Frequently Asked Questions

About Sports at TJHSST

Index:

Getting started in sports

Participating in sports

Transportation

Sports Spectators

About Boosters

Miscellaneous

Volunteering

What is involved in the Colonial Athletic Booster volunteer job of:

Answers

Why should I play a sport?

TJ sports offer all students an excellent opportunity to develop both physical and mental fitness. Little, or no, experience is needed for many sports and opportunities exist for those who want to compete in an individual sport (e.g. swimming or running where athletes compete against themselves to improve their times) or for those who want to experience the joys and disappointments that come from being a part of a team (football, soccer, softball, volleyball, etc.). Athletics provide a balance to the rigors of TJ academics and are a great way to make a broad spectrum of new friends.

Other reasons to participate in sports can be found on the FCPS Student Activities and Athletic Programs and Athletics web pages.
Return to top

How many TJ students participate in sports?

Although the numbers vary by season, about 50% of TJ’s students participate in a sport during their four years at the school.  Track draws the largest overall number of participants with up to 200 students participating in cross country in the fall, winter track or track and field in the spring.
Return to top

How do I get started in TJ sports?

Return to top

Do I need a physical?

Yes. State law requires that all students have a physical before they can participate. Physicals are good for the entire year.

Each May or June, the CAB offers physicals at the school. The money raised goes to support our sports programs. Of course, if they prefer, students may get their physical from their family doctor.
Return to top

What forms are needed?

In order to try-out, practice, or compete, you need to fill out and return several forms. Check our forms page.
Return to top

Do I need experience to play a sport?

The answer to this question varies by sport. For sports like tennis, you are unlikely to make the team if you have never played but for others no experience is needed. Talk with the coach of the sport you have an interest in.
Return to top

What is the "Meet the Coach Night?"

The "Meet the Coach Night" allows the Athletic Director, trainers, CAB Board, and coaches to highlight roles and responsibilities that go hand in hand with a student's decision to play a sport. At these meetings, liaisons are selected for each sport and that person keeps all parents up to date on important team news throughout the season. It is key that parents attend this one meeting held at the start of each season of play. Note that "Meet the Coach Night" is the same as "Fall/Winter/Spring Information Session."
Return to top

What is the "Fall/Winter/Spring Information Session?"

The fall, winter, and spring information sessions are what used to be called "Meet the Coach Night" — a key meeting held at the start of each session of sports that parents ought to attend.
Return to top

What are the proper roles for parents and coaches?

The Activities Director distributes a handout at "Meet the Coach" night which discusses how to approach the coach to discuss issues about your child. See also the Parent/Coach Communication section of this site.
Return to top

When do practices start?

Practices begin before the season's games/meets to permit athletes to practice before they have any competition. This is a state requirement. For fall sports, this means that athletes need to be available from early August to participate in sports when school opens in September.
Return to top

Are there any costs associated with participating in sports at TJ?

There are no dues charged for students to participate in any sport as there are for local community recreational or travel leagues. The county provides only minimal financial support. Each high school has an athletic boosters program whose purpose is to raise funds to supplement the county funding. The Colonial Athletic Boosters strive to provide funding for equipment, uniforms, some travel and field improvements.
Return to top

What are the expectations for the athlete?

Most teams require practice every day after school. Some sports may have a Saturday practice as well. Check with the coach at "Meet the Coach Night." Athletes are not excused from any school work if they must leave early for a meet. Good time management skills are developed by most athletes as they use any "down time" to work on homework.

Bus transportation is provided to games and athletes must follow the dress code established by their team.

For serious athletes, coaches will encourage them to continue to train during the off-season and perhaps consider playing in a travel or recreational league to keep their skills in top shape.
Return to top

What are the expectations for the parents?

VOLUNTEER!! Your help is always welcome and needed whether it is selling tickets to a game, working at the concession stand, or organizing a team function.

Join Colonial Athletic Boosters and provide needed financial support for our athletes.

Carpool. Late buses only run two days a week. The TJ community draws from many communities so please volunteer to carpool on days there are no late buses.
Return to top

What if it rains or snows?

All cancellations are posted on our Weather hotline — (703) 827-6002 — as soon as decisions are made. Keep the number at home, work, and on your cell phone to avoid making unnecessary trips to cancelled events. If schools close early, practices and games are canceled. Generally any missed meets are rescheduled. Practices are not.
Return to top

What happens if my child is injured/sick?

If injured at practice on on our site, inform the coach and they must see the ATC as soon as possible. If hurt at an away contest, inform the coach and see the ATC at that site. Illness is something that the ATC can address, but will always request a doctors visit.
Return to top

What should we do if the athlete is injured during participation in the sport?

See above. Go see the ATC immediately after notifying the coach.
Return to top

What should we do if the athlete is injured/sick and unable to participate?

If the athlete is sick or injured and unable to participate in a practice or game, then the coach and athletic trainer should be notified prior to the beginning of the practice or game. If the athlete is injured and sees a doctor for the injury, then the athlete needs to have a note from the physician with the diagnosis, their participation status, and earliest date able to compete. The athlete must be cleared by both the doctor and the athletic trainer at TJ prior to returning to participation. This is true whether or not the injury occurred during participation in the school sport.
Return to top

Are there any circumstances in which my child will not be allowed to participate in practices or games?

If the athlete was sick/injured and no note was turned in or if the athlete missed school, then the athlete will not be allowed to participate. There is no guarantee that all students will participate equally in each game/meet.

Only if it is a severe injury and the athlete cannot pass a functional test based on the injury they had evaluated will a student not be allowed to participate. But if a doctor says "no participation" in writing, then it is set in stone until cleared by the physician or until the time period specified expires.
Return to top

Are all practices at TJ?

No. Facilities are located at TJ and facilities in the area. For example, because TJ does not have a pool, all swimming training and meets take place off site.
Return to top

When and where can student athletes eat when they have late practices?

This varies from sport to sport. Students may bring a bag snack with them to school to eat before or after practices. Some snacks are available in vending machines. Some teams arrange team meals before games. This varies and needs to be discussed with your coach. It is generally a good idea to send your athlete to school with snacks or money to purchase them.
Return to top

Is there any supervision between the end of school and start of practice?

There is no specific supervision of athletes before practice starts. When they stay in the building, the expectation is the same as for other students staying after school at TJ. They must be under the direct supervision of a teacher or coach, be signed into the library if it is open, or be in the auditorium lobby.
Return to top

Where can students study and do homework while waiting for a late practice to start?

Our athletes are students first and can study in the library, when it is open, or in the auditorium lobby when they must stay after school to wait for practice.
Return to top

When the bus leaves TJ at 4 for a 7 p.m. away meet, when and where do the kids eat dinner?

Many of our teams have this issue with which to contend. Our school schedule does make it more difficult for the students at times. Several options are available and vary from team to team: bag dinners from home, delivery from a local take-out restaurant, team meals at a player's home who lives near the meet site, etc. Check with your coach.
Return to top

What do we do if a team leaves school early for an away meet?

Write a note for the attendance office (the coach may handle this) and arrange with classmates to get any missed work. It's a good idea to let teachers know ahead of time, in case quizzes or tests are planned.
Return to top

How much money does my student athlete need for buying dinner or snacks before practices or meets?

This is something for you and your athlete to decide. If you send a sack meal, no money is needed but $1-2 for the concession stand or vending machine snack is always a good idea. If a team stops for dinner at a fast food place (bagels, burgers, pizza, subs, etc.) $5-$10 would feed most athletes.
Return to top

Who pays if a team makes it to regional, state, or national meets when an overnight stay is involved?

The CAB work with the Athletic Director to support the team to the extent we can but there may be some costs related to travel. Should your team/athlete make it to the state level of competition, the coach and liaison will explain any costs. No athlete will be expected to pay for costs that would be a hardship for the family.
Return to top

How do I get from TJ to practices?

For practices at TJ after school, no transportation is needed. For practices at other sites, students can walk, use carpools or take buses to transport students. Check with your coach.

There are specific forms to fill out for bus and carpool transportation that are reviewed at "Meet the Coach Night." For students with driver's licenses, they may be permitted to drive themselves but this varies by sport and needs to be discussed with your coach.
Return to top

How do I get to away games?

Buses are often provided. Sometimes carpools are used.
Return to top

Do student athletes have to ride the bus back to TJ from away meets?

