2151P%20Marked%20Up_3.pdf

Parent document: Regular Board Meeting-09-11-2024.pdf

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Interscholastic Activities
Athletic Code

Meridian School District recognizes the benefit of athletic activities and clubs for
students. The opportunity to participate in the interscholastic athletic program is a
privilege granted to all students of the district. Our commitment to excellence
extends beyond the field, court or track. By participating in our athletic programs,
students agree to uphold the following standards:

Belonging: Treat teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and fans with
respect. Embrace diversity and create a welcoming environment for all.

Communication: Communicate openly with coaches, teammates and staff.
Seek clarification when needed and actively listen to others.

Support: Work together as a team. Encourage and uplift fellow athletes. Support
staff and volunteers who contribute to our athletic programs.

Wellness: Prioritize well-being. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, get adequate rest
and manage stress effectively.

Learning: Balance studies with athletics. Attend classes, complete assignments,
and strive for academic success. Learn from victories and defeats. Show

resilience, adaptability and a growth mindset.

The following rules will be applicable for a sports season:



A. Use and/or Possession of Alcoholic Beverages, Marijuana, Tobacco,
Controlled Substances, E-cigarettes or Vapes:

An athlete who is found to be in possession of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco or vape
products may be removed from the athletic team for two weeks (first offense). If the
student violates the rule twice during the sports season, they will be dropped from the
team for the season.

An athlete who is found to be in possession of controlled or illegal chemical substances
will be disqualified from the team for the remainder of the sports season following their


initial offense.

B. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Students will follow the WIAA sportsmanship guidelines and exhibit appropriate conduct
in practices and/or contests. Students will:

e Respect the rights and beliefs of others and treat others with courtesy and
consideration.

e Be fully responsible for their own conduct and the consequences of their actions.

e Respect the property of others.

e Obey the rules of their school and the laws of their community, state, and
country.

e Show respect to those who are responsible for enforcing the rules.

Students who violate the sportsmanship guidelines will receive consequences

dependent on the nature of the violation, ranging from a verbal warning to removal from
the team. i i ilite in = i i will re

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C. Attendance at School

Student athletes are expected to attend school on days of competitions. An athlete will
attend school for at least a half-day on an athletic contest day. If an athlete receives an
unexcused absence for any portion of the day, the athlete will be ineligible to participate
in the activity/contest on that day. If excused, the athlete may participate if they were in
attendance for one half day or more.

Students must also be in attendance the day following a game unless a prearranged
excused absence has been cleared through the office, or a team returns after midnight
from an athletic competition.

D. Academic Requirements

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Students must pass all classes to maintain eligibility during the current semester. Formatted: Font color: Red, Not Strikethrough
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E. Violation of Law on School Grounds
When a student is found guilty of an offense committed while on school grounds or ata
school activity, the corrective action will depend upon the nature of the violation.

Coach's Duties


In accordance with district policy and the coach's job description, the coach has the
duty to:

A. Instruct Participants

The coach should employ the latest methods and proper instruction when working
with students to develop motor skills. If an injury occurs while using an improper
instructional method, the district and its employees may be liable for negligence.

B. Warn Participants

The coach should inform all athletes and their parents of the inherent risks involved
in participation in the particular sport, including the very small risk of infection with
a blood-borne pathogen. The coach must describe, using a variety of methods, the
catastrophic and common non-catastrophic injuries unique to the sport.

C. Supervise Participants

The coach will create a daily plan, showing how the coach plans to conduct general
supervision of the sport, and how he/shethey will supervise specific drills and other
components of the daily practice. Adequacy of supervision should be reviewed in
terms of quality and quantity and should include factors such as: the age of the
students, the size of the students, the equipment involved, the maturity level of the
students, the first aid equipment and training available, the appropriate
certification of supervisors where required, and the safety training of the personnel
involved.

D. Provide Safe Equipment and Facilities

Equipment should be properly fitted and maintained. Athletes should be instructed
on how to conduct a daily inspection. Facilities should be free of hazards and
inspected regularly.

E. Maintain Records of Injuries
A report should be completed for each accident. Injury reports should be

maintained for a period of five years after the student's 21st birthday.

F. Assess Fitness of Participants

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The coach will assess the physical fitness, the medical condition, and the skill level
of athletes prior to participation in sporting activities.

G. Provide Equal Protection and Due Process
While participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege, a student whose


participation will be terminated based on an alleged violation of the conduct code
must be afforded the opportunity of a fair hearing.

H. Transport Athletes Safely

A coach has a duty to see that athletes are safely transported to and from contests
and to and from practices if practices are held at sites other than the immediate
school grounds.

I. Group Participants

The coach has the duty to employ a recognized system of grouping for participants
in a particular sport that will avoid unequal and unsafe participation. The system of
grouping will be based upon skill level, age, maturity, sex, size and experience.

J. Foresee Danger

A coach should be able to reasonably anticipate foreseeable dangers that may
occur ifthe-and take precautions protecting the children in his/Fertheir custody
from such dangers.

K. Protect From Loss

A participant is required to present evidence that he/sRethey are is covered by an
accident policy. A blanket catastrophic (“no fault”) insurance provides coverage for
serious injuries.

The duties listed above are not meant to be comprehensive. In carrying out the
duties of the assignment, a staff member is expected to act as a reasonable
professional would act under similar circumstances. A staff member who
supervises a sports activity is expected to know the intricacies of the activity that
he/sheisthey are leading.

Summer Sports Activities/Clinics

Rules governing out-of-school and/or out-of-season student sports participation are
as follows:

A.A practice is defined as the teaching phase of a sport to any present, past or
future squad member while as the student is in grade 7-12. Practices can take place
during the school year or during the summer. The school may not sponsor,
promote or direct activities which resemble out-of-season practices or contests

during the schoolyearorsunmmernthe out-of-season coaching period.



A school staff member who sponsors, promotes or directs such activities during the
suramervacation during the out-of-season coaching period will clearly indicate that
he/shethey areis operating independent of the school district. As such, the school
district will be free of liability associated with the activity.

B. Students will be advised that participation in a commercial summer camp or
clinic or other similar type of activity will not begin until the conclusion of the final
WIAA state tournament of the school year. Participants in a fall school sports
program may not attend any summer camp/clinic in that sport after August 1 until
the first fall sports turnout. The school should announce by school bulletin that
summer sports camp/clinic is neither endorsed nor sponsored by the district.

C. A coach (contracted or volunteer) may not sponsor, promote, coach or direct
activities which resemble out-of-season practices or contests in the sport they
coach to any of their squad members or future squad members (grades 7-12) until
after the school year’s final WIAA state tournament.

D. The use of the school bulletin board, public address system or school newspaper
for promotional purposes to announce sports clinics/camps will fall within the same
guidelines as applied to other commercial endeavors.

E. School facilities to be used for summer activity and/or sports camps may be
rented consistent with the rates, rules and regulations applicable for other
commercial uses.

A user will hold the district free and without harm from any loss or damage, liability
or expense that may arise during or be caused in any way such use of school
facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as
endorsement of or approval of the activity group or organization, or the purposes it
represents.

Appeal Process for Disciplinary Action

When infractions occur within the athletic program, the following process may be
followed:


When infractions occur within the athletic program and result in discipline, the
grievance and appeal process outlined in procedure 3241P will be followed.

References:

2150 - Co-curricular program



WIAA - Sportsmanship Guidelines and Academic Standards.

Adoption Date: 94/23/14 06/00/24