Section 1 – Philosophy

Our athletic policy is aligned with our academic philosophy. To that end we use athletics to encourage our students to become productive, responsible citizens in their community. Interscholastic athletics offer the opportunity to teach our students skills and desirable character traits in a setting apart from the traditional classroom. Our students can learn to be lifetime achievers by practicing self-discipline, loyalty, responsibility, respect for a healthy lifestyle, and commitment to team and others in a competitive setting. Our entire community of students, parents, coaches, teachers, and administrators will work together to produce in our students an appreciation for those values principles, and goals which produce a student athlete who is prepared for the challenge of today and tomorrow.

Section 2 – Player Responsibility

A.   Participation

Athletic participation is a privilege, not a right, extended to all students. In accepting this privilege, our student athletes must assume certain responsibilities. We expect student athletes to show their appreciation by their appearance and their conduct. Only those students capable of assuming these responsibilities will be permitted to share this privilege.

B.   Equipment

If any equipment is lost or damaged through the student athlete’s negligence, he/she must pay for it.

C.   Injuries

All injuries must be reported to your coach immediately.

• The coach will fill out an insurance form. (If no insurance form is filled out, payment for medical treatment will not be made).

• The insurance form will be sent to the parent/guardian with instructions on how to complete it.

• The student athlete may go to the school or family physician for treatment.

• The school will accept the responsibility within the limits of legal liability and the insurance being carried.

• Questions regarding insurance should be directed to the school nurse.

D.   Attendance Requirements

In order to protect the health, well being and safety of the students participating in the interscholastic program (in addition to encouraging and maintaining promptness in attendance in school at all times) the following policy is in effect:

• A team member must be in school prior to the tardy bell for the morning school session in order to be eligible to practice or compete in interscholastic sports for that day.

• Illness, oversleeping, illegal absence and truancy exclude a student from practicing or playing on that day. Examples of acceptable excuses are dental/doctor appointments, funerals, and college visitations.

E.    Academic Requirements

A student athlete is eligible to play if he/she is a bonafide student of CVA School. If a student athlete is failing more than one subject, the guidance counselor, teacher, student, parent, and coach will meet to review his/her case and develop an academic program for improvement. The counselor will provide the coaches with a failure list at both the five and ten week intervals. Evaluations will be made periodically by the committee.

F.    Citizenship Requirements

Good behavior is expected. Rude or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated on or off the field.

Any insubordinate or disorderly behavior that endangers the health, safety, rights or property of others is prohibited. Student athletes engaging in such activities are subject to suspension, and the case will be referred to the principal and the director of athletics for further action.

• On trips, a student must dress neatly and conservatively in appropriate attire as directed by the coach.

• A student athlete may be dismissed from a team by the coach if that player is affecting the morale of the team adversely, is uncooperative, is skipping practice or is continually reporting late for practice.

• If a student athlete is cut from a team, he/she may go out for another sport in the same season. However, after a cut is made and the student “quits” the sport, he/she will become ineligible for the remainder of the sport season.

• Any student athlete who steals personal or school equipment will be suspended from a team. The case will be referred to the principal and the Director of Athletics for further action.

• A student athlete shall not use, consume, possess, buy, sell, or give away alcohol, tobacco, performance enhancing substances, or any controlled substance. (It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student athlete’s own use by his/her doctor).

• A student athlete shall not host parties where alcohol, tobacco, performance enhancing substances, or any controlled substances are present and/or used, NOR remain at parties where such illegal activities are taking place.

Section 3 – Disciplinary Action for Section 2, subsection F.5,6

A.   Penalties

Penalties are cumulative, beginning in grade seven, and will be assessed by the Director of Athletics.

First Offense – If a student athlete admits to a violation, the student athlete will be suspended from one quarter of the regularly scheduled contests for which the student athlete is eligible and physically able to participate.

• Upon penalty assessment, the suspended student athlete must attend practice, but will not be permitted to attend contests as a team member.

• If the student athlete denies the violation and is later proven to have committed the said violation, he/she will be suspended for two sport seasons.

• If necessary, any penalty will carry over to the next sport season in which the student athlete participates.

Second Offense – The student athlete will be suspended for the remainder of the sport season and will remain ineligible until he/she completes a rehabilitative program at a school-approved agency. If necessary any penalty will carry over to the next sport season in which the student athlete participates.

Third Offense – The student athlete will be suspended from athletic participation for the remainder of his/her high school career.

• Any disciplinary action involving a penalty shall be subject to review by the Board of Review consisting of the Director of Athletics, the High School Principal, and a faculty member.

B.   Due Process

Due process is available through the Superintendent, Board of Education, Commissioner of Education and the court system.

Section 4 – Parent/Guardian Responsibility

• Prior to the start of any season, parents and students must meet with the coach and school officials to review the interscholastic athletic code and expectations. The student athlete will be ineligible to participate until such a meeting takes place.

• Parents must be knowledgeable of the rules and regulations their child has committed to as a student athlete and community member and must know the consequences of any violation of the rules and regulations and assist in their enforcement.

• Parents must be supportive and encourage their son/daughter to demonstrate appropriate behavior while representing Central Valley Central School District as a student athlete.

• Parents must hold their child accountable for his/her actions and help guide him/her in making proper decisions regarding all drugs, performance enhancement substances, alcohol, tobacco, and any illegal substances.

• Parents must be knowledgeable of individual team rules and expectations and address concerns regarding their child or their child’s program to the coach.

• Parents must be knowledgeable spectators, know the rules of the game and be role models for good sportsmanship. They should cheer our successes, encourage our efforts, respect our opponents, and be understanding in our defeats.

• The officials and coaches assigned to our athletic contests are well trained, and each of them performs a necessary and difficult task. We could not run an organized interscholastic athletic program without them. Even when a parent may disagree with an official’s or coach’s decision during a contest, they should remember that these individuals are human beings and deserve respect.

 Section 5 – Coach Responsibility

• A coach must keep foremost in mind the safety and welfare of all team members at all times.

• A coach must know the rules of the sport and must teach all team members the correct rules, skills, tactics, and strategies.

• A coach must respect and gain the respect of players, control the player’s behavior in a positive manner, and have good communication with all team members.

• A coach must be able to meet and work with parents effectively.

• A coach must control his/her emotions and actions in order to set a positive example for players and to continue to coach the sport during intense competition.

• A coach must develop and maintain a good rapport with officials and show respect and support for decisions made by officials.

• A coach must understand and cooperate in carrying out school, league, section, and state policies, procedures, rules, and regulations as they pertain to athletics.

• A coach must place coaching and athletics in their proper perspective.

• A coach must monitor closely the updated afternoon attendance roster and be familiar with the attendance of their team members. A coach should continue to stress the importance of good academic work as well as attendance.

Section 6 – Consent

The Consent Form duly signed shall be required of every student athlete qualifying for any athletic team. A Parent/Guardian and student athlete must attend a required information night.

Section 7 – Code Application

The Interscholastic Athletic Code and the entire Central Valley Central School District Code of Conduct applies to all persons addressed in Part V of this code.

(return to Elementary Code of Conduct Index)