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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 9080 – Interscholastic Athletic Program

The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for implementing the interscholastic athletic program.

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Policy Value Statement

The Board of Education of Howard County (Board) recognizes the importance and value of an education-based interscholastic athletic program as part of the total educational program. The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) strives to cultivate an environment that values and respects the diverse population within our schools and will promote inclusion and equity through sport.

The Board also recognizes that interscholastic athletics provide an opportunity for the entire student body to demonstrate school spirit and positive citizenship.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for implementing the interscholastic athletic program.

III. Standards

  1. The goals for students who participate in the HCPSS interscholastic athletic program include:

    1. Developing feelings of self-worth

    2. Learning appropriate behavior when working with others by demonstrating good sportsmanship

    3. Learning to cooperate in a competitive context

    4. Learning to understand and control emotions

    5. Developing good health habits

    6. Improving physical fitness

    7. Learning sports skills

    8. Learning to appreciate diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  2. The HCPSS Interscholastic Sports Policies and Procedures Handbook that includes allied sports will be reviewed and updated annually. The handbook will ensure that the interscholastic athletic program complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as well as the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland; the recommendations and standards of the Maryland State Department of Education, including The Fitness and Athletic Equity for Students with Disabilities Act of 2008, The Handbook of the Maryland Public Schools Secondary Athletic Association (MPSSAA), and the recommendation of the Sports Medicine Advisory Council.

  3. The Maryland Sports Medicine Advisory Committee will advise the Superintendent/designee on the following topics but not limited to:

    1. Sports Medicine

    2. Pre-Participation Physical Examination

    3. Concussion Management Protocol

    4. Cardiovascular Health Protocol

    5. Heat Acclimatization Protocol

    6. Emergency Response Action Plan

  4. Schools of the HCPSS are members of the MPSSAA and in all athletic matters will adhere to the rules and regulations of that body and to the philosophy of athletics which MPSSAA encourages. HCPSS may adopt regulations that are more stringent but not less strict than those of the MPSSAA. The purposes of the MPSSAA are to promote, direct, and control all interscholastic activities of high school students; to establish, maintain, and enforce such regulations as may be necessary to assure that all such activities will be part of and contribute to the entire educational program of the State of Maryland; to cooperate closely with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in the development of that program; and to safeguard the physical, mental, and moral welfare of high school students and protect them from exploitation.

  5. The HCPSS Committee for Interscholastic Athletics (CIA) will serve as an advisory group for the approval of the HCPSS Interscholastic Sports Policies and Procedures Handbook.

  6. The HCPSS Interscholastic Athletic Advisory Committee (IAAC) will serve as an advisory group for the interscholastic athletic program.

  7. Selection of coaches will comply with Policy 7120 Coaches and Advisors of High School Extracurricular Activities.

  8. An athletic equipment and uniforms essential list will be developed for each approved athletic team.

  9. There will be central distribution of funds to high schools for the purchasing of athletic equipment and uniforms.

  10. Only those high school interscholastic teams approved by the Board are authorized. The Board does not authorize interscholastic club sports, interscholastic middle school sports, or non-school teams.

  11. The following is a current list of Board-approved athletic teams:

    Fall

    1. Cheer

    2. Boys Cross Country

    3. Girls Cross Country

    4. Girls Field Hockey

    5. Football

    6. Boys Golf

    7. Girls Golf

    8. Allied Soccer

    9. Boys Soccer

    10. Girls Soccer

    11. Girls Volleyball

    Winter

    1. Boys Basketball

    2. Girls Basketball

    3. Allied Bowling

    4. Cheer

    5. Boys Indoor Track

    6. Girls Indoor Track

    7. Wrestling

    Spring

    1. Baseball

    2. Allied Golf

    3. Boys Lacrosse

    4. Girls Lacrosse

    5. Allied Softball

    6. Girls Softball

    7. Boys Tennis

    8. Girls Tennis

    9. Boys Outdoor Track and Field

    10. Girls Outdoor Track and Field

IV. Responsibilities

  1. The Superintendent/designee will direct the implementation of the interscholastic athletic program and interpret the rules and regulations for this policy as well as any other applicable policies.

  2. The principal and athletics and activities manager will supervise and administer the interscholastic athletic program in their school.

  3. Contracted coaches will organize and administer Board-approved interscholastic teams in the school.

V. Delegation of Authority

The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy within the limits set forth by this policy.

VI. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Allied Sports – Approved athletic competition between two or more high schools for students with disabilities and general education students who have never been a member of a junior varsity or varsity interscholastic athletic team.

  2. Approved Athletic Teams – Interscholastic athletic teams approved by the Board of Education.

  3. Committee for Interscholastic Athletics (CIA) – A group of stakeholders that assist in the review and update of the HCPSS Interscholastic Sports Policies and Procedures Handbook and gives annual approval of the handbook.

  4. Interscholastic Athletics – Approved athletic competition between or among two or more high schools.

  5. Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) – A specialized group of stakeholders comprised of medical professionals and education leaders who review, revise, and recommend implementation procedures that reflect current trends and best practices in sports medicine as it applies to interscholastic athletics.

  6. The Interscholastic Athletics Advisory Committee (IAAC) – A committee to advise staff relating to proposed plans for the athletic program.

VII. References

A. Legal

  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Public Law 92-318

  • The Fitness and Athletic Equity for Students with Disabilities Act of 2008

  • COMAR 13A.06.03.01, et. seq.

B. Board Policies

C. Relevant Data Sources

D. Other

  • National Federation of High Schools Handbook

  • National Federation of High Schools Rule Books

  • The Handbook of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association

  • The HCPSS Allied Sports Program and Bulletin

  • The HCPSS Interscholastic Sports Policies and Procedures Handbook

  • The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct

VIII. History

ADOPTED: February 6, 1973

REVIEWED: January 17, 2024

MODIFIED: December 12, 2024

REVISED:

  • December 13, 1990

  • February 11, 2010

  • June 10, 2010

  • May 3, 2018

EFFECTIVE: December 12, 2024

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.