5500.01 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS:ELIGIBILITY, INSURANCE, AND CONDUCT

St. Marys City School District

Bylaws & Policies

5500.01 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS:ELIGIBILITY, INSURANCE, AND CONDUCT
INTRODUCTION

Participation in the St. Marys City Schools', athletic program is to be considered a privilege, not a right. Because Memorial's and McBroom's student athletes represent our school and community and are looked up to by younger students, they are expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct at all times. In addition to fully complying with the Student Code of Conduct and all other school rules, student athletes are also expected to comply with the following rules and regulations 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to participate in any interscholastic extracurricular activity, students in grades seven through twelve must meet the following requirements:

		1.	Students in grades nine through twelve must receive a passing grade in a minimum of five (5) one credit courses or the equivalent each grading period. (Incoming ninth graders must have passed 75% of those subjects taken the preceding grading period.)
		2.	Students in grades 7-8 must have passed 75% of those subjects taken the preceding grading period in which the student was enrolled. (Students enrolling in the 7^th grade for the first time are eligible for the first grading period regardless of previous academic achievement.)
		3.	In addition to the above requirements, students must have achieved a minimum of 1.00 GPA (2.0 on a 12 pt scale) during the previous grading period and maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.50 (3.0 on a 12 pt scale) in order to be eligible. A student whose cumulative GPA is below 1.50 will be considered eligible providing the student attainted 1.75 GPA (4.0 on a 12 pt scale during the preceding nine weeks).
		4.	A student who receives an "F" maintains his/her eligibility providing all of the above requirements are met.

	B.	If school is in session on the day of an athletic contest, the student athlete must be in attendance at school for the full day (per Student Handbook) in order to be eligible to participate in that day's athletic contest unless specifically excused in advance from this rule by the principal or through attendance at a school-sponsored event.
	C.	There is no athletic participation of any kind (including practices) by a student during a school suspension.
	D.	A high school student athlete must not have attained the age of 19 before August 1^st, and a junior high athlete must not have attained the age of 15 before August 1^st, to be eligible for the current school year.
	E.	A member of a school team may not participate in a contest as a member of a non-interscholastic team, or as an individual, in the same sport during the school's varsity season.
	F.	If a student is denied participation in a sport for disciplinary reasons, s/he is ineligible for participation in any sport until that sport season is completed.
	G.	If a student quits a team, s/he is ineligible for participation in any interscholastic sport until the season is completed, unless given permission to join another team by the athletic director and the two (2) head coaches involved.
	H.	The eligibility of a transfer participant must be established by school records or other verification from the sending school. The responsibility for establishing eligibility rests with the receiving school. The transfer student shall facilitate the receiving school in accessing the student's school records.
	I.	An athlete is eligible to participate in only one (1) interscholastic sport during any athletic season. Interscholastic sports include football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, golf, tennis, basketball, wrestling, swimming, bowling, cheerleading, baseball, softball and track.

INSURANCE

The St. Marys City School District does not carry medical insurance for students involved in extracurricular activities. The student's parent/guardian bears the sole responsibility to pay for medical care that may result from the student's participation in athletics.

USE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND TOBACCO
Students involved in the athletic program of the St. Marys City Schools shall not at any time use, have in their possession, or participate in the transportation, sale, or furnishing of illegal or "look alike" drugs, related controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, or prescription drugs for which the student lacks a valid prescription, which is made illegal by the Ohio Revised Code. Nor shall they at any time have in their possession any form of tobacco. Students will be typically considered in violation of the athletic ode of conduct through the filing of criminal/delinquency violation charges by any law enforcement or court agency, direct admission from the student or parent, or through direct observation by school personnel. Penalties that are not fully served during the season will carry over into the next athletic season in which the athlete participates.

	A.	First Offense:
		Student athletes who violate the above rules will be declared ineligible to participate in the number of contest equal to twenty percent (20%) of the team's regular season games, excluding scrimmages. This penalty will be reduced to the number of contests equal to ten percent (10%) of the team's regular season games if the athlete enrolls, at their own expense, in a substance treatment program approved by the principal. The athletic director will determine the actual length of the ineligibility based on successful completion of the substance treatment program. The coach may enforce other penalties in addition to the suspension if it is included in the team's individual training in rules. If the violation occurs during an off-season for the student athlete, the penalty will be assessed in the first season in which the athlete participates. The student-athlete will be eligible for the post-season awards.
	B.	Second Offense:
		The athlete will be declared ineligible to participate in any sport for one (1) calendar year (365 days) from the date of denial by the athletic director. The student may appeal to the principal for a reinstatement in athletics after six (6) months from the date of denial provided s/he has completed a substance abuse program approved in advance by the principal and paid for by the athlete. All student athletes who have been approved for reinstatement by the principal must go before the Appeals Board to determine the student athletes conditions of reinstatement. Conditions of reinstatement are at the discretion of the Appeals Board. All awards not already received will be forfeited.
	C.	Third Offense:
		The athlete will be declared ineligible to participate in any sport for the remainder of his/her high school years. All awards not already received will be forfeited.
	D.	Self-Referral Program:
		Any student-athlete may employ a "self-referral" procedure, allowing the student an avenue to seek guidance, assessment/counseling and/or treatment in regard to use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Voluntary referrals do not carry punitive consequences. A self- referral, however, is not to be used by students as a method to avoid consequences once an alcohol and/or drug policy violation has occurred. All self-referrals by a student-athlete must begin by informing a staff member, coach/advisor, or Athletic Director/Administrator. The St. Marys City Schools believes it is extremely important to kept the lines of communication open between parents, students, coaches, teachers, and administrators. Parents and students shall be encouraged to discuss problems in a confidential manner with school personnel without punitive consequences, regardless of a student's level of participation in extra-curricular and/or athletic activities. Disciplinary action may result from other infractions concerning the code of conduct.
		The Building Administrator will maintain a current list of community treatment and evaluation providers, which will be available to parents and students employing this self-referral procedure, as well as to any student found in violation of this Code of Conduct. The cost of assessment and/or treatment is the sole responsibility of the student, parents or guardians.
	E.	Transfer Students:
		It shall be the responsibility of the St. Marys City Schools to verify the number and type of violations (or the lack thereof) of any transfer student prior to that student being eligible to participate in any interscholastic Athletic Events with the St. Marys City Schools. The transfer student shall facilitate the receiving school in accessing the students records and/or obtaining adequate evidence or the number, type of absence of violations from the transfer student's previous school(s).

