Overview of The Bear Creek School's athletics program
Athletics Philosophy
Upper School (Grades 9 – 12)
The Bear Creek School is a member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) competing in the 1A classification and participates in athletics as a member of the Emerald Sound Conference. Only students in grade 9 – 12 are allowed to participate on Upper School sports teams.
Participation
Participation in sports is a key component to a classical, Christian education. Athletics afford students the challenge of building character, working in an atmosphere where physical hard work and discipline are valued, and where they can explore their own unique God-given gifts. We believe this experience is valuable for all students; therefore, Bear Creek maintains a “no-cut” policy, which provides each student the opportunity to participate. Approximately 75% of our Upper School students participate in at least one Bear Creek athletics team.
The Family Handbook (see MyBC/Parents) contains all of the essential information regarding athletics at Bear Creek including the student participation agreement and student-athlete code.
Length of Season
In Upper School, each sports season lasts between 10 – 12 weeks. Depending on the length of post-season play and the success of the team, the season can even extend beyond that. The fall sports season begins the week before school starts. Make sure those summer vacations have concluded before the first day of practice!
Level of Commitment
As a general rule, all athletics participants are expected to attend practice every day. Additionally, the length and intensity of practice will increase considerably over Middle School. Varsity teams schedule practices, games, matches, and contests throughout school breaks (e.g., Christmas Break, Mid-Winter Break, and Spring Break), and team members are expected to participate during those times.
Cost to Participate
In addition to the $350 Upper School athletics registration fee and equipment purchases, there are additional costs associated with participating in varsity sports. Some sports are susceptible to additional registration costs (e.g., golf, baseball, cheer). Team gear purchases (sweats, shoes, etc.) are handled on a team-by-team basis. Summer team camps are also scheduled for some Bear Creek teams which are paid for by the families. See the Team pages for more team-specific details.
Middle School (Grades 6 – 8)
Participation in Middle School athletics allows students in grades 6 – 8 to develop physical skills, learn game strategies, and most importantly, put into practice the concepts of commitment, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. The Bear Creek School participates as a member of the Cross Town Middle School League. All policies for participation will be in full compliance with school and league standards. Grade 5 students are not eligible to participate in Middle School athletics regardless of age.
Participation
Everyone has a slightly different take on what athletics should look like in the Middle School, and we do our best to balance expectations. At Bear Creek, the foundation of athletics is built upon participation, skill building, and experience. We want all of our Middle School students to participate in as many sports as possible while building their skill level in each sport. Middle School sports exist not just to provide an arena for students to play and have fun, but to also improve and prepare themselves for varsity athletics. The goal in all of this is to ensure a good experience for each student-athlete who participates.
We provide a quality program that encourages participation of a large population of our student body through a "no-cut" policy. Approximately 80% of our Middle School students participate in athletics.
The Family Handbook (see MyBC/Parents) contains all of the essential information regarding athletics at Bear Creek including the student participation agreement and student-athlete code.
Length of Season
Each Middle School season is about 7 weeks in length, which is a very deliberate factor. The goal is to give our students a season that is short enough as to not consume the entire year (so that they can participate in multiple sports), and at the same time long enough that they can still improve their skills, play a meaningful schedule, make friends, and have fun.
Level of Commitment
We acknowledge that Middle School sports are not varsity athletics. Nor is it premiere, select, ASA, or any other elite sports program. With that said, one of the most important lessons that an athlete can take away from an athletics experience is the value of team and commitment. When a child signs up to participate, we ask that a commitment is made to that team. Practices and games should not be viewed as “optional.” There will be times when a child may need to miss a practice, or match, but this should be the exception, and not a regular occurrence. Practices are generally each day after school for approximately 90 minutes.
Cost to Participate
In addition to the $200 Middle School athletics registration fee, there are equipment purchases that are necessary in order to participate. The school provides team uniforms, but appropriate shoes are expected for each individual sport, in addition to sport-specific equipment (e.g., shin guards for soccer, knee pads for volleyball, etc.).
