I. The policies governing participation in the Windsor Central School Interscholastic Athletic Program and Cheerleading are established as a code which each student athlete must honor for the privilege of participating on any one of the athletic teams at Windsor. These policies are in effect from the first day of fall practices in August through graduation day in June, 24 hours a day both in school and out, regardless of whether the student athlete is participating in a sport that season. Any training rule violations that occur outside an athletic season will be enforced during the next athletic season in which the individual chooses to participate.
II. A student athlete’s first priority must be toward academic school work. All student athletes who need extra help or are required to attend academic interventions will be excused from practice after school for that help with a faculty member. Student athletes who do not attend their assigned after school academic intervention are ineligible for athletic participation that day unless otherwise determined by the Building Principal or Director of Athletics. No student athlete will be disciplined for missing or arriving late to a practice when the reason for such absence or tardiness concerns the student’s pursuit of improvement of academic performance by meeting with a teacher.
III. Training Rules:
A. All team members are required to attend all practices, contests and team related activities unless prior permission has been granted by the coach. Unexcused absences will result in diminished playing time and possible dismissal from the squad.
B. The use or possession of tobacco is prohibited. The giving or selling of tobacco to another student or minor is prohibited. Such use shall include smoking, chewing, or any other form of ingestion. Student athletes found guilty of such use or possession will be suspended from contests for 1/3 of the season for the first offense, and will be removed from the team for the remainder of the season for a subsequent offense. The student will also be referred to and seen by the Student Assistance Counselor’s Program and complete the programs requirements before becoming eligible for athletic participation. If the Student Assistance Counselor’s Recommended Intervention program cannot be completed by the end of the contest suspension, the student athlete will be required to finish all intervention program requirements in order to remain eligible for athletic participation during the season of violation. Student athletes who do not finish all intervention program requirements will be considered ineligible for future athletic participation. If the suspension from contests cannot be fulfilled during the season of the violation, it will be carried over into the next athletic season in which the individual chooses to participate. The second offense at any time will cause dismissal from the team for that season. It will carry over from one year to the next.
C. The use or possession of alcohol is prohibited. The giving or selling of alcohol to another student or minor is prohibited. Students found guilty of using or possessing alcohol shall be suspended from contests for 1/3 of the season for the first offense, and will be removed from the team for the remainder of the season for a subsequent offense. The student will also be referred to and seen by the Student Assistance Counselor’s Program and complete the programs requirements before becoming eligible for athletic participation. If the Student Assistance Counselor’s Recommended Intervention program cannot be completed by the end of the contest suspension, student athletes will be required to finish all intervention program requirements in order to remain eligible for athletic participation during the season of violation. Student athletes who do not finish all intervention program requirements will be considered ineligible for future athletic participation. If the suspension from contests cannot be fulfilled during the season of the violation, it will be carried over into the next athletic season in which the individual chooses to participate. The second offense at any time will cause dismissal from the team for that season. It will carry over from one year to the next. No member of any team will be penalized for the consumption of alcohol in the context of a religious ceremony.
D. The use or possession of drugs is prohibited. The giving or selling of drugs is prohibited. The use or possession of drugs is a criminal offense. Students found guilty of using or possessing drugs for the first offense will result in immediate suspension for the remainder of that season. To participate in the next season, the student must be seen by the Student Assistance Counselor’s Program and complete the programs requirements before becoming eligible for future athletic participation. Police officials will also be contacted. A subsequent offense of either use or possession will result in removal from athletic participation for the remainder of the year and police officials will again be contacted. In addition, no student athlete may use, possess, sell or give any drug or controlled substance at any time unless such drug or controlled substance is prescribed to the student athlete by a duly licensed physician in the State of New York or is a recognized, commercially available, over-the-counter medication taken off school premises for a purpose intended by the manufacturer of such medication.
E. School Attendance: Squad members must be in school for at least the AM or PM session on the date of an athletic event. 11:30 AM designates the end of the AM and the beginning of the PM Sessions. Attendance in school at either session on Friday is necessary prior to a Saturday event. Extenuating circumstances will be given consideration.
F. The care of facilities and equipment: It shall be the duty of all athletes to use good judgment in the use and care of equipment and facilities. Any student athlete who is in possession of any school athletic equipment or uniform will not be permitted to participate in another interscholastic sports activity until all equipment or uniforms have been returned in the original condition. The athlete will reimburse the District for lost or purposely damaged equipment. Any athlete who is proven to have intentionally committed an act of vandalism or theft, either at WCSD or at an opponent school while representing a WCSD team, will be suspended from athletic participation until a determination has been made regarding future athletic participation by the Building Administration or the Director of Athletics.
G. Conduct: All squad members are expected to represent their team and school with pride in a manner which will bring credit to themselves and there school. Student athletes demonstrating inappropriate conduct will be subject to a warning, suspension from athletic participation or dismissal from the team by the Building Administration or the Director of Athletics. Student athletes who receive In School Suspension for ½ day or more are ineligible for athletic participation on the day of suspension unless otherwise determined by the Building Principal or Director of Athletics. Student athletes suspended from school are ineligible for athletic participation on the day(s) of suspension unless otherwise determined by the Building Principal or Director of Athletics. Any athlete arrested or receiving an appearance ticket by police may be suspended from the athletic team until such time the infraction can be investigated by the Athletic Director/ Building Administration and a decision made on participation.
Sportsmanship: Student athletes, whether participants or spectators will observe courteous and self controlled behavior during all athletic practices or contests. Unsportsmanlike actions will not be tolerated. Student athletes reported for unsportsmanlike behavior will be subject to a warning, suspension from athletic participation or dismissal from the team by the Building Administration or the Director of Athletics. All WCSD training rule violations for unsportsmanlike behavior can be in addition to any league, section or state misconduct sanctions as determined by the Director of Athletics.
Hazing: Hazing in any form is prohibited. Student athletes found guilty of hazing will be subject to a warning, suspension from athletic participation or dismissal from the team by the Building Administration or the Director of Athletics. Police officials may also be contacted.
H. Transportation: Student athletes will only be transported to away contests by school authorized vehicles only. Only the Director of Athletics may authorize exceptions to this policy and must be requested in advance of the trip during regular school hours. Parents or legal guardians may sign out their child off campus utilizing a WCSD transportation release. Prior to campus departure, coaches may approve written parental permission for a child to receive transportation home from another parent. Failure to sign a WCSD transportation release for your child or another will result in a forfeiture of future transportation release privileges.
IV. Other rules and punishments, other than those cited above, may be established by the coach.
V. It is to be understood that once an athlete has been dismissed from a team, he will not be readmitted to any other team for that particular season. It is also to be understood that an athlete voluntarily removing himself from a team without permission of the coach shall not be admitted to any other team during that season.