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Athletic Handbook


Battle Mountain High School Athletics and Activities Handbook

CODE OF CONDUCT:

Participation in athletics and activities programs at BMHS is a privilege not a right. Privileges such as these carry a corresponding responsibility of all participants. This Code of Conduct is designed to ensure that the student athletes and activities participants reflect positively on themselves, their families, their teams, and the school community as a whole. They represent Battle Mountain High School. This policy aligns with Eagle County Schools Board Policy and serves as the definitive source for conduct and consequences for participants in BMHS Athletic and Activity Programs. 

Student athletes/Activity participants will:

  • Refrain from attending gatherings, social or otherwise, where drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are present.

  • Maintain good grades and attendance, adhering to Attendance and Academic Eligibility policies.

  • Maintain team and training standards (diet, rest, and exercise).

  • Take all grievances directly to the coach or activity sponsor in a private conference. To appeal any resolution, contact the Athletic Director.

  • Understand that practice, competition, performance, and corresponding team responsibilities are often stressful and time-consuming and, as such, offer opportunity for personal growth and maturity.

  • Display sportsmanlike conduct and appropriate behavior at all times. Participants are always representing Battle Mountain High School.

  • Refrain from criminal or civil law infractions or any conduct that is determined by the head coach, activity sponsor, or school administration to be detrimental to athletic/activity programs, school, or district.

  • Consent to random drug/nicotine testing while in season.

  • Sign the Athletic/Activity Participation Contract (found on FamilyID).

Coaches/Sponsors will:

  • Assume full responsibility for participants and coaching staff.

  • Respect individuality of every participant, treating each in a respectful manner.

  • Notify participants who are on the Attendance or Academic Ineligible list or on the  Academic Warning list on Tuesday.

  • Report injuries to parents and monitor both the therapy and the return to full participation status.

  • Communicate with parents when imposing disciplinary sanctions involving competition/performance.

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of technical methods and methodology of sport or activity.

  • Conduct himself/herself at all times as a proper model at school, in the competition/performance arena, and in the community.

Parents will: 

  • Respect the professionalism as well as the prerogatives of the coach/sponsor.

  • Support the team, coach, sponsor, and school through positive action.

  • Take concerns directly to the coach/sponsor with an intent on seeking understanding and cooperative resolution (see Chain of Communication).

  • Allow 24 hours before or after any competition or event before addressing a coach or sponsor with concerns.

  • Help their child to understand that, while an integral part of school life, athletics and activities are predicated upon the child’s positive performance and credible behavior as a student, participant, family member, and community member.

  • Refrain from interference by words or actions with any individual (whether athlete, coach, sponsor, or official) or team during the course of an event associated with training, competition, or performance.

  • Consent to have their child entered into the Random Drug/Nicotine Testing program.

  • Sign the Athletic/Activity Participation Contract (found on FamilyID).

ATHLETIC/ACTIVITY ATTENDANCE POLICY:

  • Participants must be enrolled in a course load that will earn a minimum of 2 ½ units of credit per semester (minimum of five .5 credit classes).

  • Students must be in attendance at school all day in order to participate in any school-sponsored activity that is conducted on that day unless it is for a documented absence. Participation in extra-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right. Students earn that privilege by being present in class.

  • Students missing for a documented absence (medical, dental, etc) must present a note from the doctor’s office in order to participate on that day. For questions regarding acceptable documentation for non-medical appointments, please contact the Athletic Director.

  • If a student is ill for any part of the day, he or she is ineligible to participate in any school-sponsored activity conducted on that day (practice, game, or performance).

  • In case of emergency or extenuating circumstances, the Athletic Director or designee may grant an exception to this limitation if notified prior to the absence occurring.

  • Every Tuesday, BMHS will run an attendance report for participants in athletics or activities. If any participant has an unexcused or unresolved absence or five unexcused tardies, they will be ineligible for competition/performance for the following week (Monday through Saturday). The participant will have until noon on Friday (two days) to resolve his/her absence(s) in order to be eligible for the following week. Tardies cannot be resolved.

CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION:

Please adhere to the following steps whenever important information regarding any aspect of the athletic or activity program must be communicated. Important information includes concerns, grievances, or questions.

  1. First parents should speak to their student to determine if there is an issue. Often necessary communication has taken place between coach and participant, of which the parents are unaware. If there is an issue, parents should listen to their student and help them problem solve.

  2. If there is an issue, participants must then speak to the coach or sponsor. It is an important life skill that students learn to advocate and problem solve for themselves.

  3. If parental involvement is needed, parents should first speak to the participant’s immediate event coach or sponsor to seek resolution. This may be an assistant or the head.

  4. If resolution is not accomplished, the parent should contact the Athletic Director who will determine the best course of action to resolve the issue.

