Code of Conduct & Eligibility

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Hampton Hawks Athletics

Code on Conduct for Hampton School District 29


Being an athlete requires more than just joining or making a team; it creates many demands that require sacrifice and responsibility. Being an athlete is a privilege. If the individual is willing to accept the burden of responsibility, athletics will repay the athlete with many rewards. At Hampton, one who decides to participate as an athlete accepts the responsibilities contained within this code of conduct.


Preamble

Participation in athletics means more than competition between two individuals or teams representing different schools. It is much more than winning or losing. All athletes should exhibit the traits of good character. It also means understanding and appreciating the meaning of teamwork and sportsmanship. This guide will help young athletes by establishing a code for their conduct, which is always closely observed by so many on and off the court, field, mat or track.


Hampton Hawk Athletes:


  1. Exhibit acceptable standards of citizenship. All students are expected to follow Hampton School District 29 Policies.
  2. Will maintain satisfactory academic proficiency, and they will abide by the eligibility rules, procedures and outcomes.
  3. Realize that any use of profanity or obscenity, spoken, written or gestured is a sign of weakness rather than strength, and that it will not be tolerated.
  4. Do not believe in quitting. They never quit during a contest or practice, even when winning seems hopeless. Athletes never quit a team once they have joined. An athlete who quits a team is not eligible to participate in another sport that same season.
  5. Realize that although winning is one of their goals, they must learn to maintain modesty in victory. Athletes also know that losing is part of the game, and they are gracious in defeat.
  6. Show good sportsmanship. When an athletic contest ends, athletes are courteous and congratulate opponents on a good effort.
  7. Develop and have pride – in their team, teammates, coaches, school, and most importantly, in themselves.
  8. Encourage and support their teammates at all times. They never criticize a teammate nor blame someone for a bad play or a loss. A successful team works together, and wins and loses together.
  9. Do not dispute any official’s decision. It is assumed that all participants in the management of a game, coaches and officials, are doing their best, just as it is assumed the athletes are trying their best. Coaches will represent individual athletes and the team in any dispute with game officials. Disrespect toward an official will not be tolerated.
  10. Speak with respect to all students, faculty, and staff at Hampton or at any other school. Insubordination and disrespect will not be tolerated.
  11. Directly represent Hampton, the local community, and their coaches when they are involved in an activity, sports-related or otherwise, which brings them into contact with others. Therefore, they conduct themselves in such a way as to be a credit to all parties concerned.
  12. Stay in top shape both physically and mentally to avoid injuries both in and out of season.
  13. Accept the responsibility for taking proper care of all school equipment and uniforms. The clothing items are returned clean at the end of the season. Athletes know they must make restitution for any lost or damaged equipment issued to them. Athletes will not be invited to go out for another sport until all equipment and/or uniforms are returned or paid for.
  14. Keep the locker room in proper order. All clothes should be kept off the floor, lockers should be kept locked at all times when not attended, and when on road trips, the opponent’s locker room should be in a better condition than it was found.
  15. Understand that most of the time there is a direct correlation between practice time and play time.
  16. Will be present at every practice and game. If they are unable to attend a practice or a game, they will notify the coaching staff.
    1. If a student misses practice the day before the game they cannot start in the following game. It is up to the coach how much they play and playing time depends on many factors.
    2. If missing practice becomes habitual and a concern to the coach, it might be necessary for all parties to have a meeting with the Athletic Director to discuss what needs to happen moving forward to remain eligible to play.
  17. Will be out of the school building and picked up no later than one-half hour after a game, contest, or practice. (Athletic staff will not tolerate habitual tardiness in picking up your child)
  18. Will not be eligible to practice or play in a contest on days when they have been excused from school for medical or health reasons.
  19. Are concerned with more than just the sport in which they are participating. Athletes support all activities at Hampton Elementary School.
  20. Understand that they are students first and athletes second.

Sports Eligibility Guidelines:


  1. All students involved in CROSS COUNTRY, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, TRACK, FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, and SCHOLASTIC BOWL will be evaluated for eligibility.
  2. Any student participating in one of these activities must maintain a passing grade (D or higher) in all subjects checked weekly.
  3. Individual students will be checked on a weekly basis.
  4. A parent/guardian will be notified of the ineligibility via email.
  5. If the student is deemed ineligible, the following will occur:
    1. The student may practice but not compete until the next grade check.
    2. At games/events students must wear street clothes (not his/her uniform).
  6. If a student is ineligible for 3 weeks (does not have to be consecutive) they will be dismissed from the team.
  7. The ineligibility period would begin the Monday of the week following the eligibility date.
  8. Individual cases of eligibility or concerns will be reviewed by the Athletic Director, Head Coach, Teachers involved, and/or the Principal at Hampton.

Sports Physicals:


  1. Sports physicals are good for 395 days (13 months).
  2. Must have a valid/non-expired physical before you can practice or play.
  3. Physical must be turned in to the nurse’s office.

Concussions:

  1. The IESA takes concussions seriously, and so do we. Players who exhibit symptoms of a concussion will need to be tested by a medical professional and cleared before they can return to practice.
  2. Coaches must take a required online training and test every 2 years.
  3. There are several benchmarks that must be met in order to return an athlete to gameplay, and it isn’t negotiable.

Other Injuries:

  1. Players need to report injuries.
  2. Safety needs to be prioritized over playing time.

Making the Team and Playing Time:

  1. Hampton has a “NO CUT” policy.
  2. Sometimes that means we carry a much larger team than is practical for equal playing time in games. For this reason, playing time is NOT guaranteed at any level, though coaches do make a great effort to get everyone playing time. For less experienced players, practice is their opportunity to improve.
  3. Coaches have the final say on how playing time is divided.
  4. Coaches are volunteers and do not get paid. Do not approach a coach about issues you have with their coaching. Approach the Athletic Director with concerns, and if there is an issue that falls outside of policy, the AD will approach the coach.