Olympia School District Athletic Code

Athletic Code for High School Students: Including Athletics, Cheer, Drill and Dance
 
OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT 111 – OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON 

Participating in athletic or other co-curricular programs is a privilege, not a right, and involves
teamwork, responsibility and self-discipline.  The Olympia School District is committed to
promoting the well-being, personal development and successful performance of our high school
students.  This policy is designed to assist students who participate in athletic or other co-
curricular programs to be safe, responsible, healthy and successful.  All students who choose to
participate in athletics or other co-curricular programs are expected and required to set a
positive example for others through their conduct and promotion of a positive school
environment which holds high academic and behavior standards and is free from violence,
alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
 
The Olympia School District Athletic/Activity Code is designed to provide specific regulations to
be followed by all high school students participating in athletics or other co-curricular programs,
including but not limited to drill/dance team, cheer squad, debate and music/drama performance
events that are part of an extra curricular offering. 
 
This Athletic/Activity Code is in effect; (1) throughout the school year from the first day of turn
out for a sport or activity through the remainder of the calendar year, until the participants first
turn out of the succeeding year—exclusive of summer break, (2) at school or at any school-
sponsored program/event, even those occurring during breaks in the school year, and (3) at any
program/event at which students are representing their school or the District regardless of when
the event occurs and regardless of sponsorship. The Code will no longer remain in effect if a
student participates in less than ten (10) practice days during their initial sports season of any
year.
 
Sanctions related to misconduct issued under this policy will be considered cumulative
throughout a student’s high school years for any and all athletic or co-curricular programs.  The
Superintendent will establish appropriate procedures for the implementation and will broadly
disseminated the Code and its’ provisions in school and district publications and in a manner
that will reasonably provide students and their families with notification.
 
 

WIAA Regulations

 Participants are required to comply with all WIAA regulations, with specific exceptions as
allowed by WIAA related to academic standards and student conduct as noted in this Code.  
The Superintendent will publish and make available to all participants WIAA rules directly
related to eligibility.  Other WIAA regulations will be available at each high school site and linked
to the District website.
 
 

Olympia School District Regulations:

 Academic Standards – Previous Semester  (Reference WIAA 18.6)
A student will have been in regular attendance and have passed all classes in a middle or high
school during the semester immediately proceeding the season in which they wish to
participate.   Students enrolled in Running Start, approved Online Education Programs, and/or
those in approved Home School programs, must meet all requirements under section 18.0 of
WIAA Rules and Regulations. 
 
Incompletes must be made up for credit during the first five (5) weeks of the subsequent
semester.  The student will be ineligible for competition until the incomplete(s) is cleared. 
Students receiving a “No-Credit - NC” grade will be declared ineligible for competition for a
period of five (5) weeks.  
 
Students failing to meet these academic requirements will be placed on probation for a period of
five (5) weeks from the first day of practice for that sport.  For fall sports, the probationary period
will begin the first day of school, per section 18.0 of WIAA Rules and Regulation, for students
failing two or more classes.   During the probationary period the student is eligible to practice
but may not participate in any competition.  A student on academic probation will be required to
participate in an academic enhancement program/“study table” and/or have practice time
reduced to allow for additional study time.  If the student is passing all classes at the end of the
probationary period, full eligibility will be reinstated. The building Athletic Director will meet
individually with each ineligible student, contact their parents and discuss available methods
designed to assist the student in achieving a passing grade.
 
 

Clearance Timeline

 Sports Season   Clearance Semester
FALL 2nd Semester (previous semester)
WINTER 2nd Semester (previous year) AND 1 semester (current year)
SPRING 1st Semester (current year)
 
Academic Standards – Current Semester (Reference WIAA 18.7)
In order to maintain eligibility during the current semester, students must maintain regular
attendance and have passing grades in all classes.  The building Athletic Director will check
progress grades at six (6) and twelve (12) weeks
 
The building Athletic Director will consult with the student’s teacher(s) to determine the reason
for the failing grades, meet individually with the student and make contact with the parent.  If a
student has a failing grade at the six (6) week check they will be given until the eighth (8th) week
to confirm a passing grade.  If at that time they are failing a class they will be placed on
probation until such time as a passing grade is confirmed by the teacher(s) and building Athletic
Director.  If failing a class at the twelve (12) week check they will be immediately placed on
probation until such time a passing grade is confirmed.  Students placed on academic probation
will be required to participate in an academic enhancement program/”study table” and/or have
practice time reduced to allow for additional study time.
 

