The mission of the Franklinton High School Athletic Department is to assist the student to accomplish a complete and well-rounded educational experience through athletic participation and the reinforcement of the academic and social expectations of Franklinton High School. With the assistance and cooperation of the faculty, staff, parents, and community we will strive to help our students mature into responsible young adults with the highest moral and ethical standards.
This section of the handbook outlines the rules and expectations of the Franklinton High School Athletic Department and its staff for those students who intend to represent Franklinton High School (FHS) in athletic competition during this school year. It is expected that both you and your parents/guardians read and become familiar with this material. Further information will be provided to you in the team rules for the specific sport(s) in which you choose to participate.
With the decision to become a High School Athlete, you have become a member of a small group of students that choose to become ambassadors of FHS in the arena of athletic competition. This choice carries the responsibility of appropriately representing yourself, your family, your school, and your community in a positive manner. This is a privilege that requires you to meet a higher level of expectations than that of your peers.
It is expected that our student-athletes will conduct themselves in a way that makes themselves role models to other students. You will also be looked upon to take a leadership role in both the school and the community. As a Red Ram Athlete, you will give surrounding communities their first and oftentimes only look at our school, community, and the kind of students we have. Remember that you have the power to impact the perception of our school, whether it be positive or negative.
You are required to abide by all school, county, and North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) rules at all times. Any infraction of these rules could possibly result in immediate removal from current participation, as well as future involvement in athletics at FHS. As a student-athlete you represent FHS both in your sport’s season and out of season.
All students are required to meet the minimum requirements for participation as stated by the NCHSAA. Any student-athlete who wishes to be eligible for a sport must pass three subjects in the previous semester. For example, if a student wishes to participate in a fall sport, he/she must have passed three subjects during the previous semester (the spring semester). Students must also meet all local promotion requirements.
Students are reminded that it is your responsibility to maintain your academic eligibility. If at any time you feel that your schoolwork is suffering, for any reason, in season or out of season, please discuss it with your coach and/or the FHS guidance staff. There are many opportunities available to all FHS students for tutoring and extra-help.
Student athletes are required to meet a minimum attendance requirement as stated by the NCHSAA. Any student who wishes to participate in a high school sport must be in attendance 85% of each semester. This means that the student cannot miss more that 13 days in the semester. It should be stressed that on the fourteenth day, regardless of the reason for the absence, he/she becomes ineligible for the next semester of participation. Please note that the school’s waiver process has no bearing on the NCHSAA’s attendance requirement.
All student athletes are required to have a valid physical in order to participate in workouts or try-outs for any sporting team.
As a student-athlete you must exhibit exemplary behavior each day. Any discipline problems that occur in or out of school can affect your ability to participate in athletics. All athletes are required to adhere to the rules outlined in the FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT and the FHS Student Handbook. Any discipline problems will first be handled by the FHS administration, then by the coach/athletic department. In-School Suspension (ISS) and Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) will be dealt with in the following manner:
ISS will result in temporary suspension from all team activities, including practices or games, for a period no shorter than his/her suspension. Repeat occurrences of ISS may lead to the dismissal of the student-athlete from his/her team.
OSS will result in immediate suspension from the team for a time to be determined by the coach and/or the athletic department, but shall be no less than the length of the assigned OSS time. This offense may lead to the immediate dismissal of the student-athlete from his/her team. Keep in mind that any absence due to OSS counts towards athletic eligibility.
Infractions of the law will result in immediate suspension from the team until the issue has been settled, and may affect the student’s ability to further participate in athletics. Please note, by NCHSAA rule a student that is (1) convicted of a crime classified as a felony under North Carolina or federal law, (2) adjudicated delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult, is not eligible to participate in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association sports program. Such ineligibility shall be immediate and shall prohibit participation in the NCHSAA sports program from the date of the conviction or adjudication of delinquency through the end of the student’s high school career.
All coaches have the authority to deal with all other disciplinary situations in a manner deemed appropriate as outlined in his/her team rules.
Student-athletes will be expected to treat all members of the FHS staff with the utmost respect. You are required to obey the requests of all adults, at all times, not just the coach of your chosen sport. Furthermore, this requirement is extended to all coaches and school personnel of our competitors and to all game officials. Again, the athletic department stresses the ideal that our student-athletes should serve as role models to the FHS student body. Any infraction of this policy will result in disciplinary action.
As a representative of FHS, you will be required to maintain certain standards of appearance as outlined by your coach. Students should be aware that these standards might change from sport to sport.
Participation in athletics is a privilege. As a participant in athletics at FHS, you are representing Franklinton High School and the communities that it serves. As such, all athletes are expected to conduct themselves, both in and out of the athletic arena, in an exemplary manner. This expectation is for both in and out of season. Athletes whose actions are deemed inappropriate by the coaching staff and/or the administration of FHS may have the privilege of participation in athletics revoked. Students wishing to participate in athletics should carefully review all school system, FHS, athletic department, and team rules and regulations prior to participation in athletics.
