JJI Policy on New Sports

JJI

POLICY ON NEW SPORTS

1. A Club Sport is defined as a sport approved by the school committee that is not funded through the school district budget and not yet recognized as a varsity sport.

2. A Varsity Sport is defined as a sport approved by the school committee, that is:

   1. a. funded through the school district budget

   2. b. recognized by the MIAA

   3. c. is interscholastic

   4. d. a sport for which a varsity letter may be earned by participants

   5. A Middle School Sport is defined as a sport approved by the school committee, that is:

   6. a. funded through the school district budget

   7. b. recognized by the MIAA

   8. c. is interscholastic

3. The introduction of a new sport at the middle- or high school must first be made at the club level.

4. The addition of a club sport is intended to offer the school community an opportunity to participate in a new sports activity, and provide justification for future consideration of the new sport for varsity status.

• 1. A new sport must operate as a club sport for at least one season before being considered for JV/varsity (excluding co-operative sports which go directly to JV/varsity status).

5. Request for approval of a new club sport must be made to the school committee by the Athletic Director with the approval and recommendation of the Superintendent. Such request must include:

• 1. a. Expected participation level

  2. b. Anticipated cost and source of club funding

  3. c. Transportation requirements

  4. d. Evidence of parent/community/student support

  5. e. Viability of scheduling at an interscholastic level

  6. f. Expectation of building a competitive program within a reasonable period of time.

  7. g. Expected effect on participation in other same-season sports.

6. Club Sport status is considered a trial period to provide advocates an opportunity to a request to the school committee to “convert” a club sport to a varsity sport. The following factors will be considered by the school committee:

• 1. a. Level of participation

  2. b. Superintendent’s recommendation

  3. c. Athletic Director’s recommendation

  4. d. Cost & funding availability

  5. e. Effect on other sports

  6. f. Availability of appropriate facilities

7. The school committee will refer all requests for Club or Varsity sport status to the Interscholastic Athletics Subcommittee (IAS). The IAS will timely consider the request and report back to the full committee with a recommendation. The full committee, may choose to hear reports from the Athletic Director, Superintendent and other interested parties directly, in addition to the report of the IAS.

8. Requests for Club or Varsity sport status must be made to the school committee at least 4 months in advance of the expected start of the season for the sport in question.

9. As part of the approval criteria for any Club Sport, the school committee will specify the length of any trial or probationary period that must be fulfilled before a Varsity status request will be considered.

10. As part of the approval process for any Club sport, the school committee will necessarily also approve any fundraising or gift plans intended to support the Club sport in question, subject to district Fund Raising Policy/Regulations.

11. As part of the approval process for any Varsity sport, the school committee will consider, and approve if necessary, the funding for any new Varsity sport.

12. Approval of any sport shall remain in force unless rescinded by the School Committee.

13. Student participation in co-operative sports must be approved by the School Committee.

First Reading: 10/23/07 Second Reading: 11/06/07 ADOPTED: 11/20/07

Reviewed: 01/15/19