Fowler Public Schools

FOWLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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Athletics Handbook

Fowler Public Schools Athletics Handbook

Fowler High School provides a variety of athletic activities in which students may participate providing they meet any eligibility requirements that may apply.  For further information or family and individual athletic passes contact Athletic Director, Kris Ernst, at 989-593-2250.

Athletic Policies

The following administrative guidelines will apply to all students participating in the Fowler Athletic Program:
As coaches and administrators, we feel that the Fowler Public Schools Athletic Program is an important part of our total educational program.  We, as coaches and administrators, feel that the Fowler Public Schools Athletic Program is an important part of our total educational program.  We believe that the benefits derived from athletic competition are important the future value or our youth.  Athletic participation is a privilege granted to young men and women of high physical ability and, as with any privilege, certain obligations and responsibilities must be accepted by the athlete.  Every athlete is a conspicuous ambassador of his/her team, school, and community.  Because of this, the athlete is expected to adhere to a high level of personal conduct.  Because of this, the athlete is expected to adhere to a high level of personal conduct. This conduct should continue regardless of whether or not his/her sport is in season.

The purpose of the following guidelines is to outline the responsibilities of the athlete. Each athlete has a special talent, and we wish for him/her to be given the opportunity to use and develop his/her talent. In order for us to extend this opportunity to the athlete, it will be necessary for the athlete to adhere to the following guidelines. The administration of this guideline will be carried out by the Athletic Council and the Board of Education.  Our goal is to make winners of all student-athletes by teaching lessons that stay with a student for a lifetime.

Athletic Objectives

1.  How to win and lose.

Throughout life, everyone must deal with success and failure, and the early training students receive through school sports affects how they accept and react to positive and negative events as adults.

2.  How to compete.

Athletes will learn to put forth their best efforts. Learning to give one’s best effort gives them a competitive edge for life’s later “contests”.

3.  How to cooperate.

Athletes will learn how to work together successfully. Learning cooperation is the first step towards understanding that team work is often necessary to achieve productivity and success as adults.

4.  How to participate.

Participation in sports and fitness programs can help establish a pattern of good physical fitness habits for life.

5.  How to develop self-discipline.

Self-discipline is the ability to regulate and  correct one’s own behavior. Discipline in school sports helps teach youngsters that, to a large extent, they control how much they achieve.

6.  How to sacrifice.

Being a team player involves learning to put the team first. Being on a team also involves learning to set priorities and deciding how much time and effort are needed to reach a goal.

7.  How to handle one’s self in tense situations.

Basic ethics are taught concerning rules of conduct, good sportsmanship and self control.

Athletic Council

All coaches and administrators shall be members of the Athletic Council. Voting members shall consist of all head varsity coaches and administrators.

Student/Athletic Eligibility

  1. Athletes must meet the eligibility requirements of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc. (Must pass 4 classes per semester)
  2. Each athlete must have passed an athletic physical examination for the current year. A record of this examination will be on file with the Athletic Director.
  3. Academic Eligibility:  Eligibility must be maintained quarterly. Athletes must pass at least 5 subjects each quarter in order to participate in sports. Students on a 2-hour work program must pass a minimum of 3 subjects (work study not included) each quarter. Students failing to meet quarterly requirements will be suspended from play until mid-quarterly progress reports demonstrate the requirements are met.
  4. For an athlete to participate in practice or a contest, he/ she must be in school for at least three full school periods on the day of the activity (excluding Dual Enrollment, Voc-Tech, LAMP and work study). Exceptions can be made only by the Principal or Athletic Director.
  5. If an athlete is suspended from school for any reason, he/she will not be permitted to practice or play in any game during said suspension. The suspension will terminate upon a student’s re-admittance to class. This does not include any in-school suspensions.

Athletic Department Policies

  1. Travel Rules:
    1. All athletes will travel both ways on the bus, unless released personally by the coach to the parent or guardian only.
    2. All bus regulations will be adhered to by the athletes.
  2. Practice schedules will be made available to the athletes by the coach.
  3. Any athlete who misses a game or practice without the permis­sion of his/her coach prior to the absence may be disciplined at the coach’s discretion.
  4. Vandalism, stealing, or other acts of misconduct in school or outside of school shall not be tolerated. The length of suspension (if any) will be in relation to the severity of the violation and determined by the coach and Athletic Director, or the Athletic Council. Students are permitted to appeal following procedures described in the Athletic Training Code.
  5. Additional rules and regulations may be established by the coaches and communicated to the athletes in each sport. Discipline due to violation of these rules and regulations will be the responsibility of the involved coach.
  6. A written copy of the Fowler Public School Athletic Guide­lines shall be given and explained to the athletes at the start of every sport season by the coach of that team.
  7. A “Letter” will be awarded to varsity athletes who meet the criteria established and communicated to the athletes by the varsity head coach. An athlete will receive only one letter. In addition to the letter, each letter winner will receive a pin for each sport in which he/she earns  a letter.

