The Gloversville Enlarged School District provides interscholastic athletic, intramural, and extracurricular activities for the benefit of our scholars. These regulations will apply to all scholars participating in any club or organization that meets outside the regular school day as well as intramural or interscholastic activities in grades 7-12. All such activities shall be deemed “extracurricular activities” as used in this policy. In return for the privilege of participation in extracurricular activities, scholars will accept the responsibilities outlined in the code.

The purpose of this policy is to encourage positive, personal growth and to support academic achievement of all scholars who are involved with extracurricular activities. Participants will contribute to their school and community. This policy stresses the importance of scholars, teachers, coaches, advisors and parents working together.

A sport team member who is present in Physical Education class, but chooses not to participate, may not practice or participate in any game/match/or meet on that given day.

Any scholar who participates in an extracurricular activity is expected to remain a member of the activity until its completion. All scholars are expected to attend all practice sessions, rehearsals, presentations, concerts, competitions, games, matches or meets, unless excused by the coach or advisor. Failure to do so may result in corrective and/or disciplinary action, including possible exclusion from one or more activities. Students will be informed of the potential consequence(s) should they not attend an activity in a proactive manner.

It is the responsibility of the scholar to notify the coach or advisor in advance of his/her anticipated absence from any activity. If a scholar is detained for academic or disciplinary reasons, he/she must bring a note signed by the person by whom he/she was detained stating the time he/she was released. On non-school days, it is the obligation of the scholar to notify (directly, if possible) the coach/advisor if he/she will be absent from practice, rehearsal, performance, contest or activity.

A scholar must be present and no more than ten minutes tardy (legally) to be eligible for participation in any extracurricular activity on that day. The only exception to this rule is when such absence is with prior consent of the school principal, assistant principal or athletic director for reasons of family emergencies, educational trips, special appointments or similar activities which are beyond the control of the scholar.

In the case of an absence due to an illness on the day prior to an activity, the scholar will be required to explain the situation to the coach/advisor. The coach/advisor will then determine if the scholar will be allowed to participate in the activity.

Students wanting to transfer to another club or team during the school year need the approval of the advisors/coaches involved and the administration/athletic director. Transferring should not be considered after the first regularly scheduled contest. If a scholar quits an extracurricular activity, he/she must have the approval of the advisor/coach involved and the administration/athletic director prior to joining or re-joining another activity.

Early dismissal for extracurricular activities may be unavoidable (e.g., required travel and game times.) It is the students’ responsibility to make up all school work missed due to early dismissal.

As a general rule all student participants are to travel to and return from activities away from the home school on the bus or transportation provided for that purpose by the school district. Students who do not travel to the activity site with the team, club or organization will not be allowed to participate. Requests by parents for exception to this rule must be made in writing and approved by the principal, assistant principal or athletic director. A student will be released directly to a parent or legal guardian to travel home from an activity upon receipt of a written request signed by a parent or legal guardian given directly to the coach/advisor at the activity site.

A student may be released to travel home from an activity with a designated adult who is not the student’s parent, only on the advanced, written request of the student’s parent or legal guardian requesting and authorizing such release. The adult to whom the student is to be released must also sign the request, acknowledging and accepting responsibility for the student to be released in his/her care.

Approval for this request may only be given by the athletic director, assistant principal; prior to the day of the activity.

Students are required to be responsible for all equipment issued to them. They should not expect managers, coaches or others to assume that obligation. Such equipment is not to be used in classes or in any other way unless specific permission is granted in advance by the coach, athletic director and/or activity advisor.

Students are not to willfully damage or remove property belonging to the Gloversville Enlarged School District or any other school. A student will not be permitted to retain any article of property taken without authorization. The student shall return it personally and make an appropriate apology.

Students must return all equipment or materials issued for an activity within ten school days after the end of the activity. Any student who fails to return such equipment or materials will not be eligible for another activity until the student pays for such equipment or materials. Students shall also pay for all equipment or materials returned in damaged condition.

As representatives of the Gloversville Enlarged School District, all students participating in extracurricular activities are expected to present a clean, neat appearance and dress appropriately. Students are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen at all times and to observe all rules prescribed by the activity advisor or coach. Any violation of those items included within this area shall result in corrective/disciplinary action as determined by the activity advisor or coach.

