PENDER COUNTY SCHOOLS

ATHLETIC MANUAL AND HANDBOOK

2010-2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction/Philosophy                                                                    

Board of Education Policies Pertaining to Athletics                         

Transportation Guidelines                                                                  

NCHSAA Eligibility Regulations                                                     

Middle School Eligibility Regulations                                               

Middle School Competition Regulations                                          

Middle School Sport Regulations                                                      

Sportsmanship/Ejection Policy                                                          

Cheerleading                                                                                      

Duties of the Athletic Director                                                          

Duties of the Coach  
                                                                         
Athletic Trainer/First Responder                                                       

Emergency Plans/ First Aid                                                               

Crowd Control                                                                                    NCAA Initial-Eligibility Guidelines                                                  

Athletic Coaching Supplements                                                        

                                             INTRODUCTION

            Pender County Schools’ interscholastic athletic program is governed by policies established by the Pender County Board of Education, the North Carolina State Board of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).

            This athletic handbook contains rules and regulations and other information necessary for athletic directors and coaches to run their programs effectively and efficiently.  A thorough knowledge of these rules and regulations is vital to ensure that the interscholastic athletic program shall be conducted in accordance with existing state and local policies.

            This handbook is designed to be a ready reference to assist the principal, athletic director and coach in the administration of their schools’ program in an efficient manner.  It also provides information that is useful for the management of an extensive athletic program.  Through the use of this manual, athletic directors and coaches will become acquainted with their duties, responsibilities and expectations.

PHILOSOPHY

            Interscholastic athletics is an integral part of the total education process and thus plays a major role in the philosophy of Pender County Schools. Athletics provides an opportunity for students to utilize critical thinking skills, as well as put into practice the basic tenets of cooperation and responsibility.

            Pender County Schools adheres to the rules and regulations of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the State Board of Education, and the Pender County Board of Education in order to create an environment that promotes sportsmanship and strong educational priorities. 

            Pender County Schools promotes attitudes and practices that keep winning in perspective and will look unfavorably upon any activities that would compromise the efforts of good sportsmanship and ethical athletic practices.  It is the belief that full participation be allowed to students where competitive conditions exist, thus endorsing a wide participation policy.

PENDER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

POLICIES PERTAINING TO ATHLETICS

3000- Responsibility for Compliance with Board Policy

All school employees shall be held responsible for familiarizing themselves with the printed policies of the Board and shall be held accountable for compliance.

3005- Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct

Each employee is responsible for both the integrity and the consequences of his or her own actions. The highest standards of honesty, integrity, and fairness must be exhibited by each employee when engaging in any activity concerning the school system, particularly in relationships with vendors, suppliers, parents, the public, and other employees. Employee conduct should be such as to protect both the person’s integrity and/or reputation and that of the school system. An unswerving commitment to honorable behavior by each and every employee is expected. Integrity can accommodate the inadvertent error and the honest difference of opinion; it cannot accommodate deceit or subordination of principle.

Employees shall perform their jobs in a competent and ethical manner without violating either the public trust or applicable laws, policies and regulations.  It is not practical or possible to enumerate all of the situations that might fall under the guidelines of this policy. In addition to other policies, regulations and approved practices that have been established covering specific areas of activity, (such as purchasing), the absence of a law, policy, or regulation covering a particular situation does not relieve an employee from the responsibility to exercise the highest ethical standards at all times.

Noncompliance with this policy may result in dismissal of the employee.

3221- Extracurricular and Noninstructional Duties Policy

The Pender County Board of Education acknowledges that instructing students is the primary mission of the school system. It also recognizes that beginning teachers need adequate opportunities to develop their professional skills and need access to experienced teachers who can mentor them. However, in order to carry out the responsibilities of the school system, teachers and other staff members must perform certain noninstructional and extracurricular duties; these additional duties are considered part of the responsibility of all employees. Therefore, the principal of each school has the authority to assign extracurricular duties as necessary to conduct the business of the school, within the following guidelines.

1. Extracurricular Duties

Initially licensed teachers (ILTs) and teachers with 27 or more years experience may not be assigned extracurricular duties unless they request the assignments in writing.

1. Extracurricular Duties Defined- Extracurricular duties performed outside of regular school hours that are not a part of the teacher’s instructional duties. Examples of extracurricular duties for which consent is required include such things as coaching duties or acting as a faculty sponsor for a student club. Extracurricular duties do not include such things as time spent in parent-teacher conferences, or activities related to courses taught by the teacher; such as band concerts that are performed as a part of band class or attendance at school events.
2. Exceptions Permitted for Compelling Reasons- In cases of compelling need, the Board may temporarily suspend Section A of this policy and allow principals to assign extracurricular duties to initially licensed teachers and teachers with 27 or more years of experience.  A compelling need arises when a school is not reasonably able to staff planned or scheduled extracurricular activities with qualified personnel without using initially licensed teachers and/or teachers with 27 or more years of experience.

2. Non-instructional Duties

      Principals shall minimize the assignment of non-instructional duties to all teachers,

      including initially licensed teachers and teachers with 27 or more years of experience. 

      Specifically, teachers should not be required to use their daily planning periods on an           

      ongoing and regular basis to supervise students.  Planning periods generally should be

      reserved for course planning and meetings with other professional staff regarding the

      instructional program.

1. Instructional Duties Defined- Instructional duties are defined as any responsibility related to classroom instruction, the instructional program or the implementation of the standard course of study regardless of whether it occurs during the regular school day or at other times.  Instructional duties also include but are not limited to teaching, lesson planning, curriculum development, evaluating student work, monitoring and supervising students, meeting with students and/or parents, professional development, departmental or school meetings, completing required records, addressing student needs within the classroom/instructional setting, participating in instructionally related student trips, and other duties related to the instructional program.
2. Non-instructional Duties Defined- Non-instructional duties that are not related to instruction.  Non-instructional duties include such things as bus/gate duty, carpool duty and regular and ongoing use of planning periods to monitor hallways and cafeterias.  Nothing in this policy should be construed to relieve teachers of their responsibility to provide for the safety and proper supervision of students during regular school hours. This includes an exception that teachers monitor hallways during class changes, assigned lunch periods and other times when they are on duty.
3. Distribution of Non-instructional Duties- Non-instructional duties should be distributed equitably among employees to the extent it is reasonably possible to do so.  In assigning non-instructional duties, consideration should be given to the need for initially licensed teachers to have adequate professional development, planning time and access to experienced teachers.  Teachers with more than 27 years of experience are expected to be available to devote some time each week to sharing their experience and expertise with less experienced staff members.  Principals shall be responsible for structuring such opportunities in such a way that will be beneficial to their schools.

3221.1                            Any contract of employment entered into between the Board and a faculty member who is also assigned coaching duties and responsibilities must contain a statement in the “special conditions” provision of the contract that a primary consideration of the employment as a faculty member includes coaching duties and responsibilities and that failure to continue said coaching duties and responsibilities is cause for dismissal.  This policy in no way supersedes N.C.G.S. 115C-47(18a), -301.1 as it pertains to initially licensed teachers and teachers with 27 or more years experience.

3241- Solicitation or Selling

There shall be no soliciting from or selling to students or staff within the school without the approval of the Superintendent.

3241.1      No employee shall solicit money from students or parents for additional materials or equipment or create impressions with students that such equipment or materials are necessary; nor shall it be a practice to solicit materials or services in any manner that would cause a parent to feel undue or unnecessary pressure.

3241.2      Soliciting outside the school premises for funds for school activities, or sales of products outside the school premises for funds for school activities by the students or staff of any school, in the name of any school, or in behalf of any school, shall have the prior written approval of the Superintendent and the principal.  All money collected and expended as the result of such activities shall be recorded in the accounts of the school treasurer and shall be subject to school audit.  Solicitation or borrowing of products for school activities shall have the principal’s approval.

3241.3      No employee shall set as a precondition of membership or participation in any course or other school-related activity, endeavor, or function, any requirement calling for an expenditure of money by a parent, guardian, or student, except with the knowledge and consent of the Superintendent.

3242- Unethical Influence

All school employees are expected to refrain from the use of their positions or assignments in ways that could be construed to unfairly or unduly influence students in matters such as:

A.                Receiving fees from educational institutions for the recruitment of students.

B.                 Recruiting students to participate in business-type activities that are not extensions of the instructional program operated by the employee apart and separate from the school system.

C.                 Causing students to feel it necessary or advisable to participate in activities or events which require more than nominal costs for such activities as lunches, dinners, admissions, transportation or entertainment.

D.                Receiving fees or other considerations in lieu thereof for the recruitment, enlistment, or chaperoning of students for private promotions.

E.                 Encouraging student athletes to circumvent the Board-approved pupil assignment plan in order to participate in athletics in a school outside the student’s appropriate school assignment.

3440- Extra Duty

The Board of Education recognizes that in order to implement the total school program, the occasion may arise when the services of teachers are needed in areas of responsibility other than their classroom assignment; however, these extra duties should be kept to a minimum and must be distributed fairly and equitably among all personnel.

3440.1    Coaching is an extra-curricular activity, and the assignment of coaching duties shall be the responsibility of the principal.  Any person employed to coach an athletic team in the school system must be a regular employee of the school system.  Any exception to this can be made only when a regular employee is not available.

3440.2    The elimination of coaching duties which may result in a reduction of compensation does not constitute a demotion.  When an employee who has coaching as a special provision of the contract no longer coaches, the entire contract becomes null and void.

5200- Co-Curricular Activities

A program of co-curricular activities including athletics can enhance the school program.  The program of co-curricular activities in the Pender County Schools shall be vested with the principal of the school.

5210- Interscholastic Athletics

Interscholastic athletics shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Board of Education.

5210.1    The Board of Education supports the concept of interscholastic athletics.  The aim of such athletic competition is to provide activities, facilities, and competent staff members to help each student develop to the limit of capacity the skills, abilities, and interests that will enable him/her to live and serve best in the community.

5210.2    Administrators in each school shall be responsible for setting the proper atmosphere for interscholastic competition at this age level. Coaches are to emphasize sportsmanship and are reminded of the importance of teaching the basic skills of each sport to all participants.

5210.3    The welfare of the individual child should be the basic criterion upon which is determined whether or not the student should participate in middle school interscholastic athletics.

5210.4    The head coach of an interscholastic athletic team shall be a bona fide member of the faculty.  In the event the school is unable to employ a bona fide faculty or instructional staff member, non-faculty coaches may be hired until such time a suitable faculty member becomes available to coach.  Non-faculty coaches must complete a coaching application and submit to a criminal background check prior to the start of any coaching assignment.  In addition to the Board of Education policy previously stated, all candidates for a coaching position must be approved by the Superintendent or her designee prior to being named as a coach.  All recommendations must be submitted in writing to the County Athletic Director who will forward them to the Superintendent.  It is also a requirement that all coaches complete the National Federation of High Schools Fundamentals of Coaching Class.  Any coach who has not already completed the class must do so during the school year in which he or she is coaching.  A coach who fails to complete the class will not be considered for rehiring as a coach until he or she completes the course.  Certificates of completion should be submitted to the County Athletic Director. The athletic directors at each high school will be certified trainers and will offer the course each year.

5430- School Trips

School trips designed to stimulate interest and inquiry and to provide opportunities for educational growth and development can be appropriate extensions of the classroom.  To the extent that a trip provides the single most effective means for accomplishing the objectives of the curriculum and that disruption of other classes is kept to a minimum, it may be approved.  Criteria for assessing the advisability of a proposed trip should include the extent to which other instructional programs are disrupted, the amount of school time missed, and what additional demands are placed upon student time in order to raise funds to finance the trip.

5430.1      The Superintendent shall be responsible for development of procedures for the request and approval of desired school trips.

