The Athletic Code covers all interscholastic sports at John Long Middle School (hereas known as JLMS).  This includes:  Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Dance Team, Track, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

As a participant in an interscholastic sport, you are accountable to both the Athletic Code and the Student Code of Conduct.  Violations of either code will place the offender subject to sanctions. The Student Code of Conduct is found in the Student Handbook.  The Athletic Code is as follows:

Rule A:  Participation Requirements

If you choose to participate in an interscholastic sport at John Long Middle School, you are responsible for:

A1:  Having on file with the JLMS Main Office before the first sporting event contest:

• The Athletic Physical Card - This is the original up to date physical card that has been signed by your physician within the last year.  
• The Physician’s Release Card - This card includes information such as family doctor, emergency contact phone numbers, etc. which is used by the coach in an emergency situation when a parent and/or guardian is not in attendance of the sporting event.
• The Concussion Agreement Form - This form needs to be completed and signed by both the student athlete and parent and/or guardian.  By signing the form, you are stating that you understand the importance of recognizing and responding to signs, symptoms, and behaviors of a concussion or head injury.
• The Athletic Fee - The current district athletic participation fee is $60.00 for each sport participated in. If a student participates in a third sport or more, then the $60.00 fee is waived for that third or more sport.  

Rule B:  Scholastic Eligibility

B1:  Your first obligation is to your studies.  It is more important than practice, meetings, or athletic contests.  A participant in an interscholastic sport must be current with all classroom obligations.

B2: An interscholastic sport participant is scholastically ineligible if he/she is currently receiving, or receives in the last grading period, any of the following:

• “F” (Failing) or “I” (Incomplete) as an overall grade in any class.  This is an ongoing evaluation and can be reported to the Athletic Director and/or coach at any time during the grading period.  The Athletic Director will run a grade report list every Monday and will notify both coaches and student athletes of a failing or incomplete grade.  
• “U” (Unsatisfactory) in either Conduct and/or Effort - in any class during the last grading period prior to the start of the sport season.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or less - during the last grading period prior to the start of the sport season.

B3:  All day school attendance the day of a sporting event is required in order to practice or participate in that sporting event.  This rule does not include excused absences for medical appointments, funerals, or field trips.

Rule C:  Other Eligibility Requirements

An interscholastic sport participant may also be ineligible if he/she violates any one of the following areas during the school day or outside of school.  Determination of ineligibility will be made by the Athletic Director and/or School Administration.

C1:  Possession, use, and/or sale of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs (medically prescribed excepted) is prohibited.

C2:  Damage, destruction, or theft of School District property and/or opponents’ school property is illegal and will not only be subject to sanctions by this code, but in addition, the offender will be referred to local authorities for prosecution.

C3:  Fighting during the school day or related to competition will be considered subject to the Student Code of Conduct and appropriate consequences will be assigned.

C4:  Any behavior in school that results in a suspension

C5:  Any use of vulgar or profane language, or inappropriate gestures towards adults and/or other students on the school grounds or opponents’ school grounds will not be allowed.

C6:  Any misuse of social media outlets (such as, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) which results in harmful or harassment behaviors towards other students.

C7:  All activity participants must attend all practices, team meetings, and contests unless they are excused by a coach or a parent, due to illness and/or medical appointments.  Student athletes are responsible for notifying their coaches of all appointments prior to the actual appointment occurring.

C8:  All student athletes are expected to be properly attired in accordance with standards established by the coach and/or administration.

C9: A student athlete on detention or who is participating in an Extended School Day program must report to practice or “home” sporting event for that day immediately after serving the detention or Extended School Day.  Students are ineligible to participate in “away” sporting events for that day. Students on suspension (either in-school or out of school) forfeit practice and sporting event participation for that day or days.

C10:  Inappropriate student behaviors not listed in the aforementioned Code of Conduct will be reviewed by the Athletic Director and/or Coaches.  If applicable, they shall make recommendations to the administration regarding disposition of the matter.

Rule D:  Sanctions

Regarding Rule A1 (Participation Requirements):  If a student does not hand in all necessary forms and fees as described in Rule A1 prior to the first game of the sporting event season, then he/she will be permanently removed from that sporting event team.

