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BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Code of Conduct for Student-Athletes
I. Mission Statement and Introduction
The Ballston Spa Central School
District understands that interscholastic athletics are a significant part
of the educational process. The combination of academics and athletics
enhances the quality of students’ lives and expands their options for
learning and personal growth. Athletics provide an educational opportunity
in which students can learn essential life lessons beyond those that can be
learned in an academic classroom.
This reflects our belief that the
essential requirement for teamwork, the mental and physical challenges of
training and competition, and the experience of winning and losing
graciously and respectfully are important life lessons in every student’s
developmental experience. These lessons will serve students well in their
future beyond.
Developing good character habits
requires time and effort. Coaches, parents and other stakeholders can help
students develop such habits by continually discussing, modeling and
reinforcing the desired attitudes and beliefs over time.
We also understand that participation
on an athletic team or teams demands a commitment that involves both
dedication and sacrifice. This is required of not only student athletes,
but also the coaches and parents.
Athletics is an important part of the
total school program that works in conjunction with the other educational
experiences to provide students the environment and opportunity to develop
as better citizens. This opportunity is a privilege that carries with it
responsibilities to the school, to the sport, to other students, to the
community and to the athletes themselves. These experiences contribute to
the development of learning skills and emotional patterns that enable the
student to achieve maximum benefit from his or her education.
The following Code of Conduct shall
govern all student participants involved in School District interscholastic
athletics. These standards of conduct shall supplement, and not supplant or
replace, the Code of Conduct or any additional or more stringent rules and
standards of conduct that the governing or supervising authority of each
athletic team lawfully imposes as a condition of participation in such
activity. Discipline imposed as a result of a violation of this generally
applicable code of conduct shall not preclude additional discipline or
consequences under the rules, regulations or bylaws of the individual sport.
These rules must be read, and all athletes and their parents/guardians
indicating an agreement to abide by the rules contained herein must sign the
Acknowledgment (see back cover). The signed Acknowledgment must be returned
to the coach before the student is allowed to participate. The Athletic
Director will retain the signed Acknowledgment.
II. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
A. Each student-athlete is expected to display good sportsmanship,
win or lose. This means that student-athletes must demonstrate good
citizenship in both school and the community at large.
Disrespectful comments, the use of foul language, violent or disruptive
conduct or insubordination by a student-athlete directed toward any other
person, including but not limited to game officials, coaches, advisors,
teammates, athletes or members of opposing teams or schools, fans or
spectators, or any other persons will subject the student to recourse by the
School District.
Such
recourse may include suspension or expulsion from any or all-extracurricular
activities. This liability applies to all practices and meetings and all
times before, during and after games or school-sponsored events, as well as
to bus trips to and from games or school sponsored events. Ejection from
any contest or event for such conduct may result in additional disciplinary
action by the District, including suspension or expulsion from
extracurricular activities.
B. When membership or participation in any athletic team is linked
with involvement in hazing activities, the educational purpose of the
endeavor is compromised or completely undermined. Moreover, such activities
can endanger the safety of student-athletes. Because the School District is
committed to providing a safe and orderly environment that promotes respect,
civility and dignity for all members of the school community, hazing is
strictly prohibited by the Board of Education.
No hazing
activities will be tolerated under any circumstances. Members of the School
District community may not participate or be involved in hazing activities.
Any member of the School District community involved in such activity shall
be subject to disciplinary action for violation of this policy.
The term
“hazing”, as used in this Code of Conduct, means any conduct or methods of
initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private
property, before, during or after school hours, which willfully or
recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other
person, or which is reasonably likely to cause harassment, intimidation,
physical, emotional or psychological harm, including embarrassment or loss
of human dignity, to another person.
