Procedure 2151P

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

Coach's Duties

In accordance with district policy and the coach's job description, the coach has the duty to:

A. Instruct Participants: The coach should employ proper instruction using sound progression in
presenting motor skills. If an injury occurs while using an improper instructional method,
negligence may be present.

B. Warn Participants: The coach should inform all athletes, and their parents/guardians, of the
inherent risks involved in participation in the particular sport, including the very small risk of
infection with a blood-borne pathogen. The coach must describe, using a variety of methods, the
catastrophic and common non-catastrophic injuries unique to the sport.

C. Supervise Participants: The daily plan should show how the coach plans to conduct general
supervision of the sport, and how he/she will supervise specific drills and other components of the
daily practice. Adequacy of supervision should be reviewed in terms of quality and quantity.
Factors to consider include, but are not limited to: the age of the students, the size of the students,
the equipment involved, the maturity level of the students, the first aid equipment and training
available, the appropriate certification of supervisors where required, and the safety training of
the personnel involved.

D. Provide Safe Equipment and Facilities: Equipment should be properly fitted and maintained.
Athletes should be instructed on how to conduct a daily inspection. Facilities should be free of
hazards and inspected regularly.

E. Maintain Records of Injuries: A report should be completed for each accident. Injury reports
should be maintained for a period of five years after the student's 21st birthday.

F. Evaluate Fitness of Participants: The coach has a duty to evaluate the apparent physical fitness,
the apparent medical condition, and the skill level of athletes. Failure to evaluate and maintain
records of those evaluations may be cause for negligence should an injury occur involving fatigue
or lack of skill.

G. Provide Equal Protection and Due Process: While participation in co-curricular activities is a
privilege that can be taken away, a participant who allegedly violates the school or district rules
must be afforded the opportunity of a fair hearing.

H. Group Participants: The coach has the duty to employ a recognized system of grouping for
participants in a particular sport that will avoid unequal and unsafe participation, and is based
upon skill level, age, maturity, gender, size, and experience.

I. Foresee Danger: A coach should be able to reasonably anticipate foreseeable dangers that may
occur and take precautions protecting the students in his/her custody from such dangers.

J. Supervise Assistant Coaches and/or Volunteers: The head coach is to provide assistance and
oversight for all assistant coaches and/or volunteers in his/her program.

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The duties listed above are not meant to be comprehensive. In carrying out the duties of the assignment, a
staff member is expected to act as a reasonable professional would have acted under similar
circumstances. A staff member who supervises a sports activity is expected to know the intricacies of the
activity that he/she is leading.
Athletic Participation
In participating as a secondary school athlete, it is understood that the student will accept all the
responsibilities inherent in being an athlete. The decisions related to imposing disciplinary action are the
responsibility of the coaching staff and the principal. The conduct of the athlete in school and in the
community is an important part of the training program for athletes.
In order for student athletes to participate on any athletic team, the following conditions must be met.
The student must:
A. Have the following on file in the school athletic office:

1. A Renton School District Athletic Department Athletic Registration Form. This form
includes: Student Information, Athletic Eligibility/ Parent Permission, and the Mandatory
Accident Insurance/Assumption of Risk Agreement.
2. A completed Renton School District Athletic Department Pre-Participation History and
Physical Examination form (issued after May 31st of each year).
3. A school checklist which confirms receipt of documents outlined in 1 & 2 above, along
with the following: receipt of report card from previous semester, ASB card purchase,
payment of athletic participation fee, payment of outstanding fines, receipt of RSD Athletic
Handbook, receipt of sports specific warning letters, receipt of Guide for Parent/Coach
Communication.

NOTE: Schools may have additional requirements.

