CHAPTER 4.00 - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
4.09 Athletics
POLICY:
I. The School Board recognizes the value of interscholastic athletics and the positive impact sports have on students. The Board shall comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc. (FHSAA), Florida law, and this policy when determining the eligibility of a transfer student to participate in the District’s interscholastic athletic program.
II. Athletic programs shall be under the control of the school principal.
III. All District high schools shall be members of the Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc. (FHSAA) and shall be governed by the rules and regulations adopted by FHSAA. Students who participate in athletics shall meet eligibility requirements established by FHSAA and the School Board which are consistent with Florida Statutes.
IV. Students practicing or participating in any type of interscholastic athletics shall provide proof of accident insurance covering medical expenses of any injury sustained in a sport.The principal shall be responsible for obtaining proof, as evidenced by a copy of the insurance card and a signed statement from the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian, as defined by Florida Statutes, of the student’s insurance prior to practice or participation in interscholastic athletics. Such insurance may be made available to the parent(s) or legal guardian through the school, or the parent(s) or legal guardian may submit evidence that insurance has been provided through another source.
V. No student shall be a candidate for an athletic team, engage in practice, or a participant in any interscholastic game without filing an informed consent signed by his/her parent(s)/legal guardian(s) granting written permission. The consent must explain the nature and risk of concussion and head injury as required by law. The consent must be filed annually prior to participating in any physical activity related to athletic competition or candidacy for an athletic team.
VI. Interscholastic Participation: To be eligible to participate in interscholastic extracurricular student activities, a student must:
A. Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the previous semester or a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by s. 1003.43(1).
B. Maintain satisfactory conduct and, if a student is convicted of, or is found to have committed, a felony or a delinquent act which would have been a felony if committed by an adult, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld, the student's participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities is contingent upon established and published district school board policy.
VI. Participation by Transfer Students
A. Pursuant to the bylaws of the FHSAA, a "transfer" occurs when a student makes any change in schools after s/he establishes residency at a school each year. A student who transfers from one school to another will be eligible at the new school provided the student qualifies under one of transfer eligibility categories set forth in the FHSAA’s bylaws and meets all other eligibility requirements. A transfer student who has not participated in school sponsored activities on or after the official start date of that sport season may seek to immediately join a team, provided the roster has not reached the identified maximum size and the coach determines that the student has the requisite skill and ability to participate.
B. However, a student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the student meets one (1) of the following criteria:
1. Dependent children of active-duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.
2. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.
3. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.
4. Authorized for good cause.
C. For purposes of this policy, "authorized for good cause" means the student is able to satisfactorily demonstrate to the Principal that one (1) of the following applies:
1. New Residence (Full and Complete Move) - The student moves to a new home address due to a move by the student and a person or person(s) with whom the student has been previously living that makes it necessary for the student to attend a different school.
2. A parent residing in the County relinquishing formal legal custody of his/her student to someone other than the parent (i.e., aunt, friend, grandparent, etc.) residing in a different school zone - extenuating circumstances must be documented. The guardianship must be due to the fact that the parent is truly not capable of caring for the student. This type of enrollment is not available if the student’s parent is not suffering from a documented physical, mental, or financial infirmity which, by ordinary and reasonable standards, precludes the parent from actually caring for the student. Once guardianship has been validated with legal documentation, the student shall be allowed to enroll in a school zoned for the residence of his/her legal guardian/custodian.
3. Student Marriage - The student moves to a new residence following marriage of the student. The student must immediately establish a new residence that makes it necessary to attend a different school.
4. Assignment or Reassignment by District Policy - The student is reassigned to a new school pursuant to Board policy.
5. Transfer during first twenty (20) days - The student transfers from the current school within the first twenty (20) school days to a new school (i.e., acceptance into a previously applied for magnet program, charter, or private school).
