Activities -> Sports -> Student-Athlete Handbook
(August, 2005)
Watertown High School Athletic Department
Student-Athlete Handbook
INTRODUCTION
All student-athletes are governed by regulations formulated by the
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) in which all
Connecticut high schools hold memberships. The CIAC organization
ensures standardized and fair regulations by which all schools must
abide. Athletic activities are further governed by the district’s
membership in other athletic conferences.
ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
Student and parents should recognize that participation in the athletic
program is not a right of all students, but rather a privilege to those
selected individuals who possess the ability, attitude, disposition,
cooperative spirit, and desire to represent the Watertown community in
a favorable manner.
As with all school privileges, it is important to remember that the
school reserves the right to revoke the privilege of any participant
who does not conduct himself/herself in an acceptable manner.
TEAM SELECTION AND GAME PLAYING TIME
The Watertown School District athletic program is established to offer
opportunities to student-athletes to compete on organized teams or as
individuals against student-athletes from other high schools.
The structure of athletic teams and facility constraints at times
requires coaches to limit the number of student-athletes representing
the school in seasonal competition. Depending on the number of
athletes interested in joining a team, in some sports, it may be
necessary to make cuts to reduce a squad to a workable size.
The athletic coach has the sole responsibility for selecting
student-athletes to compete on athletic teams and to determine the
amount of game playing time each athlete receives during the season.
I. PROBLEM RESOLUTION
In the event that a student-athlete or parent/guardian has a concern
about policies or procedures outlined in this handbook, the concern
should be brought to the attention of the following staff members in
the order, which they are listed.
1. Head Coach 3. Assistant Principal
2. Athletic Director 4. Principal
II. SUBSTANCE USE, POSSESSION, OR DISTRIBUTION
Use, possession, or distribution of drugs, including anabolic steroids,
alcohol, tobacco (including smoking, chewing, or use of snuff), drug
paraphernalia or the misuse of other drugs/medications by a
student-athlete will result in the immediate dismissal from the team
for the season. (Note: Self-referral exemption: IIc)
A. SUBSTANCE USE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS OR AT A SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENT
1.
Student-athletes found in possession or under the influence of alcohol,
drugs or narcotics on school grounds will be subject to the
disciplinary sanctions as outlined in district’s Drug Use and
Administrative Procedures Policy.
2. Student-athletes
found using tobacco on school grounds will be subject to the
disciplinary sanctions as outlined in the district’s Smoke Free Policy
and the high school code of conduct.
3. In addition to
the normal disciplinary sanctions imposed as a result of the policy’s
violation, the student will immediately be dismissed from participation
on any athletic team for the season (fall, winter, or spring).
4. In the case of
drug or narcotics use, the student will be required to meet with a
school counselor or a counselor at a licensed drug treatment
agency. Evidence of the meeting and completion of a planned
treatment program (if recommended by the counselor) must be provided to
the school administration before the student will be allowed to
participate on an athletic team during a future season.
5. Under no
circumstances will a student-athlete be permitted to return to a team
from which he/she was dismissed during the same season.
6. The principal or
his/her designee shall make the final determination whether the
student-athlete has satisfactorily addressed the substance use issue
and he/she may require additional steps to be taken before the athlete
will be permitted to join a team.
B. SUBSTANCE USE OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS
When substance use occurs off school grounds at a non-school activity
and is reported by a team member, teacher, coach, administrator, or
concerned person:
1. The student-athlete will be referred to appropriate coach, athletic director, and school administrator.
2. A due process hearing will be held by the principal or his/her designee.
a. The student-athlete and his/her parents will be informed of the charges.
b. The student/athlete will be given the opportunity to give his/her side of the story.
c. The principal or
his/her designee will review the evidence presented and make a
determination as to whether the student has violated the athletic
policy regarding use of illegal substances.
3. The student-athlete and his/her parent/guardian will be notified of the Administrator’s decision.
4. If the principal
or his/her designee determines that a violation exists, the
student-athlete will be immediately dismissed from the team for the
season (fall, winter or spring).
5. The student will
be required to meet with a school counselor or a counselor at the
licensed drug treatment agency. Evidence of the meeting and
completion of a planned treatment program (when recommended by the
counselor) must be provided to the school administration before the
student will be allowed to participate on an athletic team during a
future season.
6. The principal or
his/her designee shall make the final determination as to whether the
student-athlete has satisfactorily addressed the substance use issue
and he/she may require additional steps be taken before the athlete
will be permitted to join a team.
C. SELF REFERRAL EXEMPTION:
A student-athlete who voluntarily informs his/her coach or
administrator of substance use on or off school grounds is entitled to
a due process hearing as outlined in II.B2-6. The principal or
his/her designee has the option of suspending the athlete from the team
for a period of time shorter than the remainder of the season.
