Fall

• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Girls' Tennis*
• Girls' Volleyball
• Golf*
• Soccer
• Water Polo*

Winter

• Basketball
• Bowling*
• Competitive Cheerleading
• Diving*
• Indoor Track*
• Swimming*
• Wrestling

Spring

• Baseball
• Boys' Tennis*
• Boys' Volleyball*
• Lacrosse
• Softball
• Track

*denotes athletics that are played in 9th-12th grade only

PIAA Forms

Each athlete must have on file in the athletic office the forms mandated by the PIAA in order to be eligible for contests and practices and the parent/guardian must sign the form indicating the student has permission to play.

Physician Form

Each student athlete must have a physical date after June 1. The parent/guardian and a physician must sign the physical form. No one may participate without this form. This form must be filed in the athletic office.

Emergency Medical Authorization Form

Each athlete’s parent/guardian shall complete an Emergency Medical Authorization Card giving permission for treatment by a certified athletic trainer, physician or hospital when a parent/guardian is not available.

Academic Status

A student must maintain a full-time curriculum. The student must maintain the academic statuses below to be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics. Exeter Township School District academic eligibility requirements exceed those of the PIAA.

During a Marking Period

Academic standing is monitored on a weekly basis during the course of a marking period. All work that is graded for the week will be included in the eligibility report. The eligibility report is completed on the last day of the week which is typically on Fridays at 3PM. For example, if school is not in session on Friday, the eligibility report will be run on Thursday at 3PM. Any student-athlete who is failing two (2) or more credits (59% or lower) during the course of a week will be ineligible. If a student is ineligible, s/he will be ineligible to practice or participate in athletic contests for the following week, a period of 7 days, beginning Sunday and ending Saturday. In addition, a student who is ineligible may not attend away competitions.

End of a Marking Period

Academic standing is also monitored at the end of a marking period. Each student-athlete who is failing two (2) or more credits (59% or lower) during the course of a marking period will be ineligible. Eligibility for the 1st Marking Period of the new school year is based on the previous school year’s final credits. If the student-athlete does not meet this requirement they will remain eligible to practice but ineligible to participate in athletic contests until after the 15th school day of the next grading period beginning on the first day that report cards are issued. In addition, a student who is ineligible may not attend away competitions.

Parent-Coach Communication Procedures

Communication that parents/guardians can expect from a coach:

• Expectations the coach has for the athlete, locations and times of practices and contests, team requirements, team rules and discipline.

Communication the coach can expect from parents/guardians:

• Notification of schedule conflicts and information which is imperative to an athlete’s safety.

Appropriate topics to discuss with a coach

• Ways to help the athlete improve, concerns about the athlete’s behavior and the treatment of the athlete.

Issues not appropriate to discuss with a coach

• Playing time, team strategy and other team members

Procedure to Meet with a Coach

1. Encourage your son/daughter to speak directly to the coach.
2. Call to set up an appointment. If the coach is employed in one of our school buildings, leave a message at the school to be put in the coach’s mailbox.
3. If the coach does not work in a school building, call the athletic office to leave the message. The coach will telephone you to make an appointment or to clarify the concern over the telephone.
4. If the meeting with the coach does not provide a satisfactory resolution, write a letter to the athletic director describing in detail the problem. The letter will help begin the inquiry process. The athletic director will then telephone to clarify the problem by phone or to set up an appointment. No one will discuss playing time or roster cuts.

   Note: Please do not confront a coach before, during or after contests.

Truancy/Attendance

Absences due to confining illness, injury or death in the immediate family may be waived by the district committee. No one may participate in an athletic contest if s/he is absent on the day of the contest. Students must be in school by 10:40AM. Students in ISR may not participate in a same-day athletic event or practice.

Hazing

Hazing of any type is prohibited at all times. Hazing is defined as any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or membership in any athletic organization. Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or a group, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if a student willingly participates. Any student who believes that s/he has been subject to hazing or has knowledge of hazing activity shall report the incident to the athletic director or principal. The athletic director and the principal will investigate the alleged hazing. The principal will take appropriate disciplinary action as circumstances warrant.

Fighting in Interscholastic Sports

Fighting and flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct in interscholastic sports are prohibited. A violation of this rule shall bring a suspension for the remainder of that contest plus suspension from the next scheduled contest in addition to school-related consequences.

Individual Rules of a Coach

Coaches may establish additional rules and regulations with the approval of the athletic director and principal for their respective sports. These additional rules for a particular sport must be stipulated in writing to all team members and parents and explained fully at the start of the season. Penalties for violation of team rules will also be in writing and shall be administered by the coach. Copies of all additional team rules established by coaches are on file in the athletic office.

