Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Athletic Eligibility and Conduct Policy

The mission of New York State and Ravena Coeymans Selkirk School District interscholastic athletic programs is to foster the quest for excellence by creating an educational and competitive experience within an atmosphere of sportsmanship. Interscholastic programs at RCS will develop individual and team potential by promoting high standards of competence, character, civility, and citizenship.

Education Goals

• Competence – A student-athlete in a quality program demonstrates competence by exhibiting:
  Skill development, knowledge of the sport, appropriate fitness, and healthy behavior.

• Character – A student-athlete in a quality program demonstrates character by exhibiting:
  responsibility, accountability, dedication, and self control.

• Civility – A student-athlete in a quality program demonstrates civility toward others by exhibiting:
  respect, fairness, caring, and sportsmanship.

• Citizenship – A student-athlete in a quality program demonstrates citizenship through actions showing evidence of loyalty, teamwork, and being a role model.

All team members are expected to complete the entire season. If unexpected circumstances warrant a player to quit a team, they will become ineligible to compete in the next athletic season. If the coach, the player, and the parents come to an agreement that it is in the best interest of the player to no longer be a part of the team, there will be no restrictions placed upon the players eligibility.

Any student-athlete is who found in violation of the Athletic Eligibility and Conduct Policy must go through a process of “re-education before re-entry.”

1. All student-athletes must meet the New York state eligibility guidelines set by the NYS Education Department.

2. A student-athlete is considered an athlete for one calendar year from the initial date he or she is named to an athletic team.

3. A student-athlete must be considered a good school citizen. An accumulation of discipline referrals will affect their eligibility in the following manner:

Behavioral Infractions

a. Level 1 Infractions – as per the RCS Student Handbook (tardiness, parking lot violation, disruptive classroom behavior, cutting class, improper dress, and vulgar language)

i. An accumulation of two level 1 infractions will result in a meeting with the student-athlete, the team coach, and a dean of students or building administrator to discuss the behavior.
ii. A third discipline referral during one sports season will result in a suspension from 10% of the total team contests or a minimum of one contest. The student athlete will not be allowed to compete until a meeting is held with the parent/guardian, athlete, and dean of students or building administrator.

Students will be allowed to practice during this game suspension time.

iii. A fourth Level 1 infraction will lead to a suspension from 50 percent of the contests allowed for that team or a minimum of five contests. Re-entry will only be allowed after a meeting with the high school principal, the student athlete, the parent/guardian, and a dean of students.
The Building Principal must give permission for re-entry.

b. Level 2 Infractions -­ as per the RCS Student Handbook (insubordination, leaving campus unexcused, skipping detention, minor vandalism, intimidation, plagiarism or cheating, gambling, racial remarks)

i. Any student-athlete who receives a Level 2 discipline referral can be suspended for up to 10% of the total team contests allowed for that sport or a minimum of one contest. Before re-entry the student athlete must have a meeting with the dean of students, and the athletic director.

Students will be allowed to practice during this game suspension time.

ii. Any student-athlete who receives two Level 2 discipline referrals during a sports season will be suspended for 30% of the total allowed team contests or a minimum of three contests. A meeting with a member of the RCS counseling staff, a parent/guardian, the athletic director and a building administrator will be held before re-entry.

Students will be allowed to practice during this game suspension time.

iii. Any student-athlete who receives a third level 2 infraction referral will be dismissed from the team.

c. Level 3 Infractions – as per the RCS Student Handbook (Arson, bomb scare, sexual harassment, drug/alcohol use, violent behavior, theft, threatening staff, forgery, bullying, tobacco use)

i. Any student-athlete that receives a Level 3 discipline referral will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days. The student must complete a re-education program deemed appropriate by the dean of students and the high school principal. At the completion of this program the athletic director and the building principal will meet with the student athlete and the parent/guardian to discuss re-entry.

Students will be allowed to practice but not compete until the re-education program is completed.

ii. A second Level 3 offense will result in immediate dismissal from the team.  The student-athlete will not be allowed to join an athletic team for one calendar year. The student-athlete must complete a re-education program deemed appropriate by the dean of students and the high school principal that is specific to their discipline referral. At the completion of this program the athletic director and the building principal will meet with the student-athlete and the parent/guardian to discuss re-entry in another sports season once the one-year suspension has been completed.

Off Campus suspension

Any student-athlete who is suspended off campus may not practice or play a contest until the referral is reviewed by the athletic director and the appropriate re-entry policy in put into place.

ACADEMICS

Student-athletes must be in good academic standings.  Coaches will work with the academic  staff to ensure each student-athlete is fulfilling their academic responsibilities.

a. Any student-athlete failing a course will stay for that teacher during the remedial period no less that twice a week until the academic teacher declares the effort to be satisfactory. Failure to do this will result in a suspension for the next athletic contest.
b. Any student-athlete failing two academic classes will stay for remedial help at least three times a week, splitting time between the teachers until both teachers deem the effort to be satisfactory. Failure to do this will result in a suspension for at least 10 percent of the total contests allowed or a minimum of one contest.
c. Any student-athlete failing three or more academic classes will be suspended until a meeting with their guidance counselor and their parent/guardian has taken place. At this meeting an academic action plan will be devised to assist the student. The player will be allowed re-entry after two consecutive successful weeks of adherence to this plan.

COMMUNITY

RCS student-athletes must be good citizens both at school and in the community. The following off-campus behaviors will result in a loss of athletic eligibility:

• Consuming or purchasing alcohol products, misuse of over the counter drugs, selling, using, or possessing illegal substances, Internet bullying, or any criminal act that results in arrest.

• The first offense of any of these out-of-school behaviors will result in the student-athlete being suspended for a minimum of 30 days. The student must complete a re-­‐education program deemed appropriate by the dean of students and the high school principal. At the completion of this program the athletic director and the principal will meet with the student athlete and the parent/guardian to discuss the possibility of re-entry.

• A second offense and the student-athlete will be immediately dismissed from the team. The student-athlete will not be allowed to join an athletic team for one calendar year. The student-athlete must complete a re-education program deemed appropriate by the dean of students and the high school principal that is specific to their discipline referral. At the completion of this program the athletic director and the principal will meet with the student-athlete and the parent/guardian to discuss a re-entry plan.