Eligibility

SECTION VIII • ATHLETICS

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Participation in NCCVTSD interscholastic athletic programs is a privilege. Our expectation of all our athletes is that they maintain our defined academic and attendance standards and that they exhibit sportsmanship worthy of our district and schools.

1. The student is NOT eligible if they become 19 years of age before June 15 immediately preceding the school year.

2. A student shall not be eligible to try out, practice, scrimmage, or compete in an interscholastic contest unless a licensed physician (MD or DO), a licensed nurse practitioner, or a licensed physician’s assistant verifies in writing on a DIAA physical form on or after April 1 and before beginning such athletic activity for the current school year that the student has been adequately examined within the last 12 months and is cleared medically to participate.

3. In order to be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletic contests and scrimmages, a student must pursue a regular course of study or its equivalent as approved by the local governing body, and must be passing at least five (5) credits. Two (2) of the credits must be in the areas of English, Mathematics, Science, World Language, or Social Studies. However, in the case of a student in the twelfth grade, the student must be passing all courses necessary for graduation from high school in order to be eligible for participation. A course necessary for graduation shall be any course, whether taken during or outside the regular school day, that satisfies an unmet graduation requirement. • Freshmen students must have a 1.5 grade point average or higher for the first marking period. • Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must have a 1.75 grade point average or higher for the first marking period. • The student must have a passing grade on their career program or career exploratory course for the first marking period. • If both a marking period grade and a final grade are issued for a course, the final grade is used to determine eligibility.

4. In order for 9th graders to be eligible during the third and fourth marking periods: • The student must have earned a 1.75 grade point average or higher for the previous marking period.

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5. Eligibility status is subject to change as of the date that the most recent report card is issued.

6. The student athlete who wishes to appeal eligibility status may do so through the building athletic director or the principal through the grievance procedures outlined in Section III.

7. An athlete may join a team after regaining academic eligibility based upon the discretion of the varsity head coach, athletic director and with the approval of the principal or their designee. Academically ineligible athletes may be permitted to practice with a team at the discretion of the varsity head coach, athletic director and with the approval of the principal or their designee.

8. The student who is absent for at least half of the periods for a given day is NOT eligible to participate in a game or practice that day unless the tardiness or absence is due to participation in a school-approved activity. The student is NOT eligible to practice or participate in any athletic contest on those days when they are absent from school. Students serving an inside (or outside) suspension do not become eligible until the day they resume classes.

9. Students are NOT eligible to participate in another sport until all obligations are met from the previous sport in which they have participated. This includes the return of all equipment and/or payment for items not returned.

10. The student athlete must use the transportation provided by the school district, both to and from all competitions, unless previous arrangements have been made through the coach and the athletic director.

11. The student who quits one athletic team after the first week of practice is NOT eligible to try out for another team during that season unless they have approval from the first coach and from the athletic director. This rule does not apply to students who are not selected for a team.

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