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District Policy

2431 - ATHLETIC COMPETITION

Section: Program Date Created: October 2013 Date Edited: December 2020

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The Board of Education recognizes the value of athletic competition as an integral part of the total school experience. Sports and other athletic activities provide opportunities to learn the values of competition and good sportsmanship. 

For the purpose of this policy, programs of athletic competition include all activities relating to competitive sports contests, games, events, or sports exhibitions involving individual students or teams of students when such events occur within or between schools within this district or with any schools outside this district. The programs of athletic competition shall include, but are not limited to, high school interscholastic athletic programs, middle school interscholastic athletic programs where school teams or squads play teams or squads from other school districts, intramural athletic programs within a school or among schools in the district, and any cheerleading program or activity in the school district.

Eligibility Standards

A student who wishes to participate in a program of athletic competition must submit, on a form provided by the district, the signed consent of his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The consent of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of a student who wishes to participate in a program of athletic competition must include an acknowledgment of the physical hazards that may be encountered in the activity in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:32-9.1(d) and (e).

Student participation in a program of athletic competition shall be governed by the following eligibility standards:

1. To be eligible for participation in the interscholastic athletic program of a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) member school, all high school students must meet, at a minimum, all the eligibility requirements of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations of the NJSIAA.

Home Schooled children are not eligible to participate in the high school interscholastic athletic program of this district.

2. A student in grades seven through eight is eligible for participation in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition if he/she passed all courses required for promotion or graduation in the preceding school year.

3. A student in grades seven through eight is eligible for participation in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition if he/she has demonstrated progress towards graduation. For the purposes of this policy, a grade of “F” or “U” shall be considered as failing grades. All others shall be considered passing.

Home schooled children in grades seven through eight are not eligible to participate in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition of this district.

 4. A student who is absent with an unexcused absence for a school day may not participate in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition the afternoon or evening of the school day. 

 5. A student who is serving an in-school or out-of-school suspension may not participate in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition  while serving the suspension. 

 6. A student in any grade who fails to observe school rules for student conduct including attendance may forfeit his/her eligibility for participation in school district sponsored programs of athletic competition. A relinquishment or suspension of participation based on the aforementioned will be determined by the Principal and Athletic Director and will be communicated with the student and parent prior to any interruption in participation with appropriate time for the student-athlete to rectify the violation when appropriate. 

Notice of the school district’s eligibility requirements shall be available to students. 

Grade 9 

  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the first marking period and/or fall sports, a final passing average in seven subjects must have been attained on the student's eighth grade report card or as a result of satisfactory completion of deficient courses during summer school. 

NOTE: All incoming ninth grade students have the right to appeal their first marking period and/or fall sports eligibility. 

  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the second marking period and/or winter sports, a student must demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the first marking period. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the third marking period and/or spring sports, a student must demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the second marking period. 

Grade 10 

  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the first marking period and/or fall sports, a student must have passed thirty-five credits at the end of their ninth grade year or as a result of satisfactory completion of deficient courses during summer school. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the second marking period and/or winter sports, a student must have passed thirty-five credits during the preceding year and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the first marking period. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the third marking period and/or spring sports, a student must have passed thirty-five credits during the preceding year and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the second marking period. 

Grade 11 

  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the first marking period and/or fall sports, a student must have attained seventy credits by the end of the tenth grade or as a result of satisfactory completion of deficient courses during summer school. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the second marking period and/or winter sports, a student must have passed seventy credits and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the first marking period. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the third marking period and/or spring sports, a student must have passed seventy credits and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the second marking period. 

Grade 12 

  1. A senior must demonstrate a passing average in all of the courses required for graduation and that all graduation requirements will be met by the schedule of courses in which he/she has enrolled. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the first marking period and/or fall sports, a student must have attained one hundred five credits by the end of the eleventh grade or as a result of satisfactory completion of deficient courses during summer school. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the second marking period and/or winter sports, a student must have passed one hundred five credits and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the first marking period. 
  1. To be eligible for activities beginning in the third marking period and/or spring sports, a student must have passed one hundred five credits and demonstrate a passing grade in each course on his/her report card at the end of the second marking period. 

NOTE: Once a student is eligible for an activity/sport, he/she remains eligible for the duration of that activity/sport except year-long activities. Eligibility for year-long activities will be determined on a semester basis.  Students placed on probation through the appeals process must meet the terms of probation in order to maintain their eligibility. 

Home schooled children are not eligible to participate in the high school interscholastic athletic program of this district. 

Appeal Process 

Under extenuating circumstances, eligibility decisions may be appealed to the Principal. 

1. The Principal may then convene an eligibility committee consisting of: Assistant Principals, School Counselor, Athletic Director, Coach/Advisor, and the subject matter teacher. 

