Extracurriculars & Athletics

Southern Hills Academy provides students with a well-rounded education including a variety of extracurricular activities and athletics. We had a very enjoyable basketball season this past year. Additionally, our Junior High competed in a soccer league and we have a variety of opportunities such as an invention club and 4-H. Similar to adding grade levels in the coming years, Southern Hills Academy will be adding extracurricular activities. On the table for the fall of 2006 are golf and cross country. More information to follow.

The mission and philosophy of our athletic program are as follows:

Mission
The mission of the Southern Hills Academy Athletic Program is to prepare student athletes to practice ethical behavior including fair play, integrity, and adherence to rules. All contests will represent in perception and practice, the appreciation for athletic excellence and the shared educational experience of the competition. All individuals associated with athletic activities will be aware of and responsible for their influence on the behavior of others and be models of good sportsmanship. We are dedicated to providing a balanced, diverse athletic program to serve the needs and interests of students who wish to participate in a variety of sports. The goal of our Athletic Program is not to develop college athletes, but to develop well-rounded individuals.

Philosophy
Athletic competition at Southern Hills Academy is based on the premise that the competition is only part of a wider educational experience and that it is the quality of the competition that is most important. Consequently, the representatives of the schools (athletic directors, coaches, players) should never place themselves in an adversary relationship with one another. Rather, their attitude should be one of cooperation, demonstrating a desire to contribute positively to the educational experience of all the players, regardless of the school for which they compete. Consequently, through personal example and close supervision, they should conduct themselves in an atmosphere of spirited competition tempered by a sense of fair play and good sportsmanship.

The practice of these values does not begin in a game. The declared moral purposes, expectations, and standards of the athletic program begin in the locker room, on the practice field, and are reinforced daily in the hallways and classrooms of the school. This kind of accountability cannot be exercised occasionally or conditionally. Yet no philosophy of fair play and good sportsmanship will mean much in the absence of adults who are willing to firmly adhere in their own behavior to the standards they expect of their student athletes. Children do not remember athletic philosophy. They remember coaches.