WESTLAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL

2004-2005

Athletic Policies and Procedures

DISTRICT TWELVE MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

All middle schools in District Twelve are members of the Adams County School District No. 12 Middle School Activities Association. All competition and contests are held within and between the middle schools of District Twelve. The Middle School Activities Association bylaws and sport regulations supplement the Colorado High School Activities Association and National Federation Activities Association rules.

The Middle School Activities Association believes that athletics are an integral part of the middle school educational experience. Furthermore, the purpose of middle school athletics is to provide opportunities for the middle school student population to participate in inter-school activities, which have educational value and will aid in the preparation for student citizenship.

ATHLETE SUPERVISION

It is the responsibility of the coaching staff to supervise their student athletes before, during and after practices and games. As a result, coaches must adhere to the following guidelines.

Athletes must be supervised at all times while in the building.
For morning practices, student athletes must not be in the building until a coach arrives. If students arrive early, they will not be admitted into the building until their coach arrives.
Following after-school practices or contests, coaches must make sure all students athletes are out of the building and have a way home prior to leaving themselves.
All student athletes must sit with the team during games. Student athletes may not sit with their friends until all competition, both J.V. and varsity, has been completed.
Student athletes may not leave prior to the end of a contest unless they leave in the company of their parents or guardians.

TUESDAY EARLY RELEASE DAYS

In order to maintain the safety of our student athletes, an athletic study hall will be held on Tuesdays from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm during the season of each sport. The study hall is not mandatory, but any student athletes electing to stay in school must attend the study hall. The study hall will be supervised by the campus supervisor or another classified staff member.

Student athletes who act in an inappropriate manner (e.g., creating a disturbance, defiance, etc.) will be warned once and then moved by the study hall supervisor. If the student athlete continues to act in an inappropriate manner, the coach of that athlete will be informed, and the coach will discipline the student athlete according to the table below.

	Consequence
1st offense	Extra conditioning or other coach-imposed consequence
2nd offense	Suspension from next contest
3rd offense	Expulsion from study hall for the remainder of season and suspension from the next contest

Coaches must provide the study hall supervisor with a roster so that he/she may take attendance for each session.

PARTICIPATION POLICY

It is imperative that all student athletes have the following forms on file prior to any participation in practices, issuing of equipment or participation in team activities.

Student athletes must have a current physical examination formon file. The physical must be completed by a registered medical physician or nurse practitioner within one calendar year from the current date.
Student athletes participating in the sport of wrestling must also have a weight card filled out by the physician/nurse practitioner and parent/guardian.
Student athletes must have a signed parent consent form on file, which also contains information indicating “personal insurance coverage” for the student athlete by the parent.
Student athletes must have a Middle School Athletic Code on file, which is signed by both the student athlete and the parent/guardian of the student athlete. The athletic contract is good for one school year and must be reissued each school year.
Student athletes must have paid the appropriate athletic participation fee for the sport. The school athletic director must verify students who qualify for “free” or “reduced” fees. All athletic participation fees should be paid directly to the athletic secretary. Coaches should not accept or receive participation fee payments directly from student athletes.

All the information listed must be on file prior to the student athlete participating in any athletic practice or contest.

ATHLETIC ATTENDANCE POLICY

Student athletes must attend school at least half of the day in order to participate in competition and practice. The absence must be excused. Any exception to this rule must be made by the school athletic director prior to the student athlete’s absence.

Excused Absences

It is understood that occasionally a student athlete may need to miss practice for an appointment or another legitimate reason. If a student will miss a practice, it is the responsibility of the student athlete’s parent or guardian to send a signed note to the coach to inform him/her prior to the absence. If the student’s parent or guardian does not notify the coach prior to the absence, it will be considered unexcused.

Due to the short duration of the athletic seasons at the middle school level, excessive excused absences can have a significant impact on the team. Starting with the third excused absence, the student athlete will not be allowed to start the next game; however, the student may participate as a substitute for one of the starters at the discretion of the coach.

Exceptions to this policy can be made by the head coach for students who are participating in other school-sponsored events or for outside athletic competition; however, the head coach must give the student athlete permission prior to the absence.

Unexcused Absences

Student athletes who have unexcused absences from practice cannot participate in the next competition. Playing priority must be extended to student athletes who maintain excellent attendance and demonstrate exemplary behavior and attitude during practice sessions.

Coaches must contact parents/guardians once a student athlete has three unexcused absences. After the fourth unexcused absences, the student athlete will be dismissed from the team. The decision to dismiss a student athlete must be made in conjunction with the school athletic director and contact must be made with parents/guardians prior to dismissal.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY POLICY

Student athletes must maintain a ‘D’ or higher in all classes in order to participate in competition at Westlake Middle School. Students with one or more failing grades will be permitted to practice; however, they will not be able to participate in games until the failing grade(s) has been raised.

Coaches are responsible for distributing the WLMS Athletics Weekly Progress Report to student athletes weekly on Thursday and checking grades during practice on Friday. If a student does not turn in a completed WLMS Athletics Weekly Progress Report or if he/she is failing one or more courses, he/she will be ineligible for the next week of competition. In addition, during that week the student will be required to attend Homework Club on Wednesday after school in order to raise his/her failing grade(s).

STUDENT BEHAVIOR POLICY

Student athletes are expected to be leaders at Westlake Middle School. Therefore, their behavior should be exemplary at all times. Students who demonstrate poor behavior during the course of the school day or at practice or contest will be subject to disciplinary action by the school athletic director or another administrator. Inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from the team. The decision to dismiss a student athlete must be made in conjunction with the school athletic director and contact must be made with parents/guardians prior to dismissal.

The following table delineates consequences for athletes who receive a referral from a Westlake Middle School administrator.

Referral consequence	Team consequence for 1st or 2nd offense	Team consequence for 3rd offense
Level I – Warning, parent conference/contact, detention	Extra conditioning or other coach-imposed consequence	Refer to Level II 1st or 2nd offense
Level II – Saturday School, In-school suspension, Restorative Justice	Suspension from practice for duration of suspension and suspension from next contest	Refer to Level III 1st or 2nd offense
Level III – Suspension out of school	Dismissal from team

INDIVIDUAL COACH’S POLICIES

All head coaches will be responsible for creating a document listing any additional policies pertaining to their own teams. The coach’s policy document will be disseminated, along with this document, and explained at the first day of practice. Each student and a parent or guardian must sign the coach’s document indicating that they have read and understand the coach’s and school’s policies. These signed copies must be returned to the coach prior to a student’s participation in competition.

Please note: With the approval of the Athletic Director coaches have the discretion to maintain policies more stringent than those listed earlier in this document, but coaches may not create policies that are less stringent. For example, a coach may require students to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to start on the varsity team, but he or she may not allow students to participate who are failing a class.