Athletics Program Overview

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. See Sports Eligibility for additional information.

Contact Athletics Director Chad Pohlman (cpohlman@tbcs.org) with any questions about our Upper School sports program.

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 8 – 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! In the winter, basketball season continues during Christmas Break and even Mid-Winter Break, and there are practices/games scheduled during those times.

Level of Commitment

Upper School athletic teams practice every day after school and sometimes in the evening (depending on the sport). Athletes are expected to attend practice each day and to coordinate their studies and schedules accordingly. Additionally, the length and intensity of practice will increase considerably over Middle School with most teams practicing for two hours daily. 

Student-athletes cannot have regularly scheduled conflicts (piano lessons, select sports, etc.) outside of Bear Creek clubs and activities. That being said, we encourage all of our students to explore the gifts that God has given them and that includes participating in other activities which may conflict with athletics. We do our best to help navigate the conflicts that arise from participating in other school activities while also helping each athlete and family understand that committing to too much may result in a reduced role in one or both of those activities.

If your child is involved with Bear Creek's performing arts or speech and debate programs, there may be a conflict at some point during the school year with concerts, performances, and tournaments. We will work closely with all students to avoid as many of these conflicts as possible. If there does come a point in time when there is a conflict, the teachers and staff will work together to come up with a plan that is best for all groups involved.

Cost to Participate

Aside from the $350 athletic registration fee and equipment purchases, there are additional costs associated with participating in high school sports. Team gear purchases (warm-ups, travel gear, shoes, etc.) are handled on a team-by-team basis. Additionally, there are team meals that families can opt in to as well as overnight trips, tournaments, summer camps, and special team events. Additional expenses are collected as part of the registration fee as well as assessed at the end of the season. 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.

Playing Time

In Upper School athletics, not all team members will receive the same amount of playing time when participating. This philosophy can differ greatly between a JV and varsity team. There is no guarantee that an athlete will enter and play in any contest.

Out-of-Season Opportunities

Each sport at Bear Creek (as governed by the WIAA) has a defined season. Teams are prohibited from playing (or being coached by Bear Creek coaches) outside of those defined seasons. The summer, however, is an opportunity that most of our teams take advantage of to put in some extra work. Most of our varsity teams offer some kind of summer program including Bear Creek summer camps, additional overnight summer camps, open gyms, summer leagues, strength and conditioning, etc. Additionally, it is not uncommon for Bear Creek students to form teams or sign up for training sessions outside of the purview of the Bear Creek athletics program.

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 CrossTown 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.

Information Meeting

Watch the recording from Introduction to Middle School Sports (May 2025) or review the presentation slides. Contact Middle School Athletics Director Nate Campbell (ncampbell@tbcs.org) with questions about Bear Creek's Middle School sports program.

Participation

Everyone has a slightly different take on what athletics should look like at the Middle School level, 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 positive 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, AAU, 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 held 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, golf clubs, etc.).

Transportation

The school provides transportation to and from away games but not to offsite practices. The exception to this is that there is no transportation provided to games at Marymoor Park. Also, transportation to games at The Overlake School are one-way drop-offs. Families must pick up their athletes at Overlake at the conclusion of the games.

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? 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.

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, clubs for golf, etc.). Sports registration takes place online in three parts: 1) paying the fee, 2) ordering an optional sweatshirt, and 3) 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. 

What does appropriate fan behavior look like? 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 represents 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.

Boys and girls in grades 4 – 8 are encouraged to participate in Grizzly Hoops, our basketball development program.

Information about involving your child in community sports teams is posted periodically on the website and in The Bear Facts.