5430.2      A school trip is defined as a student or a group of students leaving a school campus under the sponsorship of the school and under supervision of school employee(s) to extend educational experiences consistent with the general goals and objectives of the total school program.  A school trip must be related to the curriculum of the school or to a co-curricular activity (e.g., clubs, student council).  Any trip made by school students which has not been approved in accordance with Policy 5430 shall not be considered a school trip as herein defined.

5430.3      Students shall not be charged a fee for any required class field trip for which credit is granted.  All assessments for voluntary class or co-curricular field trips shall be closely scrutinized at the time the trip is approved.  The sponsor of that trip must certify to the school principal that provisions have been made for group members unable to pay the assessment.

5430.4      All field trips shall be justified in terms of educational objectives of the applicable course of study in which the students are involved.

5430.5      Detailed planning by staff must be filed in writing by staff members in advance and approved by the principal. Trips out of the Continental United States must be approved by the Board of Education.

5430.6      Adequate supervision must be provided.  One qualified adult, approved by the principal, is required for each automobile and one qualified adult per fifteen students when a bus is used.

5430.7      Parental/guardian permission in writing on forms provided by the Superintendent’s office is required for each student who participates.

5430.8      If a privately owned vehicle or commercial carrier is used, the owner must carry a minimum of the following insurance: Class 3 Type Liability Insurance (Business Rate) $100,000/$300,000 Bodily Injury Coverage, $25,000 Property Damage Coverage and Uninsured Motorist Clause.

5430.9      When Pender County School students are on any field trip or school activity, the students are expected to travel to and from the destination with the school group.  Students are prohibited from driving or riding with other student-drivers to or from these destinations.  A student may travel to and/or from the destination with his/her parent or guardian or with the parent or guardian of another student also going on the field trip if and only if written authorization for this arrangement signed by a parent or guardian for both students is submitted to the principal prior to the trip.  Students shall not be released to a parent or guardian until the parent or guardian has personally “checked-in” with the teacher or coach.

6805- Eligibility for Extra-Curricular Activities

Pender County Schools sponsors a varied activities program for all students enrolled in the secondary schools.  Because certain of these activities, including athletics, meet outside of the school day and require a significant amount of time on the part of the students, the following eligibility requirements are mandated.

6805.1      This policy shall apply to secondary students in grades 7-12 who represent the schools by participation in any extra-curricular activity, including athletics, cheerleading, and for any after school activity in which participation is not a requirement of any class taken for credit at the school.

6805.2      Student-athletes are required to carry school insurance or provide proof of adequate personal health and hospitalization insurance in order to participate in any interscholastic activity.

6805.3      All students participating in an interscholastic activity must receive a medical examination once every 365 days by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.

6805.4      All students participating in an interscholastic activity must have been in attendance for at least eighty-five (85%) of the previous semester.

6805.5      Student/athletes in grades 9-12 shall be subject to all participation requirements as set forth by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the State Board of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the Pender County Board of Education.

6805.6      Student/athletes in grades 7-8 shall be subject to all participation rules as set forth by the State Board of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the Pender County Board of Education.

6805.7      A student must be in attendance on the day of an interscholastic activity, including field trips, in order to participate in the activity, unless the school principal grants prior approval.  Such approval may only be granted for educational or emergency purposes.

6805.8      No student transferring to a high school out of his/her district may participate in another high school in the same LEA in any sport, except in the event of a bona fide change of residence by the parent(s) or legal custodian (as defined by the NCHSAA and Pender County School Board Policy 6024).  In addition, the change of school of attendance must be contemporaneous with the change of residence.  In a situation where joint custody applies to a legal separation or divorce, and such joint custody has been stated in the appropriate legal documents.

6805.9      Students having more than one bona fide move within a school year will not be allowed to play in any sport for the balance of the school year.

6805.10  A student transferring to a high school (according to Pender County School Board Policy 6026) out of his/her district, in the same LEA, will not be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the school to which he/she is transferring for a period of one calendar year from the date of enrollment.

6805.11  Children of employees who transfer to another high school within Pender County according to Pender School Board Policy 6024.8 (Assignment of Pupils to Schools) or Board Policy 6026.5 (Student Transfers and Withdrawals) will be athletically eligible to participate on the date of enrollment at the school.

6805.12  Students in grades 7-8 must meet the following academic requirements in order to be eligible to participate in athletics or any activity as designated by 6805.1: A) A student promoted from 6^th grade to 7^th grade automatically meets the requirements to start the first semester of 7^th grade; B) Must pass at least one less that the total number of courses taken the previous semester; C) Must meet local promotion standards; and D) Must have earned at least a 1.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale or a 73.5 numerical average during the previous semester.  In addition, if at the end of the 5^th and 9^th week of each grading period during the current semester of participation a student’s academic performance becomes such that the student would become ineligible if the semester was completed shall be removed from participation in athletics or any other activity designated under 6805.1 until the student’s academic standing returns to an eligible status.  A student that is ineligible to participate at the beginning of a semester shall retain that status throughout the semester.

6805.13  Students in grades 9-12 must meet the following academic requirements in order to be eligible to participate in athletics or any activity as designated by 6805.1: A)  A student promoted from 8^th grade to 9^th grade automatically meets the requirements to start the first semester of 9^th grade; B) Must pass at least 3 courses (on the block scheduling format) taken the previous semester; C) Must meet local promotion standards; and D) Must have earned at least a 1.5 weighted grade point average on a 4.0 scale or a 73.5 numerical average during the previous semester.  In addition, if at the end of the 5^th or 9^th week of each grading period during the current semester of participation a student’s academic performance becomes such that the student would become ineligible if the semester was completed shall be removed from participation in athletics or any other activity designated under 6805.1 until the student’s academic standing returns to an eligible status.  A student that is ineligible to participate at the beginning of a semester shall retain that status throughout the semester.

Transportation Guidelines

1)      Activity bus drivers must have a class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with passenger and school bus endorsements (P&S).

2)      The driver must have all pre-employment requirements met and be on the Pender County Schools Drug and Alcohol Testing list.

3)      Activity bus drivers are not qualified to drive a yellow school bus unless they possess a North Carolina School Bus Driver Certification.

4)      Usage of a yellow school bus to transport students for reasons other than to and from school for the regular instructional day must be approved by the transportation department and will be reimbursed at the state rate.  This rate is $2.54 per mile for 2009-2010.

5)      Activity buses may travel anywhere in North Carolina, and may travel in Virginia and South Carolina in counties that border North Carolina.

6)      Activity bus request forms must be turned in to the transportation department at least two weeks in advance.

7)      Long trips and out-of-state trips should be considered to be chartered by a motor coach company that is on the approved motor coach list for Pender County Schools.  Motor coaches must be inspected by school officials before departure.

8)      The school is responsible for maintaining emergency contact information for all parties involved

9)      County-owned automobiles cannot be used to transport students.

10)   Log sheets will be kept on activity buses to maintain a record of all trips taken, including mileage, destination, and driver.

11)   Keys to activity buses should be kept inside the school building.

12)  Activity buses must be kept clean. A dirty activity bus will subject the school to a $25.00 cleaning fee.

NCHSAA Eligibility Requirements

(From the NCHSAA handbook)

1)  Eligibility Blanks- The regulations require that all students must be eligible prior to dressing or participating in any interscholastic contest, whether or not the sport is sponsored by the NCHSAA.  Only those students listed on the eligibility forms are covered by catastrophic insurance.  No student shall be listed on the form unless and until documents sustaining eligibility are on file at the school.  Such documents shall be available for inspection until the student’s eligibility has ended.  The master eligibility blank (pink sheet) should be used for each sport and shall list all players, varsity and junior varsity, participating in that sport.  A copy should be on file at the school prior to the first regular season contest including Endowment games.  Eligibility sheets are no longer required to be filed with the NCHSAA but must be made available upon request.  Ineligible players are not allowed to participate in practice, either in season or out of season workouts, but this does not apply to summer workouts.  When completing an eligibility list, please enter the proper reference by letter and make all required entries when necessary (if parents do not live in the administrative unit) on the reverse of the pink sheet.  Any student proposed for a contest is eligible at the school to which the local Board or Education assigns him within the unit of residence of a parent or legal custodian within this state.  When two Boards of Education within North Carolina by mutual agreement assign a student to a different school, he becomes immediately eligible for athletic participation, relative to the qualifications above.  A student is eligible at his assigned school if he has attended school within that administrative unit the previous two semesters.  Legal documents signed by a judge (ward of court) or social services (orphanage/foster home) are required to be submitted along with eligibility forms pertaining to students in these circumstances.  It shall be the responsibility of the principal to see that no ineligible or noncertified player participates.  Each year it is necessary to set a deadline for schools to designate individual participants in such sports as cross country, swimming, wrestling, golf, tennis and track.  Play-off entry blanks that are accepted after the deadline are subject to a $50 fine for late entry.

2) Residence- A student is eligible to participate at the school to which he or she is assigned by the local Board of Education, within the administrative unit of residence.  “Residence” as used for athletic eligibility purposes is defined as the equivalent of the term “domicile” as applied by the courts of North Carolina.  Under no circumstances can a student have more than one residence for eligibility purposes.  It is the obligation of the school to know the residence status of each athlete and to require compliance with these requirements.  Except as otherwise provided, the residence of any student shall be deemed to be that of his or her parents or the sole surviving parent.  In the event the parents are separated or divorced, the residence of the student shall be that of the parent to whom custody has been awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction.  If no custody order has been entered, the residence shall be deemed to be that of the parent who had actual custody immediately upon the separation.  Any change in residence must be bona fide.  Determination of what constitutes a bona fide change of residence depends upon the facts of each case.  In order for a change of residence to be considered bona fide at least one of the following facts must exist: (1) The original residence must be abandoned as a residence; that is sold, rented or disposed of as a residence, and must not be used as a residence by any member of the family; (2) The entire family must make the change and take with them the household goods and furniture appropriate to the circumstances; (3) The change must be made with the intent that it is permanent.  Transfers within the same administrative unit may be governed by local Board of Education policy.  A student transferred from one administrative unit to another by mutual agreement is immediately eligible for athletic participation in the sending unit.  No non-parental guardianship will be recognized where a student has a living parent unless: there has been a determination of abandonment of the student by such parent(s) or a determination that the student is a dependent juvenile as defined in G.S. 7A-5 17(13) or comparable statute by a court of competent jurisdiction; or the student has been judicially declared a ward of the court or has been indentified as an orphan or placed in a foster home by the Division of Social Services (or a comparable agency if out of state) and custody (not guardianship) has been determined by the court or social service agency.  A student whose custody has been established by court order or social services agency decision is eligible for participation at the school to which he or she is assigned by the Board of Education of the local unit where the custodian resides.  The residence of a student who is emancipated shall continue to be his or her residence as of the time of emancipation, unless an exception is granted under the procedures established by the Hardship Rule.  The residence of a student who is an organized and recognized foreign exchange program shall be considered to be the place to which he or she is assigned by that program, and is eligible to participate at the school to which he or she is assigned by the local education agency.  Foreign students who are not part of an organized and recognized foreign exchange program must present extenuating circumstances through the procedure established in the Hardship Rule.  A foreign exchange student is eligible only during the first year of residence in the United States.  With the exception of this residence rule, foreign exchange students are subject to all other eligibility requirements, including but not limited to, the prohibition on participation after graduation or eligibility for graduation from high school.  In no case will any exception be made to the following principles: (1)No student may participate at a second school in the same sport season, except in the event of a bona fide change in residence of the parent(s) or legal custodian; change of schools must be contemporaneous with change in residence. (2)Documents purporting to establish guardianship or custody issued by a notary public, an attorney, a clerk of court, or any entity other than a court of record with competent jurisdiction will not be accepted.  No student shall be subjected to undue influence by an individual or group of individuals to induce him or cause him to transfer from one school to another for athletic purposes.  If allegations of recruiting are made against a school, the burden of proof in substantiated form must be borne by the accusing party.  Allegations of recruiting that are substantiated will be processed as infractions under the penalty code.  For the purposes of this rule, “undue influence” consists of actions taken for the purpose and intent of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of a student-athlete in a school, including but not limited to the following: (1) initiating or arranging communication or contact of any sort (letters, e-mail, phone, etc.) with a prospective student-athlete or member of his or her family; (2) visiting or entertaining a prospective student-athlete or member of his or her family; (3) providing transportation or arranging for same for a prospective student-athlete or member of his or her family to visit a school or meet with anyone associated with a school; (4) providing verbal or written material, slide, film or tape presentations to a prospective student-athlete or member of his or her family which states or implies that a school’s athletic program is superior to that of any other school with the purpose or intent of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of the student in that school, or that it would be advantageous for any prospective student-athlete to participate in athletics at that member school as opposed to any other school; (5) to use non-school athletic teams as a vehicle to solicit or encourage a prospective student-athlete or a member of his family to enroll the student-athlete at a different school.  The above applies to any individual who coaches at an NCHSAA member school, head or assistant, paid or non-paid, faculty or non-faculty, parent volunteer, etc., as well as any other persons formally or informally associated with a school’s athletic program.  The residence status of any student whose parent(s) do(es) not live in the administrative unit must be identified on the eligibility list as prescribed on the back of that document.

3) Attendance- (a) A player must have been in attendance for at least 85 percent of the previous semester at an approved high school. Any student must be in membership to be able to make up days missed while in membership (days missed while not in membership may not be made up for athletic eligibility). For a regular 90-day semester, a student may not miss more than 13 days and be in compliance with the 85 percent rule.  (b) A student must, at the time of any game in which he or she participates, be a regularly enrolled member of the school’s student body, according to local policy.  If there is no local policy, “regularly enrolled” is defined as enrolled for at least one half of the “minimum load.” It is recommended the student be in school the day of the contest.  (c) The student must be enrolled within the first 15 days and in regular attendance for the present semester to be eligible for athletics.  As student whose family has moved into a school district shall immediately assume the same status in the new district as that from which he moved.  Summer school attendance shall not be counted in determining percentage of attendance for athletic eligibility, but approved homebound programs do fulfill the attendance requirement.  (d) At the end of each semester, any participant who has failed to attend school 85 percent of that semester is immediately ineligible.

4) Scholastic Requirements- A student must have passed a minimum load of work during the preceding semester to be eligible at any time during the present semester.  The semester is normally considered half of the academic year.  All students must also meet local promotion standards, set by the LEA and/or the local school.  A minimum load is defined as five courses in the traditional school schedule and three courses for schools on the “block” format.  If the school is on an A/B form of block scheduling, as student must pass six of eight courses during what would traditionally be defined as a semester.  Office assistance, teacher assistance or laboratory assistance may not be used toward academic eligibility.  No work previously passed by a student may be submitted as part of a minimum load.  Summer school work used to make up part of the minimum load must be applied to the most recent semester. Credit for summer work is a determination of the local unit.  A student, upon first entering grade nine, is academically eligible for competition on high school teams.  This also applies to attendance.  A student not academically eligible at the beginning of the semester is not eligible at any time during the semester. (Exception: a student who receives an incomplete which causes him or her to fail to meet minimum scholastic requirements is ineligible until the course is satisfactorily completed, and eligibility is restored immediately.)  A student academically eligible at the beginning of a semester remains academically eligible throughout the semester.  Alternative or extended day school students who meet all other eligibility requirements may participate in athletics for the school to which they would normally be assigned, provided the alternative/extended day school has no athletic program.  The alternative schools referenced here are those operated by the school system itself.  The principal of the school at which the students play shall be responsible for certifying their eligibility and shall have in file all records, including current attendance data, necessary to verify eligibility.  Each such student shall be identified on the eligibility list, which shall be accompanied by a letter from the principal stating that these designated students meet all eligibility requirements.  The principal and coach shall have the same authority in player selection and application of team rules and regulations with alternative school students as with those enrolled in the regular school program.  Pupils enrolled in “exceptional students” classes shall be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics provided the program of instruction is in accordance with the recommendations of the State Department of Public Instruction, and provided that in the opinions of the principal and teacher, such student is making “satisfactory progress.”  “Satisfactory progress” is defined that the pupil passes a minimum load on his level.  All other regulations must be met.  At the end of each semester, a superintendent has eight school days to check grades of students, removing such player immediately upon knowledge of ineligibility and no later than the completion of the eight-day period and restore eligibility any debarred player after he or she has qualified at the end of a semester.  Any student who has his academic eligibility restored may participate the day following the completion of the semester of the ineligibility.  The purpose of the eight-day period is to allow schools ample time to check grades.  A player should be removed before the eight-day period is up if the school has knowledge and has verified the student is ineligible.

5) Medical Examination- In order to be eligible for practice or participation in interscholastic athletic contests, a player must receive a medical examination once every 365 days by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant and be cleared to play.  A recommended pre-participation from may be found online at www.nchsaa.org.  Students absent from athletic practice five or more days due to illness or injury shall receive a medical release by a physician licensed to practice medicine before readmittance to practice or contests.  It is recommended that players be covered by adequate medical and accident insurance, and that medical aid be immediately available at all times.  Schools should have medical release forms on site at athletic events in case medical treatment is required.

6) Eight Semester Rule- No student may be eligible to participate at the high school level for a period lasting longer than eight consecutive semesters, beginning with the student’s first entry into grade nine or participation on a high school team, whichever occurs first.  For students who skip the ninth grade and advance directly to the 10^th from the 8^th, the year prior to entering the 10^th grade is considered the year of first entry into ninth grade from athletics.  The principal shall have evidence of the date of each player’s entry into the ninth grade.  The North Carolina cumulative record is sufficient.

7) Maximum Number of Seasons- No student may be approved for a high school contest if he has taken part in contests during four separate seasons in that sport (one season per year, whether the sport is played in North Carolina or not).  Playing as a member of a private or other non-member school team shall be deemed the same as playing a member of a school team.  Enforcement of this rule is to begin with entry into ninth grade, however.  A student shall not participate in school athletic contests after graduation from high school.  This does not apply to spring sports playoffs.

8) Age of Player- No student may be approved for any athletic contest if his or her 19^th birthday comes on or before October 16^th, 2008; i.e. the date of birth was on or before October 16^th, 1989.  The principal shall have on file evidence of the legal birth date of each athlete.  Evidence of legal birth must be established by a copy of the birth certificate or from one of the following: a record from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics, Raleigh; a record from the county register of deeds office; an infant baptismal record; a record from the attending doctor’s registry or cashbook if specific; a news item at the time of birth from the local newspaper; or an official register sheet from the first grade.  A birth date as shown on a passport is acceptable verification of a foreign student’s age.  An eighth or ninth-grade student who is overage for junior high or middle school competition shall be eligible for senior high school participation.

 9) Amateur Rule- Money or awards having utilitarian value (Example: golf balls, clubs, tennis balls, racket, etc.) may not be given to students for participation in athletics except as noted in the following paragraphs. Students may not accept items by virtue of being on a “free list” or “loan list.” Enforcement of this rule by the NCHSAA begins with a student’s entry in the ninth grade, so to participate as a member of a high school team, for example, an athlete may NOT receive racquets, warm-ups, etc., by virtue of being on a free list or loan list.  A player may accept a gift provided it meets each of these conditions: is available to every member of the team, is totally consumable and non-transferable (e.g. meals, trips, etc.) or is labeled in a permanent manner (i.e. monogrammed, engraved, etc.) and is approved by the local principal and superintendent.  A student may accept a medal, trophy, ribbon, pin, high school letter, sweater, jacket, blazer or blanket.  Sweaters, jackets, blazers and blankets must carry the high school letter or other appropriate school emblem.  None of the approved awards shall be accepted from an individual or non-school organization unless the giving of such an award has been approved by the principal and superintendent of the school the athlete attends.  Acceptance of money or a forbidden award will cause an athlete to lose athletic eligibility in that particular sport for a period of time to be determined by the Board of Directors.  A member school which has any connection with the presentation of a forbidden award- such as assisting in the selection of the person to receive the award, permitting the award to be given at a school function, or holding the award for a student until he has graduated- shall be subject to penalty.  Accepting a nominal, standard fee or salary for instructing, supervising or officiating in an organized youth sports program or recreation, playground, or camp activities shall not jeopardize amateur status.  “Organized youth sports program” includes both school and non-school programs.  A student is entitled to receive “essential expenses” for any particular game, or games, in which he participates as a player- that is, meals, lodging and transportation for each particular game.  Any remuneration beyond these essential expenses shall debar a student from future contests.  No student shall be eligible for any contest if he competes under a false name.

10) Dressing for Game or Practicing- A player shall not dress for a game or scrimmage when he is not eligible to participate in the game.  Dressing and sitting on the bench shall be interpreted as participating in the game. Exception: football eight quarter rule.  Ineligible players are NOT allowed to participate in practice, either in season or during out-of-season workouts, but this does not apply to summer workouts.

11) Professionals/Colleges- No student who has signed a professional contract will be eligible for high school competition in that sport.  No student who has played on a junior college team is eligible to play on a high school team.  A student who has enrolled and attended class in a college will not be eligible for high school competition, but this does not affect a regularly enrolled high school student who is merely taking the college course(s) for advanced credit.

12) Any student who is subject to the NCHSAA eight semester rule who (1) is convicted of a crime classified as a felony under North Carolina or federal law, or (2) is adjudicated delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult, is not eligible to participate in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association sports program.  Such ineligibility shall be immediate and shall prohibit participation in the NCHSAA sports program from the date of conviction or adjudication of delinquency through the end of the student’s high school career.  Appellate or other post-conviction review of the conviction or adjudication of delinquency does not affect the student’s immediate ineligibility.  Note: “Convicted”  and “conviction,” for the purpose of this policy, includes the entry of (a) a plea of guilty; or (b) a plea of no contest, nolo contendre, or the equivalent; or (c) a verdict or finding of guilty by a judge, jury, magistrate, or other duly constituted, established, and recognized adjudicating body, tribunal, or official, either civilian or military.  A person is “convicted” or “adjudicated delinquent” for the purposes of this policy, in North Carolina state courts, the courts of the United States, another state, the armed services of the United States, or another country.

Middle School Athletic Eligibility

As Developed by the SBE and DPI

Only students in grades seven through nine may participate in middle/junior high interscholastic athletic competition, provided ninth grade is housed in the same building with seventh and eighth grades. In order to qualify for public school participation, a student must meet the following requirements:

Academics

In grades seven and eight, the student must pass at least one less course than the number of required core courses each semester and meet promotion standards established by the LEA.  If an athlete is “academically eligible” or “academically ineligible” at the beginning of any semester, that status is retained throughout the full semester.  It is the responsibility of the school principal to check the academic status of each student/athlete enrolled in school at the beginning and close of a semester. Promotion is defined as progressing to the next grade. Note: An athlete becomes eligible or ineligible on the first day of the new semester.

Age

The principal must have evidence of the legal birth date of the student.  A student shall not participate on a seventh or eighth grade team if the student becomes 15 years of age on or before October 16^th of that school year.  A student shall not participate on a ninth grade junior high school team if the student becomes 16 years of age on or before October 16^th of that school year.  A middle/junior high school student who is overage for middle/junior high school play shall be eligible for senior high school participation.  Ninth graders can be divided so that some play with the seventh and eighth grades at the middle school provided the ninth grade is housed at the same building.  Others play at the senior high level, depending upon local policy.  Once a student begins practicing with a high school team, he/she may not at a later date, move down to a seventh, eighth, or ninth grade (junior high school) team.  A ninth grade student beginning play with the junior high school team may, at a later date, move to the high school team but could not return to the junior high school team.

Attendance

A player must be in attendance at least 85% of the previous semester.

Medical Form

The student must receive a medical examination each year (365 days) by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, subject to the provisions of G.S. 90-9, 90-18.1, and 90-18.2. 

Promotion

In grades seven and eight, the student must meet state and local promotion standards each semester.  This includes the academic requirement listed above.  Regardless of the school organization pattern, a student who is promoted from the sixth grade to the seventh grade automatically meets the courses passed requirement for the first semester of the seventh grade.  LEAs should adopt a policy incorporating the gateways or other promotion requirements.

Residence

The student must meet the residence criteria of G.S. 115C-366(a). The student may participate only at the school to which the student is assigned by the LEA.  Transfers within the same administrative unit may be governed by the local Board of Education policy.  A student transferred from one administrative unit to another by mutual agreement as provided in G.S. 115C-366.1(F) is immediately eligible for athletic participation in the receiving unit.

Semester Rule

No student may be eligible to participate at the middle school level for a period lasting longer than four (4) consecutive semesters beginning with the student’s entry into seventh grade.  The principal shall have evidence of the date of each player’s entry into the seventh grade.

Eligibility Lists

Eligibility lists shall be certified with the signature of the principal and filed with the local superintendent (or his/her designee) prior to the first game or contest in that sport.  One copy shall be kept on file in the office of the principal.  All eligible students shall be included and all information must be complete and accurate when certified by the principal.  It is recommended to keep these on file for at least three years.

General Rules and Regulations Governed by

The State Board of Education

The SBE authorizes the LEA or the conference of which the school is a member to administer the rules and regulations.  LEAs have the authority to be stricter than State Board of Education policy if they so choose.

Administration and Supervision of Games

The school administration is responsible for adequate supervision of athletic contests to secure safety and proper conduct of athletes, coaches, fans, and officials.  Officials should be escorted to safety at the end of every game.  It is recommended that a uniformed law enforcement officer(s) be present at basketball and football games.

Amateur Restrictions

Money or awards having utilitarian value (example: clothes, merchandise, cash, gift certificates, golf balls, clubs, tennis balls, rackets, etc.) may not be accepted by student athletes.  Loan equipment and supplies are prohibited items.

Cheerleading

Cheerleading is an activity that comes under the control of the LEA and conference.  It is recommended that LEAs and schools follow the National Federation spirit rules and guidelines. 

Composite Teams

When an administrative unit is experiencing difficulties in organizing interscholastic athletic teams at the middle/junior high school levels, a local board of education may form composite teams when students from different schools within the administrative unit.

Conforming Rules

To conform middle/junior high school athletic rules with rules governing high school athletics the following shall apply:

• In defining participation in middle/junior high school athletics, dressing and sitting on the bench shall be interpreted as playing in the game.
• Summer school attendance shall not be counted in determining percentage of attendance of athletic eligibility.
• Girls are allowed to participate on a boys’ interscholastic athletic team where the school does not have a girls’ team in the same sport. (Fast pitch softball is not the same as baseball.)
• Boys are not allowed to participate on any girls’ team as defined by interpretation of the Office of Civil Rights interpretation of Title IX of 1994.

Filming and Videotaping

Filming or videotaping of a contest by non-participating schools, in any sport, is considered unsportsmanlike conduct unless agreed upon by competing teams.

Games and Contests

Evening contests and/or games shall start no later than 7:00 PM when followed by a school day.  The exception is for tournaments.  There shall be no interscholastic athletic practice or contest during the regular school day of the school calendar year.  There shall be no Sunday practice or contest in any sport.  This includes the assembling of members of athletic squads for purposes of viewing films, chalk talks, or other matters pertaining to coaching.  One (1) pre-season scrimmage is permitted with other school teams in each sport.  Non-school team scrimmages are not permitted in any sport.  The scrimmage shall be used as a teaching tool.  The scrimmage does not count as one of the seven (7) football or 14 other sport events.  Teams and individuals shall not participate in more than seven football and 14 other sports or athletic contests during the regular season.  Teams and individual students are permitted to participate in one school tournament or play-off championship game in each sport. Conferences may play up to two additional games (except football that may play one) in lieu of a conference tournament.  Teams and/or individuals may participate in only one regularly scheduled football game per week.  In other sports, students may participate in two regularly scheduled contests per week. Emergency exception: A single contest postponed because of an emergency may be rescheduled and played in addition to the number of contests permitted per week.  This should be decided on by the administration of each conference.  Make-up games: Any single contest postponed because of emergency reasons (e.g. inclement weather, epidemics, mid-term exams, etc.) may be rescheduled and played in addition to the regular number of contests allowed per week. With the exception of volleyball and softball games, no team or athlete shall play more than three games in one sport per week. 

Football shall be played as a fall sport.  All other sports may be played during any sport’s season during the school year and begin as follows: fall, beginning of the fall semester not to exceed November 15; winter, October 15 to March 1; and, spring, February 1 to the end of school.  Although dates permit, sports seasons should not overlap whenever possible.  Off-season skill development sessions are allowed during the school year for seventh and eighth graders.  All skill development sessions must be voluntary and open to all athletically eligible students.  At no time may a coach require of any student off-season skill development sessions as a measure of continued participation on a team.  Any team practice or game environment created in an off-season skill development session is prohibited during the 180-day school calendar.  The primary focus of off-season skill development should on individual student-athletes, not the team.  During the summer, working with individuals, including rising and eligible seventh graders, will be allowed as long as it is not required.  The school administration is responsible for adequate supervision of the off-season sessions and its intended purpose.

Game Rules

Schools shall use the adopted rules in this manual from the Department of Public Instruction.  The adopted rules are defined in each sport section.  General Statute 115C-47(4) makes it the responsibility of the local board of education to regulate extracurricular activities, including athletics.  Thus, LEAs have the responsibility of monitoring National Federation rules and guidelines and incorporate into local policy yearly.

Hardship

The local board of education or the conference of which the school is a member shall have the authority to set aside the effect of any (other than the age) eligibility rule upon the individual student when in its opinion the rule fails to accomplish the purpose for which the rule is intended or when the rule works undue hardship upon the student.  Such action based on hardships shall be reported in writing to the Athletics Consultant at the Department of Public Instruction.  It is to be understood that ordinary cases in ineligibility shall not be considered as coming under the hardship category, and that the conditions which cause the student to fail to meet the eligibility requirements, must have been beyond the control of the school, the student and/or his/her parents.  Injuries, illnesses, or accidents, which cause the student to fail to meet one of the basic requirements, are possible causes for hardship consideration.

Head Coaches

In accordance with SBE policy, the head coach of an interscholastic athletic team shall be a bona fide member of the faculty and as such shall be responsible for supervision of athletic teams during all practices, games, and trips.  The local superintendent may, with the concurrence of the local board of education, designate non-faculty persons as head coaches until such time a suitable bona fide faculty member becomes available.  Any person paid or employed as a principal shall not coach interscholastic athletic teams.  The head coach is responsible for the conduct of assistant coaches, players, and bench personnel.

Insurance Coverage

Student athletes should have proper insurance coverage.  A Lifetime Catastrophic Liability Insurance plan is available to middle and junior high athletes through the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Officiating

Officials are recommended to be obtained through a satellite-booking agent of the NCHSAA.  Any complaints with the officiating are to be filed with the booking agent making the assignment.  Therefore, booking agents should not officiate in the sport which they are responsible for booking.  This is to eliminate any real or perceived conflict of interest.  Also, officials should be instructed by the NCHSAA to inform principals when ejections occur.  Officials should be escorted to safety at the end of play in all games.

Out-of-State Competition

The local superintendent shall make the decision involving schools playing in out-of-state athletic contests.

State Clinics

It is recommended that the head coach attend one of the NCAAHPERD or North Carolina Coaches Association state clinics in the sport he/she coaches.

Students with Identified Disabilities

Students with identified disabilities are eligible for participation in athletic programs for grades seven through nine.  Ninth graders participating in high school athletics are governed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.  Academic eligibility is determined by the student making progress toward meeting the educational goals on the IEP as determined by the school-based committee.  A student with a disability must meet all other requirements that apply to the regular education student such as age, attendance, and other requirements.

Protest/Complaints

An established committee of the LEA or adopted conference is responsible for ruling on protests.  Decisions made on protests should be based on current SBE/NCDPI regulations and/or printed LEA rules and guidelines.  Complaints should be made to the athletic director, principal, and/or booking agents.

Sanitary and Safety Measures

A bucket or squeeze bottle with ethyl or isopropyl alcohol 70% phenolic germicide or household bleach diluted with water solution and rubber gloves should be placed at each sporting event for cleaning purposes.  Surfaces should be cleaned using the above solution and disposable clean-up materials should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for discarding.  It is important that any time there is blood present, even on uniforms, that it is treated with care regarding its ability to transmit infectious diseases.

Ejection

For the first offense, the person shall be reprimanded and suspended for the next game at the level of play and for any intervening games at either level.  For a second offense, the person shall be placed on probation and suspended for the next two games at that level of play and for any intervening games at any level.  For a third offense, the person shall be suspended for one calendar year.  A coach who is suspended at any level of grades 7-12 may not coach in any other grade level in grades 7-12 during the period of the suspension.  Penalties are cumulative from sport to sport and from sport season to sport season.  If no member of the school’s coaching staff is present to assume an ejected coach’s duties, the contest shall be terminated by a forfeit.  (Pender County Schools may at its discretion levy additional penalties for ejections.)

Middle School Sports Regulations

Time Lines

Football shall be played as a fall sport.  All other sports may be played during the sport’s season during the school year and begin as follows: fall, beginning of the fall semester to November 15^th; winter, October 15^th to March 1^st; and spring, February 1^st to the end of school.

Baseball

The number of regular season contests is limited to no more that 14. Up to two additional games may be played in lieu of a conference tournament.

The number of tournaments is limited to one single elimination, not to exceed 8 teams

By conference adoption, middle school teams grades seven-eight may use modified distances and should decide on a bat size for the conference play.  In Pender County games, middle school will compete on a field that has bases that are 80 feet apart and with a pitching distance of 54 feet.  Middle school games will be seven innings and will have a two-hour time limit, with no new inning starting after two hours has elapsed. Tournament games will not have a time limit.  The ten run mercy rule will be in effect after 4 ½ innings for all games. There will be a 15 run mercy rule after 3 ½ innings.

All bats used on Pender County middle school play will conform to the bat-exit speed ratio (BESR) requirement set forth by the National Federation of High Schools. Legal bats will be labeled with the NFHS logo and/or have the BESR rating of 1.20 on the bat.  In addition, bats must weigh in ounces no more than 3 ounces less that the length of the bat in inches.  For example, a 32-inch bat must weigh at least 29 ounces. This is know as the “minus three” rule.

Teams are allowed to play two games in one day.  When playing two games in a day, games are limited to five innings each, except to break a tie.  No team or individual shall play more than three games in a week, Monday through Saturday.  Penalty: forfeit.

A game called for any reason where a winner cannot be determined, or any game called at any time for mechanical failure will be treated as a suspended game.  If the game is to be completed it will be continued from the point of suspension with the lineup and batting order of each team the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules of the game.  If more than four innings have been played and a winner can be determined, the game is over. 

If any rained-out baseball game which would affect the winning of a conference title is to be played, it shall be rescheduled on the same field (exception: suspended games do not have to be rescheduled on the same field), unless changed by mutual agreement by the two schools.  Postponed games shall be made up in the order of postponement on the next possible date (excluding Sunday).  Saturday will not be used as a make-up day unless mutually agreed upon by both teams.  In a situation where a team does not want to make up a game at all, the game will be forfeited to the opponent.

A player is limited to pitching 10 innings Monday through Saturday.  One pitch constitutes an inning pitched. Violation of the pitching limitation rule is interpreted as the use of an ineligible player.  The penalty is a forfeit of the game for which the ineligible player participated.

Basketball

The number of regular season contests is limited to no more than 14.  Up to two additional contests may be played in lieu of a conference tournament.

The number of tournaments is limited to one single elimination, not to exceed eight teams.

Games involving only students in the 7^th and 8^th grades shall be played in six-minute quarters. Boys will play with a legal size boys’ ball and girls will play with a legal size girls’ ball.

Football

Practice may begin no earlier than 6 school days prior to the opening of the school term.  A preseason physical conditioning week must be observed. 

The first six days of practice shall be devoted entirely to physical conditioning activities.  During the first three days, helmets, T-shirts, shorts and football shoes constitute acceptable dress, and no other football attire shall be worn.  On days four, five and six, complete football attire may be worn, but absolutely no body-to-body contact is permitted.  Practice during the six day period shall be limited to a one-a-day period, not to exceed two hours in length.  The first three days of this conditioning week are limited to calisthenics, kicking, throwing, running and similar exercises.  Arm shields may be used, but tackling or blocking dummies, charging sleds or similar devices may not be used until days four, five and six.  Squad meetings, skull sessions, and film study are not allowed during the six day period, since it shall be for the sole purpose of improving physical conditioning rather than football excellence.  Contact activities may begin on the 7^th day of practice i.e., as soon as the required physical conditioning phase of practice has been completed.  Only one-a-day contact sessions may be conducted and shall not exceed two hours in length.  It is recommended that water breaks be offered every 20 or 30 minutes and that the following hot weather chart developed by the Sports Medicine Program, State Department of Public Instruction, be followed.  It is also recommended that EMS be available on game days and that athletes do daily weigh-ins in order to monitor weight loss.  A player shall have participated in a minimum of nine separate days of team practice, three of which shall be in pads before participating in a football contest with outside competition.  The exception to this is soccer players who are used as a kicker.  No contact is allowed at summer camps.

Temperature/Humidity

Temperature (Fahrenheit)                    Humidity                     Procedure

80-90                                                   under 70%                   Observe those athletes

                                                                                                susceptible to heat illness

80-90                                                   over 70%                     All athletes should be under

                                                                                                constant careful supervision

                                                                                                breaks every 20 or 30

                                                                                                minutes- fluid replacement

                                                                                                very important

90 and above                                       over 70%                     A shortened program in

                                                                                                shorts and T-shirts-

                                                                                                additional fluid replacement

                                                                                                breaks are necessary- may

                                                                                                need to suspend practice

If at the end of the fourth quarter the teams have identical scores, the tie may be resolved by the method of ten-yard line overtime procedures as set forth by the National Federation Football Rules Book.  Teams should notify booking agents regarding the rule that allows the Tie Breaker so he/she can inform the game officials.

No more than one regular season contest may be scheduled per week for a total of seven games.  An individual is limited to only one game per week.  Play-off/championship games are not to be scheduled as a regular season contest.  Up to one additional game may be played in lieu of a conference tournament. Play-offs/championships are limited to one post-season game.

Adopted Game Rules:  Games involving 7^th and 8^th grade students shall be played in eight-minute quarters.  The competition ball for middle school will be the legal size youth ball (the J5-Y ball is an example).  Middle school football in Pender County will also include a “fifth quarter.”  5^th quarter is designed as an 8-minute quarter where lesser skilled substitutes will play strictly with the intent of improving their skill level.  Each team will be given four minutes of offense and four minutes of defense.  Possession will start at the 50-yard line.  Ball moves back to the 50-yard line after a score or change of possession.  The clock will stop on out-of-bounds, scores, incomplete passes, change of possession and at the four-minute mark.  Score will be kept but will not be part of the regulation game score.  This quarter is to be as official as possible.  If a team is not large enough to provide players for 5^th quarter, the team should contact the opponent prior to game day.

Soccer

The number of regular season contests is limited to no more than 14.  Up to two additional games may be played in lieu of a conference tournament. Tournaments are limited to one single elimination, not to exceed 8 teams.  Games shall be played in 30-minute halves.  If a tie exists at the end of regulation play in regular season conference or non-conference games with prior consent of the teams, play will continue with two overtime periods of five minutes each.  If there is no winner at that point, the game shall be considered a tie for both teams.  In tournament play, the National Federation Progression Format may resolve tied games, but penalty kicks rather than shoot-out procedures shall be utilized.

If a game is suspended due to bad weather, light failure, etc.: (1) If the game is suspended in the first half, even if one team is ahead, game is to pick up from the point of interruption unless coaches agree to end; (2) If the game is suspended at half time or beyond, the game is over. If the score is tied when the game is suspended, then the game ends in a tie.  If one team is ahead when the game is suspended, then that team is the winner.

Softball

The number of regular season contests is limited to no more than 14.  Up to 2 additional games may be played in lieu of a conference tournament.  The tournament is limited to one single elimination, not to exceed 8 teams. Two doubleheaders (limited to five innings per game except to break a tie) are permitted per week where mutually agreed upon by both teams.

A game called for any reason, where a winner cannot be determined, or any game called at any time for mechanical failure (i.e. artificial lights, water systems, etc.) will be treated as a suspended game.  If the game is to be completed it will be continued from the point of suspension with the lineup and batting order of each team the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules of the game.  If more than 4 ½ innings have been played and a winner can be determined, the game is over.

If any rained-out softball game, which would affect the winning of a conference title is to be played, it shall be rescheduled on the same field.  The exception is that suspended games do not have to be rescheduled on the same field unless changed by mutual agreement by the two schools.  Postponed games shall be made up in the order of postponement on the next possible date (excluding Sunday). Saturday will not be used as a make-up day unless mutually agreed upon by both teams. In a situation where a team does not want to make up a game at all, the game will be forfeited to the opponent.

Adopted Game Rules: Pender County Middle School softball games will be seven innings in length.  There will be a two hour time limit on the games; no new inning can start after two hours have elapsed unless there is a tie.  Tournament games will have no time limit.  The ten run mercy rule will be in effect after 4 ½ innings for all games, and the 15 run mercy rule will be in effect after 3 ½ innings.  Extra inning games will be resolved using the international tiebreaker rule.  Each team will start their turn at-bat in the extra inning by placing the last batter to bat in the previous inning as a runner at second base.  Pender County Middle Schools will use a 12” softball for all games.  Softball bats must be legal for high school play.

Volleyball

The number of regular season contests is limited to no more than 14. Up to 2 additional games may be played in lieu of a conference tournament.  The number of tournaments is limited to one single elimination, not to exceed 8 teams.  No more than 2 matches are allowed per week.  The exception for volleyball is that two doubleheaders are permitted per week.

Adopted Game Rules: Regular season games will be best three-out-of-five games.  Tournament matches will be best two-out-of-three games.  The regular season champion will host the tournament, unless other provisions are made with the regular season champion.  Games will be played utilizing rally scoring, with 25 points needed to win a game.  A fifth game, if necessary, will be played to 15 points.  A third game, if necessary, in tournament play, will be played to 25 points.

Enforcement of the Rules and Regulations

Middle School Athletics

1)      Violations of these rules and regulations may result in reprimand, probation, suspension, fine, and/or forfeiture of games and/or eligibility.

2)      A coach found guilty of conduct inconsistent with a wholesome athletic program may be suspended and placed on probation and/or suspended from directing a team.

3)      If a coach or school official is ejected from a game or if a coach or school official removes his/her team from a contest before the termination of the contest, the coach or school official will be placed on probation until an investigation is made by the LEA.  The schools involved shall immediately report the incident in writing to the county athletic director and the superintendent.

4)      A student found guilty of misconduct may be placed on probation and/or suspended from participation in a sport for a period of time to be determined by the school, county athletic director, and/or the superintendent.

5)      A school official found guilty of misconduct may be placed on probation and/or suspended from participation in a sport or sports for a period of time to be determined by the school, county athletic director, and/or the superintendent.

6)      If team members not participating in a game come on to the playing surface during an event or immediately thereafter to engage in conflict. That team shall be placed on probation and may not participate until a decision is rendered by the LEA.

7)      Schools not filing a completed eligibility list with the superintendent or designee for any interscholastic team shall be suspended from playing in that sport until such list is received by the superintendent or designee.

8)      Any school that uses an ineligible player in any contest is to immediately drop the player from the team and forfeit all games in which the ineligible player participated.  Dressing for the game and sitting on the bench will count as having participated in the game.

9)      Game officials shall be appointed by an authorized booking office.  Under no circumstance shall a game be played when officials are taken from the audience of spectators or from school personnel. (Exception: In an emergency situation, NCHSAA certified officials may be used when permission is acquired from the superintendent or county athletic director.)

10)  Probation: If a school or individual is placed on probation, the school or the individual is put on a trial period for a specific time.  At the end of this trial period, the LEA of which the school is a member shall review the school or individual’s conduct and behavior and advise the school or individual of their status.  During the probationary period, a school or individual may participate in all interscholastic activities unless otherwise stipulated by the LEA.  If while on probation a school or individual is found guilty of a second violation within the school year, the school shall be barred from participation and the individual shall be barred from participating at the discretion of the LEA.

11)  A school or individual may be suspended in a particular sport or in all sports.

SPORTSMANSHIP/EJECTION POLICY

Adapted from NCHSAA/DPI

This policy applies to all persons involved in an athletic contest, including student-athletes, coaches, managers, and game administrators.  The following examples include behavior or conduct which will result in an ejection from a contest: (1) fighting, which includes, but is not limited to, combative acts such as an attempt to strike an opponent with a fist, hands, arms, legs or feet, an attempt to punch or kick an opponent, regardless of whether or not contact is made, an attempt to instigate a fight by committing an unsportsmanlike act toward an opponent that causes an opponent to retaliate, or leaving the bench area to participate in a fight (contact or no contact); (2) biting observed by an official; (3) taunting, baiting or spitting toward an opponent; (4) profanity directed toward an official or opponent; (5) obscene gestures, including gesturing in such a manner as to intimidate; and (6) disrespectfully addressing (physically contacting an official is subject to automatic expulsion and can result in ineligibility for remainder of career) an official.  Individuals ejected for one of the preceding reasons in a football game will be ejected from that contest, miss the next contest at that level and all contests in the interim. (Miss the next two contests for fighting). Ejections in all other sports will result in ejection from that contest, miss the next two contests at that level and all contests in the interim. (Miss the next four contests for fighting).  Individuals: Players receiving two ejections for unacceptable behavior as defined above will be suspended from all sports for the remainder of that sport season.  Receiving a third ejection in a school year will result in suspension from athletics for one calendar year (365 days from the date of the third ejection).  Teams: Teams in the following situations will not be allowed to participate in the playoffs: (1) A team whose players and coaches accumulate six or more individual ejections; (2) A team whose players and coaches accumulate more than three individual ejections for fighting (if a situation occurs where six players on one team are ejected during one fighting incident, those six individual ejections will cause the team to lose its playoff privileges).  If a team hits either threshold (total ejections or ejections for fighting) during the playoffs, it will be disqualified from further participation in the playoffs.

Penalties are cumulative from sport to sport and from sport season to sport season, but not academic year to academic year.  Ejections in the last game of the season carry over to the next sport in which the individual participates that year.  Ejected players may practice during their suspensions but not play.  Ejected coaches may not be on the premises for a contest.  The coach must leave the premises (press box, bleachers, adjacent field, etc.) and must not have any type of contact with the team.  If no member of the school’s coaching staff is present to assume the ejected coach’s duties, the contest is terminated by a forfeit.  Anytime a student/coach is ejected from a game/meet, he/she does not participate/coach the remainder of that day.  The student/coach is also suspended from the next two scheduled, rescheduled or contracted dates at that level of competition (one in football) and all games/meets in the interim at other levels of competition.  The coach is not permitted to be at the game site during his/her suspension, but the student is allowed at the game site.

