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The athletic department at Mercy High School, San Francisco believes that athletics and participation in our athletic program is an educational activity that contributes to the physical, personal, social ,and spiritual growth of the student-athletes involved, and therefore develops the student-athlete as a Christian person.

 

Competitive athletics means more than competition between individuals representing different schools. It is, rather a means of learning a way of life which exemplifies the philosophy that hard work, drive, and determination bring eventual success. Good sportsmanship, both as a winner and as a loser, and the concept of self-discipline and self-esteem are inherent parts of any student’s participation. Participation in school sports programs is a privilege, not a right. To earn that privilege, student-athletes must abide by the rules and they must conduct themselves, on and off the field and court, as positive role models who exemplify good character.

 

The objective of all athletic teams at Mercy High School is one of improving the level of play of the teams and of individuals. “Winning at all cost” is not our goal. Winning within the rules and winning because the team has worked hard in learning the skills of the game and becoming a team is what should be emphasized. Winning and losing with class and dignity are of equal importance to the concept of “the team”. Our athletes, parents, spectators, and coaches are expected to act as representatives of our school and thus, are expected to be good role models.

 

Competitive athletics are an integral part of the total educational program and contributes to the development of desirable learning habits and outcomes. Because of this belief, we hold that the athletic department is an integral part of the entire school by supporting its philosophy and participating in achieving its goals. All interscholastic activities of the Mercy High School Athletic Department will maintain, in practice as well as in spirit, the ideals and standards that are the policy of Mercy High School, the West Bay Athletic League, the Central Coast Section, and the California Interscholastic Federation.

 

Mercy High School, San Francisco along with the California Interscholastic Federation has adopted the principles of the program, Pursuing Victory with Honor, as guidelines for its own program. This program is meant to reflect the values of high school athletics in California. As the preamble of this program states, “At its best, athletic competition can hold intrinsic values for our society. It is a symbol of a great ideal: pursuing victory with honor. The love of sports is deeply embedded in our national consciousness. The value of millions of participants and spectators are directly and dramatically influenced by the values and actions conveyed by organized sports. In the belief that the impact of sports can and should enhance the character and uplift the ethics of our students across the state, we have established a framework of principles and a set of common values that must be adopted and practiced widely.”