“A GUIDE FOR THE STUDENT-ATHLETE”
WELCOME to the Athletic Program in the North Penn School District. Our program has a history of achievement and
success. It is hoped that your involvement in our program will provide you with a worthwhile experiences. Studentathletes in the North Penn School District must remember that they are always in the public eye and their personal
conduct will always be subject to the scrutiny of their fellow students, fans, opponents, and media. If you become a
member of a team, you have an obligation to serve as a positive role model, and must make the choice to uphold the
standards expected of student athletes of our district.
The following are some of the rules of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic-Association (P.I.A.A.) and the North
Penn Athletic Department with which you should be familiar. Failure to comply with these regulations may cause you to
lose your eligibility to participate in athletics.
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility Rules for Student Athletes: Student athletes will be ineligible to participate if they are: (1) failing two onecredit subjects, or (2) failing a one-credit subject and two partial credit/special area subjects.
Procedure-Weekly: Each Friday an eligibility report will be generated from the student’s cumulative grade for the current
marking period. In the event a student does not meet the eligibility rules, he/she is ineligible to participate in contests for
a period of one week. The ineligibility begins the first Monday, and ends on Sunday, following the issuance of the
weekly report.
Procedure-End of Marking Period: Upon the issuance of the regular report cards, the Athletic Director will review the
failure list to see if there are any student-athletes who are ineligible. Student-Athletes who are ineligible at the end of the
marking period will be ineligible for fifteen (15) school days.
Coaches will honor a student’s legitimate request to be late to practice in order to get additional academic help.
HEALTH
All sports carry with them inherent risks. While it is the objective of the North Penn School District Athletic Department
to make athletics as safe as possible, injuries do occur. And, while it is not our intention to scare parents, we feel it is
important that both the parents and athletes understand that the level of injury may be severe, including paralysis. The
purpose of this form is to assure that parents and students are aware of the risks that have always been present in sports. If
you are injured while participating in interscholastic athletics notify your coach, athletic trainer, and parents. Student
athletes under the care of a physician must have a note from parents/guardians or physician before they can return to
practice or contests.
No pupil shall be eligible to represent his/her school in any interscholastic athletic contest unless he/she has been
examined by a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathy before he/she may participate or try out for any sport.
Prior to any student athlete trying out for or participating in a sport the student is required to have completed the first 4sections of the PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-participation Physical Evaluation form. The physician’s physical must
be performed after June 1st of the current school year. Subsequent sports seasons for that school year will require
Section-5 to be completed by Parent/Guardian. If the student is going to try out for wrestling they also must complete
Section-7 no earlier then 6 weeks prior to the start of the winter season. If a student is injured during a season then
Section-6, Physical Re-Evaluation and Re-Certification, must be completed by your physician in order for the student to
compete again.
A student sent home by the school nurse because of illness cannot compete or practice that afternoon or night.
AGE
HIGH SCHOOL – Maximum Age Rule – A pupil shall be ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition upon attaining
the age of 19 years, with the following exception. If the age of 19 is attained on or after July 1, the pupil shall be eligible,
age-wise, to compete through the school year.
AGE
MIDDLE SCHOOL - If the age of 16 is attained on or after July 1, the pupil shall be eligible to compete in the 9th grade
program through that school year.
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PERIOD OF PARTICIPATION
(HS) A pupil shall not represent his/her school in interscholastic athletics if he/she has –
a. Been in attendance more than eight semesters beyond the eighth grade.
b. Played four seasons beyond the eighth grade in any one form of interscholastic athletics; or
c. Completed the work of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 inclusive.
(MIDDLE)
d. No middle school pupil shall participate athletically in any one sport for more seasons then there are
grades included in the school.
e. A pupil may participate only one season in each sport during the time he/she enrolled in the 9th grade of
middle school.
ATTENDANCE
 The athlete is expected to attend practice every day unless he/she is absent from school. The athlete is expected to
be on time for practice every day. If, for some reason you will be late, it is your responsibility to notify the coach
prior to practice.
 On the day of a contest or practice, athletes must be signed into school by 11:30 a.m. in order to participate in a
contest or practice that day or evening. Some exceptions may apply. Parents/guardians should contact the
athletic director if they have any questions.
 On early dismissal days, students must attend school from 8:10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in order to participate in a contest that

day or evening.
A pupil who has been absent from school during a semester for a total of 20 or more days, shall not be eligible
to participate in any athletic contest until he/she has been in attendance for a total of 60 school days following
his/her 20th day of absence.
EQUIPMENT
You are responsible for any and all equipment (including uniforms and practice clothing issued you) and you will be
expected to pay for any items that you do not return or which you return showing excessive wear and abuse. Issued
equipment is not to be used for any activity outside of the practices and competitions of the school sport for which the
equipment was issued. Contest uniforms are not to be worn for practice. You are not to use athletic equipment/clothing
for gym classes, nor wear them to school or at home, or for participation on teams outside of school. As determined by
the coach parts of team uniforms may be worn to school on contest days.
