Section 01 - Athletic Standards and Policies

SECTION 1.0 ATHLETIC STANDARDS & POLICIES

1.1 PROGRAM GOALS

1.1.0 TO DEVELOP PHYSICAL EXCELLENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF COMPETITION IN OUR SOCIETY.

through recognition of outstanding performance by emphasizing the educational value of trying to win and learning to compete

1.1.1 TO DEVELOP GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND RESPECT FOR RULES AND AUTHORITY

by inculcating principles of justice, fair play and good sportsmanship in students by providing the opportunity to adjust individual roles to the corporate goals of a simulated major organization environment.

1.1.2 TO PROMOTE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE TOTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

through the development of physical fitness and realization that a healthy body increases the probability of effective learning

by providing a strong program that attracts student body interest and motivates a positive learning atmosphere

by providing participation of students for planning as well as execution of program and derive greatest possible benefits

1.1.3 TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL ATHLETIC/ACTIVITIES

by providing enjoyable experiences for participants and spectators

by establishing rules and standards for Athletic/Activities that reflect the behavior standards approved by the community

1.2 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

1.2.0 INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC/ACTIVITIES:

Establish and maintain a program that will produce the greatest possible number of excellent participants in each interscholastic sport.

1.2.1 TEAM

Develop organizational criteria that will aid the coach in the optimum management of her/his program.

Establish maximum and effective squad sizes based on facilities, equipment and availability.

Develop competitive goals that are consistent with the accomplishments desired.

1.2.2 PARTICIPANT

Provide an opportunity for students to develop physical excellence and to better satisfy their urge for competition.

Develop physical vigor and desirable habits in health, sanitation and safety.

Develop qualities of good citizenship by subscribing to the written and unwritten laws of sportsmanship.

Develop social competence through inter-relationship with teammates, coaches, officials and athletes from other schools.

Develop valuable personal qualities of responsibility and leadership.

1.2.3 STUDENT BODY AND SCHOOL

Capitalize on the potential of Athletic/Activities as an educational force of great magnitude.

Find in the Athletic/Activity program the media for unity and school morale.

Maintain a program which develops a reputation of disciplined conduct.

Develop student interest by enlisting their aid in support of the program.

Maintain a program broad in scope, which includes activities that are interesting and beneficial to the greatest number of students.

1.2.4 COMMUNITY

Establish the important implications of an Athletic/Activity contest.

Establish that control of, and responsibility for, school Athletic/Activity programs rest entirely with school authorities.

Establish the value of the Athletic/Activity program in creating community unity and loyalty.

Encourage commitments in support of Athletic/Activities from the community.

1.2.5 RECREATION

Make the West Valley School District Facilities available to West Valley Recreation and other appropriate groups, for the most activities possible without interfering with school programs.

1.3 CARING BEHAVIOR

Recent court cases involving charges and convictions of local coaches for having inappropriate physical contact with their student-athletes makes all aware of and concerned with what is proper physical contact. The question often asked is: Does a coach dare even touch a student without risking his or her job? Clearly, society’s growing concern about abuse and personal safety has drawn attention to what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate physical contact. Additionally, Athletic/Activities often creates special and intense relationships between student and coach. Thus, it is imperative to have a clear sense of appropriateness. It is with these concerns in mind that the following contact guidelines are given:

1.3.0 NON-PHYSICAL CONTACT (the first consideration)

Eye contact, energetic and demonstrative conversations, specific verbal praise, and identification by name are always appropriate methods of communicating with student athletes. Coaches should carefully consider how their actions may be perceived. People working with children in sport, particularly coaches, need to be aware that not all children will understand an action or request in the same manner. One child may see an action as usual or acceptable behavior while another may find it unacceptable. Therefore, it is important to be aware of your communication style and how it may impact each athlete differently.

The following principles or actions may help coaches provide a safe environment:

Ensure your actions are at all times unambiguously professional.

Use positive and age-appropriate language when talking to and in the presence of your athletes.

Do not engage in or let others engage in any of the following:

abusive initiation or team bonding activities

forcing children into ‘macho type’ activities

rough, physically hurtful or sexually provocative games

regular scapegoating, ridiculing, rejecting, or isolating an athlete

Communication with athletes via social media, including text, email, or other electronic resources should only be sent to a group of young people i.e. the same standard message being sent to every member of the group, for reasons that pertain to practice/game times, etc. All such communication should also be carbon copied to a building administrator/athletic director. An attempt to carbon copy the parent/guardian may also be made. Such communication should not be of a personal nature. Coaches should not “friend” current athletes/WVSD students on Facebook or similar social sites.

1.3.1 PHYSICAL CONTACT (things to be aware of )

a. Behavior, not intention is what matters.

• Think of how specific behaviors appear to others.

• A friendly touch may be interpreted as a personal intrusion.

b. Avoid isolated student contact in secluded environments.

• There is wisdom in the adage “safety in numbers”.

• If you do meet with a student alone, make it in a public, well-trafficked location, or with a colleague nearby.

c. Avoid prolonged physical contact.

