MPB Athletics fields basketball and volleyball teams each season in the Catholic Schools Athletic League or CSAL. CSAL sponsors the following divisions:

The Widget League is an entry level league sponsored by St. Louis and St. Bernadette's for basketball and by Sts Peter and Paul for volleyball. MPB fields basketball teams for 4th grade girls and boys and volleyball teams for 4th grade girls.

MPB ATHLETICS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT SPORTS ARE OFFERED?
MPB typically offers a cross country running team for grades 6-8 in the Fall for both boys and girls. Basketball for boys and girls in the late Fall and early winter months for grades 3 through 8. Volleyball is offered in the Spring for girls in grades 3 through 8.
In addition there are two groups for girls called Girls on the Run and Girls on Track for girls in intermediate grades through 8th grade offered during published 6-8 week periods.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? All MPB students in designated grades are eligible unless parents and the school working together determine that academic achievement is suffering because of misplaced priorities.

COSTS? CSAL (Catholic School Athletic League) sports teams (basketball and volleyball) have a $65.00 per child participation fee. These fees are used to pay for league participation, referee fees each game, uniforms and equipment needs. Assistance with fees is available through a conversation with the Athletic Director.

WHO IS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR? At MPB this position is a volunteer position staffed since 2004 by Shelly Lesnansky with assistance from her husband, Jim Lesnansky. She can be contacted through the school Kid Mail or through via e-mail at SCL8624@aol.com.

WHEN ARE GAMES AND PRACTICES? For basketball (MPB's largest sport) there are usually 12-13 league teams for grades 5 through 8. Widgets the league for 3rd and 4th graders has 5-6 teams. Practices are scheduled throughout the week after school and on weekends. Games for Widgets are always at other sponsoring Catholic schools. Games for CSAL league are either Home or Away at other Catholic schools. There is a league directive to minimize Sunday games in the 2007-08 season.

HOW ARE TEAMS FORMED? Most often the first organization plan looks at grade level teams particularly with Widgets and in grades 5 and 6. In grades 7 and 8, depending on numbers, tryouts may be necessary to form teams of similarly-skilled players who are placed in appropriate divisions. A team is said to be in the correct division is it achieves a .500 win/loss percentage.

WHO ARE THE COACHES? These are generally parents though teachers and other volunteers sometimes assist. All coaches must submit to a criminal background check and attend Safe Environment Training through the Archdiocese.

IS A PHYSICAL REQUIRED? Though always a good idea, these are not pre-requisites to play at MPB.