1.1 STUDENT-ATHLETE CODE OF CONDUCT

At RIS, we firmly believe that a robust athletics program is integral to the holistic development of our students, providing unparalleled opportunities to enrich and unify our school community. Anchored in the principles of education-based athletics, our program is dedicated to fostering athletic prowess and essential life skills. Through structured sports participation, students cultivate perseverance, tolerance, collaboration, teamwork, and integrity, preparing them for success in all facets of their lives. 

The RIS student-athlete’s success results from the combination of effort, commitment, sportsmanship, and teamwork. These traits have long been the core of RIS's athletic success and tradition of excellence. Participation in sports offers abundant opportunities and enriches students' socio-emotional, physical, and academic growth experiences.

1.2 STUDENT-ATHLETE RESPONSIBILITIES 

As members of Phoenix athletic teams:

• Student-athletes will approach each season with a ‘We Before Me’ attitude. This principle emphasizes a priority on the team over individual interests (although student safety is always the primary concern). This mindset encourages individuals to consider the needs and well-being of the group as a whole. 

• Student-athletes have opportunities for leadership roles on an athletic team. They are recognized by the student body and cs. They contribute to school spirit and community pride. They are role models for younger student-athletes, set a positive example, and are expected to act in a manner that reinforces that role. 

• There are expected commitments to the team and the school that RIS student-athletes must adhere to; they attend practices with great enthusiasm, participate in tournaments/matches to the best of their ability, and maintain the required standards in the classroom at all times. 

• RIS student-athletes must conduct themselves in a respectful manner at all times and always remember that personal integrity and the integrity of the RIS name are more important than any tournaments won by unfair play. Good sportsmanship is always more important than results.

  • Be supportive of all fellow student-athletes, coaches, and officials before, during, and after all games and tournaments.

  • Accept the decisions of officials without dispute.

  • Show appreciation for your opponents.

  • Do not allow negative sportsmanship from others to be an excuse to behave similarly.

1.3 ATHLETIC TRAVEL POLICY 

All of our sports teams will be required to travel throughout each season, whether to other schools, to tournaments within Thailand, or internationally for SEASAC events. Under the RIS Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct & Policies, students, coaches, and parents must adhere to the standards and expectations outlined below.

• RIS is responsible for booking all flights and hotels for student-athletes. 

• RIS student-athletes and parents/guardians must sign travel-related documents before traveling, including permission forms, medical waivers, and code of conduct forms. 

• For international travel, it is the responsibility of individual families to complete all necessary visa requirements that student-athletes may need. 

• All student-athletes must adhere to the conference code of conduct and the RIS student-athlete code of conduct when traveling. RIS participates in athletic competitions that are considered school-related activities. Therefore, the Athletics Office and Section Administration will investigate any misconduct.

• Serious misconduct on overseas trips, including but not limited to physical violence, substance abuse, or sexual-related misconduct, may result in the student-athlete being sent home from the trip. This requires a legal guardian to fly and collect the student at their guardian's/parents' expense. Students-athletes who engage in serious misconduct on trips may be ineligible for future trips. The athletics director and head of the school will make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

• Student-athletes are responsible for communicating with their teachers about any absences and making up the work in a timely manner.

BLACK OUT DATES: Student-athletes who attend SEASAC competitions may be eligible for blackout dates for their summative assessments in High School. Please check the School Trip Assessment Black Out Dates Policy for further information. 

1.4 STUDENT ELIGIBILITY 

Educational-based athletics prioritize students' growth and development, emphasizing their academic progress alongside their athletic pursuits. To ensure eligibility to participate in sports at RIS, students are required to meet the following standards. While these standards are generally applicable, exceptions can be considered by the athletic director/ sectional administration on a case-by-case basis. This flexibility allows individual circumstances to be considered, ensuring fairness and supporting students' overall development. 

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS 

• Maintain passing grades and meet expectations for all learning practices. 

• Minimum of 80% attendance at RIS team practices (with communication before absences where possible).

• Minimum of 90% attendance in all classes.

• On game days, no Unexplained Absences for classes or no more than 2 Absences Explained for classes.

• Exemplifies the Principles of the Phoenix - as seen by no Tier 2 or Tier 3 violations of the behavioral code of conduct.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS 

• Minimum of 90% attendance in all classes

• All Learning Practice grades should be ‘E’ or ‘M.’ Concerns are initiated by faculty, passed to Section Administration, and followed-up with Athletics Administration.

• Minimum of 80% attendance at RIS team practices (team coach discretion)

1.5 INELIGIBILITY ACTION RESPONSE

Should a student fail to uphold the expectations highlighted above, the following process will take place:

1. Official warning via email to the athlete and parents/guardians by section administration and/or the Athletics Director

2. Placement onto academic/behavioral probation for a specified window (commonly 2 to 4 weeks). In that time, student-athletes will demonstrate improvements in the required areas as well as maintain all other areas as outlined on the Academic/Behavioral Probation Form (should the aforementioned requirements not be met)

3. Weekly check-ins with the Athletics Director or Section Administration during probation to check progress. 

Please note this process mentioned above may be subject to change. 