6. Superintendent Assignment - Special assignment by the Superintendent.
7. Undue hardship – All other extenuating circumstances that may not fit the above-stated criteria.
D. The Principal of each school in the District shall be responsible for enforcing the FHSAA’s bylaws and policies in his/her school. The Principal shall review and determine whether a transfer student qualifies under one of the transfer eligibility categories set forth in the FHSAA’s bylaws and meets all other eligibility requirements. Upon approval of the transfer student’s eligibility, a Notice of Transfer form prescribed by the FHSAA shall be submitted to the FHSAA prior to the student participating in any sport season.
E. The Principal or designee must annually submit all eligibility reports electronically and sign all eligibility correspondence. The principal or designee shall certify that the information provided to the FHSAA is accurate and that the students named in the report are eligible to participate in accordance with the FHSAA’s bylaws.
F. Eligibility Appeals - If the Principal determines that a transfer student is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics, a student may submit an appeal in accordance with Florida law and the FHSAA’s bylaws.
VII. The Superintendent shall develop appropriate administrative procedures for the operation of the interscholastic athletics program. Such procedures should provide for the following safeguards:
A. Prior to enrolling in the sport, each participant shall submit to a thorough physical examination as defined by Florida Statutes; and a parent/legal guardian shall report any past or current health problems along a physician's statement that any such problems have or are being treated and pose no threat to the student's participation. Physicals are valid for 365 days.
B. Any student wanting to participate in middle school and/or high school athletics must complete a mandatory Cardiology Report: Electrocardiogram (ECG) as a part of the student’s athletic packet and must:
1. Have an electrocardiogram (ECG) screening prior to participating in his/her first athletic sport in middle school and again prior to participating in his/her first athletic sport in high school; or
2. Decline the electrocardiogram (ECG) screening each year of athletic participation.
C. Any student who is found to have a health condition which may be life threatening to self or others shall not be allowed to participate until the situation has been analyzed by a medical review panel who has determined the conditions under which the student may participate. Pursuant to F.S. 1006.20(2)(d), the District shall not be liable for any student with a health condition who has been authorized to play by the parent/legal guardian if the parent/legal guardian of the student objects in writing to the student undergoing a medical evaluation because such evaluation is contrary to his/her religious beliefs or practices.
D. Any student who incurs an injury requiring a physician’s care is to have the written approval of a physician prior to the student’s return to participation.
E. To minimize health and safety risks to student athletes and maintain ethical standards, school personnel, coaches should never dispense, supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes.
F. The superintendent and school principal will require that sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity characterize the way the athletic program is conducted and the actions of students who participate.
G. All documentation for Physicals (FHSAA Form EL2), FHSAA Consent and Release from Liability Certificate (FHSAA Form EL3) that covers concussions, sudden cardiac arrest, and heat related illnesses, the ECG screening Consent Form and Release of Liability will be maintained by the Athletic Director for seven (7) years.
VIII. A student athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or competition shall be removed from play immediately. The athlete may not return to play without a clearance from appropriate medical personnel.
IX. FHSAA Form EL3 also provides information for parents and students on Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heat related Illnesses. Additional Information on Exertional Heat Illness is available in School Board Policy 4.18.
X. Pursuant to Section 768.135, Florida Statutes, licensed medical personnel who act as volunteers for school events and agree to render emergency care or treatment shall be immune from civil liability for treatment of a participant in any school sponsored athletic event, provided such treatment was rendered in accordance with acceptable standards of practice and was not objected to by the participant.
XI. An automatic external defibrillator (AED) will be available for use, if needed, at every preseason and regular season interscholastic contest and at every FHSAA state championship series contest. Staff will be trained to use such equipment.
XII. All students shall be subject to all School Board rules and to the Code of Student Conduct while attending athletic events and practices.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY : 1001.41; 1001.42, F.S.
LAWS IMPLEMENTED: 768.135; 943.0438; 1000.21; 1001.43; 1002.20; 1002.31; 1006.07; 1006.15; 1006.16; 1006.20, F.S.
History: Adopted: January 14, 1999
Revision Dates: October 7, 2003, February 9, 2010, April 11, 2017, January 14, 2025; January 13, 2026
Formerly:
