Code of Conduct

• Baseball
• Basketball (MS)
• Cross Country (MS) (HIS)
• Football
• Golf
• Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track & Field (MS) (HIS)
• Volleyball
• Wrestling (MS) (HIS)

• Basketball (MS)
• Cross Country (MS) (HIS)
• Golf
• Gymnastics (Co-Op with Waunakee)
• Hockey (Co-Op with Sun Prairie)
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track & Field (MS) (HIS)
• Volleyball (MS)
• Wrestling (MS) (HIS)

• Cheerleading
• Dance

1. Exam-Permit  An athlete may not participate in interscholastic athletics (practice or competition) until the school has a WIAA Examination Permit Card on file in the Athletic Office attesting to parental permission and to physical fitness as determined by a licensed physician.

1. The athlete should get a WIAA Physical Examination Permit card in the school office or at the local medical clinics. Physicals completed after April 1st may be good for two additional school years.
2. Complete the physical exam and return the card to the office with all information properly filled in and signed by your parents or legal guardian. 
3. Any athlete who practices without a physical on file in the athletic office may be suspended for up to one game for each day of practice in which they participate.

2. Age

• An athlete (high school) shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition if he or she reaches his or her 19th birthday before August 1 of any school year.
• An athlete (middle school) shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition while competing as a member of a Grade 7 or 8 team if he or she reaches his or her 16th birthday before August 1 of any given school year.

3. Amateur Status  As part of the amateur status rules, students generally cannot receive payment merely for their achievement in athletics. To this end, a student violates the rules if a student "accepts, receives, and/or directs to another, reimbursement or award in any form of salary, cash (including gift cards), or share of game or season proceeds, for achievement in athletics." Certain exceptions apply to this rule. Specifically, a student may receive (1) actual and necessary reimbursement for transportation, food, lodging and entry fees paid in connection with playing a contest; (2) certain awards for participation; and (3) certain items of apparel.  Students must also be cautious about receiving payments in other instances. Specifically, the rules state that a student "forfeits amateur status in a sport by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money, compensation,endorsements or gifts of monetary value in affiliation or connection with activities involving the student's school team, school, Conference or WIAA (scholarships to institutions of higher learning are specifically exempted)."  A student, however, can now earn compensation in limited instances. The new NIL rule states that the rules are "not intended to restrict the right of any student to participate in a Name, Image and Likeness ("NIL") commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Conference or WIAA affiliation." Therefore, although a student can earn money from NIL, a student must make sure that the NIL endorsement does not have any affiliation with the school team, school, athletic conference, or the WIAA.

4. HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS The following Academic Eligibility Requirements apply to Interscholastic Athletic Programs.  Students can appeal eligibility to the Athletic Director and School Admin in special circumstances.

The requirements are: 

1. All student/athletes will be expected to achieve a grade point of 2.0 or higher in the   minimum number of classes as defined by WIAA and district policy 2431 to participate in athletics.
2. No student athlete may have an "F" in any subject during a grade-reporting period or during an Athletic Department Grade check between semester grading periods.  
3. In a class that uses "U" (Unsatisfactory) as a grade, that grade will be regarded as an "F", "I" (Incompletes) will also be regarded as a failing grade until completed. 
4. Winter and Spring Sports Eligibility will be determined by a grade pull on pre-determined dates. Late November for Winter and late March for Spring. If athletes have a current GPA below a 2.0 they will be suspended for 10% of total regular season competitions. If athletes have one failing grade they will be suspended for 20% of total regular season competitions. If an athlete has 2 or more failing grades they will be suspended for 30% of total regular season competitions.
5. A student/athlete who is in a prescribed special education class or 504 program shall have "F", "I", or "U" reviewed by a consultation team composed of some of the following: i.e., the case manager, special teacher, regular teacher, guidance counselor, coordinator, and an administrator, depending on the program in which the student/athlete is enrolled to determine eligibility.
6. Initial Fall Sports eligibility will be determined by 2nd Semester Grades and GPA from the previous school year.  If students have a GPA below a 2.0 they will be suspended 10% of total regular season competitions beginning the first Monday after the start of official practice.  If they have one failing grade they will be suspended 20% of total regular season competitions beginning the Monday following the start of official practice.  If they have more than one failing grade the WIAA Rule detailed in letter j will apply.
7. The semester class grades from the previous school year earned at the Middle School will carry over to the High School in determining eligibility for Fall Sports.
8. All Programs will have a second grade check subject to the same consequences as the initial season check, the second check of winter programs will be based on 2nd Semester grades.  Fall and Spring sports will have grades checked on pre-determined dates that will be shared with coaches and staff to prepare for early October for Fall and early May for Spring.
9. Any athletes that join a team after the first week of practice will be subject to an academic eligibility check at that time with possible eligibility restrictions.
10. WIAA Rules for athletes with more than 1 failing grade:  FALL SPORTS:  When the earliest allowed WIAA game/meet takes place before the first day of classes at a member school.  “The maximum ineligibility period shall be the lesser of”  a:  21 consecutive calendar days beginning with the date of the earliest allowed competition in a sport; or b:  one third of the maximum number of games/meets allowed in a sport (rounded up if one-third results in a fraction).”