Such conduct shall
include, but not be limited to the following:
• Whipping,
beating, branding, or any other physical assault;
• Forced calisthenics of any kind, such as sit-ups, pushups, any
other physically abusive exercises, or any other brutal treatment or forced
physical activity, which is likely to adversely affect the physical health
or safety of any such person;
• Forced exposure to weather
or the elements;
• Forced consumption of food,
liquor, beverage, drug or any other substance
• Any forced activity which
subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including
extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation;
• Forced total and/or partial
nudity at any time;
• Forced wearing or carrying
of any obscene or physically burdensome or embarrassing article;
• Forced transportation and
intentional abandonment of any person or member at any location;
• Any type of personal
servitude performed for actives, which is demeaning, and/or of personal
benefit to the active members;
• Forced assignment of
“pranks” such as stealing, painting objects, or harassing other
organizations, institutions or activities; or
• Calling or assigning
prospective teammates demeaning names.
Consent of
the victim of hazing shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution
of hazing under this Code of Conduct. Whoever knows that another person is
the victim of hazing and is at the scene of such a hazing shall, to the
extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to himself/herself
or others, report such activity to an appropriate official as soon as
responsibly possible. Any person who knowingly and unreasonably fails to
report hazing activity shall be guilty as an accomplice in such activity.
Employees who fail to report an incident of hazing may be subject to
disciplinary action.
C. The use, sale, distribution and/or possession of tobacco products,
alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, non-prescription or controlled
substances, or drug paraphernalia, will not be tolerated by student-athletes
participating in School District interscholastic athletics whether on or off
school grounds.
No
student-athlete shall knowingly attend any party or other social gathering
where underage drinking and illegal drug use occurs. This rule is intended
to apply to gatherings of primarily students where underage drinking is
occurring, usually without the knowledge or acquiescence of the students’
parents, and shall not apply to any student-athlete attending an event which
is hosted by his or her own family, such as a wedding or a family reunion.
It shall not be defense to this rule that a gathering of students at which
alcohol and drugs are consumed was sanctioned by any parent, or held with
parental consent. It is the attendance at such gatherings that
is prohibited by this rule. Actual consumption of alcohol or use of drugs
is not a prerequisite to establish a violation of this rule. Any
student-athlete who has agreed to this Code of Conduct and who is found to
have voluntarily remained in the vicinity of a gathering prohibited by this
section shall be guilty of a violation of this rule whether he or she
consumes or uses any substance at all.
No
student-athlete will be deemed to have violated this rule if he or she can
show to the satisfaction of the building Principal, Athletic Director and
coach that, immediately upon becoming aware that underage drinking and/or
drug use is present at a party or social gathering, he/she completely
removed himself/herself from the place where the party or social gathering
was held, including parking areas.
Student-athletes alleged to be using, selling, distributing and/or
possessing illegal drugs, controlled substances (including prescription
drugs), or drug paraphernalia on or off school property during the time that
the student is participating in interscholastic athletics or at any time
during the school year will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance
with the Code of Student Conduct and Section 3214 of the Education Law as
well as this Athletic Code of Conduct and any other applicable policy. Such
discipline may include suspension or expulsion from any or
all-extracurricular activities, depending on the circumstances of each case.
D. ACADEMIC
ELIGIBILITY
1) As a condition of participation in
School District interscholastic athletics, student-athletes shall be
required to maintain acceptable academic standards. Any student-athlete
failing or receiving an incomplete in two or more courses at the end of an
academic review period may be placed on probation or be suspended from
participation in athletics.
2) In addition, student-athletes are
encouraged and may be required to seek assistance after school in order to
remedy the area(s) identified as unacceptable.
3) The Board of Education recognizes
that not all incomplete courses or unsatisfactory grades are the result of
poor academic motivation or performance. In the event a student-athlete
receives an “incomplete” in a subject due to extenuating circumstances that
prevented his/her completing the course work, the principal, in his/her sole
discretion, may waive scholastic eligibility requirements.
E. ATTENDANCE
1) Student-athletes are expected to
attend all practices, games or other events scheduled in regard to the team
unless excused by the coach. Failure to regularly attend practices, games
or other events scheduled may result in the student-athlete’s suspension or
dismissal from the team.
