CONESTOGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

SPORTS POLICY

 

Christian education is a nurturing process that includes the training of the mind, body, and spirit through the transmission of knowledge, skills, and values.  The sports program of the school provides a setting in which to practice social, cultural, educational, and spiritual knowledge, skills, and values.  Opportunities for interscholastic play are given to students at the middle school and high school levels.  Conestoga Christian School belongs to the CCAC (Commonwealth Christian Athletic Conference) and PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association).

 

Athletes’ Code of Conduct

1.              Demonstrate self-control and respect for others – officials, spectators, athletes – at all times.

2.  Treat opponents with respect, including shaking hands after competition and congratulating them on their performance.

3.  Respect the integrity and judgment of officials.

4.              Remember that participation in sports is a privilege and is not to be abused by unsportsmanlike conduct.

5.              Remember that improper behavior while in uniform reflects poorly upon the athlete, the school, and the community.

6.              Understand and abide by the rules and regulations of the game.

7.  Accept victory with grace and defeat with dignity.

8.  Abide by regulations in the school’s Code of General Conduct.

 

Misbehavior by an athlete in school can mean a suspension from game(s). Misbehavior of an athlete at a game (or practices and traveling) can result in suspension from additional games as determined by the coach, Athletic Director, and administration.   Athletes and coaches who have been disqualified from a game by an official will be subjected to PIAA regulations regarding play in the next scheduled game.

 

Consequences for missed practices or games will be determined by each coach.

 

Absence from School

1.  An athlete who takes an unexcused absence from school will not be permitted to practice or play in a game that day.  Excessive unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the team.

2.   An athlete who accumulates four unexcused tardies during a quarter (as reported weekly to the building supervisor and Athletic Director) will not be permitted to participate in the next event (practice or game).  If there is an additional accumulation of four unexcused tardies during the season, the student will no longer be eligible to participate in the sport.

3.  An athlete who is sick or has an excused absence for any other reason must be in by noon to practice or play in a game that day.

4.  An athlete who must miss a morning or an afternoon for a medical appointment must be in school the rest of the day in order to practice or play in a game that day.

5.  The coach may check the daily attendance list in the athletic office.

 

Academic Requirements

Athletes must be good competitors in all areas, including academics. All students must comply with the following eligibility requirements. The Athletic Director is responsible to carry out eligibility checks.

 

Eligibility

1.       A team member must maintain passing grades in four major subjects (or the equivalent of four subjects) in order to participate in practices or games.

 

2.       Within an academic quarter, a student whose cumulative work from the beginning of the quarter does not meet the requirement as of any Tuesday will be ineligible from the immediately following Thursday through the following Wednesday.

 

            Eligibility reporting begins the second Wednesday of each quarter.

 

      High school students are responsible to obtain teacher signatures on specific forms indicating eligibility.  These forms are provided by the Athletic Director.  Any percentage below 70% needs to be recorded on these forms.  Students should ask for teacher signatures before school, after school, during breaks, or at the beginning or end of class periods on Wednesdays.  Students may not interrupt class periods to get signatures.  Students need to submit signed forms to the Athletic Director by 3:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

 

      Each high school student is allowed one excused late eligibility form for each sport in which he/she participates.  The late eligibility form must be turned in by the end of morning break on Thursday.  A late eligibility form turned in after morning break or any subsequent times a student turns in a late form will result in the student missing the next game.  The Athletic Director will maintain a written record of late eligibility forms.

     

      Teachers of middle school students will respond to the Athletic Director each week to indicate eligibility.  The Athletic Director will request this information from the middle school teachers each week and maintain a written record of student eligibility.

 

      If a student is ineligible more than twice during a sports season, that student will no longer be eligible to participate in the sport.

 

3.   A student who does not meet the requirement at the end of a quarter will be ineligible for the first fifteen school days of the new quarter.

 

4.   At the end of a school year, the student’s final grades in his/her subjects, rather than the grades for the last marking period, will be used to determine eligibility for the coming year.  Ineligible students may not begin practices (including preseason summer practices) until they have met eligibility requirements for the new school year, beginning the second Wednesday of the quarter.

 

            If parents of CCS team members wish to draw a “tougher” line for an individual student, that decision can be made in consultation with the appropriate team coach and/or the Athletic Director.

 

Discipline

To increase awareness of proper behavior in team members, repeated discipline referrals will have consequences that affect a student’s participation in extracurricular activities.  The goal of these guidelines is to show students that they will be held accountable for their actions and that these actions often affect others.  Since members of sports teams represent CCS, they need to maintain acceptable behavior according to school rules. 

