Athletic Department Policies

List of 11 items.

• INFORMED CONSENT

  INFORMED CONSENT

  Parents and students need to be aware of the potential dangers of participation in athletics since there is a risk of being injured in all sports. The risk of injury may be severe, including, but not limited to, varieties of fractures, sprains, concussions, contusions, brain injuries, paralysis, or even death. Risk of injury may be reduced through parent insistence that student athletes carefully follow all of the guidelines given by coaching staff, Athletic Trainer, and the school regarding training rules, safety procedures, proper use of equipment, legal and safe playing techniques, and any other safety procedures as warranted by each particular sport or situation.

  
  

   

• UNIFORM/SPIRIT PACK/EQUIPMENT/CAMP FEES

  Specific sports have uniforms, spirit packs, and other equipment or camp costs. The specific sport Head Coach will provide a list of these additional costs. Need-based financial assistance is available; contact the Athletic Director. 

  
  

  All school issued uniforms owned by JSHS should be returned within two weeks of the end of the season. Late returns and/or a failure to return uniforms could result in being unable to participate in co-curricular activities/sports and/or a hold on school records and/or financial charge to the student’s account. Please place clean dry uniforms in ziploc bags with the student-athlete name displayed prominently on the bag. Student-athletes are asked to take care of uniforms by washing them individually without bleach, and for dri-fit materials, hang dry and avoid the use of a dryer.

• SPORTSWARE ONLINE REGISTRATION

   

  Prior to participating in athletics at Justin-Siena High School, student-athletes must provide the Athletic Department with a current address, emergency contact, insurance, medical alerts, health history information, and a JS physical form. JS Physical Forms are valid for 1 calendar year. To expedite the forms process, Justin-Siena High School uses an online data entry system called SportsWare Online. Information on how to register on SportsWare Online is located on the Justin-Siena website—go to “Student Life”, select “Athletics'', then select “Sports Medicine”.  All Forms are located on the left hand side of the Athletic Training  web page.

• PARENT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

  Justin-Siena Athletics depends on the support of parents, family members, and friends in order to create a great athletics atmosphere. Volunteers are needed for various duties, including ticket sales, Snack Bar operations, scorekeeping, announcing, etc. More information about how to volunteer may be found in the Justin-Siena Parents Association (JSPA) section of the website.
  
  

  Here’s how you can get involved:

  1. Read the Braves Weekly, published via email every Sunday, to find out about upcoming JSPA events and volunteer opportunities.
  2. Volunteer! Click here to "Share your time", and you’ll be added to the “Group List” for events you select, and the parent chairs of the group will reach out to you at the applicable time.
  3. Enjoy JSPA social events. Throughout the year there will be opportunities to socialize with other JS parents. There are also parent education events and affinity groups to help you connect with others and learn more about what the students are doing.
  4. Attend JSPA General Meetings. The JSPA works with school administrators to host informative meetings that help parents understand the student experience and how the school works. Be on the lookout for that information in the Braves Weekly.  

• GENERAL ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT POLICIES

  Justin-Siena is committed to providing the student athlete with the best possible opportunity to participate in athletics.

  
  

  After joining a team, a student athlete must finish that season before going out for another sport. Any student athlete who quits a team after the roster has been established may not try out for the next sport until the first season of sport has completed its season of play.

  
  

  No student athlete should miss a practice or contest due to participation in another co-curricular school activities, with the exception of school retreats/VENAVER and requirements of an academic course such as choir performances, unless approval is given ahead of time by the coach or administration. Students must serve school detentions within 24 hours of notification regardless of other obligations; it is the responsibility of the student to notify the coach of the need to serve a detention. The student athlete may be disciplined, suspended or dropped from the team if this policy is violated.

  
  

  School retreats are supported by the athletic department.  The student athlete shall not be penalized for attending such retreats; students are asked to plan ahead and make every attempt to attend a retreat outside the season of sport.