2) A student-athlete who finds it
necessary to miss a practice, game or other event scheduled must notify the
coach and indicate his/her reason for absence. This should be done well in
advance of the absence. The coach may require documentation in the form of
a written excuse from the parent. The coach will evaluate the reason for a
missed practice, game or other event and determine whether or not action is
warranted, and so inform the student-athlete. Acceptable reasons for
absence may include: family vacation that cannot be scheduled for another
time; medical and/or dental work that must be scheduled at a particular
time; death in the family; sudden personal or immediate family illness; or
other specific unavoidable causes of conflict.
3) In the event that the coach approves
of the student-athlete’s absence, the student athlete should be aware that
there is a possibility that he/she could miss games upon his/her return to
the team. Reasons of safety as well as team continuity and the philosophy
of the coach will govern the duration of suspension from active
participation in games. An extended absence may mean that the student may
have to re-qualify by completing the minimum number of practice dates
stipulated by State regulations in order to compete.
4) In
order to participate in interscholastic athletics on any day,
student-athletes must be in attendance at school on such a day.
Student-athletes who arrive at school later than first block or are absent
without a legal written excuse shall not be allowed to participate in any
athletics scheduled that day. “Attendance” includes participation in any
required school activity, such as a field trip. The Athletic Director on a
case-by-case basis will review extenuating circumstances.
5) Student-athletes should take notice
that there may be games, practices or events during certain scheduled
vacations and/or Saturdays.
6) Any student-athlete who is
suspended from school for a violation of any school rule or school policy
will not be allowed to play in a game or participate in any athletic
activities (including practices) during the period of his/her suspension
from school. The period of his/her suspension is defined as those dates
indicated in the letter from the District Administrator, which notifies the
student-athlete and his/her parent of the suspension. This applies to out
of school suspensions. Any penalty under this Code for conduct that leads
to an out of school suspension will be served after the out of school
suspension is complete.
7) As a member of an interscholastic
team, it is expected that your top athletic priority be to your team during
the entire season of play. Participation on non-school related athletic
teams in the same season of interscholastic participation is permissible,
but not recommended. Participation on another team should never conflict
with fulfilling your responsibilities to the interscholastic team and/or
violate school, Suburban Council, Section 2, or NYSPHSAA rules.
F. It is expected that all student-athletes will read and comply with
any established team rules of their coach, the Student Code of Conduct and
this Athletic Code of Conduct.
G. No student-athlete may quit a team without first speaking with the
coach to explain the reasons for leaving the team. Any student-athlete who
violates this requirement will be unable to practice for another sport until
the season of the team he/she left is completed.
H. Student-athletes are required to travel to and from athletic
events with their team and coaches except when extenuating circumstances
arise. When this occurs, student-athletes must be released directly to
their parents, and they must have received prior approval from the Director
of Athletics to come home by other means.
I. No student-athlete who participates in interscholastic athletics
shall intentionally damage, or cause to be damaged, any personal or real
property belonging to the School District, any other school district, or any
other person.
Student-athletes will return all school issued equipment to their coach
immediately following the season on the date specified by the coach or
Athletic Director, or immediately upon termination of membership. The same
applies to uniforms. Student-athletes do not have the right to retain
uniforms or jackets or other equipment simply because they declare it lost
or stolen and are willing to pay for it. Any such equipment determined to
be in the possession of a student-athlete will be reclaimed by the School
District using the legal means at its disposal. Also a student-athlete will
not be allowed to participate in the next season until equipment is returned
or paid for. Student-athletes failing to return issued equipment may also
face disciplinary action at the discretion of the Administration.
J. Good Citizenship - Student-athletes must maintain a high degree
of physical and mental fitness to perform to his/her highest capacity and
performance potential. It is required therefore that athletes adhere to a
self-imposed discipline and demonstrate the highest standards of both
healthy and ethical behavior in their lifestyle. The fact that athletes are
held in such high esteem in our society, places them in a position where
they are viewed as role models for peers and others within the surrounding
communities. Student-athletes are ambassadors of our community and are
associated with our community. It is in fact, the communities that make
available the opportunities for young people to pursue athletics.
