Durango High School

Interscholastic Philosophy

Durango School District 9-R requires that training and school rules be observed by student participants in extracurricular activities. Students who choose to participate in extracurricular programs are required to abide by these rules and refrain from practices that impede their ability to perform at an optimum level. Further, students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner, which positively promotes Durango High School, the school district and the community. It is considered a privilege to represent Durango High School.

Administrators, sponsors, coaches and assistants shall conduct the extracurricular programs in a manner that upholds the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship. They shall be concerned with the health, safety and well being of participants and treat them with respect. They shall enforce the code detailed below fairly and consistently.

Parent’s are encouraged to support the extracurricular endeavourers of their children and should expect their children to uphold the Athletic/Activity Conduct Code. Parents are encouraged to support the administration and coaches/sponsors in enforcing this code.

“Students should strive to achieve their highest personal and athletic potential. This can best be achieved by embracing a lifestyle that embodies respect for others, cooperation, integrity, self-discipline and a positive attitude toward competition. Because selection to a team/activity is both an honor and a privilege and, as such, carries responsibilities, student participants shall adhere to this code”.

Interscholastic Activities Code of Conduct Philosophy

Durango High School officials, coaches of athletic teams and sponsors of student activities believe that students who are selected for the privilege of membership on teams, squads, performing groups, clubs and other school organizations should conduct themselves as responsible representatives of the school. In order to assure this conduct, coaches and sponsors enforce a Code of Conduct. Furthermore, members of teams and organizations and coaches/sponsors who fail to abide by the Code of Conduct are subject to disciplinary action. Members of teams and organizations, coaches/sponsors must always serve as examples of high moral character and must demonstrate appropriate academic commitment, expected from all students, coaches and sponsors. As recognized representatives of their school, members, coaches and sponsors are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior during the season (activity) or out of season, in uniform or out of uniform, on school grounds or off school grounds.

General Rules of Conduct

I: No student may knowingly possess, have under his/her control, prepare, use, purchase, offer to purchase, sell, offer to sell, administer, dispense, give, furnish, or deliver to another, nor may any student be under the influence of:

· Any controlled substance or dangerous drug as defined by state and federal law, without regard to amount, including but not limited to alcohol, marijuana, any narcotic drug, hallucinogen, stimulate, depressant, amphetamine, steroid or barbiturate;

· Any simulated controlled substance or dangerous drug as defined by state and federal law without regard to amount;

· Any abusable glue, aerosol paint, or any other volatile chemical substance used for a purpose not intended by the manufacturer;

· Any other intoxicant or mood changing, mind-altering, or behavior-altering drugs, including pills and other over-the-counter stimulants and sedatives used in a manner not intended by the manufacture;

· Any drug paraphernalia, standard and non-standard, determined by school administration.

II: No student may use/consume/possess tobacco products of any type.

III: No student may engage in conduct that adversely affects the high school or school district, including conduct that damages the reputation or image of an activity group or athletic team.

Consequences for student violations of General Rules of Conduct

First Offense: The student and parent/guardian will be required to meet with the student’s counselor and the activities director. The student will be suspended from participation in an extracurricular activity for 20 percent of the consecutively scheduled games/events (including playoffs) in the season established by CHSAA and the activities director. The 20 percent suspension will take place in an activity in which the student is currently participating, or in the next season of an activity that the student has previously participated in, or an activity that the student has never participated in if the coach/sponsor of that activity has given the student permission to participate. The suspension must be at the level at which the athlete most often participates. If the student goes out for an activity in which he/she has not participated before, they must complete the season to the satisfaction of the head coach/sponsor and the activities/athletic director in order for the suspension to count.

Second Offense: A second offense will render the student ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for the remainder of the season in which the violation occurred, plus the next two-activity seasons.

In addition, any student elected or appointed to a position of leadership (such as team captain, club president) will be removed from the office or position. Upon completion of the suspension, the student may participate in extracurricular activities, but may not serve as an officer or be appointed to an office the remainder of the school year.

Third Offense: The third offense will render the student ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity for the remainder of his/her high school career.

Self-reporting: It is the intent of Durango High School to assist students in taking responsibility for their own actions to encourage honesty. Therefore, any student who voluntarily admits to a violation to the Conduct Rules before he/she is otherwise reported will be shown leniency by a reduction of up to 50 percent of the stated consequence of suspension from the next scheduled event/game.