  
  

  Per North Coast Section, 204H Sunday Restrictions (CIF 504 (M)), No interscholastic games or practice shall occur on Sundays. Per Justin-Siena High School policy no practice or competitions on, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or any other Catholic Holy Day as indicated by the Athletic Department or the Administration. The league may make additional restrictions regarding competitions on other non-Christian holy days.

• PROCEDURES FOR TRYOUTS

   

  • Athletes who try out late due to overlapping seasons will be given a similar opportunity to make a team as those who try out at the beginning of the season
  • A minimum 3-day tryout will be given to each student athlete.
  • Any students cut from a team may ask and receive an explanation for the dismissal from the coach.
  • Anyone cut from a team is eligible to try out for another team with permission from the AD.
  • Any student who quits a team after the final cuts have been made will be ineligible for any other teams for the remainder of that season.

• PRACTICE REGULATIONS

  Per CIF Bylaw 506, aAll student involvement in a sport may not exceed 18 hours per week; this includes a competition (standard designation of 3 hours), all practices, all film viewing, and all conditioning. 

  
  

  (1) Multiple Practice Sessions 

  a. Double day practices shall not be held on consecutive days. 

  b. Must include a minimum of three (3) hours rest between practices. 

  
  

  (2) Golf Only 

  a. In the sport of golf only, a team is allowed a maximum of two (2) days per week of 18-hole practice rounds. [Counts as four (4) hours] 

  
  

  B. Any competition day would count as three (3) hours toward the allowable weekly and daily practice hours no matter the length of the contest(s). No practice may be held following the conclusion of any contest. 

  C. Definition of Practice 

  (1) Any school team or individual activity organized by the coach that is intended to maintain or improve a student-athlete’s skill proficiency in a sport; AND/OR 

  (2) Any school team or individual activity that includes skill drills, game situation drills, inter-squad scrimmages or games, weight training, chalk talks, film review, meetings outside of school time (excluding parent meetings) that are implicitly/explicitly required by the coach; AND/OR 2025-26 CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS 65 

  (3) Any other coach-directed or supervised school team or individual activity or instruction for a specific sport (private, small group or positional instruction, etc.) AND/OR 

  (4) Any other team or individual instruction for a specific sport organized or supervised by any team member, or anyone else associated with the high school athletic program, team or school; AND

   (5) Outside organization activity (club, etc.), shall not be used to circumvent these Bylaws. 

  
  

  D. Other mandatory activities (including, but not limited to study hall, tutorial sessions, team dinners), shall not be considered part of practice time. These activities must be approved by the principal. Activities that would be included herein are exclusive to any activity already covered in C.(1)-(5) above. 

  • Practices should begin and end at the time stated by the coach on their practice schedule. Locker rooms and/or Chadwick hallway will be supervised until the last student athlete has departed by coaching or athletic staff. A designated coach will remain after practices until all student athletes have left the school premises.
  • The athlete must contact the coach prior to practice if they are going to be absent from practice. If an athlete fails to contact the coach before the practice, then it will be considered unexcused.
    • Excused absences are considered the following
      • Mandatory Academic Requirement
      • Retreat/Venaver
      • Doctors Appointment with medical letter 
      • Illness
      • Family Emergency with communication from guardians  
  • The Athletic Trainer will communicate to the student athlete and parents when a physician’s clearance is needed to return to play. An injured player must have a release in writing from the doctor to be cleared to participate in practice or competition. The Athletic Trainer will communicate to the student athlete and parents when a physician’s clearance is needed to return to play.
  • All injured players must check in with the Athletic Trainer upon their first day back at school.

• ATHLETIC TRANSPORTATION 

  1. Travel to away contests and off-site practices, may be by school bus, school van, charter bus, or other method approved by parental permission slips. The transportation of students from their homes to game sites is the responsibility of the parents. In the event that school transportation is not available, the transportation of students to off-campus practice sites is the responsibility of the parents.
  2. Student-athletes are expected to adhere to the same behavior guidelines and Lasallian values that they display during school while traveling to away games and practices. Students must follow the directions and guidelines of the bus driver, chaperone, coaches, and other adults representing Justin-Siena High School
  3. Students who travel to a contest by school bus, school van, charter, etc. must present a signed note from their parents/guardians to their coach if they are to be permitted to go home with someone else or if they are driving a teammate to the contest from the school both parties need a note from their parent(s).
  4. Any student who has had their driver’s license for less than 12 months may not transport other students unless they are accompanied by a California-licensed parent or guardian (sec 12814.6 CVC).