 

The guidelines are as follows:

·         1 referral = talk with coach

 

*An event refers to a game, individual track event, etc.

 

This system will be put into effect at the beginning of the season for each sport.

 

Communication

Good communication prevents misunderstandings!  Athletes report to coaches, coaches report to the Athletic Director, the Athletic Director reports to the Administrator, and the Administrator reports to the Board of Trustees.  Discussion of issues in a professional manner is a necessity. Coaches are to give the Athletic Director and the Administrator a copy of all communication pieces given to players and/or parents. The Athletic Director is to give coaches and the Administrator a copy of all communication pieces from the Athletic Director’s office.

 

Prior to each sports season, the coach will hold a parent meeting.  Attendance by at least one parent is mandatory.

 

During the first week of practice, faculty, administration, and office personnel are to be given a list of athletes.  Any changes to team membership are to be communicated to faculty, administration, and office personnel as they occur. 

 

The Athletic Director is to provide information concerning game dates, locations, and dismissal times for the daily morning memo.

 

Cancellation or Changes to Practices and Games

If a coach needs to cancel or change a practice, the Athletic Director must be contacted.  If the Athletic Director needs to cancel a practice, the coach(es) must be contacted.  Coaches or the Athletic Director are responsible to contact players. The Athletic Director is responsible to update the sports hotline and to inform the school community of changes and cancellations.

 

Coach’s Job Description (for head coaches and assistant coaches)

A.   Code of Conduct

1.              Demonstrate a Christ-like attitude toward athletes, officials, opponents, and spectators.

2.              Promote good sportsmanship by setting a positive example while coaching athletes.

3.  Respect the integrity and judgment of sports’ officials.

4.              Approach competition as healthy, constructive exercise, not as a life and death struggle that requires victory at any price.

5.              Recognize that participants in individual and team sports are young men and women, with frailties and limitations, who are capable of making mistakes.

6.  Avoid inappropriate, crude, or abusive language directed toward players, officials, opponents, or spectators.

7.  Instruct players in the elements of good sportsmanship and remove players who display unsportsmanlike behavior.

 

B.      Responsibilities

1.  Provide spiritual leadership and opportunities for spiritual development of the athlete.

2.  Work cooperatively with the Athletic Director in selecting assistants and in scheduling games.

3.  Attend meetings for coaches called by the Athletic Director. Report on time for games and practice sessions and accurately issue and collect all equipment and uniforms.

   4.   Hold a parent meeting prior to the beginning of each sports season.

5.  Be accountable for the proper conduct of the team and be responsible for upholding CCS conduct regulations.

6.  Be accountable for the equipment used and limit student access to the equipment room.

   7.  Be responsible for closing and locking equipment room and gym.

8.  Greet referees, visiting teams, and coach(es).

9.              Supervise students at all times during games and practice sessions.

 10.    Stay with players after practices and games until all have left or until other supervision arrangements have been clarified with an adult on campus.

 11.    Report any technical calls received by a player or coach to the Athletic Director.

 12.    Keep the Athletic Director informed of potential problems related to the team or any individual player.

 13.    Return all school keys to the Facilities Coordinator after the sports season is over.

 

C.   Care of Equipment/Facilities

1.  See that players keep locker rooms neat and orderly.

2.  Be sure lights (including those in locker rooms) are turned off.

3.              Coaches are responsible for equipment.  All equipment needs to be put away after practices and games.

4.  Use gym lights only as necessary -- not for brief periods of time after returning from away games, for example.

5.  Lock the gym building after games and practices.

 

First Aid

Coaches are responsible to have an equipped first aid kit available during games and practices.

 

Accidents/Injuries

1.  Report all injuries using the Incident Report Form (attached).

2.  For most minor injuries, recommended treatment is: ice, pressure, and elevation for 48 hours after injury. 

3.  For major injuries, contact parents first whenever possible. When necessary, call 911.

4.  Never transport an injured athlete home or to an emergency room in your personal vehicle.

5.  The coach is responsible for the safe conduct of athletes on and off the field or court.  Because many accidents occur during unsupervised situations, the coach is responsible until all team members have left the school after practices and games.

 

Dress Requirements

For Coaches

The faculty appearance code is to be followed for basketball.  Appropriate sports attire is to be worn for other sports.

