Philosophy: *

Athletics serves as a wonderful tool in the education of young people. Not only do they promote physical exercise and health, but they also serve as a springboard for values growth, such as self-discipline, group cooperation, and sportsmanship. Athletics is an integral part of our American society and our schools. There are many different approaches to athletics, their purpose and their execution. What follows is the approach the Florida West Coast League has taken.

Participants in our league activities are to be instructed that:

The major reason for our programs is to have fun and enjoy participating in an activity. We always strive to win, but it is not the main focus. Our most important victory is building self-esteem and the development of positive social skills, not scoring the most points.

Officials and opponents are not enemies, but are always to be treated with the utmost respect. Arguing with or denigrating teammates is never tolerated. This spirit of respect, cooperation and friendship applies as well to coaches, parents, cheerleaders and fans.

In keeping with the league philosophy, it is also our policy not to run up scores on opponents. It is our goal that participation in this league be a positive experience for all involved. For some students and parents this philosophy may not be consistent with theirs, and we respect this and suggest they find other programs compatible with their ideas. Our league remains very low key and all involved need to be aware of this fact.

* Prepared by the FWCL Council