• CIF REGULATIONS

  All eligibility requirements are set by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), local CIF Section and Justin- Siena.

   

  Age Requirement

  No student whose 19th birthday is on or after June 15 shall participate or practice on any team in the following school year. 

  • In the sports of 11-person Varsity Football and Wrestling, any student athlete who is 14-years of age is required to fill out a signed consent statement from the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver, allowing participation at the varsity level; 2026-27 CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS 83 
  • A statement from the head coach that the student-athlete has the physical and mental maturity to compete at the varsity level; 
  • A statement of compliance must be forwarded by the principal to the respective Section Office verifying that all required documentation has been completed and is on file in the appropriate school office.
  •  High school teams shall not compete or practice against other individuals or teams in football or wrestling unless the players on such teams meet the age requirements of the CIF.

  
  

  Scholastic Eligibility

  • Each student athlete must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 during the previous grading period. Grading periods at Justin-Siena are the 1st quarter, 1st semester, 3rd quarter, and 2nd semester.
  • If the student fails to maintain a 2.0 GPA then during the next grading period, the student will be ineligible for athletics. The student can regain athletic eligibility when they achieve a 2.0 GPA at the end of the subsequent grading period.
  • Summer school grades may count towards athletic eligibility. For the purpose of eligibility only, grades achieved during the summer may be substituted for the previous grade in the same subject or class. Other courses will be averaged.
  • Schools in the VVAL may allow an athlete one probationary period of their entire high school athletic career governed by the following policies:
    • Athletes must apply for probation to the Athletic Directorr, and must be approved by the Vice Principal/Principal. .
    • Only one probationary waiver will be granted, per student, as determined by the Athletic Director. 
      • It is strongly recommended the one-time waiver be used for Junior or Senior year. Frosh and sophomores are not encouraged to use this one-time waiver
    • The probationary period shall be no longer than one grading period – a quarter.

  
  

  Steroid Prohibition 

  The California Interscholastic Federation mandates that, “as a condition of membership, all schools shall adopt policies prohibiting the use and abuse of androgenic/anabolic steroids. All member schools shall have all participating students and their parents/caregiver agree that the athlete will not use steroids without the written prescription of a fully licensed physician (as recognized by the American Medical Association) to treat a medical condition.” Justin-Siena affirms and supports this mandate and encourages all families to discuss this important issue with their student-athletes.

  
  

  School Attendance Requirements

  
  

  To be eligible to attend or participate in any after-school activity, students must attend 50% of a school day and have no outstanding detentions to serve.  School activities will not count as absences. Students who go home for illness during the school day may not participate in any activities the same day regardless of percent of attendance.

  
  

  Transfer Eligibility

  
  

  All students transferring to Justin-Siena or any other California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) member school are initially considered ineligible. To determine eligibility status the student and parent/legal guardian prior to the start of the season of sport should contact the Athletic Director for the purpose of completing some documents to be submitted by the Athletic Director with the CIF via the North Coast Section (NCS). The CIF-NCS will then make a determination regarding the student’s eligibility status.

   

  Competition on an Outside Team

  
  

  Per NCS Bylaw 600, A student athlete on a high school team becomes ineligible for participation for the entire season if they compete in a contest on an outside team in the same sport during the student athlete’s high school season of sport. Exceptions include the following:

  • In the sport of soccer, Bylaw 600 shall be in effect only during the winter high school soccer season in which Justin-Siena participates in.For purposes of this section, indoor soccer and futsal are not considered the same sport. In soccer, it is permissible for a student athlete on a high school soccer team to compete in contests on an outside soccer team up through Thanksgiving weekend.
  • Unattached competition is permissible for a student athlete during a season of sport provided the student enters in the individual sports of badminton (singles/doubles), cross country, golf, gymnastics, skiing, swimming (including attached entries in relays), wrestling, tennis (singles/doubles), and track (including unattached entry in relays).

• CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, SPECTATORS AND CHEERING SECTIONS 

  The Athletic Department of Justin-Siena High School aims to protect and promote the physiological health and well-being of every student that participates in the athletic programs. To this end, the following behavior  will not be tolerated before, during, or after an athletic contest;

  • Any form of communication such as in-person, email, text message, social media post, that is intimidating, belittling, demeaning or insulting 
  • Vulgar or profane language
  • Acts of retribution or retaliation
  • Acts of deliberate indifference towards students’ rights, privileges, and dignity
  • Insensitivity or prejudice towards ethnicity, culture, race, religion, national origin, or disability 
  • Other behaviors by spectators, coaches, or athletes that the school personnel deem inappropriate 

  CIF Bylaw 503.M - Statewide Sportsmanship and Ejection Policy (page 57)

  Please refer to CIF Bylaw 503.M which outlines policies around sportsmanship for players, coaches, and spectators.

  
  

  SPORTSMANSHIP BEHAVIOR

  1) Students are to respect the campus of the other schools. Students guilty of vandalism, on any school campus, are liable for disciplinary consequences. 

  2) Students guilty of unauthorized visitations to other schools at any time are subject to disciplinary consequences. 

  3) No pre-game or post-game rallies are permitted at another school’s campus. Rallies may be held by the home school only after the visiting team players and spectators have left the campus, public stadium, or auditorium. 

  4) Signs and/or posters, banners, etc., (other than regular school banners) must meet VVAL guidelines and must be in accordance with Justin-Siena High School Lasallian philosophies. 

  5) Spectators are required to maintain a high degree of sportsmanship during athletic contests. 

  6) Spectators must, at all times, remain in the designated seating areas while a contest is in progress. 

  7) No spectator is allowed to confront an official, coach, school employee, or player before, during, or after an athletic contest. 

  8) A spectator suspected of throwing objects onto the playing surface of an athletic contest will be immediately ejected from the premises. 

  9) The actions of a spectator detrimental to the playing of a game may cause forfeiture of the contest. 

  10) There shall be no antagonistic or deprecating comments directed at the opposing school, individual players or referee’s. Justin-Siena High School/Athletic Director reserves the right to impose suspension(s) and the right to remove a student from a team when violated.

  11) Justin-Siena High School reserves the right to remove any person who is in violation of the above standards from any event and to refuse admission to future events.

• PROCEDURES FOR COMMUNICATING CONCERNS

  Justin-Siena desires to encourage positive relationships between parents, coaches and student athletes through effective communication. Coaches make decisions based on what they believe to be best for the team and all students. It is the coach’s job to make team decisions concerning playing time, position on the team, team strategy, and play calling.

  
  

  Part of any player’s maturation process includes putting one’s personal desires aside for the betterment of the team. Athletes are encouraged to approach their coaches with concerns they may have prior to parent involvement.

  
  

  If issues go unresolved with the coach, the student should communicate their concerns with the Athletic Director.

  
  

  There may be some circumstances in which parents have concerns about their student’s experience on a team as it relates to their well-being. (Playing time, strategy and win/loss record are not issues which parents should address with the coach and/or the Athletic Director.)

  
  

  Parents should follow these specific steps when wishing to communicate a concern regarding their student’s well-being:

  
  

  1. Request a meeting with the coach. This meeting generally should include the student as well. Do not approach the coach after a game or contest. 
     1. Any concerns stemming from a competition, parents must wait 24-hours before contacting the Coach.
  2. Meet and discuss concerns with the coach, with the athlete present. (The Athletic Director may be invited to attend a meeting by the parents or coach.)
  3. If the issue is not resolved during this initial meeting a follow up meeting with the Athletic Director should be scheduled.
  4. If the issue is not resolved during the meeting with the Athletic Director a follow up meeting can be scheduled with the Principal