LAUREL SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

Intramural Competition;                                                                                          Policy #6145.1/

Interscholastic Competition                                                                                      6145.2

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The board considers all competition extracurricular activities--academic, artistic and athletic--an integral part of the total educational program.  Competitive activities shall be under the same administration and control as the rest of the school program and closely articulated with it.

 

Competitive activities can provide pupils with valuable experiences and opportunities.  In this district, the emphasis in any competition--intramural or interscholastic--shall be on providing such experiences and opportunities rather than on producing winning teams or providing entertainment.  Practice for or performance in any competitive event shall not interfere with the regular educational program.

 

The board shall approve all proposed interscholastic competition, either as a schedule or as a discrete event, whichever is appropriate.  The board must approve membership in any leagues, associations and conferences, and any agreements with other schools for a series of games or events.  Contests of any kind shall be approved by the chief school administrator.

 

The board shall appoint coaches, advisors, physicians and other necessary supervisory personnel upon recommendation of the chief school administrator.  The chief school administrator shall also ensure that training programs/regulations are developed for all extracurricular athletic activities and that all physical facilities involved in any competition in which district schools take part shall be adequate, safe and sanitary.

 

Public recognition shall be given to participants in academic or artistic competitions in the same measure as to athletic competitors.  The district’s affirmative action resolution and plan for equity in school and classroom practices shall apply to determining eligibility for competition, approval of each competitive activity in which pupils officially represent the district, and district expenditure to provide facilities and coaches.

 

Parental Consent

 

No pupil may participate in a school-sponsored physical activity outside the regular physical education curriculum without a signed consent form from a parent/guardian naming the activity and acknowledging that the activity may be hazardous.

 

Academic Eligibility

 

Academic standards for eligibility shall be those established by policy #6145 - Extracurricular Activities.

 

 

 

 

Attendance Standards

 

Attendance standards shall be those set in policy #5111 - Absences and excuses.  In particular, a pupil shall not participate in a performance, exhibition, practice or athletic event unless he/she has been present in school that day or has been absent for an excused reason other than for sickness.

 

Disciplinary Standards

 

Disciplinary standards are based on board policies #5114 - Suspension and Expulsion; and #5131 - Conduct/Discipline.  Pupils on disciplinary probation or serving a detention or suspension may not practice, perform or compete.  The chief school administrator and the building principal shall decide at the end of a probation or suspension whether the pupil may return to practice and competition.

 

Special Education Pupils

 

To participate in interscholastic competition, special education pupils must meet the same requirements listed above in conformity with IEPs.

 

Physical Eligibility

 

All pupils in grades six participating in intramural or interscholastic athletics must be given a medical examination within 365 days prior to the first practice session, with a health history update if the examination was completed more than 60 days prior to the first practice session of the first sport participated in.  The medical examination shall be given by the district’s medical officer or designated team doctor.  Examinations shall be made available throughout the school year consistent with the district athletic schedule.  If requested by the parents/guardians, the medical examination may be given by another licensed physician, but must be reported to the district medical officer or designated team doctor on a form furnished by the district and, as a minimum, include the content adopted by the board.  In the event a private physician is used, the medical examination shall not be at the expense of the board of education.

 

The parents/guardians shall be sent written notification signed by the examining physician testifying to the pupil’s fitness to participate in athletics.  The reason for the physician’s disapproval of the pupil’s participation shall be included in the notification.  The health findings of the medical examination for participation in athletics shall be made part of the general health examination record.

 

The chief school administrator shall present to the board for adoption procedures for administration of the required medical examination.  The procedures for the medical examination to determine the fitness of a pupil to participate in athletics shall include a form for a medical history to be filled out and returned by a parent/guardian and a form to be filled out by the examining physician.

 

 

 

Insurance

 

The board will cover each participant in interscholastic sports with insurance coverage as recommended by the current insurance carrier.  All other interscholastic activities shall be covered at the recommendation of the insurance advisor and chief school administrator.

 

Parents/guardians shall be strongly encouraged to participate in the supplemental pupil accident insurance program offered by the board.

 

Good Sportsmanship

 

The board believes that instilling habits of good sportsmanship should be one of the primary goals of athletic endeavors and that all district employees should model good behaviors in this area.

 

It is especially important that the coaches accept the responsibility for encouraging young athletes to handle themselves in a sportsmanlike way and be models of self-control and dignity for players and spectators.  Coaches shall include discussions on courtesy and sportsmanlike behavior as part of pre-game activities.  Student fans shall be reminded that their conduct reflects on the schools of this district and that poor sportsmanship will be disciplined.

 

Parents/guardians and other adult spectators shall also be encouraged to act as models for young people by demonstrating self-control and dignity at all athletic events.

 

Unsportsmanlike behavior as exhibited through verbal abuse, rude gestures, taunts, obscenities, thrown objects, etc., shall not be tolerated in students, staff or any persons in attendance at district athletic competitions.  Discipline may include, but not be limited to, eviction from the competition and prevention from attending further competitions.

 

The chief school administrator shall prepare regulations on good sportsmanship and ensure their dissemination to students, parents/guardians and the community.

 

First Reading:         February 2008

Adopted: 

 

Legal References:     N.J.S.A. 18A:11-3       Voluntary associations regulating conduct of student activities; membership; rules and regulations; appeals

                                    N.J.S.A. 18A:26-2.1    Supervisory certificate required for appointment as director of athletics

                                    N.J.S.A. 18A:36-20     Discrimination; prohibition

                                    N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-1    Substance abuse

                                    N.J.S.A. 18A:42-2       School orchestra not to compete with civilian musicians; exceptions

                                    N.J.S.A. 18A:43-1       Accident insurance for pupils authorized

                                    N.J.A.C. 6:4-1.3(a),     Policy development...

                                                -1.5(f)             

                                    N.J.A.C. 6:8-4.10        State and Federally mandated programs and services