Interscholastic competition for secondary school students shall be provided through a variety of activities and athletics. Students are allowed to attain the privilege of representing their school by meeting the standards of eligibility as set forth by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). These standards may include academic requirements, citizenship, age maximums, passing medical examinations and other items that are posted in the school and discussed by the coaches and sponsors with their students as well as mailed home to the parents/guardians of all student participants.
Interscholastic competition may be withheld from any student as a condition of discipline. Furthermore, all policies that apply to the regular school day apply also to interscholastic competition. Coaches and sponsors may establish policies for their groups in addition to those stated herein.
A student must be in attendance for the full day on days of extracurricular participation. Failure to do so will eliminate the student from practice or participation that day. Exceptions may be granted in special cases.
The following criteria will be followed:
The interscholastic competition program is an integral part of the secondary schools and shall supplement the curriculum program by providing worthwhile experiences to students that will enable them to develop the attributes of good citizenship. These programs will be administered by the principal/designee.
Participation in interscholastic competition is for students in grades nine through twelve (9 - 12) as determined by the local area athletic conference and the MSHSAA.
Programs of interscholastic competition will be planned in accordance with MSHSAA regulations and conference rules, and will include programs reflective of student interest. All student members should participate insofar as feasible. Access shall be provided contingent on budgetary limitations and in accordance with District guidelines for the following:
All faculty sponsors and coaches must hold a valid Missouri State Teacher's Certificate. Non-faculty head coaches must have as a minimum a four-year college degree and a valid Missouri Substitute Teaching Certificate. Non-faculty assistant coaches must have as a minimum a valid Missouri Substitute Teaching Certificate. Non-faculty head and assistant coaches must successfully complete the MSHSAA/NFHS Coaching Principles and Sports First Aid courses. Sponsors and coaches are required to follow all District regulations.
A student engaged in interscholastic competition must portray good citizenship in the school and community. He/she shall be required to be in conformance with all general school rules and regulations, rules established by the sponsors and coaching staff for the program in which he/she is participating, and conformance with the laws of the community.
The District's High School is a member of the MSHSAA. In all interscholastic competition matters, this school will adhere firmly to the rules and regulations of MSHSAA.
Regulations Governing Student Participation
A student must be under nineteen (19) years of age on or before July l preceding the opening of school, pass a medical examination and have parent/guardian permission. Ninth grade students must not be older than sixteen (16) years of age prior to July 1.
A student shall not be considered eligible while under out-of-school suspension. A student expelled
or who withdraws from school because of disciplinary measures shall not be considered eligible for 365 days from the date of expulsion or withdrawal.
A student who is absent from school on the day of a interscholastic contest or on a Friday before an interscholastic contest on a Saturday will not be permitted to participate in said contest without a written release from the school principal.
Credit earned or completed after the close of the semester shall not count as having been earned that semester, except in case of a delayed final examination because of illness certified by a physician.
Credit earned in summer school may count for or against the student's record for eligibility purposes if the classes are required for graduation from the local school. Students may count up to one (1) unit of credit for summer school toward establishing their eligibility for the fall semester. Summer school electives will not count toward eligibility.
A student shall not accept a cash or merchandise award in any competition in which MSHSAA member schools compete interscholastically. Awards for participation in nonschool competitions during the summer shall meet the same standards as awards given by schools during the school year.
The student must meet all other eligibility requirements of MSHSAA and the local area high school athletic conference.
Competition by students in organized nonschool-sponsored competition must meet the following conditions:
District participation in interscholastic competition will be subject to approval by the Board.
Budgeting for the interscholastic competition program will include gate receipts and be incorporated into the general District budget. No expenditures for interscholastic competitions may be made in excess of those listed in the budget without approval by the Superintendent.
Physical Exams, Insurance and Parental Permission
Students are required by the MSHSAA to furnish a physician's certificate stating that they are physically able to participate in athletic contests, verification of basic insurance coverage and a statement signed by the student's parents/guardians granting permission to participate before they are eligible to participate in any athletic practice.
Transportation
Students are required to ride to and from contests on transportation provided by the District. Exceptions to this may only be made by prior approval of the principal or by approval of the coach/sponsor to allow the student to ride home with his/her parent only, who provides a written release.
Hazing
Student hazing is expressly prohibited by Board of Education policy. For purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as willful Conduct directed at another student, whether occurring on or off school property, for purposes of initiation or admission to any school-related activity or athletic team. conduct prohibited by this policy includes, but is not limited to, exposure or contact of genitals, buttocks, or breasts (female students), directly or indirectly through contact with undergarments; threats of physical harm; and infliction of physical or mental harm or humiliation.
Students found to have violated this policy will be subject to suspension/expulsion from school and suspension and exclusion from activities/athletic participation depending on the severity of the misconduct.
Nonstudents who participate or enable the hazing of students may be excluded from attendance at school activities and school athletic events. District employees, including sponsors and coaches who have knowledge of student hazing, but fail to take corrective action, will be subject to discipline up to and including termination.
Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA)
Students have the responsibility to follow all rules of the MSHSAA, the Carthage R-IX School District and the coach/sponsor. Parents have an obligation to ensure that their children follow all rules of the MSHSAA, the Carthage R-IX School District and the coach/sponsor.
Note: Students participating in state music or speech and drama contests must be enrolled in an appropriate class.