As a member
of an athletic team, participants must be mindful that they, at all times,
represent their team, the interscholastic athletic program, school, family,
and community both in and out of the season of participation. Team members
are expected to fulfill their obligation for conducting themselves as good
students and role models both in and out of school and in the community.
Students are expected to refrain from exhibiting any behavior(s) that
violates the principles of good citizenship.
K. This Code shall apply to all student-athletes for the entire
calendar year, from the date the Acknowledgement is signed, both in and out
of a particular sport’s season and on and off the field of competition.
Out of season violations shall be investigated when reported and
consequences for violations shall be applied to the next sport season that
the student-athlete would participate in.
L. Information and/or images of inappropriate or illegal behavior
posted on the Internet shall constitute a basis for discipline under this
Code.
III. PENALTIES FOR ENGAGING IN
PROHIBITED CONDUCT
A. GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES
The
following are guidelines reflecting minimum penalties which may be imposed
on student-athletes who participate in interscholastic athletics and who are
found to have violated this Code of Conduct. These penalties shall not be
construed as a promise or guarantee of any particular form of discipline, as
the School District retains the right to impose discipline under this
policy, which it deems appropriate under the individual circumstances of
each case. These penalties shall be served in addition to any penalties
assessed under the District’s student discipline code of conduct.
All game(s)
suspensions will be served during the athlete’s current season of
participation. In the event that a penalty is assessed at the end of the
current season, suspensions will be carried over and pro-rated (if
necessary) into the next sport season the student-athlete participates in,
and completes. Student-athletes will begin to serve game(s) suspensions
immediately upon the imposition of any penalties assessed by the coach
and/or Director of Athletics. In the event a student-athlete files an
appeal (see, Appeal Process) of a penalty imposed as a result of a
code violation, the game(s) suspension will be immediately served
upon imposition of the penalty, and/or during the appeals process. Any
penalty under this Code for conduct that leads to an out of school
suspension will be served after the out of school suspension is complete.
The District will not tolerate repeated violations of school rules under any
circumstances. The District will not extend the privilege of participation
in extracurricular activities to any student-athlete who agrees to accept
this Code of Conduct and then repeatedly demonstrates disregard for its
provisions.
The District may however, consider expunging a
student-athlete’s violation record if he/she meets the following criteria:
1)
The student-athlete has satisfactorily completed all components of
the penalty
assessed for a violation of the code, and does not
commit any code violation during the probation period stipulated, and;
2)
The student-athlete commits no further code violations for 1 calendar
year from the date his/her probation period expired.
B. CLASSIFICATION OF VIOLATIONS
1) Minor Violations - A
coach shall be responsible for assessing penalties for violation of team
rules and attendance issues. Such penalties may range from a verbal warning
to expulsion from the team for repeat offenses. Coaches shall generally
practice progressive discipline, depending on the facts and circumstances.
A coach’s decision to remove a student-athlete from a team will be approved
by the Athletic Director prior to the imposition of the penalty. The coach
of the imposition of any penalty, including the nature of the offense and
the reason(s) for the action, will notify parents.
2) Level 1 Violation: Any
student-athlete found to have engaged in conduct prohibited under section
II, (A) may be suspended from competition for one contest, for a first
offense. Otherwise, Level 1 offenses include, but are not limited to:
possession and/or use of alcohol or tobacco, attendance at a party where
alcohol is being served as specified in section II,(C), poor citizenship or
disciplinary code of conduct violations such as theft, vandalism.
3) Level 2 Violation:
Any student-athlete found to have committed a
second Level 1 Violation while serving a level 1probationary period, or any
student-athlete found to have engaged in a first offense of any conduct
prohibited under section II (B), including but not limited to: hosting a
party where alcohol is served, hazing, or sexual harassment.
4) Level 3 Violations:
Any student-athlete who is found to have a Level 1
violation while serving a Level 2 probationary period, a third Level 1
violation, or the use and/or possession of drugs/drug paraphernalia under
section II(C).
5) Level 4 Violations:
This level will be utilized for extremely serious first offenses, such as
felony arrests/convictions as well as for repeat offenses during periods of
probation.