Long story short - and a generalization to some extent:

If a team rides a bus to an event, then student-athletes may leave with a parent, or may leave with another parent if a note is sent to allow that. Student-athletes may not drive home. If a team has made all the appropriate arrangements to drive to an event, then student-athletes are to leave with a parent or ride home with the same, approved carpool that got them there.

Note that when buses are not provided, student athletes may travel in pre-arranged carpools or may be allowed to drive themselves.
Return to top

Are any forms needed for an athlete to drive himself?

Yes. They are given out at the "Meet the Coach" night.
Return to top

Are any forms needed for a family to drive students other than their own?

Yes. They are given out at the "Meet the Coach" night. The driver must fill out a Field Trip Driver's License and Vehicle Insurance Information (FS 142) form and riders must fill out the Parental Authorization & Acknowledgement of Risk form. If you don't want your child to ride with a student/teen driver — that is, you want your child with an adult carpool driver — write that on the form.
Return to top

How can I learn about game times and locations?

Check out the schedules on our team pages and the addresses & directions on our directions page. You can also call the hotline for a listing of the current day's sporting events.
Return to top

How much does it cost to watch a game?

Prices are currently $5 for all regular-season games. Playoff games are sometimes a different amount and are NOT included in the booster pass. Pre-school children and senior citizens (60+) are free. By joining Boosters at the higher levels, you can receive passes that will let you in every regular season home game free. See also: Do I have to pay to go to my own child's game/meet?
Return to top

Where do I park?

Parking is in any available spaces. After school, the numbers on the reserved spots no longer count.
Return to top

Is parking free?

You may always park on the access road or in the school lots free. For home football games, the gravel parking lot has a $5 charge. This lot is free for those displaying a valid handicapped parking pass.
Return to top

Will food be available?

A concession stand is available at most, but not all, games.
Return to top

Can I bring my own food to outdoor games? Indoor games?

We prefer that you support TJ athletics by buying food from the concession stands (100% of the profit goes to TJ athletics). However, if allergy reasons prohibit this, we will allow you to bring your own food.
Return to top

Can I eat in the gym?

Food and drink are allowed in the gym in the bleacher area only. This is for athletic event spectators. At all other times, food and drink are not allowed in the gym.
Return to top

Do TJ parents sit together or do they mix with visitors?

Many TJ parents have friends from other schools since we come from all over the area. It is more common to sit with the TJ parents but it is not unheard of to sit with the other team's parents.
Return to top

Is there a team cheer?

Some teams have their own cheer and there are a few cheers that are used by most sports including, "Everybody Do the TJ Rumble." There is a cheer that is jokingly referred to as the "official cheer" which has numerous mathematical references and rhymes "tangent, sine" with "3.14159."
Return to top

Can I yell at the ref/ump?

No. This is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and can result in a penalty being charged against our team.
Return to top

Are there rules for spectator behavior?

Spectators are expected to display good sportsmanship at all times. For example, we abide by the Northern Region Sportsmanship Creed, which is designed for "indoor sports" (approved 6/9/82), but the intent is certainly applicable to all athletic events:

  1. Our opponents and the officials are our guests.
  2. Noisemakers are not permitted. Cheerleaders can use megaphones; pep bands are permitted to play except when ball is in play.
  3. Help keep this a game; we are opponents, not enemies.
  4. Spectators, cheerleaders, and coaches represent their school as do the athletes.
  5. Approved wall signs are welcome.
  6. Cheer loudly and freely but in a positive manner.

Return to top

What should I do if a fan is misbehaving?

If you are not comfortable approaching a misbehaving fan yourself, seek out the game manager. He or she will deal with unruly fans. If you don't know who the game manager is, ask the boosters at the cash box.
Return to top

What is the Colonial Athletic Boosters?

You are the CAB if you have a child who is an athlete!  Boosters work to support our athletes by attending events, providing financial support and volunteering to help with the many needs associated with our athletic teams.

Fairfax County Public Schools' funding of sports is limited primarily to salaries, utilities, and some transportation. Therefore, any comprehensive Fairfax County high school athletic program must rely on the generosity of its individual supporters, at TJ otherwise known collectively as the Colonial Athletic Boosters. The Boosters fund field improvements and maintenance, uniforms and warm-up suits, training equipment and supplies, recognition events and awards, event entry fees and charter transportation, and professional development.