Athletic Training Code       

A.     The athletic training rules will be in effect year around and will be as follows:

  • No drinking, inhaling or possession of alcoholic beverages.
  • No use or illegal possession of drugs or inhalants, synthetic or look-a-likes, such as e-cigarettes.
  • No use or possession of tobacco products.

B.     Disciplinary Process:

  1. A violation of the Athletic Training Code occurs when a member of the Athletic Council, the Fowler Public Schools teaching staff, Fowler Board of Education,  Law Enforcement Agency,  self-admittance or the students parent or guardians report said violation.  Any student athlete who is suspected of using alcohol or being intoxicated on school grounds will be subject to a breathalyzer test performed by a school employee or the sheriff’s department.  If the athlete refuses to take a breathalyzer, they will be considered to be in violation of the athletic training code.
  2. In the case of any violation of the Athletic Training Code, the coach and/or Athletic Director will inform the parents or guardian of the athlete.
  3. When an athlete is suspended for part of a season, the athlete must attend prac­tices, games and be part of the team. The athlete will not be allowed to be in uniform during the game.  The athlete will be required to complete the sport season in good standing or the athletic suspension will start over with the next season the athlete is involved in.

C.     Violation of the Athletic Training Code will result in the following action:

  1. First Offense:  Violation will result in suspension from thirty (30) percent of the current and/or next sport season. Participation in an approved risk assessment is mandatory for reinstatement to the athletic team.  If the suspension cannot be completed in the current season, the remaining portion shall be pro-rated over the next season in which the athlete participates. The percent will be based on the regularly scheduled contests and will be mathematically rounded off to the nearest game.
  2. Second Offense:  Violation will result in suspension from fifty (50) percent of the current and/or next sport season. Participation in an approved treatment program is mandatory for reinstatement to the athletic team.  If the suspension cannot be completed in the current season, the remaining portion shall be pro-rated over the next season in which the athlete participates. The percent will be based on the regularly scheduled contests and will be mathematically rounded off to the nearest game.
  3. Third Offense and Subsequent Offenses:  Violation will result in suspension from athletics for one calendar year from the time of said violation. Success­ful comple­tion in an approved program will be required for re-entry into the athletic program.
  • Suspension will not be served concurrently.
  • A violation of the Athletic Training Code must be reported within 180 days of the incident for it to be acted upon.
  • If a violation occurs, the athlete is expected to report it to the athletic director, building principal, or team coach.  The violation must be reported before the lesser of these three occurs:

–          The next competition

–          Three (3) school days

–          Five (5) calendar days

  • If the infraction is reported within the time frame stated above, then the athletic suspension offense will be reduced 10% of the step the student is currently at (i.e. 50% to 40% or 30% to 20%).  If the infraction is not reported within the time frame stated above, then the athletic suspension offense will be doubled from the date the infraction was discovered.
  • Appeal Process:

–          An appeal of a decision to suspend can be made by the athlete and/or his/her parents. An appeal can be made by contacting the principal or athletic director within three days of the suspen­sion.

–          An appeal will consist of a meeting with the athletic council, the athlete, and/or parents. A decision will be made following the meeting.

–          An athlete and/or parents may appeal the decision of the athletic council to the Fowler Board of Education within three days by contacting the principal or athlet­ic director.

–          An athlete will remain as an eligible member of the team until the appeal process is completed.

  • The athletic guidelines apply to all students, seventh grade through twelfth grade. However, the progression steps will start once again as the student begins high school.  An assessment is an emotional/behavioral evaluation to determine the extent of an individual’s chemical use, if any, and to recommend a plan for individual treatment or counseling based upon the degree of abuse or dependency. The assessment must be from a source approved by the administration and at no cost to the school or student.  Treatment programs will vary depending on the specific needs of students. Programs may be sponsored by county agencies or they may take place within the school but outside of school time.