PLAYING TIME AT THE VARSITY LEVEL
Participation at the varsity level is a significant achievement. Being chosen as a member of a varsity team demonstrates that you possess the skills and dedication required to compete at the highest level in high school co-curriculars. At this level, there is a greater emphasis on winning, so those with the most skills and leadership abilities will likely see the most playing time. However, even those who may not see as much playing time have an essential role in team development. It should be noted that for every hour of competition, a significant amount of time is dedicated to practicing and preparing for competition. Coaches use their best judgment based on observations during both practices and games to make decisions regarding playing time. Since coaches spend the most time with our student-athletes, they are in the best position to make informed decisions regarding game situations.
When beneficial for the team, participants should have a reasonable expectation to compete. Coaches have the ultimate authority to decide the level of participation that benefits the team. There is no obligation to provide a set amount of playing time at the varsity level. Coaches are obligated to instruct all participants so they can reach their maximum potential in both practice and competition. Varsity coaches also have the responsibility to clearly communicate to all participants the role they are expected to play concerning practice, preparation, and competition to maximize team potential.
PLAYING TIME AT THE JUNIOR VARSITY LEVEL
At the junior varsity level, the emphasis shifts from individual skill development and equitable playing time to a more advanced and competitive team concept. All participants should have opportunities to participate at varying levels of competition over the season, but not necessarily game to game.
PLAYING TIME AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL
At the middle school level, our goal is to include as many participants as possible. The aim of middle school teams is to prepare participants for a higher level of competition by emphasizing individual skill development, sportsmanship, and a fundamental understanding of team play, strategies, and rules. Though coaches are not expected to guarantee a set amount of playing time in each competition, a fairly equitable amount of playing time under varying competitive situations should be expected. Factors such as attendance, proper behavior, a willingness to learn, and individual skill development all influence the amount of playing time a participant receives.
USE OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS ON HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS
The VPA Policy concerning below grade nine participation on high school teams is based on the following sports: baseball, basketball, field hockey, soccer, and softball, within four divisions. The sole exception to this is girls' ice hockey.
Grade eight participation is possible in Divisions 1, 2, and 3 by waiver request. Grade eight participation may be granted only at the lowest level of team offering at the school. (Example: If we have a JV team for basketball, the 8th grader would have to play on the JV team)
a) A waiver has been granted by the VPA
b) No other student-athlete in grades 9 through 12 has been cut from the program.
- Grade eight student-athletes who will participate in a high school sports program fall under the same academic and behavioral expectations of high school students.
- Grade eight student-athletes who participate on a high school sports team will be granted five years (10 semesters) of eligibility.
- Schools must apply for a waiver from the VPA to use a grade eight student-athlete in any sport with less than four divisions.
- Determination has been made by their principal (or designee) to ensure that the grade eight student-athlete is physically, mentally, and socially prepared to participate at the high school level.
HOME STUDY ATHLETES
Home study students who wish to participate in Bellows Falls co-curricular program must be an “eligible student”, according to VPA Bylaws:
a) The participating student must be enrolled in a home study program in compliance with Title 16, Section 166(b).
b) The participating student must be a legal resident of the WNESU district
c) Participation in a school’s co-curricular activities program shall not commence until a copy of the Vermont State Department of Education Enrollment Letter and a letter notifying the Principal that he or she wishes to participate in a school’s co-curricular activities program.
d) The participating student’s academic program, as referenced in the Vermont State Department of Education Letter of Enrollment, will be reviewed by the student’s parent or guardian on a trimester basis as determined by the BF Calendar. This review and determination must be verified in writing from the parent/guardian to the Principal.
e) The student may participate in co-curricular sponsored activities at Bellows Falls, provided the student complies with the same physical examination, insurance, and any other requirements for participation as required of all students.
f) The home study student must adhere to the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as other students.
CAPTAINS
Whether elected or appointed, captains play an essential role in the leadership of the team. Each team will have the ability to set forth their own policies on selecting captains. Bellows Falls expects that captains will be outstanding role models for other team members in their actions on and off the playing field. They will serve as the liaison between the coaching staff and athletes; they will serve a primary role in the motivation of individuals, team spirit and good sportsmanship. A good captain will provide the leadership that is so important for a team to develop the cohesion essential for success.
HEALTH & INJURIES
1. Student-athletes must have on file, with the Athletic Department, a physical/well-child examination form, which needs to be updated every year.
2. The Vermont Principals’ Association requires that each student demonstrate that he or she has private or public health insurance for medical care of injuries that may result from participation in the Bellows Falls Interscholastic Athletic programs. The name of the carrier and the number of the policy should be indicated during the online registration process.