We hope all TJ parents (and students) recognize the value of a successful athletic program and will consider becoming a paid member of the Colonial Athletic Boosters, as well as supporting various volunteer and special fundraising efforts.
Return to top

Who's who in CAB?

The CAB is made up of a volunteer board, committee chairs, and liaisons who can be contacted via our contact us web page, as well as all interested TJ parents.
Return to top

Why should I join boosters?

FACT:  Jefferson students are bright and athletic. They succeed in the classroom and on the field.
FACT:  Jefferson student-athletes did come for the sports! "48" Concorde District Championships at last count!
FACT:  The Athletic Boosters have raised $531,000 over the last seven years!
FACT:  The County only pays for lights, officials, buses and coaches' salaries.
FACT:  The Athletic Director's (AD) only sources of revenue are ticket sales and vending machine monies to fund 48 teams in 18 different sports. That revenue is not enough to provide uniforms, warm-ups, entry fees, equipment, supplies, maintenance, facilities, awards, coaches' clinics, tournament travel, etc.
FACT:  The Boosters supplement the AD's bare-bones budget by providing funds to cover necessary day-to-day operations. Just as important, boosters provide vital funding for repairing, replacing, and acquiring essential equipment and facilities.
Return to top

When does the CAB meet?

The CAB meets monthly. Meetings are announced on the CAB home page. During the 2006-2007 school year, the CAB usually will meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the school library.
Return to top

Can I attend CAB meetings?

All TJ parents are invited to attend the monthly CAB meetings.
Return to top

How is booster money allocated?

Requests are made to the Athletic Director by each coach each year. They are prioritized and depending on how much money CAB raise, we fund what we can. Safety needs always take top priority.
Return to top

Do all sports get money?

Yes, but amounts vary from year to year depending on priority needs.
Return to top

How can I get a Booster scholarship?

Information about Booster Scholarships is on the scholarship page.
Return to top

What is Freshman vs. JV vs. Varsity?

A freshman team is composed of only freshman (9th grade students). There are limited sports that offer only freshman teams.

JV refers to a junior varsity team. Generally it is composed of 9th and 10th grade students but may include an upperclassman as well.

Varsity is the highest level of play available for any team. Students from any class can be selected for a varsity team if their skills are good enough for them to make a team. The majority of varsity teams are composed of 10th, 11th and12th grade students. For students who play a sport such as football for all four years, they may spend 9th grade on the freshman squad, 10th grade on the JV squad and 11th and 12th grades on the Varsity squad.
Return to top

What does it mean to "letter" in a sport?

"Lettering" is a mark of achievement in athletics. At the beginning of the season, the coach will give the exact requirements for lettering. You must be a member of the varsity team to letter. The letters themselves (red "J" that is sewn onto the letter jacket) are given at the end of the season award ceremony. These jackets may be purchased from the PTSA. Orders are taken several times per year.

Only one "J" will be given to an athlete. Subsequent letters will be in the form of pins, which can be attached to the "J" on the letter jacket.
Return to top

Who pays for the letter?

The Colonial Athletic Boosters pay for letters, pins, and certificates.
Return to top

What do I do with the letter?

Letters are attached to letter jackets. This photo shows where to attach a letter onto a letter jacket, and this one shows where to attach numbers. Most people take the jacket to their drycleaner to have the letter & numbers sewn on.
Return to top

Where can I get a letter jacket?

The TJ PTSA sells letter jackets, usually twice per school year.
Return to top

What is "spirit wear"?

"Spirit Wear" is team specific clothing that is purchased by team members and fans to wear to school and events. For example, the wrestling team all have sweat shirts and pants that say "Jefferson Wrestling." They individually purchased these and use them as warmups at matches. If the spirit wear is used as part of the uniform, as in this example, and the student athlete cannot afford it, the coach may request that Boosters purchase the item for that student.
Return to top

Where can I buy "spirit wear"?

The Colonial Athletic Boosters, TJHHST, and FCPS do not and cannot endorse any vendor. Below are a few that have been used by TJ athletic teams.