B. Accept responsibility for all school equipment issued him/her. It is understood that school
equipment can be used or worn only with the approval of the coach.
C. Realize that decisions relating to: abilities of athletes, assignments to positions, and actions that
directly affect team morale and performances are made by the coach in charge.
D. Demonstrate appropriate use and care of locker room facilities and adhere to specific building
regulations both at home games/events and away.
E. Adhere to the following attendance regulations including, but not limited to:
1. Students who are absent all or part of a school day are not eligible to compete or practice
that day unless permission is granted by the assistant principal and/or principal.
2. Students must regularly attend practice and be punctual.
3. Occasionally, it may be necessary for a student to be either absent or late; however, the
athlete should notify the coach in advance.
F. Understand and adhere to the following rules regarding the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal
drugs(including anabolic steroids). Student athletes are prohibited from using or possessing
alcoholic drinks, illegal drugs, or tobacco. The use or possession of illegal drugs, alcohol, or
tobacco products during the entire activity season at any time (24 hours a day) on or off campus
will result in expulsion from a team with right of appeal. (Note: See the District Student
Handbook for consequences.)

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G. Students must refrain from using any school athletic equipment or uniforms at any other time
than during the regular sport season in which they are participating, unless approved by the
principal or designee.
Athletic Transportation
Transportation to and from athletic contests will be provided by the Renton School District whenever
possible. However, we often ask the teams to provide their own transportation to and from Renton School
District sites. Whenever school district transportation is not available, parents/guardians are responsible
for arranging transportation for athletes to and from practice and game sites within the Renton School
District.
A. When traveling to and from athletic contests in transportation provided by the school district, all
athletes will remain with their squad and under the supervision of their coach. Misconduct of any
sort while traveling to and from an athletic activity will be dealt with as outlined in the District
Student Handbook.

Summer Sports Activities/Clinics

Rules governing out-of-school and/or out-of-season student sports participation are as follows:
A. A practice is defined as any attempt by the coach of a school team (paid or volunteer) to teach
any phase of a game or activity to their squad or have their squad or part of their squad engage in
drills under the supervision of that coach, or from directions provided by that coach.
A school staff member who sponsors, promotes, or directs such activities during the summer
vacation will do so under the umbrella of the sponsoring agency and is considered an employee of
the sponsoring agency. As such, the school district will be free of liability associated with the
activity.
B. Students will be advised that participation in a commercial summer camp or clinic or other
similar type of activity may not begin until the conclusion of the final WIAA state tournament of
the school year and/or at the end of the middle school sports season. Participants in a school-
sponsored sport may attend camps or clinics at any time during the school year or during the
summer. However, a participant in a school-sponsored sport cannot attend any camps or clinics in
that sport after July 31 if the participant’s coach is a clinician/organizer of that camp or clinic.
C. In the sport coached, a school coach may not sponsor, coach or direct activities which resemble
out-of-season practices or contests to any of their squad members, past or future squad members
(high schools and feeder schools in the school district) except during the designated season for
that sport until after the final spring WIAA tournament is completed (high school) or until after
the completion of the final spring sports season (middle level). A feeder school may be either
grades 7 and 8 or grades 7, 8, 9.
D. School facilities to be used for summer activity and/or sports camps may be rented consistent
with the rates, rules, and regulations applicable for other commercial uses.
A user must furnish a certificate of insurance holding the district free and without harm from any loss or
damage, liability, or expense that may arise during, or be caused in any way by, such use of school
facilities. The certificate of insurance must be attached to the user agreement before the user may access
the district facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement of or
approval of the activity group or organization nor for the purposes it represents.

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Conduct and Responsibilities of Athletes

All students who participate in the district’s athletic program will comply with the applicable rules and
regulations and will submit to the reasonable discipline of school authorities. Any participating student
who willfully performs any act on or off school premises that materially interferes with or is detrimental
to the orderly operation of a school’s athletic program will be subject to discipline and/or suspension from
that activity. Such acts include, but are not limited to, those listed below:

A. Possession, use, and/or sale of tobacco, alcohol, drugs (including anabolic steroids), or narcotics
not prescribed by a physician;
B. Being in the presence of students using alcohol, drugs, or narcotics not prescribed by a physician;

Disruptive conduct;

A. Refusal to identify oneself;

B. Non-compliance/failure to follow directions;
C. Unauthorized absence from turnout or game;
D. Cheating;
E. Lewd or obscene conduct;
F. The use of vulgarity or profanity;
G. Destruction or defacing of property;
H. Extortion or intimidation of another student or staff member;
I. Stealing;
J. Lack of academic performance consistent with WIAA and district policy;
K. Possession or use of any dangerous weapons or objects; and
L. The commission of any criminal act as defined by law.

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