EDUCATION -BASED Fall Sideline Cheerleading ATHLETICS HANDBOOK Cross Country PALS Cycling Girl’s Field Hockey Football Golf Boy’s Soccer Girl’s Soccer Girl’s Volleyball Boy’s Basketball Girl’s Basketball Winter Sideline Cheerleading Indoor Track and Field Swimming PALS Bowling Wrestling Baseball Boy’s Lacrosse Girl’s Lacrosse Softball Tennis Track and Field PALS Bocce BLANK 2 | Page ST. MARY’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2021-2022 Board Members Mrs. Karin M. Bailey, Chairman Mrs. Cathy Allen, Vice Chairman Mr. James J. Davis Mrs. Mary M. Washington Mrs. Rita Weaver Ms. Judy Nguyen , Student Member Dr. J. Scott Smith, Secretary/Treasurer Administration Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen C. Montgomery, Deputy Superintendent Mrs. Tammy S. McCourt, Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services and Human Resources Dr. Jeff Walker, Assistant Superintendent of Supporting Services Mrs. Lisa E. Bachner, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mrs. Megan Doran, Director of Food and Nutrition Services Dr. Dale P. Farrell, Chief of Staff Dr. Kelly M. Hall, Chief of Equity, Engagement and Early Access Mr. David L. Howard, Director of Information Technology Mrs. Kimberly A. Howe, Director of Capital Planning Dr. Alexander C. Jaffurs, Assessment and Accountability Officer Ms. Paola M. Laino, Director of Design and Construction Mrs. Cheryl A. Long, Director of Student Services Dr. Jeffrey A. Maher, Chief Strategic Officer Mr. Scott Szczerbiak, Director of Special Education Mr. Jeffrey K. Thompson, Director of Transportation Mrs. Suja Varghese, Chief Counsel Mr. Ashley B. Varner, Director of Operations Mr. Michael A. Watson, Director of Facility Coordination, Health and Physical Education, and Athletics Mr. Steven M. Whidden, Director of Maintenance Mr. F. Michael Wyant, Chief of Safety and Security Note: For more information, please visit our website at http://www.smcps.org. Central Administration, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650 (301) 475-5511 3 | Page INDEX Athletic Directors 5 Section 1 Education Based Athletics 6 Section 2 List of Sports 7 Section 3 Student Eligibility for High School Sports 8 Section 4 Sports Seasons and Scheduling 12 Section 5 Tryouts 15 Section 6 Sideline Cheerleading 16 Section 7 Physical Activity and Lifetime Sports Program (PALS) 17 Section 8 Questions and Concerns 18 Section 9 Sportsmanship 19 Section 10 Adherence to Conference and MPSSAA rules 21 Section 11 Health and Safety 23 Section 12 Awards and Recognitions 26 Section 13 Sports Officials 27 Section 14 Transportation to/from Athletic Events 28 Section 15 SMCPS Out-of-Season Participation Standards and 29 Regulations Section 16 Athletics Funding and Fundraising 35 Section 17 Heat Acclimatization 37 Section 18 National Collegiate Athletic Association 48 4 | Page Activity Directors Raymond Sapp Chopticon High School 25390 Colton Point Road, Morganza, MD 20660 (301) 475-0215, extension 38135 Ryan Hanley, CAA Great Mills High School (301) 863-4001, extension 18135 21130 Great Mills Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634 Robert “Bruce” Henderson Leonardtown High School 23995 Point Lookout Road Leonardtown, MD 20650 (301) 475-0200, extension 27135 Please direct all inquiries about this document to: Michael A. Watson Director of Facility Coordination, Health and Physical Education, and Athletics St. Mary’s County Public Schools 27190 Point Lookout Road Loveville, Maryland 20656 (301) 475-4256, option 7 5 | Page Section1: EDUCATION-BASED ATHLETICS Education-Based Athletics is a student-centered approach to educating students through participation in Interscholastic Athletics. In addition to the aim of educating youth through athletics, as well as teaching athletic skills, the following statements are objectives of education-based athletics in St. Mary’s County. 1. Athletic competition is designed to provide experiences which will allow the participant to grow physically, socially, mentally, and emotionally. 2. At all times the principles of good sportsmanship should prevail. 3. The concept of winning, though important, should not be the primary objective. Sportsmanship, fair play, and team work should transcend the idea of winning. 4. Interscholastic athletics should assist the individual participant in becoming a contributing member of society. Student athletes should understand the value of maintaining sport participation as an integral part of a lifelong healthy lifestyle STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The aim of the Interscholastic Athletic Program of St. Mary's County is to enhance the total educational curriculum. The athletic program provides all students who meet academic eligibility requirements with the opportunity to participate in competitive interscholastic athletics. The rules and regulations, as well as the recommendations in this handbook, are designed to encourage a desired uniformity for the entire high school interscholastic athletic program of St. Mary’s County. 