Steve Angeline Sales
PO Box 220008
Chantilly, VA 20153
(703) 455-2946
Tommy Bennett: (703) 222-3565

1st Quarter Sports
Doug Wheelbarger: (703) 623-2397

Burke Sporting Goods
5765E Burke Centre Parkway
Burke, VA 22015
(703) 239-9000

Wick's Sports Lettering, Inc.
8766 Richmond Hwy.
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-360-2224
866-263-2661

If you know of other spirit wear vendors used by TJ teams, please contact us to have them added to this list.
Return to top

How often do uniforms change? Who pays for them?

Most uniforms are paid for by Booster funds and the Athletic Director rotates purchase among sports. Most uniforms are replaced every 3-5 years. JV teams get hand-me-downs from Varsity teams.
Return to top

What is Senior Night?

Senior Night is generally observed at each sport's last home game. The seniors are honored with an introduction, a handshake from the principal (or designee), and a flower!
Return to top

What are Athletic Trainers?

The Thomas Jefferson Athletic Training Program provides a valuable health care service to the student athletes participating in all sports. Each Virginia Northern Region school employs a National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Certified Head and Assistant Athletic Trainer (ATC).

Athletic training services include prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of injuries to the physically active. Emergency care and basic injury care are provided to athletes during covered practices and contests. Athletic trainers are also educators in many areas of sports medicine including strength and conditioning training, basic first aid, training room management, nutrition, exercise physiology, human anatomy, and injury care. In practice, Thomas Jefferson's athletic training room staff evaluates and treats the expected muscular and skeletal problems, but they can also treat illness, infections or psychological problems.

It is comforting for students and parents to know that our athletes are under the care of American Medical Association (AMA) recognized allied health care professionals. The Thomas Jefferson Athletic Training Program is prepared to treat any life threatening injury and initiate EMS or 911 if necessary. They are trained and able to revive or sustain an athlete until paramedics arrive. The athletic trainers can also refer athletes to specialists for additional care if needed. Our athletic trainers also assist our Athletic Boosters with physicals and measuring body fat.

For more information about the ATCs, read:

Return to top

What is the sports/camp physical?

All students participating in any sport need a physical. As a convenience to parents and a fundraiser for our sports programs, the Boosters sponsor Sports Physicals each June. Physicians who are parents of TJ students graciously volunteer their time to this event. Volunteer nurses, nurse practitioners, and TJ parents also help out. All students and their siblings and friends are welcome to get a sports or camp physical at this event.

Beginning in 2007, this event may be taken over by the Certified Athletic Trainers. We hope to learn more about this soon.
Return to top

What are the fall, winter, and spring banquets?

The end of season banquet is a gathering of all that season's sports teams in either the cafeteria (fall, winter) or at the track (spring). An optional dinner is available at 6:00 (paid reservations go out through the coach and/or the liaisons). The general program begins at 7:00. After notable team achievements are recognized, the teams break out into different rooms for their separate awards meetings (usually at around 7:20).

If you don't come for dinner, show up a few minutes before 7 p.m. You don't need to tell anyone you are coming. You can wear whatever. Most kids wear what they wore to school — it isn't dressy. Lots of the kids do wear something that has their sport on it (i.e. TJ wrestling T-shirt, etc).

Letters and awards are all given to the coaches the night of the award banquet. If you cannot attend the banquet, you just need to arrange a time to meet the coach to get them after the banquet.
Return to top

What are buttons?

Buttons are pictures of your athlete, in uniform, that are sold by the CAB to raise funds for our programs. They are taken at the beginning of the season.
Return to top

Where do the programs come from? How do I get my kid's photo in? Where can I buy one?

In the fall the CAB creates a program of all athletes and band members. They are sold at all home meets, at concession stands, and at the fall sports banquet.
Return to top

Are there programs for winter and spring sports?

We use one program for the year.
Return to top

Do I have to pay to go to my own child's game/meet?

YES. Fairfax Country charges admission at most sporting events. There are some exceptions (swimming) so check with your coach or liaison. If you purchase a Booster annual pass, you may use it to attend HOME GAMES only free of charge.

You can read our PDFs about TJ's admissions policies for regular season home games, post season home games, and outdoor home games.
[Note: the part that says "once you leave, you must pay to re-enter" is intended for outdoor sports and indoor ones where it will work. It doesn't work at our place!]
Return to top

Does the concession stand open for all home meets, for all sports?

