BHS Student-Athlete Code of Conduct

Participation in athletics is both a privilege and a responsibility. The privilege is the opportunity to take part in the athletics program provided by the school, and this privilege may be revoked when the student fails or refuses to comply with the rules. The responsibility is found in representing the school, which involves maintaining academic eligibility, high standards of citizenship at all times, sportsmanship and playing the game to the best of his/her ability. Respect for and compliance with the school’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct is expected of every student who participates.

Student Athletes will:

Place academic achievement as the highest priority.
Attend all practices, games, and team activities. Arrive on time and be prepared to participate at your highest level. If you must miss any team event or practice, you are responsible for notifying their coach.
Respect the integrity and judgment of the officials, coaches, and teammates.
Show courtesy and respect to opponents and establish a positive relationship between the two participating schools.
Understand that your appearance and actions reflect on the school and our community.
Abide by all rules of respectful personal behavior, including refraining from committing any acts of non-consensual sexual contact or harassment as discussed in BUSD’s Title IX policy.
Exhibit fair play, sportsmanship, and proper conduct on and off the playing field.
Respect all equipment and facilities and use them safely and appropriately.
Attend every class daily unless properly excused (Medical appointments, death in immediate family, court appearance, jury duty, specific family emergency (ie: mom/dad/sibling in hospital), etc)
Abide by all Berkeley High School rules as well as CIF, NCS, and Coach guidelines for conduct and expectations at all times.

Disciplinary Actions: The following actions will be applicable through the entire school year. Ex: A student/athlete who is suspended from a fall sport for his/her first offense will be dismissed from a winter/spring sport for his/her second offense. Student/athletes involved in non-school related, off-campus offenses or other illegal activity will face disciplinary actions at the discretion of the coach and school administration. At any time administration can choose to remove athletes from sports participation due to disciplinary action.

Sexual Harassment: BHS athletics must follow BUSD policy on dealing with issues of harassment and assault. Those can be found in more detail in section 4.10 and consequences can be found here.

Further important resources including BUSD's action plan to Address Sexual and Gender-based Harassment, "Know your rights" documents, and BHS Student Resource: Step by Step Harassment, Bullying, Discrimination Reporting Document can be found HERE.

Social Media Policy: Students/athletes are responsible for good behavior on the Internet just as they are in a school building or on the athletic field of competition. If a student/athlete’s use of the Internet creates a disruption to the school, the Athletic Department and/or the team, the student/athlete will be held responsible and will face consequences as determined by the coaching staff/administration including but not limited to suspension from team activities up to dismissal from team.

Assault/Fighting: Any student/athlete involved in an assault/fight either on campus or off will face disciplinary actions as detailed in the BUSD parent/student handbook here.

Suspension: Any student/athlete who is suspended from school for defiance of authority or any action not mentioned above will face the following disciplinary actions:

1st offense will result in being suspended from the team for the amount of days missed for the suspension (Ex: for a three day suspension the student/athlete will be ineligible to compete with his/her team during the suspension and an additional 3 school days after he/she returns from the suspension).
2nd offense will result in the student/athlete being dismissed from the team.

Referral: Referrals to and disciplinary actions taken by the deans will be communicated by the deans to coaches. Student-athletes may face disciplinary actions at the discretion of the coach, including suspension from competition.

Berkeley Student Code of Conduct continued

Student athletes represent Berkeley High School both on campus and off-campus. Student athletes at Berkeley High School are expected to demonstrate excellent behavior, sportsmanship, and respect for others while participating in sports activities and as a member of the community.

As a student athlete at Berkeley High School, I agree to:

Treat others with respect.
Refrain from all acts of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment.
Intervene to try to stop the behavior or provide support to the target if I see someone else being bullied or harassed, or try to get help for that person.

Bullying includes severe or pervasive physical or verbal acts or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, that intentionally or aggressively inflict physical hurt or psychological distress on another. It is often characterized by an imbalance of power, and is often carried out repeatedly. Bullying often includes comments about race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability.

Examples: Name-calling, spreading rumors, excluding others from groups, making threats, hitting, punching, shoving, or other forms of physical violence.

Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature; it can include verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct. Individuals of all genders can experience sexual harassment.

Examples: Unwelcome sexual advances, sexual comments, gestures, jokes, slurs, name calling, texts or posts on social media, demands for sexual favors, touching, and written or verbal abuse.

How to get help

If you or someone you know has experienced bullying or sexual harassment, we are here to offer support. You can report what happened to your coach, the Athletic Director, or any trusted adult at Berkeley High School. You can also make a report by going to OCI (H-104). A school administrator will follow up with you to discuss what happened and what you need in order to feel safe and supported.
As provided for under Title IX, and other state and federal law,
students/families have the right to file a formal complaint of sexual
harassment or gender-based discrimination at school. This Incident Report Form is used to initiate the official process established for addressing such complaints.
If you want to make a confidential report that will not involve the school administration, you can go to the Health Center to speak to a counselor confidentially.
Please consult BUSD policy on dealing with issues of harassment and assault. Those can be found in more detail in section 4.10 and consequences can be found here.
If you have been bullied or sexually harassed, you can also file a formal complaint. To do so, contact a BHS administrator or BUSD’s Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator at nondiscrimination@berkeley.net or 510.486.9338.
Please also review BUSD Title IX policies, procedures, and consequences here, here, and here.