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Code of Conduct & Sportsmanship

Code of Conduct & Sportsmanship

Participation in ESM athletics is a privilege, not a right. Parents and student-athletes must cooperatively agree to abide by the following standards:


Parent & Guardian Code

  • Support the Team: Direct all energy toward encouraging your child’s team. Avoid actions that offend or demean visiting teams, players, or coaches.
  • Let the Coaches Coach: Do not attempt to coach or instruct student-athletes from the sidelines before, during, or after practices or contests.
  • Respect Decisions: Accept the judgment of coaches and officials, and model true sportsmanship. How parents react to high-stakes moments, tough calls, and coaching strategies directly influences how our student-athletes learn to handle adversity.
  • Timeliness: Ensure your child arrives at all practices and contests on time, and is picked up promptly afterward.


Student-Athlete Code

  • Self-Control: Demonstrate respect for all coaches, administrators, officials, opponents, and spectators at all times.
  • Uniform Pride: Remember that improper behavior while in uniform reflects poorly on you, your family, your team, and your community.
  • Integrity in Outcomes: Deal with opponents respectfully, shake hands after every competition, accept victory with grace, and face defeat with dignity.
  • Zero Tolerance for Hazing: Hazing is strictly prohibited. Hazing includes any act that demeans, degrades, or creates a risk of physical or psychological harm as a condition of team entry or association. Suspected incidents will result in immediate administrative action.


Dual Expectations for Student-Athletes

  • All student-athletes are subject to both the overarching ESM Code of Conduct and the specific Team Rules established by their respective head coaches.

 

The ESM Code of Conduct: This is a districtwide policy governing student behavior, academic eligibility, and representation. It applies 24/7, both on and off campus, and during the off-season. Compliance with the ESM Code of Conduct is mandatory to maintain athletic eligibility.

 

Coaches Team Rules*: In addition to the district-wide code, each head coach has the authority to establish
unique expectations tailored to their specific sport and team. These rules may cover, but are not limited to:

  • Practice and game attendance requirements
  • Team dress codes and uniform care
  • Curfews and travel behavior
  • Playing time determinations and communication protocols

*  Failure to meet these established standards may result in disciplinary action, including a reduction in playing time, suspension, or dismissal from the team.

 

Contest Ejection Policy (Section III)

  • First Ejection: A player who is ejected from a contest shall not be permitted to participate in the next scheduled contest (Section III ruling).
  • Second Ejection: Results in a mandatory 2-game suspension.
  • Third Ejection: Results in suspension for the remainder of the sports season.
  • End-of-Season Carryover: If an ejection occurs at the end of a sports season, the suspension will carry over to the next sport season in which the athlete participates.

 

Eligibility Expectations 

The East Syracuse Minoa Central School District recognizes the use of tobacco, drugs and/or alcohol amongst students is a serious problem with legal, physical, emotional and social implications for the entire community. This is particularly important with regard to extracurricular program participants where the physical and mental exertion required by the activity could magnify the detrimental effect of substance use. 

In addition, anti-social behaviors bring about harm to the victim, community, and reputations of the offending student and East Syracuse Minoa Schools. The School District is mindful of its vision statement which resolves to establish an enviornmetn reflecting ethical standards and appropriate values while promoting leadership skills, work ethic, and responsible behavior. 

 

Rules

In order to particiate in any extracurricular activity, a student shall not: 

  1. Use tobacco (which includees chewing tobacco and smokeless tobacco);
  2. Use, possess, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol;
  3. Use, possess, consume, be under the influence of, buy, sell, or give away any marijuana or any controlled substance, nor any substance represented as a controlled substance (a lookalike); 
  4. Commit serious offenses on or off school property which includes, for examples, assault, felonies, serious misdemeanors and the like

It is not a violation for a student to use legally defined drugs prescribed for the student’s own use by a doctor. School policy requires that the prescribed medication be in the possession of the school nurse while in school. 

 

Reporting of Violations 

  1. Reports of alleged violations coming from the individuals listed (a-d) below, having personally witnessed the alleged violation, must be investigated. The principal must attempt to obtain a signed report outlining the alleged violations within three school days of the principal receiving the information.
  • Any District employee of School Board member
  • Any adult acting as a chaperone or assisting with a school activity at the request of a District employee
  • Any law enforcement officer or agency 
  • A parent or legal guardian of the student involved
  1. Reports of alleged violations from persons other than those mentioned above (1, a-d) must be made by the person witnessing the incident who shall submit a written and signed report to the principal. The principal shall investigate to determine whether there is a basis to proceed with disciplinary action.

 

Procedures 

Upon report of an alleged violation of Rules 1, 2, 3 or 4, the principal shall immediately provide verbal motice, followed by written notice, to the student and his or her parents or guardians that an investigation of the alleged violation is taking place. The reasons for the investigation and the possibility of suspension or removal from extracurricular activities will be included in the notice. The activity advisor and/or coach and Athletic Director, as well as the student’s guidance counselor, will also be informed immediately. The counselor will meet with the student as soon as possible to determine if further intervention is necessary.

The student and the student’s parents or guardian will meet with the Superintendent or his or her designee, as appropriate, within two school days following the official, written notification to the student or parent of the alleged violation. Those attending the meeting will be given the opportunity to question the information upon which the alleged violation is based, and to submit additionoal information or explanations. Once the Superintendent or his or her designee makes a final determination of the matter, verbal and written notice will be given promptly to both students and parents or guardian.

 

Responses to Violations

  • First Violation of Rules 1, 2 and 3: Upon determination of the first violation of Rules 1, 2, or 3, the student will be removed from participation in any and all extracurricular activities for two or four school weeks. 
  • First Rule 4 Violation and Second Violation of Rules 1, 2, and 3: Upon determination of subsequent violation of Rules 1, 2, or 3 during that school year or a Rule 4 violation, the student will be removed from participation in all extracurricular activities for 10 to 20 school weeks.
  • Second Rule 4 Violation and Third Violation of Rules 1, 2, and 3: During the school year, upon determination of violation in excess of those outlined in #2 (above), the student will be removed from participation in all activities for the duration of the year. The following year the student will be placed on probation at the discretion of the principal.

**The severity of penalties within stated ranges is determined by seriousness of offense and may be mitigated by participation of students in counseling sessions both individually and/or with parents. Students must met all state and District mandates, both academic and extracurriclur, which are in effect for the School District.

In the event that the school year ends before the full assessment of a penalty is completed, the reminaing removal weeks carry over to the next school year and the individual removed from partification remains ineligible until the removal period is completed.