6 | Page Section 2: LIST OF SPORTS (2021-2022) Fall Season Winter Season Spring Season Practice begins August 11 for all but the Practice begins November 15 for all but Practice begins March 1 for all but Physical Activity and Lifetime Sports PALS PALS Program (PALS) Season ends with the state Season ends with the state Season ends with the state championship for that sport. The championship for that sport. The championship for that sport. Cheerleading season ends with the Cheerleading season ends with the final final state championship if supporting a state championship if supporting a sports team still competing for a sports team still competing for a championship. championship. Sideline Golf Basketball Indoor Track and Baseball Tennis Cheerleading Field Cross Country PALS - Cycling Sideline Swimming Lacrosse Outdoor Track Cheerleading and Field Girls Field Soccer PALS - Bowling Wrestling PALS - Bocce Hockey Football Girls Volleyball Girls Softball For additional information on the Physical Activity and Lifetime Sports Program (PALS) please go to Section 7. Each year the MPSSAA publishes a bulletin for each sport that conducts a state championship. These bulletins contain information on both the Regional and State Championships. The exception is Sideline Cheerleading. However, for administrative purposes, Sideline Cheerleading is placed under Athletics in St. Mary’s County. Results during post-season play are posted here as they become available. 7 | Page SECTION 3: STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Students must meet all eligibility requirements in order to try out for, or participate in a high school sport. A. Enrollment and Residency - A student must be officially registered and attending the member MPSSAA school they are authorized to attend under regulations of the local school system. This will be the high school serving his/her legal guardian’s primary residence unless a transfer has been approved by the Director of Student Services for one of the reasons outlined in the Board of Education of St. Mary's County Policy JECBB-R. B. Home-Schooled - Students who are home-schooled are not eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics because they do not meet the MPSSAA’s requirement set forth in COMAR. C. Minimum Course Load - For course requirements, refer to the current High School Program of Studies. D. Home-Hospital - Students are only eligible if their participation has the written recommendation of a doctor as a component of the Home-Hospital Plan. E. Parental Consent - Each student who wishes to try out for any interscholastic sport must present to their high school principal, via the coach, a certificate from their custodial parent(s)/ guardian(s) indicating the permission of the parent(s)/guardian(s) for participation. Exception: Students, 18, not living with parent(s)/guardian(s), will be handled on an individual basis and will be required to fill out all forms necessary. This and other forms are included in the online registration through FamilyID. F. Pre-participation Physical - Each student who wishes to try out for any interscholastic sport must have the proper medical form (Physical Examination and Medical Information Form) completed by a licensed physician, certified physician's assistant under the direction of a certified physician, or a certified nurse practitioner prior to participating in any try-out, practice session, and/or athletic contest. This form must be turned in to the school before the student is allowed to engage in any try-out, practice sessions and/or athletic practice, or be issued any athletic equipment. It is highly recommended that physical examinations be conducted during summer recess so that students will be covered throughout the following school year. Student managers and statisticians are exempt from this requirement. A copy of the Pre- Participation Physical Evaluation form may be downloaded here. G. Insurance - Each student who participates in any interscholastic athletic try-out, practice or contest must be covered by medical insurance. This also includes student managers and statisticians. Each student who wishes to try out for any interscholastic sport must provide the head coach with the name of his/her medical insurance company and the policy number. For those students not covered under their parent(s)/guardian(s) medical insurance policy, there will be low cost student insurance made available through the school. Application details are available in the school’s front office and/or from the Athletic Director. The parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for the premium for this insurance. 8 | Page H. Student Debts