our sports program is to teach the students the fundamental skills for each sport and to enjoy team competition. Students learn to recognize and respect skills and strengths of their teammates and realize that through individual contribution comes team success.

All middle school students make one of the teams each season. There are no cuts within the St. Anne’s School Stars’ program. More than 95 percent of our middle school students participate in team or individual competition. Try-outs for some sports determine whether an athlete will be placed on an A or B team. These designations are made in accordance with individual’s grade level, ability, and size and are in line with the Independent School Athletic Association. Team placement using these criteria makes competition more equitable for competitive teams.

We ask parents to discuss team membership with their child. Your child and the team do not benefit unless the child really wants to participate. It’s our expectation that students who come out for a sport understand the commitment they are making to the team and truly have a desire to play. Team participation is not meant to be a substitute for aftercare. It’s our expectation that students understand the time commitment, which can be up to four days during the school week.

Guidelines for Student Athletes

Students make a commitment to participate on a team need to attend practices in order to compete in the games.
Students are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times toward their teammates and the opposing team, both on and off the field of play.
Respect for St. Anne’s School coaches, opposing team coaches and referees must be shown at all times. If a student-athlete violates this rule by using inappropriate language and or actions he/she will be removed from the game or practice. This can lead to suspension from the team and future team play.
Students are responsible for all necessary equipment for their sport (mouthguards, shinguards, etc.), at each practice and game.
Students will be issued a uniform prior to the first game of the season. The student is responsible for making sure he/she has the uniform for each game. On picture day, at the end of each season, the students must return their clean uniform to the Athletic Director after taking their individual and/or team pictures. There is a replacement fee for lost uniforms.
If a student has missed school work or is experiencing disciplinary issues, the Middle School Head and Athletic Director will first meet with the student and parent. If the issues are not resolved, the action may be taken to ask the student to withdraw from the team.
If a student is absent from school the day prior to a game day or is not in school by noon on the day of a game, the student may not participate in that day’s game.

Guidelines for Parents

We invite the sideline support of our parents at St. Anne’s School and appreciate the cheers and camaraderie. However, we do ask that parents demonstrate their support in a positive way.

The Athletic Department hires the coaches with the highest degree of faith that they will instruct and guide the players as experts of the particular sport they are coaching. Please remember the coaches are working on the field with your children and focusing on the task for which they were hired. We ask that the parents not “coach” the coaches during games and, if there is a problem, that the parents contact the coach after the game and off the playing field. If the problem is not resolved, we ask that the parents contact the Athletic Director.
For the safety of all players, we ask that a parent provide a written note to the coach prior to leaving the field if the parent is taking a student home directly from an away game, rather than picking him/her up at St. Anne’s School.
We make every effort to approximate when buses will be arriving back to St. Anne’s School from away games, but sometimes elements are out of our control and safety is the number one priority. Please refer to the athletic schedule for estimated arrival times.
Upon returning to St. Anne’s School from away games, we ask parents to be prompt in picking up students from the main lobby. Coaches are responsible for the safety of students until pick-up, but if coaches must leave for other commitments and aftercare is open they will sign your child into aftercare.
The St. Anne’s School after school care runs until 6 p.m. If a practice or game ends and the parent is not at St. Anne’s School to pick up the child, he/she will be signed in with the Middle School after care teacher.
As with any St. Anne’s School activity where students are involved, there are no alcoholic beverages, drugs or smoking allowed on or off school grounds.

Home Fields

The St. Anne’s School Stars will practice outdoor sports on the school's turf field or Hillsmere field next door. All home games are played at PAL field. There is parking by the PAL field playground and additional parking as you pass Arundel-on-the-Bay Road and continue on Bay Ridge Avenue; the parking lot is on the right. Basketball practice and games are held in the School’s Multi-Purpose Room.

Directions to Away Fields

Sport Safety and Field Departure

Athletes need to make sure they have all necessary gear for each game. The referees will check for mouthguards, condition of sticks (field hockey and lacrosse) prior to the start of each game.
No jewelry can be worn during games.
Coaches will have a first-aid kit at all practices and games. They will also have an emergency number for each player on hand for away games.
At away games, the bus will not leave for St. Anne’s School until all students are accounted for. It is therefore mandatory that students and parents notify the coaches with a written note if they are using personal transportation to return home.

Registration Guidelines

In order to equip teams and hire coaching staff, it is mandatory that parents/student-athletes meet the established return dates for all sports registrations.

Registration for fall sports – soccer, field hockey and cross country – takes place in September. Registration for winter sports – basketball – takes place in October. Registration for spring sports – lacrosse and tennis – takes place in February.

St. Anne's School of Annapolis Athletics Information

FALL SPORTS: From September through October

Cross Country: The cross country team is open to students in Fifth through Eighth. The team practices two to three afternoons a week throughout the fall and competes in local 5K (3.1 miles) runs.
Field Hockey: The field hockey team is open to girls in Fifth through Eighth.
Soccer: The soccer program is open to students in Fifth through Eighth Grade.

WINTER SPORTS: From mid-November through February

Basketball: The basketball program is open to students in Fifth through Eighth Grade.

SPRING SPORTS: From March through May

Lacrosse: The lacrosse program is open to students in Fifth through Eighth.
Tennis: The tennis program is open to students in Fifth through Eighth. Singles and Doubles ladders are set up during the season based on experience and ability for match play.