Eligibility

Athletic Eligibility

In order for any student to be a member of an athletic team, s/he must meet the following North Carolina State eligibility requirements:

Students are only eligible to participate in middle school athletics for (4) semesters beginning with their 1^st entrance into 7th grade.

• Student-athletes must attend school for at least 85% of all school days during the previous semester.

• No middle school athlete may turn 15 years old prior to August 31^st of the current school year.

• Any athlete who fails 2 or more classes during the previous 9 weeks of a sports season is ineligible to participate. Furthermore, if you are ineligible at the beginning of a sports season, you are ineligible for the entire season.

• Middle school athletes are only allowed 4 semesters from the start of 7^th grade to participate in athletics.

Academic Eligibility

Cane Creek Middle School maintains a strong focus on developing student-athletes who perform well, both academically and behaviorally. As such, CCMS subscribes to requiring higher academic and behavioral expectations than those set forth by North Carolina and the French Broad Middle School Conference.

It is the expectation that all CCMS student-athletes will conduct themselves with the utmost respect and responsibility – both in the classroom and on the playing field/court. We believe that our student-athletes should be positive role models and leaders within our school and the community at-large. In order to achieve this stature, student-athletes must maintain high academic averages and avoid the pitfalls of behavioral troubles.

CCMS Coaches will use the following protocol when a student-athlete receives an F in a class at mid-term or on his/her report card. (Includes Core & UA):

• The student-athlete will work with the subject teacher afterschool instead of going to practice. If time permits, s/he can attend the remainder of practice.

• The student-athlete will not be able to participate in an athlete contest until the grade is brought above 60.

• The subject teacher will inform both the Athletic Director and the Head Coach when the grade percentage has been met.

• Once a student-athlete’s grade gets above 60, s/he will be reinstated to the team.

• Any student-athlete who chooses not to get assistance from the subject teacher or who does not maintain a passing grade will be removed from the team.

The Athletic Director and the Head Coach will check in-season student-athlete’s grades at mid-terms and at the end of each grading period.

• If a student-athlete has two or more failing grades on a report card, while in-season, that student-athlete will be deemed ineligible for the remainder of the season. (Includes Core & UA)

• If a student-athlete has a failing grade at mid-terms or at the end of a grading period, coaches will follow the protocol above. (Includes Core & UA)

Behavior Eligibility

Any player who receives OSS can be removed from the team for the remainder of the season. However, the student-athlete will not be able to practice or participate in any athletic contest during the suspension period. If the student-athlete receives a second OSS, s/he will forfeit her/his right to participate for the rest of the school year.

Any player who receives ISS is eligible to practice, but not play in the first half or the first three innings of a game for his/her team on the day that the ISS is assigned.

• An athlete’s 1^st ISS assignment in season: The Head Coach will determine additional student consequence(s).

• An athlete’s 2^nd ISS assignment in season: The student-athlete will not be able to practice or play until a player/parent meeting is held with the Athletic Director and the Head Coach.

• An athlete’s 3^rd ISS assignment during season: The student-athlete will be suspended for an indefinite period of time or removed from the team.

*Coach’s Decision: All coaches have the autonomy to INCREASE team standards for behavior beyond what is set forth by Cane Creek Middle School.

Participation

Buncombe County middle schools are members of the French Broad Middle School Athletic Conference. This conference includes the following schools: A.C. Reynolds, Asheville, Cane Creek, Charles D. Owen, Clyde A. Erwin, Enka, North Buncombe, and Valley Springs.

Medical Examination Rule

A player must receive a medical examination once every three hundred sixty-five days by a physician licensed in order to be eligible for practice or participation in interscholastic athletic contests. A copy of this physical exam is to be given to the coach and will be kept on file by the coach or athletic director.

Tryouts

Coaches will conduct tryouts for each sport at the beginning of each season.

• Students who try out and do not make an athletic team are encouraged to participate in outside sports activities to continue to develop their athletic skills. Continued hard work and participation may make students a viable candidate for next year’s team.

• Physical Examination: Each student-athlete, including members of the swim club, must have a physical examination by a doctor before s/he will be allowed to participate in tryouts. The physical examination is only valid for one year from the date of the physical.

• Family ID: Each student-athlete must register on FamilyID before they can participate in any workouts, tryouts, or practices.

Transportation/Insurance Fee

Transportation: A one-time fee of $35.00 is charged to all student-athletes during each school year to help cover the cost of transportation to athletic events. Because the fee is paid only once, students who participate in two or more sports pay the transportation fee at the time they first participate in a school sport each school year.

Insurance: A one-time fee of $5.00 is charged to all student-athletes during each school year for insurance. Because the fee is paid only once, students who participate in two or more sports pay the insurance fee at the time they first participate in a school sport each school year. This insurance is a secondary policy to the parent/guardian’s primary insurance coverage. If a claim needs to be filed, parents should contact the Athletic Director or the Head Coach for the correct forms and guidance on how to file the claim.

Student-Athlete Expectations

• All student-athletes represent Buncombe County Schools, as well as each of their respective schools. Therefore, the actions of each student-athlete, both in and outside of school, must positively reflect on the school district and the school community.

• While at school, student-athletes are expected to set positive examples for the rest of the student body. All student-athletes are expected to follow school rules at all times. In the event that a student-athlete does not adhere to expectations, s/he will not represent Cane Creek Middle School in any athletic events.

Dual Sport Participation

Two School Teams in the Same Season:

Student-athletes may be permitted dual participation on two school teams in the same season provided the athlete and coaches involved can resolve all conflicts in advance regarding expectations, practices, and participation in games or contests. The Athletic Director, the Athletic Administrator, and both coaches must meet and approve the dual participation of an athlete.

School and Non-School Participation:

Dual Participation on a non-school team is allowed as long as the student-athlete commits to his or her middle school team as their primary commitment. No school practice, contest, game or team function can be missed for non-school participation without advance approval of the school coach and the Athletic Director. All non-school athletic participation during the school year is secondary to participation in Cane Creek Middle School Athletics and is not to be encouraged or discouraged by the Cane Creek Middle School Coaching Staff. Any athlete who, without prior approval, misses a school athletic practice, contest, game, or function to participate in a non-school athletic event will be placed on probation for a two to six-week period from the sport. A second occurrence would result in a calendar year suspension from all athletic participation. The Athletic Director, Athletic Administrator, and School Principal will make the final decision on the length of the suspension.