Policy-Code-JJIB

Section J - Students

Policy Title: Interscholastic Sports
Policy Code: JJIB

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General

The purpose of interscholastic athletics is both educational and recreational. The school sports program should encourage participation by as many students as possible and should always be conducted with the best interests of the participants as the first consideration.

The following rules shall be observed for participation by individual students:

• For each type of sport in which the student engages, the parents or guardian must give written consent.
• The student must be determined by a physician to be physically fit for the sport.

The Superintendent shall set up other rules for participation, such as those governing academic standing, in accordance with policies of the District and pertinent regulations and recommendations of the state interscholastic athletic association.

Health and Safety of Participants

The health and safety of participants in interscholastic athletic activities must receive careful consideration.

The Board shall develop, in consultation with the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) guidelines, information and forms to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of concussions and head injuries and the risks of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion.

Before a student participates in an athletic activity, the student, the student's parents, and the coaches shall participate in a District program to educate program participants of the danger of concussions, head injuries, and the risk of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion. Students and parents shall sign the AIA form (Exhibit JJIB-E) at least once each school year stating awareness of the nature and risk of concussion. The District shall retain documentation of the participation of all affected coaching staff members in the program. For the purpose of this policy, athletic activity does not include:

• Dance
• Rhythmic gymnastics
• Competition or exhibitions of academic skills or knowledge or other similar forms of physical noncontact activities
• Civic activities or academic activities, whether engaged in for the purpose of competition or recreation.

A student who is suspected of sustaining a concussion in a practice session, a game, or other interscholastic athletic activity shall be immediately removed from the athletic event. A coach from the student's team or an official or licensed health care provider may remove a student from play. A team parent may also remove his or her own child from play. A student may return to play on the same day if a health care provider rules out a suspected concussion at the time the student is removed from play. On a subsequent day, the student may return to play if the student has been evaluated by and receives written clearance to resume participation in athletic activity from a health care provider who has been trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries as prescribed by A.R.S. 15-341.

A group or organization that uses property or facilities owned or operated by the District for athletic activities shall comply with the policies of the Board related to concussions and head injury. This requirement does not apply to teams based in another state participating in athletic events in Arizona.

A District employee, team coach, official, team volunteer or a parent or guardian of a team member is not subject to civil liability for any act, omission or policy undertaken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this policy or for decisions made or actions taken by a health care provider. Further, the District and its employees and volunteers are not subject to civil liability for any other person's or organization's failure or alleged failure to comply with the requirements of this policy.

Participants must be provided access to water at all times during practice sessions, games, or other interscholastic athletic activities.

The Superintendent shall require that regulations for health and safety of participants in interscholastic athletics be developed, implemented, and enforced. Such regulations may, at the discretion of the Superintendent, be incorporated into this policy as an administrative regulation.

Adopted: October 25, 2011

Legal Ref.: A.R.S. 15-341
15-802.01
A.G.O. I86-095
A.A.C. R7-2-808

CROSS REF.: JJJ - Extracurricular Activity Eligibility
KF - Community Use of School Facilities