The code of conduct for participation in the interscholastic athletics program of Queensbury Union Free School District follows recommendations endorsed by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and is based on additional input from various constituent groups within the district and community. NYSPHSAA has endorsed athletic programs that are grounded in research that supports best practices. The Queensbury Athletic Code of Conduct:

Outlines the positive expectations for coaches, parents and athletes.
Defines how the district will establish and maintain a healthy environment that will reinforce the behaviors necessary for maximizing potential.
Spells out the consequences and conditions needed to be met in order to remain a member of the athletic program if a violation were to occur.

Training rules, regulations and New York State law

Student-athletes go through a selective process to earn a place on their respective roster. Many teams only allow for a certain amount of players to exist on the roster. These athletes are placed at levels requiring them to compete against teams that are skilled and trained for elite-level competition. Due to the need to compete in high levels of physical activity, we must ensure the health and safety of those who participate. Therefore, the following guidelines must be followed by all student-athletes:

The possession or use of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 years is against the law in New York and strictly prohibited for any student-athlete.
The possession or use of marijuana and all classified street drugs and controlled substances is illegal and strictly prohibited for any student-athlete.
The possession or use of prescription drugs without a medical authorization is illegal and strictly prohibited for any student-athlete.
The possession or use of tobacco products such as cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vaping pens, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, waterpipe (hookah) tobacco, and orally ingested dissolvable tobacco products is strictly prohibited for any student-athlete.

Parties/presence at parties with alcohol or illegal drugs (in the presence of)

If student-athletes attend a party where alcohol or drugs are being illegally dispensed, the student-athletes must leave the party immediately and report their attendance to a coach or administrator before the end of the next school day.

If the party occurs outside of the academic school year, the student-athletes have 72 hours to report their attendance to any school official or coach. (Leaving a detailed voicemail or e-mail is considered a report.)

Following these procedures exactly exonerates an innocent athlete, assuming that the athlete is not frequently showing up at these parties or that there is no corroborative information to indicate otherwise. However, a student-athlete who fails to report his or her attendance will be judged to have been in possession or guilty by presence.

The price of athletic involvement is a commitment to the ideals of being an athlete.

The Athletic Code of Conduct spells out, for all stakeholders, the clear and consistent boundaries of the Queensbury athletic program. To be successful, student-athletes must understand these provisions and agree to them. The provisions and expectations are the same for every student-athlete. There will be no exceptions to the consequences for those who decide to violate this code.

Duration of the Athletic Code of Conduct and application of consequences

Queensbury Middle School

The Athletic Code of Conduct is in effect for middle school student-athletes from the first day of legal practices in the fall of the year they enter seventh grade through the last day of eighth grade for students in June. All student discipline cases that occurred while in the middle school and playing on modified teams will stay a part of the middle school record and not transfer to the high school.

Any middle school student who successfully completes the Athletic Placement Process to compete at the high school level (e.g., freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams) is subject to the high school standards for Athletic Code of Conduct violations and the progression of consequences. More specifically, when a student who meets these conditions has an Athletic Code of Conduct violation while in middle school, that violation will carry over to the high school. For example, a student who commits one Athletic Code of Conduct violation in middle school while playing on a freshman, junior varsity or varsity team will begin high school with one violation. The next violation for that student while in high school would be considered a second violation.

Queensbury High School

The Athletic Code of Conduct for all high school student-athletes will be in effect July 1 of the year they enter ninth grade and continue through graduation of their senior year. This code of conduct applies to any student athlete who has or intends to participate in a sport. Any known violations of the code of conduct will be recorded and documented as such. The consequences associated with a violation to the code, whether it be the first, second or third violation, will be applied to the student-athlete:

During the season in which they are currently participating or
The next season in which the student participates.

Consequences from season to season

Any student who participates in a sport for the first time following a violation of the Athletic Code of Conduct in their previous season will be monitored by the director of athletics and the coaches of the respective seasons to ensure that the spirit of the code of conduct is not being abused.

The participation of all student-athletes is encouraged, when it is possible. However, Queensbury reserves the right to maintain the integrity of the athletic program. Any athlete believed to be participating in a sport solely for the purpose of fulfilling the consequences of a code of conduct violation and not meeting the expected standard for participation in that sport will be dismissed from the team, earning no time towards fulfilling the consequence.

First violation

Loss of eligibility to participate in 25% of scheduled interscholastic events. This includes post-season events such as sectionals, states, etc.
Student-athlete must still practice with the team during loss of eligibility.
Student-athlete may be assigned to participate in a designated drug/alcohol awareness program. This program will be facilitated by the Health Education Department chairperson or an athletic staff member. The family may request that an outside agency conduct the program, and permission may be granted by the director of athletics.
Team leadership titles held by student-athletes are an increased responsibility for those student-athletes. Student-athletes who are captains of a team when a violation occurs will be held to a higher standard. They will lose the captain privilege for the remainder of the season.
Parents will be notified by the director of athletics.
Student-athlete will address the coach and the team, apologize for the specific violation, describe a plan to ensure that the rule will not be broken again, ask for support from the team to maintain accountability moving forward, and re-sign the Athletic Code of Conduct.
Student-athlete will meet with the School Resource Office or school-based probation officer to discuss the legal implication of the student’s actions, with the parent present.