Student athletes are allowed one self-referral for their entire
Watertown High School athletic career.
D. TERMS
“Drugs or narcotics” shall
mean any controlled drugs as defined in Connecticut General Statutes
Section 21a-240 amended, classified generally as amphetamine-type,
barbiturate-type, cocaine-type, hallucinogenic, morphine-type, and
other stimulant or depressant drugs. The definition shall also
include the following: alcohol, malt beverages, controlled substances,
restricted substances, or any illegal mood altering substance.
Examples include, but are not limited to beer, wine, liquor, marijuana,
hashish, cocaine and its derivatives, LSD, steroids, prescription
drugs, chemical solvents, glue and other inhalants, and look-alike
substances. Unauthorized use or possession of such substances
shall mean use or possession without a valid prescription.
“Tobacco Use” shall mean the use of any tobacco product including cigarettes, cigars, pipes or smokeless tobacco.
Possession: Any possession, which is unlawful under Connecticut law or Watertown Board of Education policies.
Distribution: Trading, selling and/or giving a drug to another person.
Use: Ingesting, injecting, inhaling, or otherwise causing a drug to reach the bloodstream or digestive tract.
III. STUDENT-ATHLETE BEHAVIOR
A. Each student-athlete is expected to demonstrate and encourage in others, behaviors which reflect good sportsmanship.
B. Any athlete who before, during, or after a contest enters into a
physical confrontation with an official, coach, opponent or spectator
will be immediately suspended from the sport pending the outcome of a
conference held with the athlete, his/her parents/guardian, the coach,
the athletic director, and a school administrator. Fighting will
be considered a serious violation of the athletic code of conduct.
C. Verbal abuse of officials, other players or coaches by a
student-athlete may result in immediate dismissal from the team for the
remainder of the season.
D. Each student-athlete will stand at attention during the national anthem.
E. Student-athletes must travel to and from contests on the team bus,
accompanied by the coach unless special arrangements are made with the
coach and athletic director.
F. The following behaviors will be considered serious violations of the
athletic code and school rules and may result in suspension or
dismissal from an athletic team:
• Civil or criminal law infraction.
• Infraction of school rules requiring administrative action.
• Misconduct by an athlete that is potentially detrimental to the athletic program, school, or school district.
G. Athletes are not allowed to wear their uniforms to any school
function unless it is directly related to their respective sport.
H. Athletes who are on suspension from school are also suspended from
participating in practices and/or contests until the suspension has
been served.
IV. LOCKER ROOMS
A. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to leave all his/her
valuables at home and keep his/her locker locked at all times.
B. Each student-athlete will vacate his/her locker at the conclusion of the season.
Note: The school will not be responsible for personal property.
V. ATTENDANCE
A. Student-athletes must be present and on time for school in order to
participate in interscholastic events. If a student-athlete is
unable to be in attendance and on time, he/she may make an appeal to
the assistant principal if this is due to a family emergency or
circumstances beyond the student’s control.
B. Each athlete is expected to attend every practice. In the
event an athlete must miss a practice, prior notification to the coach
is required.
C. Any athlete who feels the necessity to miss a practice to study for
a midyear exam, is expected to personally notify the coach of the
anticipated absence. Athletes will not be penalized for excused
absences with advance notification.
D. Athletes will not be excused from school disciplinary sanctions (detentions, etc.) to attend either practice or contest.
E. Any athlete who cuts a class will be suspended from the team for a
day, on the day the cut is reported to the coach. Repeated class
cutting is grounds for dismissal from the team for the season.
VI. LENGTH OF SEASON
Any athlete who is still participating in post-season play (i.e.,
all-star games, all-state an all-New England, or other competitions)
while representing his/her high school or region is still considered
“in season”.
VII. STUDENT-ATHLETE TEAM CAPTAINS
Selection as a captain of an athletic team is an honor. The
captain’s responsibilities begin when he/she is selected.
Captains are expected to provide leadership and to set a positive
example for other athletes and members of the school community. A
team captain may be removed from the position by the coach if his/her
behavior or deportment is not in keeping with the expectation.
VIII. PARTICIPATION
To participate in athletics you must:
A. Be medically cleared by the school nurse. Every student who
participates in the school’s athletic program is monitored annually and
determined to be in good physical condition.
B. Complete and return the appropriate forms:
1. Student-athlete/parent guardian permission form with emergency information card on back.
2. Health history form and physical evaluation form (obtained from school nurse’s office).
C. Be academically eligible to play. (Watertown High School
follows CIAC academic eligibility rules and Watertown Board of
Education rules)
D. Pay any fees required by the Board of Education.
IX. CIAC ELIGIBILITY RULES
A student-athlete is not eligible:
A. If he/she is not taking and passing at least four (4) units of work
or the equivalent (rule I.A.) (Note: This does not include any course
for which credit has already been granted that is being repeated in
order to raise a student’s grade in that course).
