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Athletic Eligibility

Interscholastic athletics for boys and girls are an integral and desirable part of the district’s secondary school educational program. Individual and team sports shall be based upon comprehensive physical education instruction and intramural activities, seeking broad participation from all eligible secondary students. Lifetime or carry-over sports are to be particularly encouraged and sup­ported. Parity in the number and kind of sports activities for girls and boys is a clear objective of the district. Student eligibility for participation on interscholastic teams shall include:

  1. authorization by the school physician;
  2. written parent or guardian consent (the written consent will contain information for parents on mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and will provide a link to the State Education Department’s web page on TBI); and
  3. endorsement by the Director of Athletics based on established rules and various league and State Education Department regulations.

Although the district will take reasonable care to protect student athletes, students may still sustain injuries. In order to most effectively ensure student safety, open communication between students, parents and coaches about the child’s medical condition is critical. Coaches, and other appropriate staff, will receive guidance and training regarding recognition of injury and removal of the student athlete from play in the event of injury. Parents and/or students are expected to report injuries so that student health can be protected.

In the case of a suspected or actual head injury, a student must be removed from play immediately. In order to resume participation following injury, including head injury, the student needs to receive medical clearance. The Superintendent, in consultation with appropriate district staff, including the school physician, will develop regulations and procedures to guide the process of return to play.

In recognition of the importance of appropriately managing head injuries, the Board authorizes the creation of a Concussion Management Team (CMT). The CMT will be comprised of the athletic director, a school nurse, the school physician, a coach of an interscholastic team, an athletic trainer (if one is available) and other appropriate personnel if deemed necessary by the Superintendent. The CMT is charged with overseeing compliance with state training requirements, developing guidelines for use by coaches and physical education teachers and developing information for distribution to parents and students.

Academic Eligibility

This policy applies to every student of the Monticello Central School District. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their academic status and work towards eligibility.

Three States of Eligibility:

  1. Eligible – Student is failing zero, one or two courses. Student can attend and participate in all extra-curricular activities.
  2. Practice-Only Ineligible – Student is failing three or four courses. Students can attend practices or meetings but cannot participate in games or performances.
  3. Ineligible – Student is failing five or more courses. Student cannot practice or attend meetings and cannot participate in games or performances.

** Students in either phase of INELIGIBLITY cannot attend extra-curricular events as a spectator.

Process:

  1. Eligibility will be checked approximately every 15 in-session school days.
  2. Any student failing two or fewer classes will be determined “eligible.”
  3. A student becomes “practice-only eligible” if they are failing three (3) or four (4) classes when grades are pulled.
  4. A student becomes “ineligible” if they are failing five (5) or more classes when grades are pulled.
  5. All student work must be turned into the teacher by the teacher’s designated time. Please note that work turned in within two (2) days of the end of the instructional period might not be reflected by the time of the eligibility report.
  6. The failure lists will be generated through School Tool. Students are responsible for checking School Tool for their status. Advisors will be informed through building administration and coaches will be informed of the lists through the Athletic Director.
  7. Advisors/Coaches are responsible for enforcing the ineligibility period.
  8. Students may have their eligibility reviewed, at the earliest, after the fifth (5th) school day. Students who attended tutorial and are failing two or fewer classes may regain eligibility after the fifth (5th) school day.
  9. Students who are on the “practice-only eligible” will participate in practices/meetings as member of the team/club/activity; will attend at the advisors/coach’s professional discretion but cannot participate in performances or contests as a member of the team/club/activity. Students will participate in performances in connection with course requirements.
  10. Students who are classified as ineligible will not be permitted to attend extracurricular events as spectators.
  11. Any student wishing to appeal their ineligibility status due to an extenuating circumstance must first present their case to their guidance counselor. The guidance counselor should consider the impact the students extenuating circumstance had on the student’s ineligibility. If the guidance counselor considers the extenuating circumstance to directly correlate to the students’ academic decline, a panel of school professionals will then convene to review and determine the outcome of the appeal.

Appeals to a students’ ineligibility status may be reviewed by a panel of school professionals.

Athletic Placement Process (formerly Selection/Classification)

The Board permits students in grades 7 and 8 who wish to play at the freshman, junior varsity or varsity level in all sports to do so provided they can complete the entire Athletic Placement Process (APP). A description of the APP is available from the district’s Athletic Director.

Course Credit

In accordance with existing Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, the Board of Education will permit students in grades 10-12 to receive credit towards high school graduation equivalent to physical education for participation in inter­scholastic athletics. Such credit will, in addition to other requirements, be contingent upon proven cardiovascular and physical fitness and competency in lifetime or carry-over sports. Standards for such fitness and competency shall be developed by the administration.