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Athletic and Extra-Curricular Policy

Notice to Student Athletes/Club Members  

If a student elects to participate in interscholastic athletics and activities, including away contests, the student should be advised that this participation may result in a loss of instructional time. Every attempt will be made to accommodate student-athletes through the scheduling process. However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any missed work is completed in accordance with each of his/her teacher’s requirements.   As a student athlete/activity member, pride in the school, the team/activity, and oneself are important. At no time shall lewd, profane, obscene language or inappropriate conduct be allowed. They shall respect the authority of coaches/advisors and other school staff personnel and shall conform to requests made by these authorities. 

In addition, a student’s appearance shall be a matter of pride which means cleanliness and neatness in dress and equipment. Students are expected to dress properly when representing their team or school at any athletic, extracurricular, or academic function. The privileges of being on a team or participation in an activity carry with them the responsibilities of setting a good example in all school activities.

The Board of Education may deny participation in extra-curricular activities, school functions, sports, graduation exercises, or other privileges as disciplinary sanctions when designed to maintain the order and integrity of the school environment, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1(d).

Students must submit a physical packet (using the NJDOE approved forms) and other paperwork prior to the start of each sport season. Students must receive a physical examination prior to participation in school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural programs of athletic competition and any cheerleading program or activity. A physical examination is the assessment of an individual’s health status. Students who do not meet set deadlines will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular sports during that season. NJSIAA mandates that all athletes and their parents sign a consent form permitting random testing for steroids and performance enhancing drugs. This form is included in the physical packet. Students in all other extracurricular activities must sign an eligibility form. 

A student may participate in only one sport per season, unless otherwise authorized. Any movement from one sport to another during the same season must be approved by both the coach of the team and the coach of the receiving team. The SECA must be notified and approve the change.   An athlete must realize his/her obligation to the team and refrain from the scheduling of any conflicting activity during that season. The NJSIAA regulates sport seasons and the number of events allowed per week.

Academic Eligibility  

To be eligible for athletic or extracurricular participation during the first semester of the school year, a student must have successfully completed 30 credits in the previous academic year. To be eligible to participate in a spring sport/activity, a student must have successfully completed at least 15 credits at the end of the first semester of the current school year.  

Age Eligibility  

A student may not participate in interscholastic athletic competitions if he/she has reached the age of 19 prior to the date of September 1st of the current school year as per NJSIAA regulations.  

Attendance Eligibility  

In order for a student to participate in a scheduled athletic event or extracurricular activity, he/she must be in school on the day of the event or the last day of school for a Saturday event. A student must be present in school a minimum of FOUR hours of instructional time to be given credit for a day’s attendance. Students on Home Instruction who are not present in school for four hours of instructional time or more are not permitted to participate in athletics, clubs, or extracurricular activities including privileges. Any student who is tardy to school or leaves early from school must have a parental note. If tardiness is due to a medical appointment, a doctor’s note is required. Students who are absent from school for the entire day, tardy more than one period, or have chronic tardiness problems (10 or more) are NOT eligible to participate in any after-school activities scheduled for that day without approval from school administration. Extenuating circumstances may include family emergencies, funerals, religious obligations, driver’s test, etc. Students who do not attend practice sessions MAY NOT be eligible to participate in subsequent scheduled events or activities.

Athletic Equipment Accountability  

Athletic equipment used by student participants remains the property of the FRHSD. As such, it must be returned, replaced, or paid for at the end of the sport season and prior to the issuance of any award or recognition. Equipment will not be issued for an upcoming season until all equipment accounts are cleared from the preceding season. Equipment will not be issued to students out of season as per NJSIAA rules and regulations.  

Awards  

Awards are considered a privilege and may be given to those students who have completed full membership participation in an activity/sports season. Therefore, awards can be revoked or recalled for just cause including violation of any of the athletic code policies.  

Injuries/Student Insurance 

Any student participant who sustains an injury during a school related activity must report it to their coach/advisor/athletic trainer immediately and to the school health office within 24 hours. If an injury occurs outside of school, it must be reported to the coach/advisor/athletic trainer and/or health office prior to the student’s next practice, activity, or game. If an athlete is medically excused from participating in physical education class, the student cannot participate in an extracurricular sport. 

The Board of Education has elected to authorize a voluntary student accident insurance policy for the school year to cover injuries that may occur during the school day. However, this voluntary policy does not cover any injuries that may occur through student play, practice, or travel in connection with interscholastic sports.   The Board of Education has secured an excess insurance policy to provide coverage for medical expenses that are not covered by a parent’s/guardian’s insurance policy and that were the result of student play, practice, or travel in connection with interscholastic sports. This catastrophic coverage is subject to a $25,000 deductible with a maximum medical benefit of $1,000,000.