B. If he/she has not passed at least four (4) course units or the
equivalent at the end of the last regular marking period (rule I.B.),
or if he/she has failed more than one subject.
C. If he/she is nineteen (19) years of age before July 1, (rule II.B.).
D. If he/she has changed schools and does not meet the current criteria under the CIAC Transfer Rule.
E. If he/she has played the same sport for more than three (3) seasons in grades 10, 11, and 12 (rule II.B.).
F. If he/she plays or practices with an outside team in the same sport
while a member of the school team after the first scheduled game in any
season (rule II.E.).
G. If he/she plays under an assumed name (rule II.F.).
X. NCAA REQUIREMENTS
Before an athlete can play a sport or receive an athletic scholarship
at a Division I or II college, he/she must meet specific academic
criteria as set forth by the NCAA. A student must have at least a
2.0 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) in 13 core courses and the required SAT
or ACT score. ACT/SAT requirements for Division I eligibility are
based on a sliding scale. The higher the GPA, the lower the test
score required. For example, a student with a GPA of 1.5 or
higher needs a combined score of 820 on the SAT. A student with a
2.0 GPA needs a 1010 on the SAT. *
Students must take specific courses in order to meet NCAA eligibility
requirements. These include a certain number of college
preparatory English, science, social science, and math courses, with at
least one year of algebra and one year of geometry. Because the
NCAA has such specific requirements, it is very important that athletes
meet with their guidance counselors as early as possible to obtain
information on NCAA requirements and to make sure that they will have
the courses necessary to satisfy NCAA requirements.
Athletes should take the ACT and the SAT no later than the spring of
their junior year in order to have time to retake them if
necessary. To initiate the eligibility process, athletes need to
complete a NCAA Clearinghouse Student Release Form; this form should be
submitted after completion of the junior year. Information on
NCAA requirements and NCAA Clearinghouse Forms are available in high
school guidance offices.
*NCAA requirements are subject to change.
XI. ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT
A. Student-athletes will be issued team equipment and uniforms.
Each student-athlete is responsible for the equipment and uniform
issued to him/her.
B. Return of Equipment and Uniforms
1. Student-athletes must return all issued equipment and uniforms at the conclusion of the season to their coach.
2. Student-athletes must reimburse the athletic department for the replacement cost of any equipment or uniforms not returned.
3. Student-athletes who do not return issued equipment or uniforms or
do not reimburse the athletic department will not be allowed to
participate in any other sport. At the conclusion of the school
year, student-athletes still owing equipment or uniforms will have
report cards, transcripts, and diplomas withheld until all items are
paid for or returned.
XII. AWARDS
At the conclusion of each sports season, student-athletes will be
presented appropriate awards at a sports awards night program.
Athletic awards including letters, certificates, or senior plaques, are
given to athletes at the discretion of the coach. Academic awards
will also be presented to athletes who meet the criteria set by the
athletic conference. All student-athletes, parents/guardians, and
friends are encouraged to attend sports award night programs.
Letter criteria differ from sport to sport. The coach will
provide the student-athlete with a written explanation of the criteria
for earning a letter, which may include additional behavioral
expectations.
XIII. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Student-athletes understand that such activity involves the potential
for injury which is inherent in all sports. Even with the best
coaching, use of the most advanced protective equipment, and strict
observance of the rules, injuries are still a possibility.
Careful precautions are taken to prevent accidents during practice and
games. When injuries do occur, provisions are made for the
administration of appropriate first aid.
If serious illness or injury occurs, the coach will contact the
student-athlete’s parent/guardian and arrangements will be made to
transport the student to an appropriate emergency care facility.
XIV. ATHLETIC INSURANCE COVERAGE
The district provides an insurance program to pay for valid claims on
an “excess basis” for injuries received while participating in the
Watertown High School athletic program.
All claims must first be submitted to the player’s personal insurance
carrier. Once the primary carrier has assigned benefits, the
school’s plan will review the claim.
The excess athletic insurance will pay only the usual and customary
portion of the balance of the medical expenses not provided or
reimbursed under the other coverage.
In the event of an accident or injury, your child’s coach will complete
an accident report and submit it to the school health office. The
school nurse will send a copy of the report and an insurance claim form
to you.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dear Student,
It is important that you read and review the
contents of the Handbook for Student Athletes. Please sign and
return this page to indicate that you have read and reviewed the
handbook.
Student Acceptance:
I understand and acknowledge receipt of the Handbook for Student
Athletes. I have read and reviewed the contents and I agree to
the provisions contained therein.
Student Name (print) Grade Date
Signature of Parent
Date
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