Boys Athletics Code of Conduct

Jacksonville Middle School Athletics Handbook

Athletic Code of Conduct

Participating in athletics is a privilege not a right. Students who chose to participate in athletics will be expected to meet the expectations of the Jacksonville Middle School Student Handbook and the Jacksonville Middle School Athletics Student Handbook. Our goal is to provide student athletes with the tools necessary in order to improve their physical ability while promoting responsibility, accountability, leadership, and sportsmanship. In order to do this, we expect athletes to adhere to the rules and expectations on and off the playing field.

 

Attendance

Attendance is a very important factor in athletics. We have a limited number of practices so every practice counts. Athletes are required to attend every single practice (inside and outside of school hours) unless a coach is made aware of an excused absence ahead of time. ANY STUDENT WHO HAS AT LEAST ONE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM AN AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICE MAY NOT PLAY THAT WEEK’S GAME. Excused absences include:

  • Doctor’s appointment
  • Family emergency
  • Tutorials with a teacher
  • School related excuse

Equipment

            Students will be issued equipment at the beginning of the school year. This equipment is property of Jacksonville Middle School and should be returned at the end of the school year. Athletes are to have their equipment present every day and are not to take home equipment issued by the JMS coaches. Students will be financially responsible for unreturned equipment at the end of the year.

            Every athlete will be issued a locker and a numeric code masterlock® lock. All students will be taught how to use the lock correctly on the first week of school. It is the responsibility of the student to remember his code and to operate the lock. ATHLETES SHOULD ALWAYS LOCK THEIR BELONGINGS IN THEIR LOCKER WHEN LEAVING THE FIELD HOUSE. Although we have a zero tolerance policy for stealing, we are not responsible for stolen items.

            Equipment that is not allowed on team sports:

  • Head bands
  • Non black or white socks
  • Arm sleeves
  • Leg sleeves

Discipline

            Students will be given appropriate punishment for misbehavior or breaching the terms of this handbook. All punishment must be finished prior to the beginning of a game. If a student has not completed punishment upon the start of a game, he is not allowed to play.

Individual Behavior Contract

          Students who exhibit a pattern of misconduct will be required to sign an Individual Behavior Contract before being allowed to participate in athletics any further. The contract requires the student to follow the rules outlined in the JMS Student and Athletics handbook or be removed from athletics. Students who do not fulfill the requirements of the contract will be placed in off season and will not be allowed to participate or tryout for any sports for the remainder of the year. Students who have been in OCI for 10 or more days will automatically be placed on an Individual Behavior Contract.

OCI

Students who are in OCI at least one period are not eligible to play in a game until the following day. Students who spend 10 or more days in OCI will be placed on an individual behavior contract. The requirements of the individual behavior contract must be met in order for the student to remain in athletics.

Quitting

           Students are not required to participate in sports that they do not want to play. However, if a student wishes to quit a team, he will not be allowed to participate in any other sport for the remainder of the year (ex: people who quit football may not try out for basketball). The only exception would be a medical excuse (ex: a student who quits football because he can no longer participate in contact sports due to injuries would still be able to participate in track).

Communication

Coaching and parenting are both callings that can be subjective. As a parent, you may not agree with the decisions of the coaches. As coaches, we will ask you to voice your concerns in a professional manner and also only discuss appropriate topics. The following is a set of guidelines for parent/coach communication:

  • Concerns and issues should be discussed in person in our office or away from students.
  • Scheduling conflicts for your child should be brought to our attention as soon as possible
  • If your child is to miss a practice, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible.
  • We ask that you do not discuss inappropriate topics with any of the coaches such as:
  1. Playing time
  2. Play calls
  3. Team strategy
  4. Coaching style
  5. Any player on the team besides your child

Guidelines for Athletes

As an athlete for Jacksonville Middle School, I agree to follow the following rules/guidelines:

  • I will follow the dress code of JMS athletics during practice times which is as follows:
  • I will not be sent to OCI or I will accept the discipline that follows. (see OCI)
  • I will play or try out for at least one sport.
  • I will adhere to the school policies as outlined in the Jacksonville Middle School Student Handbook.
  • School color clothing only
  • no jewelry
  • no parts or hair designs
  • I will be on time to all practices or accept the discipline that follows

I understand that if I do not follow all of the guidelines listed above, I will receive the consequences. Consequences include, but are not limited to:

  • Discipline conditioning
  1. Gassers
  2. Log rolls
  3. Up downs
  4. Towel Pushes
  • Removal from athletics (extreme cases)

Guidelines for Parents

As a parent of an athlete for Jacksonville Middle School, I agree to the following code of conduct:

  • I will have my child present at every practice (during and outside of school hours).
  • I will notify a coach when my child will not be able to attend a practice.
  • i will support my child and his team in a manner that does not embarrass my child or school.
  • I will not question the choices of the coaches or discuss any inappropriate issues with them such as playing time, position, or another parent’s child.
  • I will not approach a coach to discuss any aspects of a game within 24 hours of the game.

I understand that if I violate the terms of this contract, I may be banned from attending school related matches and practices.