Uniform Code of Conduct
For Student Athletes
The Howell Public Schools Uniform Code of Conduct for Student Athletes has been developed and implemented to provide a common set of rules for all students participating in athletics. The Code combines some of the rules and regulations of the Michigan High School Athletic Association pertaining to the student athlete as well as specific District rules governing athletic participation. Student athletes are to comply with all aspects of the Code and all of the current MHSAA rules and regulations if they desire to maintain eligibility. In addition, all aspects of the Howell Public Schools Student Code of Conduct will be applied whenever applicable.
Some of the rules of the MHSAA are identified with an (*).
CODE OF CONDUCT
Section I. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION
*A. ENROLLMENT:The student must be enrolled in the school for which he/she competes by the Monday of the fourth week of the semester and must move into the school district with the parent or guardian with whom they last lived during the current school year. The student must reside in the school service area in which he/she attends school unless he/she has received prior District and MHSAA approval to compete in a different school.
*B. AGE:
The student who competed in any high school interscholastic athletic contest must be under 19 years of age. When a student’s 19th birthday occurs on or after September 1st of a current school year, he/she is eligible for participation.
A seventh or eighth grade student must be under 14 or 15 years of age respectively. A student who reaches that age after September 1 is allowed to participate for the remainder of the school year.
*C. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
A student must have a physical examination completed by a physician certifying that the student is fully able to compete in athletics. The physical examination must take place April 15 or later to be used for the current school year. The student SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE in any practice sessions or contests until the completed form has been turned into the team coach. / D. PARENT APPROVAL/STUDENT APPLICATION
The student must submit to the coach of the sport the signed parent approval and signed student application prior to participating in practice sessions of contests.
E. WAIVER OF LIABILIITY AND AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
The student must submit to the coach of the sport the signed Waiver of Liability and Authorization for Emergency Medical Care.
*F. SEASONS OF COMPETITION
A student may not compete in more than four (4) first semester and four (4) second semester seasons of competition.
G. SEMESTERS OF ELIGIBILITY
A student who has been enrolled in grades 9-12 for more than eight semesters shall not compete in any branch of athletics. The seventh and eighth semesters must be consecutive.
H. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
In addition to MHSAA requirements, to be academically eligible to participate in athletics:1. (Grades 6-8): Middle School students who seek to represent their school in athletics shall maintain a grade point average of 2.000 (C) on a 4.000 (A) scale in the grading quarter immediately preceding the official beginning of the athletic season in which participation is sought. Further, students will pass at least six (6) of their seven (7) courses to be eligible.
2. (Grades 9-12): High School students who seek to represent their school in athletics shall maintain a grade point average of 2.000 (C) on a 4.000 (A) scale in the grading quarter (1,3) or semester (end of quarters two and four) immediately preceding the official beginning of the athletic season in which participation is sought. Further, students will pass at least five (5) of their six (6) courses to be eligible. These high school standards apply to all students EXCEPT those students who are entering the first academic quarter (including the months of September and October). Eligibility will automatically accrue to those students who have met the standard herein in the fourth quarter of their middle school program. NOTE: Freshman will enter high school with a “clean slate”. (page 38, HPS 2008-09 Code of Conduct)
Students who fall below the high school standard MAY be declared eligible (by the Director of Athletics) for a probationary period, provided that:
A. They have passed at least five (of six) classes in the in the previous marking period.
B. They have earned a grade point average between 1.800 and 1.999 on a 4.000 (a) scale. /
C: The Athletic Director, in cooperation with the high school principal, shall require a weekly progress report for these probationary students. Howell Public Schools’ and their Athletic Director and/or Principal may, in the interest of the student, terminate eligibility when students’ academic achievement falls below the acceptable standard of 2.000 (C) work as evidenced on these reports.
D. This probationary eligibility is available ONCE (and only once) in the four year program of the student athlete.
E. Probationary students who fail to earn a 2.000 at the end of the next appropriate marking period and who fail to pass five of six classes shall be ineligible for athletic participation until such time as they have earned a quarterly (in cases of the end of first and third quarters) grade point (or semester: at the end of quarters two and four) average a 2.000 (C) or above, calculable at the conclusion of the second (and each ensuing) quarter of work.
Section II: AWARDS
A student will not accept from any source anything for participation in athletics other than an emblematic award. An emblematic award would include, but not be limited to any medal, badge, ribbon, plaque, cup, trophy, banner, picture, or regular letter award. No acceptable award shall exceed twenty-five ($25.00) dollars in value. The price does not include engraving. No one, such as a parent, friend, or other person may accept an award on behalf of the athlete at any time prior to graduation from high school.FAILURE TO COMPLY
Ineligible for athletic competition for a period of not less than one semester from date of violation. If the violation occurs after Monday of the fourth week of a semester, a student is ineligible for the balance of that semester and the succeeding semester.
Section III: MAINTAINING AMATEUR STATUS
A. Students participating in athletics or planning to do so in their school career will not (1) accept any money for participating in athletics, sports or games, (2) receive any money or other valuable consideration for officiating an interscholastic athletic contest, or (3) sign a contract with a professional team.
