2024-2025 Athletic Handbook

Welcome from the Administration

Congratulations on choosing to participate in a Madison Elementary School District Athletic Program. The relationships you form with coaches and other student athletes will provide experiences and memories that will stay with you forever. Additionally, the ability to work as part of a team toward a common goal will be relevant to nearly every aspect of your life. We wish you success on the playing field or court, as well as in the classroom. Let the games begin!

Madison School District Administration

On behalf of the staff and coaches here at Madison, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our school and our athletic program. We are very proud of the athletic tradition at Madison and everything that our program represents. We hope you have an enriching and memorable athletic experience. Your commitment and dedication on the playing field is an investment in your future. With the proper attitude, you will develop values that will accompany you throughout your life.

Mission Statement: The Madison athlete not only learns about their sport, but also about dedication, responsibility, and good sportsmanship. Madison strives to motivate its athletes to practice, play, and achieve athletic excellence, while coaches and parents ensure every athlete considers academics a high priority.

Sports Program Offered

Fall Sports (August through October)

• Boys and Girls Cross Country
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer
• Girls Varsity Volleyball
• Girls Jr. Varsity Volleyball
• *Boys Volleyball (Not available at Park Middle School)

Winter Sports (November through February)

• Boys Varsity Basketball
• Girls Varsity Basketball
• Boys Jr. Varsity Basketball
• Girls Jr. Varsity Basketball
• Cheer
• Flag Football
• Wrestling (Meadows Only)

Spring Sports (February through May)

• Boys Varsity Baseball
• Boys Jr. Varsity Baseball (Not available at Park Middle School)
• Girls Varsity Softball
• Girls Jr. Varsity Softball (Not available at Park Middle School)
• Track (Not available at MTA)

*Sports are subject to change. Please check with your school's Athletic Director.

All expectations in the Student Handbook apply to athletes

Ethical Expectation

Madison Elementary School District believes strongly in the value of extracurricular activities. One of the most valuable outcomes is the mental, physical, and social development of the students who represent Madison Elementary School District through participation in athletics and activities.

Being a student in the Madison School District is a right. Participation in extracurricular activities, however, is a privilege. It is important to have good representatives who are leaders both on campus and in the community.

As an athlete, I understand it is my responsibility to:

1. Place academic achievement as the highest priority.
2. Show respect for teammates, opponents, officials, and coaches.
3. Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
4. Be a positive representation of the school and district at all times.
5. Exhibit fair play, sportsmanship, and proper conduct on and off the playing field. This includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Treat officials, opponents, teammates, and coaches with courtesy and respect in all situations.
   2. Respect the rules of the game without seeking to evade or break the spirit or letter of the rules.
   3. Consider visiting teams and their spectators as honored guests.
   4. Behave courteously as a responsible guest at other schools.
   5. Be gracious in victory and defeat.
6. Refrain from the use of profanity, vulgarity, and other offensive language and gestures.
7. Adhere to the established rules and standards of the game to be played.
8. Respect all equipment and use it safely and appropriately.
9. Refrain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal, and non-prescriptive drugs, anabolic steroids, or any substance to increase physical development or performance that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, Surgeon General of the United States, or American Medical Association.
10. Know and follow all state, conference, and school athletic rules and regulations as they pertain to eligibility and sports participation.
11. Bullying/Harassment: Bullying and or harassment of students is prohibited. Bullying and harassment mean physical or psychological abuse of another student by means of verbal or physical threats, intimidation, insults, or other aggressive behavior and includes abuse based upon race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or disability. If a student believes he or she has been harassed or bullied, the student should report the behavior to a teacher, coach, school nurse, or school administrator. Students who engage in harassment or bullying will be subject to disciplinary and criminal sanctions.
12. Hazing (A.R.S. 15-2301): Hazing means forcing a student to risk or suffer physical or mental harm or degradation to join, participate, or remain on a school affiliated organization. This includes any intentional or reckless act committed by an individual or group of students, against other students where both the following apply:
    1. The act was in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with or membership of a school sponsored athletic team or group;
    2. the act causes, contributes to, or poses a substantial risk of physical or mental injury or degradation. There shall be no hazing, solicitation to engage in hazing, or aiding and abetting another who is engaged in hazing of any person enrolled, accepted for or promoted to enrollment, or intending to enroll or be promoted to schools within twelve (12) calendar months. For the purposes of this policy a person as specified above shall be considered a “student” until graduation, transfer, promotion, or withdrawal from the school. “Hazing” means any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student and in which both of the following apply:
       1. The act was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution.
       2. The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm or degradation, or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation.
    3. Win with character, lose with dignity

Application of Behavioral Expectations

As members of an athletic team, students accept the responsibility of serving as representatives of Madison School District and its community. Such participation carries increased expectations beyond those applicable in the daily classroom situation. Once signed, the Code of Conduct is considered to be in effect 24 hours per day and 12 months a year. Each season, students participating in athletics will be required to sign a form(s) agreeing to adhere to the Madison Athletic Handbook.

