1. Middle School Monday

2. MS ATHLETIC REGULATIONS General Statute 115C-47(4) makes it the responsibility of the local board of education to regulate extracurricular activities, including athletics. This statute reads as follows: "Local boards of education shall make all rules and regulations necessary for the conducting of extracurricular activities in the schools under their supervision, including a program of athletics...provided that all interscholastic athletic activities shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education." General Statute 115C-47

3. Eligibility

4. AGE A student shall not participate on a seventh or eighth grade team if the student becomes 15 years of age on or before August 31 of 2015.

5. ATTENDANCE Student must be in attendance 85% of the previous semester. This includes all absences. (Excused and Unexcused)

6. ATTENDANCE Attendance is regulated by local LEA policy in terms of length of day required to be counted in attendance. Local attendance policy may be more stringent in terms of counting/earning credit for courses. Summer School does not count towards attendance.

7. ATTENDANCE A student must, at any time of any game in which he or she participates, be a regularly enrolled member of the school’s student body, according to local policy. If there is not local policy, “regularly enrolled” is defined as enrolled for at least one-half of the “minimum load.”

8. ATTENDANCE It is recommended the student be in school the day of the contest.

9. ENROLLMENT/RESIDENCE Student must be a regularly enrolled member of the school’s student body. Student must participate at the school to which he/she is assigned by the local Board of Education.

10. ENROLLMENT/RESIDENCE School assignment is based on the residence of the parent or legal custodian (Court ordered custody, not guardian) within the administrative unit. Student must live with the parents or legal custodian.

11. ENROLLMENT/RESIDENCE A “LEGAL CUSTODIAN” is a person or agency awarded legal, court ordered custody of a child. A student may not have two residences for eligibility purposes. “Residence” as used for athletic purposes is defined as the equivalent of the term “domicile” as applied by the courts of North Carolina.

12. ENROLLMENT/RESIDENCE Transfers within the same administrative unit may be governed by the Local Board of Education. A student transferred from one administrative unit to another by mutual agreement is immediately eligible, for athletic participation in the receiving unit, if eligible in all other respects.

13. ACADEMICS Students in grades 7 and 8, must pass at least one less than the number of required core courses each semester and Meet promotion standards established by the LEA.

14. ACADEMICS An athlete becomes “eligible” or “ineligible” on the first day of the new semester. Students entering the 7 th grade for the first time are automatically eligible for their first semester.

15. ACADEMICS Summer school work that is used to make up part of the eligibility requirement, must be applied to the most recent semester.

16. SEMESTER RULE No student may be eligible to participate at the Middle School level for a period lasting longer than four (4) consecutive semesters beginning with the students first entry into seventh grade.

17. ELIGIBILITY LISTS Eligibility lists shall be certified with the signature of the Principal and filed with the local superintendent (or designee) prior to the first game or contest in that sport.

18. DPI/LEA REQUIREMENTS The local Board of Education or the conference of which the school is a member shall have the authority to set aside the effect of any eligibility rule, OTHER THAN AGE, upon the individual student when in its opinion, the rule fails to accomplish the purpose for which the rule is intended or causes undue hardship upon the student.

19. Off Season Skill Development

20. OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT Off-season skill development sessions are allowed during the school year for seventh and eighth graders. Skill development sessions shall not be held during any tryout period of an in-season sport.

21. OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT The primary focus of off-season skill development should be on individual student athletes, not team.

22. OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT All skill development sessions must be voluntary and open to all athletically eligible students. At no time may a coach require of any student off-season skill development sessions as a measure of potential or continued participation on a team.

23. OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT Skill development sessions are restricted in number of participants to one less than a team, on a daily basis. NOTE: The maximum number of participants on a daily basis is: football (21), basketball (4), baseball (8), volleyball (5), tennis (4), soccer (10), golf (3), softball (8), wrestling (8), track (6), and cross country (4), lacrosse men (9), and lacrosse women (11)

24. OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT Any team practice or game environment created in an off-season skill development session is prohibited during the students’ school calendar year. Team practice in any sport is prohibited after the sports season ends until the first day following the final day of the school year.

25. Sports Seasons Fall – Beginning of Fall semester to Nov. 15 Winter – October 15 - March 1 Spring – February 1 Until the end of school OFF SEASON SKILL DEVELOPMENT

26. During the summer, working with individuals, including rising and eligible seventh and eighth graders will be allowed, as long as it is not required.

27. Other Items

28. DPI/LEA REGULATIONS 6 th grade students are not allowed to participate in the athletic program, practice or play. Managers may be 6 th graders and do not have to meet the eligibility requirements (LEA decision). Managers may not practice as a player.

29. DPI/LEA REGULATIONS A student may not dress for a game or scrimmage when he/she in not eligible to participate in the game. Cheerleading is a local decision activity. It is recommended that LEAs and schools follow the National Federation of State High School Associations’ spirit rules and guidelines.

