PROGRAM GOALS AND INFORMATION
Sub Varsity Teams: To allow as many students as possible to participate and share in the experience and benefits derived from team membership. To further skill development and conditioning for possible future higher level competition.
Varsity Teams:
To compete successfully with other Middlesex League schools and with other schools or individuals of a similar division in State Tournament competition.
The emphasis of the program at the sub-varsity level is on the development of basic skills, appropriate attitudes, and team concepts through competition.
Varsity level teams concentrate on advanced skills and strategies.
Participation at the varsity level is generally limited to the highly skilled students and those with the ability to interact with other players for team success. Assessments will be made by the coach throughout the season relative to the level most beneficial to the development and progress of each player and team. It should be understood that at the varsity level, playing time Is earned and could be severely limited under certain conditions.
PRE-SEASON RESPONSIBILITIES
The coach of each sport will hold an informational meeting prior to the start of the season for candidates and parents. Any candidate for a team must meet the following requirements prior to attending any tryout or practice session. In order to try out for a team, a student must:
- be academically eligible
- have a physical examination on file with the Athletic Department.
- 3 have met all financial responsibilities for the equipment issued in previous seasons .
- Notify the Athletic Director if transferring from another school.
TRYOUTS
- During the tryout period, each coach will provide an explanation of his/her expectations. It is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate to the coach that he/she can fulfill these expectations.
- If a student is not selected for a team, it is his/her responsibility to contact the coach personally if an explanation is wanted.
- Once a student has been selected for a team, he/she may not quit that team in order to join another team.
TEAM SELECTION
Participation in the Burlington athletic program is a privilege, and all student athletes are expected to provide a leadership role for other members of the student body, and to always act in an exemplary manner that will be complementary to the team, school, and community.
The coaching staff of each sport has the sole responsibility for selecting team members, determining the level of play most beneficial to the development of the player and team, and the amount of playing time. Player concerns must be addressed first between the coach and the player. If a significant issue is not resolved, parents should plan to meet with the coach. If a resolution is not reached between the student athlete, parent, and coach, the matter may be presented to the Director of Athletics.
SCHOOL EQUIPMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Students are responsible for and are expected to maintain proper care of all athletic equipment and uniforms issued to them. Once issued, students are responsible for payment of any items lost, stolen, or damaged. Each item not returned by the item issued student athlete will be assessed at a rate comparable to the current replacement cost.
- Students are not to wear athletic uniforms, practice, or game at any time other than those allowable by specified team regulations.
MIAA Rules to remember
The following rules are established by the MIAA, which governs all high school interscholastic athletic competition.
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
A student must secure during the last marking period preceding the contest a passing grade in the equivalent of four major subjects. To satisfy this requirement, a student must have passed sufficient courses for that marking period which carry credits totaling the equivalent of four one year major English courses. A student cannot at any time represent a school unless that student is taking courses which would provide credit equivalent to four one- year major English courses. To be eligible for the first quarter of the school year, a student must have passed for the previous academic year the equivalent of four one- year major English courses. The academic eligibility of all students shall be considered as official and determining only the date when the report cards for that ranking period have been issued to the parents of all students within a
particular class. Incomplete grades may not be counted toward eligibility. (Second quarter marks and not semester grades determine third quarter eligibility.)
RULE 45 – BONA FIDE TEAM MEMBERS and UNDERSTANDING:
Loyalty to the High School Team: Bona Fide Team Members A. Any student who violates this standard twice becomes ineligible for the MIAA tournament(s) for that season. B. The regular season portion of the penalty for a violation toward the end of a season will carry over to the very next high school season in which the student is a legitimate participant. For example, a soccer player who violates the rule by missing the last high school match would serve the required suspension (25% of season) at the start of basketball season, if that student is a legitimate basketball participant. C. Optional Practice” called by a coach CANNOT be used to circumvent this rule. D. A waiver of the bona fide team rule, excusing the student from the school activity that day and allowing the student to participate in a non-school event, is possible under the guidelines set forth below. Waivers will be considered by MIAA on an individual basis, and on the merits of each case. The above points should be addressed in the waiver request, which must be forwarded to the MIAA prior to the non-school event. Before a waiver request (See White Book for forms) is submitted the following considerations must be present: 1. The request for a waiver must have the written support of the school principal, the athletic director and the high school coach. Among other factors that will also be considered: a. The amount of time being missed from school. b. The number of school team activities being missed. c. Schools may limit the number of times that a student could qualify for a waiver. E. MIAA Bona Fide waivers are only allowed during the pre-season or regular season. The MIAA will not accept any Bona Fide Team Member Waivers (for missing any practice or game) during MIAA postseason play. Student-athletes ``quitting” CANNOT be used to circumvent this rule.
MIAA RULE 62.1 ON CHEMICAL HEALTH
A student shall not, regardless of the quantity, use, consume, possess, buy/sell or give away any beverage containing alcohol; any tobacco product; marijuana; steroids; or any controlled substance. This policy includes products such as "NA or near beer". It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student's own use by his/her doctor. The Chemical Health Rule has been extended to be inclusive of the period from: the first allowable day of fall practice, through the end of the academic year or final athletic competition of the year, whichever is later.(Broadening this window from "in season" to the entire academic year reflects that chemical health of our students isn't simply a seasonal concern.) This rule represents only a minimum standard upon which schools may develop more stringent requirements. This MIAA statewide minimum standard is not intended to render "guilty by association", e.g. many student athletes might be present at a party where only a few violate this standard. If a student in violation of this rule is unable to participate in interscholastic sports due to injury, academics, or otherwise, the penalty will not take effect until that student is able to participate again. Minimum Penalties: First Violation: When the Principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred, the student shall lose eligibility for the next consecutive interscholastic contest totaling 25% of all interscholastic contests in that sport. For the student, these penalties will be determined by the season the violation occurs. No exception is permitted for a student who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation. All decimal part of an event will be truncated i.e. All fractional parts of an event will be dropped when calculating the 25% of the season. Second and subsequent violations: When the Principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred, the student shall lose eligibility for the next consecutive interscholastic contest totaling 60% of all interscholastic contests in that sport. For the student, these penalties will be determined by the season the violation occurs. All decimal parts of an event will be truncated i.e. All fractional parts of an event will be dropped when calculating the 60% of the season. If the second or subsequent violations the student of his/her own volition becomes a participant in an approved chemical dependency program or treatment program, the student may be certified for reinstatement in MIAA activities after a minimum of 40% of events. The director or a counselor of a chemical dependency treatment center must issue such certification. All decimal part of an event will be truncated i.e. All fractional parts of an event will be dropped when calculating the 40% of the season. Penalties shall be cumulative each academic year. If the penalty period is not completed during the season of violation, the penalty shall carry over to the student's next season of actual participation, which may affect the eligibility status of the student during the next academic year