I.  BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

  

A.      ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY – In order to maintain athletic eligibility, a student  must be enrolled in courses that have a combined equivalent of five (5) credits per year and receive a passing grade in all courses in which they are enrolled.  At the end of the school year students must attain five (5) credits toward graduation in order to be eligible for participation in a fall sport.  Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (herein referred to as CIAC) regulations are not a stringent as ours.  Academic make-up work takes precedence over practices.  No athlete is to be disciplined in any fashion for missing practice due to working on academics or when, on an athletic early dismissal day, an athlete chooses not to miss class time.  (see Appendix 1)

 

        At the end of each marking period and school year the school administration

        publishes and distributes to coaches a list of students who are academically

        ineligible.

 

        At Eliot Middle School a student may fail no more than one major course (English,

        History, Math, Science) to maintain eligibility.

 

B.     ATHLETIC TEAM RULES – In order for an athlete to participate he/she and

      his/her parent/guardian must read and agree to abide by the Athletic Team Rules

      relative to Academics, Substance Abuse, Sportsmanship and Spectator Expectations.

      (Appendix 4).

 

C.     ATTENDANCE – Athletes are required to be in attendance at school on the day that the contest is played.  In the event of late arrival, the athlete must sign in at the main office no later than 9:30 am and must remain in school for at least four (4) hours.  Absences not related to illness and excused by the school administration do not prohibit an athlete from participating.

 

D.    CLEARING HOUSE / NCAA – All student athletes interested in participating in Divisions I or II Collegiate Athletics must be certified by the “Clearing House”, a branch of the NCAA.  Certification involves a report about SAT/ACT scores, grade point average and core curricula courses.  The NCAA publishes guidelines for the recruitment of athletes at different levels of participation.  See the guidance office for specific details.

 

E.     CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ATHLETES

The athlete should:

1.      Play fair at all times.

2.      Play for the joy of playing and for the success of the team.

3.      Play hard to the end.

4.      Keep one’s head and PLAY the game, not TALK it.

5.      Respect officials and expect that they will enforce the rules.

6.      Not quit, cheat, bet or “grandstand”.

 

        The school demands:

1.      Out-of-school and out-of-town conduct of the highest type.

2.      Faithful completion of schoolwork as practical evidence of loyalty to school and team.

3.      Complete observance of training rules as a duty to school, team and self.

        Sportsmanship demands:

1.      Treating visiting team and officials as guests and extending every courtesy to them.

2.      Giving opponent full credit when they win and learning to correct ones own faults through failures.

3.      Demonstrating modesty and consideration when one’s team wins.

4.      An athlete will not “crow” when the team wins or blame officials when it loses.

 

F.      EJECTION RULE – On April 17, 1995 the CIAC adopted a rule patterned on a longstanding Shoreline Conference rule which states that any player ejected from a game is suspended from the next game at the same level of competition.(appendix 2)  The CIAC rule also applies to coaches.

 

G.    HAZING – Any activity expected of an individual in order to become a member of an organization or to remain affiliated with an organization which humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers the physical or mental well being of the individual is considered hazing.  An individual’s willingness to participate in such activities does not change the activity from hazing. (appendix 3)

 

H.    SPORTSMANSHIP – Membership on a team or participation in an activity is a privilege earned through a combination of skill, effort and attitude.  The coaches, advisors, administration and community expect athletes and activity participants to maintain the highest standards of conduct on and off the playing surface.  Participation in an activity imposes on the athlete and participant responsibility for exemplary behavior.

 

All students, whether athletes or spectators, are expected to demonstrate good behavior during athletic/intramural activity, as it is a reflection of oneself, family, school and community.  Students should cheer in a positive manner as to show school spirit and to have a good time.  Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.

 

When students are visiting another school for an athletic contest, it is expected that they will also conform to the rules and regulations of that school and that they shall act in such a manner as to bring credit to the Clinton Public Schools.

 

See Spectator Code of Conduct. (appendix 5)

 

I.       SUBSTANCE ABUSE – See Athletic Team Rules. (appendix 4)

 

 

 

 

 

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

 

 A.  ATHLETIC ADVISORY COUNCIL – A council of parents, coaches and

       administrators who meet periodically during the year to assist and advise the

       athletic department.

 

B.   AWARDS – Athletes will earn and receive varsity awards based on and objective

     set of criteria determined by each coach and approved by the Athletic Director.  The

       criteria should be measurable, i.e., number of minutes played, quarters participated

       in, points scored, etc., and clearly communicated to the athletes and their

       parent/guardian.  For the first year a varsity letter is awarded, the second year a pin,

       the third a bar and the fourth a star.  It is customary for coaches to award MVP or

       coaches awards at the end of the season.

