LEE MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK EXCERPT

ATHLETICS

TheLee Middle & High School athletics department strives to provide a learningenvironment where students may experience problems and situations similar tothose that may be encountered in later life.  The environment provides natural opportunities for studentsto develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially while developingwholesome attitudes towards competition and sportsmanship.  This applies to interscholasticcompetition as well as intramurals and club sports.

Leeis a member of the O-K Silver Conference.   We encourage all students to participate inathletics throughout the year. Athletic participation augments academics as well as provides physicaland mental exercise.  Leadership,teamwork and sportsmanship are fundamentals in all sports and can benefit astudent with lifelong career-enhancing skills.

Participationin athletics is a privilege available to all eligible students.  This privilege carries with it personalresponsibilities.

Studentathletes are expected to abide by THEREBEL CODE (in front of this handbook) while in the classroom and on theathletic field.  In addition,student-athlete responsibilities include:

1.  Always exhibit good sportsmanship.

2.  Be on time for practices and games.

3.  Be committed for the season.

4.  Keep grades up.

5.  Notify the coach the day prior if an appointment will interfere with apractice or game.

6.  Take care of school uniforms and equipment.

7.  Return uniforms and equipment promptly.

8.  Treat each other, the coach, opponents, and officials with respect.

9.  Win with character - lose with dignity.

Academic Eligibility

At Lee Middle & HighSchool the emphasis on academic achievement is of primary importance andathletic achievement is secondary to this responsibility.  Eligibility regulations of the MichiganHigh School Athletic Association (MHSAA) require the following:

1.  Student athletes must achieve a passing grade in four (4) core academicclasses in the preceding trimester.

2.  Student athletes must maintain a passing grade in four classes from thebeginning of the current trimester and throughout the current trimester.

Academic Ineligibility

TheDirector of Athletics will conduct a check of student-athlete grades at thebeginning of each week.  Anyathlete who is earning two or more E’s when this check is made will beineligible for the period Monday through Sunday.  Grades will be checked at the beginning of the followingweek to determine if the athlete has raised the failing grades.  If he/she is now passing four (4) ormore classes, he/she can play.  Ifnot, the athlete will continue to be ineligible for the next Monday throughSunday period.

Bonus Period

Anystudent-athlete who is earning a grade of D or lower in any class will be required to attend “bonusperiod” (also referred to as Extended Day or ED). At the start of each week, the Director of Athletics will check gradesand send an email message to teachers listing student-athletes who are expectedto attend their “bonus period.”

The“bonus period” begins promptly at 2:50 p.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. each day,except Fridays.  A student-athletewho fails to attend “bonus period” will be ineligible to play that week.  When the teacher determines that thestudent-athlete has improved his/her grade(s), the teacher will release thestudent-athlete from attending “bonus period.”

Attendance Eligibility

Membersof the team must be in school all day to participate in a game or practice thatday, except to attend a funeral or for medical or court appointments.  Requests for other exceptions will bereviewed by the Director of Athletics.

Code of Conduct

Alltraining rules and expectations will be clearly stated by the coach at thebeginning of each season.  TheAthletic Code of Conduct will be handed out and reviewed with all athletes atthe beginning of each season.  Itmust be signed before the start of the new season by both the athlete and aparent/guardian.

“Quitting” Policy

Oncean athlete has decided upon a sport to try and has begun official practice, theathlete may not change to another sport without permission from the head coachfor the sport the athlete is dropping and the head coach for the sportthe athlete is adding.  If astudent is cut from a team for other than discipline reasons, the student mayimmediately try out for another team.

Ifa student quits a team without first meeting with the coach for the sport theathlete is quitting, the student will not be allowed to participate in anyother sport during the remainder of that season.

Coachesof each sport are responsible for explaining this policy to their athletesduring the first practice of the season, or the first practice the athleteparticipates in.

Coachesare prohibited from recruiting athletes who have already decided upon a sportand have attended the first official practice.  Coaches are also prohibited from encouraging or mandatingstudents be “single sport” athletes, and should encourage all of their athletesto try other sports during the off -seasons.

Forthe purposes of this policy, the term “season” is defined as beginning with thefirst MHSAA-sanctioned team practice and ends with the final contest.  It does not include off-seasonconditioning or participation in non-MHSAA sanctioned games, meets, orcontests.

NOTE:  Students attending Vision Quest Alternative High School are NOT eligible to participate in interscholastic sports at Lee High School.  However, VQ students who are on track for graduation based on credits earned, completion of graduation requirements to date, attendance pattern, and discipline records, may petition to transfer to Lee High School and become eligible for athletics once they have met all eligibility criteria and the transfer is reviewed and approved by the secondary principal at Lee High School.