GENERAL ATHLETIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

Any student involved in the St. Marys City Schools Athletic program is expected to abide by all of the following rules and regulations:

		1.	Student athletes shall not at any time take part in crimes or other acts against individuals or property or otherwise violate the district's Student Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to: disruption of school, theft of school or other property, damage of property, assault, gambling, cheating, abusive or offensive language or gestures, disrespect, and failure to comply with other standards of discipline, attendance, and dress.
		2.	Student athletes shall not participate in acts that bring embarrassment to the team, school or community.
		3.	Student athletes shall not be disrespectful toward teammates, coaches, administrators, referees, or opponents. They shall not be disobedient to coaches, teachers, administrators, referees, or others in authority over their school athletic program.
		4.	Student athletes will be required to ride to and from athletic events by means of transportation provided by the Board of Education unless excused from this requirement by their head coach and with prior written approval from their parent or legal guardian.
		5.	Student athletes shall not engage in hazing, which is defined as any action of initiation or other action that involve coercing another to do or initiate any act against any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.
		6.	In addition to the above rules, each head coach may establish additional training rules and regulations for his/her individual sport. Any such list of rules shall be given to team members in writing and submitted to the participants no later than the team's first practice. The participant and the parents of the participant will be provided copies of this policy and any additional rules or expectations of the head coach. The athletic policy and any addition rules are to be signed by the participant and parents and returned to the head coach to indicate awareness of the district's athletic policies and team rules. A copy or these additional rules will be filed with the athletic director.

	B.	Discipline for violation of the above rules, up to and including immediate dismissal from the team, will be at the discretion of the athletic director and head coach. More severe disciplinary action, however, including suspension from school or a recommendation for expulsion may be determined by the assistant principal or principal.
	C.	The procedure to be followed upon learning of a possible infraction of athletic department or team rules and regulations is:

		1.	Upon learning of an infraction of any of the rules or regulations, either by his/her own observation or upon information brought to his/her attention, the principal, athletic director, or other administrator will investigate the validity of the accusation.
		2.	If it is determined that a rules violation has occurred, the athletic director will determine what level of offense has taken place. The athletic director will then notify both the student and his/her parents in writing within five (5) days regarding the incident, the penalty imposed, the additional consequences given by the coach, and the student's right to appeal that decision.
		3.	An exception to this procedure will be for accusations of hazing. In such cases, Board policy requires that the incident be reported directly and immediately to the Superintendent. The procedure for investigation and determination of disciplinary action in cases of alleged hazing, therefore, will be at the Superintendent's discretion.

APPEALS PROCESS

A penalized student athlete may appeal his/her penalty to the Athletic Appeals Board consisting of the principal, assistant principal, and one (1) varsity coach selected annually by the Athletic Council. (The varsity coach selected to the Athletic Appeals Board cannot be a coach of the athlete in question, and therefore shall be replaced by the athletic director. There shall be no family members of the athlete in question on the Appeals Board. The athletic director shall replace any such family members. Any replacements made by the athletic director pursuant to the aforementioned conflicts of interest shall be temporary and shall last only until the appeal for the student in question is resolved.) Such appeals must be made in writing to the principal within three (3) days of the notification of the assessment of the penalty. The Athletic Appeals Board will:

		1.	Hold a hearing within three (3) school days of the athlete's request to appeal his/her penalty.
		2.	Hear from the athletic director, head coach, and any involved assistant coaches, and others at the discretion of the athletic director who may have pertinent information regarding the incident(s), which led to the penalty, imposed by the athletic director and head coach.
		3.	Hear from the student, his/her parents, and others at the parent's discretion who may have pertinent information regarding the incident(s) which led to the penalty imposed by the athletic director and head coach.
		4.	Determine by majority vote of its members whether the penalty will be upheld, reversed, or modified.

	B.	The principal will communicate the Athletic Appeals Board's decision in writing to the athletic director, head coach, student, and the student's parents within three (3) school days of the hearing.
	C.	A final appeal may be made to the school board. The appeal must be filed with the Superintendent within forty-eight (48) hours of notification of the decision from the Athletic Appeals Board.
	D.	The athletic director will maintain a record of all athletic disciplinary cases until the student graduates, at which time the record shall be destroyed.

Effective beginning the 2007-08 School Year

St. Marys City School District, St. Marys, Ohio

Adopted 5/9/07