Athletics

Fuqua School Interscholastic Athletic Philosophy

Fuqua School is committed to excellence in athletics as part of a broad commitment to its mission, seeking a level of athletic performance that will frequently produce winning seasons while promoting academics, sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, focused effort, and a healthy competitive spirit.

Special Note: While winning is an essential goal at the junior varsity and varsity levels, middle school teams place priority on skill development and inclusive participation appropriate for the developmental needs of middle school students and as preparation for future junior varsity and varsity competition.

Fuqua School provides a comprehensive athletic program that includes thirteen sports. While emphasis remains on academic performance, the school prides itself on athletic excellence.

Rules and regulations governing the interscholastic athletic program at Fuqua School come from The Virginia High School League (VHSL) and the Fuqua School Athletic Department and apply to all students participating on athletic teams.

• An athlete must be enrolled at Fuqua School as a full-time student and in regular attendance.
   
• An athlete must not reach his/her 19th birthday on or before August 1 of the academic year.
   
• Prior to try-outs, each athlete must present to the Athletic Director a certificate signed by a licensed physician that the athlete is physically fit (dated after May 1st), and documentation of health insurance. Health insurance must be carried on the student throughout the season.
   
• All students who participate on an athletic team are required to sign and abide by the Fuqua School Student Athletic Contract. The contract must also be signed by the athlete and the athlete’s parent.
   
• Eligibility to participate on an athletic team is determined by the student’s GPA and behavior record for the grading period prior to the season. Once a middle or upper school student is selected for participation on an athletic team, he/she must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and be a student in good standing in all areas throughout the season. Grades earned in summer school may be applied in determining the GPA for the fourth grading period.
   
• If a student has an incomplete for any class at the end of a grading period (without extenuating circumstances approved by the middle or upper school head, he/she will not be permitted to participate on a team until the incomplete has been removed and the student's GPA is computed to be at least a 2.5.
   
• Students who are ineligible to play at the beginning of a season due to grades may try out for a team if their interim progress report suggests they will qualify academically at the end of the quarter grading period. If the student makes the team, he/she may practice with the team but may not dress out or compete until the end of quarter grades are posted and a 2.5 GPA is earned. Decisions regarding the student’s eligibility to try out will be made by the middle or upper school head.
   
• Newly enrolled students may try out for a team with the approval of the coach and the athletic director.
   
• A student who is ineligible to participate in athletics during a portion of a season due to academic or behavior probation may participate in the athletic awards held at the end of each season and can letter if he/she was on the team for at least half of the season and if team requirements for lettering were met; however, he/she will not be eligible to earn team awards.
   
• A coach may dismiss a student from a team for disciplinary reasons with the approval of the athletic director and the middle and upper school head. A student who is dismissed from the team is no longer a member of that team for the remainder of the season and is ineligible to letter, receive a team award, or attend the awards ceremony.
   
• Middle and upper school students who commit a Level II or Level III behavior violation will be unable to participate in athletics (excluding try-outs) during the hours of the after-school detention (see Behavior Guidelines on page 59). This includes practice, as well as games/competitions. 

• Upper school students who commit a Level IV behavior violation will have a suspension from participation in athletics (including tryouts) for a minimum of 3 days with a maximum of 10 days (see Behavior Guidelines page 59-60). This includes practice, as well as games/competitions.
   
• A student who is ineligible to play on a team due to grades try out for a team, make the team and practice, but will not be issued a game uniform, may not travel with the team, may not play in a game or be on the sidelines bench with the team during a competition until the next report card is issued confirming a 2.5 average or higher for the quarter.
   
• A middle or upper school student who is on behavior probation will not be eligible to participate in athletics until he/she is released from probation by the middle or upper school head.

• Middle and upper school students who are proficient in both an individual sport and a team sport during the same season may participate on both teams. The team sport will be considered the primary activity and take precedence over the individual sport in regards to practice time and games/matches that fall on the same day. 
   
• Students must be in attendance for half of the academic day in order to practice or participate in an athletic event unless otherwise approved by the middle or upper school head (see athletic contract). In cases where special approval is granted by the middle and upper school, the student may be required to complete extra assignments in the class(es) missed.
   
• If a varsity team is unable to dress out a sufficient number of players for competition, junior varsity players may participate on the varsity team provided they play no more than one-half of the game.
   
• In cases where the varsity football season extends beyond that of the junior varsity, junior varsity players may be permitted to participate with the varsity team for the final games of the season; however, players who are members of the marching band are required to participate with the band during home football games.
   
• Athletes shall demonstrate good sportsmanship and positive behavior on and off the playing field.
   
• Team members will be allowed to dress for an athletic event only after they are excused from class for the event.
   
• Athletes are expected to refrain from wearing revealing clothing (short shorts, low-cut tops) on campus during or following practices. On game days, athletes are required to follow the school’s dress requirements for athletes (see Dress Requirements for Athletes).
   
• Team members are expected to attend all team-related activities unless prior approval is obtained for such absences by the head coach and athletic director. Unexcused absences from practice, game, or related events may result in make-up conditioning and/or loss of playing time. Excused absences include illness, injury, death in the family, remedial academic tutoring, and approved participation in other school functions.
   
• A student who is cut from one sport try out for another sport during the same season with permission from that sport’s head coach. A student who quits a sport after being selected as a team member may not play a different sport during the same season.
   
• Athletic managers and scorekeepers must abide by the same rules for participation as athletes.