It is unfortunate that some people steal, but that does not void your responsibility for returning or paying for all that was
issued to you. Be careful with your equipment and use a lock on your locker. If any equipment is not returned at the
conclusion of the season, an obligation will be issued to the student for the fair cost of replacement. Baseball/softball
players are permitted to keep their hats and visors. The student will not be permitted further athletic participation until the
obligation is cleared.
INITIATIONS/HAZING
The hazing or having initiations of students is dangerous and is prohibited. Students involved in incidents of hazing or
initiations will be suspended or possibly dismissed from the team.
DETENTIONS AND SUSPENSIONS
A student who has detentions to serve is not excused from practice. Those detentions are to be served in the A.M. before
the start of school. Students not serving the detentions by the required time will not be able to participate in practices or
contests. A student with an in-school or out-of –school suspension will not be allowed to participate in practices or
contests.
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USE OF TOBACCO
Smoking or the use of tobacco in any form is contrary to our coaching philosophy, as its effects are detrimental to the
athlete’s training, conditioning, and ability to perform to maximum potential. The use of tobacco products on North Penn
School District property will result in a mandatory suspension and fine.
CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
Athletes are representatives of the school twenty-four hours a day. No other group of students in the school receives the
publicity that the athletic teams receive. It is expected that all team members will represent themselves, their team, and
their school favorably at all times.
Squad discipline will rest with the coach, building sports coordinator, athletic director, and principal. This will include
any action that can bring the school, athletic department, and team into an unfavorable light with the P.I.A.A., Suburban
League, Montco League, Upper Bux-Mont Middle School League, or the community. Any incident of this type may
bring suspension, temporary or indefinite, to the offending individual.
DRUGS & ALCOHOL POLICY – Code of Conduct on file at school.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Ejection from an athletic contest: A student/athlete removed from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct (this includes pre
or post game unsportsmanlike conduct) will receive a mandatory minimum one game suspension. This suspension will be
served the next game. This rule will be in effect for LEAGUE, NON-LEAGUE AND POST SEASON PLAY.
TRANSFER AND RESIDENCE RULES
See the Athletic Director
STUDENT SEASON PARTICIPATION RULE
Once a student begins practice in a sport and his/her membership is terminated by a coach for a reason other than being
“cut”, or the student voluntarily withdraws from the squad, he/she is ineligible to participate in any other sport that season
until given approval by the athletic director.
EARLY DISMISSAL
 Early dismissal for afternoon contests is based on (1) Travel time (2) Proper warm-up time needed prior to the
start of the contest.

Any away afternoon contest could mean that a student will miss part or all of some afternoon classes. Students
are responsible to see the teacher involved for any assignments for the class missed.
TRANSPORTATION
Athletes must travel to and from contests, away from school, in transportation provided by the school. The only
exceptions are:
a. Injury to a participant which would require alternate transportation.
b. A team member may go home with their own or a teammate’s parent or guardian provided they have a note
signed by their parent/guardian.
c. School transportation is not provided and alternate means are approved.
GROOMING AND DRESS
A member of the athletic team is expected to be well groomed. Appearance, expression, and actions always influence
people’s opinions of athletes, the team, and the school. On game days, the coach and/or captains will determine what the
attire for the day will be.
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NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Athletic Code of Conduct
1. Every student who represents North Penn School District in ATHLETICS is expected to conduct
himself/herself in such a manner as to reflect credit upon North Penn and the team.
2. Students are representatives of the team 24 hours a day. Any participant who is found to be in
violation of this code of conduct away from and in the community will be suspended from
participation in athletics for a period of one week to the remainder of that current season.
3. Possession and/or use of conspiracy to use or buy, or transportation of controlled substances or
alcoholic beverages at any time or attendance at a drug or alcohol party can subject students to
the aforementioned disciplinary consequences. This applies at any time and will apply whether
such use is on or off school grounds. A more severe penalty may be applied at the discretion of
the coach in consultation with and approved by a school administrator. Students found in
violation of this code of conduct may also be asked to meet with a drug & alcohol counselor prior
to resuming the activity.
4. The use of anabolic steroids, except for physician-approved medical purposes, by any student
involved in school-related athletics is prohibited. The penalty is suspension from the athletic team
for the remainder of the season. No student shall be eligible to resume participation in school
athletics unless there has been a medical determination that no residual evidence of steroids
exists.
5. All members of the team are subject to school and district discipline policies when infractions
occur during the actual event, including going to and from the event.
________________________________________________________________________________
NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Code of Conduct Agreement
I understand that participation in North Penn School District athletic programs is a privilege. As a
participant in a sport, I agree to uphold the standards established by the North Penn School District
and my Coach.
My signature indicates that I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the conditions set forth in
the code of conduct.
______ ________________ _______________________ ______________________
Date
Sport
Student's Name (print)
Student's Signature
I have read this Code of Conduct and understand what is expected of the student for participation in
the Athletic program of North Penn School District.
______ ________________ _______________________ ______________________
Date
Sport
Parent/Guardian's Name (print)
Parent/Guardian Signature
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This form must be completed and return by: ____________
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