  5. Head Coaches and Sponsors are expected to take concerns directly to the Athletic Director. 

  6. If any player, parent, or assistant coach/sponsor approaches the Athletic Director with concerns, he or she will be referred back to the Head Coach or Sponsor to start the discussion process. If it is a minor problem that can be resolved without interrupting the coach’s/sponsor’s time, Athletic Director will work on resolving it and keep the coach informed.

  7. The Athletic Director communicates to the Principal.

  8. The Principal communicates to the Superintendent.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY POLICY

**Coaches and sponsors may have policies that meet or exceed building and district policy.

Weekly:

  • A student who has a 70% or lower in two or more classes when the Ineligible Report is run on Tuesday mornings will be Ineligible for competition/performance for the following week (Monday through Saturday). The student will have until noon on Friday (two days) to resolve one or more of their grade issues in order to be eligible for the following week. If one or more of the grade issues cannot be resolved by noon on Friday, the student will remain ineligible for the following week.

  • A student who has a 70% or lower in one class will receive an Academic Warning notification. This is a warning that the student is in danger of becoming ineligible. The student maintains full eligibility while on Academic Warning.

Semester:

  • To maintain eligibility for a season of participation, students must pass classes that total 2 ½ units of credit (five .5 classes) at the end of each semester. A student who does not pass the minimum number of classes may regain eligibility at a time determined by CHSAA.

  • A “conditional” or “incomplete” grade shall be considered the same as an F when determining eligibility.

  • No make-up work shall be permitted after the close of the semester for the purpose of becoming eligible except in the case of a manifest hardship as determined by the Principal or Athletic Director. Students in the case would be given a like number of days to complete the make-up work as the number of days they were absent. In such cases, CHSAA must be notified in writing. 

  • Summer school or it’s equivalent credit accepted by the school toward graduation may be used to replace any units of credit failed if completed by the date designated by CHSAA. Credits made up in the summer must be in the same curricular area and must be accepted to meet graduation requirements of class(es) previously failed.

BMHS RANDOM DRUG/NICOTINE TESTING POLICY

Students participating in the following athletic and activity programs are registered in the random drug/nicotine testing pool during the term of participation:

  • Drama

  • FBLA

  • Fencing

  • Hispanic Mentors

  • Extra-curricular Music/Band/Drumline

  • NHS

  • ProStart

  • Speech/Forensics

  • Sports

  • Student Council

Each week, using an online random draw program, three boys and three girls are drawn to participate in random drug/nicotine testing. Tampered, falsified, or invalidated tests will be subject to the consequences of a positive drug/nicotine test. Possession of paraphernalia for the purpose of falsifying a test will be subject to the consequences of a positive drug/nicotine test. (See BMHS Athletics and Activities Discipline Matrix below)

ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES DISCIPLINE MATRIX

 

GENERAL OFFENSES

Infraction

Consequences

Any violations of school behavior expectations or illegal acts

As determined by the Athletic Director, Coach, Sponsor, or other Administrator - consequences could include community service, probation, forfeiture of varsity letter eligibility, suspension from participation, or dismissal from extra-curricular participation.

 

TEAM RULES VIOLATIONS

Infraction

Consequence

Any violation of team behavior expectations - subject to the approval of the Athletic Director.

As determined by the Coach or Sponsor, and subject to the approval of the Athletic Director, consequences could include community service, probation, forfeiture of varsity letter eligibility, suspension from participation, or dismissal from participation.


 

SUBSTANCE RELATED OFFENSES (Drugs, Alcohol, Nicotine)

Substance use negatively impacts athletic and academic performance.

1st Infraction

Consequences

Positive test result from random drug/nicotine testing pool

Or

Admission of use

Or 

Substance abuse violation (possession, use, influence, paraphernalia, Code of Conduct violation)

a)  The student will be suspended immediately from all extra-curricular participation for not less than 50% of season effective immediately from the date of discovery by school administration of the infraction. During this period of suspension, the student may not travel, compete, perform, nor otherwise represent as a member of Battle Mountain High School. At the discretion of the Athletic Director, the student may be allowed to participate in practices held on campus. Forthrightly confronting the consequences of one’s actions is to be commended and encouraged. 

 

b) The student forfeits varsity letter eligibility and any opportunity to be nominated for postseason honors and/or awards.

 

OR

 

The student has the opportunity to earn back 25% of one season and the potential to earn a varsity letter and post-season honors and awards through the following:

 

a)Restorative Justice Process, which includes approval from the District Prevention Specialist

 

b) Five (5) hours of community service to the school (picking up trash in the parking lot and around campus, cleaning athletic areas like the bleachers, etc) supervised by a school staff member. 

 

If the infraction is school related, additional disciplinary actions will follow (See BMHS Progressie Discipline Matrix in the Student Planner).

