Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Office of Athletics Athletic Handbook 2016–17 Teaching Life Lessons Through Sport www.aacps.org/athletics | @AACPSAthletics TABLE OF CONTENTS I. GENERAL INFORMATION Section 1: Education Based Athletics Statement and Governance ......................................................... 1 Section 2: Sportsmanship Statement ...................................................................................................... 2 Section 3: School Contact Information .................................................................................................. 4 Section 4: Athletic Calendar .................................................................................................................. 5 Section 5: Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association ................................................ 18 Section 6: Anne Arundel County Public Schools Athletic Policy Changes ........................................ 18 Section 7: Principal’s Authority ........................................................................................................... 18 Section 8: Protocol for Adding New Sports ......................................................................................... 18 Section 9: Protocol for Eliminating Sports .......................................................................................... 19 II. ATHLETIC PERSONNEL Section 1: Athletic Positions ................................................................................................................ 20 Section 2: Athletic Personnel Requirements ........................................................................................ 21 Section 3: Qualifications for Athletic Director Position ...................................................................... 23 Section 4: Duties and Responsibilities for Athletic Personnel ............................................................. 24 Section 5: Selection Process for Athletic Personnel ............................................................................ 27 Section 6: Evaluation of Athletic Personnel ........................................................................................ 27 III. COUNTY COMMITTEES Section 1: Athletic Legislative Committee .......................................................................................... 30 Section 2: Athletic Advisory Committee ............................................................................................. 30 Section 3: Sports Advisory Committees .............................................................................................. 30 Section 4: Scheduling Committee ........................................................................................................ 31 IV. PROGRAM GUIDELINES and REGULATIONS Section 1: Practice ................................................................................................................................ 32 Section 2: Cheerleading Guidelines ..................................................................................................... 35 Section 3: Contests ............................................................................................................................... 35 Section 4: Clubs ................................................................................................................................... 36 Section 5: Transportation ..................................................................................................................... 37 Section 6: Overnight Trips ................................................................................................................... 38 Section 7: Officials ............................................................................................................................... 38 Section 8: Awards ................................................................................................................................ 38 Section 9: Title IX Compliance ............................................................................................................ 38 i TABLE OF CONTENTS V. COACHING GUIDELINES and REGULATIONS Section 1: National Federation of High Schools Code of Ethics for Coaches ................................... 39 Section 2: Anne Arundel County Public Schools Guidelines for Coaches ........................................ 40 VI. PARENT and STUDENT-ATHLETE INFORMATION Section 1: Bullying/Cyberbullying/Harassment And Intimidation/Hazing/Bias Behavior ............... 43 Section 2: Pre-Participation Information ............................................................................................ 44 Section 3: Medical Information and Injury Protocols ........................................................................ 45 Section 4: Squad Membership and Transfer ...................................................................................... 45 Section 5: General Standards for Eligibility ....................................................................................... 46 Section 6: Academic Eligibility .......................................................................................................... 47 Section 7: Scholastic Eligibility Code ................................................................................................ 47 Section 8: State Eligibility Requirements ........................................................................................... 47 Section 9: Eligibility Requirements .................................................................................................... 47 Section 10: Determining Academic Eligibility for Student-Athletes with Disabilities ....................... 49 Section 11: Weighted Grading ............................................................................................................. 49 Section 12: Academic Eligibility Calculations .................................................................................... 49 Section 13: Anne Arundel County Public Schools Registered and Attending Applications ............... 50 Section 14: Attendance ......................................................................................................................... 51 Section 15: Conduct of Student-Athletes ............................................................................................. 51 Section 16: Conduct of Spectators ....................................................................................................... 52 Section 17: Due Process ....................................................................................................................... 53 VII. REGULATIONS, INTERPRETATIONS, VIOLATIONS and APPEALS Section 1: Outside Participation ......................................................................................................... 54 Section 2: Out-of-Season Practice ..................................................................................................... 54 Section 3: Out-of-Season Coaching ................................................................................................... 55 Section 4: Camp Rule ......................................................................................................................... 56 Section 5: Misconduct Detrimental to a Tournament ......................................................................... 57 Section 6: Sports Offered by AACPS Not Recognized by MPSSAA ............................................... 57 Section 7: Violation and Appeal Procedures ..................................................................................... 57 VIII. FINANCIAL GUIDELINES and PROTOCOLS Section 1: Budgeting .......................................................................................................................... 59 Section 2: Fundraising Policy ............................................................................................................ 59 Section 3: Admission Charges ........................................................................................................... 59 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 4: Youth League Recognition at Contests ............................................................................... 60 Section 5: Purchasing Guidelines ........................................................................................................ 61 Section 6: Athletic Booster Club Guidelines ....................................................................................... 61 IX. HEALTH and SAFETY GUIDELINES Section 1: Thunder/Lightning Information .......................................................................................... 65 Section 2: Heat Guidelines ................................................................................................................... 66 Section 3: Game and Practice Restrictions Due to Heat ...................................................................... 67 Section 4: Concussion Information ...................................................................................................... 68 Section 5: Standard Student-Athlete Accident Report ......................................................................... 69 Section 6: Fire, Police and Hospital Flowchart ................................................................................... 70 Section 7: AACPS Suspected Head Injury Procedural Flowchart ......................................................