Transportation
The school provides transportation to games but not to offsite practices.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Who is in charge of athletics at Bear Creek? Whom do I call if I have questions? Chad Pohlman is the Athletics Director at Bear Creek, and Nathan Campbell is the Middle School Director. You can reach Nathan by phone, email, or in person at any time. Do not hesitate to contact Nathan with any questions or concerns at 425-898-1720 ext. 430 or nathan.campbell@tbcs.org.
What is the Middle School athletics philosophy at Bear Creek? Everyone has a slightly different idea on what athletics should look like in the Middle School years, and I can assure you that we do our best to balance expectations. At Bear Creek, the foundation of athletics is built upon participation, skill building, and creating a positive experience. We want all of our Middle School students to have the opportunity to participate in as many sports as possible, while building their skill level in each sport. Middle School sports exist to provide an arena for students to play, have fun, and to build school spirit and community. The goal in all of this is to give each student-athlete who participates, a great experience.
Are Middle School athletics designed to replace premiere, select, AAU, and other elite sports programs? Our Middle School coaches are committed to teaching fundamentals and skills in their respective sports within the limited time frame of the Middle School sports season, however, our Middle School programs are not designed to replace select-level programs. Athletes who are seeking to prepare themselves to compete at the high school level should continue to pursue opportunities to participate on teams outside the Middle School programming at Bear Creek.
Are there cuts? How many teams are there and how are those selected? We have a “no cut” policy in our athletics program at Bear Creek which affords each student the opportunity to explore the gifts God has given them without fear of being cut, rejected, or turned away. We will place your child on a skill and ability appropriate team.
How long is each season? Each season is approximately 7 weeks in length. The winter season is divided into two parts with the boys basketball teams playing before Christmas and the girls teams playing after Christmas.
What commitment is expected at the Middle School level? One of the most important lessons that an athlete can take away from an athletics experience is the value of team and commitment. When a child signs up to participate, we ask that a commitment is made to that team. Practices and games should not be viewed as “optional.” There will be times when a child may need to miss a practice, or match, but this should be the exception, and not a regular occurrence.
How do practice and game schedules work? Each team is different, but for the most part all of our Middle School teams practice on weekdays after school. Some teams practice right after school, while others have practices later in the evening. Some practices are held on campus, while others are held at offsite locations. As a general rule, if practice does not begin immediately after school, students must go home and return to school when practice begins. Athletes must be picked up at the conclusion of practice at the practice location.
Transportation is provided to and from most away games and matches with the exception of return transportation from games and matches at The Overlake School. Transportation is not provided to practices and games at Marymoor Park.
Teams typically will practice or play three days a week, however, the practice and game days can vary from week to week. Each team’s entire practice and game schedule is posted on the Athletics page of the school website prior to the start of the season. Early dismissals happen on away games and those are communicated by the coach in addition to being listed on the website. Students should always check in with their teachers prior to early dismissals so that there are no surprises.
How do we sign up and what do we need? Aside from the Middle School athletics fee, there are equipment purchases that are necessary in order to participate. The school provides team uniforms, but appropriate shoes are expected for each individual sport, in addition to sport-specific equipment (e.g. shin guards for soccer, knee pads for volleyball, etc.). Sports registration takes place online in two parts: 1) paying the fee and 2) signing releases and uploading forms to the health portal. Parents can sign up as soon as the registration link is open for each sport. We always send an email alerting parents when sports registration is open prior to each season. Additionally, all start and end dates are posted on the school website for each season. All participants need a current physical release from their doctor uploaded to the health portal before they are allowed to practice.
I like to be loud and yell a lot at games. Is that a problem? It is not uncommon for parents to be excited and yell out during Middle School events. We ask our parents to be aware and supportive of our school mission and core values which we are also trying to instill in our student-athletes. Please keep all sideline cheering positive and root for all members of the team. Booing, yelling at the referee, being critical of any participants (including coaches, players, referees, etc.) does not support the values which Bear Creek represent and will not be tolerated. The role of the parent at any/all athletics events is that of a cheerleader. Remember that you are not the coach, player, or referee.