In those instances where a member school has begun fall classes on or before the date of earliest allowed WIAA game/meet in a sport, ineligible students in these situations are subject to the standard rule applied when school is in session (15 scheduled school days and nights). In this situation, eligibility is regained on the school day following the period of ineligibility (16th school day). Note 1: An inter-school scrimmage does NOT count as a game or meet for purposes of this rule. Note 2: If a multi-school meet is counted on your schedule as one meet, it also counts as one meet as it applies to the number of meets an ineligible student must sit out. Note 3: Games/meets at different levels of competition (varsity, JV, freshmen) may NOT be combined to reach the number of meets an athlete must sit out.

5. Non-School Participation (High School Only)  An athlete owes loyalty and allegiance to the school and to the team of which he or she is a member.

1. Athletes may compete in not more than 2 non-school competitions in the same sport with school approval during each regular sport season.  The contest will not count against the individual maximum for the athlete in that sport.  School approval must be met in advance by completion of the non-school competition form and approval from both the head coach and athletic director.
2. Any person, except the athlete or parent/guardian, cannot pay the cost or fee of any kind of non-school activity involving specialized training or instruction.

6. Responsibility  No team or student shall represent his or her school at any competition, practice or event unless accompanied by a coach or another appointed member of the school faculty.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY POLICIES FOR DASD ATHLETES

1. No athlete may participate in any sport activity until the Physical Exam form and Code of Conduct form are properly completed and all fees are paid. Fees at the High School are $100.00 for the first sport, $50.00 for the second sport and third sport is free, and at the Middle School, $40.00 for the first sport and $20.00 for each additional sport.  There are also additional fees to help with helmet reconditioning for Football ($20) and Boys Lacrosse ($10).
2. Reimbursement/Credit for a fee paid will only be given if the athlete does not go out for the sport or is cut at the beginning of the season. Reimbursement/Credit will only be given if requested before June 1st of the particular school year.

PRACTICE SESSIONS

All athletes are expected to attend all practices unless excused by the coach.

Athletes may not practice in any practice session unless they have attended classes during the afternoon of that day or that have not made pre-arranged plans for an excused absence. Practice, when an athlete is under suspension, will be determined by the coach. The administration will decide in special cases.

TRAVEL

Part of being a team member is sharing team experiences. One of these is traveling with the team. It is expected that all student-athletes will travel to and from contests with the team. Traveling to and from athletic contests will be on school provided transportation.

A student-athlete may ride home from the event with his/her parent/guardian if the parent/guardian signs the student out in the presence of a coach/advisor at the event. No students will be allowed to travel with anyone but their own parents/guardians.

CARE OF EQUIPMENT

Each athlete is responsible for the proper care of all issued equipment. The student, parents or guardian will be held financially responsible for any lost, misplaced or damaged equipment.

INJURIES

1. All injuries must be reported immediately to the coach in charge of the team.
2. Athletes requiring medical treatment must obtain a written release form from the attending physician and/or athletic trainer before returning to practice or competition.
3. In case of an emergency, athletes will be sent to a doctor of their choice, if possible, and the parents will be notified.
4. Should a serious injury be discovered after the athlete has returned home, the athlete may go to the doctor, but it is the athlete's responsibility to see that proper forms are completed when the athlete returns to school. 

INSURANCE

Athletes participating in District Interscholastic Athletics have accident insurance through the insurance coverage carried by the school district as a secondary source only.

Minor Offenses: Coaches may suspend athletes for up to three days of team events without prior consultation with administration. For suspensions of four days to twenty days coaches should first consult with administration and communicate concerns to parents. Examples of behaviors that qualify as minor expenses are listed below. Athletes may still be expected to attend and possibly participate in practices and may be involved in supporting the team on days of competition during the suspension as designated by the coaches. Coaches will consider detentions or removal from class, as well as offenses below: 

• Inappropriate language
• Dishonesty
• Disrespectful Behavior
• Unsportsmanlike Behavior
• Any other behavior unbecoming of a student athlete

School Suspensions:  In school vs out of school? Any school discipline that leads to school suspension will result in extended days of athletic suspension before an athlete can return to competition. Athletes may not attend any team functions on the same day of an out of school suspension and will need to sit out any competitions within the days after the suspension based on the formula explained. For every day of school suspension the athletic competition suspension will be equal and served after the school suspension is complete. For example 1 day of school suspension means 1 additional calendar day (not including Sundays) of athletic suspension after completion of the school suspension and 5 days of school suspension would have 5 calendar days (not including Sundays) of additional suspension.