Additionally, Madison athletes are expected to adhere to all behavior guidelines as listed in your school’s handbook.

This Code shall apply to all students who participate in Madison School District athletics. The following will apply to all athletes:

• This Code shall apply to all students who participate in extracurricular activities involving competition.
• A record of a student athlete’s violations will be kept throughout his or her attendance in Madison School District.
• Students who violate the Code must serve penalties or consequences prior to re-entry into the athletic program.
• When suspended from a team due to academic eligibility, students are still expected to follow all rules and regulations for the sport/activity. Students are encouraged to still attend practices and games until eligible.
• Students who are serving a Code of Conduct penalty must begin and complete their suspension during the entire season. This means the student must finish the sport/activity season in good standing and meet all of the requirements of the head coach.
• If a student is dismissed from the team/activity or quits the team/activity during the period of their suspension for a Code violation, the suspension for the Code violation will continue to the next sport/activity season in which the student participates.
• Failure to sign the Code of Conduct does not exclude a student from being held accountable for the rules and regulations of this policy.
• Those not signing the Code shall not be allowed to compete.

The athlete’s family is fully responsible for the return of all equipment and uniforms in satisfactory condition. Failure to meet this expectation will result in parents having to reimburse the athletic department a minimum of $50. An athlete will be denied further participation in sports and/or access to school records if equipment is not returned and fees go unpaid.

Playing Time

The athlete’s effort, attendance, attitude, physical conditioning, skill, and the number of students on each team are some of the factors considered by a coach when determining playing time. Every reasonable effort will be made to give each athlete a fair share of playing time. THERE IS NO GUARANTEED PLAYING TIME.

Practice Time

Practices are held at the discretion of the coach. Practices may be scheduled on Saturdays or school breaks at the coach’s discretion. Athletes are required to be at each practice and to be on time, unless excused by the coach in advance. Excessive absences (excused or not) can adversely affect the team and may limit the athlete from participation or playing time.

Attendance

In order for a student to play in a game, the student must have attended half the academic day. Exceptions to this include family emergencies such as funerals or religious observances.

Due to the limited transportation resources, the Madison School District Transportation Department cannot guarantee transportation to and from away athletic events. The transportation department will provide prior notice to the school’s athletic director if transportation is not available. The Athletic Director will contact parents via email and text message in forming the parents of the transportation situation. If your child will be utilizing alternative transportation (not district provided) for athletic events, the Alternative Transportation-Private Vehicle Agreement from must be completed and returned to your child’s Athletic Director/Coach. In addition, parents must sign out their child with the coach at the end of away games.

District provided transportation, including school buses, is a privilege, not a right. Athletes must follow all directions of the bus driver and comply with all rules regarding the bus. Any athlete that does not follow directions or that violates bus rules may lose their bus riding privileges.

Meeting(s) may be held for the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the student athlete. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) are not able to attend, they must speak to the head coach directly to review the expectations and conduct of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and student athlete. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s) cooperation, communication, and support between school personnel, coaches, athletes, and parents are essential to the success of an intramural athletic program and to ensure students have a positive and enriching experience.

Should there be a concern, call and make an appointment with the coach to discuss any issues.

Approaching the coach before, during, and/or after a game is not the proper time to talk. Coaches have other responsibilities before, during, and/or after the game. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be allowed to arrange a meeting with the coach and/or principal to discuss any concerns.

Concerns that are not appropriate to discuss with a coach include: playing time of the student athlete, team strategy or play calling, and other student athletes.

Parents are encouraged to accompany their child to as many orientation meetings, athletic contests, and special events their schedule will permit.

Parents are expected to:

• Try their best to assure that their child attends all scheduled practices, athletic contests, and team meetings.
• Refrain from the use of negative statements about the coach or the team in front of their child, and give the coach the opportunity to resolve any concerns.
• Help their child handle adversity with dignity, be gracious in defeat, humble in victory, and treat others with respect and consideration.
• Be an exemplary role model by displaying good sportsmanship at all times and respecting fans, coaches, officials, directors, and participants.
• Remember their involvement and support is vital to their child’s overall academic, athletic, and personal success.
• Pick up their child within 15 minutes of the end of practices or games. Habitual tardiness may result in the student athlete being removed from the team.
• Model behavior consistent with Madison’s policy: KFA K-1700 Public Conduct on School Property and A.R.S. 13-2911

The following is the chain of communication for questions or concerns that may occur before, during, or after a sports season:

1. The student/athlete addresses concerns with the coach.
2. If not satisfied with the outcome, the parent/guardian addresses concerns with the site athletic director.
3. If not satisfied with the outcome, the parent/guardian addresses concerns with the principal.

