OTHER REGULATIONS
1. LIMITATION ON AWARDS.
Schools may give one major award, not to exceed $50.00 in value,
to a student during high school enrollment at the same school
for participation in one of the UIL inter school competitions
listed in Section 380. One additional symbolic award, not to
exceed $8.00 in value, may be presented for participation in
each additional UIL activity listed in Section 380. The $8.00
award shall not be given to a student for an activity during
the same year that the major award is given for that activity.
2. FORMS.
Shall be the responsibility of each school to keep on file the
following required annual forms for each student who participates
in any practice, scrimmage, or game. Forms to be filed are found
in the Fall Athletic forms handbook for 1998-99. Schools may
duplicate as needed.
a. Medical Form. Upon entering
high school, a physical examination is required. Each year thereafter
either a physical examination signed by a physician or a medical
screening is required.
b. Parent or Guardian Permit.
Annual participation permit signed by the student's parent or
guardian.
c. Rules Acknowledgment. Annual
UIL Rules Acknowledgment Form signed by the student and the student's
parent or guardian.
d. Eligibility Form. Schools
must submit comprehensive eligibility blanks for football, basketball,
volleyball, softball, baseball, and soccer. For all other athletic
activities general alphabetical listing of eligible athletes
is required. One copy shall be sent to the district executive
committee chair, one mailed to the League office, and one copy
shall be filed in the school's office. Completed eligibility
forms are to be signed by the superintendent or a designated
administrator and the coach. These forms are to be postmarked
before a contestant is allowed to participate in a varsity contest.
Failure to furnish correct and complete information may, upon
request by the proper committee, constitute grounds for suspension.
e. Previous Athletic Participation
Form. Students who represented their former school in a varsity
or sub-varsity athletic contest in grades 9-12 the previous or
current school year must have a Previous Athletic Participation
Form completed prior to participation in a varsity contest in
that sport at the new school.
f. Late Forms. If an eligibility
form or a Previous Athletic Participation Form was not filed
prior to competition, and it was an inadvertent error and the
student is actually eligible under Subchapter M of the Constitution,
the district executive committee is not required to demand forfeiture
or to rule the student ineligible. They may assess the minimum
penalty of private reprimand to the school.
g. Foreign Exchange Students.
Subject to the other eligibility rules of the Constitution and
Contest Rules, foreign exchange students in approved CSIET foreign
exchange programs are allowed to apply for exceptions to the
residence rule through the UIL waiver process. A waiver could
be granted in certain activities if they have not received advanced
training or have not had extensive experience in the activity
of their choice.
h. Varsity Athletic Eligibility
for Over-Age Student. Subject to the other eligibility rules
of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, an individual is eligible
to participate in a League varsity athletic contest as a representative
of a participant school if that individual is less than 19 years
old on September I preceding the contest; or has been granted
eligibility based on a handicapping condition which delayed his
or her education by at least one year and the student is currently
in special education and under the auspices of an ARD Committee
or has been identified as a 504 student.
3. PARTICIPATION
a. Sundays. A League participant
school shall not participate in any athletic contest or conduct
any practice, or teach any plays, formations, or skills on Sunday.
(1) Violation. Any showing of
films to, or meetings of athletes for the purpose of instructions
or reviewing of plays, formations, or skills in any sport will
be construed as a violation.
(2) Coaches Sunday Meetings.
This does not prevent coaches from meeting on Sunday or from
seeing films or planning an instructional program, provided that
no athletes are involved in this meeting.
(3) Exceptions.
(A) Golf. If the regional and/or
state golf tournaments are scheduled on a Monday, the one 18-hole
practice round allowed at the regional and/or state tournament
site may be played on the Sunday afternoon preceding the meet
(no earlier than 12:00 noon) if permitted by the regional or
state meet director.
(B) Tennis. If the regional and/or
state tennis tournaments are scheduled on a Monday, and if participants
arrive at the site on the preceding Sunday because of travel
distance, it will not be construed a violation of this rule if
school district personnel accompany or transport participants
to a tennis court for the purpose of practicing on their own,
if permitted by the regional or state meet director.
(4) Regional and State Tournaments
on Sunday. Regional or state tournament directors may reschedule
postponed or weather delayed tournaments on Sunday afternoon
or evening with prior approval of the tournament director and
the participating schools and with prior permission from the
UIL athletic director.
b. Off-Season Regulations.
