Board Policy on Athletic Competition

_{ATHLETIC COMPETITION}

_{Board 4-18-06}

_{The Board of Trustees recognizes that the athletic program constitutes an integral component of}

_{the educational program and helps to build a positive school climate. The athletic program also}

_{promotes the physical, social and emotional well being of participating students, and provides}

_{them with an opportunity to learn beneficial character development skills. The athletic program}

_{shall be designed to meet students' interests and abilities and be varied in scope to attract wide}

_{participation.}

 

_{Nondiscrimination and Equivalent Opportunities in the Athletic Program}

 

_{The District's athletic program shall be free from discrimination and discriminatory practices in}

_{accordance with state and federal law. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that}

_{equivalent opportunities are provided for both genders.}

_{Any complaint regarding the District's athletic program shall be filed in accordance with BP/}

_{AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.}

 

_{Sportsmanship}

 

_{The Board supports the ideals of good sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play, and expects}

_{student athletes, coaches, spectators and others to demonstrate these principles during all athletic}

_{competitions.}

 

_{In preparing for and participating in athletic competitions, students and staff shall abide by the}

_{core principles of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, as}

_{adopted by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) in its publication "Pursuing Victory}

_{with Honor."}

 

_{Students and staff may be subject to disciplinary action for improper conduct.}

 

_{California Interscholastic Federation}

 

_{The Board maintains membership in CIF and requires that interscholastic athletic activities be}

_{conducted in accordance with Board policy, administrative regulation and CIF rules. The}

_{Superintendent or designee shall have responsibility for the district interscholastic athletic}

_{program while the principal or designee at each participating school shall be responsible for the}

_{site-level decisions as appropriate.}

 

_{The Superintendent shall annually designate an employee from each high school to serve as a}

_{representative to the local CIF league. Appointees shall represent the District in performing all}

_{duties required by the CIF league. In making this selection, the Board shall consider the}

_{employee's understanding of the District's goals for interscholastic and extracurricular activities,}

_{knowledge of the athletic programs, awareness of the implications of league decisions for the}

_{school and the District, and individual interpersonal communication and leadership skills.}

 

_{Student Eligibility}

 

_{Eligibility requirements for participation in the District's interscholastic athletic program are the}

_{same as those set by the District for participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities.}

 

_{In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that students participating in CIF league athletics satisfy any additional CIF eligibility requirements.}

_{Health and Safety}

 

_{The Board desires to give student health and safety the highest consideration in planning and}

_{conducting athletic activities. Universal precautions shall be observed when injuries occur.}

 

_{Students shall have a medical clearance before participating in the interscholastic athletic}

_{program. Care shall be taken to ensure that all athletic trainings and competitions are conducted}

_{in a manner that will not overtax the physical capabilities of the participants. When appropriate,}

_{protective equipment shall be used to prevent or minimize injuries.}

 

_{The following steps are to be implemented in providing physicians at football games involving}

_{Whittier Union High School District teams:}

 

1. _{The home team must provide the services of an attending physician at all varsity}

_{football games.}

2. _{The home team must provide the services of a nurse or EMT (emergency medical}

_{technician) at all junior varsity and freshman football games.}

3. _{The home team shall be responsible to make sure that a cellular telephone is available}

_{in the vicinity of all games should an emergency arise.}

4. _{A member of the administrative staff is to be available for assistance during each}

_{football game in case of an emergency.}

5. _{Games will not be played without appropriate medical personnel as required by this}

_policy.

 

_{Coaches and appropriate District employees shall take every possible precaution to ensure that}

_{athletic equipment is kept in safe and serviceable condition.}

_Supervision

 

_{All athletic teams shall be supervised by qualified coaches to ensure that student athletes receive}

_{appropriate instruction and guidance related to safety, health, training and preparation for}

_{competition. Athletic events shall be officiated by qualified personnel.}

 

 

_{Legal Reference:}

_{EDUCATION CODE}

_{200-261 Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex}

_{17580-17581 Football equipment}

_{33353-33353.5 California Interscholastic Federation; implementation of policies,}

_{insurance program}

_{33354 CDE authority over interscholastic athletics}

_{35160.5 District policies; rules and regulations}

_{35161 Powers and duties generally}

_{35179 Interscholastic athletics}

_{48930-48938 Student organizations}

_{49020-49023 Athletic programs; legislative intent, equal opportunity, apportionment,}

_{prohibited sex discrimination}

_{60850-60856 High School Exit Examination}

_{Nondiscrimination And Equivalent Opportunities In The Athletic Program}

 

_{No person shall on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic group identification, race,}

_{ancestry, national origin, religion, color or mental or physical disability be excluded from}

_{participation in, be denied the benefits of, be denied equivalent opportunity in, or otherwise be}

_{discriminated against in interscholastic, intramural or club athletics. (5 CCR 4920)}

 

_{The Superintendent or designee may provide single-sex teams where selection for the teams is}

_{based on competitive skills. (5 CCR 4921)}

 

_{When a school provides only one team in a particular sport for members of one sex, but provides}

_{no team in the same sport for members of the other sex, and athletic opportunities in the total}

_{program for that sex have been previously limited, members of the excluded sex shall be allowed}

_{to try out for the team. (5 CCR 4921)}

 

_{When determining whether equivalent opportunities are available to both sexes in athletic}

_{programs, the Superintendent or designee shall consider, among other factors: (5 CCR 4922)}

 

1. _{Whether the selection of sports and levels of competition offered effectively accommodate the interests and abilities of both sexes}

2. _{The provision and maintenance of equipment and supplies}
3. _{Scheduling of games and practice times, selection of the season for a sport, and location of the games and practices}

4. _{Travel and per diem allowances}
5. _{Opportunities to receive coaching and academic tutoring}
6. _{Assignment and compensation of coaches and tutors}
7. _{Provision of locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities}
8. _{Provision of medical and training facilities and services}
9. _{Provision of housing and dining facilities and services}
10. _Publicity

_{In order to help ensure that the District's athletic program effectively accommodates the interests}

_{and abilities of both sexes in athletics within the meaning of 5 CCR 4922, the District shall use}

_{the following criteria: (Education Code Section 230)}

 

1. _{Whether the interscholastic level participation opportunities for male and female students}

_{are provided in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments}

2. _{When the members of one sex have been and are underrepresented among interscholastic}

_{athletes, whether the District can show a history and continuing practice of program}

_{expansion that is demonstrably responsive to the developing interest and abilities of the}

_{members of that sex}

3. _{When the members of one sex are underrepresented among interscholastic athletes, and}

_{the District cannot show a history and continuing practice of program expansion as}

_{required in item No. 2 above, whether the District can demonstrate that the interest and}

_{abilities of the members of that sex have been fully and effectively accommodated by the}

_{present program.}