CODE OF CONDUCT

FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

(Privileged Activities)

Participation in Athletics or student activities at Seaholm High School is a privilege not a right. Students who earn the right to wear a Maple uniform also assume the responsibility of representing Seaholm High School, the Birmingham School District, their parents, and themselves with pride. A Seaholm athlete/participant is a Seaholm athlete/participant 24 hours per day, every day of the year, whether in season or out of season. Athletes/participants must make good decisions about behavior and his/her health, or accept the consequences for poor choices, which may include dismissal from the athletic program or activity.

STUDENT ATHLETE/PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES STUDENT ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION FORM

Every athlete (prior to the first practice) must submit this form to the athletic director. The form needs both the student and parent (or guardian) signature. This process is completed online.

STUDENT ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS

All student-athletes/participants must demonstrate school achievement is their primary responsibility at Seaholm. All student-athletes/participants must have passed 2 credits in the prior term (4 of 5 classes) to be eligible for competition. In addition, student athletes/participants must be currently passing 2 credits (4 of 5 classes) to participate. Academic eligibility checks will b e performed at interim report dates and at term ending. Students not currently passing 2 credits progress reports (failing 2 or more classes) will lose eligibility for 2 weeks. Students may continue to practice but not compete. Academic eligibility checks will be performed by the athletic director or a designee every two weeks thereafter for students not passing 2 credits. If a student’s grades improve and he/she is passing 4 of 5 classes at a 2 week check, eligibility Is reinstated. Students failing 1 class (passing 4 of 5) may have their grades monitored for 2-week periods while still eligible to practice and compete. If a student is failing 2 or more classes at the end of a trimester, the student will be ineligible for the following trimester. PHYSICALS Every athlete at the high school level i s required to pass a physical exam every school year. To be valid, these physicals must be taken after April 15. You may use a doctor of your choice or schedule the physical through Seaholm High School in the spring.

ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL ON DAY OF CONTEST/ACTIVITY

Students are expected to attend school during the total school day, if they plan to participate in an athletic contest or activity during the same day or evening. If an absence occurs, it must be excused or risk ineligibility for that day’ s contest/activity. Students attending less than a half day of school may not participate in athletics or activities that day.

TEAM TRANSPORTATION TO AWAY CONTESTS

Any student traveling to a n away contest as a member of a team on school owned transportation or other such approved vehicles, shall return home with the parent or parent’s designee.

ATTENDANCE AT PRACTICES AND CONTEST

Attendance at practice sessions is necessary to prepare athletes physically and mentally for contests. All team members shall be at all practice sessions and contests at all times designated by the coach. There are situations when it is impossible for a participant to attend due to illness, injury, religious observance, or special family commitments. Excused or unexcused absences from practice may affect a student’s playing time. The participants shall make PRIOR arrangements with the coach for an excused absence.

DRESS AND APPEARANCE

Students are expected to follow the school dress code at home and away events when not in uniform. Individual teams may expect additional dress code requirements.

SUMMER AND OFF SEASON ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

A wide variety of sport schools, clinics, and training programs are offered to athletes and participants during the summer months and off season by colleges, organizations or individual coaches. Since these programs are held in the summer and off season and are VOLUNTARY, in no way shall athletes be required to enroll in these programs as a condition for membership or placement on a team the succeeding season.

STUDENT ATHLETE/PARTICIPANT CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS

Student athletes and activity participants are expected to represent Seaholm High School in a positive manner. All school rules and regulations are expected to be followed on campus, at away events, on school buses and in the community.

USE, POSSESSION OR SALE OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOL OR DRUG SUBSTANCES

Excellent physical and mental condition is necessary for performance in athletics and other activities as well as for protection of the personal health and safety of the participant. Students participating in the athletic program and school sponsored activities are prohibited from the use, possession or transmittal of tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, unauthorized drugs including steroids, or misuse of any drug, either on or off season. Students in violation of this expectation will face the following consequences.

First offense:

• The student will be suspended from 25% of the season’s competitions or organization’s activities. Suspensions from games or activities could impact two sports seasons or two terms.
   
• The student will lose captaincy, leadership positions or leadership role for the current school year.
   
• For offenses occurring over the summer, the student will be ineligible for participation in 25% of the next school year’s season or activity, and will be removed from leadership positions.
   
• The student who violates this policy after club or school government elections in the spring will be removed from office, captaincy or leadership positions for the next school year.
   

Subsequent Offenses: The student may be suspended for the remainder of the current season/activity or organization activities, for the remainder of the school year, or for the remainder of their high school athletic/activity career.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Athletes are expected to demonstrate the highest level of sportsmanship at all times. Athletes are to display personal control under practice and game conditions toward their teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and spectators. In addition, it is understood that any harassment, racial or ethnic slurs said at any time, is unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly. (See Failure to Comply.)

SUPPLEMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Supplemental rules/regulations unique to a given sport or activity may be implemented up on the approval of the principal and building athletic director by the coach. These rules must be in writing and submitted to participants prior to the start of the season. The building principal, or designee, i s the only person who may suspend or exclude a student from athletic participation. Suspension and exclusion are based on the recommendations from the coach, building athletic director or activity sponsor.

FAILURE TO COMPLY

The student should understand that by violating team, organization or school rules, excluding the tobacco, drugs or alcohol rules, they risk the following penalties:

• Ineligibility to participate in the next athletic contest or sponsored activity which could occur on the day of the violation (first offense.)
   
• Ineligibility to participate for no less than the next athletic contest in which the student is eligible to participate, exclusion from the program and/or contest by the athlete and parent to seek, and receive counseling from a source approved by the principal (first offense.)
   
• Loss of captainship position for current season (first offenses) and ineligibility for future captainships (first or second offense.)
   
• Ineligibility to participate in the next three (3) athletic contests/sponsored activities (first or second offense.)
   
• Exclusion from the team/activity for the remainder of the current sports season (third offense.)
   
• Exclusion from athletics/privileged activities for one year from date of violation (third offense.)
   
• Ineligible for athletic competition for a period ranging from the remainder of the season up to high school graduation.
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APPEAL PROCEDURES

The athlete or parent may initiate an appeal of disciplinary action. Appeals must be directed first to the building principal or designee. (See Student Rights, Responsibilities and Due Process Code in the Student Handbook.)

SPECTATOR SPORTSMANSHIP AT ATHLETIC EVENTS

The Oakland Athletic and Activities Association principals and athletic directors have agreed to make a strong and united effort in support of good sportsmanship. We have agreed to the following goals:

• We believe cheers at games should be of a positive, encouraging nature in support of one’s team.
   

• We believe that fan behavior which baits and derides other teams, individual players, coaches or schools is inappropriate.
   

• We believe that officials in games have difficult decisions to make and should be treated with respect, whether one agrees with a decision or not.
   

• We believe that cheers which make use of vulgarities are inappropriate.
   

• We believe that students should be encouraged to use humor, creativity and good taste in support of their own team.
   

The principals and athletic directors have agreed to take the following action steps to implement their position:

• To share with the student body and the community-at-large our support of good sportsmanship.
   

• To actively enforce our goals at all games.
   

• Persons whose behavior is not consistent with the goals stated above will be dealt with directly by the supervisors of the game.
   

• Game supervisors may talk with offending persons and request they change their behavior, excuse such persons from the game or recommend disciplinary actions by school officials and/or law enforcement agencies.
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Each student should understand clearly that good sportsmanship is an expectation at both home and away games. We expect that students at away games will cooperate fully with game supervisors of the host school.