2431 - ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

Elk Rapids Schools

Bylaws & Policies

2431 - ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

Living comfortably and productively in everyday life has many facets, each requiring personal effort toward improvement and continuing re-evaluation of priorities. The Board believes that the formula for success at all levels of athletic competition has many parallels to success in everyday life, and therefore, athletic competition should be an important part of overall education. Nevertheless, scholastic athletic competition must never pre-empt academic growth and achievement or development of character within the educational process.

The Board believes that athletic competition is important because:

	A.	It teaches individuals to function as members of a team.
	B.	It teaches that attainment of team goals usually requires unselfish contributions by each individual.
	C.	It teaches that a strong team usually has visionary leaders and motivated followers.
	D.	It teaches that preparation is an important and integral factor for success.
	E.	It teaches that, win or lose, there will be another challenge on another day, and it is important to prepare for it.
	F.	It nurtures the attainment of physical fitness, and this is a healthful habit for anyone to acquire.
	G.	It usually contributes positively to students' identification with the school.
	H.	It motivates participants to do better academically.
	I.	It creates parental and community identity with athletes and the school.

2431.1	Interscholastic Athletics

	The Board of Education recognizes the value to the District and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for as many boys and girls as feasible.

	The program of interscholastic athletics shall provide students the opportunity to exercise and test their athletic abilities in a context greater and more varied than that which can be offered by a school or the School District alone.

	The program shall foster the growth of school loyalty with the student body as a whole and stimulate community interest in athletics.

	Game activities and practice sessions shall provide many opportunities to teach the values of competition and good sportsmanship.

	The Board subscribes to the administrative guidelines of the Michigan High School Athletics Association but maintains responsibility for enforcement of all rules. The Board believes that it is the purpose of an interscholastic program to provide the benefits of an athletic experience to as large a number of students as feasible within the District.

	In order to minimize health and safety risks to student-athletes and maintain ethical standards, school personnel, coaches, athletic trainers, and lay coaches should never dispense, supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes.

	The Board further adopts those eligibility standards set by the Constitution of the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) and shall review such standards annually to ascertain that they continue to be in conformity with the objectives of this Board.

	Since the primary purpose of the athletic program is to enhance the education of participating students as indicated in this policy, the Board places top priority on broad student participation and the values of good sportsmanship, team play, and fair competition. The Superintendent is to develop guidelines for coaches to follow which will ensure that as many team members as possible get the chance to participate, so they have the opportunity to benefit from the learning experience.

Use of a performance-enhancing substance by a student is a violation that will affect a student's athletic eligibility and extra-curricular participation, as determined by the Board.

A list of performance-enhancing substances developed by the Department of Community Health can be found in AG 2431D. This list will be distributed to parents.

The Superintendent shall develop appropriate administrative guidelines for the operation of the Athletic Program and a Code of Conduct for those who participate. Such guidelines should provide for the following safeguards:

A.	Prior to enrolling in the sport,

	1.	each participant shall submit proof to a physical examination by a licensed physician.

	2.	parents/guardians shall report any past or current health problems along with a physician's statement that any such problems have or are being treated and pose no threat to the student's participation.

B.	Any student who is found to have a health condition which may be life-threatening to self or others shall not be allowed to participate until the situation has been analyzed by a medical review panel that has determined the conditions under which the student may participate.

C.	Any student who incurs an injury requiring a physician's care is to have written approval by a physician prior to the student's return to participation.

A female student shall be permitted to compete for a position in all interscholastic athletic activities. If the District has a girl's team in an interscholastic athletic activity, a female shall be permitted to compete for a position on any other team for that activity.

	The Superintendent is also to develop guidelines for ensuring that sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity characterize the manner in which the athletic program is conducted and the actions of students who participate. Such guidelines should include the MHSAA's set of expectations for each type of participant as well as the Sportsmanship Code of Conduct which each type of participant is to follow. The Superintendent is authorized to implement suitable disciplinary procedures against those who violate this Code of Conduct.

	In support of the Michigan High School Athletic Association's program to strengthen sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity, the Board commits itself to:

	A.	adopt policies (upon recommendation of the administration) which reflect the District's educational objectives and promote, the ideals of good sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity;

	B.	establish standards for athletic participation which reinforce the concept that athletic activities are a privilege, not a right;

	C.	attend and enjoy school athletic activities, serving as a positive role model and expecting the same from parents, fans, participants, coaches, and other school personnel;

	D.	support and reward participants, coaches, school administrators, and fans who display good sportsmanship;

	E.	recognize the value of school athletic activities as a vital part of education.

	In order to minimize health and safety risks to student-athletes and maintain ethical standards, school personnel, coaches, athletic trainers, and lay coaches should never dispense, supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes.

	The Superintendent is also to develop guidelines for ensuring that sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity characterize the manner in which the athletic program is conducted and the actions of students who participate. Such guidelines should include the MHSAA's set of expectations for each type of participant as well as the Sportsmanship Code of Conduct which each type of participant is to follow. The Superintendent is authorized to implement suitable disciplinary procedures against those who violate this Code of Conduct.

