All OUSD student athletes must be transported in an OUSD approved vehicle.
In case private vehicles need to be used to transport any student-athlete to/from school/home to an athletic contest, the driver of the vehicle must complete and sign the OUSD-approved Parent Driver Packet and return it to the Athletic Department for approval. No driver is authorized until expressed approval by the Athletic Administration has been given. The approval is valid until the expiration of the driver’s license or insurance policy period, or until the DMV Driver record on file has exceeded 365 days.
Nordhoff Administration shall deny any person authorization who:
- Does not possess a valid driver’s license
- Does not have automobile liability insurance that meets minimum state requirements
- Is insured as an “assigned risk”
- Takes medication or has a physical condition that could affect driving safety
- Is less than 21 years of age
- Is deemed unfit for any other reason that Nordhoff Administration believes may compromise student-athlete transportation safety
The Athletic Department will evaluate the answers provided by the applicant driver and Nordhoff Administration will sign the form indicating approval of the volunteer driver.
NOTE: Under no circumstances shall a private vehicle be permitted to transport more than seven (7) passengers plus the driver, or more than (1) handicapped person confined to a wheelchair or more than the number of persons for which the vehicle has working safety belts.
This policy is designed to assure school personnel and parents that student-athletes transported in private vehicles are done so safely, in sound vehicles, driven by competent, insured and licensed drivers.
Student-athletes are required to return from away contests in the same vehicle and with the same authorized driver that transported them to the contest unless otherwise expressly permitted by the Athletic Director or Athletic Administrator (not the coach). Parents may complete the Student Transportation Permission Form from the Nordhoff Administration allowing their child to be transported home from an athletic contest by another parent driver or by themselves during a season. This authorization request form must be submitted and approved in advance of any away contest, with sufficient time for review. Authorizations are valid for the remainder of the school year or until revoked by either the parent or Nordhoff Administration.
Athletes need to communicate with their coach ahead of time if they wish to go home with their parents. This will allow us to avoid unnecessary transportation costs if a bus is not needed.
For safety purposes, any student-athlete that is transported home or to away contest by an unauthorized driver or vehicle will have a disciplinary consequence.
Coaches must have emergency treatment releases, either digitally or on paper, in their possession during all athletic contests, both home and away, as well as for all practices.
- All athletes must report all injuries to the coach.
- Coaches will fill out the NHS Injury Report and report all injuries to the Athletic Administrator or Director who will determine whether or not the injury requires a Return-To-Play authorization. Coaches may not make this determination themselves.
- The coach must notify parents/guardians of any injury they believe may require medical attention, including but not limited to broken bones, suspected concussion, allergic reactions, breathing issues, etc.
- Any student-athlete who is suspected to be concussed, or whose parent states a suspicion of concussion, must be diagnosed or cleared by an MD/DO and must follow the CIF Return-To-Play Protocol, per California state law AB2127.
- All Return-To-Play releases must be submitted to the Athletic Secretary and processed by the Athletic Director or Athletic Administrator before the athlete may resume practices and/or competition.
Classroom-Based, Disciplinary Referral Policy
For all classroom disciplinary referrals, student-athletes may miss, at minimum, the next scheduled contest after the incident which caused the referral, which may be the same day of the referral.
Suspendable Violations
For all violations of the education code that may result in a suspension, or alternative to suspension, the student-athlete shall miss, at minimum, the next scheduled contest after the incident, which may be the same day. If the violation of the education code results in an out-of-school suspension, athletes may not practice or compete with the team nor attend any practices, games or team events until they return to school after their suspension ends. Depending on the nature of the education code violation, the student-athlete may be withheld from practice and could be removed from the team for the duration of the season.
Substance Abuse Violations
Drugs, alcohol and tobacco negatively affect a student athlete’s physical well-being and performance in athletics. District policy prohibits the use of smoke or smokeless tobacco products. Student athletes who use, possess, or are under the influence of a controlled substance, including alcoholic beverages or intoxicants of any kind, at any time, while on or off school grounds, are in violation of this policy and will be disciplined.
A student’s locker is the property of the District and the administration reserves the right to examine it and its contents at any time with reasonable suspicion. Each student is encouraged to make sure that the locker is kept securely locked at all times and should not share the combination with any other student. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Tobacco and Nicotine Offenses: Ed code violation 48900(h)
Violations of this education code during a school year will result in the following progressive disciplinary steps:
1st time offense:
The student-athlete shall miss all practices, games and team events during the suspension, or alternative to suspension, time period.
2nd time offense:
The student-athlete shall be suspended from competition for a 2 week period from the date of the violation and may not attend games as a player or as a spectator.
3rd time offense:
The student-athlete shall be suspended from competition for a 4 week period from the date of the violation and may not attend games as a player or as a spectator.
4th time offense:
Removal from athletics for the remainder of the school year.
