The Washington County School Division believes that a dynamic program of student activities is vital to the educational development of the student. Each high school athletic program should provide a variety of experiences to aid in developing favorable habits and attitudes to prepare them for adult life.

Athletics should function as an integral part of the total curriculum. Young people learn a great deal from their participation in interscholastic athletics. Lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, competition, and winning and losing gracefully are important to each team in our athletic program. Athletics play an important part, too, in helping the individual student develop a healthy self-concept as well as a healthy body. Athletics also add to school spirit and helps all students – spectator as well as participant – develop school pride.

The athletic program is a privilege available to all students who demonstrate an interest in participating. A student in Washington County is considered an athlete upon participation in a Virginia High School League (VHSL) activity and continues as an athlete until he/she graduates; whether or not the student/athlete is currently a participant in a VHSL activity. Coaches are encouraged to keep as many students as feasible on their teams. Every effort should be made to enable as many students as possible to be a part of an athletic team.

The interscholastic athletic program shall be conducted in accordance with existing School Board policies and regulations. While the School Board takes great pride in winning, it does not condone “winning at any cost” and discourages pressures which might tend to neglect good sportsmanship and good mental health. The athletic program must be conducted in a way that justifies it as an instructional activity.

The athletic leadership should be of the highest caliber and exemplify to participants the desired behavior from involvement in an athletic activity. Measurement of leadership success should not be in terms of the won/loss record, but rather the personality development that can be an outgrowth if the major objectives of the athletic program are achieved.

The ultimate goals of the athletic program should be: (1) to realize the value of participation without over-emphasizing the importance of winning and; (2) to provide wholesome opportunities for students to develop favorable habits and attitudes of social and group living.

Philosophy of Participation