(1) Team Practice. School teams
shall be prohibited from practicing team skills before or after
school except during the specified practice dates and during
the one allowable period during the school day
(2) Power lifting. Off-season
athletes whose schools have an athletic period during the school
day may not participate on power lifting teams unless weight
training is provided for off-season athletes during the in-school-day
athletic period. It would also make it a violation for power
lifting teams to be limited to athletes or to be required as
pan of an athlete's off-season program.
(3) Off-Season Participation.
Varsity or non-varsity athletes shall not be required to participate
in an off-season program on the day of an in-season competition.
(4) Participation Requirement.
Students shall not be required to participate in one school sport
as a prerequisite for participation in another school sport.
(5) Policies. Written school
policies for use of facilities during the off-season, outside
the school day, and during the summer months should be approved
by the school administration and dispersed to all staff and students.
(6) Off-Season Period Limits.
Off-season activities are limited to one regular classroom period
(max. 60 minutes) per day within which all suiting out, related
activity, and redressing must occur.
c. Holiday Restriction. A school
shall not conduct contests or practices, use school facilities,
personnel or equipment during five consecutive days of December.
Any organized or required practice will be a violation of this
regulation. Schools may choose any five consecutive days which
include December 24, 25, and 26, with the following exceptions.
(1) When December 26 falls on
a Thursday, schools may participate in a tournament game on December
26.
(2) When December 26 falls on
a Thursday, schools must still follow a five consecutive day
restriction, including December 24 and 25.
(3) No practice shall be permitted
on any of the five consecutive days.
(4) Travel will not be permitted
on December 25.
(5) Travel is permitted on the
26th if a tournament game is scheduled on December 27; however,
no practice shall be permitted on the 26th.
4. RULES ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATIONS
a. District Executive Committee.
It shall be the duty of the DEC to: I) enforce all rules and
regulations; 2) investigate and check eligibility of athletes;
3) uphold principles of high school athletics as a valuable educational
activity; and 4) arrange a schedule for district competition
and representation.
b. School Authority Responsible.
The superintendent shall be responsible for the proper conduct
of athletic contests in a school system.
c. Observe Rules. Each school
shall abide by all rules contained in the Constitution. In case
an ineligible contestant is used in any League game, knowingly
or unknowingly, the minimum penalty shall be forfeiture of the
game.
d. Rule Violations. Students
who violate the rules shall be ineligible for at least one year
from the date of the violation unless otherwise specified by
rule. Regulations in the athletic plans of the Constitution and
Contest Rules govern all varsity and sub-varsity teams. Specific
rules within the junior high section of the Constitution govern
eighth grade and below.
e. Penalties. (I) Fighting, i.e.
unauthorized entrance on to the playing field/court area to engage
in a fight with an opponent, teammate, fan, and/or an official
and (2) Failure to complete an athletic contest, i.e. removing
a team from a field/court in protest, will be included under
the UIL penalty structure.
5. VIDEOTAPING/FILMING
a. Non-Conference and District
Contests
(1) Videotaping/Filming by Schools.
It is A violation to film or videotape UIL non-conference or
district athletic contest in which your school or team is not
competing unless prior consent of the two schools involved has
been obtained. A school does not have to obtain permission to
film or tape a NON-CONFERENCE OR DISTRICT contest in which it
is competing. However, the film or videotape may not be utilized
until after the contest has been completed. Films and videotapes
become the property of the school doing the filming unless by
district rule or by consent of the schools involved in the contest.
(2) Videotaping/Filming by Individuals.
Any individual (other than the officially designated school camera)
taping or filming must have prior permission from the schools
involved in the contest and may not obstruct the view of other
spectators of the contest.
(3) Commercial Uses. Use of the
films or tapes for commercial purposes must be approved by all
schools involved in the contest.
b. Regional and State Tournaments
(1) Schools and/or individuals
must have prior approval of the tournament director to film or
videotape a regional tournament, and may not obstruct the view
of other spectators of the contest.
(2) Commercial enterprises must
have prior approval of the tournament director (unless authorized
by the UIL office) to film or videotape a regional tournament,
and may not obstruct the view of other spectators of the contest.
(3) State tournament videotape
rights are authorized on a bid basis by the League office.
6. COACHES.
All high school coaches must be full-time employees of the school
district. All coaches/sponsors at all levels must sign a professional
acknowledgment form before the season begins. Coaches who knowingly
and willfully violate rules may be penalized according to the
Constitution and Contest Rules by the District Executive Committee
(private reprimand) or State Executive Committee (private reprimand,
public reprimand, suspension). EXCEPTION: A retired teacher/administrator
who has 20 or more years of experience may serve as an assistant
coach in all athletics and as a head coach for golf, tennis,
team tennis, cross country, track and field, and swimming. (This
rule shall not affect the status of a coach on a leave of absence
attending college.) Also, student teachers, while they are assigned
to participant school to fulfill their student teaching requirements,
may volunteer to serve as an assistant coach in all athletics.