Students participating in athletics are encouraged to purchase school insurance if he/she is not covered under his/her parent’s insurance plan, or if additional coverage is desired. Franklin County Schools provides insurance coverage for students participating in football.
Athletic participation is offered in the following areas:
Football*
Volleyball*
Men’s Tennis / Women’s Tennis
Men’s Cross-Country / Women’s Cross-Country
Men’s Basketball* / Women’s Basketball*
Baseball* / Softball*
Men’s Track & Field / Women’s Track & Field
Men's Golf / Women's Golf
Cheerleading*
Men’s Soccer* / Women’s Soccer
Swimming
Wrestling
*J.V. and Varsity teams offered
1. Must have a physical examination prior to participation in practice or competition.
Must have a signed parent permission form on file with the coach.
Must have been in attendance 85% of the time during the last semester.
Must have passed 3 subjects during the last semester. Second semester seniors must also be enrolled in at least two classes to maintain eligibility.
Parents or court recognized guardians must live in this administrative unit.
Athletes have four years (eight semesters) of eligibility during their high school careers beginning with the first year of entrance into the 9th grade. Note age requirement below.
Athletes cannot be 19 years of age before October 15th and participate in athletics.
A student must be properly enrolled within the first 15 days and in regular attendance during the present semester to be eligible for athletics.
Must meet all local promotion requirements.
Students must exhibit good citizenship and character within the school and community. For example, they may not have unresolved criminal charges.
Students that are suspended from school will not participate, or be in attendance at, games or practices during the duration of the suspension. Violators will be deemed as trespassers and dealt with accordingly. Dismissal from the team due to suspension from school is at the discretion of the coach/athletic department.
All eligibility requirements as set forth by the NCHSAA, Franklin County Board of Education, and Franklinton High School must be met prior to a student’s participation in athletics.
Athletes are expected to attend all practices and contests related to their sport unless otherwise instructed by their coach.
Consequences for tardiness, missed practices, and missed contests are outlined in the team rules for each sport.
In general, transportation to and from practices and home contests are the responsibility of the students and their parents. Exceptions may occur in the event that practice and/or home contests are held off campus.
Transportation is provided to all away contests. Athletes will ride the team bus to and from all away contests. Parents who wish to take their child home from away contests should notify the coach, in person, prior to departure. Students will only be released to their parent/guardian. Athletes who do not adhere to this policy are subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the team.
Students suspended out-of-school (OSS) or suspended in school (ISS) shall not participate or be in attendance at, contests or practices for the duration of the suspension. Students assigned OSS or ISS may also be assigned additional consequences by the head coach up to and including dismissal from the team.
Athletes may not quit one sport to participate in another. Athletes that quit a team once the playing season has begun cannot participate on another team until the conclusion of the season. Cheerleading season does not end until the conclusion of Basketball season. This includes the situation of quitting a sport to participate in off-season workouts/practices.
The highest level of sportsmanship is expected at all times. Athletes exhibiting poor sportsmanship may receive consequences for their actions up to and including dismissal from the team. Any athlete ejected from an athletic contest will be suspended from participation in athletics according to NCHSAA policy and may receive additional consequences from the coach, athletic department, or the school administration, up to and including dismissal from the team and prohibition against further participation in athletics at Franklinton High School.
Athletes must adhere to team dress codes as defined in the team rules for each sport.
Possession and/or use of tobacco products by athletes is prohibited. Violators will be dismissed from the team for the duration of the season.
The use and/or possession of alcoholic beverages and/or non-prescription drugs is prohibited, at any time According to Franklin County School Board Policy, violators will be dealt with as follows:
1st offense – the student-athlete is ineligible for athletics for the rest of the current semester plus the next semester, and must enroll in and validate completion of a substance abuse counseling program.
2nd offense – the student athlete is ineligible for athletics for the remainder of his/her high school career.
13. Requirements to earn a varsity letter are specific to the sport in which the athlete participates. These requirements are outlined in the team rules for each sport. However, the following situations will result in the loss of the opportunity to earn a letter in the sport for which the situation occurs:
The athlete is ejected from a contest in accordance with the NCHSAA rules.
The athlete quits the team, regardless of the reason or the amount of time left in the season.
The student is dismissed from the team by the head coach or by FHS administration.
Participation in High School Athletics is a voluntary action. As a department, we encourage all students to participate in athletics during their four years at Franklinton High School. We welcome the opportunity to work with you in a setting outside the classroom. Since it is impossible for us to supervise and monitor your every activity, the responsibility of meeting the behavior and other expectations of the athletic department is placed on you and your parents/guardians. Remember, your actions could affect your ability to participate in athletics at FHS, and it will affect the type of person you become.