Atheletic Handbook / Athletic Handbook

“SPARTAN PRIDE”

ATHLETIC HANDBOOK

GRADES 7-12

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Minidoka School Districts athletic programs is to promote
academic excellence, physical fitness, and good citizenship among all
students, and to encourage all students to participate in and appreciate
athletic competition.

VISION STATEMENT

The goal of the Minidoka School District’s athletic programs is to promote
and support student development through programs that provide training
and instruction that will assist participants to become successful students
and citizens. To that end, all programs recognize the need to promote
academic excellence, ethical behavior, and personal responsibility in all
students involved, regardless of the level of play, or the ability of the
athlete. An ideal program is one that strives for excellence while promoting
pride in one’s school, team and self. It is a program that does not
discriminate based on race, color, creed, or ethnic background.
The Minidoka School District’s schools are dedicated to the support
and achievement of those goals.

ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION

Minidoka School District policy (503.61) requires that all participants shall
comply with the Idaho High School Activities Association and Minidoka County
Joint School District #331 regulations. They are as follows:

All students, in order to take part in interscholastic athletics must have
had an annual physical examination their freshman and junior year
approving participation and a permit signed by the parents.

A physical examination is provided each year prior to the
beginning of athletic practice for fall athletics. Students are
encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
Physical examinations must be recorded on the Idaho High
School Activities Association’s physical examination form. T
his form includes signed permission from the parent authorizing
student participation in interscholastic athletics.

All students wishing to take part in interscholastic athletics must have
taken out athletic insurance through the school or be able to show proof
that he or she is covered by a family policy.

Athletic insurance policy forms are provided to each athlete prior
to the beginning of practice for each sport. A waiver of athletic
insurance and a proof of insurance form must be signed by the
parent prior to the student beginning practice.

All students who plan on participating in a sport and their parent/
guardian must attend a mandatory meeting prior to the beginning of
each sporting season. The agenda of this meeting will include
introduction of coaching staff and administration; explanation of
the athletic code; and expectations of students, parents, coaches
and administration. The criteria for achieving a Varsity letter in
Varsity level sports will be outlined at that time.
All students taking part in interscholastic athletics are required to
meet the academic eligibility criteria established by the Idaho High
School Activities Association and the Minidoka Joint School District #331.

The Idaho High School Activities Association requires that a
student who wishes to participate in interscholastic athletics
pass a minimum of four classes the grading period prior to the
beginning of each sport season. Should the sport continue
through another grading period, the most recent grading period’s
marks would apply. Students enrolled in semester programs
must pass a minimum of five classes. Released time classes
for religious instruction do not count toward the minimum
classes required for eligibility.
Students who do not meet the minimum criteria may appeal
to the IHSAA for a waiver of eligibility due to extenuating
circumstances. No student may participate in practice or
competition prior to the waiver having been approved.
The Minidoka Joint School District #331 requires that a student
who wishes to take part in interscholastic athletics have and
maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

In order to promote academic excellence, the GPA will
be determined first by the record of grades from the most
recent complete grading period.
In order to encourage students who might otherwise not
be allowed to participate, and to provide incentive for
improvement, students who are unable to meet the 2.0
GPA requirement in the above circumstances may be
allowed to practice and compete under the following
circumstances:

The student is to be placed on academic probation.
This probation requires that the student be passing
all four credit classes, and that the student have and
maintain a 2.0 average in the classes in which the
student is currently enrolled.
The coach will inform the athletic director at the
beginning of the sport season of all athletes who
are to be placed on academic probation.
The student who is placed on probation must carry
a weekly a report of academic progress to each teacher
and provide that form to his/her coach each week prior
to being allowed to participate in competition. The form
must show that the student is maintaining a 2.0 GPA in
his/her classes and that he/she is passing all for credit
classes.
If a student does not maintain a 2.0 average in his/her
classes, does not provide the coach with a report of
academic progress, or is not passing all for credit classes,
that student is ineligible to participate for the week
following the report, and will remain ineligible each
week thereafter until a satisfactory grade report is
achieved.
A student who has unsatisfactory grade reports for
three weeks in a sport season will be declared
ineligible to participate in that sport for the remainder
of the sport season. Three separate unsatisfactory
grade reports, or three consecutive grade reports will
result in the student being declared ineligible to
participate.
A student who has an unsatisfactory grade report
must attend all required practices and perform all
required training activities during the period of
ineligibility. Students who have been declared
ineligible for the remainder of the sport season will
not be allowed to practice or participate following the
declaration of ineligibility.

