STUDENT-ATHLETE CODE
The athletic program, while an important and integral part of the total school program, is a privilege for Upper Perkiomen students. Through voluntary participation the student gives time, energy and loyalty to the program. He/she also accepts the training rules, regulations and responsibilities which are unique to an athletic program. In order to contribute to the welfare of the group, the student must willingly assume these obligations. The role demands that the individual participant make sacrifices not required of others.
As representatives of the Upper Perkiomen School District and its programs, participants are expected to exhibit exemplary behavior in and out of school. Therefore, it is understood that all responsibilities listed in, but not limited to, the Student-Athlete Code will apply at all times and that suspension and/or dismissal from athletics may result from failure to comply with these responsibilities. Any or all violations will be considered when reviewing a student’s participation in our athletic program.
- A student found to be selling, providing, in possession of, consuming or using any quantity of alcohol, narcotics, inhalants, whether on or off school property, is in violation of this code. Upon further review of the infraction, the violations could result in the following infractions. Violation will result in a temporary suspension from the current athletic team, dismissal from the current athletic team with loss of all awards earned during the current season, or removal from all further athletic programs for up to one year.
2. In accordance with Act 110 of 2020, a student-athlete that is convicted or adjudicated of committing a sexual assault will be removed from all athletic participation. The student-athlete will be expelled from the school district, transferred to an alternative education program or reassigned to another school district or education program. For purposes of this athletic code, sexual assault is defined as a sexual offense under state or federal law that is classified as a forcible or non-forcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the FBI.
3. A display of unsportsmanlike conduct, for example, verbal abuse, taunting toward an opponent, official, coach, guest or district personnel, or use of profanity during a practice, contest or activity may result in a temporary suspension from the current athletic team, dismissal from the current athletic team activity with loss of all awards earned during the current season, or removal from all further athletic programs for up to one year.
4. Violations of the Upper Perkiomen student handbook which require administrative action may be carried over to the athletic program. Any student who receives in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension will not be permitted to take part in any practice or game the day of the suspension.
5. The rules and regulations in this code shall apply to any violation, on or off school premises, during the period of participation in any sport.
6. Before any suspension or dismissal provided for under these rules shall take effect, the student shall be verbally advised by the coach, advisor or administrator of the alleged violation. The student will have the opportunity to explain or justify his/her actions.
7. All in-season student-athletes must be in school by 11:00am in order to participate in an athletic practice or contest held on that day. Any exception must be approved by the athletic director or school principal. Examples of exceptions would include college visitations, doctor’s appointments (with doctor’s note), funerals, etc.
8. An athlete may not quit one sport and participate in another sport after the season has begun without the mutual consent of both coaches. An athlete may not quit one sport and begin organized pre-season preparation for the next season’s sport without the mutual consent of both coaches.
9. As a member of the UPSD athletic program, appropriate and reasonable standards may be established by the coach of each team. All coaches will communicate to the participants of the team what those expectations are. Failure to comply with these standards may disqualify a student from participation until the standards are met.
10. Each student is responsible for school issued equipment and uniforms. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to properly secure equipment in the appropriate area. Each student-athlete is responsible for reporting lost, damaged or unsafe equipment to the head coach. Any student-athlete who has not returned all school issued equipment and uniforms will not be eligible to participate in another sport until the equipment is returned and/or the debt is paid.
11. Student-athletes who are failing two (2) or more subjects in any one week will be deemed ineligible for the following week, which includes Sunday and runs through the following Saturday. The academic period is from 8:00am on Mondays to 3:00pm on Thursdays. (In the event of a shortened week, eligibility will always be run on the second last day of the week.) Student-athletes who are failing two (2) or more subjects for a marking period will be ineligible to participate in practice/contests for 15 school days. Ineligibility will begin the day reports cards are posted in Skyward.
*Athletes who are academically ineligible three times during a season, will be removed from the athletic team to concentrate on their academics.
12. All student-athletes must meet all Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) requirements and abide by all governing rules of the PIAA and the Upper Perkiomen School District including, but not limited to, age regulations, amateur status, physical examination and academic requirements. Students who don’t meet or who violate the requirements of the PIAA and/or the Upper Perkiomen School District shall be deemed ineligible for participation and may receive additional disciplinary action.
*More information on PIAA guidelines can be found on the school districts website.
13. Additional rules and regulations may be established by the coach of each sport and must be approved by the athletic director and/or principal prior to their implementation. Any additional rules and regulations should be in writing and distributed to all students participating in the effected programs.
Updated May 2024