Those student-athletes who fail to demonstrate improvements will become ineligible to compete in sports teams at RIS for a period designated by the Athletic Director and Section Administration. A student-athlete’s ineligibility will continue until approval is given by the Athletics Director and section administration. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

1.6 STUDENT-ATHLETE REMOVAL 

Students who are removed from a team will be subject to further investigation by the Athletics Department and possibly Section Administration. Any student-athlete who has been removed due to behavioral concerns or has removed themselves without appropriate reasoning is subject to a minimum one-season ban from all athletics-based activities for that academic year. Any student removal from any team throughout the sporting season must be communicated to the Athletics Office. 

1.7 SEASONAL SPORTS OBJECTIVES 

Our seasonal sports program is divided into three levels.  

• U11 & U12

• U14

• Junior Varsity & Varsity

1.8 P.E. CREDIT REPLACEMENT 

Junior Varsity and Varsity student-athletes may be eligible for P.E. credit replacement. Even though the requirements for this credit replacement are clearly defined on the registration document, students are responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met. Signatories, which include coaches, counselors, and the Athletics Director, will not confirm P.E. Credit Placement unless students have met all requirements. 

Please see the document P.E. Credit Replacement for more information, or contact the Athletics Director or High School Counseling Office.

1.9 TEAM CAPTAINS 

The Coach(es) will select a Team Captain to lead each team. This is an important role that supports the coach and the team. The Captain will be a team member who displays the character traits of being a great leader, a positive role model at training, calm under pressure during fixtures and able to do practical tasks. Each season, the team Captains will meet with the Athletics Director to discuss their role and share ideas about how they can support their teams and the RIS Athletic Program.

1.10 SPORTS TRIALS 

All students must attend trials to be considered for a seasonal team. If a student is absent or injured during trials, his/her parents and the student must contact the RIS Athletics Office and the team coach(es) in advance to arrange an alternate time. Dates of seasonal trials and fixtures/tournaments are included in the Sports Calendar. Coaches will normally have one week to hold trials. 

1. Students from Grade 8 may attend Varsity trials and be selected on merit as long as all the safety aspects have been considered;

2. Students who wish to trial for two teams should let both coaches know, and end-of-season tournaments cannot clash;

3. Students enrolled late into a season will be addressed case-by-case.

Once the team is selected, players are expected to attend all practices and competitions. Any absences from matches, practices, or tournaments must be communicated to the team coach or the Athletics Director in advance. Students who are unable to attend assigned practices will not be eligible to compete for RIS sports teams.

1.11 STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNICATION WITH COACHES  

Student-athletes and parents should follow this procedure to address issues or concerns:

1. Contact the coach via email to set up an appointment to discuss the concern.

2. If the coach cannot be reached, contact the Athletics Director and the meeting will be set up for you.

3. Please give yourself time to understand the concern before approaching a coach. Attempting to confront a coach before or after a tournament or practice is not ideal. These can be emotionally charged times for the student-athlete, the parent, and the coach. Meetings of this nature do not tend to promote resolution.

4. If the concern is not satisfactorily resolved after meeting with the coach, the student-athlete and parent(s) should discuss it with the athletic director and attempt to resolve it.

5. If the student-athlete and/or parent(s) wish to make a formal complaint to the Athletics Director about the coach, it should be put in writing.

6. The Athletic Director will investigate the complaint and discuss the concern with the coach. The investigation may include observation of practice sessions by the Athletic Director, if necessary. The Athletic Director will document the results of the investigation in writing, as well as the subsequent action(s) to be taken to resolve the concern.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION  

The Athletics Office, coaches, parents and student-athletes must communicate primarily through Email. Therefore, students and parents are expected to check their emails regularly, as all necessary information regarding an athletics season will be shared through this platform. 

In addition, coaches are encouraged to create a G-Chat group each season, and all student-athletes are expected to join it. This mode of communication is perfect for rapid information sharing. 

LINE is NOT an acceptable form of communication between student-athletes and coaches. This follows our current Child Safeguarding Policies. However, it is acceptable for coaches to create LINE groups with their parent community. This can be used as a reliable means of communication, especially regarding travel. 

1.12 RIS SPORTS UNIFORM POLICY  

The school’s athletic programs shall use only uniforms that are designed, approved, and issued by the RIS Athletic Office and RIS Advancement Office, to ensure consistency, safety, and adherence to institutional branding standards. No team, coach, parent, community member or individual student-athlete may alter, redesign, purchase, or wear uniforms that have not been formally authorized by the Athletic Office and Advancement Office. All uniform decisions—including colors, logos, styles, and suppliers—fall under the Athletic & Advancement department authority to maintain uniformity across all sports and uphold the school’s official image.