08 - Athletics & Activities Training Rules

The following rules are in effect 365 days per year as dictated by the WIAA. Offenses are over a career and are not removed at the start or end of a season or year.

DEFINITIONS

• Regular Season is defined as a sport the student has participated in within the last 365 days. If the student has not been enrolled for 365 days, the term does not apply.
• WIAA event is defined as all competition on one day.

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Possession/Use of Alcohol, Tobacco Products (including E-cigarettes, Vaping, Juuling, Other Similar Offenses), and/or Other Illegal Drugs Including WIAA Banned Substances Penalties/Suspensions:

• 1ST OFFENSE (IN SEASON)
  The athlete will be suspended for the entirety of the current season. If the offense occurs in the last 50% of the season, the suspension will last for the remainder of the current season as well as 25% of the next regular season. Self or parental referral within 24 hours of the violation may reduce the penalty to a minimum of 25% of the season’s scheduled WIAA events.
   
• 1ST OFFENSE (OUT OF SEASON)
  Suspension for 50% of the scheduled WIAA events for the athlete’s next regular season. Self or parental referral within 24 hours of the violation may reduce the penalty to a minimum of 25% loss of next regular season.
   
• 2ND OFFENSE (IN SEASON)
  Two Options (the option with fewer days will be applied):
  • The athlete will be suspended for the entirety of the current season. The athlete will be suspended for 100% of his/her next regular season. If the offense happens in the last half of the current season, the athlete will be suspended for 25% of his/her subsequent regular season.
  • 365 day suspension from the date of the offense.
     
• 2ND OFFENSE (OUT OF SEASON)
  Two Options (the option with fewer days will be applied):
  • The athlete will be suspended for 100% of his/her next regular season. The athlete will be further suspended for 50% of his/her subsequent regular season.
  • 365 day suspension from the date of the offense.
     
• 3RD OFFENSE
  365 day suspension
   
• 4TH OFFENSE
  Suspension for the remainder of career

PARTIES

If athletes are present at a party while alcohol and other illegal drugs (including WIAA banned substances) are being used illegally, they must leave. Continued presence may result in disciplinary consequences.

SELF-REFERRAL

Referrals must be made in person or via telephone to the Athletic Director, Dean of Student Life, Principal, or Head Coach. Referrals cannot be made if arrests or citations are already or soon to be public knowledge. Referrals by parent or student are to be done within 24 hours or soon after the violation occurs unless there are extenuating circumstances.

AWARDS

Athletes ending a season on suspension will not receive FVL awards and will not be eligible to be nominated for post-season honors. Athletes missing a portion of the season due to suspension but finishing in good standing will receive FVL awards and may or may not receive post-season honors.

 

WIAA REGULATIONS

A student who transfers schools with a status of ineligibility is suspended for the same period as decreed by the former school.

Suspensions occurring during WIAA tournament competition will result in suspension for the remainder of the tournament.

 

BANNED SUBSTANCES

School personnel and coaches may not supply, recommend, or permit the use of any drug, medication, or food supplement solely for performance enhancing purposes, including even natural substances in unnatural amounts. The complete list can be found online: wiaawi.org/Health/PerformanceEnhancingSubstances.aspx.

 

PRACTICE, TRYOUTS, AND CUTS DURING SUSPENSION

• Any suspension equal to or less than 25% of a season will allow the athlete to practice and prepare for competition. 
• Any suspension greater than 25% of the season will have the athlete begin practice when the coach feels it is in the best interest of the team for the athlete to begin practice.
• Any athlete suspended for a portion of the season may be cut. Even though a player is suspended 25% or 50% of a season, a coach may—in consultation with the school administration—decide it is better to have another athlete 100% of the season and cut the suspended player. This is applicable when teams are limited with cuts such as basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, etc.
• Any time a suspended athlete, who is practicing with the team, is making it difficult on the coach and/or team; the coach may request the school administration to assist in removing the athlete from the team.
• If an athlete is suspended for 100% of a season, he/she may be allowed to practice, but only if a meeting has taken place involving the Activities Director, Head Coach, athlete, and his/her parents. In this case, the decision to allow the player to participate in practice and any ground rules that are established will be set up by the Head Coach, in consultation with the Athletic Director, and must be agreed to by the player and parents.

 

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

The school administration can assign penalties and exclude a student from representing the school for conduct in or out of the school that reflects discredit on FVL and its mission or creates disruptive influence in discipline, Christian standards, educational environment, or good order for students attending FVL. Examples of behaviors not mentioned in the training rules but needing administration consideration for penalties may include such acts as vandalism, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, sexual misconduct, and the like. Violations of state or federal laws would also warrant consideration for suspension from athletics. Student misconduct may be personally witnessed acts but may also include but not be limited to social networking activities, internet postings, electronic or other forms of communication. 

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Non-Athletic Activities Participants/Penalties

1ST OFFENSE  

• If the activity is year-long, the student will not be allowed to participate in activities for three months.
• If the activity is seasonal, an in-season offense will result in the student no longer being able to participate in that season.
• If the activity is seasonal an out-of-season offense will cause the student to miss 50% of the season.
   

2ND OFFENSE 

• Student will not be allowed to participate in activities for 4.5 in-school months from the date of the offense.
   

3RD OFFENSE

• 365 day suspension
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4TH OFFENSE

• Suspension for the remainder of career

 

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Dual-Activity Penalty Rules

Students who participate in both athletics and activities will be subject to penalties for both.

 

UPDATED 01/08/2024