Major Offenses: (Possession/Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs is defined in another section)
Any incidents or behaviors that fit the descriptions below may result in a suspension from athletics based on the number of offenses that have been documented in a student’s high school career.  1st offense results in a suspension of 20% of the total scheduled contests, 2nd offense results in a suspension of 50%, 3rd offense and every offense after results in a Calendar Year of suspension from competition. Athletes have the right to appeal suspensions with the possible reduction of up to 50% of the suspension. Any suspensions that cannot be completed in the current season will be converted to an equal percent of the next season based on time served and season games. Athletes are still expected to attend practices and support the team as designated by the coach; they are not allowed to be dressed or participate in any activity on game/competition days.

• Fighting/Assault
• Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying and/or Major Threats of Violence
• Attending social events where underage Tobacco, Alcohol and/or other Drugs are being used
• Vandalism or violating other community ordinances related to intentional negative behaviors
• Cheating or Academic Dishonesty
• Multiple (4 or More) Minor Offense Suspensions

Extreme Offenses: Any offense that fits the descriptions below will result in suspension for the remainder of their current school career with the possibility of appeal and reduction to no less than 1 calendar year.

• Criminal Behavior (violation/conviction of any Federal, State, County or Municipal ordinance)
• Expulsion from School
• Selling/Providing or Distributing Tobacco, Alcohol or other Drugs and Illegal Substances
• Multiple (4 or More) Major Offenses

All percentages of suspensions (for behaviors or illegal substances) will be rounded up to the next whole number when calculating the number of competitions that will need to be served. The reason for this is that many of our team's events do not have a way to define a partial competition and that there are many other differences from sport to sport. Example 10% of 21 total season competitions equals 2.1 so 3 competitions would be served for the suspension.  The total season competition is the total number for the entire season of the sport and level that the student athlete is participating in and not from a point during the season.

REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR SUSPECTED DRUG/ALCOHOL/MAJOR/EXTREME VIOLATIONS

Violations or suspected use may be observed or reported by administration, faculty, parents, community members or students.

1. When a violation occurs at a school-sponsored event, a written report will be filed, and the suspension process will begin at the discretion of the administrator.
2. When a violation is observed by school personnel outside of school-sponsored events, a written report of the incident will be filed with the athletic director. The suspension process will begin at the discretion of the administration.
3. Suspected violations reported by school or non-school personnel will require a written report including the date, time, place, people involved, and a description of the occurrence. The anonymity of the informant will be assured. When a written report is filed with the athletic director, the athlete will be notified of the accusation and given the option of contacting his/her parent/guardian. An interview with the athlete or athlete and parent will be conducted by the athletic director and/or principal/assistant principal and/or police liaison officer. If a violation is verified, suspension procedures will be implemented immediately.
4. A violation must be reported within 28 days from alleged violation(s). All municipal or government violations will be considered regardless of date.
5. An athlete may take advantage of a self-referral procedure to seek information, guidance, counseling, and assessment in regard to student athlete use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Voluntary referrals do not carry punitive consequences.
   
   1. Referral is allowed one time in a student’s high school career.
   2. Referral must be only by the athlete or member of the immediate family.
   3. Referral must be previous to the first alleged violation and no citation has been issued.
   4. Referral cannot be used as a method to avoid consequences once a code of conduct rule is violated and a student has been identified as having violated one of the code of conduct rules.
   5. Referral must be made to the Athletic/Activities Director, administrator, or guidance counselor.
   6. Athletes failing to successfully complete the assessment recommendations shall be suspended for one-half of the next sport season they will participate in.

The program’s cost will be assumed by the student and/or parent/guardian. The DeForest Area School District assumes no monetary responsibility for the cost of the assessment and rehabilitation program.

APPEAL PROCESS

Any student who has been accused of a violation or is presently serving a suspension has the right to appeal.  The process for appeal is as follows:

1. The student has a right to know in writing the rule(s) he/she has violated, and to have a copy of the rule.
2. The student has the right to know why the DeForest Area School District believes a rule was violated.
3. The student will have the opportunity to explain himself/herself.
4. The student has the right to appeal a suspension to the Athletic Review Board.