	Revised 9/9/96 Revised 10/12/98 Revised 3/13/00 Revised 1/27/04 Revised 11/13/06 Revised 6/25/07

2431.2	Basic Objectives of Athletic Programs

	A.	Middle School and High School Freshman Level

		The basic objectives of the athletic program at the Middle School and at the High School freshman level are to have each athlete:

		1.	Enjoy the sport while learning the fundamentals and skills that apply.

		2.	Develop a positive attitude toward teammates.

		3.	Recognize that proper nutrition, good health practices, conditioning and practice, all improve performance.

		4.	Maximize individual development.

		5.	Accept discipline, play the game by the rules, and accept the authority of the coach and officials.

		6.	Play as much as possible -- perhaps even at the expense of team performance.

	B.	Junior Varsity Level

		The basic objectives of the athletic program at the junior varsity level are to have each athlete:

		1.	Further develop skills and understanding of the sport's fundamentals.

		2.	Accept responsibility to hustle, have team spirit, maintain an unselfish attitude, and fulfill both team and personal commitments.

		3.	Respect the rules of the game and play by them.

		4.	Enjoy success and learn from defeat how to improve.

		5.	Attend practice faithfully and improve his/her skills in the sport.

	6.	Maintain excellent health habits; strictly avoid the use of tobacco, illegal and unprescribed drugs, and the ingestion of alcohol; choose nutrition healthful for the mental and physical demands of the sport and of daily living.

	7.	Establish a winning attitude, but learn that it isn't life or death if a game is lost; learn that encouragement, not radical criticism, of others is in order.

	8.	Play as must as possible.

	9.	Encourage as many other students as possible to participate in the athletic program.

C.	Varsity Level

	The basic objectives of the athletic program at the varsity level are:

	1.	To set goals for which individuals and team members should strive, but depending upon the caliber of the student participants and the coaching program, not to set goals in any given situation which are too great for the athletes to fulfill.

	2.	To promote the concept that school sports are played for fun, but each athlete should also try his/her very best to win. Win or lose, the outcome should be accepted by the athlete as an example of life's many other contests.

	3.	To promote the ultimate mastery of athletic skills and fundamentals.

	4.	To promote the concepts of enjoyment of athletics, fair play, honesty, discipline, wholesome attitude, adherence to the rules, commitment to self and personal goals, and responsibility to others.

Revised 3/13/00

2431.3	Coaching Guidelines

	All athletic coaches shall:

	A.	Stress sportsmanship.

	B.	Support the academic aspects of education among the student athletes.

	C.	Strive for character building in his/her program.

	D.	Strive to improve his/her coaching by using up-to-date methods.

	E.	Be loyal to his/her superiors, the athletic program and the athletes.

	F.	Set a worthy example for the athletes to follow both on and off the field of play.

	G.	Not publicly criticize the work of an official.

	H.	Extend courtesies to the visiting team as guests of the District as well as display courtesy when a quest of other districts.

	I.	Display modesty and consideration in winning, and give credit to his/her opponent in defeat.

	J.	Strive for the highest level of physical fitness in their teams, and promote the display of vigorous competition in athletic contests under all circumstances.

	Revised 3/13/00

2431.4	Athletic Board of Control

	A.	Authorization

		An Athletic Board of Control shall be established before schools open each fall for the purpose of advising the Superintendent and the Board throughout the year on all matters concerning interscholastic athletic competition and the athletic programs within the schools.

B.	Membership

	Membership of the Athletic Board of Control shall consist of:

	1.	An appointed Board of Education member.

	2.	The Superintendent of Schools.

	3.	The Principal of the Senior High School.

	4.	The Principal of the Middle School.

	5.	The Athletic Director who shall act as chairperson.

	6.	The Athletic Director for the Middle School.

	7.	Two (2) coaches of the season in progress appointed by the Athletic Director.

	8.	Two (2) senior high school students, one (1) male and one (1) female, selected by vote of the high school student body.

	9.	Two (2) citizens of the District appointed by the athletic director.

C.	Functions

	The Interscholastic Athletic Board of Control shall:

	1.	Review and approve each annual athletic budget, which shall be developed by the Athletic Director, before it is submitted to the Board of Education.

	2.	Recommend regulation changes to the Superintendent or new policies to the Board of Education.

	3.	Recommend to the Superintendent the addition or deletion of athletic programs.

	4.	Assist the Athletic Director in the development of long range plans for recommendation to the Board of Education.

	5.	Make sure that all parts of the school community are involved in the review of any operation of the Athletic Department.

D.	Meetings

	The Athletic Director shall develop the agenda for all meetings of the Athletic Board of Control, and will be responsible for the keeping and distribution of the minutes of each meeting.

	A minimum of two (2) meetings per school year shall be held, one in the spring and one in the fall. The Athletic Director may call additional meetings as needed.

M.C.L.A. 380.1289, 380.1318
Good Sportsmanship Campaign, Michigan High School Athletic Association

Revised 6/14/93
Revised 9/9/96
Revised 5/18/98
Revised 10/12/98
Revised 3/13/00