30. DPI/LEA REQUIREMENTS Insurance coverage – Student Athletes should have proper insurance coverage. Catastrophic liability insurance is available through the NCHSSA.

31. DPI/LEA REQUIREMENTS It is recommended that the Head Coach attend the NC Coaches Association/NCHSSA State clinics in the sport he/she coaches.

32. Medical Requirements

33. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS Student must receive a medical examination once every 365 days by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.

34. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS Students absent from athletic practice for five (5) or more days due to illness or injury shall receive a medical release by a physician licensed to practice medicine before re-admittance to practice or play.

35. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS Students with potential head injuries must receive a medical release by a physician licensed to practice medicine before re-admittance to practices or contests.

36. Gfeller Waller http://gfellerwallerlaw.unc.edu/GfellerWallerLaw/gwlaw.html

37. Things to Look for in 2015-16

38. Gfeller Waller Materials to be collected annually Head Injury Information Sheet Includes – All coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, first responders, volunteers, students and parents who participate in interscholastic athletic activities – School employees, first responders, volunteers, students and parents must sign the sheet and return it to the coach before they can participate in interscholastic athletic activities, including tryouts, practices, or competition.

39. Gfeller Waller If a student participating in an interscholastic athletic activity exhibits signs or symptoms consistent with concussion, the student shall be removed from the activity at that time and shall not be allowed to return to play or practice that day. The student shall not return to play or practice on a subsequent day until the student is evaluated by and receives written clearance.

40. Gfeller Waller Emergency Action Plan The plan shall include: – a delineation of roles – methods of communication – available emergency equipment – and access to and plan for emergency transport. – This plan must be (i) in writing, (ii) reviewed by an athletic trainer licensed in North Carolina, (iii) approved by the principal of the school, (iv) distributed to all appropriate personnel, (v) posted conspicuously at all venues, and (vi) reviewed and rehearsed annually by all licensed athletic trainers, first responders, coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, and volunteers for interscholastic athletic activities.

42. Sanctions for Gfeller Waller Non Compliance Failure to be Gfeller-Waller compliant may subject the Middle School to penalties.

43. Middle School Sanctions for Non Compliance Failure to have documentation of a signed Concussion Information Form for any person – If a student athlete, he/she is removed from further participation until education component is completed – If a parent, student athlete is removed from further participation until parent completes education component – If a coach, or other athletic staff member, he/she is suspended from coaching until education component is completed

44. Middle School Sanctions for Non Compliance A player returning to practice and/or play without a signed RTP Form; the player shall be suspended for two additional contests/games Failure to have a certified Emergency Action Plan for all athletic programs; entire athletic coaching staff shall attend a mandatory professional development provided by DPI at the Education building in Raleigh, NC. All expenses incurred to be covered by the local school.

45. First Responder

46. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 (a) Each Local Education Agency (LEA) must designate for each high school within its jurisdiction either a licensed athletic trainer who is qualified pursuant to Article 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes of North Carolina or a first responder. These persons may be employed on a full-time or part-time basis or may serve as a volunteer.

47. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 b) If not a licensed athletic trainer, a first responder must (1) have completed and continue to maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as certified by an organization such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association; (2) have completed and continue to maintain certification in first aid as certified by an organization such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association;

48. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 (3) have completed and continue to maintain training in concussion management as offered by an organization such as the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (4) have completed and continue to maintain continuing education in injury prevention and management as offered by an organization such as the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS); and

49. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 (5) complete 10 hours of staff development each school year specific to first aid, injury recognition and prevention. The 10 hours may include hours necessary for recertification/renewals. c) The licensed athletic trainer or first responder may not have concurrent coaching responsibilities during the time in which the person is working as a licensed athletic trainer or first responder.

50. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 (d) A licensed athletic trainer or first responder must attend all football practices and games, unless excused by the superintendent due to emergency. (e) Each school district will monitor school athletic trainer/first responder compliance with this policy.

51. NC State Board Policy HRS-D-000 (f) LEAs shall work toward having a licensed athletic trainer or first responder available for all school practices and games of all sports at both the high school and middle school.

52. Proposed Legislation

53. House Bill 162 Sudden Cardiac Arrest If enacted will be very similar to Gfeller Waller If enacted: Each LEA shall require coaches of athletic activities to complete and maintain CPR certification offered by a provider approved by the State Board of Education under subsection (a) of this section. A coach shall not be eligible to coach an athletic activity until such time the coach completes the training course. If enacted it will become effective for the 16-17 school year

55. Healthful Living Wiki http://hlnces.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Healthful+Living+Home

56. N.F.H.S http://nfhslearn.com/

57. Contact Burt Jenkins Burt.Jenkins@dpi.nc.gov 919-807-3637