Athletic Program

ATHLETIC WEBSITE 

The Athletic Department’s official website is https://www.eastpennsd.org/athletics-activities/ .  Updated Schedules, departure times, game statistics and directions are also available on https://ehshornetsathletics.com/ 

ATHLETIC PROGRAM

Emmaus High School, a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, offers a comprehensive athletic program. It is important that all students who anticipate participation in any interscholastic sport become acquainted with the rules and regulations, which are rigidly enforced. 

Some of the important rules are stated briefly as follows: 

1. A student must be an amateur in order to participate.

2. A student who attains the age of nineteen years before July 1 may not participate in any contest.

3. Special rules apply to students who transfer from one school to another.

4. A student shall be eligible for practice or participation in each sport only when there is a certificate of consent on file with the Principal, which is signed by the student’s parent or guardian. 

5. A student is not eligible to represent the high school in any interscholastic athletic contest unless a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathy has examined the student prior to the official starting date of each intended sport season. 

6. A student who has been absent from school during a semester for a total of 20 or more school days shall not be eligible to participate in any athletic contest until the student has been in attendance for a total of 60 school days following his 20th day of absence. Where there is a consecutive absence of five or more school days, due to confining illness, injury, or quarantine, such absence may be waived from the application of this rule by the district committee, if a thorough and complete investigation warrants such waiver. Attendance at summer schools does not count toward the 60 days required.

7. A student shall not represent the school if the student has attended more than eight semesters beyond eighth grade.

CODE OF CONDUCT

All students who participate in athletic programs in the East Penn School District are subject to the guidelines and expectations outlined in the Athletic Code of Conduct in addition to all guidelines set forth in the EHS Discipline Code. Students and their parents are required to read and sign off on this Code of Conduct at least annually.

STUDENT ATHLETE ABSENTEEISM ON GAME DAYS 

If athletes are absent from school on the day of a scheduled athletic contest for medical reasons and expect to compete that afternoon or evening, they must check in the attendance office at or before 10:00 a.m. They will then be given credit for afternoon attendance and will be eligible for competition. If athletes are absent the full day for medical reasons or unexcused reasons, they may not compete that entire day. 

ATHLETIC AWARDS 

Athletic awards are given in recognition of outstanding athletic achievement and service to the school, not as compensation for services rendered. Students will receive, at the coaches’ recommendation, an athletic letter at the completion of his/her varsity year in a particular sport. Gold pins will be given to deserving athletes each year including the awarding of the first letter. All seniors who successfully complete an interscholastic sport will be awarded a “Varsity E” letter regardless of the level at which they competed (JV or Varsity). A varsity letter may be awarded to an athlete who does not meet the criteria in his/her sport at the discretion of the head coach.

Varsity Letter Award Progression 

One eight-inch chenille green and gold letter will be given to a participant who meets the requirements in a particular sport. A metal emblem symbolic of the sport will also be presented to be pinned on the letter. Only one letter will be given during the high school career of a participant, however, a metal emblem will be presented each time the requirements of a varsity sport are fulfilled. 

1. First Varsity Letter  - Chenille Varsity “E” (1 per athlete) and Gold Sport Pin 

2. Second (and succeeding)  - Gold Sport Pin 

3. Senior Letter Winners  - Gold Sport Pin and Varsity Lettermen’s Jacket 

Only varsity lettermen are permitted to wear a “Varsity Jacket.” Permission for its purchase must be obtained from the Athletic Office at the conclusion of a season. 

Tri-Lettermen’s Award Criteria 

The award is presented to any Emmaus High School Athlete who, during the course of his/her interscholastic career, earns three (3) varsity letters in one (1) school year. The award can only be won once (any year qualifies), and the athlete will be honored at the Spring Sports Awards Assembly of his/her senior year. 

General Criteria 

1. The student must meet all academic eligibility and good citizenship criteria as contained in all school regulations. 

2. The student must complete the entire season. 

3. The student must attend all practices unless excused by the coach for illness or an emergency beyond his/her control. 

4. All equipment must be returned.

Specific Sports Criteria 

Baseball The student must participate in at least 50% of the total varsity innings. The coach determines requirements for pitchers. 

Basketball (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must play in at least 50% of the total varsity quarters. 

Cheerleading The student must cheer in at least 75% of the scheduled contests. 

Cross Country (Boys and Girls) The student must earn at least 50% of the total varsity points in competition. Letter points are earned as follows: 1. One point for being in the top five (5) Emmaus finishers (scoring team points). 2. One point for beating the opposing team’s 7th runner. 3. One point for running a personal best time in a meet. 

Field Hockey The student must participate in at least 50% of all varsity quarters. 

Football The student must participate in at least 50% of possible varsity quarters. 

Golf The student must compete in at least 50% of scheduled matches, or count in at least 25% of team scores. 

Lacrosse (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must play in at least 50% of the total varsity quarters. 

Rifle The student must participate in at least 75% of scheduled matches, or count in at least 50% of team scores. 

Soccer (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must play at least 50% of all varsity halves. 

Softball The student must participate in at least 50% of the total varsity innings. The coach determines requirements for pitchers. 

Swimming and/or Diving (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must earn at least one (1) varsity point per meet or participate in at least 80% of the scheduled meets. 

Tennis (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must play in at least 50% of the varsity matches.

Track and Field (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must earn at least two (2) varsity points per meet and/or participate in at least two-thirds of the scheduled competition. 

Volleyball (Boys’ and Girls’) The student must play in at least 50% of the games (not matches). 

Wrestling 1. The student must score at least one (1) team point per scheduled contest based on the following scale, and/or participate in at least 50% of the scheduled matches: 6 – Pin, Forfeit, Default 5 – Superior Decision 4 – Major Decision 3 – Decision 2 – Draw 1 – Loss by Decision 0 – Loss by Pin 2. The student must place in the top four of a varsity tournament. 

Student Manager/Student Trainer  The student must serve as a manager and/or trainer for a varsity team for two (2) seasons. A varsity letter will be awarded after the successful completion of the second varsity season. 

ATHLETIC INSURANCE 

The school has purchased a sports excess policy that covers interscholastic sports, band and cheerleaders. This coverage only pertains to participants injured while practicing, participating, or traveling under these programs. Intramural sports are not covered under this sports policy. Therefore, students enrolled in the above should have either school time or full time accident insurance, as provided in this policy, to protect them outside of their sports participation or when involved with intramurals. Parents who have their own insurance policy must remember that if their comparable policy is HOSPITALIZATION type coverage rather then ACCIDENT coverage, it may not cover all expenses for accidents except possibly surgery and X-ray bills. The East Penn School Board each year makes available to students a Student Accident Policy. This student accident policy is an excess policy, which provides for payment of the first $100.00 of the covered expenses without regard to other insurance. Thereafter any balances and all other bills must be submitted to your other carrier (such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield). If denied by your other carrier, evidence of denial for each unpaid bill is required by the student accident carrier in order for the excess policy to cover remaining charges up to the policy limits. If the student has no other coverage, the excess provision shall not apply and once non-coverage is confirmed benefits will be payable to the limits described in the policy.

The Interscholastic Athletic opportunities Disclosure Form (Act 82) for the Athletic Programs of the East Penn School District is available to the public to view at the District Office. If you are interested in viewing the document please contact the District Office by calling 610-966-8300. The District Office hours are from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM