Athletic Handbook

Welcome from the Athletic Director

Welcome to Exeter Township School District Athletics! We are excited that you have chosen to be part of our proud tradition of excellence both in the classroom and in competition. Participation in athletics provides opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience and sportsmanship, which we believe are qualities that will benefit our student-athletes long after their playing days have ended. This handbook is designed to help student-athletes and their families understand the expectations, policies and procedures that support a positive and successful athletic experience. These expectations and guidelines in this handbook cover both students in the Exeter Township School District, as well as homeschooled and charter/cyber charter students and students from cooperative agreements from other districts who play for Exeter Township. We encourage you to take time to review this information and communicate openly with your coaches and the Athletic Department throughout the season.

We look forward to watching our student-athletes grow, compete and proudly represent Exeter Township School District. We are proud to have you on our team. Best wishes for a safe, rewarding and successful athletic season!

PIAA Membership

Exeter Township School District is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). All athletic programs operate in accordance with current PIAA bylaws as well as district policies and team expectations. 

Handbook Contents

Exeter offers a wide variety of interscholastic athletic opportunities designed to encourage participation, skill development and school pride. 

Fall Sports

• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Girls' Tennis*
• Girls' Volleyball
• Golf*
• Soccer
• Water Polo*

Winter Sports

• Basketball
• Bowling*
• Competitive Cheerleading
• Diving*
• Indoor Track*
• Swimming*
• Wrestling

Spring Sports

• Baseball
• Boys' Tennis*
• Boys' Volleyball*
• Lacrosse
• Softball
• Track

*denotes sports that are played in 9th-12th grade only
 

Club vs. PIAA Athletics

In addition to interscholastic athletic opportunities, various club programs are available to students. While these activities are not governed by the PIAA, students are welcome and encouraged to participate. 

Please note that although these clubs and organizations operate outside of PIAA jurisdiction, individual programs may establish and enforce their own specific participation requirements.

Registration
Students must complete the district's athletic registration process before participating in any tryout, practice or contest. Registration includes completion of all required PIAA and district forms through the district's athletic registration platform.

Required Forms
All required eligibility, medical and consent forms must be completed before participation begins. Incomplete paperwork may delay or prevent participation.

Physical Examinations
A current PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation is required each school year. Students participating in additional sports during the same school year must complete any required PIAA recertification forms.

Activity Fees
The student activity fee established by the Exeter Township School District Board of School Directors was created to assist in offsetting some of the costs associated with the implementation of Exeter Township School District’s extracurricular programs in Grades 7-12, such as coach/advisor stipends, transportation and equipment related to extracurricular activities. This fee is $100 per school year for SHS athletes and $80 per year for JHS athletes, and covers an unlimited number of sports and activities. The activity fee is due at the start of the season/activity. 

We believe in the benefit of extracurricular activities for any and all students interested. As such, we encourage student participation and do not want anything--financial hardship or otherwise--to impact a student’s ability to participate. If you have any questions regarding the activity fee and payment process, please contact the Senior High School office at (610) 779-3060, or the Athletic Department in the Senior High School at (610) 779-7949, or you may submit a waiver request by downloading the form from our website. 

Participation of Students from Charter Schools, Homeschool or Co-Ops
The expectations and guidelines in this handbook cover both students in the Exeter Township School District, as well as homeschooled, charter/cybercharter and students from cooperative agreements from other districts who play for Exeter Township. 

Secondary students who live in the Exeter Township School District and attend a charter school or are homeschooled shall be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics, as are students who live in other districts who have a cooperative agreement with Exeter. Each student shall be required to follow the rules of the team, the policies of the Exeter Township School District and the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) in relation to their participation. The charter school and co-op district will be assessed a fee for each of its students electing to participate in an Exeter sponsored interscholastic sport. 
 

• Procedures and Responsibilities 
  Directors/Parents of Charter School students who wish to have their children participate in interscholastic athletics within the school district should reference Policy #140.1. Parents of homeschooled students who wish to have their children participate in interscholastic athletics within the school district should reference Policy #137.1 and Policy #137.2. Parents of students who attend schools with cooperative agreements with Exeter should follow the registration guidelines of their home district. All students (homeschool, charter/cyber charter and co-op) should then follow the registration steps to enroll through Exeter’s platform, including paying the activity fee. 

Contest and Practice Eligibility
Student-athletes must maintain academic, attendance and disciplinary eligibility throughout the season. 

Academic Eligibility
Success in athletics begins in the classroom. Student-athletes must meet all PIAA eligibility requirements as well as any additional academic standards established by Exeter Township School District. Students who become academically ineligible may not participate until eligibility has been restored. Student-athletes are responsible for completing classroom assignments. All work shall be made up at the direction of the teacher.

• Academic Status
  A student must maintain a full-time curriculum. The student must maintain the academic statuses below to be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics. Exeter Township School District academic eligibility requirements exceed those of the PIAA.
• Marking Period Eligibility
  Academic standing is monitored on a weekly basis during the course of a marking period. All work that is graded for the week will be included in the eligibility report. The eligibility report is completed on the last day of the week which is typically on Fridays at 3PM. For example, if school is not in session on Friday, the eligibility report will be run on Thursday at 3PM. Any student-athlete who is failing two (2) or more credits (59% or lower) during the course of a week will be ineligible. If a student is ineligible, he or she will be ineligible to practice or participate in athletic contests for the following week, a period of seven days, beginning Sunday and ending Saturday. In addition, a student who is ineligible may not attend away competitions.
• End of a Marking Period
  Academic standing is also monitored at the end of a marking period. Each student-athlete who is failing two (2) or more credits (59% or lower) during the course of a marking period will be ineligible. Eligibility for the 1st Marking Period of the new school year is based on the previous school year’s final credits. If the student-athlete does not meet this requirement he or she will remain eligible to practice but ineligible to participate in athletic contests until after the 15th school day of the next grading period beginning on the first day that report cards are issued. In addition, a student who is ineligible may not attend away competitions.

Attendance Eligibility Requirements
Participation in athletics begins with attendance in school. Student-athletes are expected to meet all Exeter Township School District attendance requirements as well as PIAA eligibility regulations. Students who are absent from school or arrive after the district's established attendance deadline may be ineligible to participate in practices or contests that day unless the absence is excused under district guidelines. See Policy #204.

• Athletic Contests and Practices:
  No one may participate in an athletic contest or practice if he or she is absent on the day of the contest. Building administration has the right to excuse or deny participation based upon their discretion. Students who are absent due to reasons other than illness may participate in athletic contests or practices by obtaining permission from the building principal in advance. Students must be in school by 10:42 AM in order to participate in a contest or practice on that given day. Students who are sent home by the nurse may not return to participate in competitions, practices or for any other reason on the given day they are sent home. 

Examples include, but are not limited to:
 

In addition, student athletes are expected to participate in practice. Student-athletes who must miss practice are expected to notify their coach before the absence whenever possible. Unexcused absences from practices or contests or repeated attendance issues, including tardiness, may affect playing time, participation or team membership.

Disciplinary Eligibility
Student-athletes who violate school rules are subject to team-based consequences. Athletes who incur a Level III or Level IV violation of the school rules as outlined in the SHS Student Handbook or JHS Student Handbook are subject to suspension or dismissal from the team. Athletes who incur a Level II violation of school rules are subject to suspension from practices and competition. 

Student athletes who commit infractions during practices or events or while traveling in connection with their team are subject to disciplinary consequences as outlined in the SHS Student Handbook or JHS Student Handbook. This explicitly includes time spent preparing for practices in locker rooms or other facilities, warming up or preparing for events and traveling to and from all events.  

Hazing, Harassment and Bullying
The school strictly prohibits hazing, harassment and bullying. Hazing is defined as any activity expected of someone joining or maintaining status in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them. Bullying means an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act directed at another student(s), which occurs in a school setting and/or outside a school setting, that is severe, persistent or pervasive and has the effect of:

1. Substantially interfering with a student’s education;
2. Creating a threatening environment; or
3. Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school. Bullying includes cyberbullying.

Harassment is unwelcome conduct such as graphic, written, electronic, verbal or nonverbal acts including offensive jokes, slurs, epithets and name-calling, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, physical assaults or threats, intimidation or other conduct that may be harmful or humiliating or interfere with a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by a school.

Students are expected to understand and recognize hazing, harassment and bullying as described in Policies #247 (Hazing), #248 (Unlawful Harassment), and #249 (Bullying/Cyberbullying).

Discrimination/Title IX Sexual Harassment Affecting Students

Per Policy #248, the district prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment of students and third parties by all district students and staff members, contracted individuals, vendors, volunteers and third parties in the schools. The Board encourages students and third parties who have been harassed to promptly report such incidents to the designated employees. The Board directs that complaints of harassment shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action be taken when allegations are substantiated. Confidentiality of all parties shall be maintained, consistent with the district's legal and investigative obligations.

The Board declares it to be the policy of this district to provide an equal opportunity for all students to achieve their maximum potential through the programs and activities offered in the schools without discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy or handicap/disability (Policies #103, #103.1 and #104). The Board also declares it to be the policy of this district to comply with federal law and regulations under Title IX prohibiting sexual harassment, which is a form of unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex. The district is committed to the maintenance of a safe, positive learning environment for all students that is free from discrimination by providing all students course offerings, counseling, assistance, services, employment, athletics and extracurricular activities without any form of discrimination, including Title IX sexual harassment. Discrimination is inconsistent with the rights of students and the educational and programmatic goals of the district and is prohibited at or, in the course of, district-sponsored programs or activities, including transportation to or from school or school-sponsored activities.

Athletic Trainer Services
The district provides certified athletic training services to support the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Student-athletes are encouraged to communicate all injuries or health concerns to the athletic trainer and coaching staff as soon as possible.

Reporting Injuries
Any injury occurring during practice or competition should be reported immediately to the coach and athletic trainer. Prompt reporting allows injuries to be evaluated appropriately and helps reduce the risk of further injury.

Return-to-Play Procedures
Student-athletes returning from injury must receive clearance from the athletic trainer and/or a physician before resuming participation. Clearance may require evaluation by the athletic trainer, written physician documentation and successful completion of a gradual return-to-play progression.

Physician Releases
When a student-athlete has been evaluated or treated by a physician for an athletic injury or medical condition, written medical clearance may be required before participation resumes.

Concussion Protocol
Exeter Township School District follows all applicable Pennsylvania concussion laws and PIAA requirements. Any student suspected of sustaining a concussion will be removed from participation immediately and may not return until medically cleared in accordance with district procedures.

Hydration & Heat Guidelines
Student-athletes are encouraged to remain properly hydrated before, during and after all practices and contests. Coaches will follow district and PIAA heat acclimatization and environmental safety recommendations to help reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
 

Locker Room Expectations
Locker rooms should be treated as shared team spaces. Student-athletes are expected to maintain cleanliness, respect personal property and demonstrate appropriate behavior at all times. Roughhousing is not allowed in the locker room. No one except coaches and assigned players are allowed in the locker room. No glass containers are permitted in locker rooms. Spiked and cleated shoes are to be taken off outside of the locker room at all times.

Equipment and Uniforms Responsibility
Uniforms and equipment issued by the district remain district property. Student-athletes are responsible for proper care and timely return of all issued items. Failure to return equipment may result in financial obligations or delayed participation in future sports.

Team Participation

• One Sport Per Season
  Student-athletes are encouraged to devote their full attention to the team they have committed to during each athletic season. Participation on more than one interscholastic team during the same season requires prior approval from the Athletic Director and the affected head coaches.
• Multi-Sport Participation
  Exeter encourages students to participate in multiple sports throughout the school year. Multi-sport athletes often develop a broader range of skills, reduce sport-specific burnout and contribute positively to the overall athletic program.

Playing Time Philosophy
Participation and skill development are emphasized at all levels of Exeter Athletics. While every student-athlete is encouraged to improve and contribute to the team, playing time is determined by the coaching staff based on factors including preparation, effort, attendance, attitude, team needs, safety and competitive considerations. Playing time is not guaranteed.

Team Rules
Each coach may establish additional team expectations that complement district policies and this handbook. Team rules will be communicated to student-athletes and parents in writing before or at the beginning of the season. All team rules will be reviewed and approved by the Athletic Director in advance of the season.

Parent-Coach Communication
Positive communication between parents, student-athletes and coaches is essential to a successful athletic experience. Coaches are required to hold a parent meeting outlining expectations, schedules, communication methods through ParentSquare/Student Square and team policies. All communication between Coaches and players will take place in the approved communication method and must follow district policies, including Policy #824, Maintaining Professional Adult/Student Boundaries.  

Parent-Coach Meetings
It is anticipated that communication between any of the parties can easily and respectfully be conducted throughout the season. However, the most critical time for communication is when a concern or conflict arises about an expectation or comprehension of a policy/procedure. The meeting time should be scheduled ahead of time and must not interfere with game, practice or meeting times.

Order of Communication
Families should encourage their student-athlete to initiate conversations to resolve issues by contacting his/her coach. When an issue arises, the following procedure is recommended:

• Player meets with position coach and/or head coach
• Player meets with Athletic Director
• Parent/Guardian meets with position and/or head coach
• Parent/Guardian meets with Athletic Director
• Communication with the building Principal
• Communication with the Superintendent

Meeting with Coaches
Parents should avoid initiating discussions immediately before, during or after contests. Meetings should be scheduled at a mutually convenient time to allow for thoughtful and productive conversation.

Spectator Code of Conduct
Spectators are to be responsible for their words and actions while attending a school athletic program sporting events. All spectators shall be required to follow the Code of Conduct set forth as follows:  

• Spectators will demonstrate positive behavior and not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent, participant, official or any other attendee
• Spectators will be supportive of our coaches and programs and not engage in any conversation or action that is detrimental to the team culture or counterproductive to district and/or team initiatives and goals
• Spectators will be positive with others and not encourage their child, or any other person, any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well-being of others nor to engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent, player, participants, official or any other attendee
• Spectators will use appropriate language and not engage in the use of profanity nor encourage their child, or any other person to engage in the use of profanity
• Spectators will treat any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect at all times regardless of sex, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation or ability
• Spectators will have positive interactions with others and not engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee
• Spectators will allow the coaches to coach and the players to play and will not shout instructions, coach or direct players on the field from the stands nor the sidelines
• Spectators will allow the officials to officiate and not address the officials from the sidelines in any manner.

It is important to understand that any violation of this code of conduct could result in being banned from attending any sporting event or banned from ETSD properties.
 

Transportation Expectations
Student-athletes are expected to travel to and from contests using district-provided transportation unless an exception has been approved. This practice supports student safety, supervision and team unity.

Parent Pick-Up Procedures
Following away contests, a student-athlete may be released to a parent, relative or friend only with written parent permission. Coaches are responsible for verifying approved releases before a student leaves the team with their parent, relative or friend.

Overnight Trips
Student-athletes participating in overnight travel are expected to follow all school rules, team expectations and district policies throughout the trip. Coaches will communicate itineraries, room assignments, curfews and behavioral expectations in advance.
 

Varsity Letters
Varsity letter requirements are established by the head coach with the approval of the Athletic Director. Criteria should be communicated before or at the beginning of the season and may include participation, commitment, sportsmanship and completion of the season. 

Championship Awards
Student-athletes and teams earning county, district, regional or state championships may receive recognition as determined by the Athletic Department.

Public Recognition
Public recognition of student-athletes is limited to a student's athletic achievements earned while participating in Exeter Township School District's athletic programs. Decisions regarding such recognition are made at the discretion of the Athletic Department and/or the Public Relations Department.

Equipment Return
Students must return all issued uniforms and equipment before awards are distributed and before participating in another athletic season. Outstanding obligations may delay future participation or recognition.

College Recruiting
The coach, school counselor and the Athletic Director should be a student’s primary sources of information and guidance regarding the collegiate recruiting process. They are willing to communicate with parents and student-athletes about a student’s collegiate eligibility standards and collegiate sport particulars. 

Please be aware that collegiate recruiting personnel frequently contact coaches and the athletic office seeking information about Exeter student-athletes. In compliance with FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act), directory information about a student (name, address, phone number, honors and awards) may be disclosed to college recruiters as requested. If any student-athlete or his or her parent/guardian does not wish to have this information made available to recruiters, a request to that effect should be made in writing. This request should be filed with the athletic office prior to the first official day of practice for the team. 

National Signing Day
Seniors who intend to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level will be celebrated during a National Signing Day ceremony, typically held in the spring. The district will send a message to parents during the second semester to invite their child to be recognized in the ceremony.