2nd Infraction

Consequences

Positive test result from random drug/nicotine testing pool

Or

Substance Abuse violation

a)  The student will be suspended immediately from all extra-curricular participation for one full calendar year effective immediately from the date of discovery by school administration of the infraction. During this period of suspension, the student may not travel, compete, perform, nor otherwise represent as a member of Battle Mountain High School. At the discretion of the Athletic Director, the student may be allowed to participate in practices held on campus. Forthrightly confronting the consequences of one’s actions is to be commended and encouraged. 

 

b) The student forfeits varsity letter eligibility and any opportunity to be nominated for postseason honors and/or awards.

 

OR

 

The student has the opportunity to earn back to missing one full season of play (can carry over to future seasons) through the following:

 

a) Restorative Justice Process, which includes approval from the District Prevention Specialist

 

b) Ten (10) hours of community service to the school (picking up trash in the parking lot and around campus, cleaning athletic areas like the bleachers, etc) supervised by a school staff member. 

 

If the infraction is school related, additional disciplinary actions will follow (See BMHS Progressie Discipline Matrix in the Student Planner).

3rd Infraction

Consequences

Positive test result from random drug/nicotine testing pool

Or

Substance abuse violation

a) The student will be suspended immediately from all extra-curricular participation for the duration of his or her high school career effective immediately from the date of discovery by school administration of the infraction.

 

b) The student forfeits varsity letter eligibility and any opportunity to be nominated for postseason honors and/or awards.

 

OR

 

The student has the opportunity to earn back to missing one full calendar year of suspension through the following:

 

a) Completion of a Substance Abuse program, approved by the Athletic Director, with a certified Substance Abuse counselor. The student will have to provide proof of the meetings and completion of program to the Athletic Director.

 

b) 20 hours of community service to the school (picking up trash in the parking lot and around campus, cleaning athletic areas like the bleachers, etc) supervised by a school staff member. 

 

If the infraction is school related, additional disciplinary actions will follow (See BMHS Progressie Discipline Matrix in the Student Planner).

 

4th Infraction

Consequences

Positive test result from random drug/nicotine testing pool

Or

Substance abuse violation

a) The student will be suspended immediately from all extra-curricular participation for the duration of his or her high school career effective immediately from the date of discovery by school administration of the infraction with no opportunity to return to play.

 

b) The student forfeits varsity letter eligibility and any opportunity to be nominated for postseason honors and/or awards.

Substance Abuse Infractions that occur at any time, in any place, and in any form during the school year will impact the next sport competed. If suspension cannot be completed in the current sport, it will carry over to the next sport competed. During the summer, if a participant is found to be in possession, use, or distribution, the participant will still be in violation. The loss of eligibility will impact the next sport competed. All substance abuse violations will be cumulative for the entire high school career.

 

Percentages for Violations:

Sport 25% 50%

Baseball 6 12 Games

Basketball 6 12 Games

Cheer/Dance Dependent upon season; Fall equal to volleyball. Winter equal to basketball

Cross Country 3 6 Meets

Football 3 5 Games

Golf 3 6 Tournaments

Hockey 5 10 Games

Lacrosse 4 8 Games

Skiing 3 6 Races

Soccer 4 8 Games

Softball 6 12 Games

Track & Field 3 6 Meets

Volleyball 6 12 Games

Wrestling 7 14 Points

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION

Participation:

  • Home-based students, private school students, and students from other public high schools will compete under the same policies, expectations, and circumstances as Battle Mountain students. No guarantee will be made as to a position on the team or activity.

  • No guarantee will be made as to the amount of playing time to be granted if students successfully qualify for a team or activity. 

  • There is no expectation of identical playing time at any level. The coaches, who will implement the philosophy at each level, will determine playing time. 

  • Although the primary objective of athletic competition is to win, the following philosophy will be observed at the high school level:

    • C-Team:  Involvement of as many students as practical will be encouraged in practice and competition. A broad range of athletes will be given the opportunity to play. Every C-team athlete should get quality playing time every game, but playing time will not be equal. C-team should be exclusively freshmen and sophomore based. No juniors will be allowed to participate at the C level without expressed consent of athlete, coach, and A.D. An automatic exception is made for foreign exchange students to participate at any level. 

 

  • Junior Varsity:  Players will be those athletes judged by coaches to be the best suited to compete successfully. At this level, there are still athletes who have partially developed talent and can profit by game experience. Junior Varsity programs serve as an important purpose by developing the skills of promising athletes not quite ready for Varsity competition. No amount of playing time will be guaranteed at the Junior Varsity level. JV will be for freshmen, sophomores, or juniors. Seniors will not be allowed to participate at the JV level without the expressed consent of the coach and A.D.

 

  • Varsity:  Players will be those judged by coaches to be best suited to compete successfully. Every effort within the bounds of good sportsmanship and playing by the rules will be made to win. No amount of playing time will be guaranteed at the Varsity level. The expectation will be that if an athlete is not participating at the Varsity level, they should be participating at the JV level unless they are seniors. 

