3624-7406 - Selection of Athletes for Teams ## Selection Of Athletes For Teams

Avery County Schools is a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and is assigned to the Western Highlands 2A Conference. All policies and procedures outlined in the rules and by-laws of these organizations shall be followed by Avery County High School concerning student athletic eligibility and participation.

High School athletics are very competitive and it is the responsibility of the head coach of each sport to select a team that can compete at this level of competition.

Avery County High School currently offers athletic opportunities to students in 13 interscholastic sports with a total of 27 JV and Varsity teams. These include:

Fall: Cross-Country (Co-ed) JV and Varsity Men’s Soccer JV and Varsity Volleyball JV and Varsity Football Women’s Tennis JV and Varsity Cheerleading

Winter: Varsity Wrestling (Co-ed) JV and Varsity Women’s Basketball Freshmen, JV, and Varsity Men’s Basketball *Indoor Track (Co-ed) JV and Varsity Cheerleading

Spring: JV and Varsity Baseball JV and Varsity Softball Men and Women’s Track Field JV and Varsity Women’s Soccer Men’s Tennis Golf (Co-ed)

Students in grades 9 – 12 are eligible to participate in Varsity athletics. Interscholastic Junior Varsity athletic teams are composed primarily of students in grades 9 – 10 with participation by students in grade 11 in certain sports with hardship consideration only (WHC rule).

Athletic teams vary in the number of participants allowed on the team. While some teams allow all students who “try-out” for the team to “make” the team, others must limit participants by the nature of the sport and opportunity for playing time. Teams that keep all student athletes who meet the eligibility requirements include football, soccer, wrestling, track and field, and cross- country. On these teams, try-outs are for positions and the starting line-up. Most

athletes are evaluated weekly to determine “starters”. Each team varies in the form of the weekly evaluation. However, student athletes are informed of the criterion that determines starting positions.

Teams that hold try-outs for a limited number of positions include volleyball, basketball, golf, baseball, softball, tennis, and cheerleading. Students are informed of the criteria for team selection prior to the try-out period. The length of the try-out period varies by sport and is determined by the head coach. For teams that require try-outs, all student athletes must try-out each year for a position on the team. No student athlete is guaranteed a position on the team based on participation in a prior year at either the Varsity or JV level. The head coach makes the final determination as to which student athletes “make” the team at both Varsity and JV level. Any student who does not make the Varsity team will be cut, but students who have been on Varsity teams will be considered for the JV team if the student and parent/guardian have signed a form indicating that the student wishes to be considered during tryouts for both the varsity and JV team. The head coach, at his or her discretion, may request the assistance of other individuals (such as trained outside evaluators, assistant coaches, etc.) in making the final cut. However, the final decision rests with the head coach.

High school athletics are very competitive. A position on a high school athletic team does not guarantee that a student athlete will participate in every athletic competition or be guaranteed a certain amount of playing time during a sports season. The team rules, practice time requirements, and behavior, however, are the same for all athletes.

Cheerleading is an activity that comes under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in two areas – eligibility and safety guidelines. Cheerleaders, both Junior varsity and varsity, must have their eligibility certified in the same manner as other interscholastic athletes. In addition the NCHSAA Board of Directors has approved a set of safety guidelines from the National Federation of State High School Associations. It is strongly recommended that, before a cheerleading squad uses these safety guidelines, the coach or advisor for the cheerleaders consider their application with the training, experience and athletic ability of the student under supervision.

Cheerleaders serve as a support group for the different athletic teams within their schools. Positive crowd and student body involvement, directed by the cheerleading squad in support of the school team, should be the major goal and is a very important component of an athletic program. The squad is not intended to develop its skills and talents solely for entertainment or competition purposes. Cheerleaders should always strive to improve student morale, boost team spirit, and help a school achieve the most worthwhile objectives in its interscholastic program.

These activities can provide the student with educational experiences that contribute greatly toward the development of good citizenship.

Reference: National Federation of State High School Associations Spirit Rules

Adopted: 2001-11-05