Philosophy of the Southside Athletic Department 

The athletics program at Southside High School is a part of the educational process based on policies set forth by the District Board of Education, the Region conference, and the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). Our athletics program is guided by the philosophy that student activities are an important part of the total educational program. A successful sports program generates a sense of school pride for the participants, student body, faculty, and community. Our athletics program strives to teach “Life Skills” as well as individual skills in conjunction with competitive skills. The objective goes beyond just the learning of skills for a particular sport. Students who participate in the program will develop an appropriate competitive spirit, self-control, camaraderie with teammates, and develop a sense of personal self-worth. Character traits such as leadership skills, loyalty, and self-discipline are gained through participation. Most of all, the student should grow, learn, and enjoy the experience. School activities must, however, never overshadow the main purpose of an education earned at Southside High School. A “win at all costs” attitude is detrimental to the educational process. If our athletes are motivated to work hard on and off the field and if we provide the proper leadership and sound guidance, they will graduate “winners” in every sense of the word and our athletic program will be a success.

Goals and Objectives of the Southside Athletic Department  

The experience of participation in interscholastic athletics such as athletics should reflect the total educational goals of our school and district. Our Specific Objectives for the athletics program are:

1.  To provide student-athletes with a strong system of support that promotes high academic success and on-time graduation.

2. To develop an understanding and appreciation of the place which interscholastic sports and activities occupy in the American culture and by developing sound educational attitudes toward them.

3. To educate the school community in the appreciation of sports and activities and the best way to enjoy them from the point of view of good sportsmanship.

4. To serve as a focal point for the morale, spirit, and loyalty of students, faculty, staff and community to Southside High School.

5. To hire and retain a staff of knowledgeable, high character individuals to serve in the role of coach for the students of Southside High School to allow for the development of physical growth, mental alertness, and emotional stability for all those who participate in athletics.

6. To provide the opportunity for a student to learn to handle winning and losing and to make decisions that affect themselves and members of their team.

7. To learn to develop, through hard work and dedication, a feeling of self-confidence and self-esteem.

8. To field highly competitive teams that provide life-long learning experiences for those involved in the program in conjunction with the enjoyment of success that comes from a winning program.

Core Values of the Southside Athletic Department