 

 C.  BOOSTER CLUB – The Booster Club is an organization founded to help support

       Morgan athletics.  That support takes many forms - from supplementing equipment

       and supplies for individual sports to subsidizing programs.  The main fundraiser for

       the Booster Club is the annual patron drive held in late August / early September

       (appendix 13).  Athletes from all teams are expected to participate in this effort.

 

D.    CALENDARS – School district, CIAC, athletic and monthly Booster Club meeting calendars have been attached for your convenience (appendices 14,15,16).

 

E.     CONFLICT RESOLUTION  “Chain of Command” –  Procedure to be followed

    by athletes, parents and coaches if a problem arises:

1.      Athlete(s) or team captain(s) should bring the problem or potential problem to the coach’s attention.

2.      Coach should meet privately with the player(s) and/or parent/guardian to resolve the problem.  If no resolution:

3.      Coach should inform the Athletic Director of the situation.  If no resolution:

4.      A meeting with the coach, player(s), parent/guardian(s), Athletic Director and Principal should be scheduled.  If no resolution:

5.      Player(s) and/or parent/guardian may appeal to the superintendent.

 

F.      EQUIPMENT/UNIFORMS - At the end of each season each athlete is responsible for returning his/her uniform and equipment, in the same condition it was received, to the coach.  If equipment and/or uniform is not returned, or is damaged, an accountability form (appendix 6) will be issued to the athlete and a copy will be kept on file in the main office.  Students with outstanding accountabilities will not receive report cards and are prohibited from participating in any extra curricular activities.

 

G.    FITNESS CENTER – Rules and Regulations:

Supervision – The fitness center may only be used when it is manned by a trained supervisor as posted.  No independent or unauthorized supervisory use is permitted.

Cleanliness – Bring a towel to wipe down work station after use.  When appropriate use the sanitizer provided.  Any and all trash must be discarded in the proper receptacle.  NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED – EXCEPT WATER IN A SELF CONTAINED UNBREAKABLE CONTAINER.

Clothing – Proper workout attire including appropriate footwear (no sandals, open toed shoes, etc.) must be worn at all times. 

Conduct – No “horseplay”, fooling around or use of inappropriate language is permitted.  It is mandatory to follow the directions/instructions of the fitness center supervisor on duty.

Care of Equipment – RACK YOUR WEIGHTS after use.  Follow proper procedures when using fitness equipment.

Safety – Proper use of a spotter is required when using free weights.  Use of safety racks when lifting is mandatory.  Do NOT drop weights on the floor.  Replace dumbbells after use.

Penalties for Violations of Rules and Regulations:

1st violation – loss of center use for one week.

2nd violation – loss of center use for 1 month.

3rd violation – loss of center privileges for the remainder of the year.

4th violation – “lifetime” loss of center use privileges.

 

H.    MEDICAL PRACTICES – Athletes must sign up in the health office for each sport s/he is playing.  The health office will then check to make sure the athlete’s Sports Physical/ Consent form (appendix 7) on file is signed and current (dated one year or less from the date of play).  To ensure that an improperly conditioned athlete does not compete, it is school policy that in the event a student joins a team after the season has started, that student must practice ten (10) times before participating in any contest.

 

Athletic Injury – If an athlete is injured these procedures should be followed:

1.      Accident Report (appendix 8) must be filled out by the coach, signed by the  principal and kept on file in the health office.

2.      Parent/guardian applies own insurance toward any injury expenses incurred.

3.      If claim is in excess of parents coverage or if there is no parental insurance:

a.       School completes Part A of Commercial Travelers Accident Claim form (appendix 9). Parent/guardian to complete Part B.  Forms are available in the main office and the athletic office.

b.      Parent/guardian should follow further instructions as printed on form.

         Concussion – See appendix 10 for information on “management of concussions”.

 

I.       TRANSPORTATION – Under athletic department and school system procedures and guidelines, student athletes are expected to arrive at and return from athletic contests via the transportation provided or arranged by the athletic department.  It is permissible, although not encouraged, for a student athlete not to return to school on arranged transportation if a parent/guardian identifies themselves to coach and signs a note requesting that their child be allowed to leave with them. See sample form (appendix 11). 

 

      When weekday afternoon home games and/or practices are held at fields off school

      grounds, shuttle bus transportation will be provided for drop off only.

 

     Currently Clinton Board of Education policies and regulations state that private

     automobiles may be used to transport students for school programs under the

     following conditions:

1.      The trip is approved by the school Principal in advance.

2.      The use of private automobiles is approved by the Principal.

3.      Fewer than twenty-five (25) students are involved (class size or less).

4.      The licensed driver completes the “Verification of Liability Insurance” form

      prior to the trip.

5.      The principal will maintain a file of the forms.

     The limits of liability insurance carried by the vehicle owner are no less than

     $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, and the vehicle meets operational

     safety standards and requirements of the State of Connecticut.  The form shown as

     appendix 12 must be completed.