Practice, Game, and Performance Participation:

  • All participants are expected to attend all practices and games unless notice is provided to the coach/sponsor prior to the absence. 

  • Failure to notify the coach/sponsor prior to the absence occurring will result in that practice being unexcused (regardless of the reason for the absence). Multiple unexcused absences may result in the participant being removed from that team. 

  • Attendance at practice includes Saturdays, holidays, and school breaks. If a participant misses practice, game, or performance, playing time in the next contest may be reduced in favor of a participant who did not miss. 

  • Coaches reserve the right to close practice to outside visitors. If outside visitors attend practice, they should not be near the playing area and should not, at any time, interact with the participants or coaches during or immediately following practice. If contact (verbal or physical) is made with athletes or coaches that disrupts practice, the administration withholds the right to ban that person from future practices.

Off-Season Practices:

Off-season workouts, especially strength and conditioning or athletic development workouts, are highly encouraged but are not mandatory. Per CHSAA bylaw 2310.2, no coach or school representative may direct a student to practice outside of the formal practice season as a condition to participating or otherwise influencing a student’s opportunity to participate in any school sport. 

Athletic Participation Fees:

  • All participating athletes must pay a participation fee based on the following criteria before they will be allowed to participate in a competition or performance.

  • The Athletic Fee for all participating athletes must be collected prior to an athlete’s competing in a contest. 

  • If a family is on the Free or Reduced Lunch program, the athletic fee will be waived or reduced to 50%.

  • Athletic Fees can be reduced at the building level through the Todd Walker Scholarship application. 

  • Refund Policy - A full refund will be made to any athlete who is cut or quits before being involved in the sport through ten (10) calendar days. No refund will be made after ten (10) calendar days or if the athlete has competed in a competition or scrimmage. Refund requests based on extenuating circumstances must be made directly to the Athletic Director.

Returning Home with Parents and/or Other Adults:

Students riding home from an away competition or performance with their parents must complete the following procedure:

  • The parents must personally sign out their student with a coach at the end of the event. 

Students riding home from an away competition or performance with an adult other than their parents must complete the following procedure at least 24 hours prior to the competition or performance:

  • The parents must fill out and sign an ECSD Authorization for Student/Athlete Release from Group form (found in the main office) and return to the Athletic Secretary at least 24 hours prior to the event.

  • The Athletic Secretary or Athletic Director will email the signed form to the parent and the coach.

Athletic Registration Procedures and Forms:

Students who wish to participate in athletics and activities must register through FamilyID.

https://www.familyid.com/battle-mountain-high-school

Registration Requirements:

  • Register on FamilyID (save login if participating in multiple sports/activities)

  • Read and sign the following documents on FamilyID:

    • Athletic/Activity Participation Contract - Athletic/Activity Handbook

    • Athletic/Activity Attendance Policy

    • Random Drug/Nicotine Consent to Test

    • Injury and Concussion Acknowledgement

    • Student Eligibility Form

    • Trip Permission

    • Statement of Insurance Coverage

    • The Steadman Clinic Consent to Treat

    • Consent to Release Medical Information

    • The Steadman Clinic Notice of Privacy Practices

    • Photographic/Video Image Waiver

  • Current health insurance is required for athletics (This can be purchased through K&K Insurance. If you need help purchasing insurance, the Athletic Secretary will assist you. Please bring in a credit/debit card).

  • Turn in a hard copy of a current, official physical form signed by a physician to the Athletic Secretary ( physicals are good for 1 calendar year) or upload a copy on FamilyID. Physical must be turned in before the athlete may try out or practice. CHSAA Physical Form

  • Pay the Athletic Fee. This must be done prior to the first competition or the athlete will be ineligible to compete.

Sports Medicine:

Our certified Athletic Trainer, Brooke Rey, is here to provide prevention, care, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. She works in collaboration with allied healthcare professionals and adheres to all HIPAA and FERPA regulations. Permission to share medical information with BMHS Sports Medicine must be given to your healthcare provider should collaboration be imminent. All paperwork and documentation regarding the student-athlete’s previous or current medical condition are kept confidential. The Injury and Concussion Acknowledgement and Agreement form includes information regarding the risks of sport participation and who may be informed of a student-athlete’s medical condition. The BMHS concussion protocol is available upon request. If the student-athlete goes to another healthcare professional for any illness or injury, related or not related to sport activity, a written release from the physician must be returned to the Athletic Trainer before the student-athlete returns to participation. The athletic training facility is open and accessible to all student athletes daily after school but not during the school day unless by appointment. A certified athletic trainer will be present at every home competition with varsity, higher injury risk, or contact sports a priority. Coverage of team practices is done as able. For more detailed information about the BMHS Sports Medicine program, please contact Ms. Rey.