Orientation for Junior High

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Orientation for Junior High Middle School
Programs

• Jerome Singleton
• Commissioner

Skip Lax Assistant Commissioner
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www.schsl.org
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General Philosophy

• The greatest good to the greatest number
  of participants involved
• Athletic program should supplement programs at
  schools-- not serve as a substitute for physical
  education
• The welfare of the youth concerned is of greatest
  importance

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Rules and Regulations

• Ignorance of the rule on the part of the school
  shall not be considered sufficient cause for
  setting aside the effects of the rule.
• Differences between High School regulations and
  Middle School regulations.
• Magnet schools.
• Number of scrimmages/jamborees allowed.
• Competition time limit in selected sports (i.e.
  baseball and softball).
• 75 rule (outside league).
• Out of season skill sessions (two athletes per
  day).
• Out of season regulations in football.

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• Students below seventh grade may not participate
  in interscholastic athletics.
• Students in grades 7 and 8 will not be permitted
  to participate on varsity interscholastic teams
  in football, wrestling, lacrosse and soccer.
• All sports are allowed one scrimmage, one
  jamboree and two tournaments.
• Participation Is defined as being in the same
  uniform and permitted in the bench area of one of
  the competing teams.

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Age Rule

• If a student turns 15 prior to July, he/she is
  not eligible for eight grade and under teams.
• Advanced Participation
• A junior high or middle school student promoted
  to a varsity or JV team may not return to the Jr.
  High or Middle School team if he participated at
  that level.
• Note If started at Varsity level or JV level,
  he can move down.

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New Legislation

• New legislation affecting athletic eligibility
• Charter Schools
• Home School

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• Officials
• Recommend certified officials - NO high school
  students used as game officials

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Original Eligibility

• A student establishes his eligibility when he is
  promoted to and first attends (1 day) school in
  the Seventh grade. He is eligible at this school
  and the school it feeds until he attends another
  school (breaks enrollment). Should the feeder
  school supply students to more than one high
  school, each students eligibility will be
  determined by the attendance area in which he
  lives.

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Student Eligibility

• Must be promoted academically (not social or
  placed)
• Seventh or Eighth graders must be doing
  satisfactory work at the end of the first
  semester to be eligible second semester.
• Seventh or Eighth grade repeaters may become
  eligible second semester if they pass first
  semester work.
• Seventh or Eighth graders who met the standards
  for promotion, but decided to stay back are
  ineligible for the entire year.
• Satisfactory work is defined as meeting the
  school districts promotion policy.

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• Each school shall keep on file, a duplicate copy
  of the students birth certification, all
  submitted eligibility forms, a parent's
  permission record properly filled out and a
  physical form.
• A physical is valid from April 1 through the
  following school year. Physical forms must be
  signed by a licensed doctor of medicine or a
  nurse practitioner in a written collaboration
  with a licensed medical doctor or a certified
  physicians assistant in a written collaboration
  with a licensed medical doctor.

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Transfers

• Treat as being ineligible until the name of the
  student is placed on the League Web Page.

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Transfers continued

• Bona-fide change of address
  .
• Transfer from a non-member school to a member
  school.
• Student is placed by the courts in an orphanage
  or foster home in your attendance area.

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Special Form A (Transfer Form)

• Do not submit 7th graders on Special Form A
  unless they are repeating the 7th grade.

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Guardianship

• Both parents are deceased.
• Both parents reside outside the contiguous US,
  and the parents are US citizens.
• Student becomes a ward of the court, and DSS
  assumes legal guardianship.

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Unsportsmanlike Acts

• Athletes who are ejected for abusive language,
  flagrantly or maliciously contacting another
  person, making obscene gestures to opponents or
  spectators are ineligible for a minimum next two
  contests in all sports except football,
  competitive cheer and lacrosse to maximum of one
  year.
• 2nd ejection in same sport Minimum of 2 weeks.
• 3rd ejection Remainder of the school year.

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A coach will be in violation of the standards for
good sportsmanship established by the League for

• Degrading remarks about officials
• Dissent
• Approaching an official after the contest
• Note The minimum penalty for a coachs ejection
  will be next contest suspension a 100 fine to
  the school.

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Closed Season

• During closed season, school facilities cannot be
  used for anything except conditioning and weight
  training.
• Open participation is permitted during the
  following dates.
• Fall Sports May 1st 21st
• Winter Sports September 1st 21st
• Spring Sports November 1st 21st
• No tryouts or school against outside competition
  permitted.

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Camps

• Attendance at camps from August 1 to the
  closing of school are governed by the following
  restrictions

• The student or the parents must pay all fees and
  expenses.
• Students may be transported by their coach to
  camps or clinics at any time.
  
• A coach may serve as an instructor at the camp,
  but may not teach skills to students from their
  own school during the closed season.
• Attendances at camps during a sports season that
  are controlled entirely by a school and
  restricted to its students are exempt from these
  regulations. A violation of any part of this
  section will result in a 500.00 fine and
  probation.

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Clinics

• The principal of a member school must approve a
  clinic.
• A clinician's fee and expenses should be
  reasonable. Principals should pay close
  attention to this item before giving approval.
• Room and board must not be a part of the clinic.
• The clinic must not exceed three days.
• Team competition is prohibited and all physical
  activity must be restricted to fundamentals.
• The coach may transport his players to the clinic.

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NFHS Course

• www.nfhslearn.com
• A Guide to Heat Acclimatization and Heat Illness
  Prevention
• Recommended to ALL Coaches

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Heat Hydration
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Concussion

• NFHS Course - Video
• www.nfhslearn.com
• Required for all coaches

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Middle School Representation

• Executive Committee Representative
• Constitutional Change Proposals
• Rules Regulations Change Proposals

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Questions/Concerns
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Have a Great Year