| Sylvania City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2431 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS
The Board of Education recognizes the value to the students of the District and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for students as an integral part of the total school experience.
The program should foster the growth of school loyalty within the student body as a whole and stimulate community interest in athletics.
The game activities and practice sessions should provide many opportunities to teach the values of competition and good sportsmanship.
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. It should also offer an opportunity for career and educational development.
The Board shall approve annually a program of interscholastic athletics and shall require that all facilities utilized in that program, whether or not the property of this Board, properly safeguard both players and spectators and be kept free of hazardous conditions.
The Board shall determine the standards of eligibility to be met by all students participating in the interscholastic program. Such standards shall require that each student be in good physical condition, be free of injury, and have fully recovered from illness before participating in any interscholastic athletic event.
Students identified as disabled under R.C. 3323 and the IDEA are subject to the eligibility standards established by this policy unless specifically exempted by the express terms of their individualized education program (IEP). An IEP can specify the criteria by which a grade will be determined for (a) course(s), given the individualized student’s disability.
The Board further adopts those eligibility standards set by the Constitution of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and shall review such standards annually to ascertain that they continue to be in conformity with the objectives of this Board.
No student shall be excused from a class or supervised study for an extended period of time to participate in interscholastic athletics.
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, each participant shall submit to a thorough physical examination by a District-approved physician; and/or 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 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. The District shall assume no liability for any student with a health condition who has been authorized to play by the parents and their physician but not by the District. | |
| 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 shall not dispense, supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes. The Superintendent shall cause to be posted in all locker rooms in buildings that include students in any grade higher than the sixth grade, the following: "Warning: Improper use of anabolic steroids may cause serious or fatal health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, growth deformities, infertility, personality changes, severe acne, and baldness. Possession, sale, or use of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is a crime punishable by a fine and imprisonment."
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:
| A. | criteria for judging these important qualities; | |
| B. | procedures by which these values will be communicated to students, parents, and supporters; | |
| C. | means for monitoring the behavior of each of these groups to ensure their behavior reflects high standards. |
Students will be further informed that participation in interscholastic sports is a privilege and not a right, and that they may be prohibited from all or part of their participation in such activities by authorized school personnel without further notice, hearing and/or appeal rights (See Policy 5610.05 - Prohibition From Extra-Curricular Activities).
In order to support the 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. | support participants, coaches, school administrators, and fans who display good sportsmanship. |
R.C. 2305.23, 2305.231, 3313.53, 3313.535, 3315.062
Ohio High School Athletic Association
Revised 5/11/98
Revised 3/26/01