ATHLETIC REVIEW BOARD

Any athlete with a Code of Conduct violation, after an assessment has occurred, will appear before the Review Board to determine the degree of the suspension or to appeal a prior ruling.   Any athlete who has been suspended will appear before the Review Board prior to reinstatement.  The Board will consist of one principal/assistant principal, athletic director, Advisor or coach for the activity and one additional staff member (there should be at least one male and female member of the review board).  In cases where middle school athletes move to the high school, two members of the Athletic/Activity Review Board shall be from the middle school.  The overturning of a suspension must be a unanimous decision.  Appeals of Athletic Review Board decisions will follow district policy 9130 and move to a District Level Director.

USE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, ILLEGAL DRUGS AND INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS 

Any athlete using or possessing alcohol or tobacco or using, possessing, buying or selling of controlled substances, street drugs, and performance enhancing substances (this includes anabolic-androgenic steroids) or any athlete involved in vaping or other illegal acts shall be suspended from participation in interscholastic athletics. Any participant who is in an establishment whose expressed purpose is selling alcohol or at a location where alcohol is available, and is not accompanied by a parent/guardian could be subject to this type of suspension. This rule is to be in effect and enforced for twelve months of the year. All violations are considered cumulative: Each area will not be treated separately. 

FIRST VIOLATION: 

Restriction from the sport for 50% of the season's contests. In cases where the suspension occurs near or at the end of a season, the balance of the suspension will be applied to the next sport in which the athlete participates. This also applies to middle school athletes who have entered the high school with existing middle school suspensions. Students who have violated the Code of Conduct in middle school and received a career suspension might be allowed another opportunity to participate at the high school provided they appeal to the Athletic/Activities Review Board. The athlete in violation must appear before the Board before official reinstatement. Students involved in other illegal acts shall receive the maximum penalty under each violation category. A. If an athlete is found in violation and cooperates with the athletic department during the investigation and reporting process, and works with their Coach and Athletic Director to serve the team and create a plan of return to the program, he/she will serve a minimum suspension of 25% of the season's contests. Failure to complete the plan with the coach will result in the 50% season suspension. The decision to allow the suspended athlete to practice shall be made by the coach. 

SECOND VIOLATION: 

The athlete is suspended from co-curricular participation (practice and competition) for one full calendar year from the date on which the penalty for the code violation was implemented by administrative action. If an athlete is found to have violated the code of conduct for the second time and agrees to complete an AODA/Tobacco assessment and to follow through with the assessment recommendations his/her period of suspension will be reduced to 33.3% of each co-curricular activity that the student participates in for the one calendar year from the date on which the penalty for the code violation was implemented by administrative action. Clarification: If the violation occurs in season, the penalty is a suspension of 33.3% of the total games scheduled for the sport that he/she is participating in at the time of the violation, not 33.3% of remaining games. Example: An athlete is found in violation following the 12th basketball game. The athlete is suspended for the next 8 games based upon the 22 games scheduled for the season. 

THIRD VIOLATION:

Permanent suspension from all athletics for the duration of a school career.  After a calendar year of suspension a student athlete could appeal for reinstatement to the Athletic Review Board defined in the appeal process and would require additional AODA/Tobacco assessment and completion of treatment.

Academic Expectations

The following Academic Eligibility Requirements apply to students participating in District Intermediate/Middle School Athletics. Grade Checks will begin after the first week of the beginning of the official season. After the completion of grade checks coaches will work with students who did not meet the initial eligibility requirements and apply the intervention as described.  

All programs that start in September will use the previous school year's final grades for Academic Eligibility Intervention.

If a Student has one failing grade (HS/MS) or one class at 1.0 or below at Harvest they will complete the corresponding Academic Intervention Form for 10 school days. Any day that the athlete does not earn the required amount of points on the sheet they will not be eligible for full participation in practice or would be suspended for any performances, trips and/or competitions.

If a Student has two failing grades (HS/MS) or two classes at 1.0 or below at Harvest they will complete the corresponding Academic Intervention Form for 15 school days. Any day that the athlete does not earn the required amount of points on the sheet they will not be eligible for full participation in practice or would be suspended for any performances, trips and/or competitions.

If a Student has three or more failing grades (HS/MS) or three or more classes at 1.0 or below at Harvest they will complete the corresponding Academic Intervention Form for 20 school days. Any day that the athlete does not earn the required amount of points on the sheet they will not be eligible for full participation in practice or would be suspended for any performances, trips and/or competitions.

1. A student/athlete who is in a prescribed special education class or 504 program shall have "F", "I", or "U" reviewed by a consultation team composed of some of the following:  i.e., the case manager, special teacher, regular teacher, guidance counselor, coordinator, and an administrator, depending on the program in which the student/athlete is enrolled.  
2. All classes/courses a student/athlete is enrolled in and for which the student receives a grade shall count in the determination of eligibility.