WAVERLY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS ELIGIBILITY RULES MISSION STATEMENT The staff of the Waverly Central School District believes that interscholastic activities are essential to the education of most youth and, therefore, are an integral part of the school curricula. We consider interscholastic activities to be opportunities for developing human relation skills as well as contributing to physical and emotional development. PREAMBLE: These rules of eligibility have been established for the benefit of our varsity, junior varsity and modified sports squads. If our school is to excel in interscholastic competition, we must first discipline our conduct and behavior as individuals, then as a team and finally as a school. GOALS OF ALL CONCERNED WITH SCHOOL ATHLETICS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. To emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play. To eliminate all behavior which tends to destroy the positive nature of the game. To stress the values derived from playing the game fairly. To show courtesy to visiting teams and officials. To establish a constructive relationship between visitors and hosts. To respect the integrity and judgment of the sports officials. To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the game and standards of eligibility. 8. To encourage teamwork, leadership, initiative and good judgment by the players on the team. 9. To recognize that the purpose of athletics is to promote the physical, mental, moral, social and emotional well being of the individual players. 10. To remember that an athletic contest is only a game, not a matter of life or death for players, coaches, school, parents, officials, fans, community, state or nation.
OBJECTIVES MIDDLE SCHOOL 1. The school will encourage all students wishing to participate to do so within the scope of the resources available in any particular year. 2. Fundamental skills will be taught. 3. Sportsmanship will be taught. 4. Importance of attending practice and developing good work ethics will be encouraged. 5. Personal hygiene will be encouraged. 6. Equal participation will be given when possible. 7. Team play will be developed. 8. Complete athletic program (number of interscholastic games) will be established to stay competitive with league opponents. 9. Students will be encouraged to participate in a variety of sports. JUNIOR VARSITY 1. Fundamental skills will be improved. 2. Cuts may be made if necessary. 3. Winning will become more of a priority. 4. The athlete will develop an understanding of what it takes to be an athlete and part of a winning program (hard work, weight training, summer camps, participation in other sports, year around work). 5. Player roles will be developed according to individual abilities and team needs. 6. Good hygiene and personal health (diet, rest, etc.) will be encouraged. 7. Work ethic at practice and in games will be encouraged. 8. Team play will be further developed. 9. An attempt will be made to give all members of a team playing time in games. VARSITY 1. Individual and team skills will be refined. 2. The team will work toward winning the league or sectional championship. 3. Cuts will be made if necessary. 4. Top skilled athletes may be members of the team, regardless of age or grade, but physical, emotional and social development will be given careful consideration. 5. The team will play to win within the context of the Mission and Goal statements. 6. The team will make every attempt to be competitive with league opponents. 7. Athletes will be encouraged to participate in other varsity sports and out­of­ season programs to achieve excellence (caps, future programs, AAU camps, YMCA teams, weight training, summer leagues). Coaches may wish to outline various activities, which may help an athlete improve his or her performance (a training prescription).
8. The athlete will respect the decision of the coach, as it is the coach’s responsibility to determine the make up of the team on the field or court at any given time. 9. Non­league opponents will be scheduled to provide the best competition possible with in reason (larger schools, known quality programs or teams). 10. The athlete will gain further understanding of what it takes to be in a winning program. COACHING STAFF OF WAVERLY CENTRAL SCHOOLS ATTENDANCE 1. An athlete must be in attendance no later than 9:30 am in order to practice or compete, unless he/she has either: a. a legal excuse for a medical appointment (i.e., doctor or dentist) or, b. special permission from the student’s Principal or the Athletic Director. 2. Students need to be in school a FULL SCHOOL DAY after a school night contest. If a pattern of absence develops following athletic events, the sport coach will take appropriate disciplinary action. That action may range from a warning to suspension from participation for a period of time. 3. Any athlete involved in out­of­school suspensions will not be allowed to practice or play in an athletic event during the duration of the suspension. If a student is suspended a second time, he/she will not be allowed to participate for a period of 10 school days. 4. If a player becomes ill during the day and cannot practice, it is his/her responsibility to notify the coach involved. ATHLETIC CODE In order to assure a well­disciplined and competitive athletic program, all active and prospective athletes will be fully acquainted with the contents of this handbook. This included contract, when signed will remain in effect for all sports participated in during the remainder of the school year. Any of the following breaches of good conduct will result in penalties. 1. 2. 3. 4. Drinking or any alcoholic beverage. Use of tobacco or its products in any form. Misuse of drugs, including possession. Presence in an establishment where alcoholic beverages are served (unless for purposes of dining). 5. Three (3) curfew violations a. Curfew for athletes during a sports season is set at 11:00pm. An athlete must be in his/her home at that time. b. Exceptions to the general curfew time may be established by the head coach of the sport involved after conferring with the Athletic Director.
