HALIFAX WEST HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS POLICY
POLICY STATEMENT:
Halifax West promotes its extracurricular sports program as both ambassadorial and as an important option to students who wish to become involved in school life. The implementation of this policy is under the direct responsibility of the school principal and Athletic Director.
The following policy has been developed to improve and support the athletic program and seeks to identify areas of responsibility that go beyond the school administration. As a member school of the School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS), Halifax West actively supports the ethics, rules and regulations governing high school sport as outlined by the SSNS.
Responsibilities of the Coach:
Quality coaching, more than any other factor, will determine the caliber of the school’s athletic program. A coach is defined as:
Outside Coach – someone who is coaching at the school but is not employed by the school board.
School Coach – being a person who coaches and is employed by the school board.
The SSNS outlines the role of the coach in its handbook and the coaches at Halifax West are also expected to:
1. Respect the school’s philosophy, rules and regulations. He /she is to recognize that the academics come first and that the Athletic Program is but one aspect of a student’s education. The physical, academic and emotional well-being of the student has to be considered above all else.
2. All coaches are selected at Halifax West at the discretion of the Athletic Director in consultation with the school administration and will include an interview. Coaches must complete a Criminal Record check and Child Abuse Registry check. Coaches must agree to complete all necessary training involved with each sport (ie. Concussion Training and Safe Sport).
3. When a volunteer coach from outside of HRCE is coaching any team, parents/guardians of all athletes must sign the waiver to acknowledge that the coach is not a staff member and is responsible for team/athletes.
4. The coaches are responsible for the supervision of the facilities which they are using. When competing at a venue other than Halifax West, the coach is responsible for the safe journey to and from that venue. The coach should be the first to arrive and the last to leave.
5. The coach is responsible for enforcing and abiding by all rules and regulations as outlined by the SSNS and the school and will be held responsible for the enforcement and implementation of its by-laws and regulations particularly regarding matters of eligibility and conduct.
6. Team selection should be carried out in a fair and equitable fashion. Criteria for becoming a team member should be outlined before tryouts commence and the coach should be able to defend the choices that are made.
7. At the beginning of the season, coaches must receive permission to enter extra tournaments from the AD. The number of contests allowed in each sport is regulated by the SSNS. Every sport has a different game cap.
8. All gym time will be set at the discretion of the AD. Priority will be given to the sport in season and /or those heading into the playoffs.
9. Coaches will be informed of any ineligible or suspended students and must adhere to the sanctions regarding these students.
10. Halifax West coaches are to be at least 21 years of age and are recommended to have a minimum of NCCP Level 1 in their sport. Allowances will be made for those pursuing certification.
11. The coach shall take a strong stand against the use of abusive language, or any other unsportspersonlike conduct. They will not tolerate any hazing of team members. No team member is to be subjected to humiliation or degradation even if permission has been granted or implied by the athlete.
12. Any use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol must be reported immediately to the school administration.
13. When being interviewed by the press, all comments should be professional and considered carefully with extra consideration for your role as a representative of Halifax West. At no time is the decision of the referees/umpires to be questioned in the media.
14. Coaches are to inform staff of student-athletes’ absence from school for an athletic event in a timely fashion. This will allow teachers time to schedule for assessments in school. One week notice to the AD.
15. The coach should carry a copy of all team members’ medical information with him/her and make sure all injuries are reported to the AD A. An incident report form (SIP Form) must also be filled out for insurance purposes ASAP in the event of an injury. https://sip.ca/
16. The coach must make sure all student athletes have met financial obligations to the school prior to becoming an active member of the team. The AD should be made aware, if possible, of students in financial difficulty. To play on the team a student-athlete must be registered at the school, have a valid Halifax West ID and fees are to be passed in 1 week prior to the first game.
17. The coach should have a parents’ meeting to communicate all aspects of the school and the coach’s expectations for their child’s involvement with the team.
18. Coaches are encouraged to get a Team Manager (Parent) who oversees organizing such things as gate financials and communicating activities to the rest of the parents on the team.
19. When coaches are submitting receipts for re-imbursement, their receipts must be itemized or there will be no refund. This is a requirement of the HRCE.
Responsibilities of the School and Students
The school’s role in athletics is one of support for the coach administratively and financially. The AD’s role is to foster a good working relationship between athletes, coach and the school and to administer the day-to-day operation of the total Athletic Program.
1. All participants in extracurricular activities must have paid all registration fees and have a valid Student ID and be registered at the school.
2. Each team will be given financial support from the school for their regular season. Team funding can come from 4 sources
Athletic fees
Fundraising
Sponsorship
Admission Fees
3. All team fees are to be paid through www.schoolcashonline.com
Any student-athlete turning money into the main office must be issued a receipt. No separate accounts outside the school are to be kept. The coach or teacher liaison is to keep a full account of all funds turned in with the assistance of the Athletic Director and the school’s main office.
4. Students-athletes will not be punished academically for extra-curricular involvement. In the event of a conflict, the Athletic Director must be contacted and a consultation with the subject teacher will occur.
6. For a student to be eligible for a team they must be enrolled in at least 3 courses per semester. Students who are not achieving this standard may be removed from a team. They may be eligible again if their marks and /or attendance improve after a defined period of review.
7. Students who are suspended from school under terms of the attendance or suspension policy will be considered ineligible for participating during the length of the suspension. The term of the suspension shall be inclusive of all days from the beginning to the end. If a weekend occurs in the middle of the suspension the student is still ineligible. Any student who is suspended for a second time may be ineligible for the extracurricular activity for the remainder of the year from the date of the second suspension.
8. Sports offered at Halifax West may vary from year to year depending on the level of interest and coaching availability. JV / B teams may be organized based on need but will follow the same criteria as the A teams.