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Athletics
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Welcome to SMSD Athletics

Athletic participation is more than just entertainment and fun.  Participating in school athletics brings students and staff together, fostering relationships and connections.  Essential life skills are taught in athletics such as teamwork, cooperation, self-discipline and fair play.  These skills are shown to enhance post-graduate readiness and academic performance.  

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Athletic Forms

  • ESDAA Tournament Medical Form Varsity Sports- Boys
  • ESDAA Tournament Medical Form Varsity Sports- Girls
  • Required NYS School Health Examination Form
     

Athletic Forms
 

Physical Education Forms

  • Physical Education Medical Restriction Form
  • Required NYS School Health Examination Form
     

Physical Education Forms

 

Concussion Safety

To help ensure the health and safety of young athletes, CDC developed the HEADS UP Concussion in Youth Sports initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. The HEADS UP initiative provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.
 

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Hall of Fame

The SMSD Hall of Fame is intended to preserve the history and tradition of St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Athletics.  The Hall of Fame seeks to highlight the past in order to ensure a promising future. The recognition of past athletes, coaches, administrators or volunteers and their significant contributions will serve to provide models for future generations.

The Selection Committee will choose inductees based upon the following criteria:

• An SMSD student who made a significant contribution to high school, college or national athletics.
•    A SMSD student that was selected as a National Player of the Year, Deaf All American, IAC All Star, ESDAA All Star or school record holder.
• An SMSD student who has been out of high school for 10 years.
•    Any individual who was not an SMSD student but who made significant contributions to the success of the SMSD athletic program.
•    A person of high character with the ability to serve as an appropriate role model for the current SMSD students.
•    Nomination forms should be received no later than Oct. 1st of the school year in which induction is requested.

🏆 To nominate an individual meeting the criteria above, please download and complete the form below.

See Wall of Fame Inductees

athletics bison logo

 

SMSD Deaflympic Athletes

detailed Deaflympic records

detailed Deaflympic records

Deaf Sports Organizations

  •  USA Deaf Sports Federation LogoUSA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) serves as the national governing body of deaf sport organizations in the United States. Its purpose is to regulate the rules of competition for affiliated organizations, facilitate the participation of US teams in international deaf competitions, and promote human rights and equity through sports. In sports, hearing loss creates disadvantages that are not as obvious as others, which means deaf athletes are prone to experiencing difficulties because their needs are easily overlooked or forgotten. Deaf athletes benefit from adaptations that are specific to their needs, such as the use of a light flashing system instead of starting guns or buzzers, and having officials employ hand signals and flags instead of whistles. Full access to communication is also a critical factor in the success of any athlete.

    In deaf sports, all needs are met and all participants have full access to communication. Deaf sport organizations provide opportunities for athletes with hearing loss to compete among their peers at recreational, amateur or master levels.

    Additionally, there are athletes who find deaf sport events to be the first or only opportunity to interact with other deaf people. The shared interest in sports brings together all kinds of D/deaf, hard of hearing, hearing impaired people and creates new opportunities for friendship and networking within the greater deaf and hard of hearing community. Playing among peers fosters a sense of solidarity and a feeling of camaraderie that is priceless.

    In its over 70 years of existence, the USADSF has produced national champions, international record-breakers and Deaflympic medalists, all in the everlasting pursuit of excellence. Credits

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  • Deaflympics Logo

    Currently, in the world there is one organization called the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (its acronym is ICSD), which has successfully been functioning since August 24, 1924 and which is operating a highly organized system of sports activities solely aimed for Deaf people. The ICSD is an independent and self-regulated international sports organization. The ICSD is not involved with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The 50th IOC Session, which was held in Paris, France, on June 13, 1955, recognizes the Statutes and powers of the ICSD and the IOC since that day has recognized the ICSD as an International Federation with the Olympic standing. The Deaflympics, under the patronage of the IOC, are the second oldest international multi-sporting event in the world.

    In 1966, the ICSD was awarded the Olympic Cup by the IOC for its accomplishments in the area of International Deaf Sports. Starting with the year of 1985 and to now, the IOC flag has been displayed at every Deaflympics' site. The ICSD Congresses are held every two (2) years, the last 46th ICSD Congress was held from 16 to 18 July 2017, in Samsun (Turkey).

    The structure of the ICSD is composed of legally independent national sports organizations representing Deaf athletes as well as controlling of the Deaf sports in their countries. The ICSD members now include affiliated national sports organizations from 117 different countries. Each country can have only one National Deaf Sports Organisation, which is recognized by a local National Olympic Committee and officially registered in the governmental bodies of the country. The registered National Deaf Sports Organisation in each country must have Deaf people in the leadership positions of the Organisation, including a President.