 

For Athletes

Neatness and modesty are important, recognizing that athletes are representatives of CCS at home and away games and at practices.  Jewelry is not to be worn during practices or games when stipulated by the officials or the coach.  Non-scuff sneakers are required forplay on the gym floor.

 

Games

         On game days, athletes are expected to wear “dress” clothes prior to changing into uniforms.  For guys, “dress” clothes are collared shirts and dress pants or shorts.  Shirts must be buttoned and tucked in.  Ties may be required.  For girls, “dress” clothes are dress pants, skirts, or dresses.  On certain occasions, athletes may be directed to wear their team jerseys with dress pants/shorts.

 

Practices

      Shorts must have an inseam of at least 6 inches.  Denim shorts and cut-offs are not appropriate.  Bicycling shorts are not acceptable.  Shirts need to have sleeve unless authorized by the Athletic Director.  T-shirts and sweatshirts must be appropriate.  Considered inappropriate are logos that go against the school’s philosophy including cartoons, pictures, slogans, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, certain music groups, representation of military activity, or wording related to the military.  If shorts or shirts do not comply with the appearance code, the student will be provided with other clothes to wear.

           

Managers

An honest, responsible, and dedicated manager is an invaluable asset to any coach.  Coaches are urged to select students to assist them in their duties.  Managers must be chosen carefully because they may have to be entrusted with the use of keys and equipment.  They will be expected to fulfill assigned duties responsibly.  Duties that could be designated include: attendance, stats, responsibility for first aid supplies, uniforms, towels, water supply, equipment.  A manager reports directly to a coach and needs to be able to represent the school in a positive manner.  Managers should be of the same gender as the team.

 

Physical Examinations

1.       Written permission from parents is necessary for participation in sports.

2.       All students MUST submit a sports exam report prior to a season of interscholastic play.  Forms are available in the school office and in the Athletic Director’s office.

3.       High school students are required to have a sports exam before the first practice of the season.

4.       Middle school students are required to have a sports exam each year.

5.       Coaches must withhold permission to practice until a sports exam is completed and submitted to the Athletic Director.

 

Transportation

1.       Athletes are expected to travel to and from away games on the team bus or van.

2.       Athletes may receive special permission from the head coach to return home with family.

3.       Under no circumstances may an athlete ride home with anyone other than a family member unless arrangements are made in advance.  Only a responsible adult will drive athletes under this arrangement.

4.       Spectators are not allowed to ride with the team unless special arrangements have been made to include spectators.

Officials

Officials need to be treated respectfully.  Each official should be greeted in a friendly manner and thanked for coming.  Officials should not be harassed by coach, players, or spectators during or after a game.  Problems with officials need to be reported to the Athletic Director as soon as possible after any incident of misunderstanding.

 

Payment of officials is according to PIAA regulations.  The Athletic Director is responsible for contracts, assignments, and payment for officials.

 

Spectators’ Code of Conduct

Spectators, along with coaches and players, are an integral part of an athletic contest.  They are a part of the school community, and their actions reflect on the school’s reputation.

 

A spectator is expected to:

      1.  Direct energies toward encouraging the team.

      2.  Show appreciation for good play on both sides of the contest.

      3.  Learn rules of the game in order to be an informed, intelligent spectator.

      4.  Treat all visiting teams with respect.

      5.  Accept the judgment of coaches and officials.

      6.        Encourage other spectators to participate in a spirit of good sportsmanship.

      7.  Be positive.

                  a.  Avoid actions which offend visiting teams or individual players.

                  b.  Avoid “cheers” that distract or taunt.

                  c.  Avoid use of noisemakers.

      8.  Sit or stand in the spectator area along the north slope of the outdoor field or along the north wall of the gym.  Move across the gym during a time-out, at the quarter, or at the half-time.  Avoid moving along the perimeter of the court while a game is in progress.

      9.  Be sure young children are sitting or standing with parents or other adults.

    10.    Stay off the stage unless it is designated as a seating area.

    11.    Carry food and drink around the perimeter of the court rather than across it.

    12.        Understand that the scoring table is off limits to spectators.

    13.    Keep personal balls out of the gym or off the field during games.

 

Other Information

Sports information regarding games and practices is kept current on extension 118.

 

No after-school supervision is available for spectators for any sports activities.  Therefore, students are not permitted to stay after school to wait for games or practices.  When athletes have late games or practices, they need to make arrangements to leave campus.  If this deters a student from participating in sports, the Athletic Director is to be contacted.