Transportation for Athletics/Extra-curricular Activities  

No student participating in a school-sponsored event is permitted to use personal transportation to and/or from any away school-sponsored athletic or extracurricular event. Official school transportation will be provided, originating at the school and returning back to the school. The only exception to this rule will be when a written request/waiver by the student’s parent/guardian is given to the SECA or his/her designee. Students will be released only to their parent or guardian unless otherwise authorized.  

Cause for Suspension from an Athletic Team/Club Activity  

The use of and/or possession of any chemical substance in any form is prohibited. Chemical substances include, but are not limited, to the following: alcohol; tobacco in any form; vapes/e-cigarettes, anabolic steroids; controlled dangerous substances; any chemical which releases vapor or fumes causing intoxication; any mind-altering or behavior-altering substances used for purposes other than the treatment of illness; any prescription or over-the-counter medications except those for which permission to use has been granted pursuant to

Board of Education Policy - Administration of Medication #5330. Self-administration of medication by a student for asthma, other potentially life-threatening illness, or a life-threatening allergic reaction is permitted in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3 and 12.4. 

Violation of the District’s use and/or possession rule will result in immediate dismissal from the team/club for 60 calendar days and a mandatory referral to the Student Assistance Counselor (SAC). The 60 calendar days begin immediately (whether in-season or out-of-season) and/or, if indicated, as of the date of notification of a positive drug screen. The 60 calendar days may carry over into the next season, i.e. from fall to winter. The penalty may be reduced to 30 calendar days if the student follows the intervention plan recommendations of the SAC. The reduced 30 calendar day option begins upon completion of a meeting with the athlete/club member, the SAC, and the SECA/designee. 

For a second offense, the “30-day” option is not applicable, and the 60 calendar day suspension from team participation will be imposed. For a third offense, the student will not be eligible to participate in any athletics/clubs for the remainder of the student’s high school career. 

In addition, a student may be subject to school discipline and dismissed from a team/club for conduct that occurs outside of school and off school grounds when: (1) such conduct threatens the physical or emotional safety, security and well-being of the student, other students, staff or school grounds; and (2) the conduct materially and substantially interferes with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school or District. 

Suspension for causes other than above, are at the discretion of the coach/advisor. Suspensions in excess of one week require consultation with the SECA. Parent notification is required in all cases of suspension. Discipline referrals and school suspensions are justification for suspension or removal from a team/club activity.

Spectator Code of Conduct

Board of Education Policy #9160 - Public Attendance at School Events

The Board of Education welcomes the attendance of members of the community at athletic and other public events held by the schools of the district and acknowledges its duty to maintain order and preserve the facilities of the district during the conduct of such events.

The Board may bar the attendance of any person at a school event whose conduct constitutes a disruption. The Board prohibits the possession and consumption of alcoholic  beverages at any function sponsored by the district, and further, prohibits wagering on school premises. 

Board of Education Policy #9163 - Spectator Code of Conduct for Interscholastic Events

The Board of Education promotes a physically and emotionally safe and healthy playing environment at interscholastic events and insists good sportsmanship be exhibited at all times by student athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators at such events.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) requires the Board to establish policies and procedures relating to sportsmanship and to identify responsibilities of administrators, coaches, and students to ensure their observance.  The NJSIAA requires the Board to adopt a Spectator Code of Conduct Policy for all spectators attending an interscholastic event.

The district’s high school(s) is a member school of the NJSIAA.  The NJSIAA and the Board require high standards of courtesy, fair play, and sportsmanship be featured at school district and NJSIAA interscholastic events.  Unsportsmanlike conduct by a person at an event shall subject the individual to disciplinary action.

For the purpose of this Policy, a “home event” shall mean any event occurring in the school district’s buildings or on school grounds. 

For the purpose of this Policy, “school grounds” also includes other recreational places owned by local municipalities, private entities, or other individuals during those times when the school district has exclusive use of a portion of the land.

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to, actions of a fan or spectator who:
  • Strikes or physically abuses an official, opposing coach, player, spectator, school staff member, or school security;
  • Intentionally incites participants or spectators to violent or abusive action;
  • Uses obscene gestures or profane or unduly provocative language or action toward officials, opponents, spectators, school staff members, or school security; or  
  • Engages in harassing verbal or physical conduct related to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or religion at an interscholastic event.

