Handbook - Athletics

"I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7

ATHLETICS

 Union Christian Academy is committed to excellence in the athletic program and strives to keep Christ and Christian values as the foundation for building a successful program. All coaches at Union Christian will reflect a Christ-like attitude on and off of the competition field and will instruct their athletes in this same attitude.

Participation in athletics develops the student mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. The activities of the athletic department are a part of Union Christian Academy’s total educational program to “develop the total child, with an emphasis on high character standards and moral values”. All participants are expected to maintain the same Biblical standards that are required during the school day. Standards of conduct apply to practice sessions, home and away games, and any other times the student is representing the school.

All students represent Union Christian Academy at sporting events, whether on the field or in the stands, so one’s conduct should reflect Christian sportsmanship toward the opposing team(s) and toward the officials.

All sports are governed by the rules of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA). The following information is a general overview of Union Christian Academy’s athletic programs.

(F) Fall
(S) Spring

SCHOOL COLORS: Navy Blue, White, and Silver

SCHOOL MASCOT: Eagles

AAA ELIGIBILITY

1. Participation in competitive interscholastic activities as a part of Union Christian Academy’s education program is a privilege and not a right.
2. Students wishing to participate in these activities will be required to meet all of the following guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and Union Christian Academy. They will remain eligible for the opportunity to participate provided they do not: (1) exceed any limitations, (2) fail to meet any minimums, or (3) violate any other rules of the AAA. They may, however, regain their opportunity to participate at a later date by correcting any deficiencies that caused the ineligibility.
3. Students who exceed the junior high age rule or junior high semester rule limitations shall have the opportunity to be eligible for senior high activities.
4. Eligibility rules apply to students in grades 7 – 12 inclusive; specific rules for junior high schools apply to students in grades 7 – 9 inclusive; specific rules for senior high schools apply to students in grades 9 – 12 inclusive. A ninth grade program is considered to be the varsity junior high team regardless of where the students are housed.

CSAP FORMS

1. A Changing Schools/Athletic Participation (CSAP) document stating that the student was not recruited and did not change schools for the athletic purpose must be signed prior to participation by:
   1. The superintendent or designated administrator of the previous school.
   2. The superintendent or designated administrator of the new school.
   3. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s), witnessed by the new (receiving) school’s administrator or a notary public.
2. CSAP forms may only be used for eligibility of students who are enrolled in the receiving school prior to July 1.

BONA FIDE STUDENT

A student participating in interscholastic activities must be a bona fide student of the school; a bona fide student is one who has not graduated from a high school and who is enrolled in and regularly attending at least four academic courses in the high school. These courses shall be from those identified in the Arkansas Department of Education Standards of Accreditation.

SEMESTER ELIGIBILITY

Junior High

A student has six semesters of opportunity for eligibility. A student repeating either the seventh or eighth grade for any reason shall not have the opportunity for eligibility during the complete year that is repeated.

Senior High

1. A student is limited to eight consecutive semesters of opportunity for eligibility beginning with the student’s first enrollment in the ninth grade (or earlier as defined in Rule 7. Age, Note).
2. If a ninth grade student competes for the junior high, the student may then compete at the senior high level after the completion of that junior high sport season. A ninth grade student may not compete for the senior high and return later to compete for the junior high in the same sport.
3. Semesters are applied toward the limitations regardless of the following:
   1. if the school doesn’t offer a sport; or
   2. if the student doesn’t participate; or
   3. if the student isn’t eligible; or
   4. if the student’s earlier enrollment was in a different school system.
4. A student is limited to a total of 12 semesters of opportunity for eligibility upon entering the seventh grade. The final eight semesters shall be consecutive.
5. A student is expected to attend at least half of a normal school day on the day of competition to be eligible for interscholastic competition or participation that day.

AAA AGE REQUIREMENTS

Junior High – A junior high student is not eligible for junior high competition if the student’s 16^th birthday is on or before September 1.

Senior High – A senior high student is not eligible for interscholastic participation if the student’s 19^th birthday is on or before September 1.

SPIRIT (CHEER AND DANCE) TEAMS

Students participating as members of a school’s cheer or dance team must meet eligibility requirements for interscholastic non-athletic competitive activities. Cheer or dance teams do not receive credit for physical education..