Clarification for soccer only:  Coaches and athletic directors will be responsible for tracking yellow cards accumulated by their players.  Five yellow cards accumulated by the same player will result in a suspension (miss next contest at that level and all contests in the interim).  An additional five yellow cards accumulated by the same player (season total of 10) will result in an ejection.  The player will be suspended from all sports for the remainder of that season on the 15^th yellow card (or second ejection).  A red card disqualification that is not an ejection is the equivalent of two yellow cards.  Penalties are enforced at the conclusion of the game, and an ejection report must also be filed at the appropriate time for accumulation of yellow cards.  Once brackets are released for playoffs, yellow cards are reset to zero.  With three yellow cards in the playoffs, player is suspended for the next game.  A total of five yellow cards and any player is out for remainder of playoffs and may carry over to other sports.

For Wrestling, Track, Tennis, Golf, Cross-Country and Swimming:  Any individual ejected from an individual event or individual tournament may not participate for the remainder of the event (entire day(s) of competition or tournament) from which he or she was ejected.  Additionally, the individual may not participate in the next scheduled two events or any other events, in any sport, at any level, in the interim.

Athletes are expected to sign the sportsmanship pledge, and coaches are expected to sign the code of conduct for coaches.

Penalties that may be imposed by the State Department of Public Instruction: (1) Participation Ban- Violations of the state regulations, negligence or poor sportsmanship may forfeit the right of the school to participate in interscholastic athletics for a given period of time to be determined by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; (2) Suspension of Accreditation- If any school engages in athletic activities in violation of the rules and regulations and in such manner as to interfere with the required instructional services adopted by the State Board of Education for use in the public schools, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify such school to desist from further violation of these rules and regulations; and upon failure of such school to desist there from within such time as the State Superintendent may require, he may suspend the accreditation of said school until such time as the same may have been corrected.

September 1 of the following year is the deadline for all incidents, violations, etc. to be reported to the NCHSAA.

Additional Pender County Regulations: Student-Athletes or coaches in Pender County Schools that are ejected from an athletic contest are subject to additional sanctions within the jurisdiction of the school or the Board of Education.  Violations of the student code of conduct are subject to sanctions as detailed in the code of conduct.  Additional sanctions may include, but are not limited to, additional suspension of participation beyond NCHSAA or NCDPI regulations.

Cheerleading

Cheerleading is an activity that comes under the jurisdiction of the LEA.  In 1985 the North Carolina General Assembly asked that the Department of Public Instruction develop some guidelines for cheerleaders.  The listed guidelines include what was developed at that time.  The National Federation of High Schools also publishes guidelines that Pender County Schools will adopt and follow.

Cheerleading comes under the jurisdiction of the NCHSAA in two areas- eligibility and safety guidelines.  All cheerleaders must have their eligibility certified in the same manner as interscholastic athletes. 

Cheerleaders serve as a support group for the different interscholastic teams within their schools.  Cheerleaders should always strive to improve student morale, boost team spirit and help a school achieve the most worthwhile objectives in its interscholastic program.  Positive crowd and student body involvement directed by the cheerleading squad in support of the school team should be a major goal and is a very important component of entertainment or competition purposes.  These activities can provide the student with educational experiences that contribute greatly toward the development of good citizenship.

Safety Guidelines:

1)      All cheers, chants, dances or spirit raising activities should be well planned, practiced and organized to promote the safety of students participating in cheerleading activities.

2)      A cheerleading coach should supervise all squads during all practices and performances.

3)      Cheerleading coaches should have a background in cheerleading, dance choreography, and/or gymnastics, and should be knowledgeable in proper cheerleading techniques and safety procedures.  Coaches should coach only within his or her level of expertise.

4)      All routines, pyramids, stunts and gymnastics should be practiced to perfection prior to actual performance.

5)      Cheerleaders should be familiar with the environmental conditions and playing surfaces for which stunts, pyramids, and routines are to be used.

6)      Pyramids and partner stunts may be a part of the squad’s routine, provided the following safety precautions are taken:

·         No pyramid or stunt formation is to be higher than two standing levels or three kneeling levels.

·         No roll-offs, flips or somersaults off pyramids or stunts.

·         No knee drops or tension drop stunts off pyramids.

·         No collapsing pyramids or stunts.

·         Spotters should be present throughout the mounting, result, and dismounting stages or pyramids or stunts.

·         No base should support more than 1 ½ people.

·         No toe pitches.

·         No single support split catch

7)      Acceptable gymnastic maneuvers should be limited to forward and backward walk-overs, splits, round-offs, cartwheels, handsprings, handstands, and front and back somersaults.

8)      Mini-tramps, springboards, and similar equipment should be prohibited.

9)      Dangling jewelry should not be worn during practices and performances.

10)  Appropriate footwear should be worn, including rubber sole, low heel shoes that offer adequate support and can absorb the forces caused by jumping and other stunts or techniques.

11)  Cheerleaders should have access to the school athletic trainer and school physician.

12)  Cheerleaders shall have a medical examination prior to participation on a squad. Any known medical condition that might interfere with active participation should be recorded (example: asthma, heart condition, epilepsy, diabetes, etc.)

13)  A cheerleader who misses a practice at which a pyramid, stunt, or gymnastics maneuver was mastered should not perform any of those maneuvers at the next performance or until the maneuver is mastered.

14)  Cheerleaders should travel together and use transportation which has been provided by the school.

15)  These rules and regulations also apply to practice, game situations, and outside competition.

16)  All cheerleading squads should adopt a comprehensive conditioning program. Emphasis should be placed on areas such as flexibility, upper body strength, ankle and wrist strength, and endurance.

17)  Cheerleaders will promote good sportsmanship.

18)  Cheerleaders should learn the rules and terms for each sport.

19)  Cheers should not ridicule the opposing team, players, or game officials.

20)  Do not imitate or join in boos, whistles, catcalls, or other derogatory gestures.

21)  Cheerleaders must remain seated during all live balls, and cannot run on the floor during 30-second timeouts.

22)  Cheerleaders will refrain from kicking or stomping on gymnasium bleachers in an effort to distract the opposing team.

23)  Welcome visiting cheerleaders at all games and arrange a schedule for turns on the floor during basketball games.

24)  The position of the cheerleader during an athletic event should be kept in perspective. The game is the primary consideration.

Duties and Responsibilities of the School Athletic Director

The school principal is responsible for all activities within the school, including athletics.  It is the responsibility of the principal to make final decisions in all matters pertaining to school activities.  The following athletic policies will not lessen responsibilities but will delegate areas of responsibility to the athletic director and to members of the athletic staff.  The athletic director represents the school administration in matters pertaining to athletics and may need to vote at meetings at conference or state levels.  When representing the school, the athletic director’s vote should represent the thinking of the majority of the athletic staff if possible.

Function of the Job

The primary responsibility of the athletic director is to supervise the interscholastic athletic program, working closely with the principal to coordinate the coaching staff and the overall program.  The athletic director reports to the principal.  The coaching staff reports to the athletic director.

Responsibilities

The athletic director at the school is under the direct supervision of the principal.

The athletic director shall direct and coordinate all interscholastic athletic activities at the school.

The athletic director will see that all rules and regulations of state and conference athletic associations are honored. This includes beginning dates, eligibility, playoffs, and tournaments.

The athletic director will develop and ensure the appropriate application of specifications and standards for athletic supplies and equipment for the school.  Purchase orders should go through the principal’s office for approval.  The athletic director will ensure that individual coaches handle all requests and requisitions through the athletic director, who in turn will submit them to the principal. There should be only one athletic fund at the school.  There will be competitive bidding where feasible on all athletic equipment purchased for the school.  All purchases of athletic materials and equipment must be made according to Pender County Schools fiscal administration policy. The athletic director will check invoices and requisitions, and send them to the principal for final approval for payment.  High school athletic materials and equipment should be paid out of the high school athletic fund.  The athletic director should coordinate equipment care and maintenance.  The athletic director should maintain equipment inventory records for all sports at the school. 

The athletic director will arrange, in conjunction with the coach when needed, all athletic schedules at the high school, with final approval of the principal and execute all game contracts at the high school.

The athletic director will reschedule all postponed or delayed contests in conjunction with each coach and final approval of the principal.  The athletic director should notify the county athletic director and all affected parties, including game officials.

The athletic director will be responsible for season tickets and individual game tickets when necessary.

The athletic director, with assistance from the principal, will secure and instruct ticket sellers and ticket takers for all athletic events.  Instruction should include admission costs and how to handle passes and free admissions for each sport.  The principal or designee shall be responsible for collecting all ticket money sold at athletic events and depositing it in the school fund.

The athletic director will coordinate medical examinations for the high schools, and football insurance programs that include catastrophic insurance for the high school.  The athletic director should distribute appropriate insurance claims forms to coaches for parents to use, and distribute information about insurance policies when necessary.

The athletic director will coordinate the securing of adequate medical and emergency care, which includes the availability of an ambulance during game situations.  The athletic director and the principal should assess medical needs for each sport.

The athletic director should coordinate activities, responsibilities, and relations with game officials and officiating agencies.  This includes securing officials for games and making cancellations in case of games being postponed or cancelled.  The athletic director should be sure officials have adequate quarters for dressing and that soap and towels are available if needed.  The county athletic director will assist the middle schools with the securing of game officials.

The athletic director, in conjunction with the principal, will coordinate police protection at all athletic events.  This includes law enforcement for parking, etc. The athletic director and the principal will determine needs and assess them for each event.

The athletic director will coordinate with the competing schools the appropriate supervision and evaluation of crowd control at both home and away athletic events.  This includes requesting reports and investigating all incidents of poor crowd control as well as poor sportsmanship on the parts of players and coaches.

The athletic director will monitor all home football and basketball games, and other athletic events, home and away, as designated by the principal.  In addition, the athletic director will monitor practice sessions for all sports.

The athletic director will attend all athletic meetings, including conference meetings and booster club meetings, involving their school.

The athletic director will represent the school as athletics public relations agent with the public and communication with the media.  The athletic director will coordinate with coaches the publicity and reporting of game results to appropriate media outlets.

The athletic director will send rosters, schedules, and complimentary tickets as needed to opponents, the members of the Pender County Board of Education, the superintendent, and the assistant superintendent.

All receipts collected for a purpose pertaining to the athletic department shall be under the supervision of the athletic director, in conjunction with the principal.  This includes all athletic insurance programs when applicable, special promotions, or any other source of revenue.

It shall be the responsibility of the athletic director to see that the school athletic programs are financed and operated within the budget established for the school athletic fund.

The athletic director may be asked to assist the principal in interviewing coaching applicants for the school.

The athletic director shall work with the principal and coaches in establishing sound procedures in the following areas: athletic banquet(s), athletic awards, team trips, and team meals.

The athletic director is responsible for working closely with the school athletic booster club.  Principals should be informed of booster club activities by the athletic director, such as concession stands at athletic events.  The athletic director will coordinate the payment of all athletic debts, registrations, memberships, bookkeeping fees, and game expenses.

The athletic director is to coordinate and work with the school cheerleader coaches.

The athletic director is to have the responsibility for the stadium, lights, all athletic fields, and facilities.  He/she is to see that they are properly watered, maintained, seeded, and ready for play when needed.  Coaches are expected to assist in this area for facilities that are utilized by the sport they coach.  All requests for the use of these facilities must be handled and approved by the athletic director, with final approval by the principal and the community schools coordinator.  The athletic director shall periodically check the athletic facilities for needed repairs and make maintenance requests through normal channels.  The athletic director shall see that all facilities are kept clean and shall coordinate the work of the custodian assigned to all athletic facilities.

The athletic director shall be responsible for coordinating all travel arrangements of the athletic teams at the school for interscholastic sports.  This includes handling arrangements for any overnight trip, if necessary.

The athletic director should develop a schedule for coach and program evaluation.  This schedule should include procedures for the evaluation of head coaches and assistant coaches, as well as the athletic director.  This process should be constructed with the goal of improving the overall athletic program of the school and should include opportunity for self-reflection and staff development.

The athletic director will also perform such duties as directed by the principal.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Coach

The coach must promote good sportsmanship by setting a positive example while coaching student/athletes.  The integrity and judgment of game officials must be respected.  Athletic competition has to be approached as a healthy and competitive exercise, not a life and death struggle that requires victory at any price.  The student/athletes on the field are young men and women with human frailties and limitations, and are capable of making mistakes.  The coach must refrain from the use of crude or abusive language with players, opponents, officials and spectators.  Coaches must instruct players in the elements of good sportsmanship and remove players from competition who demonstrate unsportsmanlike behavior.  The coach must avoid behavior that will incite players, opponents, or spectators.  There will be no negative comments to radio, television, and newspaper reporters.  The coach will avoid the use, misuse, and abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco that could have a negative impact on players, spectators, and the game.

Coaches must use sound and acceptable coaching techniques.  The coach will run well-organized practice sessions, which includes complete pre-season planning prior to the first day of practice.  A coach must adhere to a highly efficient and technically sound program of injury prevention.  When injuries do occur, athletes should follow a prescribed routine which includes updated communication between the coach, athlete, medical professional, and parents.  Coaches will have well-organized game plans.  There must be a sound system for equipment accountability, inventory, reconditioning and replacement within the available budget.  Communication with assistants, managers, statisticians, maintenance staff, transportation staff and administration is paramount to the success of an athletic program.

The main reason for having athletic teams is to help provide opportunities for young men and women to develop their respective capabilities to the fullest extent.  Development of positive attitudes is an important means to accomplishing this aim.  We must promote and teach only clean, aggressive, and fair play, while stressing sportsmanship at all times.  The coach must be the leader and set the example.

The coach should be fair and unprejudiced with players, considering their individual differences, needs, interests, temperaments, aptitudes, and environments.  Players have a right to expect coaches to have a genuine and up-to-date knowledge of that which they propose to teach.  The safety and welfare of players should always be uppermost in the coach’s mind.

Coaches are a frequent topic of conversation at various community locations, the home, the workplace, and at meetings of civic organizations.  The profession, as well as personal reputation as a coach, is constantly under scrutiny.  The coach’s actions and statements should always reflect confidence and respect for Pender County Schools.  Much can be done by the coach in public contacts to build and maintain a high level of confidence in the athletic program and community.

A coach owes the school effort and loyalty at all times.  The coach must constantly strive for excellence in all areas of the school.  To be effective, a coach must be respected.  To be respected, good personal habits and neat appearance are important- but most important are the examples set by the coach.  Being respected is much more important than being well-liked.  The faculty, players, and the general student population should be treated by the coach with the same honor and respect that the coach desires to be shown to him/her.  Private, firm, fair, and consistent discipline must be maintained.

The work of the coach must be an integral part of the educational program of the school. The coach should show mastery of the principles of education and should strive for continued excellence in teaching and coaching.  The coach should give support to all endorsed activities of the school.  At every opportunity, the coach should urge the student body to be polite, courteous, and fair to the opposing team.

A coach in the Pender County School system should continue professional growth in both the academic teaching area and the athletic teaching area.  A coach should belong to the various professional associations open to the profession.

One must always bear in mind that his or her sport is not the only sport, it is only part of the total athletic educational program and the school.  Therefore, it is important to support, promote, and cooperate with all other coaches and activity sponsors for the well being of the total program.  A coach should support and serve fellow coaches whenever possible.  All remarks should reflect confidence in one’s fellow coaches.  A strong, harmonious, interpersonal relationship must exist among coaches and other faculty members.  A coach is responsible for cooperating with fellow faculty members.  It is important that all coaches support the academic mission of the school as well as other activities organized and supervised by fellow faculty members. 

A coach should be in control at all times.  Language, actions, and emotional displays come under close scrutiny, both in practice and in scheduled events. Integrity, graciousness, dignity, and respect are just a few of the positive characteristics that should be cultivated for players, officials, opponents, colleagues, and the game itself. A coach is also responsible for every facet of discipline.  Individually, the coach becomes a model for all that the school represents.  The coach sets the tone.  These include attitude toward the school codes, training rules, rules of the game, ideals of good sportsmanship, and behavior of participants throughout the season.  Each coach represents Pender County Schools and the community that supports the individual school.  Quality leadership will make the difference.

Coaches may face liability in several areas, including failure to supervise an activity; failure to teach fundamentals and protective skills; negligently entrusting duty to an unqualified individual, failure to provide and maintain a safe coaching environment; failure to inspect, repair, and recondition equipment properly; failure to provide proper effective equipment; failure to know, document, post, and follow school policies; failure to properly administer first aid; failure to warn of inherent dangers; failure to assess the injury of an athlete; and failure to keep adequate and accurate records.

Athletic Trainer/First Responder

** By NCHSAA standards, each High School must maintain an active Emergency Action Plan on file**

By state policy, each high school must have a qualified NATA-certified athletic trainer or a designated first responder during football season.  There must be a Nationally Certified and/or North Carolina Licensed Athletic Trainer OR a first responder who is not coaching football during the football season that attends every game and practice.  Practice cannot be held unless this person is present.  The first responder must complete and maintain certification or be in the process of completing CPR, first aid, and Injury Management Level I and II.

This applies to high school football only at this time.  It is recommended, but not required, that a qualified person be at all athletic events that take place on campus for middle school and high school.

Injury Management Level I and II will be offered at the North Carolina Coaches Clinic each July in Greensboro, North Carolina.  A first responder may take any American Heart Association or Red Cross approved course in CPR and First Aid.

Emergency Action Plan for Coaches

**By NCHSAA standards, each High School must maintain an Emergency Action Plan on file**

The coach must take responsibility for the well being of his or her athletes.  It is a coach’s responsibility to see that an ill or injured athlete receives appropriate care.  This care can range from simply not letting the athletes participate to giving life saving first aid.  This is a general action plan that should be followed in the event of accident or illness.  Each school should tailor a plan to fit their particular needs. 

All coaches should maintain current certification in First Aid and CPR. 

The most qualified person should stay with the injured athlete and administer first aid to an injured athlete.  This person should immediately check to see if the athlete is conscious, if they are breathing, and if they have a pulse.  At this point, someone should call 911 if necessary.  If there is a doubt, call!  Do not spend time looking for a nurse, trainer, or other personnel.  Go ahead and activate the EMS system.  Use appropriate first aid procedures to prevent further injury or illness, maintain life support function, and lessen the severity of any illness or injury.  Have someone stationed outside to meet the rescue squad to bring them to your location.  Have a roster of all team members with their home telephone numbers, parent’s work number, emergency telephone number, and pre-existing health conditions listed on the physical, if any.  Make sure to contact parents regarding the injury to let them know of the situation.

Management of the Unconscious Athlete

Reasons for Unconsciousness: Concussion or head injury; diabetic coma; seizure; apoplexy; heat stroke

First Priority: Airway- check position of head, neck, and tongue; Breathing- check rise and fall of chest (no breathing, then artificial respiration); Circulation- check pulse at carotid artery (no pulse and no breathing, then CPR)

Check Pupils: Response to light; equality; dilation

Check Ears, Eyes, and Nose: depressions; deformity; secretions from the ears or nose

The athlete may sustain a head injury and not suffer immediate loss of consciousness- an expanding lesion may cause unconsciousness at a later time.  You must always consider the possibility of cervical fracture or spinal cord injury.  DO NOT move the injured athlete without proper equipment and procedure.  Do not use ammonia capsules.  The most dangerous time is when the athlete is face down and not moving.  An athlete that loses consciousness, even if only briefly, should be evaluated by a physician prior to returning to athletic participation. 

The instructions set forth in this manual on athletic injuries are not to be misconstrued as proper training toward the treatment of athletic injuries, but should be seen as general information guidelines.

Emergency First Aid Guidelines

Maintain current certification in First Aid and CPR.

Life threatening emergencies require prompt intervention.  The three most critical emergencies are: loss of breathing, loss of heartbeat, and severe bleeding.

Breathing emergencies: choking- Heimlich maneuver; no breathing- rescue breathing

Circulatory emergencies:

• Heart attack- recognize symptoms, have victim stop all activity and rest, help them to rest comfortably, call 911, assist with prescribed medication, monitor vital signs, be prepared to administer CPR if the victim’s heart stops beating.
• No heartbeat- administer CPR
• Severe Bleeding- cover with a clean bandage and apply direct pressure, elevate if no fracture is suspected, apply pressure bandage, use pressure points.  Remember to use universal precautions for blood borne pathogens.
• Shock- signs of shock are restlessness, altered consciousness; pale, cool, moist skin, rapid breathing, and rapid pulse.  Care for shock by having the patient lie down in a comfortable position, control external bleeding if present, comfort the patient, and elevate legs unless a fracture is suspected.  Do not give anything to eat or drink.  Call 911.
• Internal Bleeding- Signs are tender, swollen, bruised or hard areas of the body such as the abdomen.  Rapid weak pulse, cool, moist, pale or bluish skin, vomiting or coughing blood, excessive thirst, becoming drowsy, confused, fainting, or becoming unconscious.  Care for internal bleeding like a victim in shock. Call 911.

Burns:

• Critical Burns- A critical burn can be life-threatening and needs immediate attention.  A critical burn is one where there is difficulty breathing; covers more than one body part; involves the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia; burns other than a very mild burn to a child or elderly person; and burns resulting from chemicals, explosions, or electricity. 
• Care for Burns- Stop the burning, cool the burned area with large amounts of cool water, cover with a dry clean dressing to help prevent infections.
• Chemical Burns- Flush with large amounts of water until medical help arrives

Muscle, Bone, and Joint Injuries:

• Signs of serious muscle, bone, or joint injuries include significant deformity, bruising, or swelling; inability to use the affected part normally; bone fragments sticking out of a wound; sensation of bones grating; hearing or feeling a pop at the time of the injury; area is cold and numb; and cause of injury suggests that the injury is severe.
• Splinting a Serious Injury- Splint only if the victim must be moved or transported by someone other than trained medical personnel; splint only if one can do so without causing more pain and discomfort to the victim; splint an injury in the position it is found; splint the injured area and the joints above and below the injury; and check for proper circulation before and after splinting.
• Care for Soft Tissue and Sprains- RICE- rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Ice for 48 to 72 hours following a soft tissue injury and use moist heat for follow-up treatment.

Head and Spinal Injuries:

Signals of head and spinal injuries include: changes in consciousness, severe pain or pressure in the head, neck or back; tingling or loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet and toes; partial or complete loss of movement of any body part; unusual bumps or depressions on the head or over the spine; blood or other fluids in the ears or nose; heavy external bleeding of the head, neck or back; seizures; impaired breathing or vision as a result of injury; nausea or vomiting; persistent headaches; loss of balance; bruising of the head; especially around the eyes and behind the ears.  General care for suspected head or spine injury- minimize movement of the head and spine, maintain an open airway, control any external bleeding, keep the victim from becoming chilled or overheated, call 911 for help. 

Sudden Illness:

Signals of sudden illness include feeling light headed, dizzy, confused or weak; changes in skin color; sweating; nausea or vomiting; and diarrhea.  Care for any life threatening illness first, then help the victim rest comfortably, keep the victim from becoming overheated or chilled, reassure the victim, watch for changes in consciousness or breathing, monitor vital signs, and do not give anything to eat or drink unless the victim is fully conscious.  If the victim vomits, place them on his/her side.  If the victim faints, position them on the back and elevate legs 12 inches, as long as there is no head or back injury.  If there is a diabetic emergency, give the victim some form of sugar.  If there is a seizure, do not hold or restrain the person or place anything between the teeth. Remove any nearby objects that might cause injury.  Cushion the victim’s head using folded clothing or a small pillow.

