6145.2

Instruction

Interscholastic/Intramural Athletics

The Board of Education believes individual students will benefit from opportunities to grow physically and intellectually through experiences that provide the opportunity for self-discipline and team efforts made possible through competitive interschool and intramural team and individual sports activities.

District participation in interscholastic athletics and esports will be subject to approval by the Board. This shall include approval of membership in any leagues, associations, or conferences, of rules for student participation, and of annual sports schedules.

It is the Board's policy to provide students interscholastic athletic competition in a variety of sports. Students will be allowed to participate in individual sports on the basis of their physical condition and desire. Qualified personnel shall be provided for coaching and supervising individual sports. In addition, it is the policy of the Board to provide intramural athletic activities as an outgrowth of class instruction in physical education commensurate with the grade level of the students involved.

Students with disabilities, possessing the required level of skill or ability to participate in a competitive program or activity, shall be afforded an equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, which include club, intramural or interscholastic athletics. The District shall make reasonable modifications and provide those aids and services that are necessary to afford a “qualified” disabled student the opportunity to participate in extracurricular athletics, unless it results in a fundamental alteration to the District’s program. The District will consider whether safe participation by a disabled student can be assured through reasonable modifications or the provision of aids and services.

The District shall/may (TBD) create additional opportunities for students with disabilities who cannot participate in the existing extracurricular athletics program, even with reasonable modifications or aids and services, in order to afford such students an equal opportunity to receive the benefits of extracurricular athletics.

Each student who chooses to participate in an interscholastic athletic program is required to have on file, in the offices of the building administrator and the Athletic Director, a certificate of consent which is signed by the parent or legal guardian. No student may start practice for any athletic team until he or she has been examined and approved by a medical doctor. This certificate of consent will be in effect for each student for each sports season.

The purpose of school athletics is both educational and recreational. The athletic program should encourage participation by as many students as possible and should be carried on with the best interests of the participants as the primary consideration. Participation should be without unreasonable interference with other obligations in the school, community and home.

It is recognized that a well-organized and well conducted athletic program is a potent factor in the morale of a student body and an important phase of good community-school relations.

Every possible effort shall be made to offer equal opportunities for both sexes in sports and activities which shall include life sports that a student can carry through adulthood.

Esports (optional language to add to policy if esports is approved by Board as an activity.)

In an effort to appeal to students who may not be captivated by the District’s existing athletic extracurricular activities, the Board approves the establishment of teams to be involved in esports competition at the high school level. Such involvement shall be based on NFHS sanctioned esports, in partnership with PlayVS sanctioned by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAC). (PlayVS provides an all-in-one online platform for district schools to build teams, manage league schedules, compete and track season statistics.)

Students involved in an esports activity shall meet the requirements of academic eligibility established in Board policy and the CIAC.

The Board requires each esports team to have a coach to be onsite during all matches.

The participation of each student is $64 which shall be paid by the school, parent/guardian/sponsor. (choose)

(cf. 5141 – Student Health Services)

(cf. 5145 – Section 504: Civil and Legal Rights and Responsibilities)

(cf. 6141.1 – Co-Curricular Eligibility)

(cf. 6145 – Extra Class Activities)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-149 Qualifications for coaches of intramural and interscholastic athletics.

Stratton, PPA v. St. Joseph's High School, Bridgeport Superior Court, June 4, 1986 (12 CT 26)9/87.

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, “Dear Colleague Letter,” 113 LRP 3326 (OCR 1/25/13)

Policy adopted: