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In order to participate on an interscholastic athletic team, an athlete must have satisfied all of the scholastic eligibility requirements prior to participation.

All Bristol athletes are subject to eligibility standards set by the CIAC and the Bristol Board of Education. Our local Board of Education has established additional policies and both sets of criteria must be satisfied.

Extra-Curricular Activities/Athletics - High School Request for Pupil Transfer within the Bristol Public School System With No Change in Residency

Any student who is granted an out of area transfer request that results in attendance at the non-resident high school is partially eligible for interscholastic athletics for thirty (30) calendar days from the first date of practice following the date of enrollment (first day of attending classes) (for students entering over the summer, the 30 days begin on the first day of practice) in the receiving school, or the first contest after the date of enrollment, if entry is after the first allowable play date in any sport the student participated in at the previous school.

Students and/or their parents legal guardians may file a waiver request with the Superintendent of Schools within thirty (30) days of notification of denial of the out of area request, seeking exemption from this policy because the out of area request is required for compelling personal reasons unrelated to athletics/ such as illness or incapacity of family members. The Superintendent of Schools shall consult with the two high school principals and/or the Supervisor of Physical Education, Health and Athletics and make a recommendation to the Board regarding the request. Should the Superintendent recommend against the waiver, the student and/or parents/legal guardian may appear before the Board, which shall issue the final decision regarding the requested waiver.

Eligibility Policy

High School Full Extra-Curricular Eligibility

Quarter 1, 2 and 3 grades will be used to determine eligibility during the winter and spring seasons. Final end of the year grades, 2nd semester and summer school grades will determine eligibility for the fall season. During the school year, student eligibility and ineligibility status is determined on the day report cards are distributed or on the fourteenth (14) calendar day following the end of the marking period.

In order to be eligible to participate in all aspects of an extra-curricular activity, a student must meet the following criteria:

Fall Season

A student is eligible when he/she:

• A student is eligible when he/she is entering grade 9 from grade 8 OR must have received a minimum of six academic credits plus .5 physical education credit from the previous school year and summer school. Students attending BTEC or transferring into a Bristol School may have the .5 physical education credit waived by the building principal.)
• Freshmen/Sophomores at the start of the school year:
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) academic credits plus .5 physical education credit during the current school year (or have passed physical education for the upcoming school year in the prior summer).
• Juniors/Seniors at the start of the school year:
  • Is enrolled in a minimum of five and a half (5.5) academic credits plus ½
• Passes all courses OR;
  • Fails one class for the year or second semester with a grade no lower than 60, not retaken or failed in summer school, regardless of a failing grade attained in summer school;
  • To maintain eligibility, the student retakes the failed course in the fall, the student must achieve a grade of 65 or higher in that failed course by the midterm of the marking period. Eligibility of these students will be determined on the third school day after the progress reporting period.

If the student does not repeat the failed course, all grades must be a 70 or better at the midterm of the first marking period. Eligibility of these students will be determined on the third school day after the progress reporting period.

• The student must be a member of the school in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12;
• The student shall not have reached his or her twentieth (20th) birthday (A student-athlete will not be allowed to start a season or compete during a season in which his/her twentieth (20th) birthday falls);
• A student has eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition.
• Any student who has been enrolled in grades 10, 11, 12 inclusive in any school (member or non-member) shall not participate in the same branch of athletics for more than (3) seasons. A student, upon enrolling in grade nine (9) shall have 4 continuous or uninterrupted years to complete his or her athletic eligibility.

Winter and Spring Seasons

At the end of the previous marking period, the student is eligible when he/she:

• Freshmen/Sophomores at the start of the school year:
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) academic credits plus .5 physical education credit during the current school year (or have passed physical education for the upcoming school year in the prior summer).
• Juniors/Seniors at the start of the school year:
  • Is enrolled in a minimum of five and a half (5.5) academic credits plus ½ physical education credit;
• Passes all courses OR;
  • Fails one class with a grade no lower than 60;
  • To maintain full eligibility the student must achieve a grade of 65 or higher in the failed course on the progress report following the marking period in which the failure occurred;
  • If the student does not repeat the failed course, all grades must be a 70 or better at the progress report following the marking period in which the failure occurred;
  • Eligibility of these students will be determined on the third school day after the progress reporting period.
• Students with an incomplete become ineligible the day grades are distributed or on the 14 calendar date after the close of the term. The student then has 10 days to make up the incomplete. If a student does not make up the incomplete within 10 days, the student remains ineligible. A student becomes eligible when the incomplete grade has been resolved within the 10 days.
• The student should be a member of that school in grade 9, 10, 11, 12.
• The student shall not have reached his or her twentieth (20th) birthday. A student-athlete will not be allowed to start a season or compete during a season in which his/her twentieth (20th) birthday falls.
• A student has eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition.
• Any student who has been enrolled in grades 10, 11, 12 inclusive in any school (member or non-member) shall not participate in the same branch of athletics for more than (3) seasons. A student, upon enrolling in grade nine (9) shall have 4 continuous or uninterrupted years to complete his or her athletic eligibility.

High School Partial Extra-Curricular Eligibility

Fall Season

A student placed on Partial Extra-Curricular Eligibility would be granted limited participation but will not be able to represent the school in any type of competition, performance, etc. (i.e., athletic, drama, musical etc.).

To gain Partial Extra - Curricular Eligibility, a student must meet the following criteria

• Fails one class with a grade lower than 60) or fails two classes for the year or second semester and not retaken or failed in summer school.
• Freshmen/sophomores at the start of the school year:
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) academic credits plus .5 physical education credit during the current school year (or have passed physical education for the upcoming school year in the prior summer).
• Juniors/Seniors at the start of the school year:
  • Is enrolled in a minimum of five and a half (5.5) academic credits plus ½ physical education credit.
•  The period of Partial Extracurricular Eligibility will extend to the progress reporting period of the first quarter;
• To become eligible at the progress reporting period, a student on Partial Extra-Curricular Eligibility must attain a minimum average of "65" in the subject(s) that were failed and be passing all other classes. If the student does not or is unable to retake the failed class or classes, the student must have a 70 in all subjects. Eligibility of these students will be determined on the third school day after the progress reporting period;
• Students, who qualify under the Partial Eligibility Rule during a try-out period, may try-out for extracurricular activities, with the understanding that the Partial Eligibility Rule goes into effect immediately should he/she make the cut;
• Transfer students' grades are interpreted by the standards of the previously attended school;
• The student shall not have reached his or her twentieth (20th) birthday (A student-athlete will not be allowed to start a season or compete during a season in which his/her twentieth (20th) birthday falls);
• A student has eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition;
• Any student who has been enrolled in grades 10, 11, 12 inclusive in any school (member or non-member) shall not participate in the same branch of athletics for more than (3) seasons. A student, upon enrolling in grade nine (9) shall have 4 continuous or uninterrupted years to complete his or her athletic eligibility.

High School Partial Extracurricular Eligibility

Winter and Spring Seasons

A student placed on Partial Extra-Curricular Eligibility would be granted limited participation but will not be able to represent the school in any type of competition, performance, etc. (i.e., athletic, drama, musical, etc.).

For partial Extracurricular Eligibility, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Freshmen/sophomores at the start of the school year:
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) academic credits plus .5 physical education credit during the current school year (or have passed physical education for the upcoming school year in the prior summer).
• Juniors/Seniors at the start of the school year:
  • Is enrolled in a minimum of five and a half (5.5) academic credits plus ½ physical education credit.
• For the current school year, fails one class with a grade lower than 60, or  no more than 2 subjects at the end of the previous marking period (defined as a grade lower than 65);
  • The period of Partial Extracurricular Eligibility will extend to the date of progress reporting of the marking period following the marking period in which the failure(s) occurred. A student on Partial Extra-Curricular Eligibility must attain a minimum average of "65" in the subject(s) that were failed and be passing all classes;
  • In the event that a student fails a first semester course, which cannot be repeated the second semester, the student will be placed on Partial Extracurricular Eligibility for the third marking period and must be passing all subjects with a grade of 70 at the quarter progress report. Eligibility of these students will be determined on the third school day after the progress reporting period;
  • Students, who qualify under the Partial Eligibility Rule during a try-out period, may try-out for extracurricular activities, with the understanding that the Partial Eligibility Rule goes into effect immediately should he/she make the cut;
  • Transfer students' grades are interpreted by the standards of the previously attended school;
  • The student shall not have reached his or her twentieth (20th) birthday (A student-athlete will not be allowed to start a season or compete during a season in which his/her twentieth (20th) birthday falls);
  • A student has eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition;
  • Any student who has been enrolled in grades 10, 11, 12 inclusive in any school (member or non-member) shall not participate in the same branch of athletics for more than (3) seasons. A student, upon enrolling in grade nine (9) shall have 4 continuous or uninterrupted years to complete his or her athletic eligibility.

INELIGIBLE STUDENT- ATHLETES

1. An ineligible student-athlete will not be allowed to participate in any team practices or contests.

Consult the Supervisor of Athletics, Building Athletic Coordinator, or Principal for other rules affecting athletic eligibility.

A yearly physical examination is required. The proper school form must be completed and returned to the school prior to the first practice session. No athlete will be issued equipment or participate in organized practices or scheduled games until he/she has given the School Nurse a current sports physical examination form from a physician. The interscholastic sports physical form, which includes an important warning statement, must be filled out and signed by both parent or guardian and the prospective student-athlete. All sports physicals are valid for a period of 13 months. Students and parents of multiple sports are responsible for knowing the expiration date and making sure the sports physical remains current throughout the year.

Emergency medical forms must also be filled out by the parent or guardian. These forms will enable the student athlete to receive medical attention for injury or illness that occurs while participating in school sponsored activities if the parent cannot be reached to give consent to emergency personnel.

Prior to the first practice, each student athlete must submit to the coach, a Parent/Athlete Acknowledgment form. This form will consist of an acknowledgment by both the student athlete and his/her parents or guardian that he/she has read, understands and agrees to adhere to the regulations included in this athletic handbook.

Students and legal guardians are required to be read, sign, date and be kept on file by the Bristol Public Schools annually to comply with Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) Chapter 163, Section 149b; Concussions:

Students and legal guardians are required to be read, sign, date and be kept on file by the Bristol Public Schools annually indicating the parent or legal guardian's authorization for the student-athlete to participate in intramural or interscholastic athletics.