All students and parents/guardians of the students participating in
interscholastic athletics must first have provided a signed statement
agreeing to the Minidoka Joint School District #331's code of Student
Athletic Conduct.
The Code of Student Athletic Conduct is attached.
All students participating in interscholastic athletics may be required
to participate in random drug testing as established by the Minidoka
Joint School District. Should random drug testing be established and
required by the Minidoka Joint School District #331, athletes must
agree to participate, and parents/guardians of student athletes must
agree to allow their student participate in random drug testing.

CODE OF STUDENT ATHLETIC CONDUCT

The Minidoka School District’s student athletes are expected to consent and
conform to standards which encourage good citizenship and assure the
establishment and continuation of a favorable school reputation. Participation
in athletics is a privilege, not a right. Student athletes are held to the highest
standards of personal, moral and ethical behavior. Failure to meet those
standards may result in the student being declared ineligible for competition
and being removed from the team. Any student participating in athletics in the
Minidoka School District will abide by the following Code of Student Athletic
Conduct. The Code of Student Athletic Conduct will be enforced at school, at
school functions, and in the community at large as an example to the rest of
the student body.

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco

The Minidoka School District will not condone the possession or use of alcohol,
tobacco, or any other illegal substances by any student athlete. Should any
member of the school administration, coaching staff, or faculty witness or have
evidence of a student athlete making use of, being in possession of, or being
under the influence of any of the previously mentioned substances, that student
will be suspended from participation in athletics.

Any student under the influence of, or in possession of, any of the above
substances at school or engaged in a school sponsored activity falls under the
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Policy of Minidoka Joint School District #331
(policy #502.30). Suspension from school and from school sponsored activities
will be administered in accordance with the above policy.

A student is determined to be under the influence of, or in possession of, any
of the above substances during the sport season but outside of school time or
school sponsored activities will be dealt with in the following manner.

A first offense will result in a two week suspension from play. The athlete
will be required to attend all practice sessions, and may be required by the
coach to accompany the team to competition and sit with the team on the
bench. The athlete will not be allowed to dress in team uniform at
competition. The athlete will be placed on probation for one calendar year
from the date of the first day of suspension.

A second offense during the probationary period will result in dismissal
from the team. The athlete will be ineligible to participate in athletics for
the remainder of the school year.

An athlete who does not violate the terms of the probation will have their
record cleared upon completion of the probation.

Sportsmanship

Any student athlete who is ejected from a game or competition for
unsportsmanlike conduct falls under the IHSAA policy governing ejection:

The athlete is ejected from the game and is ineligible to participate in the
next regularly scheduled competition. A second ejection during the season
will result in that athlete being declared ineligible to participate for two
regularly scheduled competitions. A third ejection during the season will
result in the athlete being removed from the team for the remainder of the
season. If penalties are imposed at the end of the sport season and no
contest remains, the penalty is carried over to that particular sport until
the next school year. In the case of a senior student, the penalty will
continue to the next IHSAA sponsored sport.

School Discipline

Any student athlete charged with insubordination or having violated the
attendance policy, violates the Code of Conduct and shall be subject to
disciplinary action.

A student athlete who is suspended from school will be ineligible to practice
or play during the suspension. Further disciplinary action may be administered
at the discretion of the coach. Coaches will notify the administration of any
further disciplinary action taken at the time the action is administered.

A student athlete placed in in-school suspension may be ineligible to practice
or play during the in-school suspension. Further disciplinary action may be
administered at the discretion of the coach. Coaches will notify the
administration of any further disciplinary action taken at the time the
action is administered.

