Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
Descriptor Term:
4.301
03/02/20
Interscholastic Athletics
Rescinds:
Issued:
4.301
01/08/18
1
No person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be
2
treated differently from another person or otherwise be discriminated against in any athletic program of
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the school. Equal athletic opportunities shall be provided for members of both sexes. 1 Student athletes
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shall only be allowed to participate in athletic activities or events that align with the student's sex
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indicated on his/her original birth certificate.² The Director of Schools/designee shall require the
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parent/guardian to provide the student's original birth certificate prior to participation in any
7
interscholastic athletics. If the original birth certificate is not available or does not indicate the
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student's sex at the time of birth, the parent/guardian shall provide medical documentation showing
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evidence of the student's sex at birth.
10
Interscholastic athletics shall be administered as a part of the regular school program and shall be the
11
principal's responsibility. Principals shall ensure that school regulations regarding participation in a
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sport are reasonable. Athletic schedules shall be filed in each school principal's office. The principal or
13
his/her designee must accompany an athletic team on trips. Transportation of teams to athletic games is
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approved by the Board, provided the team's school reimburses the Board for mileage.
15
Bylaws of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association shall regulate the operation and
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control of athletics. 3 The Director of Schools shall develop a code of conduct for all coaches to follow
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in order to ensure the health and safety of athletes. 4
18
In the event that the school's insurance provider does not extend coverage to an athlete, that athlete
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must provide proof of independently secured catastrophic coverage and liability coverage, with the
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school system as a named insured, of not less than the limits set forth in TCA § 29-20-403. 5 It shall be
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the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to provide health and hospitalization insurance for all
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students participating in interscholastic athletics.
23
Prior to participation in interscholastic athletics, every student must complete an annual physical
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examination. 6 The parents/guardians of each student shall be responsible for covering the cost of the
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examination, and these records shall be on file in the principal's office. It shall be the responsibility of
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the parent(s) or guardian to provide health and hospitalization insurance for all students participating in
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interscholastic athletics.
28
No principal or teacher of any school under the control of the Board shall dismiss his/her school or any
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group of students for the purpose of attending the practice of any interscholastic sport during the
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school day without written permission from the Board. This does not prevent the inclusion of regular
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physical training lessons in the daily school program.⁷
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Students shall not be required to attend a school athletic event, or event related to participation on a
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school athletic team, if the event is on an official school holiday, observed day of worship, or religious
Version Date: June 10, 2021
Interscholastic Athletics
4.301
1
holiday. The student's parent or legal guardian shall notify the coach in writing three (3) full school
2
days prior to the event. 8
3
SEVERE WEATHER⁴
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Severe weather is any type of weather that could impede the safety of any athlete by compromising the
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playing conditions of the interscholastic sport. Severe weather includes, but is not limited to, thunder,
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lightning, and extreme temperatures. When severe weather is forecasted, suspension of play shall be
7
discussed with all players, coaches, and officials, if applicable.
8
All coaches who oversee or participate in outdoor training, practice, or competition shall annually
9
complete a heat illness prevention course approved by the Tennessee Department of Health as well as
10
receive training on activity modifications based on environmental conditions.
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Coaches, employees, and volunteers of the school district shall not encourage, permit, condone or
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tolerate hazing activities. 9
Legal References
Cross References
Special Use of School Vehicles 3.402
Student Insurance Program 3.601
Extracurricular Activities 4.300
Attendance 6.200
1.
34 CFR § 106.41; 20 USCA § 1681 et seq.
2.
Public Acts of 2021, Chapter No. 40
3.
TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.08(1)
4.
Public Acts of 2021, Chapter No. 272
5.
TCA 29-20-403
6.
20 USCA § 1232h(c); TRR/MS 0520-01-13-.01(1)(a)
7.
TCA 49-6-1002(a)
8.
TCA 49-6-1002(c)
9.
TCA 49-2-120
Page 2 of 2

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: Interscholastic Athletics | Descriptor Code: 4.301 | Issued Date: 03/02/20 |
|  |  | Rescinds: 4.301 | Issued: 01/08/18 |

## Table 2

| 1. | 34 CFR § 106.41; 20 USCA § 1681 et seq. |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | Public Acts of 2021, Chapter No. 40 |
| 3. | TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.08(1) |
| 4. | Public Acts of 2021, Chapter No. 272 |
| 5. | TCA 29-20-403 |
| 6. | 20 USCA § 1232h(c); TRR/MS 0520-01-13-.01(1)(a) |
| 7. | TCA 49-6-1002(a) |
| 8. | TCA 49-6-1002(c) |
| 9. | TCA 49-2-120 |