To be eligible for interscholastic sports or cheerleading, a pupil must pursue a curriculum defined and approved by the Principal as a full-time curriculum. Where required, this curriculum or its equivalent must be approved by, and conform to, the regulations of the State Board of Education and the Pennsylvania School Code, as well as any local policies established by the local school board. The pupil must not have failed any two subjects. Eligibility shall be cumulative from the beginning of a grading period, and shall be reported on a weekly basis. In cases where a student’s cumulative work from the beginning of the grading period does not, as of any Friday, meet the standards of passing four full credits or the equivalent, the student shall be ineligible from the immediately following Sunday through the next following Saturday.
- Academic Eligibility – Beginning of Fall Sports Season
- A student who has failed two (2) or more subjects during the immediate previous school year will be ineligible for games and scrimmages for fifteen (15) school days.
- Weekly Academic Assurances
- On Friday of every week, teachers are to submit to the Athletic Director the names of any student who is failing their class. The Athletic Director will compile a list of all students who are failing two or more classes. These students will be ineligible for games and interscholastic scrimmages for seven (7) days (Sunday through Saturday).
- Nine Weeks Grades
- Each time report cards are issued, students playing interscholastic sports that have two or more failures in classes are ineligible for games and scrimmages for fifteen (15) school days.
- Attendance
- Any student who accumulates twenty (20) or more days of absence will not be permitted to participate in athletics for (45) days. A physician’s evaluation must indicate the student’s health status before re-admittance to the athletic program. Note: On each case of ineligibility (weekly – 7 days; grading period – 20 days), the twenty-day ineligibility will take precedence.
- Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Individual coaches and/or sponsors may require more stringent academic and attendance regulations. Such additional regulations must be approved by the administration and appropriate prior notification must be given to students.
- At the end of the school year, the student’s final credits in his/her subjects rather than his/her credits for the last grading period shall be used to determine his/her eligibility for the next grading period. A pupil who does not meet the standards, but attends summer school and corrects his/her deficiencies shall be eligible. *Abridged from PIAA and WPIAL regulations, adopted 1986. Allegheny Valley School District Policy 123.
Equipment
Every student participating in interscholastic athletics will receive the proper equipment, which is provided for his/her health and the prevention of injuries. The equipment is to be returned at the end of each season. If, for any reason, an athlete fails to return his/her equipment, he/she will be held financially responsible.
If a Springdale High School student is observed wearing athletic equipment other than that which has been entrusted to him/her for a particular sport, the equipment will be confiscated and the student may be suspended from athletic participation.