“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. This 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.

STUDENT ATHLETE CODE OF CONDUCT: Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco

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 Student-Athlete Code 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.

The Code of Conduct applies to all school and school-condoned organizational activities whether on campus or not. Rules of conduct also apply to situations not related to school activities. Violations of the Code of Conduct will accumulate from the first day of school or first activity practice of the student's freshman year, until the last day of the student's final activity season or graduation, whichever occurs last.

The student-athlete shall not use or consume, have in possession, buy, sell, or give away any controlled substance. Note:  It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student's use by his/her doctor.

During the school year, whether in season or not, regardless of quantity, a student shall not use or have in possession any beverage containing alcohol, or tobacco in any form.  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 disciplined  according the Code of Conduct Consequences below.

Violations on School grounds or on school sponsored activities:

The Minidoka School District will not condone the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, or any other illegal substances by any student athlete. 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 342.20) Suspension from school and from school sponsored activities will be administered in accordance with the 342.20 policy for substances on school premises and functions.

Suspension from school and from school sponsored activities will be administered in accordance with the 342.20 policy for substances on school ground or on school sponsored activities.

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 according to the Code of Conduct Consequences.

Consequences of Violating Drug/Alcohol Code of Conduct off of School Grounds:

When student-athlete drinking or drug use has been reported to administration the following will take place:

A trained SRO (School Resource Officer) will follow up with those students involved in the report.  The SRO will then convene with administration and coaches. Once a decision has been made that a violation of conduct has occurred (not just an accusation) the following are the minimum consequences:

• The first violation will result in 10% of the season suspension from play and a mandatory drug/alcohol education course (in the community or online) must be completed before returning to play to educate the student-athlete. 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.

• If 10% of the season does not remain in the current activity season, the same consequences will be enforced into post season or until the current season ends.

• Parents will be notified of the suspension by administration. Then with the coach and administrator meet in person or via phone conference together.

• 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.

• The third violation during the probationary period will result in a permanent loss of eligibility.

NOTE

An athlete who does not violate the terms of the probation will have their record cleared upon completion of the probation (365 days from the last incident).

Before any suspension provided for under the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct Regulations take effect, the student shall be verbally notified by administration/SRO of the alleged violation and the student shall have an opportunity to explain or justify the action. If after such conference the coach and administrators are satisfied that suspension is justified, the student and parent/guardian will be notified. The consequence of any infraction may be appealed to the Minidoka School Board District #331. Appeal must be made in writing to the high school athletic director and principal.

I have read this policy:

Parent: __________________________________   Date: _________________________

Student Athlete: ___________________________   Date: _________________________