The athletic sports program is an after school activity. It operates in addition to the school's regular physical education classes. Its goals are to introduce as many children as possible to competitive sports, to teach skills and rules of the game, and to achieve excellence in individual and team endeavors in an atmosphere that encourages good sportsmanship and respect for others.

The following sports are offered to students in Grades 3-8: Boys Basketball (November to February), Cross Country (September and October), Girls Basketball (February to May) and Track & Field (February to May). Every child is encouraged to participate in at least one sport. Teams generally practice 1-2 times per week after school or evening and play one game a week during the sport's season. The size of the program varies each year depending on the number of children who sign up for a given team and the availability of volunteer coaches.

Volunteer support is vital to the athletic program. The sports program is totally dependent on parent volunteers to coach, to drive, to distribute uniforms, to help collect fees and to maintain positive communication between the school and the parents. Parents are requested to volunteer as coaches and assistants. Parents' presence at the events is, also, a strong statement of support for the program.

Saint Leo the Great Catholic School is part of the East Bay Parochial League (EBPL). The EBPL -- which is made up of 12 parishes / schools in Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley -- falls under the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). Parents should set a good example, exemplifying the highest moral and ethical behavior possible. Parents should model Christian values and abide by the rules of the CYO and the school of which they are a part of. The following excerpts come from the CYO section of the Diocese of Oakland website.

• In CYO programs, emphasis rests not on the number of games won or lost, but on the
  participants' attitude in victory or defeat. Learning how to lose is just as important as
  learning how to win. Learning how to win graciously is more important than winning itself.

• Ultimate responsibility for the success of CYO programs lies with the volunteer adult
  participant. Adults involved in CYO must remember that the program exists for the Christian
  growth of young people. Conduct of adults must always model Christian values and virtues.