Next School Day Communication Policy

Coaches will not address questions or concerns before, during, or immediately after a competition. Please allow 24 hours after a competition before addressing a question or concern.

The consequences may vary but are not limited to the following:

• Discussion to refocus behavior
• Discussion with parent to inform and assist in correcting behavior
• Short term suspension from the team
• Removal from the team

Madison School District requires all students that participate on an athletic team pay an athletic fee of $100.00 per student-athlete per sport to offset the cost of operating our athletic program. The fee pays for coaches, referees, conference dues, transportation, uniforms, and equipment. The fee may be “given back” in the way of a Tax Credit for the same amount. The Athletic Fee is payable after the tryouts are concluded and the student has made the team. Once feeds are paid the fees are non- refundable. Please pay your $100.00 athletic fee online through your child’s PowerSchool portal or the school office. Please note Athletic Directors nor coaches can accept fees.

We can also accept credit card payments in the office.

Madison School District has not turned away a student who meets the academic and behavioral criteria from playing a sport due to financial circumstances. If a student/family is in need of financial consideration, volunteer assistance to our school and/or athletic program may be considered instead of the $100.00 payment. If the student meets all of the academic and behavioral requirements, then a waiver will be considered that will enable him/her to participate. Please contact your athletic director if you are in need of a waiver.

Thank you for supporting your child by encouraging him/her to participate in our athletic program. We truly believe the investment will enrich their lives from the experience they have in practice and games.

Any of the following acts shall be a violation of this code, including those directly from the student handbook, but are not limited to:

1. Be a student in good standing, this means maintaining a “D” or above in every subject.
2.  If a Student Athlete receives an “F” on his or her Grade Check, that student will not be eligible to participate in any extracurricular activities for that entire week and until his or her academic eligibility is reinstated by raising the grade to passing. Passing grades must be confirmed the week prior to be considered eligible.
3. Administration or the Coach has the right to remove a student-athlete from a team if there are two cycles of non-compliance in a season.
4. A student may be placed on behavioral probation upon receiving a Severe Discipline Report. The length of the probation and/or conditions for reinstatement will be at the discretion of the administration.
5. A student may be suspended or removed from the extracurricular activity for conduct considered detrimental to the school, after consultation with parents, and school administration or the school’s designee.

• In order to participate for a team/sport, a student-athlete must maintain an overall grade of a “D” or higher in each individual subject. Students not meeting this criterion will not have the privilege of participating in games, sitting on the bench with the team, or riding the bus to games or events.
• Coaches, parents, athletic directors, or teachers reserve the right to request more frequent grade checks.
• Grades will be checked Monday mornings of game weeks. A student with a failing grade will not be eligible for that week even if they bring up their grade that week.
• Grades will be checked mid-quarter and at the end of each quarter. Any student earning an “F” for the previous quarter will sit out a week for the last failing grade.

If a student-athlete has an overall grade that is lower than a “D,” he or she will be ineligible for participating in any games until the overall grade in each subject is a “D” or higher. If a student-athlete raises his or her overall grade to a “D” or higher after the week of being ineligible but before the next game week grade check, he or she must have a teacher sign a grade sheet showing they are now eligible to participate.

*Administration and athletic directors reserve the right to determine any student-athlete ineligible or eligible at any time based on behavior or academic grades.

The Madison Elementary School District has many talented student athletes who have earned many athletic championships and honors in the Junior High Valley Athletic Conference (VAC). The Scholar Athlete award highlights academic accomplishments and focuses on academic success. By recognizing scholar athletes, it will motivate student athletes to increase their academic achievement in the classroom and place academics accomplishments on the same level as athletic accomplishments.

There is team and individual scholar athlete award. The criteria for the team award is an average GPA of 3.80 or higher, and for the individual award the criteria is a 3.75 GPA or higher. The GPA are calculated from the first semester of the current academic year. At the end of the academic year, the team scholar athletes will be recognized at the District’s End of the Year Award ceremony, and the individual awards will be recognized at the individual middle schools.

1. To register for a sport, the parent will create an account for their child in Aktivate (an online athlete clearance portal). All the required documents are located in the portal and can be downloaded and filled out. The following are links to tutorial videos which provide step by step instructions on how to register your child in Aktivate. This can be done on a computer or a smart phone:
   • How do I create an account?
   • How do I print of a physical to take to the doctor?
   • How do I begin a registration for a sport?
2. The $100.00 athletic fee (eligible tax credit) for each sport in which a student participates is payable after the tryouts are concluded and the student has made the team. A jersey will not be issued during the season unless payment has been made or arrangements have been made with the Athletic Director.
3. To pay the athletic fee, please contact your school Athletic Director