• High fives are great, as is a pat on the arm, shoulder or upper back. Any other hand to body contact is off limits

d. Avoid touching articles of personal clothing.

•Personal, as in underwear, bra straps, etc., especially when being worn.

e. Hugs -

Sometimes, in their excitement, students throw themselves at a coach, as a general rule, don’t do the

same to them.

f. Flirting is an emerging adolescent emotion.

• Coaches need to tell students who want to flirt with them, whether singly or in a group, that he/she is not an appropriate target.

g. Giving students rides.

• Always call for parent/guardian first

• Never, for a single student of the opposite sex.

• Again, safety exists in numbers.

h. Personal contact outside of school

• Again, safety is in numbers and be cautious.

• Never at coach’s home, if a team function is desired, have it at a parent’s/patron’s home

1.4 COACHES CODE OF ETHICS

The function of a coach is to properly educate students through participation in interscholastic competition. The interscholastic program is designed to enhance academic achievement and shall never interfere with opportunities for academic success. The coach shall treat students in a fair and equal manner. Each child shall be treated as though they were the coaches’ own and their welfare shall be uppermost at all times.

1.4.0 The coach must be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, either good or bad, in the education of the student athlete and thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.

1.4.1 The coach must constantly uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with the student athlete, officials, Athletic/Activity directors, school administrators, the WIAA, the media and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct.

1.4.2 The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse and under no circumstances shall authorize their use, either by student athletes or other members of the coaching staff.

1.4.3 The coach shall promote the entire interscholastic program of the school and direct his or her program in harmony with the total school program.

1.4.4 The coach shall be thoroughly acquainted with the contest rules and is responsible for their interpretation to team members. The spirit and letter of rules shall be regarded as mutual agreements. The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.

1.4.5 The coach shall actively use his or her influence to enhance sportsmanship by their spectators, working closely with cheerleaders, pep club sponsors, booster clubs, and administrators.

1.4.6 Contest officials shall have the respect and support of the coach. The coach shall not indulge in conduct, which will incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical.

1.4.7 Before and after contests, rival coaches shall meet and exchange friendly greetings to set the correct tone for the event.

1.4.8 A coach shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student athletes special consideration.

1.4.9 A coach/supervisor/advisor/designated chaperone (paid, unpaid, or volunteer) of the West Valley School District while discharging their duties will not:

1. Buy, sell, transport, possess, provide or use intoxicants or any controlled substance as defined by law (but excluding any substance lawfully prescribed for the personal use) while involved with the supervision of students and athletes of the West Valley School District.

2. Report for work/coaching/supervision under the influence of intoxicants or any controlled substance (but excluding any substance lawfully prescribed for the employee’s personal use). An individual is considered to be "under the influence of a controlled substance" when, in the district’s determination, the controlled substance impairs the individual's ability to safely and/or efficiently perform assigned duties or prevents the coach/supervisor/advisor from presenting a positive role model to students, or cause discredit to the district.

3. This standard is to be adhered to from the beginning of fall sports in August through the last day of the school year in June.

This listing represents the general guidelines of employee conduct for West Valley School District No. 208 and is not inclusive. Individual schools or departments may also have written rules which employees are expected to follow. A violation of the above rules may be sufficiently serious to constitute cause for termination of employment.

In addition, a situation may occur which is inherently offensive but no specific rule applies; in such a case an employee is subject to reasonable discipline which may include termination.

West Valley School District Board of Directors 2151P

Interscholastic Athletics

Coach's Duties

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

Instruct Participants

The coach should employ the latest methods or proper instruction using sound progression in presenting motor skills. If an injury occurs while using an improper instructional method, negligence may be present.

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.

Supervise Participants

The daily plan should show how the coach plans to conduct general supervision of the sport, and how he/she will supervise specific drills and other components of the daily practice. Adequacy of supervision should be reviewed in terms of quality and quantity. Factors to consider include, but are not limited to: 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.

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.

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.

Evaluate Fitness Of Participants

The coach has a duty to evaluate the physical fitness, the medical condition, and the skill level of athletes. Failure to evaluate and maintain records of those evaluations may be cause for negligence should an injury occur involving fatigue or lack of skill.

Provide Equal Protection And Due Process

While participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege, a participant who allegedly violates the conduct code must be afforded the opportunity of a fair hearing.

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.

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, based upon skill level, age, maturity, sex, size and experience.

Foresee Danger

A coach should be able to reasonably anticipate foreseeable dangers that may occur if the activity is continued in a facility, or with equipment, or in a situation, and take precautions protecting the children in his/her custody from such dangers.

Protect From Loss

A participant is required to present evidence that he/she 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 have acted under similar circumstances. A staff member who supervises a sports activity is expected to know the intricacies of the activity that he/she is leading.

1.5 PHILOSOPHY OF RECRUITING

Students who demonstrate special skills and talent in any of the activities under the jurisdiction of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association shall not be subjected to pressures to enroll in a member school outside of their normal enrollment area. The rules do not prohibit legitimate school public relations,

promotion or marketing. Rather, these rules prohibit capitalization upon a school’s Athletic/Activity program and/or a student’s Athletic/Activity interest, potential or proficiency as a factor in determining school attendance.

