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High School Athletic Policies

The following academic policies govern the participation of students in athletic school events. However, they are also applied in principle to all extracurricular school events.

1. Eligibility - Full Status: Any student with an average of 73% or above and with no core-course failure is eligible to participate in the sport of his/her choice. Periodic checks may be done throughout the marking period by counselors should individual student performance warrant it. Official checks are made through the progress report system and through the report cards at the end of each quarter.

2. Athletic Ineligibility - Partial Status: Any student with an average between 68% - 72% and/or a core course failure at the end of a marking period can participate on a limited basis according to the following policy:

• A. The student may participate in practice only. The student may not play in any home or away games for two weeks.
• B. The student must attend home games only and be on the bench in school dress code with the team for two weeks. The student may not attend away games even as a spectator. At the end of that two-week period, the student's average will be recomputed.
• 1. If it is 73% or above (and with no core-course failure), the student is reinstated. However, a second two-week check will be made to insure continued achievement at 73% or above. All athletes declared ineligible on the basis of the report card average must participate in both the two-week and the four-week checks.
• 2. If it is below 73% (or with a core-course failure), a second two-week period of ineligibility is assigned. If the student does not achieve a 73% with no failures by the end of the second two-week period, he/she is declared ineligible for the remainder of the quarter. The athlete may not practice or play in games and may attend games only as a spectator.
• C. The two-week ineligibility status begins the day report cards are distributed.
• D. Students are responsible to pick up Eligibility Grade Check Cards from the guidance office and have their teachers initial them on the two check dates. Students should then return these cards to the guidance office for a final GPA check.

3. Probation: Athletes with an average below 68% at the end of a marking period are declared ineligible for the entire next nine-week marking period. Probation begins the Wednesday report cards are distributed and ends on the day report cards are next distributed. Two quarters of probation in one school year disqualify a student from return to SCS.

4. Progress Reports: At Any progress report time, athletes may again be screened for eligibility status. Overall average must by 73% or better with no core-course failures. Athletes who become ineligible at progress report time are ineligible for one school week (5 school days) following the issue of the progress reports and must miss at least one game/match/meet. District, regional, and state competitions are exempt from the athletic ineligibility policy at progress report time only. At the end of that week, if the athlete is still below 73% or has a core-course failure, one more week of ineligibility is granted. If at the end of that second week the athlete is still ineligible, the athlete is ineligible for the remainder of the quarter. Athletes who become eligible after the first or second week may return to full-team status but must undergo one more check a week later to be sure the effort sticks. During the time of ineligibility the athlete may participate in practice but not play in any home or away games. The athlete must attend any home game(s) and sit on the bench in school dress code. The athlete may not attend any away games(s) even as a spectator.

5. MHSAA Eligibility Requirements: Both the junior high (grades 7 & 8) and the senior high (grades 9-12) are members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and adhere to all MHSAA eligibility requirements.

High School Athletic Attendance Policies

EXCUSED ABSENCE: PRACTICE (Grades 7-12)

Definition: An absence would be considered excused if it was a result of an illness (as per the Student Handbook), injury (which prohibits even limited involvement) family emergency (as defined in the Student Handbook), medical appointment (other than routine dentist appointment), and one personal day.

Policy: No penalty unless involving an extended period of absence or missing a practice the day before a game. In these cases, an athlete's playing time may be reduced as per the coach's discretion.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE: PRACTICE (Grades 7-12)

Definition: Any absence that does not qualify under the excused absence policy or when an athlete fails to notify a coach of absence.

Policy: 1st Offense - Discipline at practice and/or reduction of playing time at coach's discretion

Additional Offense - Continual unexcused absences must result in serious team discipline which may include game suspension and/or dismissal from the team as per coach's discretion.

GAME DAY ABSENCE (Grades 7-12)

Definition: Any game missed by a player (excused or unexcused).

Policy:Excused - Coach's discretion which may result in reduced playing time at the next game.
Unexcused - Suspension from the next game and possible dismissal from the team.

JV GAME ATTENDANCE AT VARSITY GAMES

Definition: Requiring JV players to attend varsity games.

Policies: On School Nights - A coach cannot require or request varsity game attendance
On Non-School Nights (Friday, Saturday, Holidays) - A coach may request attendance at a varsity game.

PERSONAL DAY (Grades 9-12 only)

Personal Day Policy: In order to provide players' families and coaches some flexibility in handling unexpected situations that do not fit into any given category of absence, a policy of athletic personal days is utilized. The policy allows high school athletes to request one personal day per season.

Personal days apply to practices only and will be considered an excused absence. Prior notice must be given, and the coach reserves the right to deny the request if it falls on any significant practice day.

DISMISSAL FROM THE TEAM

Team Dismissal: Coaches must consult with the athletic director before finalizing a player's dismissal from a team.

Communication with parents regarding habitual offenses that may lead to dismissal is suggested.