Athletic Department Mission Statement
Being involved is a major factor in both the success and enjoyment of one’s high school years. Athletics is a way of getting involved and Belleville West works hard to provide its students with a top notch program.
The sports at West are divided into three separate seasons – held respectively during the Fall, Winter and Spring. Each season has its own individual and team sports which begin with a try-out session and an introductory night of activities and ends with an awards ceremony. A season lasts for approximately 3 months. The sports within a season are organized by teams, usually based on age and athletic ability, with the varsity designation as the highest level. Athletics at Belleville West are governed by the by-laws of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). You can learn a lot about this organization by visiting their website at www.ihsa.org.
We are quite proud of our tradition of success in athletics. Our teams consistently win Southwestern Conference Championships, IHSA Regional and Sectional Championships, and regularly appear in the “Elite Eight” of the IHSA State Championship Series. Our philosophy, though, does not center solely on winning. Belleville West believes that sports should play an integral role in a student’s overall education. Our teams and coaches place a high emphasis on character, responsibility, commitment, and discipline. We have high expectations for our student athletes and work hard to create an environment which stresses those attributes. To that end, all athletes must sign and accept an Athletic Code which spells out these expectations.
The most important part of high school is education. Belleville West athletes must meet certain academic standards in order to compete. At a minimum, every athlete must pass five classes to play and many coaches have higher demands. In order to monitor each athlete’s academic progress during the season, weekly grade checks are turned in by the teachers.
Physical exams are mandatory before participation in any sport. Your school physical will meet this requirement; however; it must be updated annually in order to continue to participate in sports. We make every effort to ensure a healthy environment for you to compete. Through a joint effort with Memorial Hospital and the Southern Illinois Sports Medicine Practice, all Belleville West athletes have a team doctor and trainer at their service.
