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527 ACTIVITIES POLICY

The board of education recognizes the important role activity programs have in the development of each student. However, in order for a student to participate in any activities program, he/she must follow the rules listed in the guide. A. Activities Related to the Minnesota State High School League 1. All school activities that are governed by the Minnesota State High School League will follow their established rules and regulations. 2. Each student who participates in a league related activity must be informed of the league rules and regulations and sign the league eligibility form. 3. A student suspended from school may not participate in a league activity or practice during that time of suspension. 4. Minnesota State High School League individual coach/activity director regulations: a. All coaches or directors will abide by the rules established by the league. The coach or director must enforce the rules and follow their established procedure for any violation. b. Each coach or director has the right to establish additional rules that are fair and equitable for all participants. These additional rules pertain only during the activity season and must not be in conflict with district-approved student discipline policies. B. Activities Not Related to the High School League 1. Students participating in school activities that are not under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota State High School League rules must comply with School District 363 student disciplinary policy while under supervision of school personnel. 2. Students engaged in school social events or games as a spectator who violate the disciplinary policies of the district can be restricted from further attendance at such functions. 3. Students who are suspended, excluded or expelled from school may not participate during that period of time as an active member of any school organization. 4. Individual activity director/coach regulations for activities not related to the league: All activity directors will abide by the rules in the policy guide. The director must enforce the rules and follow the established procedure for violations. C. Suspensions from School Activities Parents and students have a right to be informed of any suspension from an activity. The following procedure will be followed in such notification: 1. Activities related to the Minnesota State High School League: a. In all suspensions from a league-related activity, the parents and student will be informed in writing of the following: i. Reason for suspension ii. Statement of facts iii. Statement of testimony iv. Length of suspension b. The principal will be responsible for compliance with this policy. 2. Activities not related to the Minnesota State High School League: a. All suspensions from non-league related activities will be processed by the administrator who is in charge. b. Students suspended from participation in school social events will be so notified by the administrator in charge. c. The administrator who suspends a student from an activity as a participant or spectator shall inform the student and parent in writing of the following: i. Reason for suspension ii. Statement of facts iii. Length of suspension 3. Review Procedure for Cases of Suspension a. League related: Within one week of suspension, a student who has been suspended from a league activity may, in writing, request a hearing before the local high school league committee. b. Non-league-related: Within one week of suspension, a student who has been suspended from a non-league related activity as either a spectator or a participant may, in writing, request that the superintendent of schools review the decision. D. Scholastic Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Extra-Curricular Program In order to participate in the extra-curricular program, a student must be making satisfactory academic progress toward graduation. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as the earning of an average of five credits per semester in attendance. When the number of credits a student has earned is below this average, the student will be placed on probation for the following semester. The student will be allowed to participate in activities during the probationary period. If the credit deficiency is not corrected during the probationary period, the student is ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities until the deficiency is corrected. Exceptions to this policy may be made if the reason for the deficiency is beyond the control of the student, such as illness, transfer, etc. Exceptions can be granted only on these grounds and only by the principal. Any student receiving a final grade of "F" (failing) will be ineligible to participate in games (scheduled competition) but may practice with the team. Grades are reviewed at the end of the 4th week of the next grading period. If the student is passing all subject areas at that time, he/she regains his/her eligibility, on a weekly basis. E. Guidelines for Cheerleaders Cheerleaders at every level are an important level of support for school activities. With the appointment to cheerleading comes many responsibilities and obligations which are assumed by the students, staff, and the entire student body. Sportsmanship in all school endeavors is an ultimate requirement and shall be exemplified by the leadership expressly demonstrated in and by the cheerleading squad. 