The concession stands (indoor and outdoor) are generally open for most sporting events but not all.
Return to top

When are sports photos taken? Do I get a copy of the team photo?

Team Photos are taken for the yearbook at the beginning of each season. Students get an order form from their coach and may purchase as many photos as they want.
Return to top

How are practice times allotted?

We build practice times around the needs and work schedules of coaches and teams.
Return to top

What does the slogan "WE CAME FOR THE SPORTS" mean?

This slogan dates back to TJ's origins in the mid 1980s when the school first opened as a center of academic excellence in Science and Technology. At that time, TJ's teams were not the most competitive and other schools looked forward to playing TJ for an "easy victory." Rather than take exception, TJ students used this opportunity to create a slogan that, while no longer true, made light of why they chose to attend TJ. Clearly it was not for the sports but for the academics. Today, every TJ grad proudly displays this bumper sticker with pride!
Return to top

How can we publicize our team's efforts?

Teams have several ways to publicize their accomplishments:

Please keep these pieces factual and without interpretation. We are held by the VHSL to exhibit good sportsmanship. Critical remarks could potentially lead to disciplinary action including such penalties as warnings, probations, suspensions and fines.

When sending in your team reports, please include in the subject:

For example: Boys Varsity Lacrosse or Girls JV soccer.

Boosters website — any time

The CAB webmaster will post all your team-related information — no deadlines and no limits (other than keeping it polite).

The CAB website keeps the official schedule and roster as received from the TJ Director of Student Activities (DSA). The team coaches or parent liaisons (or other parent volunteers) are encouraged to provide additional information.

Send the webmaster: changes to your rosters or schedules, game results, photos, and any other information you would like on your team's CAB web page. If your team has a website, send the URL, and we'll link to it. The site is archived each year providing a controlled history of TJ sports.

Text can be sent to the webmaster in the body of an email or as an attachment. Please send any photos as an attachment, not pasted into a Word document, and include a caption in the email. Photos may be sent full resolution JPG — the webmaster will "Photoshop" it to fit. If you prefer to do your own processing, the website's maximum width for photos is 435 pixels.

Contact the webmaster

Local Newspapers — varsity teams only — weekly

The local newspapers have requested that we send them information from one source, so the CAB has a Newspaper Liaison. Please send information to the liaison, not to the newspapers directly. Not everything submitted will make the paper, but it will keep the lines of communication open between the paper and our school and help them provide better coverage of TJ. We have found that sending information on a regular basis — every game, every week — is more likely to result in our teams and athletes being mentioned in print.

Text can be sent to the webmaster in the body of an email or as an attachment. Please include where the student athlete resides (e.g. Centreville) so the papers print the story in the correct edition. Send any photos as an attachment, not pasted into a Word document, and include a caption in the email.

The deadline for stories is Sunday evening.

Contact the Newspaper Liaison

Techcetera — monthly

Each month the team liaison (or designee) can submit an article for the PTSA's newsletter Techcetera. The liaison will be notified by email of the deadline. Send highlights to the Colonial Athletics Boosters PTSA liaison (NOT to the Techcetera editors). Summaries should be 200 words or less. Pictures can be attached. Double-check the spelling of names.

Please do not submit information to the Techcetera editors. They have asked Athletic Boosters to compile all sports articles, rather than receive separate emails from the 35+ different teams. When you send results directly to the Techcetera editors, it doubles our work, as we have to check that we are not including information twice.

Each month, team liaisons will be notified by email of the deadline.

Contact the PTSA Liaison

Banquet Newsletter — Seasonal

At the end of each season, the CAB publishes a Banquet Newsletter. This is your chance to sum up the season and thank everyone. The newsletter will be distributed at the Fall, Winter, or Spring Awards Ceremony and Banquet. See past newsletters on our website for ideas.

Each season, team liaisons will be notified by email of the deadline.

Contact the Banquet Newsletter Chair

Custom team website

Teams may create their own custom web sites. These sites often repeat the schedule and roster on the CAB team page, but generally also include information useful for team communication to parents and athletes. Links to these sites can be established on the TJ Sports webpage. Since this type of web site is mostly for team use, the concurrent posting of results and pictures on the CAB web site is encouraged. The CAB webmaster will link to your team site, if you request it.