Schools shall not pay student teachers for assisting athletic
coaches.
7. CONTESTS DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK.
According to the State Board
of Education mandates, students may only participate on one day
per activity during the school week. EXCEPTION:
District varsity contests postponed due to weather or public
disaster may also be scheduled during the school week, but must
be rescheduled and played within seven days of the postponement
in order to be played as an exception. Post-season competition
may also be scheduled as an exception to the one contest during
the school week. School week means the week beginning at 12:01
a.m. on the first instructional day of a calendar week and ends
at the close of instruction on the last instructional day of
the calendar week, excluding holidays. Post-District play means
competition in UIL play-off series or contests such as Bi-District,
Area, Regional, etc.
8. PRACTICE TIME.
According to the State Board of Education, practice time outside
the school day is limited to eight hours per school week per
activity from Monday 12:01 a.m. through the end of the school
day Friday. (This does not include travel time to games/matches
scheduled during the school week. See definition of school week
above.)
9. ADULT SUPERVISION.
A coach or adult supervisor must
always accompany students. A student shall not represent his
or her school at any time in connectio with interscholastic competition
unless accompanied by a coach or another appointed member of
the school faculty. EXCEPTION: A nonschool person may serve as
the adult supervisor of students when appointed by the administrator
in areas where no coaching/directing takes place. These individuals
may provide the transportation to and from the activity and be
responsible for the supervision of participants.
10. SCHEDULES.
Athletic schedules will not be considered official until approved
by the superintendent of the member school district.
11. CROWD MANAGEMENT AND GAME SECURITY.
In our complex and open society
there are numerous problems which land in the lap of the public
school administrator. Crowd management and game security are
two which have haunted even the most conscientious administration.
This area goes beyond the spectator who is intoxicated in the
stands or those who insist on running onto the field at the end
of the game. Schools in some states have been forced to abandon
night games while others in some states must seek a neutral site
with little or no publicity surrounding the event to prevent
added disturbances. Fortunately, this has not been a great problem
for athletics in Texas. However, disturbances can occur at even
the smallest of schools during a game which has no bearing on
the district championship. Each school system should develop
a master plan for management of crowds.
Administrative duties for controlling
crowds involves a well thought out plan of action. Actions prescribed
should be endorsed by the school board as policy for the district,
prior to each school year. Plans may then be viewed for comparison
with other school systems. Naturally, each system will include
variations to fit their own unique situation.
The UIL views this as a positive
way to defend against possible trouble at athletic events. School
personnel are more apt to act with confidence, knowing where
they stand so-to-speak, when policy is in effect. This only strengthens
the hand of the school administrator as provided in the Texas
Education Code 21.489 and 21.490. Schools that have operated
without a crowd management and/or game security policy may see
this as an opportunity to add consistency while upgrading their
procedures, not to mention serving as a guide for legal implications.
It is better to operate somewhat anonymously and behind the scenes
so that fans may enjoy their favorite events than to spend little
time in planning and be faced with an unchecked security problem.
12. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
The school district superintendent and/or his designee is responsible
for enacting and enforcing a crowd management policy for contests
sponsored by his/her district. Likewise, all phases of interscholastic
competition are under the careful supervision of the superintendent.
Guidelines. (These basic guidelines
may be supplemented by local schools.)
1. A crowd control policy for
season athletic contests shall be endorsed by the school board
and should be kept on file with the district executive chairman
and in possession of those in the individual school directly
responsible.
2. No interscholastic contest
may be arranged without the knowledge and sanction of the superintendent
or his designee.
3. A game administrator or manager
(usually the athletic director or principal) shall be in charge
of the various administrative duties not associated with the
contest at all home games. This person shall be on duty during
the actual playing of the contest.
4. In all cases where students
are competing against those of another school there must be an
authorized faculty representative on the premises. In team sport
contests such as basketball, football, soccer, softball, and
volleyball, the superintendent and/or a designated game administrator
shall be present at all home games and should be present at games
away from home when large numbers of students and fans are attending
the game.
5. Students, participants and
staff members representing member schools in interscholastic
competition are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike
manner. Failure to do so may be in violation of the UIL Constitution
and Contest Rules and subject the school, students and sponsors
to penalty.
6. The member school superintendent
is responsible for initiating appropriate disciplinary measures
against those guilty of violations of the State Education Code.
7. It shall be the responsibility
of the host administration to insure the safety of the meet officials.
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