3. All injuries that occur while participating in athletics must be reported to your coach or the athletic trainer.
4. If an athlete is treated by a physician for an athletic injury, he/she must obtain a doctor’s signed permission in order to return to the activity.
CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PLAN
Bellows Falls Union High School has developed this protocol to address the issue of the identification and management of concussions for students who participate in school sports (including physical education class). Act 68 was passed into law in 2013 and requires that schools have an action plan.
A safe return to activity protocol (learning and athletics) is important for all students/athletes following any injury, but it is essential after a concussion. The goal of this concussion protocol is to ensure that concussed students/athletes are identified, treated and referred appropriately for return to learn and return to play. Consistent use of a concussion management protocol will ensure that the student/athlete receives appropriate follow-up and/or academic accommodations in order to make certain that the student/athlete is fully recovered prior to returning to full athletic play activity (including physical education class). 14
This protocol will be reviewed annually by Whitney Patterson, APRN and Connor Bean, Athletic Director. Changes and modifications will be reviewed and written notifications will be provided to athletic department staff, coaches and other appropriate school personnel.
All coaches are required to certify concussion management training every two years. Caregivers and athletes must be educated about concussions annually. The written documentation of coaches' annual training shall be kept in the athletic director’s office and the student/caregivers in the student file and be tracked by the Athletics Director.
Recognition of Concussion
These signs and symptoms – following a witnessed or suspected blow to the head or body – are indicative of a probable concussion.
Signs (observed by others)
Forgets plays
Appears dazed or stunned
Exhibits confusion
Unsure about game, score, opponent
Moves clumsily (altered coordination)
Balance Problems
Personality change
Responds slowly to questions
Forgets events prior to hit
Forgets events after the hit
Loss of consciousness (not required)
Symptoms (reported by athlete)
Headache
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Double vision, blurry vision
Sensitive to light or noise
Feels sluggish
Feels "foggy"
Problems concentrating
Problems remembering
Any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion must be removed from competition or practice and will not be allowed to train or compete with a school athletic team until the athlete has been examined by and received written permission to participate in athletic activities from a health care provider (per Act 68, approved by the VT Legislature in 2013). Parents / Guardians will be notified of a suspected concussion and a student may not be permitted to drive home.
The coach of each individual sport, Athletic Trainer, school nurse, has been designated as the individual who can make the initial decision to remove a student athlete from play when it is suspected the athlete may have suffered a concussion. In this instance, at BFUHS, “student athlete” also refers to any student participating in a physical education class.
Act 68 requires that schools must outline the steps required before a student athlete can return to athletic or learning activity. For more information on Return to Learn and Return to Play requirements please review the following VPA documents:
● Return to Play - (link)
● Return to Learn - (link)
Kelly O’Ryan, Principal, and Whitney Patterson, APRN/School Nurse, are the persons designated by the school to approve the Graduated Return to non-contact physical activities.
Kelly O’Ryan, Principal, Connor Bean, Athletic Director, and Whitney Patterson, APRN, are the individuals who make the final decision regarding the student’s return to athletic activity.
EQUIPMENT
All issued equipment and uniforms belong to Bellows Falls and are only loaned for the duration of the season. Student-athletes are responsible for the uniforms and equipment issued to them, including keeping them clean and in good repair. Students may not alter their uniforms in any way and will be charged accordingly for any uniform damage.
*Student-athletes are responsible for returning uniforms and equipment at the end of their season. Future participation on another athletic team will be denied until all equipment obligations are met*
UNIFORMS AND UNIFORM ROTATION
It will be the responsibility of Bellows Falls to purchase school uniforms for each athletic team. All uniforms will follow sport-specific guidelines to ensure they are legal during athletic games, events, and competitions. The school will purchase the required articles required for each athlete to compete. Any additional uniform garments such as warm up shirts, practice apparel, travel bags, and any other team gear will be the responsibility of the individual team or group to purchase via the team’s activity account or budget. The Athletic Director will keep on file and update each year, a uniform rotation outlining future uniform needs for each program. It can be expected that each athletic team at Bellows Falls will receive a new set of uniforms every four to six years.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR CO-CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION
The following attendance rules shall be in force:
a) If a participant is absent unexcused, or absent due to illness on the day of a co-curricular activity, they will not be permitted to participate in that activity.
b) A student will not be allowed to participate in any co-curricular activity on the day of a third unexcused tardy arrival to school in that sport season. They will also not be allowed to participate on the days of any subsequent tardies during that sport season. (The definition of tardiness is absence from the first block after the morning late bell has sounded.)
c) A student who is tardy or absent must communicate the reason for their tardiness or absence and receive approval from the administration to participate in any co-curricular activity on that day.
d) A student who is absent on a Friday, preceding a Saturday event, may not participate on Saturday unless given permission by administration.
e) A student who is dismissed from school due to illness (which necessitates missing a class) may not participate in any co-curricular activity that day.
BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL ALCOHOL, DRUGS, TOBACCO POLICY FOR ATHLETES
It is the policy of the Bellows Falls High School that possession and/or use of tobacco, Vape/Vape products, alcohol, and/or non-prescription drugs by any student is not permitted. In addition to any school consequences required by other school board policies, infractions of these rules by a participant in co-curricular activities will result in a hearing before a school administrator who will render a decision on the infraction relative to the student’s continued participation in co-curricular activities. Due process will be followed as described in this policy with regard to a student’s rights.
Logical Consequences
Alcohol, Tobacco, Vaping, Drugs (use & possession)
First offense - school consequences as well as:
● Suspension from 25% of the scheduled contests (if less than 25% of the scheduled contests remain, this suspension would also include any playoff contests to encompass the 25% of the schedule.)
● Social probation -suspension from participation in or attendance at school activity or athletic event(s) as determined by Athletic Director and Administration.
● Recommended referral for a drug/alcohol assessment - follow all recommendations.
● Referral to and successful completion of the N-O-T: Not On Tobacco program with Restorative Practices Coordinator (as appropriate)
○ Failure to complete the N-O-T program will be cause to extend suspension.
*Students must continue to attend practice.*
Athletes who voluntarily self-report an instance of substance abuse on the first offense (prior to being questioned about an incident) will have half of the participation penalty removed.
Second offense - school consequence as well as:
● Suspension for the duration of the season or 45 days, whichever comes first.
● Recommended referral for a drug/alcohol assessment - follow all recommendations.
● Referral to and successful completion of the N-O-T: Not On Tobacco program with Restorative Practices Coordinator (as appropriate)
○ Failure to complete the N-O-T program will be cause to extend suspension.
Third offense - school consequences as well as:
● Suspension for 365 days from the date of the suspension.
● Recommended referral for a drug/alcohol assessment - follow all recommendations.
● Referral to and successful completion of the N-O-T: Not On Tobacco program with Restorative Practices Coordinator (as appropriate)
○ Failure to complete the N-O-T program will be cause to extend suspension.
*Students must continue to attend practice.*
There will be no penalty for athletes who voluntarily seek assistance from any school personnel for a substance-related problem in the absence of a specific incident that has been properly reported by others.
If a participant in co-curricular activities is involved in an incident that requires police involvement and that student fully co-operates with the law enforcement authorities, such cooperation may be used as a reason for reducing by half a student’s participation penalty.
THIS POLICY AGAINST USE/ABUSE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, VAPE AND DRUGS IS IN EFFECT REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OF THE OFFENSE, WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ATHLETE IS “IN SEASON.”
VIOLATIONS ARE CUMULATIVE GRADES 9-12. ANY COMBINATION OF THREE INCIDENTS (i.e. 1 smoking, 1 alcohol, 1 drug) CONSTITUTES THREE VIOLATIONS.
● Any reports of suspected violations of this portion of the policy reported to school officials must be made in writing to the administration.
● There will be no penalty for athletes who voluntarily seek assistance from any school personnel for a substance-related problem in the absence of a specific incident that has been properly reported by others.
● If a participant in co-curricular activities is involved in an incident that requires police involvement and that student fully co-operates with the law enforcement authorities, such cooperation may be used as a reason for reducing by half a student’s participation penalty.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR AND EJECTIONS
Student-athletes and or fans that engage in acts of poor sportsmanship that require the coach or official to suspend that person from further practice or play may be held accountable for those acts as outlined below:
First offense: The student/fan shall be declared ineligible for up to two of the following contests or post-season contests (except for football, for which the suspension shall be one contest) in the sport in which the student was in violation. The athlete may still participate in practices during this time.
Second offense: The student/fan shall be declared ineligible for interscholastic competition for the remainder of that sports season. The student/coach is required to meet with the administration before returning to practice. The suspended student may not be in uniform.
NCAA AND COLLEGIATE ELIGIBILITY
Division I and II schools require you to meet academic and amateurism standards and be certified by the Eligibility Center. While Division III schools set their own academic standards on campus, the Eligibility Center certifies the amateur status of Division III international student-athletes (first-year enrollees and transfers). All other Division III student-athletes are certified on campus. Throughout the process, Eligibility Center staff partners with you, your family, high school administrators and coaches, to guide you on your journey. More information can be found at www.eligibilitycenter.org. Students are encouraged to let their school counselor know of their interest in playing a sport in college, so they can connect you to the appropriate resources.