1. General Guidelines a. Cheerleading squads shall be placed under the direction of a qualified and knowledgeable sponsor or coach. b. All Cheerleaders shall receive proper training before attempting any form of cheerleading gymnastics (tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids). c. Practice sessions shall be supervised by the coach and held in a location suitable for the activities of cheerleaders (i.e., use of tumbling mats; away from excessive noise and distractions). d. Professional training in proper spotting techniques shall be mandatory for all squads. e. All cheerleading squads should adopt a professionally developed comprehensive conditioning program. f. A structured stretching exercise and flexibility routine shall precede and follow all practice sessions and precede all pregame activities. g. Tumbling and partner stunts shall not be performed on wet surfaces. Tumbling, partner stunts, and pyramids shall NOT be performed on concrete. h. Sponsors/coaches must recognize a squad's particular ability level and must limit the squad's activities accordingly. "Ability level" refers to the squad's talents as a whole and individuals shall not be pressed to perform activities until safely perfected. 2. Specific Prohibitions a. Use of the mini-tramp shall be prohibited. b. Pyramids higher than two persons high shall be prohibited. Pyramid height is measured by body lengths (i.e., a shoulder stand is "too high", a shoulder straddle or sit is one and one-half high, etc). c. Split catches shall be prohibited. d. Front and back tension drops shall be prohibited. e. Toe pitches shall be prohibited. f. Flips off of pyramids and partner stunts other than basket tosses and suspended rolls where the flipping person is continually holding the bases' hands should be prohibited. g. Suspended rolls higher than shoulder level shall be prohibited. 3. Partner Stunt and Pyramid Guidelines a. All new partner stunt and pyramid activity shall be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution. b. All pyramids and partner stunts over "two persons" high shall have a spotter in proper position. (This includes single and double based extensions). c. Pyramids of any height performed outdoors shall not be performed on slick or concrete-like surfaces. d. Basket tosses (both flips and jumps) shall be performed only after being approved by the advisor and when using three spotters (the two bases and an additional spotter in back) and shall not be performed on concrete or hardwood surfaces. e. Basket tosses shall not be performed except from ground level. f. No pyramids or partner stunts shall be performed without spotters unless they can be performed consistently without difficulty and approved by the coach. g. Suspended rolls from shoulders must be approved by the coach and performed on mats. 4. Tumbling a. All new tumbling activity shall be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution. b. Tumbling shall not be executed on slick or concrete-like surfaces. c. Tumbling tricks shall not be executed without the use of a spotter unless they can be performed consistently without difficulty and approved by the coach. d. Tumbling requiring the use of a spotter shall be preceded by verbal communication of the intended trick. e. New tumbling skills shall be mastered on a mat whenever possible. If a mat is not available - "over-spotting" should be employed. New tumbling skills shall not be learned on concrete or hardwood surfaces. 5. Tournament Participation Policy a. "A" squad cheerleaders for basketball or hockey go to all tournament games in their respective sports and do NOT pay for bus fare or tickets. b. Only "A" squad cheerleaders travel in their respective sports. c. "B" squad cheerleaders cheer only at home and in their respective sports. d. Cheerleaders are NOT allowed to "sleep in" the morning after a game (see student handbook). 6. School Policy on Overnight Travel for Cheerleaders a. During tournaments, the cheerleaders shall stay overnight provided their advisor is present. b. Cheerleaders must ride home with the team bus or advisor unless other arrangements are cleared in advance through the office. c. The travel of cheerleaders to and from games shall be subject to the same expectations as any other athletic program travel. 7. School Policy Under Which Cheerleaders May Represent South Koochiching/Rainy River at Certain Out-of-Town Athletic Contests a. Those games will be selected by the principal or assistant administrator after consulting with the cheerleader coach. b. Cheerleaders may be authorized by the principal or administrative assistant to attend those games as cheerleaders representing our school and wearing their cheerleading uniforms, only under the following terms and conditions: i. Transportation to and from the game must be provided by a volunteer parent or parents of one or more of the cheerleaders and those parents must agree in writing to conditions set forth by the principal. ii. Students will not be excused from any classes for early departures or caused by late return from games. iii. Parents must agree to properly supervise the groups and not allow smoking, drinking or other activities that are not allowed by school students on school sponsored trips. iv. While at the site of the athletic contest, there must be a school staff member who will agree in writing to be responsible for supervision of the cheerleaders from the time they arrive at the site of the contest until the contest is over.

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