    Noting great contribution by the ICSD in development of the global sports system of Deaf people, its compliance with the provisions of the Olympic Charter as well as the promotion of the Olympic spirit and the strengthening of friendship among the Deaf athletes around the world, the IOC Executive Board in its decision of 16 May 2001, renamed the World Games of the Deaf as the Deaflympics, thereby, eliminating the contradiction between the title of the Games and their status.

    The first Deaflympics, known as the "International Silent Games", were held in the summer of 1924 in Paris, and later on these Deaf Games were held every four years with a break during the World War Two. After the end of the first Summer Deaflympics Deaf sports leaders established the international governing body of sport deaf called the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). The Winter Deaflympics were first held in Austria in 1949.

    It should be noted that Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC President three times took part in the Opening Ceremonies of the 14th Summer Deaflympics held in 1981 in Cologne, Germany, the 18th Summer Deaflympics held 1997 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the 19th Summer Deaflympics, which took place in 2001 in Rome, Italy.

    In 1981, during the 14th Summer Deaflympics the ICSD has begun to carry out the anti-doping control policy. The ICSD has officially joined the WADA in 2006.

    From 1924 to the present day, the ICSD has organized 24 Summer and 18 Winter Deaflympics in a year following the year of the Olympic Games. In addition, every four (4) years are held the World Championships and Regional Championships in different sports. At the recent 24th Summer Deaflympics held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil more than 2,400 athletes took part.

    The Summer Deaflympics include the following sports: athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, mountain bike, orienteering, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and wrestling (both Greco - Roman and freestyles), while the Winter Deaflympics' sports are alpine skiing, chess, curling, ice hockey, cross country skiing, futsal and snowboard.

    In addition, the Regional competitions are held regularly (e.g., European Deaf Championships in different sports, Asia-Pacific Games for the Deaf, Pan American Games for the Deaf and African Championship in basketball).

    The Deaflympics differ from other IOC-sanctioned Games in that they are organized and operated exclusively by members of the community they serve - Deaf people because of the specific hearing disability, the special cultural identity and use of a unique deaf communication (that is, national sign languages) system.

    The purposes of the ICSD according to the Constitution of the ICSD are as follows:

    • to be the only worldwide Deaf multi-sports representative organization.
    • to develop and to promote sport training and competition in the Deaf international sporting community.
    • to develop new training programs and expand existing opportunities for Deaf persons to participate in sports at international standards.
    • to award, supervise and assist in the coordination of the Summer and Winter Deaflympics.
    • to promote the organization and development of Deaf sports in developing countries.
    • where the sport is recognized by the ICSD, to sanction and where appropriate, to assist in:
      • the coordination and supervision of the Deaf World Championships and Deaflympics as the sole international organization with the right to do so.
      • the promotion of the Deaf Regional Championships and Competitions.
      • the collaboration and organization of sport events of other international Deaf Sport Federations.
    • to liaise with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord, (also known as General Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF)) in pursuance of these objectives.
    • to harmonize relations between countries by providing a means whereby affecting Deaf Sports can be exchanged.
    • to liaise and/or co-operate with, or lobby any relevant government or other organizations on behalf of Deaf people participating in sport.
    • to coordinate the calendar of international and regional sporting events.
    • to promote sports for Deaf athletes without discrimination for political, religious, economic, racial, gender, disability or sexual orientation reasons.
    • to do all things necessary or convenient to achieve or further any of these objectives.

    Today the most important priorities of the ICSD are:

    1. Deaf children's sport development;
    2. Development of Deaf sport in developing countries;
    3. Further developing and strengthening cooperation and collaboration with the IOC and other international organizations;
    4. Implementation of the basic rules of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and
    5. Informing the international community about the successes and challenges of Deaf sport and promoting a healthy lifestyle among the deaf.

    Credits

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  • ESDAA Logo
    The mission of the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association (ESDAA) is to provide all member schools and respective athletes with challenging tournament and championship meet competition. These competitions will center on good sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and integrity as advocated by the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS). Credits

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  • NDIAA

    Mission- Serve as a leading organization for information regarding Deaf interscholastic sports; Encourage participation in order to develop life-long learners that exhibit sportsmanship, character and leadership; Provide resources and training opportunities that include professional development, networking and collaboration; Recognize the achievement of athletes, coaches, teams and athletic administrators.

    Vision- The vision of the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association (NDIAA) is to promote and recognize the growth and achievements of Deaf interscholastic programs including athletes and coaches. The NDIAA encourages a competitive environment where fair play and character development are essential. Credits

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