Public sites

Public web sites provide a variety of services. Currently the DigitalSports (once called SportsCombine) site provides free team web pages for all local schools, and has widespread use in Northern VA. This optional use site has the added advantage of combining all participating teams' results to generate standings. It also provides the capability for entering athlete statistics. Teams may also use the site to share team information and upload write-ups and pictures, saving the hassle of establishing their own web sites. DigitalSports has its own news staff and may provide coverage of a TJ team at any time.

Visit the TJ home page on DigitalSports

For team access, TJ's approach is to provide each head coach with a login and password. The coach can then share the login with his/her assistants and parents. To receive a login, please contact the TJ CAB DigitalSports liaison.

Contact the DigitalSports Liaison

Return to top

What does the president do?

The president presides at CAB meetings; represents the CAB in meetings with the administration, students, and other groups affiliated with the school; appoints Committee Chairpersons; develops a slate of nominees for service the following year; and fills vacant Chairperson positions.
Return to top

What does the vice president do?

The vice president exercises the duties of the president when the president is absent or not able to perform his or her duties. Usually the VP shadows the president for a year before running for the job of president.
Return to top

What does the secretary do?

The secretary attends booster meetings and takes notes. The first draft of the meeting minutes are distributed to the board, committee chairs, and meeting attendees. If any changes or corrections come in, the minutes are updated and this version is sent to the Liaison Coordinator, who sends them to the sports liaisons. These same updated minutes are sent out to the board and committee chairs right before the next booster meeting. This is the version the board votes to approve (or approve amended) at the meeting. The secretary may also write thank-you notes to large donors and write summaries for the monthly PTSA newsletter from data collected by the Liaison Coordinator. The Secretary may also be asked to send sports news to local newspapers.
Return to top

What does the treasurer do?

The treasurer is responsible for the funds and other assets of the CAB; receives, deposits, and accounts for the funds and other current assets of the CAB; maintains all records of the funds, securities, and other assets of the CAB; maintains cash boxes; prepares monthly a statement of revenues and expenses of the CAB for submission to the Board; reconciles bank accounts; and prepares the annual tax return. The treasurer attends the monthly meetings and explains the CAB's financial standing.
Return to top

What does the PTSA liaison chair do?

The PTSA liaison attends monthly PTSA meetings and shares any interesting PTSA news with CAB or CAB news with PTSA.
Return to top

What does the membership chair do?

The membership chair keeps a list of CAB members, makes and distributes passes, sends mailings to members, works with the treasurer to get membership dollars deposited, sends tax receipts to large donors, matches memberships with team rosters and sends non-member athlete family names to liaison coordinator.
Return to top

What does the merchandise chair do?

The merchandise chair takes inventory, advises the board on orders or design ideas, orders and picks up merchandise, sells merchandise, and trains volunteers to sell merchandise.
Return to top

What does the concessions chair do? What do fall, winter, & spring concession managers do?

We have 4 concession stands: indoor, stadium, baseball & softball. Volunteers staff our concessions at athletic events. Each team is tasked to staff the concession stand at various times throughout the season. The team liaisons help sign up the necessary volunteers. In general the concession stands are always adequately staffed. However, often each new team has to learn the concessions process anew.

The Concessions Manager (CM) is in charge of the stands and must ensure that procedures are in place by posting operational signs at each stand for all the volunteers. Although the CM does not have to be at all functions, usually at the beginning of each season the CM communicates with the sports liaisons to make sure everything is coordinated for the season. The CM should be on call in case a situation arises at the stand where the CM needs to be involved. Additionally, the CM works with the Season Concessions Chair and Concession Purchases Chair to ensure that the stands are properly supplied and staffed. Depending on the availability of volunteers, sometimes there is a seasonal chair that is a layer of managing between the CM and the team liaisons. Other times the CM is also the seasonal concessions chair. It is always nice if a seasonal chair is a parent that is involved in one of the sports be played that season.

