the Commissioner prior to that winter meeting of the Board of Directors. Copies of the letter
must be sent to the president of the conference in which the school holds membership and to
the president of the conference in which membership is desired.
(3)
The requested change must receive the approval of the Board of Directors.
(4)
A school requesting a change in conferences must meet the terms of any existing athletic con
tracts, unless the contract is terminated by mutual agreement.
(b)
A conference must have at least five members fielding a team in a sport in order to be guaranteed a
position in the playoffs for that sport.
(c)
The NCHSAA is responsible for setting up the playoff program and for designating the number of
participating teams from each conference.
(d)
Conference Membership for New NCHSAA Member Schools - Before any member school applying for
initial membership into the NCHSAA may be placed into an existing conference, it must satisfy both
of the following criteria:
(1)
The member school must field an established minimum number of sports each year as fol-
lows: Six per school: three boys and three girls - including at least two in the fall; at least two
in the winter, and at least two in the spring, with at least one male and female sport for each
season. Junior varsity sports will count towards these minimums if a member school is un
able to field varsity teams. AND
(2)
Unless otherwise accepted for membership by an existing conference, the member school
must play as an independent member of the NCHSAA until placement by the NCHSAA into an
existing conference at the earlier of
(i)
the beginning of the first year in a normal four-year alignment cycle; or
(ii)
the beginning of the third year in a normal four-year alignment cycle.
NOTE:
Independent NCHSAA member schools are eligible for individual sports
post-season only, based on the sport.
(e)
The intent of this policy is to allow new member schools and existing conferences to mutually agree
on membership at any time during the four-year normal alignment cycle. In order to minimize dis-
ruptions of existing conferences and their member schools during the normal two-year
contract period, the Board will only place new member schools satisfying both of the above criteria
into existing or new conferences every two years during each four-year alignment cycle.
3.1.3
Athletic Passes - Each member school will be issued four passes and each central office two. An additional
pass is provided for the chairperson of the local board of education. These passes may be signed for and
picked up at regional meetings.
3.1.4
Admission to State Playoffs - Superintendents, high school principals, assistant superintendents and assistant
principals who are responsible for athletics will be issued special non-transferable passes by the NCHSAA for
admission to state-sponsored playoffs. Sport-specific passes for NCHSAA contest officials, NCCA passes and
media passes will be recognized for card-holder only and are non-transferable.
3.2
CONDUCT AND UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR
3.2.1
It is the expectation of the NCHSAA that good sportsmanship is observed in all athletic contests by all par
ties who participate in or observe the activity. The NCHSAA may penalize a school, coach, student, parent/
guardian, or spectator for unsportsmanlike behavior. Please note the NCHSAA may penalize a school for un
sportsmanlike conduct on the part of its spectators. Some specific penalties will be found below; however, the
NCHSAA may take any action it deems justified in response to unsporting behavior.
(a)
Schools - A school engaged in infractions inconsistent with a wholesome athletic program may be
(1)
reprimanded,
(2)
placed on probation for a period not to exceed 365 days with or without playoff privileges,
(3)
have its home games taken away for a period of time not to exceed 365 days, or
(4)
suspended from participation in a sport or sports for a period of 365 days.
NOTE: If any school should fail to comply with the rulings of the NCHSAA, the games played or sched
uled by that school in that particular sport shall be canceled for that season and shall be
eliminated in determining the winner of that conference affected. Furthermore, that school
so affected will not be allowed to take part in the contests sponsored by the Association for
a period of 365 days and shall be readmitted only by approval of the Board of Directors and
three-fourths vote at the annual meeting.
(b)
Coaches - A coach engaged in conduct inconsistent with a wholesome athletic program may be:
(1)
reprimanded; or
(2)
placed on probation for a period not to exceed 365 days with or without playoff privileges; or
(3)
suspended from directing a team for a period of time not to exceed 365 days.
NOTE: A Coach must apply for reinstatement if (iii) occurs.
(c)
Students - A student engaged in conduct inconsistent with a wholesome athletic program may be:
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