Athletic Policy

Overview

Ontonagon Area High School sponsors interscholastic athletics in football, girls’ and boys’ basketball, volleyball, girls’ and boys’ track, and girls’ and boys’ golf. The football team is a member of the Bridge Alliance Football Conference, the volleyball team is a member of the Mountain Lakes Conference, and the remaining teams are members of the Copper Country Conference. It is our goal at all levels, junior high, junior varsity, and varsity, to field the most competitive teams possible within our conferences.

Participation in our interscholastic athletics programs is a privilege, not a right. Students wishing to participate do so with the understanding hat, in addition to the athletic policies outlined below; there will be rules to follow within each sport. Students should also understand that participation in interscholastic athletics does not guarantee any amount of playing time during a season at any level of competition. Coaches will explain their practice and playing time policies and their team rules at the beginning of each season.

The athletic Director of the Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School is the individual responsible for enforcing athletic policies and establishing procedures, subject to the approval of the Superintendent and the Ontonagon Area Board of Education.

Any problems or athletic situations not presented in the athletic policy shall be brought to the attention of the Athletic Director. The Athletic Director shall have the authority to act on these matters and recommend any needed changes.

Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc. If any part of this policy is in conflict with the MHSAA handbook, the rule stated in the handbook has precedence over this policy. Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School will abide by all rules as stated in the MHSAA handbook.

Insurance

Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School does NOT carry regular health insurance for injuries sustained while a student is participating in athletics. Health care insurance is the responsibility of the parent/guardian or of the adult student personally. Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School strongly urges the athlete to be covered by an adequate health insurance policy.

By fully completing the MHSAA physical card, the athlete’s parent or guardian grants consent for school personnel to make decisions regarding medical care for the athlete in the event that the parent or guardian cannot be contacted. This advance consent includes emergency care and or hospital care as may be deemed necessary under the then-existing circumstances, and acknowledges that the parent or guardian will assume the expenses of such care.

Academic Eligibility

The student athlete may not have failed any semester hours of course work taken the previous semester. Student athletes who have failed any semester hours at the end of a semester will be ineligible for the entire next semester. Every Wednesday, starting the Wednesday of the second week in the semester, an eligibility check will be made to ascertain the eligibility of all student athletes. Students who are failing any semester hour class during this weekly check of grades will be ineligible for the coming week. Eligibility requirements reset when a student begins 9th grade. The eligibility check will be the responsibility of the Athletic Director.

The Ontonagon Area School District athletic policy begins on July 1 of any year a student is enrolled in the Ontonagon Area School District and continues unbroken until graduation or enrollment is dropped. The policy applies for all interscholastic athletes and cheerleaders of the Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School.

Use of Illegal Substances

Student athletes shall not use, possess, sell, or distribute to others: alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or controlled substances. Penalties for violating this policy are as follows:

  1. Tobacco (including chewing tobacco)
    First offense: 10% of season
    Second offense: remainder of season
    Third offense: one calendar year
  2. Alcohol
    First offense: 10% of season
    Second offense: one calendar year
  3. Controlled substances (including performance-enhancing substances as listed in the NCAA Banned Drug List):
    First offense: remainder of season
    Second offense: one calendar year

The Principal, Athletic Director, Dean of Students, or the athlete’s coach may impose these penalties. Violations remain current and are subject to a second offense penalty for one calendar year.

Criminal Activity

Any athlete charged on any felony or any misdemeanor will receive the following penalties:

  1. Misdemeanor:
    First offense: 10% of season
    Second offense: one calendar year
  2. Felony:
    First offense: one calendar year

Lack of conviction or court remediation action shall remove above actions/penalties. Violations remain current and are subject to a second offense penalty for one calendar year.

Reporting of Violations

The Athletic Director or Principal shall investigate any report of an alleged violation, providing the report:

  • Is verbally relayed by an employee of the District
  • Is witnessed and addressed in writing by a parent or other community member
  • Is relayed by law enforcement

Parents or guardians of athletes agree to inform the appropriate school authorities regarding any violations by their own children.

School Discipline

Any student suspended (including in-school suspension) or expelled from school will not be able to participate in practice, games, or team related events during the days of his/her suspension or expulsion.

Any student transferring into the Ontonagon Junior-Senior High School while being disciplined for athletic reasons at his/her former school will have the circumstances reviewed by the hearing committee (described below). The hearing committee will have the option of continuing the disciplinary measures in effect at the student athlete’s former school.

Appeals Process

The appeals process for decisions made concerning this policy will have three steps. The athlete may be represented by counsel at any or all steps.