Drug and Alcohol Offenses: Ed code violation 48900(c)
Violations of this education code during a school year will result in the following progressive disciplinary steps:
1st time offense:
The student-athlete shall be suspended from competition for a 2 week period from the date of the violation and may not attend games as a player or as a spectator.
2nd time offense:
The student-athlete shall be suspended from competition for a 4 week period from the date of the violation and may not attend games as a player or as a spectator.
3rd time offense:
Removal from athletics for the remainder of the school year.
SCHOOL-BASED SUSPENSION
Student-athletes that are suspended for classroom/school-based (non-athletic) incidents may be given athletic consequences in addition to their suspension from school, and they may be removed from their athletic team. Student-athletes who are suspended as students or as athletes may not attend practices or contests as spectators.
EJECTIONS FROM ATHLETIC CONTESTS
Any student-athlete ejected by a referee from a contest, according to CIF rules, must do the following in order to return to competition:
A mandatory parent and player meeting with the Athletic Director and/or Athletic Administrator
A mandatory minimum of a one-game suspension; Nordhoff Administration may remove the student-athlete from the team depending on the severity of the infraction even if it is a first ejection for the student-athlete.
Use this link to access player conduct.
https://cifss.org/news/cif-state-bylaw-210-physical-assault/
Student-athletes must avoid any kind of social media post, pictorial or textual, that disparages, embarrasses or harasses faculty and staff members, athletic teams, artistic/performance groups, coaches, fans, referees, athletic opponents, and other students (e.g., teammates, student-athletes of other schools, teams, etc.). Student-athletes’ digital communication, posts, etc. must not reflect poorly on Nordhoff High School in any way. Student-athletes must be especially aware that as a result of their participation in Nordhoff athletics, they have a high public profile (i.e., the public nature of athletic contests and performances, Nordhoff insignia on uniforms) and thus their digital behavior will experience more scrutiny. Any pictures of students in Nordhoff uniforms or in any clothing with Nordhoff letters/logos should be carefully evaluated for appropriateness prior to posting.
Failure to exercise good judgment and any violation of this policy will result in immediate disciplinary action. Depending on the severity of the infraction, consequences range from an in-house suspension, suspension from school, suspension from one or more athletic contests and/or lowering of athletic class grades, to immediate removal from a team. All cases will be reviewed individually by the Nordhoff Administration.
STUDENT-ATHLETES AND COACHES
1. Student athletes and coaches must show respect to all school personnel, officials, players and fans, and are expected to display excellent sportsmanship at all times. Inappropriate behavior including but not limited to temper tantrums, foul language, obscene gestures, throwing equipment, baiting opponents, cheating of any kind, etc. will not be tolerated. Disciplinary action, including possible removal from the team, will be determined by Nordhoff Administration.
2. Student-athletes will dress in accordance with school rules when acting as a team-member.
3. As a condition of membership in the CIF, all schools shall adopt policies prohibiting the use and abuse of androgenic/anabolic steroids. All member schools shall have participating students and their parents, legal guardian/caregiver agree that the athlete will not use steroids without the written prescription of a fully licensed physician (as recognized by the AMA) to treat a medical condition (Article 523). By signing below, both the participating student athlete and the parents, legal guardian/caregiver hereby agree that the student shall not use androgenic/anabolic steroids without the written prescription of a fully licensed physician (as recognized by the AMA) to treat a medical condition. We recognize that under CIF Bylaw 202, there could be penalties for false or fraudulent information. We also understand that the Nordhoff High School policy regarding the use of illegal drugs will be enforced for any violations of these rules.
SPECTATORS AND PARENTS
Nordhoff Athletics supports CIF’s Pursuing Victory with Honor program (Pursuing Victory With Honor.pdf)
1. Parents and spectators must display excellent sportsmanship. Spectators must respect players, coaches and officials.
2. Parents and spectators shall cheer for their team, not against opponents. Booing, profanity or demeaning chants are prohibited, whether it be directed towards coaches, players, officials or opposing fans, as is calling out or talking to specific players on opposing teams.
3. Parents and spectators must help provide a safe and fun athletic competitive environment; throwing any items onto the court, field of play, pool, etc. or surrounding area can cause injury to players and officials and will not be tolerated.
4. Support the referees and coaches by trusting their judgment and integrity.
5. Be responsible for your own safety – be aware of potential hazards of the game
6. Respect locker rooms as private areas for players, coaches and officials.
7. Be supportive after the game – win or lose. Recognize and praise good effort, teamwork and sportsmanship of both teams.
8. All Spectators attending games are subject to CIF’s Sportsmanship and Ejection Policy, as outlined in the Blue Book. “If a spectator is ejected from a contest, it is the responsibility of the school to ensure that person does not attend that team’s next contest. If the same spectator is ejected a second time, it is the responsibility of the school to ensure that person does not attend any of the remaining contests for that season.”
NOTE: High School contests are not public events. They are controlled by the High School and therefore Nordhoff Administration has the right to remove any spectator from a contest, and any spectator may be prohibited from attending a contest in the future for any violation.
