EXTRA CURRICULAR POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

EXTRA CURRICULAR POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES Extra Curricular Activity Extra curricular activity is defined as any activity outside the regular school curriculum and includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: sports, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA, FCCLA, any clubs, Scholastic Bowl, music contests, dances, king and queen contestants, etc. Any extra curricular activity is subject to the guidelines set forth in this policy. Article III Extra Curricular Participant Section A High School Participation in an extra curricular activity is a privilege extended by Iroquois West #10 to its students. Iroquois West holds the participants of extra curricular activities to a higher standard of behavior than is the case for a non participant. For the purpose of this policy, a high school student becomes an extra curricular participant when the student signs and returns the written notice that they received in the student handbook and will remain a participant until they graduate from high school. 8 th graders who have attended IWMS are under the terms of this agreement starting on the day they are promoted from 8 th grade to high school. Those 8 th grade students who are taking summer school in order to secure promotion to high school are also under the terms of this agreement. 1. Eligibility will be checked on Friday of each week or the last day of attendance for the week. If a student is ineligible; they will not be allowed to participate in any contest on Monday Saturday of the following week. Eligibility rules apply for all extra curricular activities. 2. Grades 9 12 will follow the IHSA rules on eligibility: A. Students must maintain a 1.0 grade point average B. Grades shall be accumulative for each semester grading period C. Students must be doing passing work in at least 20 credit hours of work per week D. Students may not be failing more than one subject E. Students must pass 20 credit hours to be eligible for the next semester F. All students in extra curricular activities are subject to eligibility rules 3. In addition to the IHSA eligibility rules, Iroquois West has the following rules regarding eligibility: A. If a student is not eligible, the participant will be allowed to practice but will not participate in any games/events/activities for that week. The week will run Monday through Saturday of the following week. B. If an athlete/participant is not eligible for any three weeks during an extracurricular season, that participant will be dropped from that activity (incomplete grades do not count as failures). 4. Physical Examinations A. No athlete will be allowed to tryout, practice or participate in any game unless he/she has on file with the Athletic Director a certificate of physical fitness, not more than one calendar year preceding the activity, issued by a licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse or a physician assistant who

assures that the student s health status allows for active athletic participation. 5. Age Requirements A. Age requirements for IHSA sponsored activities will be those stated by the IHSA. 6. Activity Fee A. All athletes will be required to purchase an Iroquois West Activity Pass. Any student who is financially unable to purchase an activity pass may still participate by making arrangements with the building administrator. 7. Insurance A. Sport activities inevitably increase the risk of injury, some of which could be substantial. B. The athlete may not be covered in case of injury unless he/she is covered by an adequate health insurance plan. C. The District does not provide health insurance except that which is offered through the school at the participant s expense. D. Athletes must return a Proof of Insurance Form indicating that they have purchased insurance from the school or carry insurance on their child from another carrier. This form must be returned to the school before the athlete may begin practice. 8. Primary Sports At the freshmen level or the first year a student participates in an extra curricular activity, a student establishes his/her primary sport(s). During the next year, a student may not serve a suspension in a sport that is not a primary sport (example: A student plays golf and basketball his/her freshmen year, which establishes his/her primary sports as basketball and golf. If a violation of the extra curricular policy occurs immediately after basketball his/her sophomore year, the student would serve the suspension in either golf or basketball, which ever they are participating in next. The student could not serve the suspension in track or any other spring sport to avoid suspension in a primary sport). Each year a student establishes his/her primary sports for the following year. Section B Middle School Participation in an extra curricular activity is a privilege extended by Iroquois West #10 to its students. Iroquois West holds the participants of extra curricular activities to a higher standard of behavior than is the case for a non participant. For the purpose of this policy, a student becomes a participant when the student signs and returns the written notice that they received the student handbook or a copy of these procedures at the beginning of their sixth grade year or at the first Fall practice. Participants are under the terms of these procedures from the first practice in the fall of their sixth grade year to their promotion from 8 th grade. 8 th grade students who are taking summer school in order to secure promotion to high school or 8 th graders who are promoted to high school are considered freshmen and fall under the terms of this agreement as freshmen. 1. Eligibility will be checked on a designated day of each week. Eligibility rules apply for all extra curricular activities. 2. Grades 5 8 will follow the IESA rules on eligibility:

A. Students must be passing all subjects each week B. Grades shall be accumulative for each nine week grading period 3. In addition to the IESA eligibility rules, Iroquois West has the following rules regarding eligibility: A. If a student is not eligible, the athlete will be allowed to practice but will not participate in any games for that week. The week will run Monday through Saturday of the following week. B. If an athlete/participant is not eligible for any three weeks during a sport season, that participant will be dropped from that activity (incomplete grades do not count as failures). 4. Physical Examinations A. No athlete will be allowed to tryout, practice or participate in any game unless he/she has on file with the Athletic Director a certificate of physical fitness, not more than one calendar year preceding the activity, issued by a licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse or a physician assistant who assures that the student s health status allows for active athletic participation. 5. Age Requirements A. Age requirements will be those stated by the IESA. 6. Activity Fee A. All athletes will be required to purchase an Iroquois West Activity Pass. Any student who is financially unable to purchase an activity pass may still participate by making arrangements with the building administrator. 7. Insurance A. Athletics inevitably increase the risk of injury, some of which could be substantial. B. The athlete may not be covered in case of injury unless he/she is covered by an adequate health insurance plan. C. The District does not provide health insurance except that which is offered through the school at the participant s expense. D. Athletes and their parents must return a Proof of Insurance Form indicating that they have purchased insurance from the school or carry insurance on their child from another carrier. E. Athletes must present proof of insurance before they may begin practices. Section C High School and Middle School 1. Permission Slip A. Each participant of any activity will be required to have on file with the Athletic Director/Principal a permission slip signed by the student and parents stating that the student may participate in extra curricular activities at Iroquois West and that both the student and the parents agree to follow the extra curricular procedures of the district as outlined in the student handbook. 2. Attendance

A. In order for a student to participate in an activity or game on a school afternoon or night, he/she must be in attendance at school the ENTIRE DAY. The only exception will be by administrative approval. If a student misses any part of the school day due to illness, he/she will not be permitted to participate in that afternoon or evening activity. A student who is sick enough to miss any part of the academic day is too sick to participate in extra curricular activities. 3. Suspension/Expulsion A. Suspension from school, whether all day, internal or external, will result in the student not participating in practices, contests, or games during the suspension. B. Any Board issued expulsions from school for longer than ten (10) days will result in suspension from extra curricular activities for the remainder of the semester. C. Suspension for Out of Season violations can only be served if the player is on the team and participating in practice. Non participation on or failure to make the team will not count as serving a suspension and the non served portion of the suspension will be carried over to the next appropriate sport/activity. Suspension for In Season violations will result in removal from the team and possible further carried over suspensions in another activity/sport. 4. Practices A. Participants will be expected to attend all practices. The following will be excused: 1. Illness 2. Illness or death in the family 3. Pre approved doctor appointments 4. Other reasons prearranged with the coach or administration B. Appropriate behavior at practices will be expected. C. Violations will result in penalties determined by the coach. D. Any student who does not participate due to illness or injury in physical education class will not be allowed to participate in athletics on that day. E. No junior high student may participate in a practice, weight lifting session, or an open gym or conditioning program at the high school prior to their graduation from Middle School. Games, Contests, Matches A. All athletes must ride school transportation to away games. Exceptions can be made by administrative approval. B. Athletes may ride home with THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIAN if the parent / guardian signs the sign out sheet prior to leaving the game. Failure to follow this policy will result in a minimum one game suspension. C. Appropriate behavior at games is expected. D. Any student who does not participate due to illness or injury in physical education class will not be allowed to participate in the game that day. Article IV Extra Curricular Committee The Extra Curricular Committee will consider and handle all major rule violations. Major rule violations are those which might result in permanent suspension from extra curricular activities. Individual coaching decisions, such as a determination to play or bench a player, or decisions