  1. Within three school days of the decision, the athlete or his/her parents or guardians may request a hearing. The hearing committee will be the principal, athletic director, and coach. The purpose of the hearing will be to discuss the charges and review the circumstances of the alleged violation. After the hearing, the committee will decide to either enforce the penalty or reinstate the athlete.
  2. If the athlete and/or his/her parents are not satisfied with the hearing committee’s decision, the matter may be appealed to the Superintendent. This appeal must be requested in writing within five school days of the hearing committee’s decision.
  3. If not satisfied with the Superintendent’s decision, the matter may be appealed to the Board of Education. This appeal must be filed in writing within ten school days of the Superintendent’s decision. The decision of the Board of Education will be final.

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions, including pregnancy, that arise after the student is medically cleared to participate by an athletic physical, must be reported to the coach. The coach shall require a doctor’s authorization before that athlete will be permitted to continue participation in that sport. Unless the condition is called to the attention of the coach or of an administrator, or by exercise of reasonable observation that should have been known by the coach, all responsibility for reporting such condition shall rest with the student athlete and/or the parents or guardians. The coach will, however, e required to make reasonable inquiry if a medical condition is suspected, but that inquiry shall not extend beyond an inquiry to the student and/or the student’s parents or guardians.

Physical Card and Agenda Book Signature Page

No student shall participate in inter-scholastic athletic competition, or practice therefore, unless and until the student has returned the first page of his or her agenda book to the high school office. Properly signed, indicating that the student and his or her parents have read and understand the policies outlined above, and has returned a properly completed and signed physical card for the current school year.

Athletic Participation Fee

In 2011, the Ontonagon Area School Board adopted a “pay to participate” policy.

  1. All active students in one (1) of our interscholastic athletic teams will be subject to the participation fee policy.
  2. Players will be required to pay a fee that has been determined by the School Board
  3. No student shall be listed on an active roster for game or transportation purposes unless the participation fee is paid.
  4. There will be no refunds of this participation fee if a student quits, is injured or unable to play, or is removed from the team.

Concussion Awareness

Parents and athletes must sign a concussion awareness (public act 342 & 343 of 2012) form before the athlete may participate in any sport. This requirement has been adopted by the O.A.S.B.O.E. July 2013. Parents can learn more at the CDC web page regarding concussions.

Managing Heat & Humitidy

It is required that the MHSAA member schools adopt a policy to minimize the risk of heat-related illness in interscholastic athletic programs; the following policy has been adopted by the O.A.S.B.O.E. July 2013.

  1. Thirty minutes prior to the start of an activity, and again sixty minutes after the start of that activity, take temperature and humidity readings at the site of the activity. Using a digital sling psychrometer is recommended. Record the readings in writing and maintain the information in files of school administration. Each school is to designate whose duties these are: generally the athletic director, head coach, or certified athletic trainer.
  2. Factor the temperature and humidity into the Heat Index Calculator and Chart to determine the Heat index. If a digital psychrometer is being used, the calculation is automatic.
  3. If the Heat Index is below 95 degrees:

    All Sports

    • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire.
    • Optional water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration.
    • Ice-down towels for cooling.
    • Watch/monitor athletes carefully for necessary action

    If the Heat Index is 95 degrees to 99 degrees:

    All Sports

    • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire.
    • Optional water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration.
    • Ice-down towels for cooling.
    • Watch/monitor athletes carefully for necessary action

    Contact sports and activities with additional equipment

    • Helmets and other possible equipment removed while not involved in contact.
    • Reduce time of outside activity. Consider postponing practice to later in the day.
    • Recheck temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index.

    If the Heat Index is above 99 degrees to 104 degrees:

    All Sports

    • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire.
    • Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration.
    • Ice-down towels for cooling.
    • Watch/monitor athletes carefully for necessary action.
    • Alter uniform by removing items if possible.
    • Allow for changes to dry t-shirts and shorts.
    • Reduce time of outside activity as well as indoor activity if air conditioning is unavailable.
    • Postpone practice to later in the day

    Contact sports and activities with additional equipment:

    • Helmets and other possible equipment removed if not involved in contacto or necessary for safety.
    • If necessary for safety, suspend activity
    • Recheck temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index.

    If the Heat Index is above 104 degrees:

    All Sports

    • Stop all outside activity in practice and/or play, and stop all inside activity if air conditioning is unavailable.

    Note: When the temperature is below 80 degrees, there is no combination of heat and humidity that will result in need to curtail activity.

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