Leniency for self-reporting will only be shown once during a student’s four-year high school career.

Participation in practices: Student who have been suspended from participation as a consequence of a code rule violation, but intend to continue in the activity will be required to practice unless prohibited by law. Students under school district suspension/expulsion will not be allowed to participate or practice for the duration of the suspension/expulsion.

Participating in out side activities: If a student wishes to participate in sports, clubs or other activities not associated with the school, during a sport season, the student must have permission from the head coach and/or the principal.

Administrative authority: The activities director has discretion to evaluate mitigating circumstances and modify any disciplinary action invoked under this policy subject to the approval of the principal.

TEAM RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES

Rules Or Regulations		Minimum	Maximum
Must be in attendance during the school day in order to play or practice.	1^st time	School Policy: Students who are absent from school for more than 2 periods are not allowed to participate in school activities that day or evening.	Those students that do participate in an event will be ineligible to participate in the next event.
	Repeated	Not participate in next contest	Possible Suspension/removal from team.
Practices are mandatory.	1^st time	Verbal warning	Miss game
	Repeated	Miss game	Dropped from team.
All school issued equipment must be cleaned and returned at the end of the season.	1^st time	Coach/Athlete discussion. Phone call home. Pay fine for late returns/washing fee. Can’t play next sport until this is done.	Parent/coach discussion.
	Repeated	Can’t play next sport until this is done. Off team.	Can’t play next sport until this is done. Off team.
Participants may not depart an event without prior permission of the head coach.	1^st time	Coach/parent/athlete discussion	Extra Conditioning. Off team. Miss practice.
	Repeated	Off team. Suspension. Miss next 2 contests Miss playing time.	Off team. Suspension. Miss contests; can’t travel.
Participants must ride to the event with the team.	1^st time	School policy: Participants must ride school transportation to events unless cleared, in advance by the principal.	School policy: Participants must ride school transportation to events unless cleared, in advance by the principal.
	Repeated	School policy: Participants must ride school transportation to events unless cleared, in advance by the principal.	School policy: Participants must ride school transportation to events unless cleared, in advance by the principal.
Participants may only be released to a parent/guardian if they want to ride home with them.	1^st time	School policy; Students may only be released to their parents/guardian. Suspended from practice, game or travel	School policy; Students may only be released to their parents/guardian.
	Repeated	School policy; Students can only be released to their parents/guardian.	School policy; Students can only be released to their parents/guardian.
The trainer and/or doctor must clear any athlete that has been injured and cannot play.	1^st time	Must be cleared by trainer or Doctor before they participate.
	Repeated
Ejections from a contest.	1^st time	CHSAA rules apply: You miss the next contest at the same level.	CHSAA rules apply: You miss the next contest at the same level.
	Repeated	2^nd ejection in the same season athlete will miss next 2 contests at the same level.	3^rd ejection in the same season will be subject to penalty to be determined by the Commissioner.
Participants will not engage in any altercation of any kind (verbal or physical).	1^st time	CHSAA rules apply: Warning (yellow card)	Ejection.
	Repeated	Ejection from game and miss next contest at the same level.	3^rd ejection in the same season will be subject to penalty to be determined by the Commissioner.
Showing disrespect toward any adult.	1^st time	Verbal warning.	Removal from contest.
	Repeated	Suspended for one game.	Suspended for season.
Use of profanity, demeaning or degrading comments.	1^st time	Coach/Athlete discussion. Immediate consequence. Verbal warning.	Loss of playing time. Extra conditioning.
	Repeated	Coach/athlete/parent discussion. Suspended for one game. .	Suspended for season.
Athletes must complete all paper work and have a red card by their first day of practice.	1^st time	No practice or competition until completed.	No practice or competition until completed.
	Repeated	No practice or competition until completed.	No practice or competition until completed.
Trash talking to an opposing contestant, team or coach.	1^st time	Coach (sponsor)/Athlete discussion. Pulled out of game/contest.	Miss contest.
	Repeated	Suspended for one contest.	Suspended for season.
Criticizing teammates or coaches.	1^st time	Verbal reprimand.	Limited playing time.
	Repeated	Coach/athlete/parent/administration discussion. Possible suspension from game/contest	Suspended for season.
Missing curfew on road trips.	1^st time	Verbally reprimanded. Warning. Don’t start, reduced playing time. Extra Conditioning	Miss contest
	Repeated	Miss 1 contest. .	Can’t travel with team rest of season.
Arguing with an official.	1^st time	CHSAA Rule: Yellow card -warning & pulled out of contest.	CHSAA: Red card-miss rest of contest and next contest at same level.
	Repeated	2^nd ejection in the same season athlete will miss next 2 contests at the same level.	3^rd ejection in the same season will be subject to penalty to be determined by the Commissioner.
Not following safety Rule & precautions.	1^st time	Verbal reprimand.	Limited playing time.
	Repeated	Miss playing time.	Off team.
School disciplinary code	1^st time	School rules apply.	School rules apply.
	Repeated	School rules apply.	School rules apply.
Read and sign Rules of Conduct and Team Rules and Regulations.	1^st time	Must be signed before practice or competition.	Must be signed before practice or competition.
	Repeated	Must be signed before practice or competition.	Must be signed before practice or competition.