2. The Board prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct or actions by a spectator, which include, but are not limited to:

  • The use of profanity, threatening comments, or biased language before, during, or after an interscholastic event;
  • Verbal harassment of an official or participant (i.e., coaches or players from any participating school) by using names or uniform numbers;
  • Entering the field of play before, during, or after an interscholastic event;
  • Having a physical altercation with an official, coach, player, school staff, school security, or spectator before, during, or after an interscholastic event;
  • The use of artificial noisemakers or other instruments intended to disrupt the interscholastic event or distract the participants during an interscholastic event; or
  • Any additional unsportsmanlike conduct or actions determined by the Principal or designee to be unsportsmanlike conduct or action.
  • If the unsportsmanlike conduct involves a potential criminal act, the Principal or designee shall immediately contact law enforcement.

3. Disciplinary Framework

  • If the Principal or designee determines a person’s conduct or actions are prohibited by this Policy, the person will be subjected to the following disciplinary actions:
    • Immediate removal from the interscholastic event and school grounds;
      • First Offense  (365-day calendar starts)
        • Suspension from attending the next one home event for the activity from which the person was immediately removed from school grounds.
      • Second offense occurring within 365-day calendar days of the first offense
        • Suspension from attending the next three home events for the activity from which the person was immediately removed from school grounds.
      • Third offense occurring within 365-day calendar days of the first offense or beyond
        • Suspension from attending home events for the rest of the school year for the activity from which the person was immediately removed from school grounds.
      • The Superintendent or designee upon consultation with the Principal or designee may increase the disciplinary actions outlined in this Policy, depending on the severity of the offense.
  • If it is determined by the Principal or designee that a person exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct at a home interscholastic athletic event, but was not immediately removed from the interscholastic event or from school grounds at the time of the prohibited conduct, the person shall be subject to the disciplinary actions outlined in this Policy. 
  • In the event it is determined by the Principal or designee that a person exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct at an interscholastic event not held in a school district building or on school grounds (away event), the person shall be subject to the disciplinary actions outlined in this Policy.
  • In the event the suspension from an interscholastic event occurs on the last home event of the activity’s season or the suspension exceeds the remaining home events remaining in the activity’s season, including playoffs or team or individual championships, the suspension shall continue with the first home event of the same activity in the subsequent school year.
  • A person who has been suspended for more than one home interscholastic events within three months of the initial conduct that resulted in the person’s first suspension from attending home interscholastic events may be suspended by the Principal or designee from attending additional home interscholastic events in excess of the suspension provisions in this Policy.
  • A person suspended by the Principal or designee from attending more than three home interscholastic events for exhibiting conduct or actions that violate this Policy, regardless of the specific event or activity from which the person was suspended, shall be prohibited from attending any other home interscholastic events in the district’s schools or on school grounds and shall be required to meet with the Principal or designee prior to being permitted to attend any additional home interscholastic events in the district’s schools or on school grounds.  The person shall be required to successfully complete an educational component as determined by the Principal or designee before the person is permitted to attend any future home events in school buildings or on school grounds.  The educational component will include a program that addresses the unsportsmanlike conduct or actions that caused the person to be suspended from the interscholastic events.
  • A person who does not comply with the suspension requirements of this Policy or refuses to immediately leave the school building or school grounds for violating the provisions of this Policy may be reported to law enforcement to be removed from the school building or from school grounds. 

4. Appeals

  • A person may appeal the decision of the Principal or designee to the Superintendent of Schools by submitting a written appeal to the Superintendent within three calendar days after receiving notice of the suspension from the event by the Principal or designee.  The Superintendent shall make a decision on the written appeal within three business days upon receiving the written appeal. The Superintendent’s decision may be appealed to the Board in accordance with the Board appeal provisions in Policy and Regulation 9130 – Public Complaints and Grievances.

This Policy shall be provided to the parent(s) of student-athletes participating in interscholastic programs in the district.  The parent(s) shall be required to sign a document acknowledging receipt of this Policy and acknowledging their understanding of the provisions of this Policy.  This document shall be provided to the parent(s) during the high school's sports registration process before each season.

This Policy shall be made available to NJSIAA staff upon request.  NJSIAA staff may share a copy of this Policy with another member school when appropriate.

A list of unsportsmanlike conduct or actions will be posted at all venues hosting school district events to the extent reasonably possible.

Failure of a member school to enforce the provisions of this Policy may result in discipline by the NJSIAA.  In addition to the penalties set forth by NJSIAA, a school that does not enforce its Policy may be prohibited by NJSIAA from hosting an NJSIAA State tournament event.