6) Probation- A
stipulated period of time assessed to an athlete as a consequence for
committing a code for violation. This period of time may be extended
(extended probation) until the athlete has successfully fulfilled all
requirements of the sequence assessed for the violation(s).
7)
Educational Component- This is a rehabilitative activity
intended to reinforce the athlete’s personal adherence to the policies and
rules that govern the interscholastic program and is designed to educate the
athlete about the violation committed and its impact on reaching personal
and team goals.
C. PENALTIES
|
LEVEL 1 |
LEVEL 2 |
LEVEL 3 |
LEVEL 4 |
|
20%
Games Suspension
+ |
40%
Games Suspension
+ |
Loss
of participation for 1 calendar year (also is considered a probationary
period
+ |
Loss
of participation privileges for the remainder of his/her high school
career |
|
1
year probation |
1
year probation |
1
year probation |
|
|
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
|
Successful completion of an educational component |
Successful completion of an educational component |
Successful completion of an educational component |
|
D. ELIGIBILITY CHART
|
# Of Regular Season
Scheduled Contests |
Contest Penalty
LEVEL 1 |
Contest Penalty
LEVEL 2 |
|
8 |
2 |
4 |
|
9 |
2 |
4 |
|
10 |
2 |
4 |
|
11 |
2 |
4 |
|
12 |
2 |
6 |
|
13 |
3 |
6 |
|
14 |
3 |
6 |
|
15 |
3 |
6 |
|
16 |
3 |
6 |
|
17 |
3 |
6 |
|
18 |
4 |
8 |
|
19 |
4 |
8 |
|
20 |
4 |
8 |
|
21 |
4 |
8 |
|
22 |
4 |
8 |
|
23/24 |
5 |
10 |
IV. PROCEDURES
A. Reporting an Athletic Code Violation
1) Any individual or stakeholder may
choose to report a violation orally or in writing to:
§
Building principal
§
Director of Athletics
§
Teachers
§
Coaches
§
Counselors
§
Nurses
§
Staff members
2) All employees
who receive violation reports concerning student-athletes must
report such allegations to the building principal or Director of Athletics.
B. Investigations of Code Violations
1) Upon
the receipt of credible information related to an alleged code violation, an
investigation by the appropriate personnel should be initiated immediately
to determine the nature of such allegations.
Anonymous information received related to an alleged violation of the
athletic code will not be cause to initiate an investigation unless
compelling evidence is provided in support of the allegation, or the
allegation is of sufficient severity to
warrant an investigation.
2) Any student athlete can at any time make a
self-referral for a violation of the athletic code.
This self-referral must be made to the
coach and/or appropriate building administrator prior to any investigation
or any reported allegations made to the school authorities. The
resulting actions will include:
a. Student
may be suspended from competition
b. A meeting will be held
between the student, parent, coach, and Athletic Administrator to establish
a remediation plan, and set the parameters for the athlete’s participation
in athletics.
3) Any student-athlete
suspected of violating this Code of Conduct shall be notified of such
allegations by the Athletic Administrator. The aforementioned personnel
will interview the student-athlete(s) suspected of violating the Code as a
step in the investigative process. The student-athlete and his/her parents
shall be afforded an opportunity to meet with the Athletic Director and the
coach, if necessary, to discuss such allegations.
4) Full
cooperation during an investigation is expected from all student-athletes
under the code. It is important for all student-athletes to understand that
involvement in our athletic programs is a privilege. With the
responsibility of being an athlete, comes a commitment to the conditions of
this code of conduct. In the event a student-athlete comes under
investigation for possible violations to the provisions of this code, it is
expected that the student-athlete will be truthful and fully cooperative.
5) To the extent
possible, Code violations shall be investigated within three (3) school
days.
C. Assessment of Penalties
1) Upon the
finding of a violation, the Athletic Director will assign the appropriate
consequences and/or remedies unless otherwise stated in this Code. If the
student-athlete is suspended out of school for conduct which violates this
Code, the Athletic Director will assign the appropriate penalty after the
Principal or Superintendent sets the term of the out of school suspension.