B. The above rule applies to the following sports: Baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, skiing, soccer, wrestling and volleyball.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Ineligible for athletic competition for a period from the remainder of the season up to one school year.
/ Section IV: OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ATHLETIC COMPETITION
A student, after participating in any athletic contest as a member of his/her high school team, will not participate in the same sport or athletic competition outside of school not sponsored by his/her school during the same sport season.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Ineligible for a minimum of the next three (3) contests and a maximum of the remainder of that season in that school year.
Section V: STUDENT ATTENDANCE ON THE DAY OF AN ATHLETIC CONTEST
Students are to attend school at least three (3) periods of the school day if they plan to participate in a contest during the same day or evening. A parental explained absence of their son’s/daughter’s absence in compliance with the Howell Student Code could allow for participation upon written approval of the building principal or designee.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Ineligible to participate in the next athletic contest which could occur on the day of the violation
Section VI: TRAVELING TO AND FROM ATHLETIC CONTESTS
Any student traveling to an away athletic contest as a member of a team on a school owned or chartered mode of transportation or other such approved vehicles, shall return to the home school on the same vehicle after the contest is over. The only exception is if a parent of guardian submits a written request to the Principal, Director of Athletics, or their designee and receives approval to take their student home from the contest. Students will only be released to their parents or guardians.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
First Violation: Ineligible to participate in the next contest.
Second Violation: Ineligible to participate in the next three (3) contests.
Third Violation: Ineligible to participate in athletics for the remainder of the school year.
Section VII: ATTENDANCE AT PRACTICE SESSIONS/ATHLETIC CONTESTS
A. Attendance at practice sessions is necessary to prepare athletes physically and mentally for athletic contests. All team members are expected to be at all practice sessions at the times designated by the coach. It is realized there are situations when it is impossible for a participant to attend practice due to illness, injury and other required school or family commitments. The participant shall make prior arrangements with the coach for an excused absence.
B. Participants will be excused from team practice during regular school vacation periods when they are taking part in a school sponsored or parent approved trip, with the following exceptions:
Practice may be necessary during Labor Day Weekend prior to the first football game to meet state practice requirements in football.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
A participant, who fails to attend a regularly scheduled practice session during a season and receives an unexcused absence, may be withheld from all interscholastic athletic contests for one calendar week from the date of the unexcused absence. Upon reinstatement, the participant will be considered a regular member of the team. If an additional unexcused absence occurs, the participant may be excluded from team membership for the remainder of that sport season.
Section VIII: SUMMER AND OFF SEASON ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
A wide variety of sports, schools, clinics and training programs are offered to athletes during the summer months and off-season by the district recreation and community education department or individual coaches. These programs provide an excellent opportunity for the aspiring athlete to improve his/her skills in a chosen sport. 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 an athletic team and succeeding sport season.
Section IX: HAIRSTYLES AND DRESS CODE FOR ATHLETES
No student will be excluded from participation or athletic competition on any athletic team due to personal appearance, with the exception that:
A. The hair should not be worn in such a manner that it may cover the eyes during athletic practice or competition. While grooming is a personal matter, the athlete represents their school team, and therefore, habits of good grooming shall be stressed.
B. A student participating on an athletic team must comply with the rules regarding grooming and jewelry as stipulated by the National Federation for that sport. / C. The student-athlete’s personal appearance should set a good example for the rest of the student body. Coaches may have a dress code for days of competition.
D. If the health and/or safety of an individual or his/her teammates or opponents would be endangered because of the length of one’s hair that individual will be asked to alter their hairstyle.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Any student failing to comply with this section shall be withdrawn until such time as compliance is fulfilled.
Section X: USE, POSSESSION OR SALE OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, DRUG SUBSTANCES, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OR ANABOLIC STERIODS:
Athletes should totally abstain from these substances. Athletes should set an example for the rest of the student body. These expectations and penalties apply year round.
PENALTIES:
First Violation: The student athlete shall lose eligibility for 10% of the season.
Second Violation: The student shall lose eligibility for 25% of the season.
Third Violation: The student athlete will be excluded from participation in athletics for the remainder of their career at Howell Public Schools.
The percentage (%) would be rounded to the nearest whole number.
***NOTE: The athlete may practice but will not be allowed to participate in an interscholastic event. The above penalties are subject to district due process procedures.
Section XI: Sportsmanship/hazing/language/conduct:
Student athletes must exhibit good sportsmanship both in and out of competition. They are to show respect for all other people they may come in contact with. The use of vulgar or profane language is unacceptable anywhere and at anytime. This conduct may result in disciplinary action by the head coach, athletic director, and/or building administrator ranging from a warning to removal from the team, depending on the infraction’s severity.
In addition, any actions or behavior by student athletes which are judged inappropriate may result in disciplinary action being taken by head coach, athletic director and/or principal.
EXPECTATIONS RELATIVE TO CONDUCT APPLY TWELVE (12) MONTHS A YEAR.
Section XII: SUPPLEMENT RULES AND REGUALTIONS:
Supplemental rules/regulations unique to a given sport may be implemented upon the approval of the principal and district athletic director. These rules must be in writing and submitted to participants prior to the start of the season, except under special circumstances as approved by the athletic director.