Student/Parent Athletic Handbook 2017-2018 Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Involved Table of Contents Cover Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Philosophy, Objectives, Expectations 3 Sport Offerings 3 Sportsmanship 4 Transportation 4 Practice Schedules 4-5 Clearance 5-6 Eligibility 6 Attendance 6 Changing Sports 6 Awards 7-8 NCAA Clearinghouse 8 College Signings 8 Boosters 9 Code of Conduct 9-11 Random Testing 11 Concussion Management 11-12 Transgender Participation 12 Hazing 13 Parent/Coach Communication 14-15 Ultimate Authority 16 The following information can be found on the HHS Athletic Website: http://district158.haikulearning.com/crozanski/athletics and https://huntley.8to18.com Illinois High School Association Eligibility Rules District 158 Random Testing Policy Illinois High School Association Random Testing Policy HHS Concussion Policy All Clearance Forms 2 I. Philosophy, Objectives, and Expectations of Athletic Participation Huntley High School athletic programs are provided as a privilege to those students having the desire to compete and to enhance their overall abilities. Students who choose to participate are considered “representatives” of Huntley High School and are expected to demonstrate good character, high morals, and an attitude of giving their best. In addition, “representatives” of Huntley High School are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and self-discipline. Because the Board of Education, administration, and staff expect these attributes, the Huntley High School Athletic Code of Conduct is used to ensure that these qualities are demonstrated by all participants. The objectives of the athletic programs at Huntley High School are to: 1. Provide a highly competitive experience grounded in sound educational practice. 2. Assist in the safe and healthy development of the participant. 3. Create an enjoyable experience for the participants, student body, fans, and community by promoting sportsmanship, morale, and school spirit. 4. Instill qualities such as teamwork, pride, work ethic, personal responsibility, and self-discipline in its participants. 5. Promote the education and development of students through high school athletic participation. II. Sport Offerings FALL SPORTS Cross Country (Boys) Cross County (Girls) Football Golf (Boys) Golf (Girls) Soccer (Boys) Swimming (Girls) Tennis (Girls) Volleyball (Girls) WINTER SPORTS Basketball (Boys) Basketball (Girls) Bowling (Boys) Bowling (Girls) Cheerleading Poms Swimming (Boys) Wrestling SPRING SPORTS Baseball Lacrosse (Boys) Lacrosse (Girls) Soccer (Girls) Softball Tennis (Boys) Track and Field (Boys) Track and Field (Girls) 3 III. Sportsmanship Huntley High School will emphasize and enforce all Illinois High School Association (IHSA), District 158, and Fox Valley Conference policies on sportsmanship. “Representatives” of Huntley High School are expected to adhere to the highest standards for behavior at all school-sponsored activities. IV. Transportation The athletic office will make transportation arrangements for all athletic events through the District Transportation Department. Participants are required to ride district-provided transportation to and from away events. Parents may transport their child home from away events by signing the transportation sign-out sheet provided at the event. Parents may only sign-out their child. A parent may grant permission for his/her child to ride home with another parent by providing advanced written notification to the principal, athletic director, or coach. The parent that is being granted permission will, in turn, need to sign-out the participant after the event. Under no circumstances will District 158 take the responsibility of releasing a participant to be transported by anyone other than a parent. If a participant misses the bus, he or she may only be transported to the event by his or her parent(s). Upon arriving at the site of the event, the participant’s parent needs to present the participant to the coach. Under any other conditions, the student will not be permitted to participate. Any student missing the bus due to a detention will not be allowed to participate. Huntley HS is not able to offer facilities for all of their sport teams to practice. Teams such as golf, bowling, and swimming must practice off-site. Parents/guardians may sign a waiver to allow their son/daughter to drive themselves to these locations for practice and home events. This waiver will be reviewed and signed on an annual basis. An activity bus will be available to transport students to these locations if the parent/guardian opts out of signing the waiver. Unforeseen or extenuating circumstances will require permission of the athletic director. V. Practice Schedules The start of practice for each sport will be announced well in advance of the date of the first practice. Practice schedules will be distributed to participants no later than the first day of practice. District 158 does not allow mandatory practice on Sundays except under special circumstances and only with the permission of the athletic director. Because of the necessity to share facilities, practice times may need to be staggered. Efforts will be made to equally distribute practice times among the various levels of 4 programs sharing the facilities. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances may force a change in practice schedules. Participants will be notified, as soon as possible, of any practice schedule changes. Conflicts in regard to practices will be handled in the following manner: 1. Educational field trips Should a conflict arise with an educational field trip, the coach and teacher should be in communication with each other and attempt to minimize the impact of the conflict. Participants should not be penalized for missing a practice, or arriving late to a practice, because of attending an educational field trip. 2. School sponsored social activities Attendance at school sponsored social activities does not exempt participants from team responsibilities. Participants who miss events or practices to attend school-sponsored social activities, without the coach/sponsor’s permission, will be considered unexcused and be subject to established team policy regarding unexcused absences. 3. Non-school activities Each coach/sponsor will establish policy, with approval from the Athletic Director, and inform participants of said policy in regard to excused and unexcused absences. 4. Skiing and similar activities Coaches should inform participants of the dangers of participating in skiing/similar activities but may not make policy prohibiting participation in these activities during non-school hours. A participant injured during skiing/similar activities holds no right to his/her position upon returning to his/her team. VI. Clearance to Participate In order to participate in HHS athletics, a student must be registered online at https://huntley.8to18.com. A student may participate in more than one sport per season if approved by the athletic director. The following items must be on file in the athletic office by the date noted: Due before first practice/tryout: 1. Current physical (valid 395 days). Submit form to athletic office 2. Sport Participation Information. Complete 8to18 registration 3. Random Testing - Centegra Form (valid 4 years). Submit form to athletic office 4. Concussion [Impact] Baseline Test (valid 2 years). Schedule with athletic department Due by day of team photos: 5. Participation Fee ($75 per sport). Paid online through district web store or in athletic office 5 Participation fees are to be paid separately from registration fees. Participation fees should be paid in the Huntley High School athletic office or online at the district webstore. Students who qualify to have participation fees waived should contact the athletic director. Any student who quits or is dismissed from a team before the first contest will have his or her participation fee refunded. VII. Weekly and Semester Eligibility Weekly Eligibility A student participating in a sport is subject to the weekly eligibility check during the season for that sport. A student must pass twenty-five (25) credit hours of high school work per week (Monday through Sunday). Twenty-five (25) credit hours is the equivalent of five (5) .5 credit courses (2.5 full credits). Weekly eligibility is based on a student’s grades as they accumulate from the first week to the last week of the semester. The criterion used by the IHSA is what the student’s grade would be if he or she transferred to another school during the course of the semester. Semester Eligibility By IHSA regulation, a student must pass 2.5 credits a semester to be eligible for the next semester. This is the equivalent of five .5-credit classes. The criterion for weekly and semester eligibility is detailed in the IHSA eligibility rules which can be found on the HHS Athletic webpage at https://district158.haikulearning.com/crozanski/athletics/cms_page/view/16909209# VIII. Attendance Attendance is a factor in a student’s eligibility to participate. A student must be in school at least the second-half of the school day. A student who goes home sick is not eligible to participate in that day’s athletic event or practice. A student, who has an appointment that may cause absence from school for more than one-half of the school day, may still be eligible to participate in that day’s practice or event. To assure eligibility, arrangements should be made ahead of time with the athletic director. A student suspended from school is ineligible to participate on the day(s) of the suspension. IX. Changing Sports A student may not quit a team and join another team in the same season. However, if a student is cut from one team following tryouts, he or she may join another team. 6 X. Athletic Awards Athletic awards acknowledge the achievement, participation, and membership of the participants in interscholastic athletics. To be eligible for these awards, participants must be in good standing in school and the sport. Students who drop out of the sport or are dismissed by the coach before the end of the season will not be eligible to receive any awards.