Minor violations of the student code of conduct will be dealt with by the
individual coach. Should there be sufficient violations to warrant a student
athlete being assigned Saturday School for disciplinary reasons, coaches will
be informed of disciplinary referrals and will inform the administration of the
consequences

Citizenship

Participation in any activity that violates Federal, State, or local laws, other
than minor traffic offenses, constitutes a violation of the Code of Student
Athletic Conduct and will result in disciplinary action.

Any activity which would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult will
result in a two week suspension from competition. A second such offense
will result in the student athlete being removed from the team for the
remainder of the sport season. The possession of alcohol or tobacco is an
exception to this rule and is dealt with under the policy dealing with Drugs,
Alcohol, or Tobacco. Any activity which would be a felony if committed by an
adult will result in the student athlete being removed from the team for the
remainder of the sport season.

Under certain circumstances, an activity which would be a felony if committed
by an adult, and which constitutes a violent crime or a threat to the well-
being of others may result in the student being declared ineligible for all
athletics for a period of 365 days from the date of suspension. The
determination of year-long ineligibility in this case would be made by a
Disciplinary Board.

General

The Code of Athletic Conduct will be in effect as soon as any student athlete
signs up for and participates in the first practice for that sport and will
continue in effect throughout that sport season. All activities by student
athletes, whether in school, on a school sponsored activity, or outside of
school hours and jurisdiction are subject to this code of conduct.

The standard of proof for all allegations of wrongdoing will be that of
“reasonable belief”. The coach or administration will be required to have
a reasonable belief that the alleged action did take place. No conviction or
court action is required, and the principle of reasonable doubt will not apply.

RIGHT OF APPEAL/DUE PROCESS

Any student athlete who feels that the penalty imposed for violation of the
Code of Student Athletic Conduct is unfair or unwarranted has the right of
appeal. Any student athlete who feels that they have a grievance has the
right to have that grievance heard. The procedure for complaints as
established by the Minidoka Joint School District #331 policy (#1003.32)
will be followed.

It is the practice of the Board of Trustees of the Minidoka County Joint School
District #331 that complaints regarding school district employees by patrons
be resolved at the level closest to the source of the complaint. This is done
in an effort to take immediate action at the source of the complaint.

The following guidelines apply:

1. If an individual has a complaint with a school employee, he/she should
seek resolution by discussing it with that employee.

2. Complaints against school district employees should be referred to the
immediate supervisor of the employee against whom the complaint is lodged.

3. If the complaint is not resolved in step two (#2) above, then the
complaint may be referred by either or both parties to the superintendent
for a settlement.

4. When a complaint against a school employee is not resolved by the
immediate supervisor of the employee or by the superintendent, the
complaint may be brought before the Board of Trustees under the following
conditions:

a) The complaint shall be in writing and signed by the individual or individual
s registering the complaint.

b) The individual employee involved shall be advised of the nature of the
complaint and shall be given every opportunity for explanation, comment,
and presentation of facts, as he/she understands them.

c) During the executive session to hear a complaint, the Board of Trustees
shall observe the following:

1) All individuals concerned may present facts, make explanations and
clarify issues.

2) The Board of Trustees will be the final authority on determining if any
situation or information is to be introduced into a public meeting.

Minidoka Joint School District #331

Student Name _______________________School/Grade___________________

Acknowledgement/Consent Form

I hereby consent to the above student participating in the interscholastic
athletic program in the Minidoka County School District. I acknowledge the
receipt of the Athletic Handbook and Athletic Code of Conduct. I understand
the conditions set forth in the Handbook and Code of Conduct and agree to
abide by those conditions.

_____________________________________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

I understand that my participation in interscholastic athletics at The Minidoka
County School District entirely voluntary on my part. I have received a copy
of the Athletic Handbook and Code of Conduct. I understand the conditions
set forth in the Handbook and Code of Conduct and agree to abide by those
conditions.

_____________________________________________________
Signature of Student Date