2. Options will include, but are not limited to, a student being placed on probation until the mid-term progress report, at which time the student must have a passing average in all subjects to remain eligible.  The student must remain in good standing and will be monitored throughout the season or time of participation. 

NOTE: A student failing more than one subject is not eligible to appeal his/her eligibility.  A student place on eligibility probation through the Appeal Process must meet the terms of the probation in order to maintain their eligibility.           

Required Examinations – Interscholastic or Intramural Team or Squad 

Students enrolled in grades six to twelve must receive a medical examination, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.7, prior to participation on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural team or squad and any cheerleading program or activity. 

The examination shall be conducted within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in an athletic season with examinations being conducted at the medical home of the student. The “medical home” is defined as a health care provider and that provider’s practice site chosen by the student’s parent for the provision of health care pursuant to N.J.A.C 6A:16-1.3. If a student does not have a medical home, the school district shall provide this examination at the school physician’s office or other comparably equipped facility. The parent may choose either the school physician or their own private physician to provide this medical examination.  The medical examination required prior to participation shall be in accordance with the requirements as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(h)1 and Regulation 2431.2 and shall be documented using the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form required by the Department of Education. 

The school district shall distribute the Commissioner of Education developed sudden cardiac arrest pamphlet to a student participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.e., and the student’s parent(s) shall each year and prior to participation by the student in an athletic activity comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.d. 

The school district shall annually distribute the Commissioner of Education developed educational fact sheet relative to use and misuse of opioid drugs for sports related injuries to parents of students who participate in athletic activities and comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.10. 

Information concerning a student’s HIV/AIDS status shall not be required as part of the medical examination or health history pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:5C-1 et seq. 

The medical examination shall also include a health history questionnaire completed and signed by the parent or legal guardian. A health history is a record of a person’s past health events provided by the individual, a parent or legal guardian, or health care provider. 

The report of health findings of the medical examination for participation shall be documented on the Athletic Preparticipation Physical Examination Form approved by the Commissioner of Education to determine whether the student had or currently has any of the health conditions outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(h)1.ii.(1) since their last physical. The medical examination shall be conducted in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2 and Regulation 2431.2. 

The medical report shall include, at a minimum, normalities as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(h)1.ii.(2). The medical report shall be provided to the school physician if the school physician did not conduct the medical examination. The medical report shall indicate whether the student is allowed or disallowed to participate in a program of athletic competition and must be completed and signed by the original examining physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician’s assistant. A form that is incomplete shall be returned to the student’s medical home for completion. A student that does not have a completed Athletic Preparticipation Physical Examination Form shall not be permitted to participate. 

If the student’s medical examination was completed more than 90 days prior to the first practice session, the student must provide a health history update of medical problems experienced since the last medical examination in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(h)1.iii. This health history update must be completed and signed by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). 

The school district will provide written notification to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), signed by the school physician, stating approval of the student’s participation, based solely on the medical report, or the written reasons for the school physician’s disapproval of the student’s participation. The school physician’s signature on the notification indicates the medical report complies with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2(h)iv. 

The health findings of this medical examination shall be maintained as part of the student’s health record. 

Emergency Procedures 

Athletic coaches shall be trained in first aid to include sports-related concussion and head injuries, the use of a defibrillator, the identification of student athletes who are injured or disabled in the course of any athletic program or activity, and any other first aid procedures or other health related trainings required by law or the Superintendent. 

The Superintendent or designee shall establish and implement an emergency action plan for responding to a serious or potentially life-threatening sports-related injury in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.11.  The plan shall document the proper procedures to be followed when a student sustains a serious injury while participating in sports or other athletic activity in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.11.

The emergency action plan shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary.  The plan shall be rehearsed annually in each school by the individuals who will be responsible for executing the plan in an emergency pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.11.

The Superintendent or designee shall prepare procedures for responding to a non-serious or non-life-threatening injury sustained by a student while participating in sports or other athletic activity. These procedures shall be reviewed annually, updated as necessary,  disseminated to appropriate staff members. 

Interscholastic Standards 

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 are kept free from hazardous conditions. 

The Board adopts the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association as Board policy and shall review such rules on a regular basis to ascertain they continue to be in conformity with the objectives of this Board. 

The Superintendent shall annually prepare, approve, and present to the Board for its consideration a program of interscholastic athletics that includes a complete schedule of athletic events and may inform the Board of changes in that schedule. 

 

N.J.S.A. 2C:21-11

N.J.S.A. 18A:11-3 et seq.; 18A:40-41; 18A:40-41.10; 18A:40-41.11

N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.7(d); 6A:16-1.34; 6A:16-2.1 et seq.; 6A:32-9.1

 

Adopted: 14 October 2013 

Revised:  16 May 2016

Revised:  23 July 2018

Revised:  14 December 2020

 

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