In addition to the code of conduct set forth below, students shall also be subject to all the provisions set forth in the School District’s Discipline Handbook which includes the Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities, the Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order, the Bus Conduct Policy, the school’s student handbook and are expected to obey the laws of the State of New York.

The following standards of conduct and corresponding corrective actions shall apply to each student in extracurricular activities:

Level I

1. Be respectful to all individuals involved in the activity.
2. Demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times as a representative of the team, school and community.
3. Demonstrate good sportsmanship, in all circumstances.
4. Care for all uniforms, equipment and materials issued by the school district. Uniforms and equipment shall be used for scheduled practices, games or when authorized by the coach or activity advisor.
5. Refrain from using profane or vulgar language.
6. Refrain from any fighting or physical abuse of another student.

Level 1 Consequences

Appropriate corrective or disciplinary action shall be administered at the discretion of the advisor or coach. While the district recognized that the coach/advisor must be afforded a degree of latitude or flexibility in assessing a situation in order to determine an appropriate remedy, it is desired that uniform or similar consequences fitting the violation be developed for all in the same activity/sport.

Level II

1. Refrain from using or possessing tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, non-prescription controlled substances or drug paraphernalia.
2. Refrain from insubordinate conduct which for purposes of this policy means a failure to comply with the lawful directives of a coach or activity advisor, school administrator or other employee in charge of the student.
3. Respect property of others and not remove personal effects or athletic equipment from opponent’s school nor damage any equipment or facilities home or away.

Level II Consequences

A violation of this portion of the policy during any season or extracurricular activity, or any violation of this policy specific to those violations identified within Level II, shall result in a suspension from the activity for a minimum of 10% of total scheduled games and/or presentations. The suspension will be in effect for at least one game or presentation. The penalty shall be imposed immediately following said violation and the student will not be allowed to participate during his/her suspension. If necessary, this will be carried over into the student’s next extracurricular activity.

Level III

1. Refrain from any fighting or physical abuse of a coach, chaperone, advisor, spectator or any other individual involved in the activity.

Level III Consequences

A violation of this portion of the policy during any season or extracurricular activity or any violation of this policy specific to those violations identified within Level III, shall result in a suspension from the activity for a minimum of 50% of the total scheduled games and presentations. The penalty shall be imposed immediately following said violation. If necessary, this will be carried over into the student’s next extracurricular activity.

Students whose extracurricular activities involve interscholastic sports shall also be subject to the provisions of the Section II Sportsmanship Policy.

Students who violate the Code of Conduct shall be reported to the advisor, athletic director and administration. Students who violate this policy may be subjected to disciplinary action, suspended or dismissed from the extracurricular activity for as long as a full year. The administration, activity advisor/coach and/or athletic director shall make such investigation of any reported violations of this policy and take such disciplinary action as deemed appropriate. The student and his/her parents will be given an opportunity to discuss the situation informally with the district official (principal, assistant principal, athletic director) in charge in accordance with New York State Education Law.

A student suspended from an extracurricular activity may not join or participate in any other extracurricular activity during the period of such suspension. In addition, any student arrested and charged with a crime (misdemeanor and/or felony) may be suspended from participation in any extracurricular activity, even though the conduct resulting in the charges was not school related. The Superintendent will conduct a preliminary investigation and the student and parent/guardian will be afforded the opportunity to provide a response to the charge. The Superintendent will render a decision in writing.

Violations of the Section II Sportsmanship Policy will result in a minimum of one game suspension and/or disciplinary action, if found to be appropriate.

It is the Board of Education’s desire that student discipline be progressive. It is also the Board’s desire that an employee or agent take into account all other relevant factors in determining an appropriate penalty. Coaches/advisors shall clearly define and delineate all expectations and corresponding consequences on the initial day of the activity.

The above penalties are to be considered minimal. There may be cases in which violations will be reviewed by administration and penalties more severe than those outlined may be assessed.

The administration reserves the right to bypass the progressive violation consequences system in situations which may merit other determinations.