Suspension for Longer than One Game

General rules are developed that are consistent for all athletic teams. In addition to these general rules, each coach may develop additional rules for his/her particular team. The athletic director and the principal will administer the general rules. The coach is responsible for administering reasonable disciplinary action for violations of all specified team rules.

Participation

An athlete may participate in only one sport per season. Exceptions may be granted by the athletic director in exceptional cases. In these cases, the student/athlete must make a request to the athletic director. The request must be in writing and stipulate which sport is to be the primary sport and which is to be secondary. Both coaches must agree to the stipulation and be prepared to refer to the stipulation to resolve conflicts of schedule.

Dropping or Transferring Sports

Completing a season is highly desirable. However, on occasion an athlete might find it necessary to drop a sport for a good reason. If this is the case, the student athlete should consult with the head coach. The student shall return all equipment. If an athlete wishes to change sports during the season, s/he should consult with both coaches and the athletic director. The receiving coach must consent to the transfer.

Equipment

School equipment issued to the student-athlete is his/her responsibility. S/he is expected to keep it clean and in good condition. All athletes are responsible for the proper care and security of equipment issued to them.

School-furnished equipment is to be worn only for contests and practice. Athletes who do not return all equipment at the end of the season will pay for its replacement. In several sports, athletes will be required to purchase a portion of the game uniform, which will after the season become their property.

Missing Practice or a Game

An athlete should always consult his/her coach before missing practice. Missing practice or a game without good reason will be dealt with through team discipline.

Travel

All athletes must travel to and from out-of-town athletic contests in transportation provided by the athletic department unless the parents make previous arrangements in writing with the head coach for an exceptional situation. Athletes will remain with their team and under the supervision of the coach when attending away contests.

Conflicts Between Extracurricular Activities

An individual student who attempts to participate in several extracurricular activities might create a conflict of obligations or interests. Students are responsible for working with coaches or advisors to resolve scheduling conflicts as soon as the conflict presents itself. When a conflict cannot be resolved, the principal will make the decision based on the following:

• The importance of each event to the student.
• The importance of each event to the school.
• The relative contribution the student can make.
• A talk with the parent/guardian.

Once a decision has been made and the student has committed to that decision, s/he will not be penalized in any way by either faculty sponsor/coach. If it becomes obvious that a student cannot fulfill the obligation of a school activity, s/he should withdraw from that activity.

Release from Class

It is the responsibility of athletes to see their teacher the day before missed classes caused by an athletic contest. All work shall be made up at the direction of the teacher.

Grooming & Dress Policy

A member of an athletic team is expected to be well groomed. Appearance, expression and actions always influence people’s opinions of athletes, the team and the school.

Vacation Policy

Vacations by athletic team members during a sports season are discouraged. Parents/guardians and athletes wishing to go on vacation should reassess the student’s commitment to being an athlete. In the event of an absence due to a vacation, an athlete must be willing to assume the consequences related to his/her status on that team.

Squad Selection & Reduction

Time, space, facilities, equipment, personal preference and other factors will place limitations on the most effective team size for any particular sport. Selection is based on performance and includes technique, tactics, conditioning, attitude and overall value of contribution to the team. Varsity team selection is made with the above factors as the most important criteria. Choosing the members of a team is the sole responsibility of the coaches of that team. Prior to trying out, the coach shall provide the following information to all candidates for the team:

• Extent of try-out period
• Criteria used to select the team
• Number to be selected
• Practice commitment on making the team

Reporting Injuries

All injuries which occur during participation in athletics should be reported to the trainer and coach. Once a physician treats an athlete, the athlete must obtain the doctor’s permission to return to the activity.

Locker Room Regulations

• Roughhousing is not allowed in the locker room
• No one except coaches and assigned players are allowed in the locker room
• No glass containers are permitted in locker rooms
• Spiked and cleated shoes are to be taken off outside of the locker room at all times

Varsity Letter Requirements

The varsity award shall be presented to an athlete who satisfies the participation requirements listed below, completes all team obligations and receives the recommendation of the coach.

• An athlete should participate in 50% of the scheduled contests in a season.
• A coach will have the prerogative to letter a student who has not met the seasonal requirements for lettering.
• Injury Rule: Any athlete who is a starter or plays regularly and was thereafter injured may be awarded a letter, if, in the coach’s judgment, s/he would have met the lettering requirements.
• Managers/statisticians/student trainer award will parallel the regular awards system for someone who completes the entire season.

An athlete must complete the season in good standing with the school and coach.

Championship Award

All members of a varsity team that wins a league, district or state championship will receive a picture plaque commemorating the championship.