Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township
Bylaws & Policies
 

2431 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

The School Board recognizes the value to the District and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for as many students as feasible.

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

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

The Board subscribes to the administrative guidelines of the Indiana High School Athletic Association so long as the Association complies with the requirements of I.C. 20-26-14-5 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.

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 maximum student participation and the values of good sportsmanship, team play, and fair competition, rather than on winning, particularly at sub-varsity levels. The Superintendent is to develop guidelines for coaches to follow which will ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to play so they have the opportunity to benefit from the learning experience.

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 to a thorough physical examination by a licensed physician;

  2.parents 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 life-threatening health condition such as a heart defect, respiratory dysfunctions, and the like, must have authorization in writing by the student's physician and parents in order to participate in any athletic activities.

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

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 to review periodically guidelines so 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 provide a set of behavioral expectations for each type of participant. The Superintendent is authorized to implement suitable disciplinary procedures against those who do not abide by these expectations.

In order to support such a program, the Board commits itself to:

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

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

I.C. 20-26-5.4, 20-26-14-5, 20-30-15-6,7,8