Student-Athlete

Parent/Guardian

Code of Conduct and Participation Agreement

STUDENT ATHLETE AGREEMENT

As a student athlete, I understand my responsibility to commit to the principles of self-discipline, collaborative effort, and team building. I understand as an athlete, I am an ambassador and role model for my school.

Academic Standards

I understand I am a STUDENT first, and then an ATHLETE. I must fulfill my responsibilities as a student to the best of my ability. I must exhibit behaviors which demonstrate a commitment to maximizing academic success and high moral character. I understand I must abide and comply by the following standards, strategies, and policies:

  • Student athletes must adhere to all academic requirements (study halls, tutoring sessions, etc.) specified by the coach.
  • Individual academic progress is monitored by the coach and other designated staff. If at any time a student athlete is not meeting his or her responsibilities (i.e. warning notices, probationary status notices, grade point average reduction, excessive absences notices, etc.) the head coach will determine appropriate consequences, ranging from restriction of playing/practice privileges up to expulsion and termination from the team.
  • If a student athlete’s grade point average drops below a 2.0 (C average), he or she will become automatically ineligible to participate until the grade point average returns to the 2.0 minimum.
  • Student athletes are not permitted to miss any regularly scheduled classes for activities other than officially scheduled athletics competitions.
  • Sports schedules are designed to minimize missed class time. However, on occasion, sports events may necessitate missing a class. Due to this, student athletes are expected to make every effort not to miss any additional classes, excluding extenuating circumstances such as illness or family emergency. Excessive class absences may result in restriction of a student athlete’s participation in practice or competition.
  • Student athletes are expected to meet all deadline dates for class assignments and are required to make pre-arrangements with instructors when quizzes, tests or special assignments conflict with sporting competition dates.

Behavioral Standards

As a student athlete, I understand I am a visible representative of Bellevue Middle Prep to both my school and the Bellevue community. I understand I represent my school all day long, both inside the building and off campus. I understand my behaviors may be closely scrutinized and watched by the media and general public. My behaviors affect public perception of Bellevue Middle Prep academics, athletics, and character of the entire student body. I am a role model, and will strive to show good sportsmanship, integrity, and self-control. I will commit to the following:

  • Fair play. Intentional acts of unsportsmanlike behavior or cheating will not be tolerated.
  • Self-control. Self-control includes, but is not limited to, resisting the use of profanity, demonstrating unnecessary aggression or hostility towards others, making inappropriate physical gestures, taunting or excessively celebrating, and disrespecting coaches, officials, teammates or opponents.
  • Positive interactions with fans. I am prohibited from interacting in any negative way with fans.
  • Positive interactions with the media. When interacting with the media, student athletes are expected to remain positive. Media interviews are not to be used as a platform to share personal frustrations about the team, coaches, the athletics department or Bellevue Middle. Student athletes must not make negative comments about opponents or officials.
  • Following school and community rules. Any actions which result in a student athlete being sanctioned by school, local, state, or federal authorities may also result in sanctions from the athletics department and/or head coach.

Physical Conditioning and Training

I understand physical conditioning, training programs, and practice sessions are a necessary component of athletic team participation. While preparing teams for competition, these sessions also minimize the risk of injury inherent to competitive sports. All sessions will be designed and supervised by coaches and support staff (trainers, strength coaches, etc.). Sessions will require intense physical activities, which can be physically and emotionally challenging. Coaching staff members will utilize frequent feedback and individualized benchmarks to maximize each athlete’s potential and team success. I understand my participation will require physical and mental commitment, respect, trust, and collaboration with the coaching staff. Therefore, I understand the need for and accept the following participation responsibilities:

  • I will report to my coach or an athletic trainer, any change in my physical, mental or emotional well-being that may affect my ability to participate safely. This includes any additions of prescription medications or over the counter supplements.
  • I will commit to completing all conditioning activities and practice sessions I am asked to perform, to ready me for the physical, mental, and emotional stress associated with my sport. Any exceptions must be documented and approved by the medical staff.
  • I will refrain from outside activities which may enhance my risk of unsafe participation such as excessive exercise, alcohol consumption, using non-prescription drugs, taking over the counter supplements that have not been approved by the athletics department medical staff, taking steroids or other performance enhancing or illegal drugs.
  • I will communicate with my coach or trainer any time I feel any abnormal or labored physical response to exercise (i.e. pain, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.) and I will stop the activity immediately.
  • I will communicate with my coach or trainer any time I feel incapable of continuing to participate due to any physical, mental or emotional distress. I understand I will not be subjected to any retribution if I self-report physical, mental, or emotional distress and elect to discontinue participation. If I believe retribution took place, I am obligated to report such to the Executive Principal, and also to the Director of Athletics.
  • I will communicate with my coach or athletic trainer if I become aware of another athlete’sabnormal or labored physical, mental, or emotional response to any activity.
  • I will immediately stop any activity any time a coach, trainer, or strength coach tells me to and, if applicable, follow their directives regarding follow-up meetings with medical staff or other appropriate professionals.
  • I recognize that participation decisions will be made by professional athletic staff members. Parents/guardians may not override decisions made by the coaching staff.

Teamwork and Team Expectations

I understand team unity and team chemistry are key variables for a positive and successful athletic experience. Commitment to team goals is essential. I will commit to team goals, and understand team goals may take precedence over individual goals. However, I understand the athletics department does not subscribe to a team culture based on intimidation or mandatory allegiance to questionable practices and requires that all student-athletes be treated fairly by coaches, support staff, and teammates. Under these conditions, I understand student athletes are expected to exhibit a level of selflessness that promotes team goals. I commit to the following:

  • I will abide by team rules which have been constructed by the team, approved by the coaches, attached to this agreement, school rules, and align with all TSSAA rules and regulations.
  • I will abide by all athletics department policies.
  • I will not participate in any hazing or other actions that establish a class system (initiations, etc.) and will report any such actions I become aware of and/or witness to my head coach immediately.
  • I will immediately report any behaviors which could be described as abusive by a coach, staff member, or a teammate to the Director of Athletics.
  • I understand student-athletes and coaches are expressly prohibited from engaging in all forms of inappropriate conduct with each other. Student-athletes are expected to immediately report any such behaviors which serve to destroy the standard of impartiality and professional trust which must be maintained by all coaches,
  • Immediately upon receiving the Student-Parent handbook, I will read and comply with the policies in it, in particular the sections which describe the “zero tolerance” policy toward hazing, initiation rituals, sexual harassment, and physical punishment.
  • I will act with honor and do my best to contribute to a culture of respect of self and others.

Prohibition of Retaliation

Creating a culture of personal responsibility requires an assurance to employees and student-athletes that no retaliation will occur against those who report governance association rules violations or misconduct policy violations. Staff and student-athletes are expected to report these concerns to the executive principal, administrator over athletics, athletics director, or any faculty/staff.

I agree to accept the participation standards and policies listed above and knowingly accept that violations of these standards may result in a variety of sanctions by the athletics department including, but not limited to restriction, suspension from, or termination of participation in the athletics program.

Student Athlete Signature:

______Date: ______

Parent/Guardian’s Signature (if athlete under 18):

______Date: ______