“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach

Research shows that in addition to improved physical health, sports can play a positive role in youth development including improved academic achievement, higher self-esteem, fewer behavioral issues, and more confident social-emotional outcomes. The discipline of training, learning teamwork, following the leadership of coaches and captains, as well as learning to lose, can provide lifelong skills for young athletes.

Studies have shown that children and youth participating in sports, compared to peers who do not participate, can exhibit:

• higher grades, expectations, and desire to achieve;                                             
• greater personal confidence and self-esteem;
• greater connections with school;
• stronger and better peer relationships;
• better family attachment and interactions with parents;
• more confidence in avoiding risky behavior;
• increased involvement in volunteer work.

SJUSD school athletic teams are staffed by experienced coaches who are carefully screened. They are bound by a Code of Ethics and Undue Influence policy, and participate in and are certified by the American Sports Education Program, a stringent coach education program which emphasizes Pursuing Victory with Honor, a mutual goal of the district and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

CIF is a statewide organization through which member high schools mutually adopt rules and regulations relating to interscholastic athletes to promote educational balance, competitive equity and fair play for high school sports. Sac-Joaquin Section of the Northern Division of CIF, has information about athletic eligibility, bylaws, playoff information, etc.

• California Interscholastic Federation
  The CIF is a statewide organization through which member high schools in California are governed.  
• Sac-Joaquin Section
  The Northern Division of CIF, has information about eligibility, bylaws, etc.  
• American Sports Education Program (ASEP)

SAN JUAN UNIFIED NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. District programs, activities and services shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and/or bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, please contact Equity Compliance Officer: Linda C. T. Simlick, General Counsel, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971- 7110, LegalServices@sanjuan.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Katie Fabel, Legal Analyst/Title IX Coordinator, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7110, TitleIX@sanjuan.edu; Section 504 Coordinator: Dominic Covello, Director, Student Support Services, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7220, DCovello@sanjuan.edu.