by individual coaches to discipline participants for rule violations which do not involve permanent suspension from extra curricular activities are not a major rule violation. In the event an activity is a requirement for a grade in a class (band, chorus, etc.), the instructor of the class will provide the student (on an individual basis) with an alternative grading plan. The Committee will consist of the building principal, the building athletic director, and at least one head coach/sponsor that is not coaching the sport/activity involving the participant. If the Principal and the Athletic Director is the same person or if the Athletic Director is coaching the sport involved, a coach/sponsor from another sport/activity will be selected to the committee. In the event a principal is coaching the sport involved, a principal from another building will be selected to serve on the committee. In situations involving National Honor Society members, the Faculty Council will be the committee. Procedures for dealing with violations will be: A. When a violation is suspected, the Principal shall call a meeting of the appropriate extra curricular committee. This committee will determine if an infraction has occurred. B. After reviewing all information, the participant, parents, and coach will be notified in writing of the decision of the extra curricular committee. The participant and parents have the right to a review. The following procedures will be followed: A. The participant and parent/guardian may make a written request for a review to the Superintendent within five (5) days after parent/guardian notification of the ruling. Failure to submit the written request within five working/school days shall constitute a waiver of the right to a review. B. The parents or student, shall explain, in writing prior to the review, why the decision of the Extra Curricular Committee is wrong. C. The Superintendent is empowered to review the decisions of the Extra Curricular Committee and overturn them if they are excessive or not in compliance with procedure. D. The parent/guardian and/or student have the right to be present at any meeting that involves the review of the Extra Curricular Committee s findings and decision, but neither shall be represented by legal counsel. E. The decision of the Extra Curricular Committee and the Superintendent may be reviewed by the Board of Education. The decision of the Board of Education is final. Article V Use of Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages or Drugs Participants at Iroquois West will not consume, possess, or distribute drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. For the purpose of this handbook, drugs will be defined as any substance or look alike substance recognized as drugs in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or official National Formally, or any supplement to any of them, unless specifically prescribed by a licensed practitioner for medicinal purposes for use by the student in the manner provided, or any substance containing cannabis, marijuana or hashish, including any materials which are represented by the student, or the student believes to be any of the above.

For the purpose of this policy, IN SEASON will be defined as the time between the beginning of the first day of practice to the end of the last game/activity of the season (this includes any all star game that occurs after the normal course of the season) and OUT OF SEASON will be defined as any day not in season, which includes summer vacation. Infractions on or off school grounds seen by a coach/sponsor, athletic director, administrator or his/her designee, certified staff, or reported to the administration by police will be punishable through the use of sport units, percentages of the season, or a designated amount of weeks. All extra curricular activities not using sport units will be punishable by: In year long activities, students will be ineligible for participation for nine weeks. Activities, which are not punishable by sport units, will not be subject to the summer policy (summer policy those days between the last day of the school year and the first day of the next school year). Officers of organizations/classes will forfeit their office if they violate this policy. Members of honor organizations (Student Council, National Honor Society, and Captains at the High School and Student Council and Prevention Theater at the Middle School) will be dismissed from their organization if they are found to be in violation of the terms in this policy. Summer policy applies to the honor organizations listed above. Students in violation of the extra curricular Out Of Season policy will be ineligible to participate in 25% of the next activity on their first offense of this policy. Extra curricular participants in king and queen contests, including attendants, will not be allowed to participate at the dance, if they violate this policy. For the purpose of this policy a SPORT UNIT will be defined as: 1 football game 2 volleyball matches 2 basketball games 2 baseball games 1 track meet 1 rifle match 2 softball games 1 golf match 2 soccer games 2 cheerleading games Miscellaneous Issues: If any suspension has not been completed at the conclusion of a sport season, then the balance of the exclusion shall apply in the subsequent sport season, even if the season is in another school year. Students may not count more than one level of play toward a suspension (a player who plays both varsity and junior varsity cannot count both games as a suspension). Students who must serve an out of season suspension and who go out for two sports simultaneously cannot reduce suspensions in either sport. Both suspensions must be served in full in both sports. A student who must serve an out of season suspension will not be allowed to go out for a sport to serve the suspension, if the sport has already started practice. An extra curricular participant who accrues three (3) offenses (3 violations of this policy) at the high school or the middle school building will be ineligible to participate in any extra curricular activity for the remainder of their attendance at that building. This includes violations of either Article V and/or Article VI.

A. TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, AND/OR DRUGS Student participants at Iroquois West will not consume, possess, or distribute tobacco, alcohol, and/or illegal drugs. Violations will result in: FIRST OFFENSE: OUT OF SEASON No participation in athletics for at least three (3) sport units up to a maximum of (5) sport units at the High School level and for at least two (2) sport units up to a maximum of (4) sport units at the Middle School level, depending on the severity of the violation as determined by the Extra Curricular Committee. Sport units will be served at the appropriate level depending on the grade level of the student. The student will be suspended for the determined number of games at their designated level of competition and all other games at any level in the interim. All other activities not punishable by sport units no participation in 25% of the activity or number of matches/events in their next activity. IN SEASON The participant will be suspended for the remainder of the season in that sport. If the number of games left in the season are not enough to cover the suspension levied by the Extra Curricular Committee (for a first offense the penalty would be from 3 to 5 sport units), any remaining sport units will carry over to the next primary sport (example: A student is found guilty of violating the policy during the eighth week of football and there are 2 games remaining. The student s penalty as ruled by the Extra Curricular Committee was a penalty of four sport units. The ruling in this case would be suspension from the team for the remainder of the season and 2 sport units to be carried over to the next sport. Since there are two games remaining in the season, the student would have served 2 of the 4 units and still have 2 units suspension carried over to the next primary sport). Participants in extra curricular activities not punishable by sport units will be suspended for the remainder of that activity. For year round activities, the punishment will be nine weeks of ineligibility from the activity starting from the day the participant is determined in violation of the code. For Honor Activities, the punishment will be permanent dismissal from the activity. Students who are permanently suspended from an extra curricular activity will not practice, attend meetings, participate in senior night or award banquets, and will not receive letters or awards. SECOND OFFENSE: OUT OF SEASON No participation in athletics for at least six (6) sport units up to a maximum of eight (8) sport units at the High School level and for at least four (4) sport units up to a maximum of (6) sport units at the Middle School level, depending upon the severity of the violation as determined by the Extra Curricular Committee. Sport units will be served at the appropriate level depending on the grade level of the student. The student will be suspended for the determined number of games at their designated level of competition and all other games at any level in the interim. All other activities (not Honor) will result in no participation in 50% of the activity or matches in their next activity. IN SEASON Suspension for the remainder of the season. Carryover rules apply (example given under first offense with range of suspension from 6 to 8 units for a second offense). Punishment for year round activities will be eighteen (18) weeks of ineligibility from the date the participant is determined to be in violation of the policy. In

all other activities, the participant will be suspended from the activity for the duration of the activity. THIRD OFFENSE AND ALL OTHERS: No participation in extra curricular activities for the remainder of their career at that building level. A third offense includes violations of either Article V and/or Article VI. Article VI Violation of Criminal Codes, Traffic and Conservation Codes Students who are charged/arrested for any major Traffic, Conservation, or Criminal Code violation including, but not limited to, a felony, theft, battery, assault, vandalism, gang activity or any other violation that involves the potential of serious harm to persons or property will result in the following: The student will be suspended from all extra curricular activities for at least one (1) contest/activity up to a maximum of one (1) calendar year depending upon the severity of the violation as determined by the Extra Curricular Committee. The Extra Curricular Committee may add a supplementary suspension to a sport unit suspension of a drug or alcohol violation based upon the severity of the drug or alcohol offense. Opting to take informal supervision or any other form of probation to avoid a court appearance or to avoid a criminal record will be considered for this policy as an admission of guilt. Article VII Awards An award program will be held each year. The sponsors of each activity will present awards to the participants. Article VIII Year round Policy Beginning with the summer of 1998, any drug, alcohol, or tobacco violation will be punishable by OUT OF SEASON policies. Depending on the athlete s number of previous offenses, violations of policy during the summer will fall under the guidelines of OUT OF SEASON policy listed under Article V. Offenses under Article VI will also fall under this year round policy.