Southfield Christian School - www.southfieldchristian.org

Middle School Athletic Policies

The Southfield Christian Athletic Department in an attempt to promote the true purpose of our program, asks you to join us by doing the following:

Team Breakdowns

• Team breakdowns will be as follows based on the number of participants:
  • If we have enough students from each grade level, we will have 3 teams - a 6th, 7th and 8th grade team. Students will play at their own grade level.

  • If we have only enough students for two teams, we will have one team made up of 6th and 7th graders and one made up of 7th and 8th graders.
  • If we only have enough students for one team, then all grade levels will compete together on the same team.
• Students may only participate in one sport per season.
• Students must have a current athletic physical form dated after April 15th on file with the Athletic Department before they can participate in athletics.

Middle School Athletic Seasons

September 3 - October 21: Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Boys/Girls Cross Country
October 13 - December 12: Boys Basketball, Cheerleading
January 5 - February 27: Girls Basketball
March 16 - May 19: Baseball, Softball, Boys/Girls Track and Field, Girls Soccer

Academic Athletic Policies

The following academic policies govern the participation of students in athletic 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:
1. The student may participate in practice only. The student may not play in any home or away games for two weeks.
2. 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.
3. The two-week ineligibility status begins the day report cards are distributed.
4. Students are responsible to pick up Eligibility Grade Check Cards from the athletic 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.

Attendance Policy

A student athlete must be in school for the entire school day in order to be eligible for any athletic activities.

Excused Absence from Practice:

An absence would be considered excused if it was a result of an illness, injury (which prohibits even limited involvement) family emergency, and medical appointment (other than routine appointments).

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

Unexcused Absence from practice:

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

Policy:
First 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:

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

Policy:
Excused - Coach's discretion which may result in reduced or no playing time at the next game.
Unexcused - Suspension from the next game and possible dismissal from the team.

Transportation

Only school transportation will be used for away contests. All athletes must use school transportation to and from a contest if it is provided. Any athlete arriving at a contest by other means will be deemed ineligible for that contest. If unique circumstances, such as a funeral, should arise, arrangements may be made with the athletic or middle school office. To help limit the amount of back-and-forth travel for our families, we will allow an athlete to travel home with his/her parents after a game at the parents' request. Any minor associated with the team (e.g. managers, scorers, video tapers) that will be traveling will need a signed permission slip on file with the athletic office, as well as one copy to keep with the coach. All spectator riders must have written permission from a parent and permission from the coach to ride on team transportation (room permitting).

Remember that we are only able to release an athlete to another family if they have a signed and dated note permitting them to travel with another specified parent. Under NO circumstances is an athlete allowed to travel to or from an event with another student unless it is a sibling and a note from the parent is provided.