The CM needs to order the food permits from the county and make sure some parents, including themselves, have taken the food certification course (3 hours) provided by the county. The person also works with the Athletic Director /Asst. Athletic Director regarding all issues pertaining to the maintenance and operations of the stands. The CM also oversees the opening and closing of the stands each season.
Return to top

What does the concession purchases chair do?

The concession purchases chair may be combined with the job of concession chair. This chairperson takes inventory, purchases supplies, and stocks the concession stand for events.
Return to top

What does the fall program chair do?

The Fall Program Chair oversees the publication of the program for fall sports. The program includes team information, such as rosters, photos, coach bios, and schedules, as well as advertisements. The Chair gathers the information and coordinates the selling of the advertisements. The Boosters pay to have the program published and printed.

In the past there would be minor updates/addenda to the program at various points in the season. Beginning in fall 2006, the programs will be generic for the year. We will staple in the rosters of the visiting teams before games. We may add a supplement for homecoming as well.
Return to top

What does the liaison coordinator do?

The liaison coordinator helps find liaisons for every sports team, prepares and distributes liaison information (list of duties, etc.), contacts the liaisons for the board, and sends email reminders of the monthly booster meetings.
Return to top

What do the banquet chairs do?

There's a banquet after each season. The banquet chair organizes the event, which includes: working with the liaison coordinator to get volunteers, getting the banquet flier written and distributed to all teams and coaches, collecting reservations and money, ordering food, set up the night of the banquet, collecting money at the door from walk-ins, making sure the treasurer provides a cash box, coordinating with the cafeteria staff (the spring banquet is usually held outside), and cleaning up. The chair doesn't do all the work — he or she makes sure that every job is assigned and is being done.
Return to top

What does the penultimate chair do?

Penultimate is a big track event held at TJ and a fundraiser for the boosters. The chair helps prepare the program, assists the track liaison, orders t-shirts, and generally makes sure that everything gets done.
Return to top

What does the pysicals chair do?

The physicals chair and the Athletic Trainer organize the annual sports/camp physical. This includes finding and organizing the volunteers, publicizing the event, and making sure things run smoothly on the day of the physicals.
Return to top

What does the millennium courtyard chair do?

The millennium courtyard chair advertises bricks, takes orders, places the bricks order, and arranges to have a mason install the bricks before graduation each year.
Return to top

What does the website chair do?

The web site chair maintains and updates the Colonial Athletic Boosters web site, makes suggestions for improvements, and attends CAB meetings. The goal is to have two people do this job (co-chairs) with overlapping terms so there is always at least one experienced webmaster to train newcomers. Co-webmasters can take turns attending meetings. Skills involved include html, css, php, psftp and/or WinSCP, Photoshop (or equivalent), making PDFs, monitoring the webmaster email address, updating the site with rosters, scores, photos, documents, brochures, etc, archiving the previous year's information and setting up the next year's site. Javascript is helpful. Dreamweaver will make your life easier, but is not required.
Return to top

What does the newsletter chair do?

For each sports banquet, the newsletter chair collects team articles, designs the newsletter, makes copies, and gets them to the banquet.
Return to top

What does the Digital Sports chair do?

Digital Sports (formerly, Sports Combine) is "a cutting-edge, nationwide network of locally managed community sports and activities websites. We provide professional local sports and activity content (stories, videos, photos, etc.) to our viewers while inviting those same visitors to generate and submit their own content by using our free and easy-to-use tools."

The Sports Combine chair helps anyone interested in entering rosters, schedules, statistics, photos, etc. for their team.
Return to top

What does the button coordinator do?

The button coordinator assists team liaisons in taking athletes' photos, making buttons, and selling them; and making sure we have enough supplies on hand.
Return to top

What does the team liaison do?

The team liaison represents your child's team to the athletic boosters. Duties, some of which can be split with a co-liaison or delegated to another parent on the team, include providing a communication link between the boosters and your parents, signing up volunteers (for concessions and tickets, end-of-season banquet, etc.), attending monthly booster meetings, encouraging booster membership, recapping the season for the booster newsletter, and verifying team information on the booster web site.

For sport-specific duties, it is best to contact the current team liaison.
Return to top

What does the team parent do?

The team parent may assist the team liaison, help arrange carpools and meals before games, work with the coach and team on selecting (optional) spirit packs, arrange for a coach appreciation card or gift, etc.
Return to top