WIAA HANDBOOK EXCERPTS

PHILOSOPHY OF RECRUITING: Students who demonstrate special skills and talent in any of the activities under the jurisdiction of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association should not be subjected to pressures to enroll or continue to be enrolled in a member school outside of their normal enrollment area. The rules do not prohibit legitimate school public relations, promotion or marketing. Rather, these rules prohibit capitalization upon a school’s athletic program and/or a student’s athletic interest, potential or proficiency as a factor in determining school attendance.

RECRUITING - Efforts to induce students to enroll or continue to be enrolled in a member school because of the students' special talent or skill is considered recruiting. Recruiting of students or attempted recruiting of students for athletic purposes is prohibited, regardless of their residence.

No student athlete may receive, or be offered, any remunerations of any kind, or to receive or be

offered any special inducement of any kind which is not made available to all applicants who enroll or continue to be enrolled in the school or apply to the school.

A. Special inducement shall include, but not be limited to, the offer or acceptance of:

1. Money or other valuable consideration such as free or reduced tuition during the regular year or summer school by anyone connected with the school.

2. Room, board or clothing or financial allotment for clothing.

3. Pay for work that is not performed or that is in excess of the amount regularly paid for such service.

4. Free transportation by any school connected person.

5. Residence with any school connected person.

6. Any privilege not afforded to non-athletes.

7. Free or reduced rent for parents.

8. Payment of moving expenses of parents or assistance with the moving of parents.

9. Employment of family unit in order to entice the family to move to a certain community if someone connected with the school makes the offer.

10. Help in securing a college athletic scholarship.

B. Inducing or attempting to induce or encourage any prospective student to attend or continue to attend any member school for the purpose of participating in athletics, even when special remuneration or inducement is not given, is a violation. No member school and no one acting on behalf of any member school shall give any speech or give any slide, film or tape presentation or distribute any written material which states or implies that a member school’s athletic program is better than the athletic program of any other member school or that it would be more advantageous for any prospective student-athlete to participate in athletics at that member school as opposed to any other school.

C. Member schools shall be responsible for any violation committed by any person associated with the school, including principals, assistant principals, coaches, teachers, any other staff members or students, or any organization having any connection to the school. The member schools shall be responsible for any violation committed by any person acting at the direction of the school. This rule is not intended to prevent a member school from conducting academic recruitment programs or recruitment programs designed to attract students based upon the school’s overall educational and extracurricular programs of the school and not be used as a subterfuge for recruiting students for athletic purposes.

D. A student who has enrolled in a different school and has been determined to be recruited will be deemed ineligible at all levels of play and for all sports for one full calendar year. The one (1) year penalty will begin on the day the determination is made that the student has been recruited.

1.6 WVSD/WIAA ACADEMIC STANDARDS

In order for a student to participate in postseason and state tournament playoffs, the student must be a member of a WIAA member school squad and have been included on a school's eligibility roster for at least 50% of the regular season for that sport.

SCHOLARSHIP - In order to maintain athletic eligibility during the current semester/trimester, the student shall maintain passing grades, or the minimum grade standards as determined by the school district if more restrictive than that of the WIAA Handbook. In order to maintain Athletic/Activity eligibility during the current semester/trimester, the West Valley School District has established the following critieria: Each student shall maintain passing grades in all full-time subjects with a “C- or better” in all classes. Any student turning out for an activity must have successfully passed all classes with a D grade or higher in the preceding semester/trimester. Those who fail a course will be subject to the WIAA 3 week (grades 7/8) or 5 week (grades 9-12) suspension.

Any class taken one period daily for the duration of the semester/trimester shall be considered a full-time subject. Schools shall establish a grade-monitoring system to ascertain the student’s passing status.

On a case-by-case basis, students may be deemed to fall into an “exceptional circumstance” category. Principals may review requests of “exceptional circumstance” from parents or guardians to make a determination if the WIAA’s pass all rule may be waived. (This waiver will only apply down to the WIAA mandated requirement that a student must pass four (4) classes.) “Exceptional circumstances” may include age/maturity, unique personal, family, or educational factors, and special program needs.

Incompletes may be made up for credit during the first five (5) weeks of the subsequent semes- ter/trimester. The student shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition until the incomplete(s) are cleared.

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION PERIOD - A student who failed to make the grade requirements shall be placed on suspension. The student shall be ineligible during the suspension period. If, at the end of the suspension period, the student is passing in the minimum number of classes required above, the student may then be reinstated for interscholastic competition.

A. The suspension period for high school students shall be from the end of the previous semester through the last Saturday of September in the fall or the first five (5) weeks of the succeeding semester/trimester.

B. The suspension period for middle level students shall be from the end of the previous semester through the first three (3) weeks of the succeeding semester/trimester.

C. Each student is eligible on Monday of the week following the end of the suspension period. Three or more teaching days shall constitute a week.