Co-Curricular Activity Rules and Regulations
Hackettstown High School Co-Curricular Activity Rules and Regulations
New Jersey Eligibility Requirements
All New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association requirements concerning student eligibility will be strictly adhered to by Hackettstown High School. The following applies to all students:
- First time freshmen are automatically eligible for fall and winter sports.
- Sophomores, juniors and seniors must earn 30 credits from the previous school year to be eligible for fall and winter sports.
- Freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible for spring sports if they are passing 6 out of 8 of their courses at the conclusion of the fall term (after the second marking period)
- Seniors taking fewer than 6 courses in their fall semester will be eligible for spring sports only if they are on-track to meet graduation requirements.
The use of drugs, alcohol and any behavior detrimental to the team or which brings dishonor or embarrassment to the program will not be tolerated. Any student that is summoned by local authorities will be contacted by the school. Consequences will be administered by the coach and administration.
Reasonable Suspicion:
Possession and/or use of any illegal substances to include alcohol, illegal drugs and anabolic steroids is forbidden. If any coach or staff member has any reason to suspect that an athlete/student has violated policy prohibiting the use of alcohol, illegal drugs or anabolic steroids, he/she is required to report this incident immediately as per district policy. When a student is found under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol, or in the possession of illegal drugs and/or alcohol, or found to be selling illegal drugs and/or alcohol at any district school property/premises or any district school function, or found guilty by the court of criminal violence while on any district school property/premises or at any district school property/premises or any district function, he/she will forfeit all co-curricular activities for a period of 25 school days. This means No attendance at practice, No attendance at games, and No attendance at school functions until the student is cleared by the principal according to Board of Education policy.If a student were to be found guilty of a second offense as listed above, the penalty will be doubled to 50 school days.
Confirmed Positive on Random Drug Testing:
All pupils in the Hackettstown High School who participate in any athletic, any extra-curricular activity, any school club, have been granted parking privileges for on campus parking, have violated the district substance abuse policy or any pupil who volunteer to participate in the Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Program with parental consent will be required to completed a Random Drug and Alcohol Consent to Test Form.
In the case of a confirmed positive sample the consequences are as followed:
- Pupils will be ineligible form participating and/or attending any extra-curricular activities or school club meeting for a minimum period of one (1) week.
- When applicable, a pupils parking permit will be revoked for a minimum period of one (1) week.
- When applicable, a pupils senior privileges will be revoked for a minimum period of one (1) week. This includes the ability to sign out during lunch and/or any assigned study hall.
- Pupils participating in athletics will be ineligible from competing in any athletic competition for a minimum period of one (1) week. This includes practices, scrimmages and official games. Although, the pupil is allowed to attend scrimmages and/or official games to positively encourage teammates as long as the pupil is dressed in normal street attire.
- The pupil shall attend an Early Intervention Program, if one is not available in school the pupil shall attend the program at an agency approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services as an appropriate substance abuse treatment center. The pupil must enter into an approved program within one (1) week of the receipt of the confirmed positive result.
- The parent(s) is/are responsible for the cost of the rehabilitation program.
- In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-12 and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4.3, the pupil must be evaluated by a physician before returning to school and a written report must be furnished to the district certifying that substance use no longer interferes with the pupil’s mental or physical ability to participate in school or any co-curricular activity or athletic.
Use of Tobacco
Possession and/or use of any tobacco product is forbidden. The term “tobacco product” includes, but is not limited to, the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and snuff. Violation of this will result in the following:
- Pupils will be ineligible form participating and/or attending any extra-curricular activities or school club meeting for a minimum period of one (1) week.
- When applicable, a pupils parking permit will be revoked for a minimum period of one (1) week.
- When applicable, a pupils senior privileges will be revoked for a minimum period of one (1) week. This includes the ability to sign out during lunch and/or any assigned study hall.
- Pupils participating in athletics will be ineligible from competing in any athletic competition for a minimum period of one (1) week. This includes practices, scrimmages and official games. Although, the pupil is allowed to attend scrimmages and/or official games to positively encourage teammates as long as the pupil is dressed in normal street attire.
Attendance Requirements
- Students involved in out of school suspension shall forfeit the right to compete, to practice or attend any interscholastic activity until the suspension is resolved. At least one practice is required prior to being able to return to competition.
- Class attendance is an essential part of the total program. Students who are absent from school may not practice or compete on that day. Class cutting or excessive tardiness may result in administrative suspension for all activities until the situation is resolved.
- Student athletes must be in school for at least 4 hours of attendance during the course of the school day in order to practice or compete, unless approval is given by the athletic administrator for special circumstances.
- Students leaving school early for any event are personally responsible for all their school work. Students will hand in all homework assignments early the day they are excused.
- Students Must Change and Participate in their Physical Education classes in order to practice or compete on any school day.
- Student athletes are expected to travel to and from All events as a team on the vehicles provided by the Board of Education. Students may travel home from events with their own parents only if the Athletic Director approves the change of policy prior to the event. An alternate transportation form must be presented to the Athletic Director for approval the day before the event.
- Attendance at all practices is mandatory. Absence from practice must be cleared with the coach.
- One (1) unexcused absence from practice may result in missing the next event, and a meeting with coach to discuss policy and future action.
- Two (2) unexcused absences from practice may result in missing the next two games. (coach's discretion)
- Three (3) unexcused absences from practice may result in the athlete being removed from the team.(coach's discretion)
- Hackettstown High School Administration defines hazing as any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of a student to belong to a group, regardless of their willingness to participate. Hazing will not be tolerated. Consequences will be administered by the coach and administration.
- Coaches or students may not park vehicles on playing fields. Vehicles must be kept in parking lots and athletes will carry equipment off the fields.
- Proper conduct during practices and events is important in the scope of athletic sportsmanship. Students/ athletes will never speak to an official; inappropriate conduct, dissension and disrespect will result in removal from practice or game and a meeting with the coach for further disciplinary action.
- Uniforms and equipment are the responsibility of the athlete. Uniforms must be kept clean and in good repair. Students will pay for loss of equipment and uniforms issued by the coach. Uniforms must be returned upon completion of the end of the season or immediately after leaving the team. Failure to comply will exclude the individual from participation in school related activities, starting the next sport season and may result in disciplinary action.
- Athletes may not be in the halls of the school when going to or returning from practices or games. Following school all books, personal belongings and equipment must be brought to the gym or field house. Students will not be permitted to return to their school lockers after 4:30 P.M. daily. After practice students are to exit the gym or use the cafeteria to wait for rides home.
- Appropriate attire is required for home and away events. During the winter sport season boys and girls will wear dress slacks with an appropriate shirt or sweater: girls may wear a skirt or a dress. No Jeans, sneakers or t-shirts are permitted. During the fall and spring seasons, team uniforms are required.