NCDPI MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC MANUAL 2017 Summary of Major Revisions The chart below is intended to provide a summary of significant changes and the effect of each change. There were other changes, not included in the chart, that were made for minor clarification or to create more consistency in format. Page/Section Description Effect of Change Cover Page Footer (all pages) Page 2 Page 3 (Contents) Page 3 (Contents) Change to Cover Page: Include Standards in Division Name Change: NCDPI 2016 to NCDPI August 2017 Change to the Foreword: Mark Johnson noted as the NC State Superintendent Change to Contents Section: Change State Board Policy HRS-D-001 to ATHL-001 Addition to Contents Section : Health and Safety Change reflects the new title of the division in which Healthy Schools resides Change shows the most recent update of the manual Change shows current leadership at NCDPI Change shows new numbering process for State Board Policies Change denotes the creation of a Health and Safety section of the manual 1 P a g e
Page 5 Page 9 Page 9-10 Change to State Board of Education Section: Change State Board Policy HRS-D-001 to ATHL-001 Moved to Middle/Junior High School Athletic Eligibility Section: Felony Policy Addition to Middle/Junior High School Athletic Eligibility Section: Gfeller Waller Concussion Awareness In order to be eligible for practice or participation in any interscholastic athletic contests: 1. Student-athletes will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 2. Students shall read, initial, sign, and return the Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet before beginning participation in practice or participating in interscholastic athletic contests. 3. Parent/Legal Guardians will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 4. Parent/Legal Guardians shall read, initial, sign, and return the Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet before the student begins participation in practice or participating in interscholastic athletic contests. Change shows new numbering process for State Board Policies Move permits an alphabetized list of eligibility requirements Addition adds Gfeller Waller to eligibility requirements 2 P a g e
Page 11 5. School Representatives (parent/coach/volunteer/school nurse/athletic directors/ first responders) will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA School & Athletic Personnel Concussion Information Sheet. 6. All above adults shall read, initial and return the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA School & Athletic Personnel Concussion Information Sheet before the student begins participation in practice or participating in interscholastic athletic contests. Addition to Middle/Junior High School Athletic Eligibility Section: Sports Pre-participation and Medical Examination Form In order to be eligible for practice or participation in any interscholastic athletic contests: 1. The student must receive a medical examination once every 395 days by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, subject to the provisions of G.S.90-9, 90-18.1, and 90-18.2. 2. All eligible students must submit to the school athletic director a completed North Carolina High School Athletic Association Sport Pre-Participation Examination Form prior to participation in any practice or athletic contest. A copy of the Sport Pre- Participation Examination Form can be found at: http://nchsaa.org/annual-forms-forms-needed-schools-everyyear Addition clarifies the requirement for student physical and provides access to the necessary forms 3 P a g e
Page 12 Moved to Middle/Junior High School Athletic Eligibility Section: Student with Identified Disabilities Move permits all eligibility requirements to be found within the same section of the manual Page 12 Moved to Middle/Junior High School Athletic Eligibility Section: Hardships Move permits all eligibility requirements to be found within the same section of the manual Page 13 Addition of the Health and Safety Section Addition creates a new section concerning the health and safety of student athletes Page 13 Addition to the Health and Safety Section: Athletic Injury Management LEAs shall work toward having a licensed athletic trainer or first responder available for all school practices and games of all sports at both the high school and middle school. Link to NC State Board Policy ATHL-OOO: http://stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/policymanual/athletics/policy-regarding-athletic-trainers Addition provides link to current State Board Policy Page 13 Moved to the Health and Safety Section: Sports Pre-participation and Medical Examination Form Move permits all health and safety requirements to be found within the same section of the manual 4 P a g e
Page 13 5 P a g e Addition to the Health and Safety Section: Gfeller Waller Concussion Awareness The Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act, implemented to protect the safety of student-athletes in North Carolina, was signed into law on July 16, 2011. To maintain compliance: 1. Student-athletes will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 2. Students shall read, initial, sign, and return the Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 3. Parent/Legal Guardians will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 4. Parent/Legal Guardians shall read, initial, sign, and return the Student-Athlete & Parent/Legal Guardian Concussion Information Sheet. 5. School Representatives (parent/coach/volunteer/school nurse/athletic directors/ first responders) will be provided with the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA School & Athletic Personnel Concussion Information Sheet. 6. All above adults shall read, initial and return the Gfeller Waller NCHSAA School & Athletic Personnel Concussion Information Sheet. Addition permits all health and safety requirements to be found within the manual
(It is at the discretion of each educational institution to identify who will distribute, collect, and maintain the above forms.) 7. Emergency Action Plan: Each school should have a venue specific Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that follows the specifications outlined in the EAP guidelines on the website. This plan should be: a. in writing, b. reviewed by an athletic trainer licensed in North Carolina, c. approved by the principal of the school, d. distributed to all appropriate personnel, e. posted conspicuously at all venues, and f. reviewed and rehearsed annually by all licensed athletic trainers, first responders, coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, and volunteers for interscholastic athletic activities. 8. Each school should maintain documentation that it is in compliance with the law. When an injury occurs: 1. Concussion: If a student-athlete exhibits signs and symptoms consistent with a concussion (even if not formally diagnosed), the studentathlete is to be removed from play and is not allowed to return to play (game, practice, or conditioning) on that day. 2. Student-athletes are encouraged to report their own symptoms, or to report if peers may have 6 P a g e
concussion symptoms. Coaches, parents, volunteers, first responders, school nurses, licensed athletic trainers (if available), are responsible for removing a student-athlete from play if they suspect a concussion. 3. Following the injury, the student-athlete should be evaluated by a qualified medical professional with training in concussion management. It is strongly recommended that each institution seek qualified medical professionals in the surrounding community to serve as resources in the area of concussion management. 4. Any student athlete who suffers a head injury that results in a concussion or ANY symptoms associated with a concussion must submit to his/her coach or athletic director a completed and signed NCHSAA Concussion Return to Play Form before resuming any athletic activities. A copy of all required Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act can be found at: http://gfellerwallerlaw.unc.edu/gfellerwallerlaw/gwlaw.html. A copy of the required NCHSAA Return to Play form can be found at: http://nchsaa.org/health-and-safety/gfeller-waller-concussionawareness-act 7 P a g e
Page 15 Moved to the Health and Safety Section: Inclement/Hot Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Sports Move permits all health and safety requirements to be found within the same section of the manual Page 15-16 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 8 P a g e Moved to the Health and Safety Section: Sanitary and Safety Measures Addition to the Health and Safety Section: Tobacco The use of all tobacco products, including but not limited to e-cigarettes and all vaping products, by any person in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the local school administrative unit is prohibited. Deletion in the General Rules Section: Cheerleading 2. It is recommended that LEAs/Charter Schools and schools follow the National Federation of State High School Associations spirit rules and guidelines. See the appendix for resource information. Moved to the General Rules Section: Practice There shall be no Sunday practice or contest in any sport. This regulation includes the assembling of members of athletic squads for purposes of viewing films, chalk talks, or Move permits all health and safety requirements to be found within the same section of the manual Addition reflects policy regarding tobacco use on school grounds/events Removal allows local LEAs to determine spirit rules and guidelines Move permits all rules pertaining to practice to be found within the same section of the manual
Page 20 Page 20 other matters pertaining to coaching. Moved to the General Rules Section: Head Coaches It is recommended that the head coach attend a rules clinic in the sport he/she coaches. Addition to General Rules Section: Head Coaches It is recommended that all coaches, paid and volunteer, take the following free NFHS courses annually: https://www.nfhslearn.com/ a. Concussion in Sports b. Sudden Cardiac Arrest c. Heat Illness Prevention Move permits all rules/recommendations to be found within the same section of the manual Addition recommends available training to facilitate improved care for students Page 21 Page 21 9 P a g e Removed from General Rules Section: Insurance Coverage It is recommended that student athletes have proper insurance coverage. Moved to the General Rules Section: Officiating Under no circumstances shall a game be played when officials are taken from the audience of spectators or from school personnel. (Exception: In an emergency situation, North Carolina High School Athletic Association certified officials may be used Removal eliminates a duplication of information, statement may be found in the Health and Safety Section under Sports Pre- Participation and Medical Examination Form. Move permits all rules/recommendations to be found within the same section of the manual
Page 23 Page 23-24 when permission is acquired from the office of the local superintendent of the home team or host school.) Addition to the General Rules Section: Skill Development Sessions: To participate, students must have a current and valid sports pre-participation and medical examination form. Removal in the General Rules Section: Sports Medicine All eligible students must submit to the school athletic director a completed North Carolina High School Athletic Association Sport Pre- Participation Examination Form prior to participation in any practice or athletic contest. A copy of the Sport Pre- Participation Examination Form can be found at: http://www.nchsaa.org/pages/464/health-safety-sportsmedicine/. In accordance with the Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act: 1. Any student athlete who suffers a head injury that results in a concussion or ANY symptoms associated with a concussion must submit to his/her coach or athletic director a completed and signed NCHSAA Concussion Return to Play Form. 2. A copy of the required Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act forms can be found at http://gfellerwallerlaw.unc.edu/gfellerwallerlaw/gwlaw.html Addition requires sports pre-participation and medical examination form to be on file to protect student safety Rules have been moved into the Health and Safety Section. 10 P a g e
Page 24 Page 26 Page 30 Page 40 Page 42 11 P a g e Change to the General Rules Section: Sports Seasons Practice may begin no earlier than six (6) school days prior to the first day of school for students in the fall semester to November 15 Change to Sports Regulations Section: Time Lines Fall - Beginning no earlier than six (6) school days prior to the first day of school for students in the fall semester to November 15 Change to Football Section: Date of First Practice Practice may begin no earlier than six (6) school days prior to the opening of the school term first day of school for students in the fall semester. Change to Volleyball Section: Date of First Practice Practice may begin no earlier than six (6) school days prior to the first day of school for students in the fall semester. Change in Wrestling Section: Weight Classifications The minimum weight for a 90-pound weight class contestant is 75 pounds. Addition clarifies beginning of fall sports season Addition clarifies beginning of fall sports season Addition clarifies beginning of fall sports season Addition clarifies beginning of fall sports season Change allows weight class minimums to be in the correct order
Page 44 The minimum weight for an 83-pound weight class contestant is 68 pounds. Change in Penalty for an Ejection: State Board of Education Policy ATHL-001 is mandated and not recommended. It is a minimum standard for middle schools to enforce. The following ejection guidelines are expressed in ATHL-001 and are the minimum standards for middle schools. Change reflects new numbering process for State Board Policies 12 P a g e