Regarding Rule B2 (Scholastic Eligibility):  

Any student who is receiving an “F” or “I” in any academic class or who is performing “Unsatisfactory with regard to effort and/or conduct” in any academic class, at the beginning of a sporting event season may tryout for that sporting event.  If they make the sporting event team, they will be automatically placed on the ten (10) school day suspension period and will not be eligible to participate in the sporting event during that time period.  The student has that ten (10) school day period to complete all missing and/or unsatisfactory work/assignments to satisfy the grade requirements. If the grade requirements are satisfied at the end of that ten (10) school day period, then the student will be eligible to rejoin the sporting event team.  If the grade requirements are not satisfied by the end of that ten (10) school day period, then the student will be removed from the sporting event team for the remainder of the season.

Any student involved in a sport that is currently in session and is receiving an “F” or “I” in any academic class, or who is performing “Unsatisfactory with regard to effort and/or conduct” in any academic class, will be suspended from competitions for a ten (10) school day period.  The student will have that ten (10) school day period to complete all missing and/or unsatisfactory work/assignments to satisfy the grade requirements.  During this period of time, the student may attend the practice sessions, but it will be up to the sporting event Coach to determine what the student will do during that time (i.e. Bring study materials, work on missing assignments, meet with teachers, etc.).  The student will not be allowed to participate in the competitions until that ten (10) school day period is up.  If the student satisfies the grade requirement, then they will be allowed to rejoin the sporting event team for competitions after the ten (10) school day period.  If the student does not satisfy the grade requirement after the ten (10) school day period, then he/she will be removed from the sporting event team for the remainder of the season.

If a student receives an “F” or “I” in any academic class after serving his/her first ten (10) school day suspension period for violation of Rule B2, then that student will be removed from the sporting event team for the remainder of the season.

Regarding Rules C1 thru C10 (Other Eligibility Requirements):

Any sanctions for violations of Rules C1 thru C10 are determined by the Athletic Director, School Administration and/or Coaches.  However, the following sanctions will be applied:

C1 - C4: A student athlete who violates rules C1 - C4 will sit out 20% of the competitions in their current or upcoming season. A second infraction of rules C1 - C4 will result in the student athlete sitting out 50% of the contests in their current or upcoming season. A third infraction of rules C1 - C4 will result in a student athlete being suspended from athletics for one calendar year. A fourth infraction of rules C1 - C4 will result in a student athlete being ineligible to participate in JLMS athletics for the remainder of their middle school career.

C7:  A student athlete must attend the practice session prior to a sporting event in order to be a full participant for that sporting event the next day.  It will be up to the sporting event Coach to determine the extent of the sanction against the student athlete (i.e. non-starter, limited playing time, etc.).

In addition, a student athlete must attend school all day on the day of a sporting event in order to participate in that event, unless there is an excused absence for an appointment.

If a student has an “unexcused” absence from a practice, then it will be up to the sporting event Coach to determine the extent of the sanction against the student athlete (i.e. non-starter, limited playing time, etc.).  Multiple “unexcused” absences from practice may result in the removal of the student athlete from the team for the remainder of the sporting event season.

C9:  A student athlete who is serving a detention or Extended School Day may be subject to sanctions by the sporting event Coach for that particular day that the detention or Extended School Day occurs.  It will be up to the sporting event Coach to determine the extent of the sanction against the student athlete (i.e. non-starter, limited playing time, etc,).

C10:  Student athletes participating on a sporting team at JLMS represent their school and community.  Inappropriate behaviors during the school day that are in violation of the Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated.  Student athletes may be subject to sanctions for violations of the Student Code of Conduct that are not covered in this code.  Sanctions will be determined by the Athletic Director, School Administration and/or Coaches.

Rule E:  Expectations of Parents and/or Guardians

Parents and/or guardians are expected to represent John Long Middle School with pride and respect at home and away contests/competitions.  Parents and/or guardians failing to do so may be removed from the sporting contest/competition. Repeated offenses may result in not being allowed to attend a sporting contest/competition for an extended period of time.

• If there is a concern with regard to an issue that your child may be experiencing during the sporting event season, then there is a proper method to address the concern or issue:
• The student athlete meets with the coach/advisor to address the concern or issue.
• If the concern or issue is not resolved in Step 1, then the parent and/or guardian and the student athlete may request a conference with the coach/advisor of the sporting event team to discuss the concern or issue.
• If the concern or issue is not resolved in Step 2, then the parent and/or guardian and the student athlete may request a conference with the Athletic Director to discuss the concern or issue.
• If the concern or issue is not resolved in Step 3, then the parent and/or guardian and the student athlete may request a conference with School Administration officials to discuss the concern or issue.