Poisoning:

If a poisoning incident has occurred, try to find out what type of poison it was, how much was taken, and when it was taken.  Care for life threatening problems immediately and call the Poison Control Center for assistance.  The number to the Carolinas Poison Control Center is 1-800-222-1222.

Bites and Stings:

General care includes washing the area with soap and water, apply a cold pack, watch for allergic reaction, call 911 if needed.

Reducing the Risk of Contracting Bloodborne Infections

(HIV and Hepatitis B Virus)

• Cover any open wounds that you may have to reduce the transfer of blood from one open wound to another.
• Athletes should render first aid to themselves whenever possible.  This reduces the risk of transmitting a bloodborne virus from one person to another.
• When rendering first aid to others, wear protective gloves any time blood or any other body fluids containing visible blood, open wounds, or mucous membranes are involved.  Clean gloves should be used for each athlete or the recurrence of an injury for the same athlete if any practice or competition has occurred following initial treatment.
• If you get someone else’s blood or other bodily fluids containing visible blood on yourself, wear protective gloves and wipe it off with a disposable towel using a solution known to inactivate bloodborne pathogens.  Soap and water or antiseptic hand cleaner in conjunction with clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes are recommended by OSHA.  Cloth towels should be used only once before laundering and disposable towels should be discarded properly.  Proper disposal would be the use of a plastic-lined container with a lid, labeled with a biohazardous waste label.
• If blood or other bodily fluids containing visible blood are present during practice or competition, play should be stopped, the injured athlete removed from the activity and given proper attention, and any contaminated surfaces should be cleaned.  A uniform saturated with blood should be changed. Any open wounds should be covered before the athlete is allowed to continue participation.
• Do not use common towels to clean surface contaminated with blood or any other bodily fluids containing visible blood.  The use of common towels at any time during athletics is a very poor health habit.  Personalize towels, cups, and water bottles with the player’s name and number.
• When cleaning contaminated surfaces, use a solution of household bleach and water or a commercially prepared EPA-approved solution.  The household bleach solution should be mixed fresh daily and should be a dilution of nine parts water to one part bleach.
• All blood contaminated linen such as uniforms and towels should be presoaked and then washed in hot, soapy water.  Use a normal laundry cycle and follow the washer and detergent manufacturer’s recommendations.
• In general, use good hygienic practices.  Shower after each practice or competition, using a liberal amount of soap and water.  Avoid using shared towels, cups, and water bottles.

First Aid Kits

• Each school should have enough first aid kits available for each team.  This does not mean that every team has a kit, but during a particular sports season, each team participating in that season should have a kit. 
• The athletic director, athletic trainer, or designated first responder should coordinate distribution and re-supply of kits.
• Items supplied in each kit may vary by sport.  There may be a particular item for one sport that another sport does not need, but all kits should contain the same basic items to include the following: adhesive tape, gauze pads, assorted size adhesive bandages, triangular bandages, antiseptic ointment, an ace bandage, and plastic bags for ice. 
• For the management of body fluids and blood, each kit should contain latex gloves for first aid, antiseptic wipes, plastic bags that can be sealed for waste disposal, heavy duty absorbent towels, a small bottle of bleach solution for cleaning, and a CPR face shield.
• Each school should also have an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for cardiac emergencies.

Sports Safety Guidelines

• All athletes must have a physical before taking part in any school-sponsored practice.  Physicals must be done by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
• Each team and coach should develop an emergency action plan to deal with emergencies.  This plan includes team rosters with emergency numbers, and outlines specific duties done by staff members during an emergency.  All pertinent information on an athlete’s physical needs to be kept with the team in case of emergency.
• Coaches should schedule regular safety inspections of equipment and facilities.
• Coaches should maintain certification in CPR and first aid.
• Exercise extreme caution during hot weather.  Schedule practices in early morning or late evening hours to avoid the hottest part of the day.  Follow hot weather guidelines.
• Water and ice should be available at all practices and games for fluid replacement and injury care.
• Monitor the weather.  Be aware of potentially dangerous conditions, including heat, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and high rains.
• If available, use two-way radios and/or cellular telephones to set up a communication system for emergencies.

Hot Weather

Until a student-athlete becomes acclimated to the heat, the coach should use extreme caution when the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is 70% or above.  Please use common sense and observe extreme caution during the first days of August and September.

Precautions must be taken to prevent heat-related problems.  The following should be considered when scheduling practice: time of day, intensity level of practice, equipment worn, and environmental conditions.  High temperature and high humidity create a dangerous situation for athletes.  However, a high humidity and low temperature can also cause serious heat-related problems. 

Water should be made available in unlimited amounts throughout practice. Water/fluid replacement breaks are recommended every 20-30 minutes, depending on practice conditions.  The table on page 31 of this manual delineates temperature guidelines for athletic practices.

Water, Water, Water, Water

Proper hydration is a must.  No matter how much one chooses to exercises or in whatever time of year one chooses to do it, the body needs water.  Water accounts for approximately 55 to 60 percent of an adult’s body weight. While a loss of 10 percent may pose a significant health risk, a loss of 20 percent can result in death.  Because exercise generates internal body heat, which is released and cooled in the form of sweat (water), prolonged exercise with insufficient fluid replacement can lead to dehydration. Remember, dehydration can occur even if the athlete is inside and especially if it becomes warm and humid.  The more the athlete sweats, the more water is needed.  One may need to drink more than recommended amounts.  Heart rate can serve as a good indicator of how the body is tolerating the heat during exercise.  On a day of high heat or humidity, the heart will probably beat faster than it usually would under the same workout or under more ideal conditions.  If this happens, it may be too hot for the workout.

Measures to prevent exercise-induced dehydration:

• Drink before, during, and after exercise.
• Avoid items that contain caffeine or alcohol- these increase fluid loss.
• Wear light, loose fitting clothing that allows for evaporation.
• In the case of over heating, moisten the skin by sponging or spraying it with water to assist in cooling down.

Severe Weather During Outside Events

When conducting practices, games, or other events outdoors, coaches, teachers, and administrators must be aware of weather conditions and act appropriately if weather conditions change.  Every year there are news reports about athletes and students being injured or killed by lightning strikes.  These situations are preventable.  However, lightning is not the only severe weather problem encountered.  Very intense rainstorms and high wind conditions can also pose a threat to the safety and well being of our athletes.  Anytime extreme weather conditions exist, athletes, students, and all others should be removed from the field and into a safe structure.

Each Pender County School should be equipped with a lightning detector in order to monitor severe weather.  In addition, local media as well as Internet-based local radar should be monitored closely for adverse weather conditions.  Always err on the side of safety!

• In the event of thunder, move students off the field to an inside facility and do not return until thunder has not been heard for at least 30 minutes.
• Take no chances, move inside a safe structure at the first sign of a storm.  If you hear thunder or see lightning, you are at risk.  Move inside.
• Do not seek refuge under a tree or beside any tall object in an open area.
• Avoid contact with metal.
• If caught in an open area, be a small target- crouch down.
• Avoid high terrain and bodies of water.
• Avoid electrical appliances and telephones inside.

Crowd Control

Any school having an interscholastic athletic program should have a well-planned crowd control program.  Personnel who should be included in developing the plan include administrators, athletic directors, coaches, band director, security personnel and the game announcer.

Specific responsibilities should be outlined for everyone involved.  Any crowd control plan should consist of regulations before, during, and after contests.

Before the Contest: If the athletic program is to be successfully administered, the school must be concerned with the welfare of the fans and the student body.  Since our schools are in need of the revenue from gate receipts for financing the athletic program, all efforts must be put forth to make attendance and enjoyable experience, thus ensuring a return to other contests.

Important pre-planning steps are:

• Make sure that all facilities are clean and comfortable.
• Staff adequate concession stands.
• Provide adequate entrances and ticketing areas with admission prices plainly posted.
• Make available to visiting schools necessary game information, including directions for game parking, seating arrangements, ticket prices, driving directions, etc.
• Provide ample parking.
• Designate specific seating areas for students, bands, adults, and visitors.  If possible, opposing student bodies should be separated.
• Discuss with the student body the need for showing good sportsmanship to visitors.
• Inform cheerleaders of the importance of proper timing of cheers, displays of good sportsmanship, and cooperation with teams, bands, and other activities.
• Arrange for adequate law enforcement supervision.
• Post in plain sight at the entrance to the facility a copy of the reasons for expulsion from the contest, i.e. use of alcohol or drugs, throwing of objects, unruly behavior, etc.
• Provide assistance to game officials where needed.

During the Contest:

• Provide for adequate supervision of students and facilities by the home school.
• Be sure that visiting schools assume responsibility for their students.
• Provide an interesting halftime program whenever possible.
• Arrange for security facilities to prevent fans from getting on the playing surface, around the players or coaches, or directly into areas of competition.
• Have the game announcer give the location of restrooms and concession stands.
• Provide first aid for emergencies.

After the Contest:

• Develop a procedural plan for the exit of teams, officials, and fans.
• Direct the route for movement of all visiting buses, including bands, pep clubs, teams, and cheerleaders.
• Use the public address system to give directions about leaving the facility and to give caution about entering the playing facility.
• Provide traffic control as needed.

Summary statements:

• Students should be encouraged to attend athletic contests with a responsible adult.
• Encourage as many faculty members as possible to attend athletic contests.
• Insist that unruly spectators be removed from the premises.
• Visiting schools should follow the procedures set forth by the home school.
• Outline to students acceptable and non-acceptable behavior at athletic events.

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse

The NCAA-Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse is the organization that handles all inquiries regarding an individual’s initial eligibility status.  In order to qualify for athletic eligibility at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the prospective student-athlete must obtain a certain qualifying score on the SAT or the ACT as well as meet grade-point average requirements on core courses taken at the high school level.  Each high school has a list of approved core courses.  This list is obtainable through the Clearinghouse website.

Contact Information;

Telephone: 1-877-262-1492 or 1-317-223-0700

Fax:            1-317-223-0799

E-mail:       ecinfo@ncaa.org

Website:  https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common

Mail:    NCAA Eligibility Center

            P.O. Box 7110

            Indianapolis, IN   46207

Athletic Coaching Supplements

Coaching supplements will be paid out of local athletic funds, based on the availability of funding.  Athletic booster clubs may NOT pay coaches.  Pender County Board of Education Policy 6831/8224 states under guideline seven: “Parent support organizations shall not provide additional compensation to personnel currently employed by Pender County Schools without the prior approval of the principal and superintendent.”

Coaches are paid in lump sum in the month in which the sport coached concludes. Supplements are paid on a percentage of teaching salary basis, which is listed on this page.  Correct supplement calculation is based upon the timely reporting of coaching assignments and supplements from the school athletic director to the county athletic director.  Non-faculty paid coaches will be paid a stipend based upon a first-year teacher’s salary.

Head Varsity football coaches and High School Athletic Directors are paid an 11-month salary for summer employment. 

In the event a school is unable to field a team in a particular sport, that supplement is not to be used by the school in another capacity.

Supplements (as a percentage of teaching salary)

High Schools                                                  Middle Schools

Athletic Director                     8                      Head MS AD                          7

Football- head                         7                      School AD                              5

Football-assistant                    5                      Football- head                         4

JV football                              4                      Football-assistant                    3

Soccer- boys and girls             5                      Softball                                   3

Volleyball                                5                      Cheerleading                           3

JV Volleyball                          3                      Basketball- boys and girls       3

Cross-Country (one team)       3                      Volleyball                                3

Golf- boys and girls                3                      Baseball                                   3

Tennis- boys and girls             3                      Soccer- boys and girls             3

Basketball- boys and girls       6

JV basketball- boys and girls  3

Wrestling                                 5

Indoor Track (one team)         3

Baseball                                   5

JV baseball                              3

Softball                                   5

JV Softball                              3

Track –boys and girls              5

Track assistant                         3

Cheerleading                           6

JV Cheerleading                     3

Athletic Trainer                       6

Floating Assistants                  3