Note: All of the above items listed for a first violation are conditions for reinstatement in competition. Any failure or refusal to meet all of the conditions listed will result in removal from the team.

Hosting

A host is someone who receives or entertains other people as guests. For the purposes of the Athletic Code of Conduct, a student-athlete is considered to be hosting when he or she is the host for a gathering at a primary or secondary residence or any other location secured by the host or the family of the host where alcohol or drugs are being illegally dispensed. Any student-athlete found to be responsible for hosting a gathering where alcohol or drugs are being illegally dispensed will be subject to double the consequences outlined in the applicable level of violation. For example, a first violation for the student-athlete who hosted the party will result in the loss of eligibility for 50% of the scheduled interscholastic events. A second violation for the student-athlete who hosted the party will result in a 20-week suspension from all interscholastic events.

Self-referrals

Any student-athlete who refers himself/herself to seek help for substance/alcohol abuse before the first violation is confirmed shall follow the first violation steps, but only lose eligibility for 15% of the scheduled interscholastic events. The director of athletics reserves the right to not grant the reduction in consequence for self-reporting based on the individual circumstances of a violation.

8-9 events per season

15%: one event
- 25%: two events

10-13 events per season

25%: three events

10-16 events per season

15%: two events

14-17 events per season

25%: four events

17-23 events per season

15%: three events

18-21 events per season

25%: five events

24 events per season

15%: four events

22-24 events per season

25%: six events

Second violation

A second violation will be considered a disciplinary infraction, generating a “yes” response to the disciplinary action question in the College Common Application and other similarly worded applications. It also will result in the following actions:

10-week suspension from all interscholastic events.
Not eligible for any school awards at the end of the sport season in which the violation occurred.
Must participate in a designated drug/alcohol awareness program.
Any part of the 10-week suspension not completed during one sport season will carry over to the next season in which the student-athlete competes. Any portion of a suspension not completed during that season will begin with the first interscholastic event scheduled for the next sport season.
May practice with the team for the duration of the suspension.
Parents will be notified by the director of athletics.
Student-athlete will address the coach and the team, apologize for the specific violation, describe a plan to ensure that the rule will not be broken again, ask for support from the team to maintain accountability moving forward, and re-sign the Athletic Code of Conduct.
Student-athlete will meet with the School Resource Office or school-based probation officer to discuss the legal implication of the student’s actions, with the parent present.

Third and subsequent violation

Suspended from participation in all interscholastic activities for the remainder of the student-athlete’s career.
Parents will be notified by the director of athletics.
Referred to professional chemical dependency programs.
Will not receive any school awards at the end of the sport season in which the
violation occurred.

Prior to the district imposing any discipline, the student and parent will be given an opportunity to discuss the factual situation informally with the appropriate district representative.

Character, civility, and sportsmanship

Student-athletes

Team members are expected to be good citizens within their team, school and community. Student-athletes are expected to be supportive of other team members, school initiatives, and community service.

Each student-athlete is responsible for his or her own digital footprint. All student-athletes are responsible for their cyber activity and must ensure that they are not involved with hazing, bullying, and inappropriate or illegal postings. Student-athletes jeopardize team membership if school rules or laws are violated. Violations of school rules or civil law will result in disciplinary action.

A student who is arrested or convicted of a crime, either misdemeanor or felony, may be suspended from participation until the legal matter is resolved. Upon resolution, the district shall take additional disciplinary and/or corrective action if warranted.

Students are expected to be truthful, forthcoming with information, and cooperative at all times. This certainly holds true during investigations. If a student-athlete is determined to be deceptive or untruthful, a greater consequence may be applied at the discretion of the school building administration or director of athletics.

Staff, family and fans

The Queensbury athletic program places a high level of emphasis on sportsmanship and therefore supports the principles of NYSPHSAA’s “Sportsmanship Matters” publication. Following the principles put forth in this document provides athletic administrators, coaches, athletes, officials, parents, and spectators with the tools to create a positive athletic experience. To the best of their ability, athletics staff will support and carry out the recommendations outlined by NYSPHSAA.

Academic standards for eligibility

Participation in interscholastic athletics should have a positive effect on student academic performance. The primary objective of all academic and extracurricular programs of the school district is to provide a variety of successful educational opportunities and experiences to students.
All students, including those participating in extracurricular activities, are expected to maintain academic excellence as their top priority. If academic performance is below an acceptable level (passing with a 65 is the minimum), then it is the responsibility of the student and parent to ensure that the student is meeting the necessary criteria for eligibility in interscholastic athletics.
At all times, the school building administration and the athletic director shall have the right to consult with parents/guardians, teachers, school counselors, and coaches to determine whether student participation in interscholastic athletics should be modified to address academic performance.
Each sports season, a comprehensive list of students participating in athletics will be generated in the Athletics Office and shared with the faculty and staff. Any staff member who has concerns with the academic performance of a student-athlete can initiate an intervention process. This process will include, but is not limited to:
1. Email or call to the coach requesting support of the student-athlete’s need for additional academic support.
2. Email or call to the student’s counselor.
3. Email or call to request a meeting with the student, parent, counselor, administrator (school building level or athletic director) and teacher.
4. Email or call to the athletic director to review the possible need for a modification to the student-athlete’s competition eligibility.