Pursuing Victory With Honor

Code of Conduct for Teacher-Coaches/Sponsors

Athletic competition of interscholastic age children should be fun and should also be a significant part of a sound educational program. Those who coach student-athletes are, first and foremost, teachers who have a duty to assure that their sports programs impart important life skills and promote the development of good character. Essential elements of character building are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and are the core ethical values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when teacher-coaches consciously teach, enforce, advocate and model these values and are committed to the ideal of pursuing victory with honor. Sincere and good faith efforts to honor the words and spirit of this code will improve the quality of our programs and the well being of our student-athletes.

TRUSTWORTHINESS

· Trustworthiness – Be worthy of trust in all you do and teach student-athletes the importance of integrity, honesty, reliability and loyalty.

· Integrity – Model high ideals of ethics and sportsmanship and always pursue victory with honor. Teach, enforce, advocate and model the importance of honor and good character by doing the right thing even when it’s unpopular or personally costly.

· Honesty – Don’t lie, cheat, steal or engage in or permit dishonest or unsportsmanlike conduct.

· Reliability – Fulfill commitments; do what you say you will do; be on time. Except in cases of extreme personal necessity.

· Loyalty – Be loyal to your school and team. Put the team above personal glory.

· Primacy of Educational Goals – Be faithful to the educational and character-development missions of the institution and assure that these objectives are not compromised to achieve sports performance goals. Always place the academic, emotional, physical and moral well-being or student-athletes above desires and pressures to win. Coaches’ should be viewed, first and foremost, as teachers and referred to as “teacher-coaches”.

· Counseling – Be candid with student-athletes and their parents about the likelihood of getting an athletic scholarship or playing on a professional level. Advise them that many colleges will not recruit student-athletes who do not have a serious commitment to their education, the ability to succeed academically or the character to represent their institution honorably. Create a more realistic understanding in student-athletes and their parents of how few athletes get athletic scholarships and become professionals and the relatively short careers of those who do.

· College Recruiting – Be honest and candid with college recruiters about the character and academic abilities and interest of student-athletes. Involve the parents/guardians with the college representative and take the lead in the recruiting process.

RESPECT

· Respect – Treat all people with respect all the time and require the same of student-athletes.

· Class – Be a good sport. Teach and model class. Be gracious in victory and accept defeat with dignity. Encourage student-athletes to help up fallen opponents, compliment extraordinary performances, and show sincere respect in pre- and post-game rituals.

· Taunting – Don’t engage in or allow trash talking, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport. Assure that student-athletes conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

· Respect for Officials – Treat game officials with respect; don’t complain about or argue with an official’s decisions during or after an athletic event. Adopt and enforce policies and procedures to assure that the conduct and decisions of referees are subject to reasonable review. Vigorously protect referees from retaliation, blackballing or intimidation by teacher-coaches or others who are unhappy with the way a referee called a game. Assure that neither you nor your players publicly criticize an official in a manner that discredits the game, impugns the honor of the integrity of any official or subjects the referees to ridicule or hostility. Adopt whatever policies are necessary to assure the safety of referees and prevent verbal or physical abuse from teacher-coaches, student-athletes or spectators. Encourage regular and formal opportunities for coaches, and in some cases student-athletes, to interact and converse with referees in non-confrontational settings.

· Respect for Parents/Guardians – Treat the parents/guardians of the student-athletes with respect. Be clear about your expectations, goals and policies and maintain open lines of communication.

· Profanity – Don’t engage in or permit profanity or obscene gestures during practices, sporting events, on team buses or in any other situation where the behavior could reflect badly on the school or the sports program.

· Positive Coaching – Use positive coaching methods to make the experience enjoyable, increase self-esteem and foster a love and appreciation for the sport. Refrain from physical or psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, and conduct demeaning to student-athletes or others. Goals related to the program should be clearly stated in a manner that is consistent with the educational mission of the institution and the sports program should pursue these objectives in the context of the overall athletic program mission. Consider very carefully the potential impact of any incentives and disincentives proposed or agreed to in the context of the institution’s sportsmanship and character-building goals.

· Effort and Teamwork – Encourage student-athletes to pursue victory with passion, to think and play as a team, to do their best and continually improve through personal effort and discipline. Discourage selfishness and put less emphasis on the final outcome of the contest.

· Professional Relationships – Maintain appropriate, professional relationships with student-athletes and respect proper teacher-student boundaries. Sexual or romantic contact with students is strictly forbidden, as is verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed to or in view of student- athletes. Always put the best interests of the student-athlete above personal considerations and scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest including financial relationships that could be construed as expletive. Guard against persona, financial, social, organizational, or political factors that might lead to misuse of influence and scrupulously avoid accepting any benefits conferred by persons who seek to influence a decision of a student-athlete. Fully disclose all relevant facts including the nature and amount of compensation to the student-athlete and his or her parents or guardians.

RESPONSIBILITY

· Life Skills – Always strive to enhance the physical, mental, social and moral development of student-athletes and teach them positive life skills that will help them become well rounded, successful and socially responsible. Discuss ethical and sportsmanship issues in relation to actual and hypothetical situation occurring or likely to occur in practice or games.

· Advocacy of Education – Advocate the importance of education beyond athletic eligibility standards and work with faculty and parents/guardians to help students-athletes set and achieve academic goals. The academic performance of student-athletes in terms of grades and actual graduation should be a major factor. Assure that interscholastic programs do not unduly interfere with the ability and motivation of student-athletes to achieve their academic potential. Encourage student-athletes to think of themselves as students first and athletes second. Provide comprehensive support programs that can help student-athletes deal with academic issues. Be attentive to the grades and effort of student-athletes as well as upcoming exams and papers.

· Advocacy of Honor – Prominently discuss the importance of character, ethics and sportsmanship in materials about the athletic program and vigorously advocate the concept of pursuing victory with honor in all communications. Stress that good character, ethics and sportsmanship are essential to honorable athletic competition and that victory attained in any other way is empty and unworthy.

· Good Character – Foster the development of good character by teaching, enforcing, avocation and modeling high standards of ethics and sportsmanship. Look for opportunities to state and reinforce positive messages consistent with the Pursuing Victory With Honor companion.

· Role Modeling – Be a worthy role model. Always be mindful of the high visibility and great influence you have as a teacher-coach and consistently conduct yourself in private and coaching situations in a manner that exemplifies all you want your student-athletes to be. Teacher-coaches should emphasize in oral and written communication the on- and off-court/field responsibility of teacher-coaches and student-athletes to be worthy role models and positive ambassadors for the institution.

· Personal Conduct – Refrain from profanity, disrespectful conduct and the use of alcohol or tobacco in front of student-athletes or in other situations where your conduct could undermine your positive impact as a role model. A comprehensive communication and enforcement strategy should be implemented to assure that all parties involved fully understand the standards that apply to them and that they will be held accountable to those standards. Regularly incorporate positive messages about sportsmanship, character and ethics into practices and game situations.

· Competence – Strive to improve coaching competence and acquire increasing proficiency in coaching principles and current strategies, character-building techniques, first aid and safety. Have basic knowledge of: 1) the character-building aspects of sports and methods of teaching and reinforcing sportsmanship and good character, 2) the requirements of a safe sports environment including CPR, Certification and knowledge of first aid and the physical limitations of the age group coached, and 3) the rules, strategies and principles of effective coaching.

· Knowledge of Rules – Maintain a thorough knowledge of current game and competition rules and assure that your student-athletes know and understand these rules. Examine existing rules and regulations as set forth by the Colorado High School Activities Association.

· Positive Environment – Strive to provide a challenging, safe, enjoyable and successful experience for the athletes by maintaining a sports environment that is physically and emotionally safe.

· Safety and Health – Establish standards and regulations that put the health of young athletes above other considerations. Be informed about basic first aid principles and the physical capacities and limitations of the age group.

· Unhealthy Substances – Educate student-athletes about the dangers and prohibit the use of unhealthy and illegal substances including alcohol, tobacco and recreational or performance-enhancing drugs and nutritional supplements. Be informed about the health risks involved in the use of over-the-counter nutritional supplements, tobacco and alcohol.

· Eating Disorders – Counsel students about the dangers of and be vigilant for signs of eating disorders or unhealthy techniques to gain, lose or maintain weight.

· Physician’s Advice – Seek and follow the advice of a physician when determining whether an injured student-athlete is ready to play.

· Privilege to Compete – Assure that student-athletes understand that participation in interscholastic sports programs is a privilege, not a right, and that they are expected to represent their school, team and teammates with honor, on and off the field. Require your student-athletes to consistently exhibit good character and conduct themselves as positive role models. Stress that the organization’s commitment to education; sportsmanship and ethics and its character-building and life skills goal take precedence.

· Self-Control – Control your ego and emotions; avoid displays of anger and frustration; don’t retaliate.

· Integrity of the Game – protect the integrity of the game.

· Gambling – Don’t gamble or associate with professional gamblers. Be informed about the rules prohibiting gambling activities.

· Enforcing Rules – Enforce the code of conduct consistently in all sports-related activities and venues even when the consequences are high. Teacher-coaches who observe what reasonably appears to be misconduct are obligated to report their observations.

· Protecting Athletes – Put the well-being of student-athletes above other considerations and take proper steps to protect them from inappropriate conduct. High school programs should discourage student-athletes and teacher-coaches from participating in non-conforming programs.

· Access – Help make a broad spectrum of sports experiences available to all diverse communities.

· Improper Commercialism – Be sensitive to and avoid unwholesome commercialism including inappropriate exploitation of your name or the name of the school and undue financial dependence on corporate entities. Carefully consider the impact on students and the general public of permitting commercial advertising in arenas and stadiums. Understand that there is no free equipment and that the cash value of the equipment is simply a payment in kind for the benefits sought by the commercial elicit.

· Attendance – Coaches that teach in the 9-R School District must be in attendance during the school day in order to coach at practice or game the same day unless excused by the Principal or Athletic Director.

FAIRNESS

· Fairness and Openness – Be fair in competitive situations, team selections, discipline and all other matters. Be open-minded and willing to listen and learn.

CARING

· Safe Competitions – Put safety and healthy considerations above the desire to win. Never permit student-athletes to intentionally injure any player or engage in reckless behavior that might cause injury to themselves or others.

· Caring Environment – Consistently demonstrate concerns for student-athletes as individuals and encourage them to look out for one another and think and act as a team.

CITIZENSHIP

· Honoring the Spirit of Rules – Observe and require student-athletes to observe the spirit and the letter of all rules including the rules of the game and those relating to eligibility, recruitment, transfers, practices and other aspects of interscholastic competition. Demand integrity and observe and enforce the spirit and letter of the rules. You should not engage in or allow any conduct designed to evade rules governing fair competition.

· Promoting Sportsmanship – Promoting sportsmanship over gamesmanship; don’t cheat. Resist temptations to gain competitive advantage through strategies (such as devious rules violations, alteration of equipment or the field of play, or tactics designed primarily to induce injury or fear of injury) that violate the rules, disrespect the highest traditions of the sport or change the nature of the core athletic skills that define the sport. Establish and regularly practice pre- and post-game rituals and traditions that reinforce the principles of sportsmanship. Specially acknowledge acts of good sportsmanship on the field/court.

I have read and understand the requirements of the Pursuing Victory With Honor Code of Conduct for Teacher-Coaches/Sponsors and acknowledge that I may be disciplined if I violate any of its provisions.

Teacher-Coach Signature_______________________________________Date_________

Administrator/AD_____________________________________________Date_________

Pursuing Victory With Honor

Code of Conduct for Student-Athletes

Athletic competition of interscholastic age student-athletes should be fun and should also be a significant part of a sound educational program, embodying high standards of ethics and sportsmanship while developing good character and other important life skills. Essential elements of character building are intrinsic in the concept of sportsmanship and six core ethical values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship (the "Six Pillars of Character"). The highest potential of sports is achieved when learning from the T.E.A.M. concept (Teaching, Enforcing, Advocati