General Conduct

Students found in violation of district Policy 3200, Student Rights and Responsibilities 1 - 27
(and as described in the Student Rights and Responsibility Handbook) may be subject to
athletic/co-curricular disciplinary action, in addition to other school discipline action, as
determined by the building Athletic Director and Principal.  Disciplinary action for violations
involving tobacco, alcohol, legend drugs, controlled substances and conduct away from school
are noted below and may only be modified through the appeal process.
 

1. Tobacco Possession and/or Use (Reference WIAA 18.26)

 The use or possession of tobacco products is prohibited at school and/or at school
 events, and will result in the following:
 

* If less than the specified number of days remain in the season, the suspension  will
carryover into the student’s next season of participation.
 
The above sanctions will be implemented in addition to school discipline procedures. 
Violations are considered cumulative for the duration of high school eligibility.
 

2. Alcohol, Legend Drugs and Controlled Substances (Reference WIAA 18.26)

 The following Code sanctions for possession, being under the influence or sale/transfer
of alcohol, legend drugs and controlled substances at school or at a school-sponsored
event, shall be considered as one part of the total school disciplinary process.  Violations
of this section are considered cumulative from 7th grade through the duration of high
school eligibility.
 

 

3. Conduct Away From School (Reference WIAA 18.26)

Students participating in athletics or co-curricular activities who attend gatherings
(parties) at any time during the school year where alcohol and/or other drugs are being
illegally used, must, upon learning of the presence and/or use of such substances, make
immediate and reasonable attempts to leave.  
 
If found in violation of remaining at the gathering (party) the student will be immediately
ineligible for a minimum of one (1) contest. 
 
If found to have been in possession, under the influence or sale/transfer of alcohol
and/or other drugs, the appropriate sanction (first violation, second violation, third
violation), as noted in this section (General Conduct, Item 2) will be imposed.
 

Appeal Process

A student and/or parent/guardian who believes that there are extenuating circumstances which
would allow a modification of a disciplinary action resulting from a Code violation, he/she may
access the following appeal procedure.*
   

Academic Probation Appeal

Upon the imposition of academic probation, any aggrieved student or parent/guardian of said
student will have the right to appeal to the Building Athletic Committee consisting of the building
principal, athletic director, two (2) coaches (not associated with the appeal) and one (1)
counselor.  Appeals to this committee will be made in writing to the building Athletic Director.  A
request for an appeal hearing must be made within three (3) school days of the action grieved
or the student or parent/guardian will have waived their right to the appeal.   The building
athletic committee will hear the appeal within three (3) days of receiving the request.  The
aggrieved student or parent/guardian will be notified of the building committees decision within
three (3) days of  hearing the appeal.  The aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the
building committee to the District Athletic Committee within 3 days of receiving notice from the
building.
 

Disciplinary Action Appeal

The aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the building to the District Athletic Committee
consisting of the District Coordinator for Health, Fitness and Athletic Programs, three (3) District
level administrators and the Athletic Director from the high school not involved in the appeal. 
Appeals to this committee shall be made in writing to the District Coordinator of Health, Fitness
and Athletic Programs within three (3) school days of notification of the building committee’s
decision or the aggrieved parties will waive their right to the appeal. The District committee will
hear the appeal within five (5) school days of receiving written notification and will render a
decision on the case within five (5) school days of hearing the appeal.
 
The aggrieved parties may appeal the District Athletic Committee decision to the Board of
Directors within three (3) school days of receiving notification of the district committee decision
or the aggrieved party will have waived their right to the appeal.  The Board of Directors will
hear the appeal at their next regular meeting.  After hearing the case the aggrieved party will be
notified of the decision within ten (10) school days.  The decision of the Board of Directors will
be final.
 
Appeals related to specific violations of WIAA Rules and Regulations must follow established
WIAA procedures.  The aggrieved party shall meet with the building Athletic Director within
three (3) school days of the notification of a WIAA violation to review the appeal process.  
 
* Students with approved Individual Education Plans (IEPs) who wish to appeal academic
probation must base the appeal on areas specifically addressed and agreed upon in the
approved plan which was in effect during the semester where failing grades were received.
 

Physical Examination

Prior to the first practice for high school athletic teams and drill/dance/cheer squads, students
will undergo a physical examination and be approved for full participation.   Initial medical
examinations will be valid for 24 months with a physical update to be conducted after 13
months.  The 24-month physical examination and the 13-month update must be submitted on
forms provided by the District and signed by a medical authority licensed to perform a physical
examination.