2) The Athletic
Director shall meet with the student-athlete and parent(s) to impose the
consequence(s).
3) The parents of
the student-athlete shall be notified of the consequence in writing.
D. Appeals Process
1) A
student-athlete found to have violated this Code of Conduct by either the
coach or the Athletic Director shall have the right to appeal the
disciplinary decision to the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council will be
made up of five (5) faculty members and/or coaches selected by the
Principal. The Faculty Council shall not contain as a member any person
involved in making the determination appealed from. For example, if the
Athletic Director found the student-athlete guilty of swearing at a referee,
a Level I violation, and instituted a one-game suspension, the Athletic
Director would not be eligible to sit on the appeal panel. The
student-athlete must make such appeal within five (5) days of the initial
decision. The decision of the Faculty Council shall be final unless
appealed, in writing, to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5)
calendar days of the date of the decision.
2) The Superintendent of Schools shall receive all relevant
documentation from the Faculty Council and the student-athlete. The
Superintendent shall meet with the student-athlete if requested to do so.
If no meeting is requested, the Superintendent shall render a decision on
the documentation provided.
3) The
decision of the Superintendent may be appealed to the Board of Education by
a written request filed with the Board within five (5) calendar days from
the date of such decision. The Board shall receive all relevant
documentation and may, in its sole discretion, permit the accused to appear
before the Board at its next regular meeting or render its decision
solely on the record.
Ballston Spa Central School District
Academic Eligibility for Student-Athletes
All students who participate on an
interscholastic athletic team will have their academic progress monitored by
their respective coach(es) every 5 weeks during the season(s) of
participation. Any athlete who is failing or receives an incomplete in one
or more subjects at the time of academic review will be subject to the
academic eligibility policy and the following process will be implemented.
A. Students
failing or receiving an incomplete in 1 subject
1. The coach will meet with
the athlete and set the condition(s) and/or parameters for the athlete’s
continued participation in contests. The coach may require the athlete to
submit proof of his/her academic progress, in the subject identified as
deficient, on a regular basis until the athlete has achieved a passing level
in the subject.
B. Athletes
failing or receiving an incomplete in 2 or more subjects
1.
The coach will report to the Director of Athletics those
student-athletes who are failing and/or receive an incomplete in 2 or more
subjects.
2.
The Director of Athletics will meet with the student athlete and
notify him/her verbally that a 5-week probationary period will be granted to
the athlete to raise the quality of his/her work to passing levels in those
subjects identified as deficient while maintaining passing levels in all
other subjects. The Director of Athletics will notify parents in writing.
3.
As a condition of the probationary period the athlete is required
to meet with the teacher(s) of each subject he/she is failing and develop a
tutorial schedule that the athlete must attend a minimum of 1
session/week/subject, and demonstrate academic progress. Failure to attend
and/or demonstrate satisfactory academic progress will result in the
athlete’s loss of eligibility to participate in contests for the following
week.
4.
Only one, 5-week probationary period will be granted during the
school year. Subsequent multiple failures or incompletes in the same school
year will result in the following:
a.
The athlete must attend weekly tutorial sessions as identified in
B 3.
b.
Eligibility for participation in contests will be determined on a
weekly basis until the end of the sport season.
5.
Procedures
a.
Student-athletes under this policy will obtain an academic eligibility form
at the beginning of each week from his/her coach.
b.
The athlete must submit this form to the teacher(s), when he/she
attends each tutorial session, for the teacher’s signature and comments.
c.
The athlete will present the completed form to his/her coach for
review. If satisfactory weekly progress is indicated on the form, the
athlete will be eligible for all contests the following week. If
satisfactory progress in not indicated, the athlete is ineligible for all
contests for the following week.
d.
Failure to submit a weekly progress report to his/her coach by the
last day of school each week will result in the athlete being declared
ineligible for all contests for the following week. For the purpose of this
policy, a week beings on a Saturday and ends on Friday.
e.
The coach will forward the completed academic form with signatures to the
Director at the end of each week.
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