6. 7. 8. 9. Proven involvement in theft or willful damage or destruction of property. Three (3) unexcused absences from practice or any athletic contest. Three (3) unexcused absences on the day after a contest. (See attendance). Trespassing: a. Use of school athletic facilities (gyms, pool and fields) will require permission and/or supervision. b. The Athletic Director and/or the Principal will handle unauthorized use of facilities. Disciplinary action arising from violations “1 through 9” above will be based upon reports from any member of the administration or the coaching staff. Reports from other members of the faculty or from responsible adults will be dealt with by setting up a conference among the individual making the complaint, the coach and the Athletic Director. Disciplinary action will be taken if deemed appropriate. That action may range from a warning, to suspension from participation for a period of time or dismissal for up to 20 weeks. An appeals process may be used if and when rendered decisions are felt to be inappropriate. The appeals committee will consist of a non­involved parent, coach, administrator and the Athletic Director. BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT OF ATHLETES 1. Good sportsmanship and citizenship are required of all athletes. Good school citizenship involves regular attendance and good conduct while in school. (Physical altercations are considered poor school citizenship and reflect poor conduct). Athletes referred to the office for poor conduct may be subject to disciplinary action from the sport’s coach. That action may range from a warning, to suspension, to dismissal from the team. 2. Any athlete who vandalized school property will be subject to a hearing. 3. Any athlete arrested or receiving an appearance ticket by the police will be suspended from the sports team until such time the infraction can be investigated by the Athletic Director and a decision made on participation. Violations that reflect poor community citizenship will result in a warning, suspension or dismissal from the squad. If dismissed from the squad, the athlete will be ineligible to participate in athletics for a period of ten (10) school weeks. SCHOLASTIC CODE 1. Scholarship has precedence over athletics. Academic achievement and athletic success are linked by commitment and effort. 2. An athlete must display satisfactory achievement, attitude and effort, according to ability, to participate in interscholastic athletics as predetermined by the building principal.
3. Eligibility: a. Once a teacher places a student/s name on the eligibility list, that student has two (2) weeks to improve performance or become ineligible until released by the teacher. b. Ineligibility will not begin until Monday, following the two­week grace period. Removal from ineligibility can take place at any time by the teacher. c. Practice for students who are ineligible will be left to the discretion of the individual coach. d. Any student involved in sports who has been assigned detention must complete the detention(s) within five (5) school days. If not completed within this time frame, the student will automatically become ineligible at the end of the fifth (5 th ) school day and remain ineligible until the detention is served. 4. Physical Education requirement for athletes: Athletics is an outgrowth of the Physical Education program. Those students demonstrating outstanding skill, attitude and effort are those encouraged to participate in athletics. The wide range of activities offered in Physical Education give the students an excellent background in physical fitness, lifetime sports and team sports. Because of the importance of Physical Education, all athletes will be required to dress and participate in Physical Education throughout the year. If a principal receives a written conduct form regarding the conduct, lack of participation or truancy (illegal absence) of an athlete, he or she may not practice or participate in that day’s practice session or game. The physical education teacher will notify the Athletic Director who will in turn notify the coach. A student dropped for conduct or truancy from physical education will be ineligible to participate in athletics. N.Y.S.P.H.S.A.A. regulations state that a student must be enrolled in physical education to participate in athletics. JMC:lb Athlete’s Signature _______________________________________________________ Parent’s Signature _______________________________________________________ Date ________________________________