Policy

STUDENT ATHLETICS

Code JJI Issued 01/09

Purpose: To establish the basic structure for the conduct of student athletic activities.

Rules of the South Carolina High School League govern interscholastic athletics.

These rules require that the principal be ultimately responsible in all matters that concern interscholastic contests. The league also holds him/her responsible for the vote of the school on all conference and league issues.

Rules and regulations of the league cover the age, health, transfer, scholarship, amateurism, etc. of students engaging in interscholastic athletic contests; the qualifications of coaches; the sponsorship, supervision and number of games; practice and playing seasons; the fulfillment of interscholastic contracts; the employment of game officials; and other matters important to sound administration of high school interscholastic athletics.

The requirements for participation in interscholastic activities set out in Policy JJ will also govern participation in interscholastic athletics.

Athletic trips

School principals and athletic directors will schedule athletic events at times which will not conflict with the instructional day of the school.

Students who are eligible to participate in tournaments or playoff games sanctioned by the South Carolina High School League or United States Swimming, Inc., may be excused form classes, provided the principal submits a request in writing to the superintendent in advance, listing the times and names of students participating. For record keeping purposes they will be counted present at school and absent in individual classes missed. They will be required to make up work missed.

No student will be excused from classes for athletic practice of any kind.

Dual sports participation

During the season for any high school league sport except for football, a student who is a member of a school team may participate on an independent team under the following conditions.

· Participation does not interfere with the scheduled league games or practices of the school squad or team.

· A signed statement is on file with the school’s athletic director to include parent/legal guardian permission for the student to participate in dual sports as well as signed acknowledgement by the independent coach that the student’s participation will not interfere with scheduled league games or practices.

A school or student will not be declared ineligible for participation in an interscholastic high school league sport except for football because of dual sports participation under this policy.

Adopted 10/9/84; Revised 4/17/90, 8/17/04, 1/20/09

Legal references:

A. S. C. Code, 1976, as amended:

1. Section 59-63-55 - Injuries received while participating in athletics to be made part of student's record.

2. Section 59-63-70 - High school sports participation except football.

3. Section 59-63-425 – Student may transfer.

B. State Board of Education Regulations:

1. R-43-244 - Interscholastic athletics.